Dog Days of Summer

While planning to set up shop and take advantage of all the garage sale goers during the neighborhood sale I came across a darling lemonade stand on another blog.  I have always wanted to build one for my kids.  I got the general concept but I was limited to working with what I had on hand. 

So I’m not giving any tips on building this sucker because honestly after building the first 85% of it I still wasn’t sure that it wasn’t going to collapse and crush my children to smithereens.

Not Your Ordinary Garage Sale

This weekend was a really fun glimpse into my future.  I have been busting my tail organizing, refinishing and prepping for our upcycle sale over the last week.  I’m happy and relieved to say it was all worth it.  The sale was a huge success and now I get to go play at Ikea all week and go treasure hunting so I can do it all over again!

Wrong Turn Sweetheart

Last week I saw an offer on freecycle for an old vintage chandelier.  Most items on freecycle are sight unseen but I knew I wanted it regardless.  Just the words “old” and “vintage” give me butterflies in my stomach.  Well sometimes it kind of feels like diarrhea but that’s another post for another time!

The Making of A Dining Room

And a few other little things... I got my new dining room set this past weekend.  My FIRST new dining room set.  Not that new means much to me these since I find so much joy in making the old new and giving it life again.  But I couldn't find this set for this price even used until now.  I signed up for a membership at a design warehouse here locally so I got this at a deal I couldn't pass up.  And my motto is if I can buy something cheaper than I can make it myself then it's a better deal for everyone.  It saves me time and money.

Here is my new set being assembled.  I'm actually surprised it turned out so well considering I had had a few glasses of wine that night lol.  I should also preface this to say my old dining table was the pub hight, square black with 6 chairs style. 

Sassy legs huh? LOL

This will become a chair

I recommend always using non slip feet and soft pad feet for hardwood floors.

My bamboo rug.  Miss Fancy Pants couldn't resist checking it out.

Table and chairs finished.  Oh did I mention it has a gorgeous bench?

Leather seats.  Yum.  After sitting at a pub high table for the past 5 yrs I felt like I was going to fall on the floor when I first sat down here lol.

Tufted leather bench. 

It's 76 inches long!

 

The table cloth will be a must and I also have one on the bench seat. I'm thinking about having a piece of glass cut for it so I can show it off and not keep it covered up. Thoughts?

 I picked up this piece for the mantel.  I thought the word "family" would warm it up a bit so it's not just a bunch of objects. 

I also got this table top Mora style clock from Pier 1 Imports last weekend.  Mr Garden spoils me.  There were actually other ones I liked better because they were painted in color and had been papered with different prints.  But they didn't match my colors so I bought the brown one. 

And I decided I would make her my own somehow... here is a little peek of just a small part of my plan =)

Lastly I was desperate to find something to go next to the clock.  I was thinking a metal bowl with those jute covered balls and some made of vines etc... but man those balls are expensive!  And I really wasn't in the mood to make my own.  So I searched and changed my mind a million times until I decided to give up because nothing felt perfect.  And when you buy something that doesn't feel perfect it's impulse and typically ends up getting returned anyhow. 

But on my way out of the store... These two were staring at me and it was that moment when the heavens opened up and the angels sang.  That was the moment I was waiting for and so I knew it was right!

Aren't they the cutest?!!  I didn't like how everything was getting a little too "dark" on the mantel and the shelves so with the transformation of the clock I decided these would be painted ... but you'll just have to wait and see!!  But you won't want to miss it because I have a feeling you're going to LOVE it!

~Sommer



Getting Settled

I'm already making headway in the new house.  Not on the house itself but I've been having a blast shopping and having things showing up on my front door =)

Here are my new sofa's and a look see into what the room should look like when it's finished.

And Mr Gardens new toy.  I'm trying to spruce up this wall with some different ideas.  It's still in the works.

~Sommer

Curbside Treasure!

It was one of those freak moments in life that make you wonder if destiny is really a factor in how things play out...

I ran out of creamer for my coffee and knew this morning would be snowing and cold so I just had to go out and get some after dinner last night.  It also happens that I have three mailing addresses at the moment, don't ask.  So we packed up the fam bam and set out to check the mail and pick up my creamer. 

As many of you know we just moved in last weekend.  To my pleasant surprise the neighbors seemed to have left me a house warming gift on the curb!  Seriously it was no coincidence that trash day was today.  Both Mr Garden and I say in stereo... ooh look!  And decided it would be best to pick up on the way home.

My poor camera does not like to zoom very well, sorry for the blurry pic.

A cute little camel back love seat with horrible outdated fabric, just sitting there waiting for me =)  The more I thought about it though I decided I didn't want to reupholster an entire love seat and I just didn't have it in me to do another slip cover right now.  So I passed on the idea. 

Well wouldn't you know it... on the way home driving down our street they left yet another gift for me!  These neighbors must really like me.  And for having never met them before I'd say I make a damn good first impression! Ha!

This time... a beautiful clean burgundy wing back chair!  They forgot to leave a note on it with my name but I'll let that one go this time.  We quickly loaded it in to the back of the truck, this one I wasn't going to pass up.  It was meant to be.  I have the perfect space waiting for it in the new master bedroom.

Now it does look like they have a white short haired dog of some sort.  But all her lines are clean and she has great bones!  One I give her a proper douching she'll be great!

Everything is in tact perfectly.

This is the very back of the seat cushion.  The one and only spot I can see some wear.  But a new cover will be an easy fix!

NOW MY QUESTION TO YOU ALL...

Should I re-upholster the chair or make a slip cover?

I see some sort of french script fabric or grain sack slip cover.  Please help a girl out here.  I need your opinions!

I've linked up to these parties.

~Sommer

Deja Vu

I’m having a momentary lapse in my short term memory here.  I could have sworn I blogged about my dressers before but I can’t for the life of me find them in any of my old posts.  I raised both hands over my head and smiled just be sure I hadn’t had a stroke lol.
So if by some strange chance you have seen this before in an alternate universe you have my apology for being redundant.
After finding the perfect bed I searched high and low for dressers and nightstands to match.  I knew what I was looking for and I knew the price I was willing to pay.  It took a while.  Like one of those dreams where you see the door at the end of the hallway and the hallway keeps stretching, becoming longer and longer.   Well instead of a door I saw my dressers lol.
Until  a man posted an entire set of two dressers and two nightstands on Craigs List for…. $20.  Yes can you believe that?  That weren’t top quality, they aren’t antique and they came to me in urine yellow with gold trim!  But they were functional and the right style and for $20 I knew they would serve their purpose for quite some time!  Sadly… I cannot find any before pictures.  I know before and after's don’t really hold the same impact without the before.  Just imagine a dog pee’d all over your furniture!  Oh scratch that!  Just found one lol.  The nightstand was mid process in the picture below. Oh sigh, I try.
 


Well it doesn’t exactly look as yellow as it really was.  But I promise you they were. 
 
 

Bench Makeover Surprise

While delivering furniture to a client last summer I was downtown with the hubby heading home when I saw something out of the corner of my eye.  On a lawn on the side of the road, there was a white and blue something that looked like it was worth a second look. 
So naturally I shouted at Mr. Garden to “TURN AROUND!” and he laughs and says, “Gee, did you want me to turn around?”. 
I found a beautiful three legged antique bench seat.   Two men were having a yard sale which I found a bit on the odd side for the types of items they were selling, maybe they were a couple.   I asked how much for the bench.  He tells me they started the price at $240 that morning but after spending all day in the hot yard and having a few beers already he’d be happy with $50.  I told him I’d give him half, cash and carry on the spot.  $30 later I walked away with this beauty.


So I knew at some point when I found the perfect fabric for the perfect price I would change it out.  It sat at the end of my bed for a while and has served it’s place in front of my sofa until I find the perfect coffee table for the perfect price =)
Fast forward to present day…. We had the carpets cleaned the other day.  First time since we moved in last spring.  Don’t you love fresh cleaned carpets?


All the furniture was stacked up in the entry and the kitchen while the carpets were getting their bath.  And that’s when I saw it…

No?  You don’t see it?  Okay look closer.

One of the tension straps popped out.  So while I fiddled with it to see if I would have to tear the bench apart to fix it I noticed this…

What in the world is that fantastic fabric under the blue stuff?  Oh my, it was exciting just thinking about it as my main color pallet in my home is black and white.  So…. naturally I started tearing it apart.  The next day of course because the carpets were soaking wet.  Do you know how long that day seemed?  FOREVER!
I pulled out my big girl toys.  I didn’t need anything fancy for this.

I love my staple remover, this is a must have for re-upholstering.

I took the screws out of each corner brace.

Popped the cushion off and took out all the staples.  My heart started beating a little fast.  I couldn’t wait to see it.  But oh, would it be torn?  Stained perhaps?  I hoped someone just changed their decor and the fabric underneath would be perfect.

Want to see what I found?

Can you believe it?  This beautiful black and white Toile fabric!!  Of course my instincts were correct.  There were some minor imperfections…

But with a little stain stick and some warm water later… I have a beautiful bench with no additional cost!


Yep this was the part where the angels came down and rejoiced.  Happy dance!!!


~Sommer