Life in the Fun Lane

Paint Perfection {Class 3: Aging through glazes}

2012-01-30T13:02:00.000-08:00

Thanks so much for your patience! Life got a little crazy this weekend and I had a few small touches to add to this post. You'll notice this is a really photo heavy post, but as the saying goes a picture is worth a thousand words so I figure I just saved myself roughly a week worth of typing~

We are going to pick up where we left off after Class 2, with a freshly painted piece! Today's class as well as next week's will cover optional treatments like distressing and glazing. I rarely use more than one of those techniques on any single piece but of course the fun part is trying new things and taking chances so make it how you love it! Next week will be our final class and will cover distressing as well as the final steps of sealing things up nicely, but this week we will be chatting about glazing.

Some people use special waxes or products for glazing but make no mistake, things don't have to be as complicated as they look! My "glazes" are simply watered down paints, in any paint color. So put your thinking caps on because glazes don't just have to be used to make things look old!

Our first project is going to be taking this antique dresser and giving a rustic grey finish.

To get it looking like this!

It's not hard, but it does add nice dimension to a piece. I tend to be pretty light handed with glazes but again, make it as dark or dirty looking as you like!

Our dresser after last week's class.

The tools are simple and cheap. An old bowl with water, a brush, a rag and some dark paint. For this dresser I used a dark mocha brown to give it some real patina.

The real skill is knowing how and where to apply the glazes realistically. For the most part real dingy pieces collect the most grime in indentations. So I like to take my brush, dip it in water then take a quick dip in paint. Then I messily get into all the corner and crevices. I like to hit these spots first then leave them just like this while we go work on smooth surfaces. Don't worry, we won't be leaving it like this for good!

After getting all the corner areas I dry my brush off on the rag. For our smooth surfaces we will be dry brushing. It is a pretty standard technique but can take a little practice. You gently dip just the tip of your brush in undiluted paint then tap off the excess on the rag. This leaves very little color on the brush as you can see.

I recommend brushing along with the grain of the wood for the most realistic finish. I like to dry brush then wipe with another dry rag, repeating as necessary to layer the effect.

After a few passes with the brush, then rag.

Keep working over your surface, creating an even finish. I do like to build up and work the finish further along areas that would naturally see the most use or see the least cleaning. After building up the finish you can still work with it if you aren't happy. I felt that it was just a smidge too dark for me here.

So I simply made the rag a little damp and gently wiped.

Much better now!

Once you feel like you are happy with all your smooth surfaces take a lightly damp rag and wipe with the grain on your corners, etc. that we first applied the paint to. Since the paint was diluted it should still be somewhat wet, if you are working on the smooth surfaces and start to see it dry too quickly then take a little break to wipe down these areas before they dry.

Hardware back on and all sealed up!

The grey and brown tones compliment the brass nicely.

A successful glaze in my opinion.

The other type of glazing I occasionally do is directly on wood. This table is both glazed on the painted legs as well as the wood top.

I like glazing wood with grey/white for a soft finish, but love the warmth that wood grain offers.

Glazing directly to wood is fairly time consuming due to the fact that we need to completely strip any paint/lacquer on the wood. This table was about 16 hours of stripping. You can sand or use chemical strippers, but I prefer sanding for the smoother finish.

Stripped on the left, lacquered on the right.

All stripped, and legs have been painted a soft teal.

For this glaze we will approach it the same as we did with the dresser but instead of dark brown we will alternate layers of white and very very light grey. Alternating colors in layers gives real tone and depth to your final finish.

We want the wood to absorb the paint quickly so I dip the brush in paint then quickly in water. This also helps it brush on smoothly in large areas.

Again, work with the grain of the wood.

After a pass with the brush let it set (I usually just move on to another area while it soaks up)

After a layer of white, then grey I wipe every thing down with a damp rag to help blend.

I still like the warmth that is visible, but you can build it up as much or little as you like.

For the light teal legs I wanted the glaze to compliment the surface.

So we used a darker grey in the same color family as the light grey we used on the surface.

Again, we apply liberally in recessed areas.

Then wipe away.

I prefer working up with the finish, building in layers over applying in thicker layers initially. It is more time intensive but so much more realistic and subtle in the end.

How are all your Paint Perfection projects coming along? Don't forget we will be having our link party in just under 2 weeks!!!

I'm with the band...

2012-01-27T00:40:00.000-08:00

Hi Guys, I know today was supposed to be Paint Perfect class 3, but due to some awesomely unforseen circumstances I am now moving that post to tomorrow (Saturday). I know my blog is called In the Fun Lane, but after last night I feel like it should be called life as Penny Lane. I had a totally "Almost Famous" moment thanks to my sister and her friend Harris.

If you are Canadian then you probably know Dallas Green (City & Color) and his music. If you don't know it or are from the Southern half of North America then you need to check it out, it will change your world. The last 2 nights he played 2 sold out shows here in Edmonton and I was lucky enough to go last night and get the ultimate VIP treatment all courtesy of my sis!!!!

Before the show we had the whole concert hall to romp around and take silly photos in. Or so I thought, that man in the background must have wondered who the heck we were and what we were doing!

Before show time we were welcomed with open arms by the whole crew, even invited to just relax in the tour bus while the opening act set up.

While everyone was taking their seats we were backstage with the band while they finished their dinner and Torri caught up with her friends. But I just had to snap this awesome picture of the stage getting prepped for show time!

Torri's friends were super sweet to get us prime seats in the audience, but come show time I was super duper overwhelmed to learn that they invited us to simply pull up chairs on stage left and watch from only feet away!!!

How cool is it that you can literally see the sound waves on Dallas's guitar here?? Just beautiful. They opened with one of my favorite songs (Coming Home!!) and that pretty much set the tone for my amazing night.

Still cannot believe how amazing the whole show was! Specially because one of my favorite songs was not on the set list but somehow was performed~

Torri and Harris, goofing around, all while I sang my little heart out along with Dallas!

LOVED.EVERY.SONG.

I think the crowd was just as thrilled with the show as I was, but I will definitely never forget it!

Today I am taking cupcakes down to everyone on their day off just to thank them for my amazing night, hence the move of paint perfect (SORRY!).

Any other lucky Edmontonians catch the show???

A little flair from a chair

2012-01-25T09:42:00.000-08:00

See that crazy patch of color just beyond the flowers on our coffee table?

It is the new super happy chair we bought last week! Remember when I told you that we've had some new purchases for the house? This was the by product of one such purchase. When we were out buying a totally different item (which I am almost ready to show you guys) my mom told me to go look at this chair. I was completely shocked when Sean expressed his love for it. Um, hello, who is this guy? was basically all I could mutter. But with an approval stamp like that I couldn't leave it behind!

I think it is going to be right at home in our family room. It's a fun place where there are often toys out and about so it will blend in well opposite our sectional.

A happy chair for a happy room! Makes me smile every time I come in here.

And a super happy, fun day to you as well!

Lavender

2012-01-24T09:31:00.000-08:00

Nothing is more soothing to me than the smell of fresh lavender! Sadly fresh lavender doesn't happen way here up north. But I can now pretend I am relaxing on a chaise in Provence, even on the chilliest days thanks to these amazing faux Lavender buckets I scooped up at Restoration Hardware last week.

Trust me, I am usually anti-faux plant! But these look so real that I often find myself leaning in for a sniff before I remember they aren't the real thing.

The original price reflected their realistic look at $238 each (holy cow I can't believe someone would drop close to $500 for 2 of these!!) , but they were a much more reasonable $70 minus another 10% last week. Still not cheap, but I think they may actually save me money in the long run after the bad streak of killing plans I was on last year.

I've played with them all over the house but they have ended up in my cast iron urns so I will be sure to share their final resting place once I pad them up with a little extra moss.

What I wore this week

2012-01-21T10:20:00.000-08:00

Warm weekend wishes out there! Specially if you are in our neck of the woods because it is nippy. Because of the cold snap I spent most of the week home bound, getting plenty of wear out of my favorite sweats and sweaters.

But last weekend and this weekend I did manage to pull together some 'real' outfits. So here is what I've been rocking~

Woodford & Co. blouse (just ordered this on clearance from ShopBop and LOVE it, will definitely be ordering more Woodford pieces)

Forever 21 scarab necklace and belt

Seven For All Mankind bootcut jeans

Ralph Lauren sweater

Abercrombie khakis

More casual: Juicy Sweatshirt

Theory tank

Hollister jeans

My solution to running out without doing makeup? BIG aviators.

Urban Outfitters hat

American Apparel hoodie and tee

Anthro jacket

Citizen of Humanity ingrid jeans

Classic tall black Uggs rolled down.

Like I said, I've only ventured out sparingly this week but OH BOY have I done some damage as far as shopping goes! Can't wait to show you all our room makeovers in progress next week~

Paint Perfection {Class 2: Transformation Basics}

2012-01-20T07:48:00.000-08:00

Welcome back to our second session in this series! Today we are going to get started on our transformation, covering everything up until the last coat of paint (Hint: that isn't the last step for me). This step by step process is my ritual for every single thing that passes through my workshop, and as I've said there are probably many, many variations and opinions on this. But it's worked well for me for the last 3 years on hundreds of items so I think it will probably work for you.

So get your brushes out and let's get rolling!

We've covered the tools and what to look for when hunting down your next transformation and now we are going to take that old furniture and give it new life (missed last week's class? Catch up here!). For today's class I am going to take this little wood cupboard from this:

To this:

As well as cover how this:

Became this:

Let's start at the very top! You've brought home your furniture, now what? The first step is to find a workspace. It can be inside your garage, out in your yard or on the drive way. The only things that are completely necessary are that it is warmer than 4 degrees C or 40 degrees F, and that you have good ventilation. The reason that the temperature matters is that paint needs to be at that temperature to cure properly. If it is too cold then it may flake, bubble, etc.

Once you've settled into a good spot here is what our steps are.

1. Check the piece over to see if any small damage needs to be repaired such as loose hinges, door catches or drawer glides. These are easy and quick problems to solve with a screw driver, fix as necessary. If your piece is in good condition the first thing I do is remove the old hardware. If you like it then store it in a bag or somewhere it will stay clean until we're done. If you don't like it then we will give ourselves a clean slate to choose new hardware by filling all old holes with wood filler/putty.

It is important to slather it on with a putty knife pretty generously. Why? depending on the temperature you apply it at and how long it takes to dry you can get a little shrinkage. Here you can see where the old holes were and that the putty has sort of bubbled out then shrunk in. If I didn't apply a lot of putty the shrinkage would have required another application otherwise the holes would still be visible.

I don't usually worry about filling holes on the inside of drawers since sanding can be awkward and dust from putty is very fine and would make a lot of clean up work inside the drawers.

Often it will take a full day for the putty to fully harden, even when the outside feels dry. So just be patient! I find that when I rush things it usually causes more work in the end so it is best to just do it right.

Once the putty is fully dry it is time to sand it down. Using our electric sander and some fine, 320 grit sand paper we will gently sand it.

You can see that we went very gently because it didn't wear down the wood all that much and our hole is nice and flush with the wood now! Don't worry about how much putty is left behind as long as it feels nice and smooth/even.

Often old hardware can leave many indentations besides just the holes so it helps to always get coverage on the areas surrounding it as well.

All the white spots were dents left behind from hardware.

Step 2.

Now that our holes are filled we are going to get the rest of the piece ready for paint! Using 220 grit sand paper we are going to use the electric sander to scuff up the rest of the furniture. If you are working on a piece of furniture that is unfinished already (like many pine pieces are) then you do not have to worry about this step. This is just for those items that have already had lacquer or a finished surface.

Many people spend A LOT of time stripping down the old finish and this is absolutely not necessary for painted furniture. If you are going to attempt a bleached wood finished or some other raw wood look then you will have to dedicate yourself to stripping it (which we will cover in week 4), but for simple paint finishes you are just wasting your valueble time.

We just want to create a rough surface for the primer to adhere nicely to! I always sand the entire piece, but focus specifically in making the upper surface and all edges/corners good and rough.

The reason I recommend using 220 grit instead of a lower, rougher sandpaper is that we want our final product to have a soft, smooth finish and sometimes rougher papers leave very fine but noticeable swirls after a pass with the electric sander. So it may take a little longer with the finer paper but the final product is worth it.

I would recommend spending a solid 20 to 30 minutes on this step for a piece this size and probably 30 -40 minutes for most dressers.

Step 3.

Give your piece a good cleaning after all that sanding. I usually take a damp cloth and do 2 wipe downs then let it dry. It is important to clean well in all the corners and along any ledges. Over time little spills that have accumulated may not be that visible but once your paint is on every so often an old soda spill may seep through and stain your beautiful finished product. So take a few extra minutes to get it squeaky clean now!

Step 4.

We've brought our ugly furniture home, made it even uglier over the last few steps, and now it is time to see it get pretty! Our next step is to prime it.

I am a huge fan of Kilz primer and strictly use the cans. But you can use any primer. The only requirements that I have of my primers are that they are oil based. There are a lot of good water or latex based primers out there but I like to feel confident that I am getting the best possible blockage of stains.

"What stains?" you ask? For the most part it is keeping all old stains and smells from years of use inside (a big bonus when you have an item formerly owned by smokers) but wood also has a lot of oil in it and over time it can potential stain your paint finish from the inside out. So oil based primer is just good insurance that your hard work won't be compromised later. If you are working on unfinished wood this is doubly important and in these cases I usually prefer using a shelac finish to keep the oil contained (which I did for each and every plank of our pine ceiling in the kitchen, a solid weeks worth of painting!).

Keep in mind that when you prime with white it doesn't really matter when you are also painting with white or if you are painting a color but not planning on distressing . But if you are planning on painting with another color than white and also distressing you will see the white primer as you sand down. It is just a personal preferance, but I like the white showing through.

IF YOU DON'T want white showing through your distressing then you need purchase canned primer and have it tinted the same color as your paint!

Similar to the sanding step, don't feel like you need to get 100% even coverage and a perfect finish.

I like to prime and paint the inside of cupboards as well, but usually leave the inside of drawers as is.

Our old holes turned out great! No bumps, cracks or unevenness.

Step 5.

Up until now we have all used the same products and followed the same process. Here is where we can take 2 different roads. I like to personally spray my furniture with a spray gun attachment for an air compressor. The only real benefit to this route is that it saves me time. Many people assume that it also gives you a much smoother finish but in reality it isn't the case and doesn't save any time in that department because we will ensure it is smooth after the paint is dry (we'll cover that in next weeks class). Obviously spraying can seem like an intimidating project if you don't have experience with it and I could easily spend a whole class just on tools and techniques for that (which I may if there seems to be demand) so we will cover this step as if we all had a brush and roller in hand.

BIG WhiteBerry misconception: Everything I paint is white or grey.

Client projects are almost always colorful! I prefer to use flat latex paint but really any type of latex paint will work nicely.

In a small tub or bowl I recommend pouring your paint then watering it down slightly in a mix of 1 part water per 6 parts paint. The end result is that it may take an extra coat of paint because your coats are thinner, but you also will not be leaving a noticeable brush strokes or roller dimples.

This is where it can be time intensive, and a lot of time is spent waiting for paint to dry but if you do multiple light/thin coats your final product will feel much more even and you will not have to worry about pesky drip marks and runs.

Final coat done! Of course this isn't where the transformation ends, but it is already looking like a new piece of furniture.

Next week we are going to cover the finishing steps, including distressing and sealing it up. If you are not planning on distressing your item there will still be lots of tips on getting that silky finish and how to seal it up with different finishes (satin, gloss, etc.)

Until next Friday!

Blogarage Sale 2012

2012-01-18T12:02:00.000-08:00

Thanks so much for taking the time to browse my closet cleanout! I did my best to describe each item and any damage, but please contact me for more info if you are unsure of anything as ALL SALES ARE FINAL.

Purchase prices include shipping within North America. I ship through Canada Post and it can take 2-3 weeks for American purchasers to receive their package. If you are outside of North America please contact me for revised shipping charges.

Ok, let's get to the good stuff!

Rebecca Taylor Military Shirt Dress. From her Fall 2011 collection, retailed for $355. Purchased from ShopBop and only worn once!100% silk, Size 2. $80

Rebecca Taylor Military Sweater. From her Spring/Summer 2011 collection. Retailed for $285 dollars (if I remember correctly, it might have been more). Purchased from Rebecca Taylor.com. Linen/cotton blend. Size LARGE. Worn 5 or 6 times. I bought it for a more oversized look, as I also have it in small in pink. Would fit be fitted like the model on a Large, or a little more roomy for a small or medium like me.

SOLD

Rebecca Taylor Punched Strapless Dress. Spring/Summer 2011 collection. Retailed for $415, worn one time. 100% silk. Size 8. I am small up top and this dress did not slide down or feel large, but it the top and waist are stretchy and would very easily fit a size 8 or 10.

$90

Rebecca Taylor burnout leopard tee. Spring/Summer 2011 collection. Retailed for $135. Size Medium. 100% cotton.

SOLD

Rebecca Taylor Leopard tunic. 100% silk. Retailed for $295. Size 0. 100% silk. Worn once.

$55

Gucci bag. Purchased directly from Gucci, guaranteed 100% authentic. Retailed for over $300, can't remember the exact price. In perfect condition with the exception of a small chip on the enamel on the zipper pull.

SOLD

Daughters of the Revolution blouse. Retailed for $280, purchased from ShopBop. Worn once. Size 1, which is comparable to a small. embroidery and beadwork is in beautiful in person.

SOLD

C&C California tie dye maxi dress. Purchased from Barneys New York, worn twice. 100% cotton, size XS.

SOLD

Juicy Couture Cashmere hoodie. Retailed for $298. Color is Pop Art. Cashmere is in great condition, but it does need a dry cleaning (a few spots along the zipper could possibly be spot cleaned but I haven't attempted it). Size Medium

SOLD

Anthropologie blouse by Edme & Esyllte. Size small, 100% silk.

SOLD

Anthropologie floral tunic by Fei. Size medium

SOLD

Marc Jacobs cherry tee. Purchased from Bloomingdales. Size xs, worn 3 or 4 times.

$33

I may have some more to add as I keep cleaning. Thanks for looking and have a happy Wednesday!!

Mini BloGarage sale

2012-01-18T09:29:00.000-08:00

{Candles too pretty/cute to burn}

I'm bored guys!

"when hell freezes over" is no longer a phrase I can use. It literally has. It has been unbearably cold here all week. Like the furnace has not stopped once in 4 days, skin freezes instantly outside, dogs will not go out to go potty COLD. There is not a lot I will leave the house for on days like these so I have been working on sewing a few slipcovers (almost done!) as well as browsing online for Spring clothes in an attempt to get out of the cold, at least mentally. I have made a few purchases so I am going to keep my vow of taking 1 thing out of my closet for every new thing in.

Our first blogarage sale was such a success last year that I decided to do a mini version again this year. I should have photos and purchase links up for a handful of items later today!

2012-01-16T20:40:00.000-08:00

I don't know what has gotten into my system, but I have been making mini tweaks to pretty much everything in my life! From the dining room to some big changes happening in our bedroom I will be sharing soon, I made a small change from my natural hair color of medium brown to a dark strawberry blonde. I have been wanting to do something with my hair but didn't want to dish out the moola and go to the salon so Wren and I made a stop at Sally Beauty Supply last week and picked up some toner to do it at home.

I have had some experience with doing salon coloring at home thanks to an awesome friend who gave me the low down when she was kind enough to do it for me at her house, but it can still be intimidating once it is all slathered into your hair and before you rinse it out. Will come out orange, purple, maybe even green??? All of those thoughts run through my head each and every time!

But thankfully it turned out as planned!

For all those who have asked how my hair is so long already after chopping it all off last March (full story here), I have been both blessed and cursed with really quick growing hair. The good part is that it makes cutting my hair fun since even if I hate it short it only stays that way for about 8 months, but the bad part is that coloring my hair is a nightmare. The reason it cannot be kept up at a salon regularly is that it would cost me hundreds of dollars a month if I needed my roots touched up professionally. Hence my persistence in learning to professionally lighten at home.

I really love the color (for anyone looking to lighten at home I used a 10 volume developer with a level 7.1 ash blonde), specially because it isn't too drastic a change to need troublesome weekly touch ups.

Have you been making any big changes so far in 2012?

Quick Floral Frog

2012-01-14T07:22:00.000-08:00

The thing I love about having a neutral home is that when the mood strikes it is so cheap and easy to add a pop of color. Flowers are usually the fastest and cheapest route so it becomes a bit of a game to find fun and creative ways to incorporate them in unusual ways.

Usually the cheapest flowers at my grocery store are carnations. They are not super glamorous or even that popular nowadays but when I'm looking for temporary color cheap is the biggest factor.

A really cheap and neat way I have found for displaying flowers with thin stems is by repurposing a parmesan/chili shaker as a floral frog. I have a few frogs, but with clear containers they aren't all that pretty. Plus this takes all the guess work out of flower arranging by separating and staging the blooms pretty much effortlessly.

I was given this one in a pile of cast offs from a family member but even brand new I am sure they are pretty cheap and easy to track down.

A little color for a winter kitchen.

Paint Perfection {Class 1: Getting Started}

2012-01-12T21:08:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to share some of my hard earned furniture transforming tips. I know that there are tons of books, e-books and even workshops to attend that cover this popular topic these days, but I figure that after so much love and support in helping make my dreams a reality I really want to send out good karma and love your way. I am sure this is one of those topics that everyone has a unique take on so these are just my opinions and lessons learned (sometimes the hard way). I hope you take away little bit of useful knowledge because Lord knows this monologue has been doing nobody any good sitting dormant on my hard drive for the past 2 years~

Each Friday for the next 3 weeks we'll slowly make our way from start to finish, covering simple techniques to unique finishes. Follow along with a piece of your own and on the Friday following our last class (4 weeks from today) I will be hosting a link party for everyone to share their progress, or feel free to just sit back and watch the rest of us do the heavy lifting.

So let's go!

For years I have reinvented everything from frames to furniture, with little more than a desire to create and a passion for what I do. When it comes to transforming furniture that passion makes me both fearless and uninhibited in achieving my vision. But I tend to dream first and worry about the details when they arise. I have learned from both my mistakes and my triumphs purely through trial and error, and if you want to learn from those mistakes and triumphs then you are in the right place!

Together we will save you time and money, all while helping you achieve the perfect furniture makeover. From visualizing and picking your piece all the way to the finished product.

Let’s start with the basics. Before you even head out treasure hunting these are what you should have handy at home so you know that this project won’t turn into one of those multi-year, never ending sagas.

The Equipment & Tools :

Before we begin our transformation I want to introduce you to tools and products I rely on. In the course of my career as a furniture painter I have learned that the right tools go a long way in making the job easier, faster and much less stressful. However, you don’t always have to have professional grade equipment to get a professional look.

I prefer to spray all of my pieces with a paint gun attachment to an air compressor, and while this does save me A LOT of time it is definitely not necessary to get the looks we will be achieving. So don’t feel compelled to drop your hard earned cash on an air compressor and air gun. If you already happen to have an 8 gallon compressor (or larger) you may want to consider investing in the gun attachment which usually runs $30-$100, but once again it is not necessary.

If you are going to go with the tried and true method of hand painting then just be sure to get a quality sponge roller that is appropriate in size for the furniture you are working with, as well as one good brush for getting in corners and crevices.

Some other tools you will need are:

-Power Drill (with varying drill bits)

-Screw drivers (type dependant on your hardware)

-A good electric palm sander, preferably not round.

-180 grit, 220 grit and 320 grit sandpaper

-A sanding block for hand sanding

-1 paint brush

-several clean rags or scraps of fabric that you don’t mind tossing out afterwards

- vinyl putty (or wood filler)

-putty knife

- Oil based primer

- flat latex paint in desired colors

- water based sealant

Treasure Hunting

If you already have found your piece of furniture or have had it stored in the garage just waiting to get started then feel free to jump ahead! But if you aren’t sure what to look for when you are shopping for a new project here are a few of the things I look for and think about.

The first thing I think about when I see a piece, whether it is online or in store, is whether or not it has potential! I know this is awfully vague, but if you don’t like the lines and style now you probably won’t like it even with a little paint. Yes, most things look completely different with a fresh coat of paint but I try not be blinded just because the price is insanely low. Specially if you intend on living with it for a long time! All of the pieces that I have fallen in love with (and kept, which is rare around here) are of a similar style and tend to have nice details that shine through and often become the focal point after being painted.

{ a no brainer: good lines, great shape, nice character}

{after some simple TLC}

2. You are not bound to the hardware, or even the old holes so totally ignore it!

{one knob after}

3. 3. Make sure the furniture is in good condition structurally. If the wood is dented, scratched and scuffed you won’t even know it later, but it needs to be in good working condition as far as the bones of the piece are concerned. Check to make sure all the drawers slide and that there are no joints coming apart!
4. 4. Look for solid wood pieces, but you can still work with wood veneer. In fact a lot of the antique pieces I work with aren’t solid wood, many have veneer over wood! Just avoid that plastic/laquer type of veneer and you should be OK.

{would you believe all of these are veneer?}

As long as a piece can withstand some sanding and will hold up to what you need it for then the sky is the limit!

Next week we are going to work on a piece from beginning to end, laying out all the steps to get it done. Special finishes will come in the weeks to follow.

Happy treasure hunting this weekend!

Wardrobe this week

2012-01-12T14:52:00.000-08:00

This month I've attempted to participate in a 30 day wardrobe challenge on a message board I frequent. I've missed a few days already, but I thought it would be fun to do a weekly summary here as well for the days I remembered to whip out my camera!

My latest obsession is small braids. Tucked into a pony tail, hiding in a mess of wavy hair, I don't care but I love them!

I am not a big hair-in-my-face girl so it is a fun way to keep my hair back without pulling it all up.

forever21 sweatshirt. Abercrombie jeans. Stella and Dot bracelet.

Rebecca Taylor cardigan. Hollister tank. Seven for all mankind jeans. Stella and Dot necklace.

Anthropologie sweater. Rebecca Taylor dress. Juicy Couture leggings. Hush Puppy boots. Forever21 hoop earrings. Stella and Dot on the Mark necklace.

Joe Fresh scarf. Anthropologie jacket. Forever21 linen tunic. Juicy Couture jeggings.

And don't forget that class starts tomorrow for our furniture painting series!

$200 dining room update

2012-01-11T14:39:00.000-08:00

Remember when I said I wanted to change a few things in the dining room? Well, Sean didn't go for my new light suggestion (it probably didn't help that the light I want is $1000) so I've made due with what we have and put a gift card to use that my grandma sent for Christmas to add a couple finishing touches which in the end brought my grand total spent to absolutely nothing!

I only purchased new lamps ($150 for 2) and a mirror ($20). The lamps were a little more than I usually would spend but were a good investment for 2 reasons.

1. I have been wanting these turned wood lamps for AGES. I saw them at HomeSense about 2 months ago in a much lighter wood for $100 each. Couldn't justify the price considering I had no idea where I'd put them.

2. This room is HUGE (it's a living/dining room with vaulted ceilings), yet there is only 1 chandelier so mood lighting is a necessity and I've neglected that over the last few years.

What I've been really trying to find is a large area rug for in here, but on a trip to HomeSense recently I found the lamps on sale for $74 and in a darker stain and the mirror on clearance for $20 so I popped them in my cart and chalked it up to good luck!

So then when we moved my oldest and most favorite sideboard of all time in here (we bought it with wedding gift money and plan to hold on to it forever!) the plan came together in a flash. Bring the lamps in here, move around the plate formation a little (which is easy and mess free thanks to using those 3M hooks that stick right on the wall) and switch out our Ikea chairs for my linen chairs.

Yes, I am aware that it is not normal to have 2 sets of dining room chairs. But depending on my mood I like the bright white Ikea chairs or this linen covered version I also bought at HomeSense a year or so back on clearance. It made a lot more sense when we had a table in the kitchen too...

Daily household items make the best decor in my book. Plates and candles can be found in abundance in our house so I might as well make the most out of them! And anything displayed in large quantities make a good impact, no matter how simple.

The table has been a project that I have been meaning to get to for about 2 years now. It seemed to constantly get smaller items set on top of it so I never made it a priority until just a couple weeks ago when Sean expressed his love of rectangular tables. I am more of a round table girl myself, but I thought it was time for a change.

I did white paint on the legs and a light grey on the top, then wore it down to show both white and wood.

Besides a rug the other item I'm trying to track down is a nice set of freeze dried boxwood plants for my cast iron urns. The trees caught (or already had) some sort of bug and didn't make it. I figure I am not destined to have live plants in this room so I am going to invest in the next best thing, formerly living shrubs.

The old captains chair has been a treasure of mine for many years, but I rarely have a spot for it since it is pretty large. The new table set needed some variety so it makes a nice addition at the end of the table.

Being able to swap out furniture at a moments notice is definitely a perk in my business, but it can be a challenge to work with something that isn't a perfect fit. This table is quite small for our big room, but the charm it has makes it a good fit. Ideally we'd like a really long farmhouse table, but we are happy to wait until the perfect one comes along at the right price.

I love that the table has a drawer too!

It has been fun pulling together a mini makeover, but something about this look is finally feeling like the right fit! So I think it may be a look that we will be living with for quite some time, even if a few of the components change out as I paint new items.

And while we're on the topic, can anyone recommend a good source for freeze dried boxwood? I've only tracked down large pieces from Restoration Hardware but they are about $200 each... a little more than I want to spend! Merci mes amis

I love you, Man!

2012-01-09T20:40:00.000-08:00

I think he's a keeper! I was having a sluggish sort of day but these threw me right back on the sunny side. Sometimes I don't know what I enjoy more, the beauty of flowers for a few days or the fun I have picking a container and arranging them?

And speaking of arranging, I have been feverishly rearranging the dining room today. I think it is the single most rearranged room in our house. Partly because I like the light in here for shooting whiteberry photos. But also because something about it always feels just not quite there even when I've just redecorated...

So we'll see where that leads. It may be a few easy changes with items around the house, or it may escalate into a full blown re-do. I've already thrown around the idea of a new light fixture and Sean did quite the exaggerated eye roll... maybe the flowers were actually a bribe or distraction?

My favorite part of summer is that I can bring in simple clippings from the yard for some easy greenery, but by mid January that feels like a lifetime ago. At this time of year even a token fern leaf in a batch of roses does not go unnoticed and appreciated.

A couple lab beakers and an antique listerine jar get some prime real estate on the counter. At heart I really really am a simple girl. No clutter and minimal accessories make small touches that much more special.

The less glamorous but just as glorious frond.

Thanks hubs!

Happy Monday.

2012-01-09T09:06:00.000-08:00

Despite the fact that the days have been a little gray (but unseasonably warm so I'm not complaining!) I have been on a grey streak in the paint lab. Maybe I am somewhat like a chameleon and I like everything to be monochromatic and blend into one another... I'll have to ponder on that a little more.

But I've also been on a streak as far as finding really great candidates for WhiteBerry makeovers (which is hindering my progress on the already huge pile I've accumulated over the last 3 years of doing this!)

This old sideboard is a prime example. Just chipped and scratched a little but still beautiful.

A little grey makes me happy, particularly that shade that hangs right between white and grey. It is soft and yet not too feminine.

The original hardware was beautiful and I am not one to tamper with perfection!

This dresser was nothing really special at first glance. In fact it looked kind of cheap when I first saw it with ugly brass hardware detracting from the classic French lines.

So I went classic and white with this one.

Simple elegance is always the best kind.

You may have noticed my newspaper deer from last year (instructions here) has been making a few appearances. I don't think he is going to go back in the Christmas pile this year, and may just hang out all year round. He's got a good personality!

I went with really old victorian style handles but in a modern brushed nickel finish for the a balance of old and new.

The legs were particularly cool!

I threw this little table into my production line late last week after bringing it home unexpectedly. It is one of those items that was probably mass produced about 5 years ago because it has Malaysia stamped all over it, but the good lines are undeniable!

Another grey paint job for a Swedish feel.

Hall/phone tables are always a good find and even when I've got a lot I never leave one behind in my treasure hunting excursions. They are small and I have a lot of corners so I can always make room for them.

The cute little knob was one I've held onto for about a year, waiting for the right item. It was from Michaels but I only ever found one with this cute little clock face.

I know that for years now I have been sharing painted furniture, befores and afters and transformations of all kinds. And for years now I have kept saying I am working on an ebook and soon it will be ready... but it just seems to be one of those things that always sits on the back burner. Since I've already gone to so much trouble to write so much material I thought it would be fun to instead do a blog mini series on how I transform furniture!

We'll be starting this Friday with the first chapter: The Basics. We'll cover everything up to the first coat of paint.

And a happy Monday to you!

Breadless Pizza? or some sorta Tomato creation

2012-01-05T13:27:00.000-08:00

Thank you all for your kind thoughts and prayers in regards to our Aunt that passed away unexpectedly on Monday. I am still unsure about my travel situation and Sean is all drugged up and sleeping upstairs today after his dental work so I figure I might as well tackle the mounting pile of laundry and finish my post holiday clean up. And come hang here on the blog for a bit. After nearly 4 years it is still so much fun to sit down and type up my latest blog post, and I always have a smile on my face as I do it (which Sean has pointed out can be quite creepy at times LOL). It is funny how this blog has evolved, from the day we moved into our house to baby items to decorating and renovating, to clothing, etc. It is by no means a topic specific blog! More of a daily snapshot of life here at Casa WhiteBerry.

Since the kitchen finished up I have been determined to get some use out of it. It is a relaxing, beautiful spot that I love to work in and despite my numerous cooking handicaps I am deadset on turning myself into someone at least capable of whipping up a delicious meal once in a while. My biggest challenge is overcoming my fear of really making something horrendous. But a new restaurant that opened up just around the corner from our house has an appetizer that I am so in love with that I thought I would give it a quick try at home (if you are in Edmonton and love Italian food definitely try Vivo and their amazing caprese tomatos).

The reason I thought it was a good try for someone who is unskilled like me: minimal (or no) heat required! When it comes to juggling a meal and all the side dishes I totally suck. So this is a great side dish that you can prepare before you even start on the main course.

My simple ingredients:

various tomatos

Olive Oil

Mozzarella

Basil

Sea Salt

Pepper

and of course GARLIC!

Seriously, no worries about vampires here today!!

I simply threw it all together on a plate and decided to see what happened. It turned out tasting fabulous and I think even like this it would be a good snack/salad, but I decided to throw it under the broiler for about 2 minutes to just melt the cheese a touch.

And while it is in the broiler I thought I would share a couple new kitchen items that have been added to our humble abode. The first are one of my absolute favorite Christmas gifts: snazzy new trivets! Our new counters cannot have hot pots and plates set directly on them so it has become second nature to throw down an oven mitt or even a tea towel when necessary, but these beautiful trivets are so handsome that I leave one on our stove at all times. My mom says she picked them up at Anthropologie. THANKS mom!

The second is also from Anthropologie but it is one of those things that I'm not sure are still available. I had lusted over their denim/jute rugs all fall and nearly pulled the trigger once they went on sale in November but just didn't think I could justify the expense. But while I was out holiday shopping I took a chance and asked an associate if she had the rug in store anywhere so I could see it in person. To my astonishment she pulled one out of the back that had a sale tag reading $35, and you better believe I held it tight the whole shopping trip!

(I am trying my hand at sewing my own slipcovers on these chairs this weekend so stay tuned for that adventure)

It doesn't look overly soft and cushy but it is actually very comfy and I only wish I also would have found one in the largest size for the family room (this one is 4x6).

Oooh I think our tomatoes are ready! I like them best when the cheese has bubbled nicely but the tomatoes are still firm and not yet mushy. Wren is also a big fan of these and they make a perfect afternoon snack for little fingers (I usually give hers a litttle more cheese and go light on the pepper).

I like to tell her it is pizza without the crust and that was all she needed to hear to get on board with this creation.

2012-01-04T11:32:00.000-08:00

How is your 2012 going so far? I hope wonderfully.

I have had a bit of a roller coaster week. Went on a wonderful date night with Sean on Monday and came home to the news that a family member passed away that evening. She was a wonderful person and will be greatly missed by our whole family. I am hoping that I can make it to the funeral which will require some travelling but Sean is having a large amount of dental work done tomorrow and I am not sure how he will be doing once the anesthetic wears off so it is all up in the air at this point.

So I may be absent over the next few days, or I may have a lot of time on my hands thinking about a wonderful woman depending on how the cards play out. Please keep her children and husband in your thoughts!

It's spring in my heart, and my make up drawer.

2012-01-01T11:41:00.000-08:00

I hate the holiday clearance shopping crowds. HATE them. But I braved a trip to Superstore last week for groceries when Sean spotted a sweater he wanted. It was on clearance and the hanger said it was his size so absentmindedly we brought it home. Later that night he learned the valuable lesson of always checking the item is on the correct hanger because the tag revealed that the sweater was 2 sizes too small.

Fast forward two days later and I ended up spending nearly 2 hours returning the silly thing only to learn that I could exchange it for other Joe products alone. SOOOO without seeing anything I really needed I thought it would be a fitting opportunity to update my make up routine for the Spring. I only buy new make up every year or so besides a new tube of mascara here or there so this was a treat!

I did buy a couple Joe lip balms last summer and keep them on hand in both my purse and car at all times because they have the perfect amount of tint without feeling like I'm wearing lip stick. So those were the first things in my basket ($8 each). Then I added a lip stain ($6) and a new nail polish ($4).

I thought that was good enough for me, but then a sales associate shared a coupon for a free product with any purchase of $10 so I searched a little more for something extra. Then I spotted an adorable set of JOE loves Barbie nail polishes on clearance ($4.94) so the 9 year old girl in me threw those right in!

Not a bad shopping haul if it weren't for the insane lines and rude people that sucked a little bit of fun out of my yearly makeup drawer update.

I know it's not all that fun for you American's when I share Superstore finds because they are sadly not available in the US, but we don't have all the fun target shopping you have so I guess we even out there, right?

The last addition to my cart was a warm, wooly blue sweater on clearance for $19, but I was sure to double check the tag said the right size and even try it on before committing. Because Lord knows I am not losing another 2 hours of my life to returning it, I'd rather burn the thing next time!

Now bring on the sunshine and spring blooms!

Happy 2012!

2011-12-31T11:23:00.000-08:00

I want to wish you a safe and happy 2012. Despite my long absences here during the kitchen overhaul (which turned into a life overhaul of sorts) you have hung around, shared words of encouragement and definitely made me smile. So thank you kindly for that!

In the coming year I am looking forward to lots of new adventures, simple pleasures and of course finding treasures.

So in 2012 I wish you nothing but the best and hope that some of your dreams come true.

Onwards and upwards as they say!

My latest obsession.

2011-12-30T08:35:00.000-08:00

I know I've briefly mentioned my obsession with Starbucks' peppermint hot chocolate and latte. In general I'm pretty wild about heated beverages... but on a cold Canadian morning I am NOT loading Wren up in the car to grab a fix!

So my Mom and Dad did me a huge service by putting not only a Keurig under the tree...

but also a Nespresso milk frother. It sounds a little crazy, right? Who really needs frothed milk that often??? ME!! I use the thing constantly, actually more than the Keurig. The reason this thing rocks my world is that it not only froths the milk, but it HEATS IT!! Yup, your hot coffee doesn't have to turn lukewarm when you add cream or milk any more. Or you can make a rich, bubbly hot chocolate without ever bringing out a kettle or pot.

In short, I am attached at the hip with this gizmo. And I usually hate gizmos.

So now I brew a "teacup" size of coffee on the Keurig

Then also froth up a small batch of Peppermint hot chocolate, combine the two and VOILA! I have a homemade beverage worthy of a cold drive to Starbucks. And today it is COLD, so I am extra grateful to stay in my jammies a little longer.

Now that I am an at home Barrista I can't wait to try more K-cups. Any other recommendations by all you Keurig users? I just bought a pack of the French vanilla biscotti flavor from folgers but I am wanting to try more so let me know your picks.

Still loving White!

2011-12-29T09:08:00.000-08:00

I hope you and yours had a Happy Holidays!!! We have spent the last few days floating among family and friends, having a blast. Santa was here and made one little girl pretty happy, and her mommy and daddy were spoiled as well. We are the newest members of the "WE LOVE KEURIG" club now and between my birthday and Christmas I have one big Anthro shopping spree in my future. With some birthday cash I also tracked down a new camera lens I've been lusting over on boxing day for cheap so to say I'm all smiles this week is an understatement.

But even before the holidays I was being spoiled. Back at the start of the month my mom finished her living room renovation and sent me home with this cute hall table after doing some painting for her. I think Wren deleted the original photo in my iphone, but it was just a simple oak table... just a little too much wood for my taste.

Some fresh white paint and a few black accessories really make it pop! in a subtle, relaxing way.

Another gift was the beautiful crock under the table.

I had been lusting after a big crock for some time and my lovely Aunt Carol brought this one home for me from an Antique show in November. The beautiful red wing on it makes me think of Wren every time I glance at it. THANKS AGAIN CAROL!!!

(I am going to try and do a photo tour of Carol's house soon, she just completed her dream home and it is stunning!)

My white paint is still getting a regular work out. I had a lot of client orders before the holidays since a lot of people wanted to jazz up their homes before having company, but I did fit in a few WhiteBerry items. This big old dresser was tobacco stained and dirty as can be (if that discoloration isn't a good anti-smoking ad I don't know what is!).

But the white treatment brought it back to life.

You probably saw this piece in a few photos of Wren's party. It is by far one of my favorite pieces in a while just because it is so elegant yet simple.

Anthro knobs give it some needed sparkle!

As much as I love distressed items, nothing beats a silky smooth new finish.

It was sad to see this one go, but I've been working on another fun piece for this spot I am excited to share so that's my only consolation.

Every holiday season I have a couple loving husbands who pick up a surprise for their wife. This cute little cabinet went home with one of my oldest and sweetest clients' Hubby. I wish I could see her face on Christmas morning! Hope you love it Suzy!!

As you can see I have no intentions of toning down my always present

love of white in the new year!

Birthday Time

2011-12-23T11:25:00.000-08:00

It was a great morning to have a birthday! About 10 minutes after waking up my best friend called to wish me a good day and confirm our plans for tonight.

Then Sean dropped of these beauties for me.

Along with a decadent breakfast only fitting for a birthday girl. The best part about being 28? Deciding that it is a-ok to eat junk food as a meal!

Tonight we are going out for a big family dinner then spending the evening at our favorite live Jazz lounge with my friends. It may not be an over the top birthday but it is shaping up to be a pretty awesome one.

TGIF everyone and thanks for all the birthday wishes in my last post!!!

Oh the weather outside is frightful

2011-12-22T11:20:00.000-08:00

I whole heartedly agree with this sentiment, but in my case replace the tea with a Starbucks peppermint hot chocolate!

As we've discussed, I am a big book junkie! So I thought it was about time I keep my collection under control and much more share-friendly. I know I've borrowed plenty of books and they've turned up a few months later and I forget their owner, but somehow it never occurred to me to plate my books.

Until now! I found these cute book plates (80 plates in various designs) on clearance for $2 at Anthropologie a few weeks ago and I decided to make it my mission to get them all in my books today.

It's funny because this month has been unseasonably warm here, but for some reason I can't seem to shake a constant chill this week. Maybe I'm getting cold feet about turning 28 tomorrow!

Who knows but Sean is fed up with me wearing tuques inside the house all day and night.

Wish me luck as I gain a whole year at midnight tonight!!

Martha Stewart Cabinet Review

2011-12-21T10:15:00.000-08:00

It has been a LOOOOONG 8 months since our Kitchen reno began. The first 5 or so being the worst. Sean and I still have a few loose ends that we can finally tie up now that the kitchen installers finished last Monday, so these are not our *final* shots of the finished kitchen, but they are pretty close.

I know a lot of you have been asking for reviews on what we think about the cabinets now that we've had them for a little bit so I thought I would sit down and share my thoughts.

My first thought:
1. The price is unbeatable if you are after the look we wanted. We did about a year of research and price comparisons so we feel like budget wise they are really superb.

2. You MUST MUST MUST know exactly what you want! I cannot stress this enough. I am sure Home Depot has their share of talented kitchen designers but simply going in and asking one to design your new kitchen is not a good idea. In fact, even when I would share photos and ideas from Martha's own cabinet catalog our designer had no idea how to make it happen. Every single inch of cabinets were picked by Sean and myself. So if you are up for lots of pre-reno work and saving some money it is definitely a good route, but if you have a challenging space or want input I would go to a specialty kitchen store.

3. The good part about working with Home Depot is that when there is a problem or mistake they cover all the costs and send replacements, the bad part is that it takes about 8 weeks to ship anything. In the end our store gave us all the cabinet baseboards and decorative side panels free of charge to make up for all the delays, but I didn't expect anything and I am not sure all stores do this. But waiting for 3 different replacements at different times meant that it was 3.5 months of going back and forth from the day our cabinet installers began. If everything arrived correctly and was perfect it would be a totally different story and I would have had a finished kitchen back in August, so just be prepared to be patient.

4. Have all your appliances, faucet, sink picked out before you even arrange the kitchen measure. You probably heard me complain before that they nearly didn't agree to make the sink cutout because they didn't approve of the Ikea sink dimensions. That was probably the single most stressful day of our reno because they tell me this 2 days before our counters were to be installed so obviously the marble had already been cut. I had to get mad for the first time in the whole process and if it weren't for the fact that I had documented proof that our Home Depot measurer saw the sink, measured it and that our designer also knew I don't even want to know what disaster might have resulted (like having to get a whole new slab of marble for that section!). Document everything in email with your designer and have it all on hand for the measurer before you ever even meet with the designer!!!

5. As for the cabinets themselves, we are in LOVE. Totally worth the pain! All the cabinets have soft shut doors and drawers, nice styleing and some cabinets come standard with extra sweet features like sliding shelves. We thought our pantry cabinet would just be shelving, but were pleasantly surprised to have pull out shelves which is nice so things don't accumulate at the back!

3 seperate cabinets also surprised us by being pull out organizers! Can't argue with standard features like that.

6. Spending just a little more on decorative panels for the side or back of cabinets make a huge difference. One of the things I liked most about Martha's cabinets was the decorative elements. Things like build out baseboards, plinths and corbels can't be found at places like Ikea that have comparable prices. The single most expensive items in the kitchen are the corbles (they run about $500 each) but the panelling on the peninsula was not all that much money and gives a really custom look.

7. You can save $$ by doing store bought trim. I believe the Martha Stewart crown was about $150/8ft. While HomeDepot gave us the baseboards free of charge I still wanted to save a little money and get a custom look so I bought in stock crown at Home Depot for $1.30/ft and just had the installers put it up for me. Since Marth also makes paint, all the cabinet colors are available in paint and I brushed on some matching paint after they put it up! I probably saved about $250 in trim this way.

My biggest and final piece of advice is that even though you are going to a big box store that doesn't mean you can't have a custom kitchen. Have high expectations, be willing to think outside the box and express your ideas clearly and there is no reason why a budget friendly kitchen can't look like a specially design space.

So my final verdict? Despite some of the snags (you have to expect a few hiccups) the overall product is great. Our total bill for the cabinets, including the installation was $11,500. If you are a hands on person who is able to dedicate some time to planning then you will be really happy with them as well.

Now I just need to finish a few baseboards going into the dining room and tile by our phone counter to get it done~

Quick Gift

2011-12-20T09:31:00.000-08:00

Most years I am that person who has great intentions to get everything wrapped and ready by mid December but always seem to end up hunting down that last minute gift for someone on the 22nd or so. This year I worked extra hard to make it really happen and for the first time I succeeded. By avoiding the malls at this chaotic time of year I have had a little time to also get creative, and maybe this will help you out of needing to hit the stores yet again!

I read an interesting article recently regarding gifts and how much to spend. It seems that most people don't have any more gratification from a gift just because it cost more. Good news for those of us who like to do homemade Christmases. One gift in particular that I find difficult to find with short notice is a hostess gift. The token bottle of wine is pretty standard but if I have time I like to get a more personal item. If I don't have time I like to jazz it up with a small box and one of these:

I picked up a big box of horse shoes a few years back for a couple bucks but I've seen them since at western stores and at Lee Valley. With a whimsical linen bow tied on and a random item from my treasure jar sewed on (in this case a rainbow color pompom) it is a great box topper, or stand alone gift to bring luck to the recipient.

And who doesn't want more luck? I know they've brought me some since I have saved both money and a trip to the mall!

Proof for Sean that my random purchases and boxes of "junk" all have a purpose!

PS- You may have noticed that I have started tagging my photos. It isn't because I think they are super awesome, but because some lovely readers have taken the time to email me and let me know that a lot of my photos are turning up on Pinterest and other blogs and are being credited back to another blog. One blog even had my photos as their header! So hopefully this will cut down on confusion for innocent bloggers who think they are crediting the right site, and THANKS to all you awesome scouts who let me know~