DIY Dining Table [Round 2]

When we sold our house last summer the buyers negotiated to keep a lot of our furniture. I didn't even know that was a "thing" but they did it! It's a sore spot for David and me, but we're getting over it--if slowly. They wanted nearly every single piece of furniture we had in our home-it was so odd.  We negotiated back and forth, and I put my foot down to keep our sofa [that we had just purchased!], our arc lamp, and Theron's dresser.  They had the nerve to ask for Theron's dresser.  I mean, really? It was in my son's room holding my son's personal items. Low, I tell you.  

But I digress, I'm getting over it, remember? Haha! In the end, they got to keep a lot, including our dining room table that my sweet father-in-law custom built for us. I was rather emotional about the whole thing but he reassured us that he would build us a better table anyway! If the buyers wanted the table--let them have the table.  "Less to move" he said. He was right. 

For the last 9 or so months we lived with a $100 table and chairs set that I found off of craigslist.  

I liked them well enough but when Theron's birthday came rolling around Dan hopped to building us a new and improved table. I've shared many a time that he can build anything. It's unbelievable. He measured the space, asked me what I wanted, and about two weeks later I had a table to stain.  

With our first table I stained it a dark deep walnut color, almost the color of our floors. But more recently I have been drawn to a more gray washed & lighter/imperfect stain shades.  

I ending up searching awhile on Pinterest after a trip to Lowe's for stain turned out to be unsuccessful.  I came across this post about a custom stain made from two ready-made minwax colors [special walnut & weathered oak] and I was sold.  

There are so many tutorials on staining furniture and I basically followed them all. My father-in-law sanded the table perfectly so all I had to do was apply a pre-stain wood conditioner and then followed that with the special walnut stain.  Then I applied, I think, 4 coats of the weathered oak stain over a handful of days.  I finished it off with the water-based polycrylic top coat and brought it in for T's party. 

I think this pic was after the first two coats of walnut and weathered oak. 

Another up close shot somewhere in the process. [I think my DIY blogger card is being revoked as I type-whoops!]

The table takes up a much more substantial space in our dining room and of course has special meaning to us since it was custom built by our family for our little family. 

I think I could've gone even lighter with the stain but I love it even so!

I kept the chairs from the craigslist table and like them so much that I'm in no hurry to replace them.  I have plans to add upholstered captain's chairs on either end but I'm in no hurry to do that as well.

Those flowers were originally purchased for outside but they look pretty happy on our table indoors. 

So that's how our new and improved table is hanging. We love it and hope you guys do, too!

xoxo

Light It Up [times three!]

We've lived for quite some time--nearly 9 months--with builder grade brass lighting that wasn't even properly hanging anymore in the dining room area and no lighting in the kitchen! As you can see, they had track lighting in the kitchen and we took that down immediately.  When they had a peninsula the track lighting was centered in the middle of the open space, but now since we took the peninsula out, the location of the lighting box doesn't make sense.

Once we tore down the wall [that you see below] in the eat-in kitchen the lighting position was no longer over an eating area. I knew I wanted to have an electrician come out and give us a bid on moving the locations of the boxes but I have been slow to contact one. Even when we finally did contact one he never called us back.  

I finally decided to just get the World Market lantern lights and call it a day.  For less than $300 for all three, I thought it was a pretty good deal to have functioning and easy on the eyes lighting once and for all.  It's funny because I just saw Young House Love sprung for the same pendants in their hallway, too!

I think because the lights are all the same it helps to give some purpose to their current location. My father-in-law did point out that all three are centered over the windows so that made me feel better, too.  Silly, I know.  And, like I said before, new upper cabinets are high on the priority list and now I'm thinking of moving the microwave to the pantry and getting a hood.  We shall see!

Of course there's still a chance that we'll get an electrician out here to give us a bid to move the kitchen/dining room lights, but I'd like him to first quote us a bid about putting a ceiling light in Theron's room, the same in the guest room, and two lights in the master bath.  Those are more of a priority in my book.

All in due time I suppose. It's hard when you have a wish list a mile long and a bank account that doesn't quite match. Haha!

Slowly but surely we're making some good progress! Next on our agenda is staining the table my father-in-law made for us! The buyers of our first home negotiated that the first table stay with the house, so my FIL made a bigger and better one for this space. He's pretty amazing, guys.  

Hope you guys have a happy hump day!

xoxo
Joi

Entryway Update

For some reason, the past couple months I have taken a break from craigslist. Who knows why?? Maybe I was actually productive in my spare time rather than dreaming of all the furniture I don't have a place for--haha! But very recently, I wanted a bench to go in our entryway and I found one for under $100 via craigslist at a new-to-me consignment store. Wins all the way around.

The top isn't in the greatest condition but it really doesn't bother me at all. Theron's favorite new trick is to climb on top and look at all of his pictures. He can identify everyone and everything and it's just about the cutest. I think I'll keep him.

On another note, we added a new World Market light to the dining room area and I have to remember to snap some pics for you later.

I have a couple more of the same light coming via raincheck and I think they will be nice placeholders until I can get the electric moved and centered.  If you remember, we tore down a wall, so the original lighting location doesn't really make sense with the new layout all that much.  These lights were $100 a pop and they could stay for the long haul even so.  Since July we've been living with shiny builder grade brass lighting and a lack of lighting completely in the kitchen.   I guess it's pretty obvious that we're not awesome chefs.

So, as soon as those updates happen, you'll be in the know.  Any fun updates happening in your neck of the woods? I'm yearning for some inspiration!

Have a happy hump day, friends.

xoxo
Joi

Floral Tea Towel "Art"

Hi, guys. I totally didn't plan to be away for a whole month, but by now, you know how that goes. We've been mostly trying to stay warm and sneak playtime outside if the temps creep above freezing! 

Theron Drake is mildly obsessed with anything to do with outside so this spring and summer should be interesting.  Let's just say he's not the biggest fan of having to come inside on our terms.  I foresee a lot of tears in our future, that--and sunscreen.  

Things on the home front are pretty much the same.  We recently got a new bed! How exciting, right? It sure is for this 31 year old! Of course, I'm constantly changing things so our master bedroom is undergoing a gradual makeover.  I posted this picture to Instagram the other day showcasing our brigade of pillows.   Dave just loves all those pillows.  Can you sense my sorry attempt at sarcasm? 

The blue ones in back were from Kmart, the striped ones came from Target, the scalloped Euro shams are from PB Teen, and the floral ones are from Plum Pretty Sugar. 

I don't have big or detailed plans for the room, but I'll be sure to share some progress pics as it evolves. 

In the dining room we added a large piece of "art" that I copied from my best friend, Cori.  [Who, by the way, has recently co-pioneered a great new blogging adventure called The Secret Sister Project]. She texted me a pic of a gorgeous floral tea towel calendar framed and I knew I HAD to have it. Problem was she got it from a local shop awhile back, and she lives nearly 4 hours away.  Bummer. 

But, thanks to Google, and the super obvious "floral tea towel calendar" keywords, I was able to find it quick and easy on this website.  It was only $8 or so and I used a 40% off coupon to snag a frame for about $20 at Michael's!

The only pics I have are from my iPhone, lazy I know.  But that's how things are done around here nowadays.  Haha!

I did iron the towel, but I think my iron is on the fritz.  I need to reposition it, but for now, the wrinkles will remain.  I'm not sure it will stay on that dresser, I actually think it would look really great on our striped laundry room walls.  

I'm thinking some of you need this towel in your lives, too! Am I right? 

Have a happy week.  

xoxo

Joi

Flirty Flower Table Setting

Awhile back I bought an awesome box a fake flowers. I know what you're thinking. Joi's off her rocker; no such thing exists.

Well I am here to tell you I would've thought that too, but they do exist! These faux roses came in a box fashioned as gorgeous jewel -toned potpourri. I had envisioned using them as part of a tablescape but since I had only purchased one box the outcome would've been sort of puny. So my beauties sat in our buffet just waiting for a purpose.

Fast forward to last weekend and during our fun little Mint Julep Jaunt I found another great box of fake flowers.

Yay, me! I'm kicking myself for not buying another box because I think more would've ultimately been better, but such is life.

Inspired by this photo, I decided to make my own flirty flower tablescape with my great fake flowers!

via

I'm not a party thrower nor do I entertain {although I wish I did} so please excuse my less than stellar presentation. I'm a complete novice when it comes to this stuff!

I used some craft paper for the table runner, plain white plates from Macy's + silver rimmed plates from Target, vintage etched drinking glasses, IKEA planters, votive holders from my wedding reception {how nostalgic! ; )} and pink paper napkins for the first look:

I wasn't totally sold on the greenery in the IKEA planters so I switched them out for my tissue paper flowers that I ♥ so much!

I took one final stab at this tablescape thing and took away all of the tall pieces to just focus on the roses. I liked this look a lot, but I'm kicking myself for not buying just one more box of those lovely roses! One more box would've been the icing on the cake. 'Tis true friends.

I really love this little get-up and am wishing I had guests on their way over! Mental note: must make plans for my girls to come over and enjoy my tablescaping ways. So tell me peeps....do you fancy yourself a tablescaper connoisseur? I'd love to see your creations. Send 'em my way, por favor.

Enjoy your weekend, friends! I've got a dinner date with my yas, shopping, homework, doggie sitting, and a family reunion on the agenda. What about you??

xoxo

Bye, Bye Baskets

First let me say that I absolutely love my round baskets. I found them years ago at a Target Global Bazaar and they were just the thing I had envisioned for the space. There were three along the wall to the right of the table.

But now with the new darker color, I just don't think they'll have the same "pop."

So of course, they have been taken down and I'm now in the process of planning/collecting plates for a fun little display wall.

Here are a few that I have picked up just in the last couple of days. I don't have a set # in mind nor do I have a set design in mind. I pick what I like and make it work.

1. Target
2. Target
3. Antique Mall
4. Antique Mall
5. Salvation Army Thrift Store
6. Antique Mall
7. Online @ French Paper
8. Target

All of my plate purchases have been less than $10 a pop and a couple came in at under a $1. I'm loving this cheap "art." My favorite one so far is this one you see below. You can see in the closeup pic that it is reminiscent of a cross stitch design and I love that vibe. : )

xoxo