Gold is Good

This is just my humble opinion, but metallic accents in home decor are totally cool {or warm, depending on what kind of metal you prefer}!

While my love for raw, natural wood is endless and eternal, I do hold a special place in my heart for shiny things.  All girls love glamorous, shiny things to some degree.  I think it comes built into our DNA.

While I was sitting in my living room the other day, I thought to myself, " this room could really use some bling".

My attention quickly turned to this tree stump table I had purchased a little while back.  It was nestled in between to chairs... barely noticeable.  I had found the canvas for my next project.

 

I wanted to do something that would add "stand alone" character to the table, but would still be neutral enough to compliment a wide variety of colors/styles/patterns.   I decided to employ one of my very most, favorite products...DecoArt metallic craft paint.  I love how bright and shiny this paint dries.  It was $1.99.  Usually, I opt for cooler finishes like silver, but I decided to go outside my comfort zone and went with gold this time.

 

I think she turned out great, but you be the judge.
 

I really dig the juxtaposition of the metal and the wood.  Isn't blingy wood great?  My tree stump brings all the girls to the yard.  Does yours?

 

In this picture, the brush strokes are more noticeable than if you were to look at it in person...probably due to the flash.  But, it really isn't that noticeable in regular light.  Besides, I don't really mind the imperfect-ness of the paint.

Before, this little accent table was lost like a man in a foreign country.  But now, it totally stands out.  The gold adds both an element of warmth and interest against all of the neutral colors and natural materials in the space.

Whomever coined the phrase "diamonds are a girls best friend" obviously didn't have a totally rad, gold, chevron striped accent table/stool.

If you have a piece of furniture {or space at home} that seem a tad boring, why not consider adding some sparkle, interest and richness to them by incorporating metallic finishes.  You'll be surprised at the difference this little change can make.

   

  

  

Let's Play

Howdy peeps!  Long time, no post. 

I have a super fun, super easy project to share with you today, but first let me start from the very beginning.  Oh don't roll your eyes- I'll be brief...ish.

A few weeks ago, I was contacted by DecoArt and asked to try out some of their gloss enamel paint.  I am always game for trying out new products, so I happily consented. 

This particular paint comes in several different finishes:  transparent, opaque, glitter, frost, crystal...  It is ideal for use on porcelain and glass and is now available at your local Michael's craft store.

Initially, I'd planned on upcycling an old porcelain platter or lamp base to test the paint out on, but once I started working, I just wasn't feeling it.  Truth be told, I can't paint worth crap!  I mean, I can paint...if it involves a roller or a spray can.  But my artistic abilities stop beyond that.  Needless to say, I was a little intimidated because of my nonexistant decorative painting skills.  I can honestly say now, having completed my project, that this product is perfect for diy'ers/crafters of varying artistic abilities and backgrounds.

{For glass inspiration, click here, DecoArt Glass Paint., DecoArt/Pinterest }

 

I decided to put the project aside and let things stew for awhile to think about what I wanted to do.  A few days later it donned on me...at 3 o'clock in the morning. {I'm not certain why, but some of my "brightest" ideas [though Studly would beg to differ] come to me during the stills of the night.  Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that it is the only time the house is quiet and I can actually entertain a focused thought.  But whatevs.  Needless to say, I was a little groggy when inspiration struck, but thankful the idea remained when I woke up a few hours later.  And that idea was to create the flippin' coolest "game station" ever. 

Okay, stay with me. 

Awhile back, whilst meandering through Ikea's dented and dinged section, I came across a cute, little glass top table...similar to this one.  I nabbed it not knowing for sure what I would do with it.

I ended up using the two bases as end tables and stashed the glass table top away out in the garage. 

I was relieved to find it still there and that Studly had not tossed out behind my back.  I brought the glass top inside and got to work. 

I prepped the surface by wiping it down with a damp cloth then drying it off with a clean, dry, lint free towel {Rubbing alcohol can also be used to prep the work area}.  After the surface was properly clean and dry, I used a dry erase marker to sketch out my "game plan".

When I was satisfied with the design, I went over it with the DecoArt 3D gloss enamel, glass writer. 

I strategically painted the squares with some transparent, gloss enamel {in turquoise}.

And that was it.  Game over.

After the paint had cured for 48 hours, the fam got to work testing out the new "game table". 

We are a game loving people in these parts, so naturally we are thrilled to have a space designated solely for playing games.  The kids have really taken to it...as you can see.

For the older kids...checkers and chess were a must. 

The pieces are "thrifty chic"...pop bottle caps in contrasting colors.

For the younger ones...tic tac toe. 

Again, with "thrifty chic" game pieces.  I simply painted old canning lids with chalk paint and drew on the circles and exes with chalk.

I decided to also throw in a built in Connect Four


and dots station for good measure. 

Who can resist a rousing game of dots?  I know I can't.

And when everyone is finished playing...the pieces are simply stashed away in the totally recycleable/green game caddy...otherwise know as a cardboard pop bottle carrier painted with chalkboard paint. 

Tres chic.  Or should I say...trash eek?

If no one is in the mood for a rousing game of tic tac toe or chess the space can still be used for {insert board game/card game of your choosing}.

So, if you happen to have an old glass topped end table, kitchen table, coffee table, patio table, old window or random piece of extra panel of glass lying around...don't toss it out.  With little effort and little cost you could have your own fabulous game table.  You might be surprised at the hours of fun {and possibly the occasional fist fight} it will provide.  Game on!   

End table revamp...finally.

Yikes!  I can't believe how fast the summer is flying by.  School starts next month and it's kind of freaking me out.  I've spent that last week or so keeping busy trying to get my preschool put together, and finishing up all of my half-finished projects and checking things off the to-do list before things get crazy.

One of those projects was my master bedroom end tables...these babies don't look half bad in the picture, but the tops were starting to wear {and not in a cool, rustic way}. They were scuffed and stained and...well, quite simply they were hideous, joy-bumming nastiness.  Am I making my distaste for them clear?

They have been in desperate need of a full on extreme make-over for some time, but I've always seemed to have other "more important" projects to attend to.

Then I was contacted by DecoArt and asked if wouldn't mind trying out some of their products.  I was more than happy to oblige as I love their products anyway.  So, I decided to test out their line of enamel paints, since, you know, I had two disasters flanking my bed, just begging for a little sumthin' sumthin'.

I also decided try out their weathered wood product...just cause I liked the sound of it.  It's purpose is to make paint look old and crackly and delicious.

Here's what I ended up with.  I have to say, I don't mind how they turned out.

And even better, Studly likes the way they turned out...now that's sayin' something.

I have to say, I was also very, pleasantly surprised how well I liked the paint.  It went on ultra smooth and dried nice and hard.  I guess the only complaint I would have is the size.  The paint doesn't come in quart or gallon size.  BUT, that said, the smaller size made it much easier to mix paint colors to get the desired hue I was looking for.  So, I guess, depending on how you look at it the size can be either good or bad.  And the weathered wood...well all you do is slap the stuff on and paint over it once it's dried.  Doesn't get much easier than that, does it?

It's ironic how checking a project off the to-do list inevitably results in more projects to do.  Now that I've started paying a little attention to the master bedroom by redoing the end tables, I want to make some cool artwork for over the bed and change out the light, find an overstuffed chair for the corner, build a cute little wooden bench for the foot of the bed and...

I guess there is no such thing as a completed to-do list, because there will always be something that needs fixin' or tending to...whether it be jobs I create myself, or jobs that fall right out of the sky.  Did you happen to hear about my "unintentional skylight"?  'Nuff said.