Painting a Rock Fireplace

Several months ago I had the opportunity, along with several others, 

to help give some friends a home makeover. It was a fun experience! 

One of my favorite transformations in their home was the fireplace. The original fireplace was rock. The rock was dark, multicolored, dated, and had been colored on by their children. It was in desperate need of an update.

I was so excited get my hands on it and give it a coat of paint 

but several of the other volunteers didn't agree with the idea. 

Luckily I've met with opposition on paint makeovers before 

(usually with my own family members) so I knew just what to do. . . 

go ahead and PAINT!

I used a primer/ paint combo along with a paintbrush and roller. 

In less than an hour the fireplace went from dark and dated 

to fresh, clean and modern.

  

 Even the naysayers thought it looked awesome!

The volunteers had another inexpensive idea to update the home. 

They used wide baseboard, turned upside down, as crown molding. 

It cost less, is easier to install, yet still adds architectural detail.

Topped Off Topiary

While thrift store shopping I found this sad,

yet potentially awesome, topiary. It just needed to be
stripped of the things
that were weighing it down---
old lights, faded greenery, and the too tall stem.

With the help of several bags
of dollar store moss rocks cut in half, a bunch of glue sticks . . .

a few hot glue blisters . . .a couple of hours . . .

and a fresh dabbling of paint to the pot . . .

the topiary was re-born!

***Don't forget to

enter for the $100 gift card
to Wal*mart***

Bye, Bye Butterfly

I love the fall! It's when I really get the urge to make changes in my home; some big, others small. I've been sprucing up our guest bedroom lately and when I saw this gem at the thrift store, I knew that it would look great above the bed---after it got a little makeover. I loved the organic look of the blossoming branch. I did not love that little butterfly. So, with the help of my scroll saw (a task that was tricky because the plastic kept melting back together due to the heat of the blade), and with a little sanding, I said bye, bye to that butterfly!

Bright glossy white spray paint
gave it the update it needed. And now there is no evidence of
the little butterfly that once was.It's just the right touch for above the guest bed.I'll be revealing more changes in the guest bedroom
and give away a $100 gift card this week.

Botanic Garden and Dollar Store Orchids

One of my favorite places to visit in the DC area is
The United States Botanic Garden. Each time I go I find different things that inspire me.

This time was no exception.

I loved these arbors with their display of living plants.I'm always inspired by water features and creeks. I have great plans to make one in my own backyard---when I get enough money, time, energy, and muscle.

There are always beautiful hydrangeas to be found.One of my favorite rooms inside is the orchid room
filled with stunning displays of orchids.I love orchids!Even though I have two living orchid plants, I couldn't resist buying a few of the silk variety
when I saw them at the dollar store, along with some reindeer moss.With a little styrofoam secured in the bottom of some thrift store vases, I just stuck in the end of the orchid (cut to length)
and filled the vase with moss.This is the version I made for my daughter
using one of her beautiful thrifted vases.

A Welcoming Arrangment

This vignette is currently on the table in our entry
to welcome family and friends.
The arrangement is simply a grocery store bouquet
with a few flowering tree branches from our yard tucked in.Everything else {silver, faux plant, leaf ball, books}
is thrifted items.I adore how simple, thrifty items placed on a tray
can look so formal and beautiful!

A Burst of Sun

It seems that sunburst mirrors
are all the rage now in interior design. You can imagine my delight
when I happened upon this little beauty in the thrift store. It looks like it may have been a school shop project. With a fresh coat of paint it is the perfect addition
to the bare wall in our guest room.

In-Between Porch Decor and a Winner

It's such an odd time of year, one might call it the "In-Between Season." There are no holidays in sight, it's too cold to decorate for spring, and decorating with the grays and browns of winter has gotten old. To cure the winter blahs that one gets in the in-between season, I pulled out my brightest spray paint colors and some old, very old, thrifted items.
First I gave an old frame and a piece of scrap beadboard a fresh coat of bright orange. Then I painted the legs of a stool with a creamy yellow and finished the top off with gray.The beadboard is now the ideal spicy backdrop for an average woody wreath.Faux ranunculus in a crusty pot resting on a silver tray are appropriate for this time of year. Fun Fact: Ranunculus flowers season is usually from January till May. The flowers look so pretty framed in orange with a bright yellow little bird that seems to be enjoying the scene.Even though the flowers are fake I couldn't resist adding a cheery teal watering can into the vignette, along with an over-sized lantern to shed a little light in the crisp early evenings of this time of year.I now have a bright, delightful, and perfect In-Between Season porch.According to Random Generator, the winner of the Thirty-One Gifts Giveaway is number 35. Hooray Gayle! Gayle is a very talented rug hooker and loooong-time reader of my blog. I'm so excited for her. Giving prizes is always fun but when it's someone I "kindda" know (we've never met in person but I saw her on TV), it makes it even more exciting!
Thank you Diana from Thirty-One Gifts for hosting this giveaway.