Curtains, Curtains and more Curtains!

Today I am thrilled to be guest posting at I am Momma Hear Me Roar as part of Cheri’s week long Behind the Curtain series. 

I hope you will stop by my post HERE to see curtains from my home, curtains I have created for magazine photo shoots and some all-time curtain favorites.  There is a lot to see!

Refinished Coffee Table – the details!

A little while back I shared a sneak peak of a coffee table project I was about to begin using a new-to-me refinishing technique.  I am happy to report it is complete and turned out even better than I had hoped!

Above is what the table looks like today and below is a picture of what the table looked like when I started.  I loved the shape and scale of the table for our office sitting area but it was very orange and too shiny. 

My original refinishing plan was to use a furniture stripper followed by sanding with a palm sander.  My plans changed, however, when I visited my local Lowes store.  The salesperson I worked with just happened to be a woodworker and suggested I try using acetone for removing the finish, followed by a good hand sanding.  The acetone, he said, would remove all the inorganic elements (stain and varnish) from the wood and by using a 00 grade of steel wool the table would require only hand sanding to achieve a perfectly smooth finish.   It sounded pretty simple so I decided to give it a try.

After he explained the safety considerations when working with acetone – it will burn your skin and eyes and is highly flammable and should only be used in well ventilated (outside) areas away from any open flames – we went around the store gathering up the supplies.  I needed acetone, chemical safe gloves, a full chemical face mask, 00 grade steel wool, fine grit sand paper and a small metal bucket.

I began the project by removing the brass casters and decorations from the table. The table was then placed outside on rocks (acetone will kill grass) in the corner of our garden area on top of a layer of plastic and newspapers.  I tied my hair back, wore long pants, a long sleeved shirt tucked into the chemical safe gloves and the face mask to make sure I was fully protected.

Once I was ready to go, the project was fairly straight forward.  Simply pour about an inch or two of acetone in the metal bucket, dip the steel wool into the acetone and then start scrubbing with the grain of the wood.  (Acetone will evaporate quickly so you only want to pour a small amount in the bucket at a time.)  Keep dipping the steel wool into the acetone and scrubbing.  When the steel wool “wears out” grab a new piece and repeat the procedure until you are satisfied with the results. 

After all the finish was removed, I sprayed the table with water using a garden hose and let it dry outside.  When the table was completely dry it was time for a hand sanding to even out the grain of the wood and remove any residue. 

It took about 3 hours for me to remove everything from the wood using the acetone and steel wool plus more time for sanding. It was a lot of work but the results were worth the effort.  The table was returned to the natural wood color and was extremely smooth.

Since I wanted the table to have a light, slightly white finish, I decided to try another first for me - Briwax liming wax.  I could not find it locally so I ended up ordering the wax online.  I simply followed the directions on the can and applied small amounts using a cotton cloth.  I kept applying the wax until I had the look I wanted.  Once the wax was dry it was time for a top coat of furniture wax.  I used a clear finish furniture paste wax by Minwax. 

The table turned out wonderful!  I also have to say liming wax has now been added to my list of favorite products.  I have already used it on another project which I will be sharing shortly and have found myself looking around my house to see what other wood pieces I can use it on!

I am curious to know, have you ever tried using acetone and/or liming wax?  Were you happy with the results?  Looking forward to hearing about your experiences!

Note:  Please be sure to read all the instructions and warnings on the acetone container and wax as well as consulting with a salesperson to make sure you have all the proper equipment to order complete this project safely.

How to Use a Vintage Printer Tray for Jewelry Display

The first picture from the photo shoot which was held at my house back in April has been published in Better Homes and Gardens 100 Ideas Real Rooms.

It features Regional Editor and Producer for Meredith Publications, Donna Talley’s fun and clever idea for using a vintage printer tray to display jewelry.

 Better Homes and Gardens 100 Ideas Real Rooms / Photographer - John Bessler

Stylist - Donna Talley, Regional Editor and Producer for Meredith Publications

Vintage printer trays like the one used for this project can easily be found online at sites like Etsy and Ebay, as well as at flea markets.  They come in a variety of shapes and sizes so there is sure to be one which will meet your needs.

Donna graciously shared her step by step instructions so that you too can create a display for your favorite baubles.

1) Decide which jewelry you would like to display and then create a spot for each piece. It's okay if some of the printer's tray spaces are tiny - they can be removed with a quick couple of whacks with a small hammer. Take a photo of the jewelry in the spaces you would like them to go into so you'll remember what goes where.

2) Once all the designated slats are removed, lightly sand the tray and wipe with a damp cloth to remove all dust.

3) Spray tray with two coats of desired color, letting dry between coats.

 Better Homes and Gardens 100 Ideas Real Rooms / Photographer - John Bessler

Stylist - Donna Talley, Regional Editor and Producer for Meredith Publications

4) To line the little cubbies, I selected a book of craft paper from A.C. Moore. The one I used is called "The Linen Closet Stack" - these are beautiful papers that look like fabrics - linen, damask, etc. I measured each cubby and then measured the paper and attached with clear glue. Mix up the paper patterns to create a pretty effect from afar. Try to select papers that won't compete with the jewelry - the paper should complement, not compete with, the baubles!

5) To hang the jewelry, I used screw-in gold hooks in various sizes. Using a wire cutter and a hot glue gun, I clipped off the screw end of each of the hooks (it's impossible to screw into those really small cubbies!) I attached the screw-less hooks with a dab of hot glue. Press in place for a few seconds and let dry completely before hanging jewelry.

 Better Homes and Gardens 100 Ideas Real Rooms / Photographer - John Bessler

Stylist - Donna Talley, Regional Editor and Producer for Meredith Publications

6) Finally, to finish off the piece, I attached a pair of picture hangers on each end of the back and threaded a large wire ribbon through the back and added a bow at the top.

So pretty and simple!  My favorite take away from this project is using jewelry as art.  I have my jewelry stored in a box and love the idea of displaying it not only for easy access but as a pretty “picture” as well.

Thank you Donna for sharing!  There are more great ideas to come from the photo shoot.  I will be sure to let you know when they are published.

Better Homes and Gardens Holiday Floral Shoot

Back in August I had the privilege of having my home used for a background by a very talented group of people who put together the holiday floral arranging story which can be seen in the latest edition of Better Homes and Gardens.

Better Homes and Gardens December 2011 / By:  Amy Panos / Producer:  Ariella Chezar

Photographer:  Kate Mathis / Stylist:  Ed Gallagher

It was incredibly fun and a great learning experience to watch the creative behind the scenes process of the pictures unfold.

Better Homes and Gardens December 2011 / By:  Amy Panos / Producer:  Ariella Chezar

Photographer:  Kate Mathis / Stylist:  Ed Gallagher

I was amazed at the creativity and the attention to detail which went into each and every picture.

Better Homes and Gardens December 2011 / By:  Amy Panos / Producer:  Ariella Chezar

Photographer:  Kate Mathis / Stylist:  Ed Gallagher

My very favorite moments during the three day photo shoot were simply watching Ariella arrange the flowers. She truly is amazing!

Better Homes and Gardens December 2011 / By:  Amy Panos / Producer:  Ariella Chezar

Photographer:  Kate Mathis / Stylist:  Ed Gallagher

I must say I now have a new appreciation for the art of flower arranging and the artistry which is involved.

Better Homes and Gardens December 2011 / By:  Amy Panos / Producer:  Ariella Chezar

Photographer:  Kate Mathis / Stylist:  Ed Gallagher

Below are two of the pictures which were taken during the shoot and did not make it into print. They also can be found HERE.

I love the following idea.  Wrap a simple wooden box with a beautiful ribbon and fill it with a variety of citrus themed items.  Simple and elegant!

Better Homes and Gardens December 2011 / By:  Amy Panos / Producer:  Ariella Chezar

Photographer:  Kate Mathis / Stylist:  Ed Gallagher

Another gorgeous shot features a fresh boxwood garland and poinsettias draped along a mantel. 

Better Homes and Gardens December 2011 / By:  Amy Panos / Producer:  Ariella Chezar

Photographer:  Kate Mathis / Stylist:  Ed Gallagher

Which leads me to a discovery I made as a result of the photo shoot (many of you may already know this) - poinsettias make long lasting bouquets.  One of the benefits of hosting the photo shoot was being able to keep many of the beautiful flower arrangements.  For several weeks my family and I enjoyed having fresh flowers all over the house.  The arrangements which lasted the longest were the poinsettias.

I hope to post more about this story soon – including a behind the scenes look at the shoot and a feature on Ariella.

Built In Cabinets - The Details

I promised a while back I would share the details of the new built-in cabinets next to our family room fireplace.  They were eleven years in the making and definitely worth the wait!  Here is a reminder of what the room looked like before.

We did a lot of research before we began – looking through magazines, etc. – to find just the right design.  The main goal was to match the existing woodwork and details of our house and the previously built media cabinet.   The project all came together when we found the picture below.

via Country Living

Once we had the inspiration photo and worked out a few details, our carpenter went to work.  It took several weeks from the time we had finished design plans to the installation.  Even though a good portion of the work was done off-site, putting the cabinets in place still took the better part of two weekends to complete.

The first phase involved removing molding, pulling out electrical outlets and building boxes on to which the finished cabinets would be attached.  Things went well until it came time to install the right side cabinet.  Because of the window ledge, there was not enough space to angle the cabinet into place.  What to do?

The solution was to cut a hole in the side of the fireplace which would be covered up by the finished cabinet.  The cut out gave the carpenter just enough space to maneuver the cabinet into place.  After day one, the cabinets were already taking shape.

The second day involved adding the details which make the cabinets beautiful.  The picture below shows the addition of the top molding and the following picture shows the cabinets with the bottom molding.  We paid special attention to match the profile of the fireplace mantel, just on a smaller scale.

All of the pieces were painted offsite and then touched up once they were in place.  You can see all the nails holes which were filled and later painted.

Next on the list were painting, doors and shelves.   In the end we decided to use seeded glass. We have the same glass in our kitchen cabinets and I love how the tiny air bubbles mute the contents just enough to make them “seeable” but not the main focus of the room.

Of course one of the best parts of the project was arranging the shelves.  Most of the items are things I already owned – a few are new.

The right cabinets contain the antique English wooden box I won a while back on a giveaway, as well as books and two large glass jars. 

The glass jars are antiques and hold the oyster shell ball I crafted earlier this month and a mismatched grouping of old billiard balls.  On top of the cabinet is one of my all-time favorite purchases - a large column top.  Long time followers might recognize this piece as its former home was on my dining room table.

The left cabinets house a wire basket from Pottery Barn, more books, and a vintage camera I picked up at a yard sale many years ago.  The glass jar on this side holds a set of shaker boxes made by artist Steve Strouse of Pennsylvania.   The boxes are graduated sizes and are made from varying types of wood.  One of the unique aspects of these boxes is that each one comes with a card telling where the wood used to make the box was found.

The left cabinets also feature an old green fishing float and an architectural element found at a local shop which is sadly no longer in business. The top is finished off with an antique French bottle return I purchased this summer during vacation.  I have to admit when I bought this I really had no idea where I would put it.  Luckily it is very close in size and scale to the column so it all worked out for the best.

I can’t thank you all enough for all the wonderful comments you have left about my living room and the new built-in cabinets.  We are thrilled with how this room finally came together and are proud to call it finished!

Decorating with Shells – An Oyster Shell Ball Tutorial

One of my favorite activities when I visit the beach is shell hunting. For years I have been slowly adding to my collection and using my treasures in my home.

They are scattered about in almost every room and serve as a reminder of the many fun vacations my family has enjoyed over the years.

This summer I decided to collect shells which I had previously ignored – oyster shells.

I have seen lots of different decorative uses for these shells and decided to try my hand at creating a simple shell ball.

It was an easy process requiring only shells, hot glue and a Styrofoam ball.

I began my project by grouping the shells by size.  By using shells of nearly the same size, I figured I would increase my odds of ending up with something round.

Beginning in the middle of the Styrofoam ball, I simply applied hot glue and stuck/pressed the shell into to Styrofoam through the glue before it hardened.  I worked in a single row around the circumference of the ball before beginning the next row.

The entire project took about twenty minutes and when I was finished I had a decorative reminder of another great summer of fun!

Do you use shells as decorative accessories in your home?  If so I would love to know how you display your beach finds.