Kitchen Counter Makeover...Whee!

 

When it come to redecorating I am a very spontaneous contractor..yes...I do as I feel and when that feeling strikes this girl doesn't stop. It all started on Saturday waking up to rainy cool day nothing on the t-vision and this girl BORED...a combination for a very spontaneous moment...and a moment it was....

 

 

If you've been following me you know I have lived in this apartment for 7 years...whee...that's a long time in one place and 7 years is the mark for changing decor so they say...Now for those who know me using blue masking tape is not an options. This girl wings it all the way...lets just say who has time to apply all that stuff and then have to rip it off....Not me each day that passes people this girl ain't getting any younger! Redecorating around things is something I have always done even when I was hired to do murals or paint a room...I got in there got it done and was on my way.

Only this time something kinda back fired...I prepared the counter top took out the new brush and started to paint the counters. Now there is this really cool stuff out for counter tops that is down right awesome. It's by Rustoleum and comes in many colors, custom actually and I choose black. Why, I have had white and cream counters but never black and that as you may know is my accent color.

 

 

So the painting began, the brush strokes appeared, and I panicked, what had I done, why did I start this... kept running through my head. Frustration set in with the brush stokes not disappearing when out of no where this girl just dumped the paint on the counter...there it was a big puddle of paint and me thinking now what! So I did what any little kid would do with a puddle...took both hands and started finger painting. It was awesome...the inner child was having a blast and the counter was covered in black. Standing there with black hands covered in an oil based paint and not finding the finish appealing, I slammed my hand down on the counter looked down saw the hand print and thought that's it I will add texture. And that's what I did.. patting my hands all over the counter made my new black counter look like leather.

And the paint on my hands....well thank goodness I had fingernail polish remover. It was a life saver! Note to self...read instructions entirely use roller next time paint brush not recommended.

 

 

In the end things turned out fine with the counter top...but I didnt' stop there..nope not this girl. One change lead to another and I spent 10 hours redoing the kitchen. If you notice from the first photo to this one the walls are white, yup, that boring white people seem to putting everywhere. If I wanted to live in a place painted entirely white I'd live at the hospital where white is everywhere. Being the person I am following trends is not me...I am an innovator one who like to do things my way not the way the world is saying it's suppose to be...like the colors of the year..etc. I live life my way and express myself in entirely my own way! After all if you follow the trends of the year, how do you really know what you like, or for that who you really are if others are telling you what you should like!

And if people don't like it, well hey, when my door closes at night who really cares but me!

 

So here it is....not the whole kitchen there are still things I am doing for the next couple days. But right now I am pleased...I finally have a black counter top! I really like the way the ball jars look on the black and how the stove front now coordinates perfectly...and the chalkboard paint behind that says "Cucina" which means Kitchen in Italian. Yup! This is my "Cucina" the black counter top the light olive color walls and my new pop of orange which I plan on adding for the fall. My kitchen says me it's warm, inviting, and oh so not white!

P.S. there is more to see on the other walls which will be finished tonight. In the mean time think outside the trends or the box and get to know yourself..you just might be surprised what you find.

 

 For my next post! I've been tapestry crocheting I wonder what it might be..hmmm!

 

Couch Makeover Part 1

 

 

Being a frugal gal and one who finds use for nearly everything. I decided to revamp a couch I've had for years and years. It's been through a lot, children, and a few animals but it's has good bones. I am all about using what you have instead of tossing and replacing. I only wish I would have photographed it before I removed the bottom cover that hid the legs. It was really quite simple to remove simply lift the flap up and you see a piece of cardboard about 1/2" wide with staples. All you have to do is pull out the staples and it comes right off. I left the back flat on, being up against the wall there was no reason to remove it. As you can see the legs are not the best, I considered this before I decided to remove the covering. Then I thought of something really clever and so easy you don't have to worry how the legs appear.

 

 

I had some jute rope and when it was purchased it really had no use, other than to have it on hand.

Well, it came to good use, taking the jute and wrapping it around the legs was just what it needed. It took those non detailed dark wood legs and made them just right.

 

 

You can see here when they were all finished how it changed the look of the fabric. The legs don't stand out as much as they do in the first picture, I am pleased.

 

 

After the bottom covering was removed there was piping left that had an unfinished edge at the bottom which was fraying. Now, I thought about leaving the piping in place and using some of the fabric from the bottom cover, to tack over the fraying edge. Instead I had another idea, yup, this girl is just full of idea's there just isn't enough time to bring them to fruition. I am also guilty of starting one project and moving on to another. Naughty me, although I really am working hard on completing as I go. I have to say the older one gets the easier it is to finish projects. Less confusion going on and more time to focus. So I started pulling out the staples on the pipping, whee, they sure did use the staples.

 

 

After pulling a few of the staples here and there I simply grabbed the piping and was able to pull it off pretty easy. Just keep at it eventually it all comes off.

 

 

Now being the person I am who just has to see my idea's asap. I went to the store and grabbed some decorative upholstery nails even before the piping was all removed. Thank goodness I bought 6 packs (there weren't a lot in each package) so I probably will have to go back. It does take a lot depending on the length of your couch including the sides. I'm going to finish the tacking today and then I have another really cool idea. So climb on board and stick around for part 2 the next posting will be of the finished couch. I am not posting again until this is finished. See ya soon!