Furniture to match my blog: A dresser redo~

I have been wanting to switch up the living room for quite a while. I really, really, really, really, really times 10 to the 3rd power wanted to add in the color blue. The color of my blog...okay, that's not the reason...but don't you think it's nice for your blog to match your decor? Ha! Alas, our rug (which was lovely and in great shape) was all in warm shades of gold, red and brown. But then, as you may recall, the Princess was sick in the living room. Gross. But serendipitous in a way.

We *had* to replace that rug, so for Christmas the hubby and I pooled our gift money and bought a new rug. Pretty and neutral.


NEW RUG



Then the fireworks began. With a new neutral rug, my decorating-obsessed self was free to make some switcheroos.

I am lucky to have a hubby that loves decor *almost* as much as I do. He is really open to my suggestions of change. And very helpful as well. So when I told him I wanted to switch around the living room and add some blue...he was game.



Enter this pretty little $25 dresser. Yep! $25. It was an aweful minty shade of green. (Doesn't look quite as minty or aweful in this photo.) But it had pretty lines. And, did I mention it was only $25?!?



DRESSER BEFORE (the hubby had already started removing the knobs...bless him...he's not a blogger, afterall...but he did stick the drawers back in and even took the before photo for me.)

I told the hubby I wanted to put it in the living room...and I wanted it to be blue. He agreed. And even volunteered to do the painting since I am currently bogged down with other stuff.

Here comes the tricky part. We wanted to find the perfect shade of blue. So I emailed this sweet lady who has a fabulous dresser in a delightful shade of blue. And off we went to Lowe's to get the paint. Alas, it was not quite the right shade for our decor. So we had them lighten it to 75%...brought it home...painted the dresser...still not right.

Then I pulled out some pretty throw pillows we had in the master bedroom and asked the hubby if he thought their color might work. A nice grey-ish french blue. He loved it. So off we went to Lowe's again...pillow sham in hand... and found the perfect blue. Cafe blue by Valspar in semi-gloss.

And the hubby (injured leg and all) painted the dresser yet again. We switched out the knobs for some fabulous clearance versions (again from Lowe's) and VOILA! The perfect addition to our living room makeover.

Here she is in all her glory.

DRESSER AFTER

(And what French Blue dresser would be complete without a little Le Tour Eiffel?)

Of course...when you add a blue dresser to the living room...you have to shift furniture...paint other furniture...switch up the accessories...switch the slipcover on the sofa...etc. etc. I'll show you all the rest of the changes just as soon as I figure out what to do with the curtains. They are in dire need of a little spruce up! But for now...I'm sure loving that blue dresser!

xoxo

Wendy

Frugal Friday~

Welcome to this week's edition of the Frugal Friday Linky Party! So glad you all could join me!

Perhaps you've seen this pretty skeleton key art that Restoration Hardware sells for $199. Love it....but definitely don't love the price.

Image from Restoration Hardware

I had similar frames that have been reincarnated a couple of times for my bedroom. If you've been reading my blog for any length of time, you may remember this version.

Pretty, but definitely doesn't fit in my newly redone master bedroom.

So I simply tore off the scrapbook paper that I used to wrap the mattes. Then I pulled out a few skeleton keys (luckily I have been saving them in my stuff-that-I-plan-on-using-to-decorate-someday collection) and hot glued them onto some scraps of linen fabric. Popped them into the frames and VOILA! My own skeleton-key art for free.

And it looks very similar to theirs, don't ya think?

Times that by 3, and I figure I saved myself about $600 AND I got the perfect art to fill up the empty wall space on the left side of the bed.

Now I'd love to see what you all have been up to this week!

You know "da rules"...

1. Link directly to your post, not just to your blog.

2. Please link back to the Shabby Nest so others can enjoy the frugal goodness that is the Frugal Friday Linky Party.

3. Comment Comment Comment!

Enjoy~

Why it pays to have a contractor for a husband~

I bet you thought I was going to talk about low cost/no cost renovating, right? Well, that is definitely one benefit of having a contractor husband, but that's not the one I'm going to tell you all about. I'm talking bathtubs, people. Antique, claw foot tubs to be exact.


The hubby has been working on the renovation of a 200-year-old cape cod style farmhouse for the past year or so. Since the project was nearing completion, he invited me inside to see everything that had been done. That's when I saw the sweet little tub. And when I say little, I mean little...only about 3 or 4 feet long. The owner had removed it to replace with a full size tub. So I asked the hubby if he thought we could buy it. He rolled his eyes, but asked anyway, and the owner actually gave it to us for free!!! FREE, BABY! Oh yeah!!

What are my plans for this little beauty, you ask? Well, my first thought was to use it as a beverage center at parties, similar to what Holly Mathis did here. But I was also thinking it might make a really fun planter.

Look at the sweet claw and ball feet!

And the great vintage fixtures!!

Of course, first it needs a little work (and a lot of cleaning). As you can see from the photos, one side is the original rather rusty white color and the other is a forest green. I want to paint the tub, but I'm stuck on what color. I was thinking a nice chocolate brown or a tan, but then something whimsical like apple green or robin's egg blue might be nice as well. So I thought I'd ask my readers...what color would you paint it?

Also, if anyone knows of a good cleaner to remove the rust stains on the interior of the basin, I could sure use one!

And in other news... I just wanted you all to know that I listed a bunch of new goodies in my Etsy store today! Some new pillows, pendants and cards! And I have a whole crop of creative new ideas in my head...different than what you all are used to seeing at the Shabby Nest Etsy, I hope to be listing them soon, so stay tuned!

Have a great Thursday~

Brimfield~

Just wanted to share a few pictures of the Brimfield goodness that I enjoyed with the Hubby on Friday afternoon.

I am so in love with Banjo clocks. I really wish I could have taken this pretty little thing home with me. (Okay, it wasn't so little, but it was pretty!)

I loved this little vignette...chippy-rusty-metal-architectural-thingy on an old weathered table with a robin's egg blue hoosier behind, and a reproduction bust.

I'm a sap for mirrors. This gilded beauty caught my eye.

Mmmmmmmmmm. Old linens and a fun new french-inspired pillow. Love. them.

What I loved here were the altered books. The vendor had taken old books and recovered them in lovely papers. So pretty on a shelf. And if you peek behind the bookshelf, you see the one treasure I would have loved to bring home (it was a little too $$$ for my blood - AND - I can't believe I didn't actually take a photo of it, hello?) an antique mercantile wrapping station complete with a roll of twine on the top and two rolls of brown Kraft paper. sigh.

I thought these sconces were adorable.




The hubby snapped this last pic. I don't think the old VW Bug was really for sale....but it is almost identical to my first car (which was almost as old and rusted as this one when I received it from my older brother - one of his fix-up projects. Surprised my parents let me drive it...it barely ran.) I include this photo purely for my own nostalgic purposes. Ha!

Hope you enjoyed this little tour of Brimfield! I had a great time! So much to look at...so many ideas in my little old head now.

Have a great Monday~

Frugal Friday~

Today's Frugal Friday post celebrates the magic of spraypaint! I know. I know. Not much new about spraypaint...but wait until you see what it did for this pretty wrought iron bed. If you have been reading my blog for long, you might remember this brass and wrought iron bed that I inherited from my sister-in-law.

Such pretty lines, but sadly in need of an update.

So out came the spraypaint. Krylon ivory satin finish. (Three cans). And voila! The finished headboard!

Such pretty details!

It really adds a certain je-ne-sais-qoui to the Princess' room, don't you think? And don't I sound all fancy using my high school French? ha ha!

Okay, granted the headboard was free, but the project grand total came to just about $8. Not bad for a "new" headboard!

And, I've been thinking that it's high time to do another Frugal Friday Linky Party!!! So let's all meet here next Friday, May 29 and share our Frugal Decorating Know-How!!! I was so amazed at all your ideas last time...I can't wait to see what you all come up with this time...

Have a great weekend~

Brimfield~

Last week, my intrepid sister-in-law Alissa and I decided to go to the Brimfield Antique Mart with four (yes four!!) kids in tow. My two littlest and her two littlest (4 kids, 4 years and under...yes, we may just be crazy!)But the kids did great and she and I did some much needed junque-ing.

Because of my recent toddler-related camera catastrophe, I didn't dare bring my D60 along. AND since I am on a budget, I reigned in my desire to by almost everything I saw. But never fear! I did find a few small treasures to share!

We happened by an architectural salvage dealer whose prices were amazing! I snatched up a few old newspaper print blocks and some old door rosettes!

I had to "blow out" this photo so you can see what the blocks spell...

Here is how they look in my cute little bird tray (a gift from my dear friend Trisha - ah! she knows me well!)

Here are the chippy, timeworn rosettes...I have a great little plan for these...stay tuned.

And if you want to look at some drool-worthy Brimfield photos (and who wouldn't?) check out this post over at Antique Therapy!

Join me tomorrow for Frugal Friday...

Have a great Thursday~

Friendly Homes Friday~

I'm super excited about today's edition of Friendly Homes Friday! That's because today I get to share the home of someone who is not only one of my dear friends, but I am also related to her... It's my sister-in-law Alissa! (Our hubbies are brothers.) Alissa is one of the most amazing women I know. She has more energy than any other three women put together. And she puts her energy to good work being a very enthusiastic mother to four super-busy and fun little boys! She is an amazingly creative mother...I am constantly in awe at her parenting prowess. And even though she is so busy with her boys, she also has the time to be a super-talented crafter and to create a very beautiful home. I hope you all enjoy today's Friendly Home...


Our tour begins just outside the front door...isn't this display charming? Pretty pumpkins and a berry covered wreath hanging from an old garden planter cart.

She also has two of these pretty lanterns...I just love the ribbon.


This bowl is on a table in her foyer...yes, she has a foyer. I love the textures and the addition of the pretty little berry wreath for some autumn-y color.

This has to be one of my favorite parts of Alissa's house. The formal living room has a two story ceiling. I love the double windows on this wall and the huge barn star hanging in between?...well, I just love barn stars!

I thought this little pilgim couple was just too cute!

I love how she put this pumpkin on top of this old scale. I love the vintage patina of the scale. So charming!

I'm a sucker for a pretty fireplace. And Alissa really has one! The painting above the fireplace was painted by our super-talented father-in-law. I've shared some of his art before...here. I also love the long wooden container with the dried hydrangeas. So pretty.

She has a knack for display. Look at this fun box just full of little things to enjoy.

I love this idea. An old chippy mailbox mounted to a board. I bet they really use it to leave love notes for each other. I didn't ask, but I know that family pretty well ;-)

I'm not sure what this is, but I love the look of it with these cute jack-be-littles!

Alissa has cute vintage-inspired airplanes hanging from the ceiling in two of her boys' rooms. She and I joked that this photo would like it was really flying if you couldn't see the corner of the ceiling. (I tried to crop it out of the photo with no luck.)


Yep, she made this too! Old croquet mallets mounted to a board for a coat rack in one of her boys' room. She really is that kind of a girl!

I have long admired this chippy chair. It sits on the half-landing of her staircase. Isn't it pretty?

And last, I wanted to share this cute frame. I love the fact that she has a key for each member of the family...biggest to smallest. Sweet! (and if you look closely you can see me taking the picture...hee hee!)

Thanks to Alissa for letting us peek in her lovely home...I hope you all enjoyed it!

I'll be back next week with some exciting projects, so y'all come back now!

Have a lovely weekend~

Project help and some pretty pumpkins

Hello Friends in Blogland...I need some help. See this beautiful old wrought iron bed? I inherited it from my sister-in-law. Thing is, it is sorely in need of a little love. I want to refinish it for the Princess' room, but I need a little help. Has anyone ever refinished a wrought iron bed like this?

Here are some closeups of some of the details. So pretty.

You can't tell very well in these photos, but the footboard is curved. I. love. it.
I actually really love the look of the old chippy paint, but I'm just sure it's chock full of lead. Can't have that in a house with little ones, so I've got to find a way to remove the old paint. I've tried sanding it by hand, but it didn't come off very well. Can I use a palm sander? Please help.


And finally, because Jen at Sanctuary Arts is throwing a pretty pumpkin party...some of you may remember this basket from my porch...
Well, I fall-ified it. The kiddos and I bought a bunch of sugar pumpkins last week, and I just put three of them in the basket. They looked lonely, but I wasn't sure what to add. Then today I was driving down the street and saw some lovely hydrangea bushes. I pulled over and gathered up a few. I adore the neutral colors of the hydrangeas against the orange of the pumpkins. So pretty. Very autumny. (at least until the next rain fall).





Happy Autumn~