DIY: trunk transformation.

A brief background… my parents had these old and ugly cedar-lined trunks sitting in their garage for quite some time. As ugly as they were, I knew the potential they had to become something special, so I persistently asked if I could have them since they were just sitting around unused. The ‘rents finally gave in and gave them to me. And this magic makeover quickly followed suit:

reflective gold + a rusting bottom = need for an emergency facelift

I wiped down the trunk’s exterior, removed the front hardware, and taped off the trim detailing. This proved to be a much more time-consuming task than I had anticipated (although you wouldn’t think so just looking at it), so only one of the two trunks received the complete makeover. I took out the spray paint and this is where the magic happened.

Are you ready for this!? The AFTER:

Isn’t she a beaut? The trunk’s new and improved state is all thanks to a coat of the amazing Rust-Oleum Universal Spray Paint in the finish ‘satin white.’ The wonders of spray paint, I tell ya. It’s an amazing thing. And to top it all off, I was floored after coming across the price tags on these two similar pieces: Source 1, Source 2.

So where is it now?

The transformed trunk made its way to our bedroom as a beside table. It’s great because aside from being a bedside table, it also makes for an excellent hidden storage solution for things like blankets, books, etc. I’ll be sure to post an updated photo once I get the other one in the room, too. (Heck, I might as well post an updated bedroom tour, come to think of it!) I figure if I ever get sick of these trunks as bedside tables, they could also be placed next to one another and easily serve as a chic coffee table, kinda like this. Oh the possibilities!

Have you completed any DIY projects or given a furniture item a new look lately? I’d love to hear about it!

mantel makeover.

Yet another paint project took place this past weekend at the Caban casa. After getting favorable results with the chair facelift, I decided to give our fireplace mantel the same treatment. It always bothered me that the mantel didn’t match the built-ins alongside the fireplace or the trim above it, so it didn’t take very much deliberating to decide whether or not to go ahead and paint it. I realize many people are opposed to painting wood, but I think after looking at the before + after below that everyone can agree that the paint prevails, or at least in this case it does!

You can see another picture of the mantel in its ‘before’ state here.

Voilà! Crisp, clean & most important — cohesive!

Now all the mantel needs is some cheery spring decor, such as a mix of items like seen here or here.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great week!

a chair facelift.

I picked up this old chair back when I was in college from a local thrift store for $10. A piece of furniture with a retro vibe and aged mustard cushions? Yeah, I had to have it.

Even though it’s a relatively unique piece, it always ends up in the corner of any room I put it in, just looking all drab and neglected. I knew it needed something. But what? I tried sprucing it up using various throws and accent pillows over the years, but that only seemed to hinder the chair’s character… until the other day when I came up with a new idea: paint.

Since there was plenty of leftover white paint from the cabinet makeover, here’s what I did to take the chair from ‘blah’ to ‘ooh-la-la!’

BINGO! A bit of paint gave it a whole new identity and enhanced the modern factor. It almost reminds me of something you’d come across at CB2 or Jonathan Adler.

Instead of fading into the corner like before, the chair has become a statement piece. Now all it needs is the accompaniment of a side table and floor lamp. The power of a little paint, people!

Do you have any furniture items that you think you could perk up with a coat of paint?

cabinet makeover completion.

I’m back again with another kitchen update! Just a few weeks ago when I featured our little wall demo that you saw here, I mentioned the next step in our kitchen renovation was going to be the cabinets. While I appreciated the work the previous homeowners put into distressing the cabinets the way that they did, I wasn’t too keen on always trying to decipher whether the brown I saw on them was dirt or paint. I decided that you really can’t go wrong with a classic white kitchen, so we opted to paint the cabinets — you guessed it — white. We also replaced the bronze hardware with satin nickel hinges, knobs and pulls to up the ante on the “so fresh and so clean, clean” factor.

After four days of hard work (and channeling my inner Young House Love),  it’s safe to say that the kitchen got a major upgrade. But it didn’t come easy. First, the cabinets and drawers were removed… then sanded, deglossed, primed, painted, painted again, re-installed, and drilled with the new hardware. And now here we are. Behold our new and improved kitchen:

Coming in at just under $200, this wasn’t exactly the cheapest of DIY projects but it was much better than spending thousands on new cabinets. Besides, why buy new when you can repurpose what you already have? Reduce, reuse, recycle! :-)

kitchen construction.

A few weeks back the hubs and I worked with a contractor friend of ours to tackle a project that I had in mind since day one of buying the house: knocking down part of our kitchen wall to create a more open concept between the kitchen and eat-in kitchen area. Since we’re not in the market for a full-blown kitchen remodel, we’re sticking with our little galley kitchen but slowly making updates to it (like so) in hopes of making it feel not as small and closed-in, as most galleys do.

While this project didn’t go quite as planned (we weren’t able to open up the wall the full 26 inches across like originally planned thanks to the unfortunate discovery of a copper waste pipe and heat vent behind the wall  — reference second pic below), we settled for what we could get: 10 inches across and six inches overhead. Not the ideal situation but sometimes even the smallest of updates can make a huge difference and we’re happy with this project in the end.

And now for your viewing pleasure:

In the midst of construction…

The before & afters…

can you spot all of the changes?

newly acquired ledge, new trim, open shelves in place of old cabinet, valance above sink removed, new light fixture, & new paint on the walls (the same color as the eat-in kitchen area to create flow between the two rooms)

 open shelves now replace the cabinet — perfect for storage and easy access of cookbooks and dried pastas

the “EAT” letters found a new home above the pantry since they no longer fit above the updated doorway

*Source list: Paint – Valspar in ‘Asiago’; “EAT” letters — Hobby Lobby; shelves — DIY / brackets — IKEA; light fixture – allen + roth via Lowe’s; window “curtains” — burlap sacks via Dunn Bros

Next kitchen projects to tackle:

• Paint the cabinets white + replace the hardware (happening this month!) for a more modern and clean look (as opposed to the current distressed cabinets that are giving off an old and dingy vibe)
• Replace the currently cracked and chipped beehive-like tile in favor of dark wood that matches the eat-in kitchen
• Replace the out-dated appliances with sleek stainless steel ones

Updates to follow! – Stay tuned!

DIY details: our wedding

A few months back, I shared with you my top 10 suggestions for being a budget-savvy bride – ultimately planning a wedding with the cost in mind, rather than irrational visions you’ve accrued over the years of your ‘dream wedding.’  A little harsh? Perhaps. But if you follow my tips, then you (and your bank account) just might thank me later! I digress. Back to what this post is about. I had mentioned that I’d make sure to share my various DIY wedding projects when it was all said and done. And so here we are.

The following projects were centered around the idea of saving money and trying to incorporate as many reused items as possible, all while staying in my nature-esque autumn theme. (Not shown: invites, RSVP cards and programs). Check it out:

DIY #1: ring bearer “pillow.” A white spray-painted pumpkin + twine. Too easy!

DIY #2: centerpieces. These were made from vases I purchased from thrift stores & garage sales (I never paid more than a dollar for each). I tied the mouths of the vase with twine and filled them with pine cones and sticks from my backyard, plus a sprig of decorative berries from the craft store (now being used as Christmas decor around my house). They were set on top of wood slabs my stepdad cut from a fallen tree. Lastly, I placed tea lights in small canning jars (again, tied with twine) next to the vases for a little romantic ambiance. Total cost for 25 tables? $32.

DIY #3: reserved signs. For the tables that were reserved for immediate family, I bought paper with a faux wood grain look from the craft store (55 cents each), traced “*reserved*” using a pack of letter stickers, and added a few subtle leaf stamps in the corner.

DIY #4: head table decor. The head table was lined with old-fashioned Ball canning jars (from my mom’s collection) that were tied with twine and holding my bridesmaid’s bouquets. Not pictured: small juice cups held tea light candles that were placed in between the jars.

DIY #5: cardbox. Here I glued together two round cardboard boxes from the craft store and added miniature bunting across the front, lace along the edges and twine on the top. Using the same letter stickers that I did for the reserved signs above, I traced “thank you!” on the top and added a button for the “o,” because just why the heck why not!  Total cost? $12.

 
DIY #6: cake topper. Paper bird cut-outs (hand drawn by a friend) glued onto a stick (from the backyard, of course) sat on top of my birch tree-inspired cake, making this the cheapest DIY project of  ’em all – around 50 cents. (Similar ones on Etsy run between $20-$30).

DIY #7: trail mix bar. While this was the most expensive “DIY” (around $75 because of the cost of ingredients), it was definitely the most worth-while and a huge hit amongst guests! The bunting triangles were purchased from the craft store as well as the letters to trace “trail mix” onto them. I strung them through a piece of twine that was held by two small pumpkins on each end of the table. An eclectic mix of bowls and dishes taken from my mom’s house were filled with an array of trail mix items and set on top of tree slabs.

There you have it! Are any of these ideas ones that you would recreate for a wedding or other event?!

kitchen cabinet beauty.

I know what you’re thinking – “What the heck is ‘kitchen cabinet beauty’?” Today I am featuring some of my favorite ways to green your beauty routine by using things you can often find in your kitchen! You might be surprised…

Baking Soda = Face wash! Yes, I said it – face wash! Simply mix a quarter-size amount of baking soda with water in your hands to form a paste. Cleanse your face with this simple concoction for just the right amount of exfoliation. The best part? It’s probably the cheapest face wash you’ll ever buy!

Coconut Oil = Makeup remover, moisturizer, hair conditioner! This oil isn’t just for baking but also a multi-purpose item for your beauty regimen. Apply all over face and remove with a soft wash cloth to take off makeup; rub on rough areas of skin such as cuticles or feet for intense hydration; or use it on ends of hair for a deep-conditioning treatment (make sure to rinse)!

Cucumbers = Eye de-puffers - one of the oldest tricks in the book! Chilled, sliced cucumbers work wonders to decrease puffiness on the eyes as well as help in temporarily diminishing under-eye bags. Plus you can’t beat the refreshing smell! (Other great kitchen options: cooled tea bags or cold spoons).

Honey = Soothing face mask! Honey is known as natural humectant, meaning it has the ability to attract moisture and hold it. Simply apply a thin layer of honey onto your face, letting sit for 10-15 minutes. Remove honey with a warm, damp washcloth to reveal soft and smooth skin.

Oatmeal = Cleanser/gentle exfoliant! Oatmeal is known to relieve itchiness, redness, dryness and minor irritations. That being said, it is the perfect ingredient to add to your everyday face cleanser for added gentle exfoliation, or it can be used as a cleanser alone. Just mix it with water for a 100% natural face wash that is just as easy on sensitive skin as it is on the wallet!

Olive Oil = Hair and cuticle treatment! Coat hair in olive oil and cover with a shower cap. After 30 minutes, shampoo and condition your hair as normal. Once dry, you’ll notice added shine and softness to hair. To soothe dry or cracked cuticles, simply rub olive oil on them for a quick smoothing solution!

Yogurt = Cooling face mask! Yogurt contains lactic acid, which can help to exfoliate and smooth out the skin. To use, liberally apply plain yogurt all over the face. (This might be a good time to use the cucumber slices on eyes as well)! Rinse off with warm water after about 20 minutes. Immediately your face will feel clean and refreshed. Yogurt is also a go-to item for reducing redness and pain associated with sunburn.

What are your thoughts on incorporating everyday cooking and baking items into your beauty routine?

DIY: faux flower pin.

First off – Happy September :) We are officially transitioning into my favorite time of the year – fall! And if you haven’t experienced a Minnesota fall, you’re missin’ out my friends. But enough about that… onto business! I promised last week in this post that I would feature a DIY pin tutorial, so here you have it.

What you’ll need:

• Fake flower(s) of your choice
• Bar pin
• Permanent bond glue
• Pair of scissors

Step-by-step directions:

Pull the wire stem out from the flower.Glue or cut any petals that are curled. Glue bar pin onto flower base.  

Once dry, pin onto a blazer or cardigan. And there you have it – a custom “simply chic for cheap” statement accessory. Let’s hear it for flower power!! Okay, kidding… kind of.

Here’s another option- pin the flower onto a headband. (Glue a button in the center of flower for a unique touch!)

Now make a stop to your near-by craft store and get to it! :)

DIY: cocktail ring.

What you’ll need:

 1) A ring that is missing its center piece

2) Super glue

3) A unique button

Now, simply glue your selected button onto the broken ring - (a plain band works as well).

Here are the four buttons I narrowed it down to for my personal DIY ring:

Can you guess which one I chose? …

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 Voila! New and unique cocktail ring!