A little more curb appeal

Being a lover of earthiness, like brick and stone....this week I decided to build 2 brick columns in front of the garages. Using antique bricks that FIL game me, I dry-stacked 7 layers...


And topped them with "aged iron look" urns....


Later, I will mortar them for more permanence - like when the weather actually gets cooler and I can stand being out there for more than 15 minutes at a time.


I think a fat pumpkin in each of the urns would make a nice fall display. And come Christmas, I will use cut some holly sprigs from my bushes. (Yeah, I'm thinking COLD weather!)

Toile shower curtain rod

I'm changing out my kitchen window treatments so this wooden rod, covered in a toile fabric found a new home in the hall bath:


It snuggles up to the polka-dot ribbons and vintage drapery:


And lives cozily along with the coordinating toile wallpaper:

A little fabric, a little hot glue.......

A few posts down I had shown a leather club chair from Craigslist that I had gotten. Some of the leather was faded, which didn't bother me at all. But soon I discovered that one of my kitties took a liking to the chair, too, and dug his claws into the seat part. So, to head off future kitty damage, I decided to cover the cushion with some upholstery fabric I had on hand.....



And following that, I recovered an old 70's orange ottoman with the same fabric:



Those shiny gold feet needed some black paint and the legs also needed some sprucing up.



Some hot glue and jute does the trick. Ha! Looks like it is wearing white socks with black shoes! ;-) I may think about staining the jute a little darker color....... another project just developed...


And there's my sweet Sugar............

Before and After hutch - from 'lodge" to "beach"

Time for a change. This skinny bookshelf/hutch thingy has moved into the hallway for added storage. The finish is fine, here in the living room.....


But too dark for this bright room.....So it got a makeover with fresh coats of "toasted almond" paint and now holds my beachy momentos with plenty of room on the bottom for extra towels.


I'm keeping it close to monotone as I can and I love seeing my loved ones smiling back at me.....

Happy Independence Day

My $50 leather club chair from craigslist

Wheee! I love a good bargain! I spotted this on craigslist and jumped at it. Yes, it comes to me already distressed. I think there are leather kits for for putting the color back on where it's been rubbed off.


I have been looking for a leather club chair for quite a while and I had to drive an hour to get this one. Check out that great wood trim and nail heads. I haven't got to clean this yet. I can see some old, white wood polish in the grooves.


It's huge! I can even sit sideways with my legs dangling off the arm. This is going to be so comfortable to curl up with a book during the winter nights.....


And the color is just right. (well, if you overlook those rubbed spots!) But I don't mind this distressed look at all. This chair is sooooo heavy! 2 people can barely lift it. (If one of those 2 people happen to be me.)


Tell me what you think..... should I get a kit and color the rubbed off spots? Should I leave it alone? Does it look too shabby?