My new table

I can hear the gasps over the internet as I type this. Yes I FINALLY finished this table that I have been working on for two weeks. Go me!!

You already know the gory details of how I refinished it and how it only cost me 26 bucks so here's the pics. And those fabulous flowers on the table were a suprise from my husband earlier this week (he's awesome). Again, I apologize for picture quality. I'm still using my camera phone until we close on this house, which by the way has been pushed back to Oct 2 because the appraisers have been slow.

My next project is this headboard that I found in my grandparents barn years ago. Previously painted red, I am going to change it to a weathered turquoise for the guest bedroom that will soon be dark brown and turquoise.

Table and Chairs work in progress

I started this project on Tuesday thinking I would be finished by Friday. WRONG. The threat of rain every day has made me bring the project into the house and cease work on it after every little step. Right now, there are rain clouds outside with no actual rain falling but I know as soon as I put another coat of paint on these, it will start to pour. No thanks, I'll patiently wait.

I am however almost done with the chairs. Here is a before picture of what my chairs looked like before I started.

Yes, they were very patriotic looking. My first apartment in college was Texas themed and these matched my Texas flag and star decorations perfectly. However, I'm all grown up now and need a table and chairs to reflect that.



Step 1 of the transformation: Apply a coat of Kilz

 

Step 2: Apply two coats of Vanilla Steam Paint (by Valspar)

Step 3: Remove old blue fabric from seat and staple tan fabric in its place

Two chairs are finished and the other two need another coat of paint. I also need to paint the table legs. I should be done with this project Monday assuming I get a day of sunshine.

Total cost of refinishing:

Kilz:                $  6.50
Quart of Paint: $  7.50
Fabric:             $12.00
Total:               $26.00

This is a lot cheaper than a new table and chairs. Pictures of the final result will be posted as soon as I finish!

Patiently waiting to close on the house

The closing date is set right now for September 18. Let's keep our fingers crossed! I could not be more ready to get my hands on this house and tear it apart. From the avocado green, pheasant covered wallpaper in the kitchen, to the open hole in the living room floor, this house is just waiting to be updated. 

Frankly, I'm a little overwhelmed at what needs to be done to this house once the closing documents are signed. We have never owned a home before and have never had the "luxury" of painting or renovating anything. My husband has informed me that painting will be my job (gee, I feel so honored). Recently, I picked up some paint cards from my local Lowe's and I'm looking forward to getting samples to set up throughout the house. 

My plan of action is to tackle one room at a time. The first room I'm going to tackle will be the guest bathroom with seizure-inducing black, flowery wallpaper (first picture below) followed by the aforementioned kitchen (second picture below). 

Until I can get my hands on the house, I'm working on our furniture which is a hodgepodge of junk we accumulated in college. A mixture of hand me downs, yard sale finds and dumpster treasures, needless to say our furniture is not the best but I'm going to make it work for now. 

Last week my project was a dresser my husband acquired from a yard sale for $2. A little bit of red paint, some crackle paint, and a top coat of white and the dresser is as good as new and ready to match the future red walls in the bedroom. This week I am going to tackle the table and chairs for the breakfast area. This table set was previously painted red, white and blue with stars on the chairs and table top (My mother spent many painstaking hours painting this for my first apartment in college eight years ago but its had a lot of wear and does not match anything). I plan on painting this set a color called Vanilla Steam (off white) and covering the table top with a chocolate colored table cloth. These colors should be a great match for the future Sage green walls and tan cabinets in the kitchen.

Right now the only camera I have is my cell phone but I will try to post the best pictures I can until I have a camera.