A Dining Room in White ...

Well, my hands are cramped and my fingers are still swollen (wait ... that's probably from all of the salt intake in the goodies I inhaled during the Memorial Day parties we enjoyed this weekend ... nevermind), but it's DONE !!

Here are the results of a crazy decorator (a/k/a ME) who was determined to give her dining room a new look by painting every.single.piece of furniture (all dark stained) BM White Dove, followed by sanding, staining and waxing!

Take a peek around ...

Some of you may remember that I purchased this sideboard last Fall and debated whether or not to paint it.  Many of you suggested I leave it alone ... alas, I simply couldn't.  I left the top alone though (does that count) ?!

Loved distressing its legs:

And, I'm sure you're not surprised that I added an animal print runner on top!

Not only did I paint all of the chairs, but I recovered them as well.  And, for the arm chairs flanking the sideboard, I found these pillows at Pier One (on SALE) ... they simply screamed at me to take them home to add whimsical pops of color:

Let's  not forget the bench, which was the first piece in this room I attacked with my paintbrush!

I LOVE how the tabletop gleams now that I refinished it (from a cherry stain to dark walnut to match the top of the sideboard):

I knew that I wanted a pop of color on the table.  When I spotted this gorgeous vase at HomeGoods, I knew it was "the one" !!

Love the crackle finish and ornate detail on the sides:

A silver tray is perched on top, holding everything needed to "set" the table:

Plate wall remains the same:

There are two more items on my list in order to complete this room ... a cowhide rug layered on top of the sisal rug, along with a vintage chandie, dripping in bling bling!  Wish me luck ...

Annnnnnd, a nighttime shot:



As always, thanks for stopping by! 

Linking up to these fabulous par-tays:

Savvy Southern Style/WUW
Elements Interiors/Whassup Wednesday
No Minimalist Here/Open House
French Country Cottage/Feathered Nest Friday
Miss Mustard Seed/Furniture Feature Friday
At the Picket Fence/Inspiration Friday
Under the Table and Dreaming/Sunday Showcase
Thrifty Decor Chic/Before and After Party
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia/Tuesday's Treasures

Kwa mahitaji ya maua ya garden, kwa bei nzuri. fika ......

wakati natoka sala sala nilipitia hii njia ya chini ya jeshini, kabla hujafika nyumba za B.O.T kuna vijana wamejiajiri wanauza maua, miche, na mapambo ya kwenye garden, kama wanyama, ndege etc. Karibuni sana sana kwa mawasiliano nao wapigie simu namba 0654 - 368897 - Felix

Saloon hii pia niliikuta huko huko Sala sala ndio wanakaribia kuifungua, nikapenda arrangment yake, iko bara barani kabisaaaa

Last week nilitembelea Sala sala - nikakutana na hii nyumba,

Nilipewa historia yake, na nikaambiwa kuwa ilianza kujengwa tokea mwaka 1983, yaani ina miaka sawa na mimi. Nikajifunza kua ukiweka malengo hutimia, haijalishi ni lini utamaliza, pole pole ndio mwendo.

Jaydan & Mummy

Namshukuru mungu kwa kuniwezesha kumlea mtoto wangu Jaydan mpaka sasa. Na pia naendelea kuwashukuru wadau wangu wote kwa kunielewa kuwa niko katika kipindi cha malezi ya mtoto wangu. MUNGU AWABARIKI NA KUWALINDA.

(JAYDAN SASA ANA MIEZI 3 NA NUSU)siku zinakimbia jamani juzi tuuuu hapa, duh....

Blank Wall Solutions - Creative ideas

USA NI SPRING TIME NI MSIMU WA KUPANDA MAUA, MITI NA MIMEA MBALIMBALI

Huku ni msimu wa kupanda, maua miti na kila aina ya mimea, so kwa sasa kila mtu yuko bussy kwenye garden, iwe majumbani sehemu za bihashara, maofisini, kila mtu anajitaidi kuweka mazingira yake, safi na yakuvutia especially hapo new york, mazingira yanapewa kipaumbele kikibwa sana, na pia yanahifadhiwa, kitu ambacho anaamini hata wenzetu milio DAR, TANZANIA mnaweza kwa kushirikiana kuupendezesha mji na vitongoji vyake, badala ya kuona marundo ya taka, takataka zilizozosambaa hovyo, ila kona ya mji, tunaweza kuona , bustani nzuri za kuvutia
najuwa kwa pamoja tunaweza mazingira ni kuyapa kipaumbele, kuyalinda na kuyahifadhi, nitazidi kuwaletea kazi zangu, tuombe uzima, asanteni - Mrs. Jossyanne

Patriotic Wreath ...

Happy Day! 

After being inspired by the mesh wreaths that popped up around Easter (thanks to Kristen's awesome tutorial), I decided to take a stab at it and create one for Memorial Day/4th of July, especially considering the strong sense of patriotism in the air these days!

I started with this (along with a work wreath and three beaded flag necklaces that aren't pictured):

And made this:

I did it a bit differently than Kristen though.  Instead of cutting the ribbon into strips and tying it in knots all the way around the wreath, I purchased a work form wreath and added all three ribbons (one color at a time) all the way around the wreath, creating both inner and outer layers.  I then threaded the beaded flag necklaces in and out of the mesh all the way around the wreath:

 Love the patriotic punch of color it adds to our front door!

While we're out here, take a peek at my beautiful coleus which is growing a rapid rate in the urns ... my poor accent grass and creeping Jenny are being overtaken!

Happy *early* Memorial Day!

And, OH, by the way ... GUESS what arrived in the mail today?!  Yippee!

Thanks for stopping by ... have a great day!

Linking up to:

Dittale Dattle/Amaze Me Monday
BNOTP/Metamorphosis Monday

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia/Tuesday's Treasures
Southern Savvy Style/WUW

Mercury Mantel

Happy Saturday !!  

While my fellas are off running errands, I thought I'd share my mantel as it looks this very moment (we all know that it could change any second).

I've been bitten by the silver and mercury bug lately ... can you tell ??

On a recent trip to Pottery Barn, I grabbed up this small looking glass.  To give it height, I perched it on top of a small cake stand I found awhile ago at Home Goods:

The mercury votives stand front and center, while a picture of one of my favorite beaches, Sandbridge (in Virginia), peeks through.  I have so many wonderful childhood memories of Sandbridge.  We vacationed there every summer for almost 22 years.  And, during my college years at Old Dominion University, I spent many days at Sandbridge soaking up the sun.  Needless to say, I was thrilled when this print was given to John and me as a wedding gift 15 years ago.  I decided to retire the brass frame it has been in all of these years and simply use the cream matte as the "frame."  

The print is leaning on a new mirror I found at Pier One.  While I really wanted a vintage sign here, when I spied the mirror, I loved the octogonal shape and thought it'd be perfect above the mantel:

Moving along, I found this mercury based hurricane for a song at Home Goods.  I filled it with seashells and layered a beach fan behind it:

Framing all of the silver and mercury pieces are my two green vases (from Tuesday Morning) filled with branches and faux flowers.  I recently added more greenery to the base to "beef" them up a tad:

Finally ... down below is another looking glass, which I nestled in spanish moss (inspiration: for the love of a house).  I found it at Wal-Mart for a mere $15 buckaroos!  

I love the reflections that you can see in this big ol' looking glass, EXCEPT for this one ... I spy with my little eye, hair roots that are in desperate need of attention.  Yikes!

Thanks for stopping by ... I'm off to finish up a Memorial Day project:

Have a wonderful weekend !!

I'm linking up with these fun parties ... come on ova:

BNOTP/Metamorphosis Monday
Dittle Dattle/Amaze me Monday
A Silly Little Sparrow/Toot your Horn Tuesday
The DIY Showoff/Project Parade
Savvy Southern Style/WUW
Elements Interiors/Whassup Wednesday
All Things Heart and Home/All Things Inspired
My Backyard Eden/Make It Yours Day
Shabby Chic Cottage/Transformation Thursday
My Romantic Home/Show and Tell Friday
At the Picket Fence/Inspiration Friday

Becca