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Before and Afters

Kitchen Reveal & Sources

It’s finally done!  Well…you know what “done” means in my house.  It means I’m done with it for now.  Although, aside from changing paint colors and/or accessories, I don’t think there’s much more I can or need to do to this room.  I’ve always been drawn to white cabinets with dark counters (wood or black) and a wood or white floor.  Now I have it!   Here’s a tour… As I was going through the list of things we’ve done to the kitchen, I realized that almost all of the materials used for this makeover were free.  Well, not free, but traded for advertising on my blog or promotion through a post.  I’ll try to give you a rough idea of costs, though, so you can get a realistic idea of executing this look (or parts of it) in your home.  With the exception of laying the floor tile, we

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Before and Afters

Master Bedroom Reveal

 Today was the due date for all of my bedroom project tutorials for HGTV.com, so I spent the morning taking the “beauty shots” for those articles.  They will be available on HGTV.com in a few weeks and I will link to them when they are live. Here’s how the room looks now…    Here are some makeovers featured in the room… My $25 yard sale side table before…  …and after….  The antique store chandelier (I think it was $55)… …assembled and rewired with spray painted candle sleeves… $35 yard sale night stand/chest before… …and now… $65 antique store French chair before… …and after…  And the entire room as it looked in January… …and now… I am still planning to tweak a bit more.  I would like to paint the lamp bases cream and recover the shades.  The bases blend in with the wall fabric a bit too much and I

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Painted Signs

Making an “Antique” Sign

 I must apologize!  I posted a teaser about this sign I made for Cottages & Bungalows and said I would post the tutorial after the issue was off newsstands.  Well…that was in August, so I think it’s safe to say that those issues have been pulled.  So, at long last, here it is… What you’ll need: 12” wide pine board cut to desired length Acrylic craft paint (at least three colors) 2 ½” sash brush 1” artist brush, 1.0 liner brush, ½” angled shader Computer Printer and printer paper Scissors Tape Graphite transfer paper Ballpoint pen 80 grit sand paper Dark brown soft furniture wax Round brush or cotton cloth Clean cotton cloth Drill with driver bits Tape measure or ruler 2 D-ring hangers Hammer and nails   How to do it: Cut a piece of 12” wide pine board to desired length or use a piece of scrap lumber. 

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MMS Milk Paint Boxwood dresser before and after - www.mms2.wpengine.com
Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint

Milk Paint vs. Chalk-type Paints (again)

The number one question people ask me when I tell them about my milk paint line is, “What’s the difference between milk paint and chalk-type paints?” That’s a fair question!  It seems like boutique paint lines are flooding the market and it’s causing a lot of confusion.  Which one is best for your project?  Why would you choose one over the other?  What are the advantages and disadvantages of each? First, let’s take a look at examples of pieces painted in milk paint… Now, let’s look at examples of pieces that were painted in a chalk-type paint… Now that you can see the looks that can be achieved with both of them, let’s talk about the similarities and differences. What is milk paint and chalk-type paints?   Milk Paint: Is a 100% natural paint that’s been around for hundreds of years.  It’s called milk paint, because one of the ingredients is

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Popular

How to Make Slipcovers – a five part video slipcover tutorial series

A little over a year ago I made a five-part video slipcover tutorial series.  I used a wing chair as an example, but you can take these skills and make a slipcover for any piece of furniture.  I’ve received so many wonderful e-mails and comments from people with all levels of sewing ability who used this series to make their very first slipcover.  Some were even sewing for the very first time. Being able to sew a slipcover is one of the best skills to learn when it comes to buying (or accepting free) used upholstered furniture.  Upholstery can be dated and stained, but the shape of the piece is beautiful and the overall bones and condition are still useable.  A slipcover can give it a new look while addressing those issues.  Slipcovers can also extend the life of a nice piece and tie mismatched pieces together with coordinating fabric. 

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Decorating

how to hang a curtain rod | made simple

When I realized I was going to have to hang four curtain rods in the family room, I came up with a solution on how to hang curtain a curtain rod to make sure they are all hung at the same height and the same distance from the window. This process in the past has involved measuring up, measuring out, using a level, repeat. Sometimes it would involve drilling multiple holes when something didn’t work out.  So, I took some time to figure out where I wanted the holes and I made a template.  I used a piece of raw chipboard, but cardboard or stiff card stock would do the job.  I hung my curtains seven inches higher than the top of the window frame and nine inches wider.  Hanging curtains high and wide (when ceiling height and space permit) make the window feel larger and it keeps the drapes from blocking too much of

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Popular

DIY Farmhouse Table Tutorial

I received several requests for the tutorial on building a simple DIY farmhouse table (with just a drill) that was published in the October 2011 issue of Cottages & Bungalows.  I just got the “thumbs up” to publish the full tutorial on my blog, so here you go!   DIY farm house table | materials & tools Pine lumber – 3 – 1” x 12” x 6’ (top) 2 – 1” x 3” x 64” (apron/frame) 2 – 1” x 3” x 28” (apron/frame) 2 – 1” x 3” x 26 ¼” (bracing) 2 – 1” x 2” x 28” (bracing) 2 – 1” x 3” x 28″ (bracing) Four pre-turned legs, 29” high Electric drill One box self – drilling 1 ¾” wood screws (matching bit included in box) Clamps (optional) Router (optional) Wood filler Putty knife Fine grit sanding sponge DIY farmhouse table | instructions 1. On a

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Antiques

Ironstone 101

I have received a lot of questions lately about ironstone, what it is, and how to identify it. I am certainly not an expert, but I have been collecting ironstone for about ten years now and I have a pretty large collection (I’ve lost count), so I know it when I see it. I remember reading a magazine years ago, drooling over the ironstone collections in some of the featured homes.  I loved how beautiful and simple it was and immediately added it to my “to collect” list right away.  I found a pitcher several months later and the collection has grown from there.  I’ve been fickle about other things I hunt for when shopping, but never about ironstone.  It’s been a constant over the years. Pieces of ironstone can be found for only a few dollars (or a dime, like this past weekend), but pieces that are very old and in perfect

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I’m Marian, a painter, writer, and lover of all things creative. From art and antiques to home projects and everyday life, I share my journey in hopes of inspiring you to embrace your own creativity and make beauty in the spaces you live.

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