Living My Style

My Meditation Practice

2015-03-10T14:21:00.004-07:00

The importance of having a ritual or regular practice has become more apparent in my life these past few months. With the increase in time that I am able to spend caring for my family, taking care of unfinished projects, building my business, writing, helping the kids with homework, reading and making sure dinner is made each night - the need to make time for myself to get centered, clear my mind and prepare myself for the day has become so important. It helps me to gain clarity with what I need to accomplish each day and helps me efficiently complete tasks so I'm not overwhelmed and stressed by the end of the day.

There's been a number of lessons I've learned and tips on a number of things I've encountered that I'll share with you, but today I felt the urge to share my personal meditation space with you. I created a space in my new studio where I go each morning to meditate. This photo above shows how it looks like - with my meditation pillow (yes it's furry and I love it), along with some of my crystals that I use. I'm a big rock and crystal collector, I've been ever since I was little. When I was 4, my parents took me to the Grand Canyon and when we got back to the car they were wondering why my backpack was so heavy? Of course, I had filled it completely with stones! So now, I try to carry on my tradition and purchase a stone whenever I travel or when close family and friends travel they bring me stones back from their trips. I LOVE it and it's more meaningful that way.

I have a beautiful purple/fuchsia Belgium rug on my studio floor that I feel is just naturally grounding, so I set my mediation pillow down on it, light a candle, choose some crystals for the day, plop right down and close my eyes.

Here's what's pictured above:

1) Grey faux fur meditation pillow (ok, actually it is a dog pillow, but I fell in love with how pretty and comfortable it was in the store and it turned out to be perfect). I found mine at Home Goods, but there is a similar one HERE. I'd been searching for the perfect meditation pillow for a while and I couldn't quite find one that I really loved and that reflected my personal style, until I ran across this faux fur pillow. Sometimes the best things come in unexpected places.

2) Crystal Quartz Cluster - I found this with my sister at the Mystic Dream Shop on a day trip in Walnut Creek. It's one of those rare finds I was drawn to - right when I saw it and held it I knew it was meant for me!

3) Tiger's Eye Point - My sister got this for me for my birthday a couple years ago. It's a great stone for grounding + she's a Reiki master so she charged it for me as well.

4) Salt Rock Tea Light Candleholder - creates an amazing glow

5) Raw Rose Quartz - My parents brought this love stone back for me from Baden-Baden, Germany.

5) Selenite Wand - I'm selling a few in my shop HERE so it's easy to purchase + I'm offering it with GOLD German Glass Glitter as well.

click HERE for availability

The Healing Properties of Selenite include:

- Removing energy blocks

- Opening up the crown chakra for meditation

- Bringing forward mental clarity

- Aura Cleansing

- Strengthening personal transformation

If you have a little more time on your hands and would like to create a more visual guided meditation practice, listening to Lisa Nichols' Creative Visualization really helped me. Each meditation is about 15-20 minutes long and it very vivid and detailed in helping to create the reality you would like to bring into your experience. You can also check out Gabrielle Bernstein's guided visualizations on YouTube. Gabby has great information and tips on building a spiritual practice. I love hearing her speak and reading her books - Miracles Now is one of my favorite books which I regularly refer back to.

However, even if you have just 5 minutes a day before heading off to work to stop, sit and center yourself, it can really make what seems to be an overwhelming day ahead filled with a long to-do list, much more manageable in your mind. It might take a little bit of practice to quiet down the thoughts in your head, but after a few days I already felt a shift in my mind and body. Hey, it's definitely worth a shot!

Leopard Lovin'

2015-02-20T14:26:00.002-08:00

As you all know, I'm definitely a Leopard Lover. I love the colors and the simplicity of the spots. I think little pops of leopard accents create an air of chicness to not just an outfit but to a room. The leopard print has been around for so long, and done up properly is practically a staple in fashion. I'm adding on to my Leopard Love collection with another special piece that not only reflects the "chicness" of the actual print but also adds some glam to your walls so you can accessorize your space as you would your outfit.

This the new piece I just released in my shop. I couldn't quite capture just how AWESOME in looks in person with the shine of the metallic paint alongside the sparkle from the glitter, but take a look.

If you're interested in a larger size of this painting - it can surely be done! Contact me HERE

Painting Available HERE

Also, I'll be having an open studio coming up and if you're around locally in the SF Bay sign up in the email list (to the left of your screen) to be added to my list when that happens and you can come see all the pieces in person as well as my sweet studio!

Have a wonderful weekend!!!

FLEUR COLLECTION - New Paintings Available

2015-02-05T13:20:00.000-08:00

A couple of new paintings are available now in my SHOP. My love for floral blooms continue and I've released 2 paintings on 8x10" canvas - "NOIR" and "CONFETTI". It is the prefect accessory for your desktop and walls. Even if you can't have fresh flowers each day on your desk, the pop of color from these floral blooms will definitely brighten up your workspace, bedside table, or bookshelf!

"N O I R"

"C O N F E T T I"

Some of you might have noticed that I've revamped my blog, and I hope you all like it! Also, there's a bunch of new and exciting projects that are currently in the works right now, so please come back to visit and signup on my email list (just to the left of this screen) - that way you can get notified when new products are added and to get the info on all the exciting news coming up!

Thank you for all your love and support!

Sending Love & Light always....

My Perfect Outdoor Cottage Art Studio & Home Office

2015-01-18T23:15:00.004-08:00

My wonderful husband and my father-in-law worked together all day, everyday for a few months to build this BEAUTIFUL art studio, home office from the ground up! It has been a complete blessing for me and I am overwhelmed with gratitude for this amazing space to center myself, paint and just make things! It was built with so much love and I can't wait to share with you all the new pieces that I create in here for Glimmer of Gold.

My initial inspiration for the exterior was to mimic a small summer beach cottage where I could escape to daily to paint, create, and even meditate. I was inspired by the Hampton's, Cape Cod, and Martha's Vineyard so I chose light beach colors for the exterior paint - Behr Graceful Gray & Ultra Pure White. For the door color I used Behr's Offshore Mist which I LOVE because it is the perfect subtle, soft blue shade.

Here's a few before & after photos...

This shot makes me want to sing, "...Love is an open dooooorrrrrr!" ;)

Stay tuned for more detailed photographs of the art studio interior and how I chose to decorate a small space to represent my style. Subscribe to my blog (on the left) to stay updated on new posts.

... and we're open for business!

g l i m m e r o f g o l d . c o m

Back on Track With A Magical Message

2014-12-05T07:01:00.002-08:00

For the last few days, I’ve been thinking of the best way to jump back in and share exactly what I’ve been up to this year. As I look back, my last post was to celebrate 2013 and now 2014 is almost coming to a close which means it is now time to celebrate 2014!

So much has happened this year that has led me to stop and really reflect on where I am in the present moment. I found myself continuously struggling to come up with the perfect post to be able to get back on track with my blog and I just couldn't seem to shake this inner voice screaming, “Perfection paralysis is the death of all awesomeness!” Today, I stopped to actually listen to that voice when I realized that all this time I had been searching for that perfect story, the perfect transition to get me back on track to posting on the regular and really, all I needed to do was just put all judgments of myself aside and just start writing.

So many life changing things have taken place in my life this year (hence my break from writing) and I have been given this wonderful opportunity to have more time and space to really focus on following through with my life and business goals. It’s a new journey that I’ve embarked on and this blog will continue to serve as the place where I share all my insights, lessons, stories, tips, and a whole bunch of fun tidbits along the way.

I have been digging to get to the core of my values and the message I wish to share throughout my brand and in doing so I've realized that through my artwork, I wish to encapsulate the happiness and beauty of the world seen through the eyes of our childhood selves. I want to remind people that just because we all grew up does not mean that we can't re-visit that happy place we visited as children - a place where the world was a huge magical playground of possibilities. Yes, that happy, magical place still lies within each of us and all it takes is that special element that sparks that emotion to bring you back, even if it's just for a moment. That moment can transform your life.

Wishing you all Love, Light, & Sparkle,
Kathy

Reflect & Celebrate 2013!

2013-12-31T12:18:00.000-08:00

2013 has been a great year filled with new hopes and new beginnings. With each year we have a new set of dreams that we wish to follow. As the year closes, we look to begin a new chapter in our lives, and just how you would cleanse yourself or release your personal feelings when you get out of a relationship, it is actually good to cleanse or release your feelings for the year that is about to come to an end as well, and yes, say goodbye and release 2013!

A simple way we can do this is by simply taking some time to yourself to reflect today…

Reflect on 2013 and the person who you’ve transformed into in these last 12 months of your life.

Reflect on the new relationships you’ve made, the new projects you’ve taken on, or goals that you’ve achieved, things you’ve had to let go of, key events that have transformed you or helped you to see things in a different perspective. Write them down.

Write down all the things that you’ve discovered about yourself this year. We’re constantly discovering new things and sometimes when it comes down to yourself, we forget to acknowledge the things we’ve discovered about our own selves and our own life. These little things we realize about ourselves actually play a huge role in the way we choose to live our lives, and the decisions we make.

Also write down what you’re proud of, and what you’re thankful for, express your gratitude for everything that you have. Feel the love you have of your life which surrounds you.

Now, light a candle and visualize yourself letting go of all old feelings or ideas that didn’t serve a purpose to our greater self and welcome new ideas and thoughts of love and gratitude for what currently surrounds us in our lives. This is what we will carry with us as we welcome the new year. This is what truly matters, not the old baggage we’ve carried through last year, not the failures that we’ve had…leave that all behind with the close of 2013.

Today, is all about acknowledging and celebrating the year that is about to come to an end and embracing a new year with an open, positive mind. I’m excited for 2014 and what I believe it will bring, and I want to express my gratitude for those of you who are reading this right now and those who follow me and support my work. I am truly grateful to have you in my life and please stick around for new things to come this year.

2014 is your year to SHINE, I believe in you.

Kathy

New Paintings & New Inspirations

2013-08-27T17:34:00.002-07:00

Hi Everyone,

I'm happy to finally announce that I've added a few more original paintings to my Velvet Throne Shop. You can check them out below and HERE.

Commission pieces inquiries are available again, if you're interested please contact me at kathy@glimmerofgold.com

Have a great week!
Kathy

Shop Glimmer of Gold

Velvet Throne Designs - FLASH SALE 15% OFF

2013-08-06T20:10:00.003-07:00

Come visit my SHOP for a FLASH 2-Day SALE going on now through Thursday - take 15% off with NO Minimum purchase! Yes, including SALE items! Yay!!!

Enter code - FLASH15 at checkout!

SHOP SALE

Honey + Lemon = Amazing Glowing Skin!

2013-04-13T14:33:00.000-07:00

Oh "HONEY" - where have you been all my life? Yes, I am talking about Bees Honey! This is seriously a miracle worker.

Right before I left for Maui I had a terrible allergic reaction on my face from some new face cream that I tried, which caused my face to break out in a rash. Yes, it freaked me out because I've never had anything happen to my face like that before so I didn't know what to do and the dermatologists that I called didn't have openings right away so I knew I had to find something on my own, and fast! However, everything that I seemed to put on my face (hydrocortisone creams and ointments) just irritated it even more - until my sister told me to put Honey on my face! Yes, like bees honey! I thought she was joking but this worked wonders on my face - so much so that my co-workers asked me if I had gotten a facial the next day!

I bought this Organic Raw Honey from Trader Joes for only about $5.99 and a little goes a long way. I put it all over my face and kept it there for as long as I could - okay, so I went a little extreme and left it on for about 5-6 hours when I had that rash - but the swelling went down drastically and my rash completely went away in about 2-3 days!

Honey has natural healing properties that help to draw bacteria out of your skin while pulling moisture into your skin at the same time. Although it feels sticky when applying it on your skin, it rinses off with water very easily leaving your face glowing!

Added bonus - it works wonders on pimples and prevents scarring too!

You must try this! Here's a quick recipe for a brightening mask:

Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon of Honey
- 1/2 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice (this is optional, but Vitamin C = brighter skin)
------
- Mix them together and slather on your face and leave on for as long as you can (bare minimum of 30 minutes) but try for at least an hour
- Wash off with warm water. It should rinse off very easily
- Don't forget to moisturize! (You can also try Olive Oil as a moisturizer if you want to keep it natural)

* Please be careful around the eye area since it might drip down your forehead, you don't want the lemon juice getting in your eye. It's also a good idea to keep a damp towel around to wipe off any drips.

It's as simple as that! I still have yet to get my first facial at an actual salon, but since I've tried this mask, I'm not in any rush!

Whoever said glowing skin had to cost a lot of money! ;)

Enjoy!
Kathy

Black & White (and A Bit of Gold In Between)

2013-03-21T12:56:00.002-07:00

It’s not only the name of one of my favorite interior design books, but it’s also one of my favorite color combos of all time. As much as I do LOVE color, I tend to dress myself in a lot of Black but I almost always do add a pop of color somewhere, whether it be my heels, statement necklace, bangles, or a chic colorful blazer (my favorite). However, as much as I would love to rock a pair of black and white striped skinnies this season, I’m a bit reluctant at the moment with my mommy booty to get into those just yet. However, looking at style trends at the moment with my EVP the other day at work inspired me to do a series of abstract expressionist paintings in simple black and white. You saw a bit of this in my “Kaos in Love” series, but I’m doing more of a minimalist chic inspired vibe to my artwork. I’m working on a few pieces at the moment and it should be released in my shop sometime this weekend, but here's a little sneak peek.

Anyhow, I apologize for the delay in postings, this past month I've been feeling like my body has been in a constant battle against this cold that’s been loving to hang around me and my kids this season. That mixed with my seasonal allergies has just been long sudafilled days for me. Anyhow, I hope you all stay healthy and bright, and don’t forget to take your vitamins! ;)

P.S. The 15% off your purchase of $50 or more with code: VTDEASTER is still going on, so come and take a look HERE

Kathy

Emerald Green with ENVY - 2013 Pantone Color

2013-02-27T17:58:00.001-08:00

I've always been a lover of color and working in product development as a colorist for a number of years has definitely given me my fair share of looking at very many Pantone swatches throughout my career. This years Pantone color of the year for 2013 is EMERALD green! What a beautiful color - rich, vivid, classically elegant and timeless. It's one of my favorite shades of green, so I've added a couple more pieces to my VTD Shop for you.

Available HERE

via

How are you going to add some green into your life this year?

Cheers to 2013,

Kathy

DIY - Quick & Easy Valentines Day Card

2013-02-13T20:43:00.001-08:00

Can you believe Valentines Day is tomorrow already? Here's a quick and easy DIY for a Valentines Day card. Keira and I had a blast making it today and all you really need are a couple shades of your favorite Red or Pink lipstick - plus she felt SO special putting my lipstick on! Oh, and follow me on the new VINE app (as Kathy Michon) and you can watch our Valentines Day card come to life!

via: VINE - 6 Second Video Clips

Pink + Gold = L O V E (all on it's own)

Happy "LOVE" day!!!!

Sitting on a Velvet Throne

2013-01-30T21:18:00.000-08:00

VTD (Velvet Throne Designs) has been my baby for a while now. It's evolved so much, just as I have, and I'm so excited and proud that Etsy has selected my Line22 painting to be on the main Art section page on their ETSY.com website! Woo Hoo!!!

We did it! Through this blog and throughout my time within the Etsy community I felt that I've been surrounded by so much love and positive energy and I've been so blessed to always hear your lovely words and positive comments. When I say "WE" did it - I really mean we because a lot of my inspiration comes from you guys and how happy I feel when I read my emails or hear how excited my clients are when they receive their pieces. It constantly inspires me to be able to create something that brings happiness into someone else's home. I love creating beautiful pieces with vibrant colors because without color our world would be a pretty bland place to live. So, I hope to keep bringing color into your lives and your homes - so please keep the positive energy flowing! ;)

Speaking of, here's a few more pieces that I was able to put up in my shop today. I'll be quite busy within the next few weeks working on commission pieces, so there's a little bit of a wait time at the moment, but if you're interested please don't hesitate to email me with any questions at velvetthronedesigns@gmail.com

* P.S. - Valentine's Day is just around the corner, don't forget to give your walls a "Pink" me up this V-Day with one of my lovely pieces! wink wink ;)

XOXO,

Kathy

Snakes, Leopards, and Paintings...Oh My!

2013-01-26T17:14:00.004-08:00

I've been super busy with VTD and work these days, that it's been so tough to get back on LMS posting so I really apologize for the delays. I've added a few more items in my shop and am still working on a few other pieces. I did promise some "wearable art" pieces so that will definitely be coming soon - p.s. there's a clue in the pics below ;)

* Photos by ME

These framed pieces can be purchased HERE

(Yup, these gorgeous curved frames are included!)

Love Is In The Air & On Your Walls

2013-01-13T18:32:00.001-08:00

I received my Kate Spade book in the mail this week and it's beautiful HOT PINK hardcover reminded me that one of my favorite holiday's is just around the corner. YES! Valentine's Day! So, I've added a few Valentine's Day paintings to my SHOP. They are lovely to enjoy in your own home or to share with a loved one. Snatch em' up before it's too late.

XOXO,

Kathy

DVF Inspired Abstract Artwork

2013-01-08T16:24:00.003-08:00

Abstract art prints are being seen on the runway more and more these days. If ya love fashion, what better way to glamorize your walls than with these new DVF inspired abstract art pieces in my SHOP. Come and check them out! :)

inspired by this...

xo,

Kathy

Out With The Old & In With The New

2013-01-07T15:09:00.004-08:00

With the start of the New Year comes purging out old things and I have a ton of that to do starting with my makeup. When I was younger I wanted to be a professional makeup artist for the stars since my idol was Mally Roncal, so when I met her about 7 years ago at Bendels in NYC, I was beyond excited! However, the reality of it is that I don't really wear much makeup in general so a lot of the makeup that I do have is what I've collected through the years so much of it all should be tossed (who knows what's growing inside those eyeliner tubs - yuckie!).

So, to make things easier in the morning, I've designated one small drawer for all my necessities I need right when I jump out of the shower. I can just open up that drawer and everything is right there - my body lotion, eye cream, day facial lotion, deodorant, night cream, eye drops, hair ties, and hair serum. It sounds like a lot but I put a basket in there that fit it all perfectly so I'm happy - CHECK! That's done. I don't know why I never thought of that before!

Now moving on to the next project - lip gloss purging! I threw out a ton of old glosses and kept the old MAC ones so I could collect 6 containers and trade them in for a free lipstick. On a side note - it's a little guilty pleasure of mine to indulge in a little reality TV (Erik rubbed off on me a bit) - actually my favorite has been The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. I've been hooked on that show since the 1st season and now it's on it's third, but anyhow, back to my point. All those girls have super shiny lips and I guess that's where my lipgloss obsession took off. Yikes, that's a little scary to admit - but I do love my lip glosses. I was loving MAC creamsheen for a while, but I noticed that after a while with it on, it would just disappear. So I've decided to turn back to my all time favorite - Chanel lipgloss. Years ago, my lipgloss go to was Chanel Glossimer Satinette 60 which they have already discontinued. So, I decided to try another lip gloss that I loved and when I googled it to see if it was still available I also found that it was also Lisa Vanderpump's favorite lipgloss too! Well, well...since she is my favorite housewife and her lipgloss looks amazing on her I decided to try it.

Actually, I found that Lisa Vanderpump said she mixed both Chanel Glossimer 11 Twinkle with Glossimer 2 in Brilliance. So, with a Nordstrom note and a Nordies gift card later I was able to treat myself to both so I could try it. Chanel glosses are a bit more expensive than the usual gloss but you really do get what you pay for - it looks gorgeous on, the shine is incredible, and it feels great - it's gel based so it coats your lips evenly and stays put longer. Yay, so my lip gloss pile is gone and I'm only sticking to these two bad boys (well, for now ;).

So, I'm off to tackle more purging so I can relax tonight and catch the new bravo show The Vanderpump Rules. ;) ...yup, Erik's rolling his eyes! Hope it's a good one.

Have a great week!

Kathy

Happy New Year's Eve!

2012-12-31T13:51:00.002-08:00

Whether you party it up tonight or keep it low key, I wish you all a wonderful New Years! Tomorrow will be the start of a brand new year, and I hope it starts out with laughter, smiles, a toast, and a kiss! I'll see you all in the new year (and LMS will be back to regular posts). Thanks for sticking with me! Have a great time tonight!

Xo,
Kathy

Happy New Years from our crazy family to yours!

(Ryker's fit for tonight)

A Heartfelt Merry Christmas from Our Family to Yours

2012-12-23T22:40:00.002-08:00

Hi Everyone,
I'm sorry I've been MIA for a while. The holidays are always so busy and it's nice to take a break to spend quality time with my family and friends. My kids are growing up so fast - I can't believe that my little man is almost 6 months old. Also, aside from that, I've been noticing just how much more grown up my daughter really is since I can now carry on an adult conversation with her. It strikes me how incredibly amazing she is, how intuitive she is, and especially how she is able to connect with people despite how young she is. Before she goes to bed at night I brush her hair and we chat about our day and she tells me what part she liked the most and what she wishes she could change. In those moments that we share together, our connection is so strong that I just want to hold her tight all through the night. With everything that has been going on lately, especially with that horrific tragedy in Connecticut, I can't imagine a world without my kids and it's incredibly unfortunate that although the holidays are supposed to be a joyous time of the year, to others is may be the complete opposite. My heart goes out to all of those affected by this tragedy, I pray every night for the victims and their families that they find the strength to get through this time. A friend of mine told me a story the other day about her 5 year old nephew, who had seen what had happened on the news on that very sad day, and this is what he told his mother - "Maybe God wanted those kids to spend Christmas with Him in Heaven." This brings tears to my eyes and reminds me just how amazing children really are.

This Christmas, I wish you and your loved ones a wonderful holiday filled with love, laughter, and good cheer. We all deserve happiness, so be sure to treasure each moment.

Love you guys and I'll see you in the new year,
Kathy

Ho Ho Ho!!! ;)

VTD Shop Update

2012-12-11T20:18:00.000-08:00

My Kate Spade abstract art collection is ready to be purchased in my shop. If you order by the 19th, it should be able to still get to it's destination by Christmas. Oh, and don't forget to save 15% off by punching in the discount code VTDXMAS at checkout. I hope you guys enjoy it!

-Kathy

Kate Spade L-O-V-E - VTD Series

2012-12-09T16:30:00.001-08:00

Kate Spade has always been one of my favorite brands because everything there is just beautiful eye candy and every time I go in their stores I feel like a kid in a candy store! It's been my inspiration for quite a while now and I wanted to do a series of paintings inspired by the one and only, Kate Spade.

Image via

So, here's a glimpse of what's to come of this wonderful, colorful, feel good, Kate Spade inspired collection. It should be launched by this Tuesday in my Etsy VTD shop, so please stop by!

image by ME

Kathy

Find the Perfect Present & Save 15% off Velvet Throne Shop today!

2012-12-06T08:02:00.003-08:00

Hi everyone!
Please come and check out some new pieces from my shop and enjoy 15% off with discount code VTDXMAS at checkout. If you have any special requests for paintings or accessories please email me here - the discount still applies for custom orders as well, so if you have any questions or ideas please don't hesitate to contact me. My inventory is slimming down a little so I'll be adding a few more babies soon, even some wearable art pieces which I'm super excited to show you.

All my pieces come wrapped nicely with tissue paper and are ready to give as a gift right out of the box. So, if you're planning on having it sent directly to another address as a present, please send me a message and I can include a personalized card in the box addressed and signed by you with a personal message. :)

ho ho ho & xo's,

Kathy

Hello December!

2012-12-03T23:07:00.002-08:00

Wow! The last month of the year is already here and I can't believe it's time to bring out the Christmas decorations once again. It's unbelievable to think that this time last year Ryker was just a tiny little thing inside my tiny little belly bump! It's hard to believe how fast he's grown. At his last Doc visit she said that he is in the 97+ percentile in height and the 90 Percentile in weight....the boy's BIG and a part of me is sad that he's growing so fast!

Ryker in my tummy just last year...

Ryker outside of my tummy NOW!

Last year, we got a larger Christmas tree and I decorated it with Peacock feathers and jewel toned ornaments. This year, we let Keira pick out the tree and she picked out a smaller Douglas fir which I thought was so cute and just perfect for us. Great job Keira!

I originally wanted to decorate the tree with Black & Gold Christmas ornaments, but decided to save some money this year and go with what we had before since our personalized ornaments collection has already started to grow. In my opinion, what better way to decorate your family Christmas tree than with your own sentimental family ornaments... so I thought I would continue on that tradition going forward. Hmm...what should I do this year?

I have some DIY project ideas for Christmas ornaments and gifts I also want to share with you so please stay tuned. I apologize for the slight delay in posts last week the holidays are always so busy, but I promise more posts this week :)

Also, I've added more paintings to my shop, please stop by and check it out HERE.

xo,

Kathy

DIY: Dining Room Chair Makeover

2012-12-01T14:43:00.000-08:00

Hi LMS readers, Breanne here again to share a DIY Dining Room Chair Makeover I just completed with you all.

I started by removing all the seats with my handy electric screwdriver. Note: Every homeowner should own one of these! My husband helped me sand them with an orbital sander or you can use a detail sander, both are great tools to have for refinishing furniture. We first used a medium grit sandpaper to strip off the finish and went back over it with a fine grit sandpaper to smooth out the wood. The second sandpaper is especially important when you are lacquering or using a high gloss paint. The glossy paint will show every blemish in the wood. We hand sanded the detailed part of the back of the chair.

We primed the chairs using the Black Krylon paint from Ace Hardware for $4.50 per can. Each chair took about 1 can of primer and one can of paint. I recommend letting the chairs dry overnight. Tinted primer for whichever color paint you use is best. Then we went over the primer with the Krylon Black Gloss spray paint also $4.50 per can. Be sure to use long even strokes because as we found, if you spray too much in one spot you'll get drip marks.

I wanted the fabric for the seats to be a contemporary print, but wanted to keep my black and white theme. So, I found an upholstery fabric in a great Ikat print at JoAnn's. I purchased 3 1/2 yards for $30 and still had some left over which I can use to make place mats or a table runner with. I didn't get fancy with upholstering them. I simply lined up the fabric and pulled it tight around to the under side and stapled the fabric with a staple fun. I screwed the seats back on the chairs and Voilà! My "new" chairs were done just in time for Thanksgiving.

Now I just need a bold print rug and some curtains and my dining room will be complete. If you're willing to put a little elbow grease into it, you can create some really beautiful custom pieces!

Enjoy!
Breanne

Ryker's Room Revisited

2012-11-25T15:23:00.000-08:00

Hope you're enjoying your weekend! I've been really busy with family get togethers and prepping our house for Christmas. We finally got our Christmas tree this morning so we're getting ready to set that up tonight - Keira can't wait and well, Ryker's too excited he has no words at all ;)
Some of you were asking a few questions about Ryker's room and I noticed that I never did an update on the final look of his room, so here it is.

Q. What white color did you use in Ryker's room?
A. Gallery White - Behr Premium Plus Ultra (from Home Depot)

Q.Where did you get the tree decals?
A. from Styleywalls

Q. Where did you buy that Gold Mirror?

A. Home Goods, and it was super cheap on clearance - it was a distressed white color and I just spray painted it gold. You can check out my DIY project HERE.

Q. Where did you buy the wooden changing table?

A. It was a Craigslist find - it's actually a rolling bar - the top opens up into a large table and the doors swing open (it's great for hiding extra diapers and necessities). I initially was planning on painting it a bold color, like yellow, but I decided that the natural wooden elements incorporated into the room would add a bit of ruggedness which I loved.

Q. Do you have prints available of that yellow painting in Ryker's room?

A. No, at the moment I only have original paintings in my shop, but if you're interested in a commission piece, big or small, I can definitely paint a special piece to match your nursery or room. You can contact me via email here. Also, you can check by shop frequently as I normally add new pieces.

Thanks guys and if you have anymore questions please email me. I'll try to get back to them asap.

Have a great week!

Kathy