Coffee Table to Upholstered Ottoman

This is another GREAT find at the local thrift store. I found this table around the fourth of July. The special at the thrift store was to pick a star and on the back there was a discount for your entire order. Well I just so happened to pick a 30% off coupon. This table was a whopping $25, so I got it for just over $18 with tax. It had been loved. When I was sanding I found some crayon marks. I'm sure my mom's tables were loved the same way. I sanded the top and legs. My original thought was just paint it black and leave it as a coffee table. Then one night when we were watching a movie in the family room I got the idea that I should make it a big ottoman. Yes, an idea during a movie. I watch movies with him sometimes and sometimes I pretend to watch them just to spend time together. Now I had to figure out how to do it. This is what I came up with and the questions I asked myself:

• What color: people are going to put their feet on this, it can't be cream or white... I found the same fabric I made my pillows out of for $6.99/ yard at Hobby Lobby. It was 3 years later and I didn't think I would be lucky and find the same fabric again.
• How padded should it be? The upholstering padding is super expensive-- $39/ yard. No way!! I'm using mattress pads from Walmart and my MIL's basement.
• How was I going to attach it? Luckily the coffee table has a small lip on the edges and I was able to staple underneath and hid the staples.
• I didn't want it to look like a big pillow, so how can I make it tufted? This was a great time... my husband got frustrated and thank goodness my BIL was over. He helped me find just the right length of screw and attach it to the table through the fabric. It was a sight. I was holding the fabric and padding down so it wouldn't tear while he was drilling.
• What type of buttons should I use for tufting? I found the type you can customize with your own fabric. I think this was the only full price item I purchased at $4/ pack of three.

You can see here where I stapled around the bottom... The biggest question after I tufted the ottoman was how to attach the buttons.. this picture doesn't show the tufting yet. You'll never guess what I used to attach the button to the screw. BREAD TIES!! I can't believe I make fun of my husband for keeping them, but one Sunday afternoon they came to the rescue when I was desperate to finish this project.

Thrift Store Run

I had taken a break from the thrift store, mainly because they hadn't had many new donations. I have been waiting for the weather to get warm and people to get motivated to donate again. Our local thrift store is directly related to our local hospital-- so I feel pretty good about donating and buying knowing that I am helping a good cause. I save money and donate to charity all at the same time. Don't get your hopes up... I had this shelf, but it needed to be painted white to be hung in the gray bedroom. It was just in the basement for my spray paint party on Sunday. On to what I found at the thrift store... a picture with a frame ($6) and a lamp ($4.50). I forgot to take a picture of the beautiful painting (insert sarcasm) that was in the frame. I have been looking for a large frame to paint white and put a chalkboard inside to mount on the kitchen wall. This project is to be continued... This is the frame... more closeup pictures to come. The lamp... just the height I was looking for, but it needs spray paint. I was just going to do black, but I was out. Can you believe I ran out of black spray paint? I used the bronzed metallic spray I used on the kitchen cabinet knobs. Always remember to tape off the electronics before spraying. What do you think? Pretty good for a $4.50 lamp.

The Kitchen - Before and After

I realized that I started this blog after we did most of the rejuvenation to our home - it was in desperate shape to say the least! I'm going to do my best to take you through one room at a time. I hope you enjoy the pictures of the kitchen/ dining room! Yes, the island is moving... and it is 5'' shorter than the other counters. Yes, the first things I did in the kitchen was remove wallpaper and brass knobs from the cabinets. I think my MIL bet someone that the wallpaper would be down within 2 hours of closing on the house - she was right! I spray painted all 40 knobs a bronzed metal color to match the new light fixtures throughout the kitchen.

I try my best to reuse... so we reused the carpet in the "dining" area for the gray bedroom. We cleaned it after it was relocated. It was in good condition, so the green carpet got the boot - no where to reuse that carpet, but at the dump!

Kolin tried his best to get this crazy drapery pole down... it resulted in 4 huge holes in the wall. It's a good thing we ended up having to texture all the walls so we can no longer see the holes! Also, the sea foam green curtain is one of my favorite drop cloths.

The first thing that was installed at the house was DISH (see TV on the counter). I think the installation guys called us while we were still at the closing, Kolin might have to go to TV rehab someday.

This is the dining room after we did the following:

• Installed a darker wide plank laminate floor
• New crisp white trim
• Textured the walls
• Painted
• New light fixture/ reused the others and just painted them with the same spray paint as the knobs.
• The buffet was a find at the thrift store - $60 and a little black paint
• The other furniture is from our old house. I'm still thinking of getting a rectangular table for more seating.

This is the kitchen finished. New knobs, floor, trim, appliances. It's just crazy to me that this is the same kitchen. I think the flooring is really what changed the look. I was hoping for more of a contrast in the wood floor and cabinets, but maybe I'll paint the cabinets someday.

I'm still planning on replacing the countertops and possibly extending the island. I am thinking of ordering the countertop longer than it needs to be and possibly build a small shelf underneath for support, while still allowing room for 3-4 bar stools. We have the room, but I still need to think through how this will work... and save for the countertops. Also, what material?? So many more decisions and so many more ideas!!

All under $5

You may remember this little piece... it was under $2 at the thrift store. I sprayed it black and filled it with fake fruit.

This is one of my entertaining pieces. I usually just have apples and pears on it, but I found a package of assorted fall items. All for $5 at Walmart. I even used the raffia ribbon on the top. I live the berries and pine cones.

This is an existing lamp, but I found the shade for $3 at OTP. I think it's a great way to change the look of the room from just a bland white shade.

This little grouping sits above my TV Armoire. My MIL found the Armoire ($70) for me at a local second hand store. I painted it from an antique white to black. To top the area I used an existing frame Kolin had and added a piece of scrap booking paper. I found each of the candle holders for $2-3 at OTP and painted them various colors of black, champagne and bronze. I topped them with off white candles around the house.

I hope this inspires you to make small inexpensive changes around your house.

Some new deals and presents from Mom!

Here's the bathroom accessorized. Mom brought me the letters spelling "RELAX". The picture above the toilet was $5 at OTP. The new teal towels are also from OTP - wash cloths $1.29, hand towels $3.99, white bath towels $4.99. I used the silver tin bowl from the thrift store and filled it with extra towels. The picture frame above the towel rack was $.50 at the thrift store. I spray painted it white and used the gray ribbon from the pillow I made in the guest bedroom. I tied a bow and hung it on the wall with just a nail. I would love to do this with old door knobs, but I have to find them first.

Mom gave me this octagon mirror. The frame was oak, but I spray painted it white and just have it leaning against the wall. I should hang it, but just didn't have time. Mom also brought me the crystal lamp. It's very different, but I'm going to spray paint the bottom silver since I'm not a gold fan. It gives off the prettiest light. I got the oval frame for $2 at OTP - that's how Kolin refers to Old Time Pottery.

Here are the pictures hung.

This is a picture of another set of letters mom brought me "DREAM". I have it on the ledge in the front window.

A 50% off sale at the Thrift Store!

The Saturday morning tradition continued after breakfast "Blueberry Coffee Loaf". Kolin stayed at home to install doors, but I couldn't resist. I was just going to run to the hardware store, but the 50% off sign was calling me. Here's what I found... I got the following for 50% off:

• Caned Chair - $5
• Set of Pictures - $2.50 (I just wanted them for their frames)
• Silver/ Tin bowl - $1.50
• Wooden Pedestal - $1.50
• Brass/ Wood Candle Holders - .50

I've already spray painted the pedestal black, the candle holders silver and the picture frames a white wash. I'm not really sure what I'm going to do with the chair yet, but i have seen some really cute ideas on other blogs lately. Stay tuned to see some of this stuff in future pictures.

Total cost of my visit- $11 and many hours of fun!

$9 Fireplace Mantel

As you will can see my fireplace needs some help... I like to say it has a railroad tie bolted on the front.

It will eventually get it's much needed makeover, but here's what I came up with to get by... Mirror ($2) and group of picture frames different sizes and colors ($5)-- all from the Thrift Store. Spray Paint ($2) and "Live, Laugh, Love" I already had.

I'd love to hear your ideas for it's formal makeover. I can't wait for Christmas - Santa will finally have a chimney after all these years!

Rocking Chair for the Guest Bedroom - $13

Yet another thrift store find. Can you remember seeing this in your grandma's house... it smelled like it was there too! Nothing a little febreeze can't fix.

Anyway, I was looking for a small chair for the guest bedroom we just painted a dark gray. Kolin picked out the paint color in the clearance section of paint at Lowe's. Someone had returnd it because it wasn't the right color.

What do you think about the wall color? We painted it late last friday night and it almost looked like a chalkboard. Oh, and I made the curtains out of thrift store fabric (washed first). I didn't want to get our my sewing machine so I just used the iron hemming tape. I'll explain in another post.

Getting back to the chair I decided to paint it white and cover the cushion with yet another piece of fabric from the thrift store. This one was an interesting piece of light gray.

So I primed and spray painted the chair. Took off the cover and stapled new fabric to it. I think it turned out pretty good for a $13 rocking chair.

Well I can't just leave the extra fabric sitting their.... I have to make an accent pillow for the bed. So I got some ribbon and buttons and here it is...

I'm so excited to finish this room. We just visited a friend's house that has an old door as a headboard. I can't wait to start working on that project. Most of all I can't wait for visitors!!

$2 Bench... well okay $7

Another adjective for me is Thrifty. I have somehow convinced my husband to go to the thrift store on Saturday mornings to scope out deals. I think he does this for 2 reasons:

He gets a big breakfast on Saturday morning so he's up already

He's cheap like me: he would rather I spend $16 at the thrift store and keep me busy working on the project all day then let me go to the mall all day!

This is a picture of the $2 bench I found a few weeks ago. I of course painted it black, but I was also able to cover it with extra fabric I had from pillows I made a few years ago for the living room. I went to Walmart to find a cushion for it, but the foam cushion was $15, so I just went to the fabric section and bought quilt batting for $4 and folded it thick enough for the cushion.

I should also start buying spray paint in bulk - $.88/ can, but lately I've been going through 5 cans a week!

I think we can all love a $7 bench!