Chandelier Update

Many of you may recognize this chandelier from a previous post.  It has become one of my favorite elements in my house for accessorizing.  As you can tell, the blue burlap ribbon that I had been using as a shade, had become tired.  I wanted some refreshment without a lot of fuss.  I happened upon these mini clothes pins at a local grocery store and my idea was born!  Book pages have become a hot accoutrement in DIY projects recently, so why not.  A thrift store book with interesting pictures and quotes...  Voila!  A whole new look for 5 dollars; perfect for ushering in Autumn.

Family Room Color Scheme

I have owned this rug for about 6, maybe 7 years. I love it! I love the color scheme & the pattern. Design tip: Find a piece that you love & build your room around it! I was able to pull accent colors out of this rug for the living room in my old house and now the basement family room in my new one. 

 I loved the rusty coral of this pillow, which I used for years, however I was never fully satisfied with the pillow in general. I wanted to freshen up my color scheme and give an updated feel to my family room while still keeping the color scheme. Design tip: Many store sell pillow covers in a variety of sizes. Hobby Lobby and Ikea are 2 off the top of my head. This cover was purchased at Hobby Lobby for $6.99. I payed $3.50 for it because every other week or so they are 50% off; just check their website for sales and 40% off coupons. I stuffed my old pillow in this new cover... and voila! A fresh new look for very little money and very little time!

 -B.Ballard

The 80's Can Still Have Luxury

If you ever had the luxury of living in the 80's, you've probably seen... or had, a lovely geometric chandelier, in brass, with tinted, beveled glass.  I know I did.  Just when I thought that natural selection had taken care of all of the aforementioned lighting fixtures... The previous owner of my house had so generously preserved the last of the 80's dynasty.  This chandelier owes it's life to an issue of "House Beautiful" magazine. 

 

 Just as it was headed to the local donation center, I happened across a spread in the magazine that showed a living room with a beautiful fixture in wrought iron, with... the same shape, just no beveled glass; this one was $1300.  I promptly pardoned the chandelier from death row with the hope of re-purposing it in my dining room.  I broke the tinted glass out of the frame.  When I was through with that therapeutic process, I taped off the sockets and sprayed the whole thing in a satin finish, fiery orange.  In order to fit the fixture in my dining room I had to add a length of cord and chain.  Once the fixture was installed, I wrapped a natural burlap ribbon around the cord to hide the mismatched cord and chain, from the extension process.  To remedy the issue of 8 blaring light bulbs, blue burlap ribbon was affixed in a band around the chandelier, creating a shade. 

 Total project time:...  about 3 hours. 

 Total cost.:.. free ninety nine!!! Well, I spent $15 on paint, hardware, ribbon and light bulbs (the light bulb were the most expensive part).

Teenage Pizazz

This room had good bones: nice Bombay Kids furniture, Bead-board and shelving...  It just lacked teenage girl pizazz.  Of course I fell creature to my ADHD and didn't take before pics.  With paint and accessories, we transformed this space to fit the personality of the teen who occupied it.  The accent wall, with the bead board, was painted a deep purple.  While the other walls were coated in a soft lavender.  The bedding was a compilation of linens from Target, Marshall's, and World Market; as well as the lamp, dress form, etc.  The builder-stock closet doors where give and coat of magnet paint and covered in the adjacent wall's purple.  This makeover cost just over $300 and a day of painting and accessory magic... Almost as fun as Disneyland!

-B.Ballard

Restyled Rocking Chair

This project began with a thrift store rocking chair.  I forgot to take before pics due to my overwhelming excitement... eek!!!  Let me set the stage: sturdy but ugly.  This rocking chair was 80's grandmother at it's best.  The seat was blue/gray. The natural stained pine was covered in tacky peach, blue and tan, flower decals. YUCK.  After a light sanding, white spray primer was applied. I followed by adding a yellow, quick drying, gloss spray paint.  The seat was recovered in a cream cable-knit sweater from the thrift store.  The sweater was wrapped around the seat, stapled, and the excess was trimmed away. 

Project time: From start to finish- 3 hours( most of which was waiting for the primer and paint to dry.)
-B.Ballard