Visual Differences

I took these two before and after pictures in the same spot, when I started the paint job in the living room. I wanted to see the visual differences in the room.  To my surprise it looks like a totally different room.  It's amazing what a little paint can do.  The furniture is the same except I slip covered the sofa and love seat, still have cats and kids at home, so for now they will have to do.  I also used some of the same pillows, just used pillow slips on those too.  It doesn't cost alot of money to transform a room, even if you only paint the walls and ceiling it's relatively inexpensive.

                                 Before                                           After

Taking Care Of The Old

I am a firm believer of  "if you take care of your things, you'll have them forever".  This patio set below, I am prepping to paint.  I bought the set about 20 years ago for my youngest daughters 1st birthday party, because we needed more seating.  It wasn't cheap, I spent $399 for the table, 6 chairs and the umbrella, twenty years ago that was a lot of money.  So you can see why even after 20 years I still have it.   The set is made of steel, it is very sturdy, but the paint is worn and it's getting rust in some spots.  I am going to save it by painting the whole set.  I power washed the set to get all the dirt and moss off, let it dry in the sun, lightly sanded it, then I painted it with Rustoleum paint.  I should get another 20 years out of it, I hope!

This is the table, it's big and heavy.  The set was a faded tan/beige color and was rusty in spots as you can see. 

I had one of my sons take the table apart, there are rust spots between the glass and frame..

Taped and papered the top and the underside of the table, so paint doesn't get all over the glass.

 The four stationary chairs aren't too bad looking.  I  used my power washer to get all the dirt and moss off of them.

 The two "rocking chairs" are a bit rusty.

The chairs came up pretty good after washing them.

 This is my paint, a bronze - brown metallic paint, I wanted to jazz -up the set a little bit, I found it at Home Depot.

The stationary chairs are all done and looking good! It's amazing what a can of paint can do.  I always say, "spray paint is your friend".

 Ready to be paired back up with the table once I get that painted.  It also matches the new patio set that I purchased this year.

These are the 2 "rocking" chairs" that are now done.  The seats on all the chairs have vinyl strapping on them, the paint covered it pretty well.  They did have some age spots on them, but you won't see the spots when the cushions are on the chairs.

Clean smooth paint job.  I used a trigger nozzle on my paint cans, so no dripping occurs while I am painting.  I always get a clean smooth paint surface when I use them.  

I had to think quick when I started this job, that white valve (pictured) on my can of paint, did not fit in my handy dandy trigger nozzle, all I did was take a valve from an old can of paint (the red valve), problem solved.  This red trigger nozzle from Krylon is my favorite one to use, no drips.

 This is another trigger nozzle that I use, but I like the red one better.  

 Top side and underside are now done.  

My son put the legs back on the table and the set is finished!  Doesn't look too shabby, if I say so myself!

 It compliments the other patio set and furniture nicely, and more seating for parties!  So, don't throw out old worn out things, re-use them by painting them and they will last even longer.  Consider it money in your pocket, that's were money belongs.  Total cost for the makeover - $70 for paint and a little bit of my time.  Beats buying another new set!

Revamping The Living Room

The first floor of the house is almost done, I painted the living room and the finishing touches are complete.  It only took me one day, surprisingly, to paint this room and ceiling, and another day to redecorate it.  I was working like a busy bee.  I don't really like when the house is in disarray.  I had to get done quickly, as we are having an overnight guest this weekend, and the guest bedroom was overflowing with things that I cleaned out of the living room.  So it's done, I'm happy, the house is happy and the guest will be happy.  Now on to the next room, the laundry room and a tiny hall that has to be repainted.  Check out my low budget redo.

Gold is old, this is the first room I painted when we built the house 10 years ago! The living room is

 12' x 14', a nice size room that we don't really use. 

 This room only has these two windows so it does not get a lot of light.  It is on the southwest side of the house, so it makes for darkness in the room.  I wanted to brighten it up a little bit so I chose a lighter color palette.

 And these are my colors - Rocky Mountain Sky (a blue gray) on the walls and Popped Corn on the ceiling.  I use Popped Corn on all my ceilings, it's not a bright, (you need sunglasses to look at it), kind of white.  It softens the blow of bright white.  Both paint colors are from Behr.

 My painting supplies, can't live without my edgers! 

 And these handy dandy furniture movers, make life easy especially if you are moving furniture yourself.  The furniture easily glides across the floor and doesn't scratch them.

Look at what a fresh coat of ceiling paint will do for a room, after 10 years!

Ceiling done, and now the trim.

 Trimming around the room is the part I don't like about painting, too time consuming, but it has to be done.

 Almost done!

 I finished this painting project and the clean up in one day, all by myself.

 It looks great, and I am so pleased with the color.  It brightens the room and is very calming, yes even for a room we don't use!

This is before and after, which do you like better?

 My new 7'6" x 9'6" medallion rug on the floor is from Wayfair. The cost was $96.00 with free shipping.

 New curtains on the windows, from Home Goods $24.99 for each pair

They look good!  I may get rings so they glide easier on the rods.

Furniture moved back into the room.  These are new to me, I have never used store bought slipcovers before, these are from SureFit.  I was going to get new furniture, but didn't want to spend the money. I still have cats that lay all over everything!  So I decided to try the slipcover thing.  They are inexpensive, washable, and I hit a buy one get one 50% off with free shipping, so about $100 for both slipcovers, pretty cheap.  They are a creamy/white color and they feel like suede, so against the chenille fabric of the sofa they don't slip when you sit down.  This is just a quick fix, someday new furniture will be in this room, someday.  I don't think they look too bad, and the fit was perfect.

New pillow covers from IKEA and blankets from Marshall's.  My family loves blankets even in the Summer!  The leather bench and square table in the background, are loaned by my sister. We have our own yard sale swap with each other for things we still want but aren't using.  So rather than store them, give them away or sell them, we swap with each other.  These are her contributions to my new room, thanks sis! 

 
Old trunk I purchased a few years ago at a thrift store.  This is before wall decor is hung.

And this is after wall decor is hung.

 Before....

And after.

All wall decor is hung, some I reused like this grate, pictures are new.

 

 Big sticks from IKEA, mirror from Marshall's

This picture on clearance at Ross for $8.00.

 I reused this table from the Living Room and put it at my front door.  This lantern from Southern Living Home was in the Living Room and now hangs in the Dining Room.

 I was keeping my computer on the kitchen table and it annoyed my husband, so...

this desk from IKEA, that was part of the Living Room for 10 years, has now found a new home in the kitchen.

The printer and my computer sit inside, and the top has lots of storage.  I have my coffee here every morning, as well as writing The Bee Skep blogs.  Hope you enjoyed this one, there are more to come.