Guest Bathroom Revamp

Another bathroom, another makeover.  This one was no where near as drastic as the one from my 65 rancher - (the old house), however, it just goes to show what a little paint and accessories can do to brighten things up.

First, let's take a look at the before images.  Let me apologize in advance, for the fact I used my I PHONE for the majority of the photos. I was 35 weeks pregnant when I decided I wanted to sand and paint the bathroom vanity earlier this year. To be honest, I was too lazy to break out my decent camera.

Moving along...

BEFORE: It was a beautiful blue color, but I wanted a calming neutral

 Below: There was just too much going on and it wasn't my personal taste.

I started by painting my bathroom with the left over paint that I used in my bedroom and my kitchen.  It was also a favorite of mine from my old house; Valspar's Lyndhurst Celedon Green. Depending on the lighting this color takes on various shades. The one consistency, is that it is always spa like and calming.

My next step was, replacing the shower curtain and rugs. I purchased a nice ruffle shabby chic shower curtain and rugs from Home Goods. I spent less than $30 on everything. 

 While I like the simple builder grade vanity, I really wanted something brighter. I love white furniture and cabinets, but I've never painted cabinets in my life. I was a little hesitant, even though I have done a number of furniture pieces, this was scary for me...

Below: Before, its nice, but I wanted white

Below: I used a handheld electric sander and took the sheen off the cabinets. I thought about 

using a stripping agent, but I was very pregnant and didn't feel like dealing with the fumes.

I started by priming with Zinnser Primer. I did a total of 

3 coats of primer and I waited a full 24 hours between each coat.

Below: I bought a small can of Glidden paint from Wal Mart that was only $9.

 I picked the whitest paint swatch I could find and had them tint the paint for me.

I ended up doing 2 coats of this paint with 7 days between each coat - I wanted to ensure the paint would adhere and cure properly so that I would not have a messy finished product.  I also allowed 7 days of curing before I placed the doors and drawers back on.  

I found these lovely glass knobs on eBay with hardware included for $3 a pop with free shipping. I've seen similar knobs go for up to $20 a set. I was ecstatic with my find.

The photos below were taken with my actual camera. What a difference that makes, huh?!  I absolutely love the way the new bathroom turned out. It went from a loud and busy bathroom, to a quiet and calm spa like bathroom. I'm pleased that I took the chance and trusted myself enough to do the vanity cabinet painting.  If I could do this in my last trimester of pregnancy, I think ANYONE can. It was a little time consuming, but well worth it.  Stephen even gave me the okay to paint our kitchen cabinets once Danny is a little older and I'm not having to hold him all the time. (haha).

Below: AFTER!! LOVE!!

Below: I also opted for an above toilet storage which I purchased at Wal Mart for $40 on sale.

Cost breakdown of the bathroom revamp:

Note: These items I had on hand. (What they would cost you):

- Bathroom wall paint: Valspar's Lyndhurst Celedon Green in Satin - less than half a gallon 1 coat (about $20)

- Rollers etc - $6 (cheap set from Wal Mart will do).

- Coastal accessories - Free from my old home, but the clear jar was a cookie jar form Wal Mart at $7 I placed starfish inside that you can obtain online or at any coastal shop for dirt cheap, the balls were from Cracker Barrel and cost $4 each

- Above toilet storage - $40

Totals: $ 77

Cabinet Cost:

- Sander - FREE I have this

- Zinnser Primer - $20 with plenty leftover

- Good Paint Brush - $13

- Foam brushes (for sides) $4 for a big bag at Wal Mart

- Glidden paint - $9

- Cabinet pulls $12 for all 4

Total Cabinet Revamp Costs:  $55 (and I have leftover materials for future projects)

Totals For Entire Revamp: $132

I would love to see your DIY cabinet renovations, dear readers! Please feel free to share them with me in the comments :)

Living Room Makeover on a Budget

 When Stephen and I moved in together, the house was yellow. A very ugly yellow. My old house was yellow also (by my own doing). I adored the perfect neutral gray I had painted my old house so much, that I decided I would also paint the new house with the same color. It really opened the room up and it was looking amazing before long. That was back in June of 2015. Last month, after I had finished my tables on a budget, I decided it was time for me to give Rooms to Go in the Wilmington area a shot. I despised the Fayetteville store, but wanted something with great financing, and so I headed that way.  I fell in love with the Lucan Cashmere sofa set.  I also decided, I wanted the oversized chair and ottoman. Then I fell in love with this gorgeous shag rug, so I added that to my bill as well. All in all my furniture came to $2100. Not bad for new furniture at all.  My financing broke it down to an affordable $38 a month for the next 5 years.  I used my DIY Pottery Barn Knock Off mirror that I did a few years back, along with my DIY coat hanger paper wreath and hung it above the love seat. I absolutely LOVE my new living room. Let's take a look, shall we:

BELOW: These were one of the only few before photos I had:

 BEFORE:

BELOW: Waiting on the new furniture to arrive:

BELOW: The new furniture, the rug was another week out..

BELOW: I was so excited when the huge shag rug got here, that I struggled to lay it out.  Let me tell you, this is ONE HEAVY rug. I absolutely LOVE IT! I would recommend it to anyone it's literally so gorgeous in person!

BELOW: Confession - I didn't want to pay $100 for a pad, so I used the old rug, it's seriously so comfy!

BELOW: With the DIY table I did and the DIY mirror and wreath I made

BELOW: DIY craigslist dresser I re did a few years ago is my entertainment center

So, let's do a little cost break down:

* Wall paint and supplies:  Valspar, Oatlands Subtle Taupe, Satin  $25

*  Furniture and Rug $2100 (finances for $37 a month making it super affordable)

* DIY Pottery Ban knock off mirror $30 (as opposed to $699 from Pottery Barn)

* Craigslist refurbished dresser: $35

* Book page wreath - FREE (a coat hanger and book pages)

* Side tables $100

* Coffee table $60

* Stain and clear coat $24 or less

Total Cost of Entire Room Reno:  $2374 

This look could have easily cost a ton more if you purchased the DIY items at full retail. I am absolutely in love with it, but I do plan to take better photos later.  Lately I have only had time to use my I phone. I plan to do some DIY picture frames above the sofa as well.

Enjoy your week, dear readers!

Rustic X Farmhouse Tables

Hello, it's me. The blogger who never updates. I am going to blame the lack of sleep with a now 6 month old, and wrangling the house and my two older children. Well, it sounded like a good enough excuse. So, I decided sometime ago, that I was going to re do my living room sometime after Danny was born.  The first thing on my list was to finish these rustic x farmhouse tables.  The big coffee table was built and the two side tables, I decided would be cheaper to obtain through amazon. I of course opted for the open box deals and scored them at half price. Once I put them together, they were stain ready.  I spent two months between a baby still getting up several times at night and managing everything else to finally stain these, and clear coat them. The end results were gorgeous. The two side tables cost me $50 each (shipping included) and the large coffee table was approximately $60 in lumber.  My stain was $15 and the clear coat $10 on sale.  I used foam brushes and old paint brushes to apply. I absolutely love them, and they were much cheaper than buying them at a big box store. They are all solid wood and I am very pleased with the outcome on my budget.