Amazing Grays

Kitchen Updates...It's almost done!

2013-04-15T07:00:00.000-05:00

I finished alot of updates on the kitchen a few months ago...

And then kinda forgot I had taken these pictures :)

Only 3 lonely to-do's remain on the Kitchen To-Do List. Sometimes I have to look back just to remember how far this kitchen has come.

I re-painted the walls from "Hot Chocolate" to "Partridge Gray":

(And, you've seen my wine rack already)

Installed open shelving over the secretary to display white flea market ceramics:

Enlarged a wedding photo of our cake-feeding fun, mod-podged it onto foam-board, and hung it with an old iron skillet where I painted "Happiness is homemade":

Took down my tiny framed chalkboard and went all in with a chalkboard wall for menus and schedules:

Added an over-door shelf on the doorway leading to the dining room:

Re-purposed a white ceramic hippo planter into a cloth napkin holder:

Hung an antique wood shelf in the breakfast nook for more open display:

Like an old family photo of lovebirds behind a heart-shaped cookie cutter:

And praying angels on a pedestal beside my favorite picture of my grandparents:

Placed my favorite fedora, Sean's favorite fedora, and Sean's grandfather's old newsboy cap on coat hooks behind the reading chair:

Brought in a throw-back diy project from the early blogging days with this serving tray for candles and cotton:

Removed the shades from this chandelier and removed the fabric from the cornice boxes, added wood appliques, and painted them white:

A little before and after action?

It probably took 86 projects to get it to this point, but I think it shows! It feels polished but aged, cozy but airy. And it's almost right where I want it to be.

Happy Monday!

Katie

Navy, Herringbone Dresser for Living Room

2013-04-10T20:35:00.001-05:00

I'm still here...Busy and productive as ever. Just simply enjoying more "doing" and less "sharing" as before I guess! I will share another piece added to our living room that really anchored the space and made it feel so much more like home. For our large living space, I pulled all the furniture closer into the center, leaving more room between the sofa and the wall. I hate to have anything hanging on the wall without something below to "ground" it, so I brainstormed a piece to use on this wall that would still allow enough pass-through space for us to walk out into the porch. I LOVE a dresser in the living room!! I've seen it alot lately and they're often paired with lamps and artwork...AND provide a ton more storage.

This is the old dresser I started with:

Because it was not solid wood, stripping and restaining it, like I originally wanted, was a no-go.

And because the top was so badly water-damaged, paint was not going to cover it there.

I needed to paint the bottom and somehow cover the warped top surface.

I remembered seeing a herringbone patterned stained table top from Thistlewood Farms using paint sticks, so that was my game plan for the top.

For the rest...

I could've gone turquoise.

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Or rustic black.

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Or clean white.

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But I wanted something to stand out against our white walls and something more classic, so I decided on navy. I used Krylon's Oxford Blue spray paint after priming.

The top was not difficult, only time consuming. But I found it therapeutic and calming. I took my time putting my puzzle together and wood-glued the paint sticks (which I cut with a miter box and saw) in the herringbone pattern until it was all covered. Sanded, Stained, Poly'd. DONE!

The navy color you see in the above photo is closer to reality...Somehow the pictures inside look way more blue. It wasn't a good day for picture taking so they're all terrible, but it looks AMAZING with antique brass hardware and the Dark Walnut stained top!!

It can be the perfect toy stow-away when future kids are using our living room as a playground. Everything can be out of site but in reach.

I'm a little obsessed with the top. It was a slight labor of love so I find myself running my hand across it every time I walk by. It's so rich and pretty!

~The Grays

Movie House Inspiration

2013-02-18T18:54:00.002-06:00

When I'm watching a movie with a great set, I spend more time daydreaming than following the plot. I get lost examining the molding, the floors, the architectural details...Especially if it's an old southern plantation home or farmhouse. So much so, that now even when I do gasp at a thrilling or exciting part of a movie, Sean will say, "I know, you just LOVE that doorknob."

Two movies in particular feature houses that I've picked apart and drawn inspiration from for our own house.

We recently watched The Lucky One (Sean's independent redbox pick:) and I fell in love. Another Nicholas Sparks novel-turned-movie, it follows a marine returning home from war, who travels to the Louisiana to pay thanks to a stranger whose picture he attributes with keeping him safe. The woman lives in an old, white farmhouse where she runs a dog kennel.

Dogs, old homes, and the southern life...we knew we were in heaven!

I knew while watching it, that this home had more authentic character and "life" in it than most movie sets, and after reading about it, I learned why.

The old farmhouse used for the movie was a sugar plantation in the 1800s just outside of New Orleans.
After Hurricane Katrina, the home owners were able to salvage most of the furniture that was original to the farmhouse and it was used in the movie as well.
The production designer said the woman living in the home lived to be 98 years old. While preparing to film, they kept finding her paintings hidden throughout the house. With the family's permission, her artwork was displayed throughout the home in the movie.

"She finally got her show,” she said.

The grandmother in the movie, played by Blythe Danner, painted in her art studio just off the kitchen, so it all tied together so well.

Of course there's a breathtaking porch, where they've put a wooden kitchen table and chairs. I looove this idea. The brackets on the screen door are classically southern too.

I don't have a screen door yet, but it's on the list!

The glass front cabinets are gorgeous, but still not practical for me. I can barely reach them so things often get tossed that extra 3 inches while I cross my fingers that nothing breaks.

I think I gasped when I saw this frame. I saw so many things...the white railed porch and black shutters, a black door with old white door knob, sunbeams through the window on the hardwood floor, transom window, chalkboard, and antique pendant lighting.

The shutters in this shot, overlooking the rose garden, appear to be operable. So charming!

There are alot of black interior doors in this house and they look so gorgeous with the white casings and antique wood furniture. I bought my black paint months ago but haven't taken the plunge yet because in my house, wherever there is a door, there are 4 or 5 right beside it. I'm not sure if I'm going all in or if there can be a mix of black and white.

This set had white doors too, but each stands on its own. Hmmm. I also really like that smoky antique blue color.

I love those schoolhouse lights.

They give such a soft glow.

This house also mixes the white trim with some dark trimwork, seen here. Gorgeous and rich, but I don't think I'd ever go that route.

As with any farmhouse, there was also a barn. Oh how I love a dusty old barn full of treasures.

Who knows, maybe one day I'll find an old farmhouse that needs some tlc and a family to call it home.

{Screencap source}

The second movie, Life As We Know It, is much more pottery-barn inspired and not as "old" but there were so many things that I drew inspiration from.

I love all the natural jute/rattan/woven material in light colors, which is what I chose for our living room blinds. It's a perfect mix with the gray flagstone fireplace and white cabinets.

Our kitchen has a sitting area attached like this one, and I really like that bench seating. I've been on the lookout for an old church pew to use like this for years.

More of that bench seating in white, mixed with dark furniture. And I like the plantation shutters too.

I think the mix of calm neutrals with that vibrant but peaceful abstract is perfect.

Screencap source

We went to see "Safe Haven Saturday night for a delayed Valentines date. I had not anticipated a movie more than this one in a long time. After reading the book just before and picturing so many scenes and sets in my mind, I hoped to see detailed views of a fixer-upper cottage in the woods and a North Carolina family home.

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I just wanted to scrub that gorgeous, dirty paneling clean...And pick up a brush and help her paint that yellow floor!

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In the book, she spruces up the cottage with minimal funds and elbow grease, but I don't remember seeing too much of it in the movie. I can't wait for it to come out on dvd so I can study it all.

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{The family home}

I could tell it would be one of those movies I can watch a million times. The scenery, sets, and sunsets were beautiful. Another inspiration source to add to the files!

Hope you enjoyed!

Katie

DIY Over-Fridge Wine Rack

2013-02-01T19:40:00.001-06:00

I built me a wine rack, yall!

Our kitchen has been undergoing alot of character building lately. What was an outdated, blank-slate kitchen with no built-ins or "character nooks", is now becoming a more customized and functional space. You can remind yourself how our kitchen started here and here and here.

The mini-cabinets everyone has over the refrigerator were never used for much in our house.

Before:

I decided to create a built-in wine rack to utilize and showcase the space, like this picture shows.

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I loved the look of the X cube wine racks, like this one from Pottery Barn.

I considered buying a ready-made wine rack with the correct dimensions and placing it inside.

I couldn't let myself do that. It's too easy.

Duh.

I couldn't even buy wood for the slats at Lowes or Home Depot. So this is what I did...

I first removed the doors, then the random assortment of screws, pictures, magnets, and a wedding invitation I had misplaced before rsvp-ing...oops.

I sawed off the center vertical piece of wood then painted the inside to match the cabinets.

I found 2 wood crates at Jo Anns ($12 each) that when placed side by side were the perfect length to fill the cabinet.

I painted both crates the same color.

I bought 2 pieces of scrap shelving from ReStore for $2 each and cut my pieces to create the "X" slats to separate.

For each crate, I needed one 19.5"x9.25" piece.

And two 9.25"x9.25" square pieces.

I placed the 3 wood pieces inside to insure that they fit, then used mending plates to connect the 2 smaller pieces.

I screwed the mending plate into the front facing side, bracing the two small pieces together like a bridge over the long piece.

Then, I slid it out...

and flipped those pieces so that the mending plate was now at the back of the crate.

I placed the large piece in between, and installed the second mending plate on the front facing side. This way, the 2 separate pieces were connected at the front and the back.

I painted everything and waited so impatiently for it to dry.

I ended up needing to saw about 1/8th of an inch from the inside edge of the open cabinet to have just enough room to slide the crates inside. It just took a minute.

And with that, it was done!

I propped my wine painting from my old apartment on a brick over the cabinet, with a wine bottle, wine jug, and wine glass.

Now I most certainly need more than 6 bottles of wine.

I will need to buy some more.

Darn.

Two, $12 crates + $4 in scrap shelving + paint and mending plates on hand = $28 wine rack.

But having the wine so accessible at my fingertips...

Priceless.
OR dangerous.

We'll see...

Be Merry!

Katie

Fresh and Airy Art Studio

2013-01-17T21:26:00.004-06:00

I just recently got around to giving my art room a fresh coat of paint and a carpet removal. For 2 years, I tolerated the electric lime and raspberry splashed on the walls of this room, for lack of energy and lack of time. I just couldn't bare to paint another room or rip more strips of carpet.

Before:

But now its done and I can paint and create without getting a headache!

After:

First up was removing the beige carpet, already spotted with multiple uh-ohs from paint splatters and spills. After tossing it all out, I gave the subfloor a sweeping, caulked and wood-filled the gaps, and then sanded it all lightly to make smooth. I used SW Porch and Floor Paint in Glidden's Olivewood (2 coats), coated with Pro Finisher Water Based Polyurethane (2 coats) then installed quarter round to the base board. Phew!! The floor process was a little tiresome, but not difficult to complete.

Finally, the walls were painted in SW Fragile Beauty.

It's fresh and clean. An airy, blank slate for injecting color into works of art.

I still use my Meemaw's butcher block that I painted white and stocked with art supplies.

(On the shelf; my abstract straw art from first grade :)

On one open wall, I hung my open back frames that had been dispersed among closets and shoved in corners. Now they're visible, accessible, and look pretty cool while waiting for the canvas to fill them.

On the opposite wall I hung random pieces of art, paintings that don't have a place in our house, and some paintings just waiting to be painted over.

I love the color and sheen of the floors and they wipe up easily.

I keep the bulk of the art supplies and crafty things tucked away in the closet to maintain a clean and open space.

I keep it quiet in here.

Billie Holiday sings. I paint.

Winning combination.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Katie

Arkansas Will Never Yield, No 2

2013-01-07T07:00:00.000-06:00

My friend Fredisha has been saying for years that when she finished dental school and had her own place, she wanted a big razorback painting like one I auctioned off for the boys club a few years ago. She kept her word and now has this 24x30 painting to make a statement in her own dentist's townhouse.

It was nice to paint during the holidays with Christmas music playing in my newly redecorated art room that I can share soon.

Keep in Touch!

The Grays

Industrial, Aged Coffee Table ReDo

2013-01-04T07:00:00.000-06:00

I first diy'd this flea market coffee table while living in our college rental house. It was given a nice little facelift with a simple stain and paint treatment and fit well with our standard contemporary style at the time.

Before:

But in our current living room, it was too bland and needed a little more attention to make a statement. I loved the look of the industrial cart coffee tables, with hinges, bolts, and various other hardware pieces. I really wanted to find an old cart or door to use, but decided to give that look to the table we already had. I tried to find large casters that could be attached to the underside after cutting the legs off, but couldn't find any I liked, so I put that on the back burner.

I sanded her down.

Rounded the edges with extra sanding (for a worn effect and future little ones)

Then abused it with a hammer and nails for an aged look. I beat it in spots and drug the claw in streaks until I had what I wanted.

I painted a coat of light gray paint over the surface. Then added a little white paint and watered it down, and quickly gave it a streaky coat over that. Since it was lightly painted and watered down, it dried quick and I repeated that step, adding more white to lighten it again, and more water to thin it out.

As a last touch up coat, I added streaks of gray and light gray until I liked it. I used a board as a straight edge and drug a nail along the table to scrape the gray paint off. I spaced it every 3 inches or so to create a faux plank top.

I thickened the line at the ends with a little brownish/black paint to round it off. And for the last step, I applied Minwax Paste Finishing Wax to get a protected, hard, smooth finish.

I picked up two hinges at the hardware store and spray painted them in layers of dark brown, metallic, and hammered spray paints and attached them with mismatched screws. Then screwed in some copper bolts at the ends of the planks. The legs stayed black, at least until I find some casters that I like to replace them with.

Here's the After:

I love how the gray-washing turned out, giving it dimension and aged character.

Distressing close-up:

It reminds me of a castle door.

And it fits in so much better now. There's a level of comfort to having distressed furniture in your home. The more use, abuse, and "uh-oh"s, the better!

Thanks for stopping by!
The Grays

Sean's Sumo Career

2013-01-03T08:00:00.000-06:00

A local church held an event designed to draw youth in the community into the youth group. Several faculty members from the school, including Sean, were asked to Sumo wrestle against each other. Word spread of who all would be taking part, and the turnout was huge. Hundreds of kids filled that gym to see their favorite teachers, coaches, and administrators act a fool.

Of the 9 fights featured on the lineup, Sean's was next to last. He would be up against Coach Clay, the head basketball coach he works with.

{Clay}

{Gray}

I can't tell you how much I laughed before he ever even made a move. It was hilarious in person!

The slippery socks were a must. All for entertainment value.

Sean ran and jumped to bounce off of him.

Coach Clay threw him...

...to the ground into the crowd of kids.

In the end, Sean won by count of 3-1, although I'm not sure it matters.
But I am sure he would say it does.
Either way, it was so much fun and all the participants were such great sports for putting on the show for the kids.

Til Next Time!
~The Grays

2013. Let's do this.

2013-01-01T14:14:00.003-06:00

I'm a planner.

So is he.

We like to research, analyze, and make the best possible plan for any situation. The right move, the right decision, the right timing.

It's a good characteristic, most of the time. But this New Year's Eve, I was reminded that only so much can be controlled. Some things; some nights, have to just happen as they may.

I'm working on trusting that there is a reason that every moment unfolds the way it does. Even if I don't play all my cards just right.

Life is what happens to you
While you're busy making other plans

-John Lennon

I bought my sparkly New Year's Eve shorts months ago. I checked with all our friends and scoped out plans a month in advance. We were ready.

Then,

Plan a fell through.

Plan b fell through.

c...d...

Nothing went as planned.

The day before, Sean's practice was scheduled for 8 am New Year's Day, so too long of a night was out of the question.

We were so bummed. And felt lame.

We watched a lifetime movie at home in the dark, and when it ended, started discussing plan e...Ordering a pizza and staying home. Sean drifted off to sleep. A new low.

Then Meghan called and said their plans fell through too. The rejects decided to join forces and turn the night around. They called Blue Fin to see if there were any (very) last minute open reservations and we got a spot for 4 a couple hours later.

Me: "But what's the plan after dinner?"

Meghan: "We're not making any more plans. Plans haven't been working. Let's just go."

Ok, this is new to me.

Let's do this.

{How delicious is that picture!?}

We went to dinner in the pouring rain, but it slacked off just in time for us to walk onto Main St.

We donned party hats and had sushi and drinks.

We walked to Flying Saucer and met up with Adam and Courtney, but we couldn't tolerate it long.

This makes us sound so, so old, but the band's volume was too unbearably loud. Like a knife stabbing in my ears with every high pitched blare of the horns. It's not good when the music sounds better outside, a room away, or in the bathroom stall. Old, we may be, but none of us could stand it longer than an hour.

We made the move to Mulligans and Erin joined us for the night.

We danced to the band playing an enjoyably volume.

Taylor drummed.

And we rang in 2013 with champagne and kisses.

Everyone kept saying how glad they were that we all ended up coming out. We had so much fun.

More than I could have "planned" for.

“And now we welcome the new year, full of things that have never been”
― Rainer Maria Rilke

Here's to 2013. May it be;

Unplanned. Unafraid. Unforgettable!

Happy New Year!

The Grays

~It's a Wonderful Life~

2012-12-26T23:27:00.001-06:00

I can’t articulate why, but I think this is one of my favorite Christmases to date. I laughed more than I have in a long, long time. We were as busy as always but were more relaxed than ever and fully enjoyed all the moments that are unique to the holiday season. Cinnamon rolls and Holiday Tea for breakfast, movie nights in comfy clothes, fun with neighbors and friends, and deeply steeped traditions with family.

We had get-togethers with both of Sean’s families before Christmas.

{The Grays at Christmas #1}

{Sean's cousins with Meemaw}

This is what happens when you fall asleep after Christmas dinner...

Christmas Eve with my extended family was held at the church gym. We ate pasta shells and casseroles prepared by the best cooks on earth.

We also played bingo...

Looked A-DOR-ABLE in tiny baby Christmas pigtails...At least Abby did.

Goofed around...

And took a couple of our bingo wins outside to fly (kites)

{Marissa, me, and Bella}

We had a puppet show for the kids about Jesus, played piano and sang carols, had an ornament exchange, and listened to the Christmas story in the Bible.

{The whole crew}

The chaos was fun, lively and full of Christmas spirit. Back at home that night, we built a fire and unwound with some homemade Holiday Tea and a Hallmark Christmas movie.

Then these three girls came over to complete our night.

Avery buttered up to Seany for "popcorns"

And tried her best to imitate KK's fishy face. Bless her!

She shared her popcorns with "Oliber"

And they joined forces to beg for more.

(I would give in every time to that...)

Then the boys got suited up in their Christmas Eve-ning attire.

Poop knooows he looks fresh!

We all danced through the house, sang, and then snuggled by the fire to rest up for Christmas Day.

As is tradition, the babies opened their own Christmas presents on Christmas morning.

So sweet of those boys to "share"!

Owen wanted to take his new friend outside to play.

Sweet baby boys!

It was hard to capture Fiona with her toy. This is her first Christmas here with us and we don't know how often, if ever, she had things of her own. She darted away with her monkey with lightening-fast toenails clicking on the hardwood...to the kitchen...back down the hallway...through the living room to the bedroom. We caught glimpses of her every now and then but she was not going to sit still with her toy!

Sean's parents and Meemaw came over to give and receive more presents.

We eventually found that Fiona had hoarded every toy into the bedroom.

"Mua-Hah-Haaaaaa...My master plan has worked!"

It was already an eventful Christmas morning and the day was just getting started.

...And the poops were pooped.

Next stop was Nonnie's for Christmas Day.

Iphones, Ipads, O-geez...

{Can you tell there are 3 of them in this picture?}

{EC and Izzy}

Present time brought more entertainment and laughs than I ever could've imagined. But all in great spirit and good fun.

{Ellen-Claire, Jenni, Tim, and Bella}

Phillip might have been just a wee-bit big for this jacket...

O.m.g I died. I was crying/laughing...which is the best feeling in the world.

{Ellen-Claire, Lexie, Marissa, and Bella}

Aaaand then, the "Christmas" sweaters were doled out.

And no one was safe.

Marissa loves hers!

Yay Joan!

Sean was not the recipient of this shoulder-padded piece of heaven, however, he was dying to wear it. The sensible, stylish, and well-fitting shirts he got were nice, but where's the fun in that?

Group shot!

"Oh what fun!"

Dad and Joan put together a basket for us...how well do you think they know us two?? Sports Authority, TJ Maxx and Lowes...sums us up in a nutshell! Throw in an Italian, vintage Santa, a bottle of wine from the Biltmore, and Crockpot recipe cards and you've hit the nail on the head!

To top it all off, it did this...

...on Christmas night.

We bundled up the day after Christmas for sushi dinner (with a half off credit) and a movie in Memphis (with gifted free tickets) in the beautiful frosty weather. Just can't beat it.

How blessed we are, me and my love.

It sure is a wonderful life, this life with you.

We hope your holidays have been safe and warm too!

~The Grays

All I want for Christmas

2012-12-21T18:00:00.001-06:00

Every year when Christmas gets closer, Sean and I talk about “how” we want to do gifts this time. And so far every year is different. We’ve done traditional surprise gifts after shopping for each other.

And creative stocking stuffers only.

And set a $20 or $30 limit before.

This year, I said, we don’t need anything.

"I just want to spend time with you.”

And that sort of became the unofficial theme.

It is still a little difficult with his 2 away tournaments right around Christmas time, but we’re taking every moment we can. It’s all about taking as much time off work as possible…

...popcorn and a movie…cider and a fire…Christmas lights and Christmas music...Pajamas and slippers...Staying up late and sleeping in...

All while safe and warm in the comfortable confines of home.

Together.

A luxury we must not undervalue when there are people suffering and hearts breaking.

We are together and we are blessed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I don't want a lot for Christmas

There is just one thing I need

I don't care about the presents

Underneath the Christmas tree

I just want you for my own

More than you could ever know

Make my wish come true

All I want for Christmas Is you

I don't need to hang my stocking

There upon the fireplace

Santa Claus won't make me happy

With a toy on Christmas Day

I just want you for my own

More than you could ever know

Make my wish come true

All I want for Christmas is you

Oh I won't ask for much this Christmas

I won't even wish for snow

And I'm just gonna keep on waiting

Underneath the mistletoe

I won't make a list and send it

To the North Pole for Saint Nick

I won't even stay awake to

Hear those magic reindeer click

'Cause I just want you here tonight

Holding on to me so tight

What more can I do?

Baby all I want for Christmas is you

Oh all the lights are shining

So brightly everywhere

And the sound of children's

laughter fills the air

And everyone is singing

I hear those sleighbells ringing

Oh I don't want a lot for Christmas

This is all I'm asking for

I just want to see my baby

Standing right outside my door

Oh I just want you for my own

More than you could ever know

Make my wish come true

Baby all I want for Christmas is You.

MERRY Christmas!!
~The Grays

Update!

2012-12-14T12:23:00.001-06:00

Have you missed me?

I've missed blogging.

And reading blogs.

And uploadng pictures.

And pinteresting aimlessly with my feet propped up for a free minute and my trusty laptop warming my lap.

We've been without it FOREVER now (translation: 2 weeks) as it's been shipped off to get fixed.

And it will still be a little while. Sigh...

I have about 18 topics to share (seriously) so I'm more than ready to get it back.

Living Room...Bedroom...Art Room...paintings...Christmas Home Tour...My husband's recent venture into sumo-wrestling...

Not kidding.

Hang in there with me.

I shall return.

Until then, this face says I'm sorry...

...And you know you can't be mad at that face...

Hopefully coming back SOON!

Katie

Diamond-Pattern Painted Plywood Floor

2012-11-18T00:20:00.000-06:00

How’s it going, friends? I’m anxiously awaiting Thanksgiving break…The food and relaxation is so close I can taste it. Right now, though, I’m full steam ahead on lots of huge projects going on at once. My body is protesting my mind and begging me to stop climbing that darn ladder but I’m running on passion and sweet tea so I’m determined to finish in time for turkey and dressing!

THREE more rooms-worth of crusty carpet have been tossed to the curb! (Have you caught on to my hatred of carpet yet?) I ripped out the carpet in our upstairs hallway a couple months ago. I was inspired by the diamond-patterned floor in these pictures.

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And was crazy enough to tackle it.

I must say, I’ve got quite the skill set with tedious artwork like this. My fault lied, apparently, in choosing the right sealer.

Critical mistake.

One that caused me to complete this entire floor (yes, every single diamond) by hand TWICE. Once wasn’t hard enough, I guess. But I’ll explain the steps and maybe you can do as I say and not as I did…

I started with a rigorous bicep/tricep and forearm workout with the task of ripping all the carpet out and throwing it over the banister.

Next, removed the tack strips. Then filled the holes with wood putty and lightly sanded over any rough spots.

I used porch and floor paint in SW “Accessible Beige” and gave it all 2 coats with a roller.

I figured out the measurements for my diamonds and made a cardboard stencil.

I traced the outlines with chalk and then began painting in the outlines with more porch and floor paint, in “olivewood” by glidden. Then did it all again to coat a second time.

Once everything was painted, which took about a week of working here and there, I was ready to give it a shiny coat of semi-gloss water-based polyurethane. My poor right hand could barely sign my name at work so I was ready to put the seal of approval on this project.

I decided to try Minwax’s Water-Based, Oil-Modified Poly, because it was recommended to be a tougher coating for floors. I knew when coating over a light color, I would need water-based to prevent yellowing. I didn’t know the “Oil-Modified” part of the equation would still make my floors turn a gunky, disgusting yellow almost immediately when dried.

I walked up to the top of the stairs to check the glossy, polished finish…

And I gasped and stared, frozen...Not sure if I wanted to cry, cuss, or scream. So I did a little of all three.

{This picture shows the contrast between the yellowed part and the part and where I later painted over with beige}

After coming-to and pulling myself together, I brainstormed a few remedies to my problem. But all involved painting over it. There was no easy fix. I decided to let it sit for a few weeks, so that maybe the memory of the hours of tedious, meticulous work was a little farther in the past. I figured it was like child-birth. Give it a little while and you’re ready to go again, right?

After walking away from it for a week or so, I was motivated to right the wrong. I didn’t want to use a roller to paint the background beige again, since that would mean starting with a clean slate and having to re-draw every diamond again. Instead, I used a brush to paint beige around and inside every diamond (twice) then painted over each diamond with the darker color as before.

Looking back on it, I don’t even remember how long it took. I blocked out all the negative, I guess. I just know that I love it now that it’s finished! This time, I used Rustoleum Pro Finisher Water-Based Polyurethane for Floors and loved it. No complaints months later…it still looks beautiful. Lesson learned. The hard way! Oh the life of a DIYer...

I installed all the quarter round as the last step and finally closed this chapter.

Before After

As a bonus, I found a little wood console at a thrift store for $12 and it seemed to be the right width for the hallway nook. After sawing a quarter inch off each side and painting it white, it fit snugly inside to make the built-in seem more substantial.

I’d still like to add molding and maybe repaint and restyle the shelves, but it was a perfect find.

I love the feel when walking on the painted floor barefoot. It’s pretty smooth, but textured enough to not be slick. It gives the hallway an artsy look.

After as much as I went through for this floor, I think I would convince myself that I liked it even if I didn't. But thank God I do!

I guess I'm on a painted floor kick lately. 2 more rooms with painted floors are done! Check back with us.

~The Grays

Crawfish Corn Soup and Cozy Fall Moments

2012-11-06T20:05:00.000-06:00

The bright leaves are falling.

The warm flannel sheets are on the bed. The seasonal sinuses and sniffles have hit us hard and it still feels like the most wonderful time of year!

The warm nights by the fire and hot soup on the stove are the perfect cure.

Well, mixed with some of these, of course.

I've put in my good week of puny, sinus mess and now that I'm back to normal, it's Sean's turn. Last night, tacos were on the menu, but I rearranged after getting in and out of the car all day in rainy, cold weather. Crawfish Corn Soup was what we both needed.

It was so good for crawfish lovers and even better tonight as we enjoy what's leftover while sitting by the fire and catching up on dvr.

Here's the easy recipe I grabbed via Tastebook.com

Crawfish & Corn Soup

ingredients

2 tablespoons butter
1 onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 can Rotel Tomatoes
Emeril’s Essence
salt & pepper
2 cans whole kernel corn
1 can cream corn
1 pound Crawfish
1 can Evaporated Milk

directions

Sautee onions, bell pepper, celery, Essence & salt in butter.
Add Rotel & cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Stir in corn, crawfish and milk.
Salt & pepper to taste.
Heat approximately 30 minutes.

Source: Sheila M. Juneau

Last week, adorable kids holding their parents' hands traipsed through the fall leaves in our front yard to trick-or-treat on our door step.

But our very first trick-or-treaters were by far the MOST adorable.

Avery and baby Hadley came to visit in their cowgirl and cow-girl costumes!

How cute are they??

Avery was such a big girl saying "trick or treat" just like mom told her. And she got the family treatment when it came to doling out the candy!

We played around for a minute while we waited for Seany to get home from work.

Yay, Seany's here!

We ordered pizza and watched movies amidst the doorbell rings from superheros, princesses, and ninjas asking for candy. Since I was sick then, part of me wanted to turn the light out and retreat to my bed, but I didn't have the heart to. The kids made me smile and it was worth it.

We're both recovering and starting to feel back to normal. Although the days are always long when you don't feel well, having a soft place to land at the end of the day is an absolute blessing.

Autumn Blessings,

The Grays

Halloween on Beale 2012

2012-10-31T08:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Halloween 2012!!

We always have a blast dressing up for Halloween and tend to get pretty creative with our costumes. But for the past 2 years, we didn't celebrate with costumes and parties so we were really anticipating this Halloween.

After I came home from a hair appointment with blunt bangs, Sean said I looked like a little doll. The ideas snowballed from there and we eventually landed on being a ventriloquist and a ventriloquist's doll.

We rounded up our group of friends for a Saturday night Halloween bash on Beale.

I turned a polka-dot silky tube top into a skirt by just tying it around my waist. I made the bow-ties from glittery fabric. I pulled everything else from my closet except the shoes, that I found last minute on clearance for $10!

I created the doll-face with the help of youtube videos, facial contouring, chin-lines for the "dummy" mouth and over-the-top lashes.

Logan and Sara were adorable burglars, Devin was Popeye, and Tommy and his plus-one for the night, "Julianne", were caught in bed...hilarious.

"Oops! Was it something I said?"

We met up with Taylor across the bridge, who set us up with rooftop access downtown to pre-game before going to Beale.

The view was awesome. The weather was cold.

Thank goodness we could enjoy it from the warmth of the party room inside the glass walls!

We knew Taylor was going as Peter Pan. We knew Erin was going as Tinkerbell.

...But we didn't tell.

Sneaky Sneaky...

I always thought Tinkerbell was a bitch, so I told her to act like it.

Erin ~~manned~~ wo-manned up on a half marathon in Conway (2 hours away) went to a family event, then drove back here just in time to celebrate Halloween with us. That's a woman right there!

Since she would be gone friday and saturday, I whipped her costume up out of a $3 sequined tank I found, elastic and tulle for the tutu, and slippers.

Sean, Tommy, and "Julianne"

Popeye

The burglars celebrating.

Playing this character was fun!

I'm not sure if Sean had money in his "ventriloquist's suitcase" from our dummy show or for bartending, but whatever it was...he danced while earning it.

Then he let his suspenders loose to dance with a criminal and Peter Pan.

But had to get back to bartending when the burglar tried to steal the loot.

Tink sprinkled fairy-dust on everyone...

...Even the inanimate lobby statues.

We blared some music...got hyped up...had a drank or two.

Then the creepy mustache man and his creepy doll were ready to hit Beale!

On the way, we stopped by the ATM for cash.

And the burglars busted into Bank of America.

Totally kidding. Obvi.They were just ready to bust some moves.

We hit the Saucer.

(See...I even made her a wand with a sparkly 'E'! It's the little things...)

And 152 for a minute. Nothing blogworthy there, as usual.

Finally at our favorite fun-stop, Alfreds, we were able to get comfy and get rowdy.

Cute Sara

We are so glad to have Tommy back home! He's been in the Navy and gone from home for several looong years.

Tink and Sara

My fave pic of. you. ever.

What can I say, I have a knack for paparazzi photography...

Tinker and Peter

(Taylor made his own costume! So impressed)

I smiled occasionally! But not often...it just wasn't right.

I love you even with a creepy pedofile mustache...That's some love right there.

(It was gone the next day and the stubble was all back...Phew)

I hope your Halloween is light-hearted, fun and festive! And I hope wherever you are, you are safe from storms and praying for those who aren't.

Everyone be safe!

The Grays

Fireplace Accessories

2012-10-28T19:56:00.000-05:00

It's fireplace season! Which begins my constant inner debate... Do I park it in front of the fire on a cold, windy weekend and not move all day? Or do something...anything? Once I sit it lures me in...

We've had a fire 3 weekends already this fall.

Football days...movie nights...potato soup...warm cookies...pumpkin spice cappuccino. MmmMmm.

We gave our gas fireplace a try for 2 years, but it was lacking in warmth and authenticity. Nothing can mimic the smells, crackles and fireflies put off by an old-fashioned fire. We were able to remove the gas logs and replace them with real wood, but still keep the gas for a convenient, automatic start. Perfect solution!

So with a real fireplace in our future for fall and winter, I put "fireplace tools" on my thrift store shopping list a few months ago.

And came home with these for $7.

I also had a plan for this fireplace screen, left to us by the previous owner, that was hunter green and gold.

I adored this black fireplace screen:

Both the tool set and the fireplace screen took just a few coats of high heat black spray paint to update!

After:

I brought in an old galvanized bucket from the garage to keep our logs in. I love that look!

I'd like to add a small ladder for throw blankets soon to prop beside the fireplace too.

source

We had a project-free weekend and spent it watching football and crafting our Halloween costumes around the fireplace! I hope yours was warm and cozy too.

~The Grays

COLOR RUN

2012-10-14T11:50:00.001-05:00

Sean and I ran in The Color Run 5k in Memphis Saturday morning. It was a care-free, stress-free but NOT mess-free run, and it was a WHOLE lot of fun!!

{pre-race}

The atmosphere was funky and cool with people in crazy costumes ready to get covered in color along the way.

We waited in line with Erin and thousands of others for it to be our turn at the starting line. The crowd was so huge, they started runners in groups of 1500 to 2000 in 10-15 minute windows.

Excited!

And finally we were off!

There were different color stops along the way with volunteers lining each side of the road, ready to throw, dump, or squirt their colored powder on the runners. It looks like we had just passed through orange.

I though it would be chilly and prepared with long sleeves...but it was a HOT run! Once at the finish, the energy level was so high, the music was awesome, and the people were crazy!

All done! (Is there something wrong with my pose, Team Yellow Lady?)

I looked like a ninja turtle.

We waited with the crowd for the first "color throw"...

Which turned the bright sunny day into a colorful, smoky club!

And made everyone go nuts 'inside', dancing to the music as the powder rained down.

How cool is that view from outside!?

Stretch Armstrong caught me a pair of socks!

I can't wait to do it again, maybe with a big group of friends. It would be a perfect run for a family.

Love my partner!

Once we had our fill of the festivities, the Grays headed to the drive-thru...

...In all their fifty shades...

Happy Sunday!
The Grays

Sit and Watch the Leaves Turn

2012-10-08T22:13:00.001-05:00

Happy Fall!

Our first fall weekend couldn't have been more perfect. It started with a fountain coke after an early finish on Friday afternoon, followed by joining a friend for her first combine ride! Since the Seattle-girl has lived here, Nina has wanted so bad to ride and I finally seized the opportunity to take her when Joan said that Dad and Uncle Phil were working right on the highway. So easy to stop by for a ride...Why not!

She asked Uncle Phil every question she could think of, and I relived a piece of my youth. When I realized how long it had been since I'd ridden, I felt the need to slow down a bit...if I can make myself...and enjoy simple moments like that that aren't on any agenda or to-do list. The fun and relaxation...and now the memory... was worth more than any project I would have finished in that time. Lesson learned.

:: It's harvest time in this little town
Time to bring it on in, pay the loans down
Fill our diesel tank up, make another round
There's a big red moon comin' up in the sky
Combine's cuttin' in a staggered line
The only time of year we miss the church bells chime
It's harvest time ::

~Luke Bryan

Our crisp, fall weather officially graced us after that afternoon. Friday night a storm came through and we drove through the rain to dinner for Devin's birthday. After dinner we headed downtown. We walked into the bar through mild, gentle temperatures that felt like nothingness on our skin. By the time we walked out it was C.O.L.D!! I spent the weekend finishing up projects and fall decorations, while our first warm fire of the season crackled in the fireplace. I rode the combine cutting soybeans, went out with friends, had dinner with family, watched a scary movie while bundled in warm quilts (Cabin in the Woods...I recommend:), and nested in our festive home.

The Front Porch

I bought those little scarecrows for $2 each at a thrift store (my favorite holiday decor is always second-hand!) It was so meant to be because the stick on the boy scarecrow is WAY longer than the one on the girl. No matter how hard I pushed into the ground, the boy stands a foot taller than her...Like another couple I know...

I did slight repair work after I realized that the boy's clothes wouldn't stay up. I looked out our window to see only a head on a stick. Disturbing but funny. I tied his overalls to his hat and he's been decent ever since.

My mums came back again...Haven't killed them yet! Yay:)

The cornstalks are from my family's cornfield.

I love how in this picture, the wreath on the door looks like it could be a hot-air balloon flying in the sky above the trees...At least in my vivid imagination it does!

The 2 pumpkins on the top step are real, and the others lining each side are plastic pumpkin buckets I got from the thrift store for $.40 each. I removed the handle, spray painted them in Krylon's Pimento, and placed a battery operated flame-less tealight candle in each one.

It was hard to capture on camera, but they glow reeeealy pretty at night!

It's Harvest Time! This old wreath is timelessly cute.

I love a chalkboard on the porch! I put burlap in an old red country basket and placed my flowers inside.

A straw broom, bronze mums, cotton, a cornucopia of woven pumpkins and pinecones, and a mason jar candle of corn formed this fall vingette.

I love fall colors.

Come On Inside

On our entryway table, I put a pair of unique silver pumpkins I found at Goodwill years ago. I spray painted a pheasant figurine to look like a black crow for fall.

For the dining room centerpiece, I put a large ceramic pumpkin from Goodwill ($3), small pumpkins from Goodwill I painted white, cotton in vases with twigs from the yard, and a wooden crate of pine cones. All on top of a black and white polka dot runner I cut from a fabric remnant.

The mantle displays a new (to me) painting I bought for little to nothing at City Thrift on Summer Avenue. It's gorgeous, HUGE, and lights up the whole room. I spray painted the center pumpkin bronze (need I say it...from goodwill) and placed my white spray painted owls beside 2 more thrift pumpkins.

I'm hoping for more weekends just like that one.

Blessed...

~The Grays

Refinished Hardwood Floors...DIY!!

2012-09-23T15:39:00.003-05:00

Is your fall weather as amazing as ours is here? It has completely re-energized me to keep truckin' on the list of home improvements that seems to finally be shrinking instead of growing! Our windows have been open everyday and we've been tackling some BIG ones...

You will soon see that the theme of my current projects is all about flooring. The project I’m sharing today was the catalyst causing the chain reaction of updating every last bit of outdated flooring in our house.

When we moved in to this house, the hardwood floors were a bonus, but the color was a definite negative. Typical of a house built 20 years ago, the color was a light gingery pecan…very orange.

So were the cabinets.

And the vanities.

Orange overkill.

We fixed the orange of the cabinets and the island but were left with floors that looked like this:

The living room was carpeted, so with great joy, last thanksgiving, we ripped it out and replaced it with new wide-planked distressed walnut in a rich, dark mocha color. We knew that one day…eventually, we would get brave enough to refinish the orange wood through the rest of the house to match.

We tackled it over Labor Day Weekend and now that all the work is done, the feel of the house is much more cohesive. Looking back, after setting a game plan and executing the project TOGETHER, it was completely do-able. There are a couple things I would have changed, knowing what I know now, but it was overall a huge success!

I hesitated in doing the project that weekend, because we were having people over Saturday night to watch the first Razorback game and wouldn’t be able to start until Sunday morning. But when I decided that the chosen stain would be Rust-oleum’s Ultimate Wood Stain in Kona, which is a fast dry stain that can be poly’d in an hour, we still went for it. Sunday morning, we moved all furniture off the floors and gave it a sweep. We headed to Home Depot and rented a belt sander for $50 for the day. We also bought:

1. our sanding pads (2 course, one fine)

2. lamps wool applicator

3. Rust-Oleum Ultimate Wood Stain in Kona (just enough for our appropx 600 sq feet of floors including kitchen, hallway, entryway, and dining room) I just read the can for coverage amounts.

4. Rust-Oleum Water-based Polyurethane (enough for 3 coats)

5. Foam paint roller

6. Sanding pads for our hand sander

7. Watering can

8. Stain brush

9. Drop Cloth (to block off areas while hand-sanding.

My total came to $200 for the project (3 rooms!) With about 600 sq ft, we refinished the floors for about $0.33 per square foot.

I got started with this bad-boy sander while Sean worked on school-work. After working with it a bit, I found it worked best to walk slowly, letting it roll forward, as if you’re pushing a stroller or shopping cart, down an entire straight strip, then pull the handle to release. Next, while the belt isn't spinning, turn and get into place to walk back down the next strip (similar to push mowing). This worked better than any kind of back and forth motion, which caused rough or uneven spots. I knew to always go with the grain, but it also helped to always go forward. Whatever you do, keep it in motion at all times that the lever is down and the belt is turning.

It has a bag attached to it that we emptied after each room and virtually no sand was stirred up while using it. I was so impressed!

We walked the entire area with the course first, then back over with the fine sand paper. It took about 6-7 hours if I remember right, to sand the majority of the rooms using the belt sander. It took every bit of finish off by just walking over each strip of floor once.

This is where the hallway (old wood) meets the living room's new wood.

I had faith that I could match it. I tested a small section inside a closet with the Kona and decided that was about as close as it could get!

The dining room and entry had a few tight corners where I couldn't go in a straight line. You try to avoid sweeps or curves when possible but it's not too noticeable when I couldn't go with the grain in a few spots.

Then came the fun part…using a hand-sander to sand every bit of finish off the edges of the entire area. It seemed to take forever. We moved onto staining the kitchen before sanding the edges of other rooms so we could sand during the dry time. We swept as good as we possibly could, several times, to remove the sand, especially from the edges.

Time to stain.

With stain poured in a paint tray and the lambs wool applicator attached to a pole, I applied the stain in sections, (edging along the trim first with a stain brush then applying the rest with the pole) Then, I let it sit for 5-10 minutes per instructions on the can before wiping off the excess.

This is what I would change if I did it again. As I moved on, I realized the wood looked so much prettier when I applied the stain to a section and then immediately wiped off the excess with a swiffer type push mop (which I tied old tee-shirts around).

The stain was so quick drying and the sander sanded so well, that it absorbed immediately and grew darker than what I had ideally pictured when I waited 10 minutes like the can instructed, almost covering the grain. Bonus: doing it this way makes it even quicker. Win-Win. The kitchen still looks great, but the wood grain shows through so much prettier when I moved onto the hall, entry, and dining room and had figured out the trick.

Edging under all that cabinetry was OH SO FUN! Actually, the process went quickly with my steady hand, but it was just killer on the back and legs.

See? Ouch.

Glad to be getting all of this done while I'm still limber and resilient!

We were so stoked to be accomplishing it! And I was thrilled to have a full-time partner for this big project.

I don't expect him to tackle all of my crazy ideas with me. Most I take on myself and can handle fine. This one, I expected to do the same. On our shopping trip to Home Depot (I just asked for help to get the sander home) we were picking out the supplies. I found the stain applicator and threw it in the buggy.

Sean: No, we need 2 of those.

Me: Nu-uh, why would I need two?

Sean: Well how else am I going to help?

Melt my heart. Make my day.

Me: I assumed I was doing it myself, you don't need to help.

Sean: No. You are not doing this yourself.

He was right. I'll admit I would not have come close to finishing it in 2 days if I'd been working alone. It always helps to have a partner!

Stranded without a kitchen, Sean's mom brought us Zaxby's for supper. We refueled and rested up for day two.

Monday, (LOVE work holidays! But find it interesting how I always manage to celebrate Labor day by laboring...) we were able to finish staining the hallway and entry, then begin poly'ing everything.

I drizzled poly from the watering can, rolled on smoothly with a foam roller, then let dry for 2 hours.

All that we couldn't finish in the 2 days of that weekend, was the dining room perimeter. The hand-sanding just took longer than anticipated so we postponed it for the next weekend.

And with all that...I think it's before and after time!

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Refinishing the floors dark made them look antique but current at the same time.

This is a shot of the 4 areas we had to refinish. The kitchen leads into the dining room and entry on the left, and the living room hallway on the right.

Dining room before:

Dining Room After:

Before:

After:

So pretty:

Entry Before:

Entry After:

And now, for possibly the coolest part of the whole thing...

Do you notice what's so great about this picture? It's where the old and the new floor meet, on the right side of the doorway. The planks on the right are wide and were put down a year ago. The skinny planks on the left, we stained to match. Lo and behold, they do!

Close-up of the old floor refinished:

So there you have it.

Two people. Two weekends. Too beautiful.

Would you believe, after all that, I am tackling more floors? If it's any indication of whether you should refinish your floors yourself or not, doing my hardwood made me want to update the other rooms more instead of scaring me away from them. So that's a good thing:)

The floors to get a facelift next involve paint, pattern, plywood, and concrete. Get excited:)

Love ya,
The Grays

Vintage Travel Trunk

2012-09-17T08:00:00.000-05:00

My Aunt Susie has this old...Old...OLD...family heirloom black travel trunk that she is sure was brought over from Italy when the family came to America.

She asked me to do a little something to make it more special and I bounced around several ideas for a few weeks. I was going to mod-podge a map of Italy using scrapbook paper but couldn't find any after several shopping trips. Then I had the idea of painting the top to look like a blown-up version of a vintage postcard from Ancona, Italy...where our family is from. It was a really easy project and just took me a day to finish.

I primed the top with spray primer, using just a light coat.

Then I painted the base coat a creamy, light tan; the color an aged postcard would be. She plans to put it by her sunroom, so I used a black paint pen to script the following quote, translated into Italian:

::Home sweet home:

Where ivy grows, roses bloom,

and sunlight fills my favorite room. ::

I sanded lightly by hand to distress age it, then top coated with 2 coats of a water-based poly.

Here's the finished Product:

The "stamp" has the year they immigrated, 1902, and the city they were from.

I wrote the English translation on the inside of the trunk.

I think it turned out classy, eclectic, and hopefully special.

Until next time!

Katie

How all dogs should be

2012-09-13T21:45:00.004-05:00

One summer day on the way to the trails...

Owen still insists on riding standing up. But the puggles don't mind.

Hiking up a trail with Daddy.

Brothers and best buddies!

...Who both welcomed sister Fiona with open arms.

We followed the trails together as a pack.

And loved seeing our babies so happy and free in the wide open space.

Yes, that is one happy dog!

At one beautiful place.

Precious faces...

..greeted every stranger...

dog...

...and child with kindness.

In the water, they played carefree.

And were happy as can be.

It's a beautiful thing to see.

...How all dogs should be.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I came across these photos from the day Sean and I took the dogs to the Shelby Farms off-leash park at the end of summer. After seeing the images of how happy our dogs are and thinking back to how well-mannered and friendly they were with every person, dog, and child that passed, I was sad knowing that not all dogs are that way. Not all humans give them the chance to be.

Two of the softest spots in my heart belong to my dad and my dogs. Both of those spots have been a little heavy this week thinking about them.

While standing with Aussie, the family Australian Sheppard, on the leash in the front yard before church, a forceful blow to the back, in the form of a neighbor's apparently vicious dog, knocked dad to his knees on the sidewalk before either of them even knew he was coming. The attack on Aussie that followed was a nightmare, stopped only by dad's determination to keep Aussie alive. The natural strength of the pit bull was no match for Aussie and with a death-bite on his neck, the outcome could have been heartbreaking. Dad was eventually able to pry his mouth open but the attack continued. Dad laid over the dog in the street, and a neighbor finally heard him yelling for help.

They're both lucky and resting up. Aussie has improved every day. The blood washes away but the fear will stay. And that dog is back at the house next door...

Whether Aussie survived or didn't wasn't determined by the severity of the attack, but the courage and strength of his owner. The vicious act is the same regardless of the outcome. Danger is danger.

And I pray that danger doesn't arise again with other dogs, neighbors, or the children at the home daycare next door. I wish every dog's home was loving and disciplined, but until then, I pray for safety. Join me in that.

With Love,

Katie

Sliding Double Barn Doors

2012-08-31T08:00:00.000-05:00

Hey my friends!

I hope Isaac hasn't ruined your Labor Day weekend plans. Mine luckily consist only of a lunch date on Friday, Razorback football on Saturday (WPS!!) and crossing the rest of the projects on my chalkboard off the list over Sunday and Monday.

I'm SO excited about the project I conquered over last weekend. I was so sore afterwards but it's all part of the game...

I've had a pair of GORGEOUS weathered, gray doors with turquoise iron scrolls propped beside our doorway for months. Lots of months. I confess, I got them from Hobby Lobby in the clearance section.

Yes, even I stumble upon pre-fabricated pieces the easy way sometimes. Very rarely. So give me a break on this one. They were irresistible. I needed to do something to them to make myself feel better about the fact that I didn't drag them out of a barn or street dumpster and restore them to beauty. I knew that's where they belonged, but I wasn't sure how. Then I saw this image with very similar doors leading onto a porch and the sliding barn door hardware sold me. Perfect solution.

What was NOT perfect was the $400-$500 price tag on barn door hardware, even from online discount sites.

I thought, this cannot be that hard. I need a bar attached to the wall and something attached to the door to make it slide. This aint rocket science! But it was a bit of an exercise in engineering. Very simple, engineering for dummies, maybe, but still. I searched for days to find cheaper ways to create barn door hardware and found a couple different solutions. Box rail from Tractor Supply, etc, but I knew there was still a simpler solution. It made perfect sense in my head but I wasn't finding it.

I went to Lowes and wandered aimlessly. The solution was so clear in my mind but finding the right materials was a broad search. Hardware? No. Shelving? No. Doors? No. Then I came across plumbing. Surely not. Well, maybe...?

There were pipes. Check. Curved thingies to bring it off the wall. Check. This could work.

I sat in the floor and assembled a number of doo-dads, the names of which I am now so familiar with that I can sound exceptionally manly if I wanted. I was getting stumped on how to attach the bar to the wall because I couldn't find what I now know is a floor flange. I googled barn door with plumbing parts and couldn't believe I found exactly what I had been trying to figure out all along in this picture.

source

Why hadn't I found that before? There was no tutorial so I still would have had to figure it out, but at least my search would have been narrowed down alot!

I assembled in different ways until I had the product I needed. Then, I checked out other aisles until I had all the parts that would bring to life the contraption in my head.

My hands were so greasy from all the pipes.

Here's what all I came home with:

(From left to right)

1/2 inch x 10ft galvanized steel pipe (cut by Lowes to 8 ft and threaded on the cut end so it would still connect)

Galvanized Coupling (2)

90 degree Street Elbow (2)

2.5 inch Galvanized Steel Pipe Nipple (2)

Galvanized Floor Flange (2)

(All of the above pieces 1/2 inch to fit the 1/2 inch pipe)

3/8 inch x 4 inch Eye Screw (4...2 for each door)

4 casters with 2 inch plate to fit the bottom of the doors

The total for all the materials: $52

First, I screwed the casters to the bottom corner of each door.

Then drilled a 3/8th inch hole (the width of the eye screw for the loop) on each end of the top of the doors. I screwed in the eye screw until it was almost in all the way, and made sure they were all even.

Next, I assembled the bar to make sure everything worked. This is how one end looked:

Flange, nipple, elbow, coupling, then pipe.

Once all assembled, it resembled a large grab bar or towel bar. Exactly what I knew in my head I would need.

I used a stud finder and some knocking and taped the edges of each stud. For the bar to be centered over the doorway, I needed the flange to connect in a certain spot, and if you look closely, it is marked in pencil directly in the center of the two studs. GO FIGURE. Nothing is ever as simple as it should be.

Ultimately, I decided to make the bar a foot off center so that one end was screwed into a stud. I figured since the doors are on casters and not hanging all their weight on the bar that it would be fine. And so far I'm right. The side that is not screwed into a stud is actually more solid than the other. ??

I slid the loops onto the pipe, laid on the floor, and measured from the bottom of the caster to where the flange would need to be screwed into the wall. I wanted the height as close to accurate as I could get so the wheels would touch the ground and slide perfectly.

If I measured once, I measured 18 times. It was cumbersome getting it all up, and even more so since my legs and back were already aching from going up and down the ladder so many times to get things right. My hero husband came home from wiffleball just in time to hold up the other end and screw it in. I had only rocked the ladder back and nearly fallen twice trying to get it done for him to see when he got home, but who's counting.

I gave it a couple sprays of WD-40 and a quick push...And it worked!

Open...

Close...

I slid them 40 times. And smiled...

The artwork I already had hanging and it ties in perfectly with the turquoise iron.

I took 1 of my bridal pictures, taken on the farm's old vintage Ford, and blew it up into 2, 20x30 sections. The left half of the truck is on the left of the doorway, and right half (and my legs) on the right.

The wheels of the casters are a soft rubber and don't damage the floors (which I will be refinishing soon...no more orange!!)

As cool as they look from the living room side, they look even MORE gorgeous from the entryway when pulled closed.

Isn't that so cool!!?

They will be great to have when we have kids to close off one doorway without needing a baby gate.

"Hang sliding barn doors in living room"... CHECK!

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

Katie

We. Are. Young: Erin's Birthday Throwdown!

2012-08-28T21:56:00.003-05:00

Birthdays these days are surreal. Time is spinning faster.

We are getting older. But we really don't feel like it.

Until maybe the next morning...

Saturday night was Erin's night and we started our celebration at Molly's La Casita on Madison.

{Devin, Taylor, Erin, and Cassie}

Birthday girl donned the velvet sombrero and made it look goood.

And took a little birthday shot.

We carried the night to The Flying Saucer for drinks and darts.

Then wobbled our way down Beale...

to Alfreds.

The boys loved on the birthday girl.

Then put the moves on her.

But none compared to the moves that this homeboy was dropping all over the dance floor. He put on his own show. Nina couldn't resist him. So she joined him.

But apparently she couldn't hang! Luckily, several friendly bystanders were there to catch her fall. And like a true soldier, she lived to dance another song.

Homeboy attempted to impress her with a rose (as an apology?) but his wallet couldn't back it up and she had to return it. It was a classically hilarious moment.

Tonight...

We are young.

So let's set the world on fire

We can burn brighter than the sun.

So if by the time the bar closes,

And you feel like falling down,

I'll carry you home...

Tonight.

Young at heart, as always...

The Grays

DIY Play Kitchen

2012-08-19T20:34:00.003-05:00

I did it. I jumped on the play-kitchen band wagon. Avery is turning 2 the end of August and in preparing for her birthday party, I thought back to my favorite things to play with when I was her age. As I was a domestic diva and mini-Betty Crocker from day one, it was most definitely my play kitchen and my Barbie corvette. (How else was I supposed to go get the groceries to cook?)

Since I tend to torture myself with being determined to make everything...myself...I wanted to do something homemade for our Baby Avery. And seeing as how making a Barbie corvette is just a tad out of my do-it-yourself prowess, I elected to make her a play kitchen!

I went to my number one spot for finding exactly any piece I need (Dad's house) and he helped me look through some options in the garage. I chose this entertainment center that my Meemaw had and I knew I could work with it.

It was impossible to look at it from this next angle without whispering:

"Lean wit it.

Rock wit it.

Lean wit it.

Rock wit it."

The bottom was water damaged and needed to be removed.

I cut it down to 3 feet tall, then cut a board the correct length and braced it across the back to replace the flimsy cardboard.

So it looked like this:

After cleaning it and swiping the life out of 19 spiders (yes I counted...and yes, with my bare hands. I'm a baaaad man) I gave it a coat of Zinsser's oil-based primer. I should have done 2, but I'm impatient. Do as I say, not as I do, ya know?

Next, was a coat of white in "classic creme".

After the basic shape and painting was done, I drew up a plan and forged on down the list.

I got to work on the sink first. I couldn't find a silver or steel bowl when I was looking, because nothing is as simple as it should be, right? So I bought a white one and spray painted it.

I found this perfect little faucet for $1.25 at ReStore, of course!

Next up, was the counter top "tile" and "backsplash."

After finishing the tile, painting the "fridge door" turquoise and the "stove top" dark metallic gray, we were really starting to take shape!

Last step was to cut the right door in half to become the oven and microwave. I put a hinge on the right side for the microwave to open and a hinge on the bottom for the oven to open down.

Then it was the best part...Accessorizing! I cut a scenic picture from a poetry book and placed it in a frame to create the window.

And the rest is self explanatory...

TA-DA!!

Is it cheesy to say I'm tickled?? Because I am!

Yes, it ended up being more complicated in some ways than I anticipated, but that's pretty much always true. And my irritation was mostly brought on by 100% humidity that left me sweltering in the garage and made the paint very difficult to adhere and dry. I would have enjoyed myself much more working on it now that our Arkansas temps have dropped a little!

I added a drawer pull from ReStore on the side for a towel bar...

...And a piece of fabric over the frame for the window.

I think the sink is my favorite part! The tiny colander is from TJ Maxx.

The fridge:

Microwave:

And oven:

The curtain hides under-sink storage.

The stove is simmering a pot of spaghetti sauce and some tea! I found the mini pots and pans at Goodwill for $1 each. I spray painted the old knobs from out bathroom vanity.

I think it's cute as a button and I hope Avery does too!

Avery's party was Sunday afternoon. It was the perfect day to sit in the shade and visit, sipping a cold coke.

And it was the perfect day for Avery to see her new kitchen!

Blow out the candles, baby girl. You're TWO years old!

Lindsay couldn't wait for present opening time so Sean and I brought the kitchen from the truck and Avery wasted no time before exploring.

She's just so smart...when she first went to use the sink, she said "It's not on!" Sorry, baby Avery, KK's not that good! She rinsed her vegetables, washed her hands, baked cupcakes, and added "water" to her flower vase. So grown up!

Baby Davis hung out with KK and enjoyed attending her first birthday party.

This one's a wrap!

Happy Birthday Baby A!

~KK

Recovered Antique Foot Stool

2012-08-13T07:00:00.000-05:00

This antique foot stool is OLD. I knew that when I saw it.

But I really knew it when I cut into the fabric to remove it and saw this...

Grass? Hay?

Really?

I made the first cut while sitting on my living room rug, fully expecting a cushy foam padding or batting. I then quickly elected to run with it outside.

This is what it looked like before I removed the top layer. I had covered it quickly while living in my first apartment. I was obviously still scraping the surface of the DIY world!

Once I removed everything, I grabbed some extra carpet padding and layered it on the seat, then covered with a fun yellow patterned fabric. Since it had decorative wood pieces on the sides, the fabric couldn't be wrapped around the edge and staples underneath. I used Fabri Tack to fold back the edges, then hammered in upholstery nails all around.

Here she is!

Perfect to prop your feet up while reading (or googling) in the arm chair.

All I did to the base was clean it. It is perfectly aged with character all on its own.

So cute and fun!

You like?

~Katie