Mudroom Makeover

As balmy summer nights approach, S.B and I started brainstorming where we can sleep more guests. We decided to put a daybed in the mudroom, and in a flash S.B. built a frame using wood leftover from our deck rail (which he also built!) Inspired by how it freshened up the space, I overhauled the whole room into the ultimate chill-out zone.

Here's the room before we started:

The white floor was dingy from muddy winter boots and piled wood.

There's S.B. in the background, running away from home.

First we painted the floor a dark chocolate brown. Afterward, I added a

large mat in the same colour to protect the paint from sandy beach feet.

We acquired a comfy wicker chair, courtesty of Mom.

I placed a soft hemp rug under the daybed, moved in some plants and a 

woven ottoman to use as a side table. I sewed most of the cushion covers 

myself out of colorful cloth lap napkins I bought for 50 cents a piece.

A portable turntable provides the soundtrack to summmer. 

On the other side we have additional seating (recognize the chair?),

walls hooks for coats and a steamer trunk for footwear.

Presto! Mudroom, guest quarters and relaxing hang-out zone in one.

Total cost of makeover: $40 (for paint, cushion covers, candles and mat)

Rock Revamp

S.B. has about ten band t-shirts that are too small for him so he asked me if I wanted them. I watched some online tutorials and found all kinds of ways you can redesign t-shirts without sewing. My favourite is a sort of braiding technique that brings in the sides and makes the shirt more fitted. I'm going to invite my girlfriends to come over with some old t-shirts and have a contest to see who can come up with the most kick-ass revamp.

 

Two of my re-creations.

Giant Sunflowers - Week Four

 

Whoah!

Weekend Project: Pretty in Pink

So, I'm driving to work when I spy this hard-done-by chair sitting on the sidewalk. It had been left out in the rain all night, seat covered in cat fur, legs that had served as the naughty cat's scratching posts for years. But it had some exquisite detail in the woodwork, and as I cringe at the idea of antiques going to the landfill, into my backseat it went.

Blah.

At home, I unscrewed and removed the seat cushion before cleaning and sanding all the wood.



Next I stripped off the filthy seat fabric and reupholstered the cushion with a white bandana from my old Bandidas roller derby uniform. Then I painted the chair cotton candy pink, which surprised even me. I've never been a fan of pink, but lately I find myself intrigued by its moods. When I first found this chair, it was sort of masculine and authoritative-looking. But now...

Can I get a witness?



Since the chair and the fabric were free, altogether this project cost only the price of three coats of paint, which was on sale for $6.00.

I've never done this refurbishing stuff before. I wouldn't have had the patience for it in the past. But now I'm hooked, and I already have my next challenge...



A woman at a rummage sale gave me this for free. Apparently it came from an old church that used to stand across from Queensland Beach. I kind of hope it's haunted.