Repurposing An Old Folding Screen

Last week I finished this project! A friend was throwing out this folding screen, and I had to swoop in and save it. I didn't know exactly what I'd use it for, but an idea occurred to me after I got the screen home. We didn't have much lighting in our living room, and I really wasn't that happy with the decor around our tv before (it was unbalanced and just kind of an afterthought). I thought, well I could use these as sort of architectural pieces on the wall.. and then I thought I need to do some sconces instead so we can actually see at night..... and then the two ideas kind of combined as I tossed and turned with insomnia one night. That's when I get most of my thinking done. 

This is how the screens looked before hand. This is the back side, the front side has an intricate scrolling gold flower/dragon design carved into it. 

I first did a thin coat of Annie Sloan cocoa. The secret to this paint is LAYERING! Using several colors and working your brush every which way will give you tons of interest and texture.

Once the first layer was dry, I added a few stokes of French Linen. 

added in some Paris Gray....

and then added a Graphite wash over top.  I like to mix this color with water to almost like a stain consistency. You can do a wash over top of natural wood even and wipe it away- to give you a weathered/reclaimed wood look. It's amazing! 

I then added in pure white lighten it up some....

and more French Linen...

At the end, I sealed it with Annie Sloan dark wax. It brought out all of the colors and depth. Love this stuff! You can see how the layering of different colors and all the brush work really gives it that aged wood appearance. These were FLAT BLACK panels. Crazy right?

I unscrewed each panel so that there were 3 separate panels and painted every side well. Sealed those. 

I then attached the swing arm sconces and hung the panels on the wall. Voila! 

I like that they anchor the tv and the boat paddles and give symmetry. I'm all about symmetry. 

The room just feels so much more put together now. 

And now we can see at night! Much better! 

The third panel is going to live at one of my client's houses. Yay! 

Do you have any DIY plans this weekend? 

Master Bedroom: Nesting in Progress

Nesting is in full effect around here! The bug has finally hit me, starting with the master bedroom! While my dad was in town last week, Hubs had some help lifting the headboard to install it, finally! The headboard has been leaning against the wall since we moved to Savannah over a year ago. Feels so much more like a finished space with just the headboard on the wall! I know it sounds crazy, but the past couple nights I've been sleeping a lot better, too just having this room almost finished. The men folk also installed the sconces next to the bed. 

The biggest obstacle is obviously the size of the room. We have a king sized bed that we are just not willing to part with ( I need my space! ). Smaller bed side tables were in order, and I found some very reasonably priced ones on Overstock, and then found the same ones for even cheaper on Amazon. (If you don't have Amazon Prime, you aren't living!) They were the wrong color (bright turquoise), but with a little Annie Sloan all is well again. Sometimes I just buy furniture based on its shape and price rather than what it looks like. Paint fixes almost everything. 

The other side of the room didn't really change other than the paint color on the wall. It used to be a deep blue/navy, now it's Behr Dolphin Fin. 

And the room is almost done! Just waiting on a baby now! 

Still to do- we need to hang the leaning mirror on the wall. By moving our bed over with the gained space we got from smaller bedside tables, we lost room for the mirror to actually lean. Once it's mounted onto the wall the problem will be solved. 

I also need to finish painting the other bedside table, and the master bathroom painting needs to be finished. Then there's this sad area that also needs to be addressed.... 

I keep telling myself "a place for everything, and everything in it's place". That is the hardest part of a smaller home. Organization! I've gotten much better at it, but still could use some help. If you have any tips, I'd appreciate them! 

Just little things to do before this room is "done". Hooray! Three weeks to go until my due date.... tick tock. 

Embracing What's Old

I shared our guest room/nursery's most recent updates here. I'm back today with another new feature in the room. 

Our house is circa 1953. Also the year my mom was born (sorry for the out, Mom!). So, naturally, she has some old features. The house that is, my Mom still looks good (wink). 

Would you believe our house in Atlanta had walk-in closets in EVERY bedroom? So, moving to this Savannah cottage has forced us to get creative (and donate lots). I've never liked the closet doors. They just feel totally dated (60+ years, to be exact)  and well, cheap.

The best advice I can give if you find yourself in a similar situation with a similar budget, embrace it. I'm a firm believer in mixing the old with the new in every room. By doing so you'll achieve a collected look rather than a catalog sterile feel.  Whether it be mixing antique furniture with new accessories, new furniture with vintage oil paintings, or aged brass lamps with fresh funky patterned wallpaper, the balance of old and new is sure to give your space big personality and a timeless style. 

My plan of attack in embracing these old doors? Make them look even older. Chalk paint to the rescue. In order for the old doors to live in their skin, I wanted the old bumps and wrinkles to come through. Rather than leaving them stark white with a smooth surface, why not allow for them to be cracked and aging? Perfect way to bring in more texture to this space as well. 

I'll probably do more sanding and throw on another paint color in a few days once this dries completely. The colors are Annie Sloan duck egg blue and paris gray. Savannah locals, you can get all of your Annie Sloan products from Lily Bay downtown. They are very helpful and will guide you on your chalk paint journey. 

Another look at the before. 

And one last after. A little paint and sand paper will get you places! 

Working with what you have does not always mean settling for less. 

Have you embraced anything old in your home lately?

Linking to Savvy Southern Style for Kim's Wow Us Wednesdays party! 

Rental House: Guest Room Updates

Our guest room at the rental house has finally taken on some resemblance of an actual room and not just a storage unit. Hooray! For months, we had the queen sized bed centered right in front of the large bay window in the room, but on a whim I decided to try it against the far wall. I had to lose a nightstand to make it work in this small room, but I really like it. How often do guests use your end table anyways? Sorry mom and dad! We gained much needed floor space and room to walk around (AKA more area for Evans to run and push her baby doll stroller.... which is so important).

I finally got around to washing and making the guest bed in all white bedding from Pottery Barn. I've had the bedding (it's the everyday essential white duvet and euro shams) since we lived in Atlanta and just never did anything with it! In this cottage I think it totally works! Screams beach to me. Living in a rental makes it way more difficult to decorate in my opinion. You can't change fixtures, you can't change paint colors, can't change anything really except for your own furniture and arrangements. So- none of my stuff really worked with this bright blue bedroom, until I gave the white a try. Somehow, it even updates Hubs' old headboard. I had considered painting that headboard a million times, but I love the contrast of the warm wood with the bright white linens. Less work for me- score!

Once the bedding was in place, I realized the room needed a major POP. I love neutral spaces, but I've been wanting to paint a large colorful piece. Most of my clients have wanted something subtle or serene, (except for Sweet Caroline who let me do a super colorful abstract for her!!). To be able to do something really bold was exciting to me. And what else could I do for a cottage bedroom than BOATS!

These are 36x36 and make me oh so happy walking in the front door! I really like that our foyer and front living room is coastal and a bit more neutral, but a look to your right walking in the front door and BAM. Oh happy day! My mom said she loves this room big time, and she's our usual guest... so there you go. Mission accomplished.

I started working on the old desk of ours as well. I painted it with Annie Sloan in paris gray and did a wash of french linen. This desk was my dad's when he was growing up. It's been yellow, white, blue, yellow again, back to white... then when I got it in college I painted it black. It remained black for almost 12 years until now. Keep on truckin', old desk! It's funny to think my dad studied here, I did my homework here, and Evans probably will one day as well. A keepsake for sure!

I kept the drapes we've had forever (from World Market). They are casual and breezy. Plus, I already owned them. Money saved.

I did scoop up a bedskirt. It was time to get rid of the cheap one from Steinmart (that was see-through and falling apart!). This one is Pottery Barn (yay rewards bucks). 

 That's it for updates around the rental casa. Pssst- I'm running a sale in my art shop trying to make way for new paintings! Enter the code "summer" at checkout to receive 15% off your order. There's a few paintings left. Happy summer people! It's finally here!

linking up with Simple Details Best of The Nest Link Party! 

Coastal Style

I love coastal style interiors and exteriors and am so thrilled that I live in a place where that style totally makes sense.  Savannah is definitely a place of inspiration for a more relaxed and casual lifestyle, which I think should translate over to the way your home feels. 

I've been pinning things lately that reflect that feel. I'm loving the look of this house- white exterior, dark charcoal shutters, blue door, wall lanterns. Yes and yes! I definitely want to recreate this look when we have a place of our own. 

via Sherry Hart- Design Indulgence 

I also love, love, love Jane Coslick. If you don't follow her blog, you should add it to your reader. Her cottage designs are really cool.  Love what she did with these old shutter doors. You find these in older ranch homes here and they feel dated. I love how her design made them fresh with a pop of color and some distressing. Too cute! 

via Jane Coslick Cottages 

Another architectural element you see all over Savannah are board and batten shutters. Soooo coastal. I feel like this style is a must down here! 

With all this inspiration, I pulled out my paint brush and got two new paintings finished.  Painting is my therapy!

I decided it was time to make this rental feel more like a home too and less like "just a rental". Who knows how long we will be in this house, so I really want it to feel like "ours". 

I started with the foyer area. The furniture from our Atlanta house was mostly black & white, gold, and dark. I felt like it worked in our traditional suburban house, but wasn't feeling right down here. 

I reupholstered the bench and painted the legs. With some help of Annie Sloan, I painted our old console table in duck egg blue & french linen. The transformation was instant and so satisfying!! I love this pop of color when entering the front door. It makes me smile! 

I swapped out the old hardware for mercury glass handles from Hobby Lobby. 

 I also made an oyster shell mirror to bounce more light off the walls and bring in more of that coastal feel. This is a small house so the more light the better! 

This is easily my favorite spot in the house now! Whereas before it was so dark and drab, now it feels so bright and airy to me. 

I also changed up our china cabinet. More Annie Sloan.. this time in paris gray and french linen with dark wax. The heavy farmhouse table and the heavy china cabinet and dark stain just felt... well... too heavy in a small room like this. The weathered gray I think helps soften the look, and I love the contrast between the warm table and the airy mirrors and cabinet now.  

I went ahead and painted the two black dining chairs as well. 

before 

Fruit bowl anyone? Ha..... Did I mention I live with a toddler... snack time....

Made some new pillows out of fabric leftovers I've been hoarding.... Yes, hoarding... you wouldn't believe the fabric piles I own. 

And lastly, my husband's old oars. He was about to throw these out (GASP). I all but threw myself in front of the garbage truck in a heroic effort to save these worn-out beauties. They will be proudly displayed on the wall soon! 

So, here's to making a house, even a rental, a home. Evans likes it. :)