Reader ottoman project.

Today I received an email from Becky at Tea Party Blog sharing the DIY ottoman she and her husband completed with the tutorial I posted here. Way to go Becky and husband...great job!

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A Challenge.

Last week this box arrived on my door step.

Inside, 4 gallons of Dutch Boy paint!

A little over a month ago Peter, a rep from Dutch Boy Paints, contacted with an opportunity to test their paint and write a review. (Thanks Peter).

How could I say no to that proposition?

Already they get an "A+" for great packaging of their paint and being ergonomically correct. Seriously, how many paint cans do you know that have a handle on the bottle?
And I know it's silly to be in love with a twist off lid but for the amount of painting I do I am so over having paint splatter when I hammer the lid back on the can.

Apparently this stuff has got "Odor Elimination Technology"...whatever that means?
Perfect paint for the bathroom?
I'm just sayin.
Plus zero VOC's...WORD.

Operation bathroom makeover is officially ON!

There it is...the bathroom...in all it's glory.
This is going to be a tricky makeover.
The house is only 2 years old. Although the bathroom isn't high glam it's really not offensive.
I prefer to call it vanilla, builder, boring.
I don't think sinking a ton of money in to the fixtures and such would be a wise investment as I don't think I could get the money back out if I sold tomorrow.
So we'll see how far a little lipstick and rouge will take me.
After I finish with this bathroom I'll move on to the master bathroom.



Again, nothing exciting here but not really terrible either. Plain Jane.

(Click here to learn more about Dutch Boy Paints).

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Ugly lantern makeover.

Ugly lanterns found at Goodwill.
(I jumped the gun and sprayed the lights silver before I got a picture of the ugly brass color...you get the idea though).

It wasn't my intention to use the glass frame for the light but I thought they made a unique and peculiar centerpiece. Plus, waste not...

From here on out I have to credit Mrs. Devore for the original creativity and inspiration for this project. Here's what I used to paint and prime the lights silver.

Ain't spray paint fun!

Crystals from Lowe's.

The "Honey-Do" Man.

Shades from Target.

These pictures prove that it's time to upgrade my camera.

The pics don't the the new lights justice.

Much better in person.

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Summer!

Yesterday was the 1st official day of

If it's summer in Arizona
you DON'T go outside...

Bring on your scorching wrath summer.

We like...

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DIY Mirrored Wall.

As long as I'm on a roll with posting tutorials...here's another one.

Last year I posted my good friend Harmony's, mirrored wall. I've had a lot of inquiries requesting a tutorial. So here it is...a year later. Enjoy!

Start with the "LOTS" mirrors from IKEA.
They come in a pack of 4 for only $4.99.
The trim is actually just basic trim moulding from Home Depot cut to size. Start with the long horizontal pieces, then cut the vertical pieces to go inbetween the long horizontal pieces.
Make sure to use a level every step of the way.
Believe it or not, mounting tape was used to hang every mirror AND piece of trim!
Nails kept splitting the the wood so mounting tape was used instead and worked great.

(Image via Pink Wallpaper).

(Image Via Chic Coles).

(Image via Design Sponge)

(Image via Pink Wallpaper).

Thanks for the great project Harmony! We'll definetely miss you and your family. Don't be suprised if we show up on your doorstep one afternoon at your new home in Phoenix!

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Counting sheep.

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Let there be light.

Found these lanterns at a thrift store. My handyman husband is the process of re-wiring and hanging them. After we took them all apart the glass shell was left.

A little sand and a few candlesticks later...

Centerpieces.

I'm not crazy about the gold. If I get ambitious one afternoon I might tape then spray the gold trim a different color.
IF I get ambitious.

If anything they were good conversation pieces at dinner.

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DIY ottoman tutorial.

A number of you have asked for tutorial instructions for my DIY ottoman.
1 1/2 years later...
(My three men are at the zoo so here we go.
Thanks for your patience).

From Home Depot I purchased a couple of 2 X 6's.
They will cut them per your specifications for free.
I think I had mine cut 40 inches each.
Once you assemble them as illustrated below you will have a perfect box square that is approx. 42 X 42 in.
I then had Home Depot cut two pieces of pressed, particle board the same dimensions as my box frame (42 X 42 in.). I only ended up using one.
Attach the pressed board right on top of your box frame with screws.
I knew I wanted to add button tufting so I took a drill and made holes where I planned for the buttons to be.

From my local fabric store (I went to Hancock because I had a 40% off coupon) I purchased some high density foam (I believe it was 4 or 6 inches thick). They cut the foam to my specifications with an electric knife.
Use spray glue in a can to attach the foam to your particle board.

The legs came from Home Depot which I spray painted white. I've always felt they are much too whimpy for the size of the ottoman.
It's been on my to-do list to change them out but time + kids + priorities...blah, blah, blah.
There are a lot of places you can get legs...just Google. Or, here is one great source.
After your foam is is in place, cover the entire thing (foam and frame) with batting. I wouldn't recommend using any less than 4 layers.

Now you're ready to uphoslter or slip cover.
I bought white vinyl (faux leather) because I love white and I could wipe it clean.
After breaking a few needles on my sewing machine I realized my Singer was no match for vinyl. I took it my favorite Upholsterer, Chavez and he charged me $100. to upholster it and put in the tufting buttons. When I got it back I could see that $100. was the best money ever spent. He added piping, did a fab job on the covered buttons...I was very pleased.

There you have it.
Happy DIY Ottoman-ing!

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