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.

Fresh Catch!

I love the musical knocking sound of bamboo wind chimes. Back when I lived in England, I bought some at the market in Camden Town and have hung them at five different addresses since. I finally had to find a replacement after they got beat up in this winter's icy winds, and it wasn't easy. Most of the ones in Halifax shops are mass-produced, flimsy things. But kijiji saved the day. Look what I found! A gigantic carved wood and bamboo work of art...

This heavy sucker is 35" head to tail!

The woman who sold it to me said she bought it at a yard sale in Edmonton and hung it up back home in Hubbards. Now that she lives in the city, she hasn't got a place for it, and is happy it's returning to the water. It's funny how objects can adopt a kind of personality.  He looks happy, doesn't he? I already find myself saying hello to him in the morning.

Giant Sunflowers - Week One

Now that the spring breezes have melted all the snow, we've been thinking about starting a vegetable garden. I've never planted anything in my life (hell, I've never had a yard before) 
so I'm testing my prowess on sunflowers. I decided to start the seedlings indoors and they sprouted within a few days. Apparently these babies can grow up to 14 ft. and now I'm worried I may have started them too soon. I can't safely transfer them outside until after last frost in early June, and at this rate, they'll be busting out of their pots before then!

When I woke up a few mornings ago and saw green, I screamed my head off. "Don't you think there's something inherently creepy about plants?" I said to S.B.

He patted my shoulder and sighed, "City girls." 

Weekend Project: Mirror, Mirror On The Wall

Step 1: Buy an outdated old mirror. This heavy bastard was $10 at Salvation Army.

Step 2: Clean it, sand it, update it with a fresh coat of paint in a modern colour.

 

Et voilà !