Two-Toned Stools!

During Spring Break I went on a crazy painting everything in the house spree. One thing that I have wanted to paint for a long time is these cheap stools. They are from Target and Wal-Mart.... clearly.

The first thing that I did is take the stools outside (spray painting inside is a bad no good bad idea) and I primed the bottom of the legs with spray paint primer after I sanded and wiped them down. I only sprayed the bottoms because I bought paint and primer paint for the rest so it would just take a little sanding to prep.

The color paint that I had was from my parent's spray paint stash when they moved back in January. The lid was yellow... the wet paint was really yellow...

Once they were dry I took them inside one at a time to pain the remaining part of the stool. While watching "He's Just Not That Into You." My favorite movie ever. I love it. It's #bombdotcom.

My neighbors probably thought I had been negatively effected by all the spray paint fumes since I lined all my stools up in the front yard. haha.

Since I now work at Lowe's as one of my secondary jobs I found this fabulous quart of paint for only $7.00 plus 10% employee discount. Pretty sweet right?

I used painters tape to make a straight line for the grey at the bottom of the stools. The yellow spray paint definitely became very orange by the time it was dry which at first I was peeved about but now that I've been around it I actually really like em! Plus Pouka on top of the cabinet is always funny. If you follow me on Instagram (right side bar above my picture) you can see all the funny pictures of "Captive Pouka" that I post.

Here's another angle! Aren't they amazing??? I did take a clear spray paint and seal the top of the seats as well as the rungs just to make them last as long as possible. Ignore the destruction in the background. You'll see why soon!

I feel like it really upgraded the whole look of the area and made the stools way less.... well... cheap, even though the project itself totally was! Only $7.00! Had all the paint on hand and only bought the gray! Boom. My kinda stools.

Yay! It's been a super crazy and exciting month around here lately but also a lot of fun. I'm still working on getting the rest of my sister's room put together. Still have a few more weeks to get that going so I will get you all the deets once it is put together.

Linked to: Thrifty Decor Chick Motivate Me Mondays  I Gotta Try That

Summer To Do List.

During this semester I have put off some big projects, mostly due to time constraints I've been working on little projects, redecorating, and organizational things. Well now that summer break is about 2 weeks away (Thank goodness!) I'll have time to start getting on those big projects. Be prepared for lots of  "to-do" pictures!

• Really have to finish painting the ceiling in the hallway and replace the light fixture. The walls could probably use a new coat of paint also. 

• This front (and only) closet needs a complete remodel. Its a royal disaster.

• Been talking about it forever and now I just need to do it. The entryway.

• Countertops needs another coat of paint in some spots. I'd love to do a 100% finished post sometime within the next month or two.

• Replace 2 sets of mini-blinds in the house. The cats believe they are merely gateways to the outdoors and have succeeded in tearing up a couple sets. Ugh.

• Double rods for the master bedroom curtains! Seriously. IKEA trip. Yes. Please.

• Sort of goes without saying but I obviously need a new computer station set up. This is a bigger mess then the closet. 

• Recovering the chair and cleaning up my hoard of books and DIY supplies from their hiding spot behind the chair.

• Paint the outdoor furniture with some spray paint to really freshen them up. The paint from last summer is just a little faded. I'm cool with that though. $6.00 in spray paint for a free outdoor set. Still can't beat that.

• Restock my wine rack with some delicious and oh so fabulous Colorado wines!

• Black out line the dining room curtains to avoid roasting to death in the hot Colorado sun.

• Figure out why only one of these lights works and paint that nappy ceiling!

• This is one that I've never shown before. But. It's my back door. A scary thing really. Currently it is a hollow door that opens inwards in a strange fashion. It has blue blinds, plastic window coating and curtains to try to disguise its terror...

But it's really pretty bad....

• Also a blog first is showing my "back yard." Yup. It's glorious right? My neighbors evidently are collecting rubber and other debris. My back porch looks, well, ghetto and rickety. Which it is. I don't remember the last time I stood on it. Partially because I have the back door sealed so you can't get in or out of it but also because the whole thing is falling apart. Needs to be completely replaced.

It's even scarier up close....

And my terrifying back door. Yes it is tin foiled. This back side of the house gets a LOT of sunlight. Pretty much for the entire day the sun smashes against the windows and walls. It gets HOT. The door for the back will hopefully only have a small window at the top, if any window at all. Oh and that random board on the bottom? It's covering up a cat door.

As you can see there is going to be a lot going on this summer! I know I've been slacking on the bloggy lately but believe me... I've got some big plans!

Half a Whole

It is three days into the semester and I am already swamped! Luckily it is my last "real" semester on the college campus! Next semester starting in August I will be doing student teaching in a ninth grade English classroom! Just have to survive this semester.

And get a 4.0.

No pressure.

This weekend to celebrate our last semester at Colorado Mesa my friends and I had a "Pre-Semester Ladies Night" at one of our favorite downtown spots! (Left to right; Chelsey, Katrina, and me!) The quality of the photo isn't so fabulous but it was a really fun night!

Now meet my new kitchen rugs! I bought them at Lowe's on clearance. 26.99 a piece. Still cheaper then the big rug I was going to settle for from online. I think they're pretty awesome! I love the dark blue and the moroccan pattern makes me feel like dancing! 

They are really durable too because they are made from wool, which is good for such a high traffic area.

The old knobs from the drawers were not going back into the kitchen. First of all they were ugly, and second they were broken. So I splurged and bought this great little drawer pulls, also from Lowe's, for 2.99 a piece.

Insta-improvement don't you think?

They look so awesome! My roommate helped me attach them because I strained my wrist... again.... dang it. But! How classy do they look? Totally classy!

The in progress kitchen was looking a little bit stressed out. Eek. I was also deep cleaning the stove. PS. Not a pleasant experience.

Though you can see how it is starting to look a little better with each door that is added on! I have also been doing a bit of reorganization which is really helping with the space. I keep finding things I didn't know that I had. Like 6 muffin tins. I've never even made muffins. Hmmm lol.

The right side isn't looking quite as fabulous... I have to move the fridge to paint the rest of the cabinets, which isn't a big deal but I figure when I move the fridge I need to have the paint to paint the wall that is behind it. Which I don't have. Hence random side not painted. lol.

But! look at it now! So beautiful!! The hardware is all painted oil-rubbed bronze. Total investment for hardware? 16.00. and that is just for the drawer pulls. I already had the paint and the handles are original same with the hinges, which are also spray painted. Looks FANTASTIC!! And it really is starting to blend in with the laundry room now.

Plus I did the dishes. Hehe.

Part of the project I still have to do. Put in new toe-kicks. They've been missing since the flood in 2009. Hate to rush into things.

My paint color for the walls is going to be the middle one on the paint sample. Bye-Bye orangey-peach-toasted-coconut!

Filling these little cubbies with vintage crystal champagne glasses and ball jars filled with wine corks. I love mixing vintage with some modern elements. I'm still in love with Ball jars no matter what though!

Ahhhh soooo prettyyyy!

This stove fan thing doesn't even work. And it looks awful. Bisque. I have bisque. That one I'm still trying to figure out. Spray paint it? See if I can replace it somehow? Who knows.

Broken ceiling lights. It's a better view of the huge fixtures. I still have to figure out how to get some new ones... maybe that BOTH work. lol.

 This is the not done side. The doors are mostly finished. Just need to do a few more coats of white on the lower cabinet boxes before I put the doors back on.

A picture of both Pouka and Lucy together! Though Lucy looks a bit malevolent...

Pouka is my princess kitten. She is also very spoiled. But I love her A lot.!

Still have to paint this part of under the cabinets... Right now it's all white like the rest but I was contemplating doing some sort of stenciling or something just to add some character. I've scouted out some really cute Martha Stewart ones at Michael's. Plus... I have coupons!

The lighting sucks in this picture but you can sort of see how all the white is starting to blend together. Makes it feel really open and cohesive. Which is what we were going for anyways!

These stools are going to need a little love soon! They are the most used seats in the house though. They often get used as shelving, end tables, table legs, and ladders. They aren't fancy but they are definitely sturdy!

Disadvantage to being tall in my house. You can't see anybody's head through the cabinet pass through. But it is nice to have! We'll be replacing those stilt things so they look less ghetto and more purposeful.

Check out the side by side comparison! It's not done but it's already a hugeeee difference! Ahhh the power of a $30 dollar gallon of paint!