Thursday, February 23, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Until I can have my chair upholstered...
I have a chair that needs some love. My mom found it at a garage sale years ago, and she gave it to me about five years ago, and it's ugly. It is crying out to be upholstered, but I just can't afford it right now and it's not a chair that I would want to try upholstering myself.
The truth be told, I love this chair. It's solid, it's heavy, it's well made, it's actually comfortable, and it's got a great shape. The problem is the fabric on it is horrible.
As you can see in the picture above, it was a horrible color. The fabric is kind of a green burlap. It collects cat hair like crazy. But again, it's a great chair. It has potential. The picture is from my the apartment I lived in before moving in with Jim...every time I look a pictures from there, I miss all the space I had. (heavy sigh) Anyway, since the fabric on the chair was so ugly, I always draped a blanket over it hide it as much as possible.
Not long before I moved out of my apartment, I bought fabric spray paint and painted all the fabric black. I also painted the wood black, and replaced the trim that covers the staples with black trim. It looked better, after it was painted, it collected cat hair even more than it did before. So the throw was used to keep the cat hair off it more than it was to hide the chair.
Here's a close up of it. I painted the wood white to highlight the shape a little more and give it a little interest. I need to sand it off and do it over, because it's not a very good paint job. But do you see what great lines this chair has? I love the detail on the back. It just has a gorgeous shape.
Well, this weekend I did something I had been thinking about doing. I stenciled it, and now I can't stop looking at it. Even though it still needs to be upholstered, I'm really happy with it.
Here it is! I think it turned out pretty good. Let me tell you, it wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. I used a plastic stencil, and it didn't want to stay curved with the contour of the chair. I tried taping it down, but the tape kept coming off. Finally, I just had to accept that it wasn't going to be perfect and that maybe the imperfection would be better any way.
At first I was going to do the small stencil all over, but once I finished the back, I knew that would be too much. So I pulled out the larger matching stencil, and had the arms and seat finished in no time.
Now, just because I like to have pillows on chairs, I have added a pillow to it. The brown pillow helps balance it with the rest of the room. Our sofa is black leather, and Jim's recliner has a brown slipcover on it.
So...what do you think? Do you think it will pass until I can get it upholstered?
I'm linking to these parties:
The Power of Paint One Project at a Time Nifty Thrifty Tuesday Whatever Goes Wednesday
Creative Spark Wow Us Wednesday Transformation Thursdays Hooking Up with HoH
Feature Yourself Friday Frugal Friday Show and Tell Friday Furniture Feature Friday
Inspiration Friday Funky Junk Check me out Saturday
The truth be told, I love this chair. It's solid, it's heavy, it's well made, it's actually comfortable, and it's got a great shape. The problem is the fabric on it is horrible.
 |
| See the green chair draped with a throw? That's my chair. |
 |
| Se the black chair with the throw tossed over it and a pillow? That my chair. |
Here's a close up of it. I painted the wood white to highlight the shape a little more and give it a little interest. I need to sand it off and do it over, because it's not a very good paint job. But do you see what great lines this chair has? I love the detail on the back. It just has a gorgeous shape.
Well, this weekend I did something I had been thinking about doing. I stenciled it, and now I can't stop looking at it. Even though it still needs to be upholstered, I'm really happy with it.
 |
| After |
At first I was going to do the small stencil all over, but once I finished the back, I knew that would be too much. So I pulled out the larger matching stencil, and had the arms and seat finished in no time.
Now, just because I like to have pillows on chairs, I have added a pillow to it. The brown pillow helps balance it with the rest of the room. Our sofa is black leather, and Jim's recliner has a brown slipcover on it.
So...what do you think? Do you think it will pass until I can get it upholstered?
I'm linking to these parties:
The Power of Paint One Project at a Time Nifty Thrifty Tuesday Whatever Goes Wednesday
Creative Spark Wow Us Wednesday Transformation Thursdays Hooking Up with HoH
Feature Yourself Friday Frugal Friday Show and Tell Friday Furniture Feature Friday
Inspiration Friday Funky Junk Check me out Saturday
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Color Inspirations: Apple Green Living Rooms
One of my favorite colors to decorate with is Apple Green. It is so fresh and clean looking. Plus, green is a neutral that will go with any color. I know, I know...when you think of a neutral, you think of beige, cream, white, black, etc., but think about nature. Green is everywhere in nature, and no one ever says "OMG, that color flower doesn't go with those green leaves!"
Now, granted, like any neutral, you have to think about the undertone, because some neutrals have different undertones that will make them look wrong with other colors. The same is true with green. It can have undertones that make it look bleck with some colors. But for the most part, green will work in any decor and will bring a freshness to any room.
In this picture you can see how the undertones can be different. The green china cabinet in the background has a blue undertone, which without the other accessories in the room wouldn't look good with the stripes on the sofas, which have a yellow undertone. You have to be careful mixing warm and cool undertones, but in this case it works just fine. The china cabinet is far enough away that from a distance it works, plus the pillows have both green and blue in them, that ties it all together.
Okay... LOVE this room for so many reason. I love all the windows with the white trim. It just invites the sunshine in. And of course, the ceiling...well, what can you say about beams and beadboard, except that they are fantastic. The colors work here, because they are muted without being dirty. There is almost a gray undertone to the green on the walls, and that works really well with the olive greens in the fabric pattern. I could definitely spend a lot of time in this room. It's subtle and inviting. A classic all the way.
Here we go to the other end of subtle... There's nothing subtle about this green. It is a strong color that is used beautifully in the dramatic drapes. The decor is mono-tone, because all the shades of green have the same yellow undertone, just in different intensities. This is an example of how mono-tone doesn't have to be boring. I think the shade used on the chair and ottoman is my favorite.
Here we go! Beautiful slipcovers combining stripes and solids in apple green. All the accessories have some kind of green in them, even the lampshades are trimmed with green. This room has a rather formal feeling because of that, but the slipcovers make it feel more livable. I also like the idea of using a taller round table as a coffee table instead of a low table. It makes it easy to pull the chairs up to it to share a cup of coffee and visit.
I adore the walls in this room. The painted beadboard gives this room a real garden feel with the flowered furniture covers. Because of the tiled floor, I think this room is actually a sunroom, either that or it's in a warm-weather state. I love how they brought the color red into the room with the red room divider and rug. It really does make me think of an apple orchard without going over the top. Cozy, comfy, and comfortable.
Here's a room with a more modern feel because of the brown walls. The apple green really makes a statement in this room, and if you notice there are bits of apple green even on the book shelves. This room gives me inspiration for our little house, because our living room has brown walls; however, the white slipcovers would never work in our house for reasons I shared in this post.
As you may know, we have a black leather sofa. It is amazingly comfortable, but I've never liked smooth black leather... It makes me think of Fonzi's leather jacket. That's why I'm thinking about getting a slipcover for it in an apple green color.
Source: overstock.com via Loribeth on Pinterest
The only problem I'm having is finding one in an apple green color, so I'm thinking about compromising with a sage green...just not sure how the undertone of that will work with the other colors in our living room. So I might end up going with a light tan color. I'll probably be buying and return a few before I find the right one for our sofa.
So there you go... Apple green...one of my favorite colors. Do you like it as much as I do.
Now, granted, like any neutral, you have to think about the undertone, because some neutrals have different undertones that will make them look wrong with other colors. The same is true with green. It can have undertones that make it look bleck with some colors. But for the most part, green will work in any decor and will bring a freshness to any room.
In this picture you can see how the undertones can be different. The green china cabinet in the background has a blue undertone, which without the other accessories in the room wouldn't look good with the stripes on the sofas, which have a yellow undertone. You have to be careful mixing warm and cool undertones, but in this case it works just fine. The china cabinet is far enough away that from a distance it works, plus the pillows have both green and blue in them, that ties it all together.
Okay... LOVE this room for so many reason. I love all the windows with the white trim. It just invites the sunshine in. And of course, the ceiling...well, what can you say about beams and beadboard, except that they are fantastic. The colors work here, because they are muted without being dirty. There is almost a gray undertone to the green on the walls, and that works really well with the olive greens in the fabric pattern. I could definitely spend a lot of time in this room. It's subtle and inviting. A classic all the way.
Here we go to the other end of subtle... There's nothing subtle about this green. It is a strong color that is used beautifully in the dramatic drapes. The decor is mono-tone, because all the shades of green have the same yellow undertone, just in different intensities. This is an example of how mono-tone doesn't have to be boring. I think the shade used on the chair and ottoman is my favorite.
Here we go! Beautiful slipcovers combining stripes and solids in apple green. All the accessories have some kind of green in them, even the lampshades are trimmed with green. This room has a rather formal feeling because of that, but the slipcovers make it feel more livable. I also like the idea of using a taller round table as a coffee table instead of a low table. It makes it easy to pull the chairs up to it to share a cup of coffee and visit.
I adore the walls in this room. The painted beadboard gives this room a real garden feel with the flowered furniture covers. Because of the tiled floor, I think this room is actually a sunroom, either that or it's in a warm-weather state. I love how they brought the color red into the room with the red room divider and rug. It really does make me think of an apple orchard without going over the top. Cozy, comfy, and comfortable.
Here's a room with a more modern feel because of the brown walls. The apple green really makes a statement in this room, and if you notice there are bits of apple green even on the book shelves. This room gives me inspiration for our little house, because our living room has brown walls; however, the white slipcovers would never work in our house for reasons I shared in this post.
As you may know, we have a black leather sofa. It is amazingly comfortable, but I've never liked smooth black leather... It makes me think of Fonzi's leather jacket. That's why I'm thinking about getting a slipcover for it in an apple green color.
Source: overstock.com via Loribeth on Pinterest
The only problem I'm having is finding one in an apple green color, so I'm thinking about compromising with a sage green...just not sure how the undertone of that will work with the other colors in our living room. So I might end up going with a light tan color. I'll probably be buying and return a few before I find the right one for our sofa.
So there you go... Apple green...one of my favorite colors. Do you like it as much as I do.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Thursday's Quote #6
This quote is a present for my husband. I know Valentine's Day over, but this quote says everything.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Thursday's Quote #5
With the unusually warm weather, I've been thinking about spring cleaning. But at least I don't have to worry about the windows!!!
Except at our house, it's cat nose art!!
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Decorating Inspirations: Robin's Egg Blue Kitchens
Today I was looking at all the pictures I have pinned of kitchens on Pinterest, and I saw a theme several pictures. I've pinned a lot of kitchens that are green and white, which I've used as inspiration for my own kitchen, but then I saw another trend...Robin's Egg Blue!
You may remember when I posted this picture on my blog with a simple statement that I love this light. I'm still convinced that I can make something similar DIY if I find the right light. But do you notice the color? Robin's Egg Blue.
You may remember when I posted this picture on my blog with a simple statement that I love this light. I'm still convinced that I can make something similar DIY if I find the right light. But do you notice the color? Robin's Egg Blue.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
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