Monday, December 30, 2013

Looking Back at My Projects for 2013

Sometimes I don’t feel like I get very much done but after reviewing my blog posts of projects in 2013 I wonder how I was able to accomplish so much. I hope that you will enjoy looking at some of my projects that you might have missed. Click on the bright green text to go directly to the post about each project.

My most viewed post of the year was my kitchen renovation that I actually did the previous year. It was quite a labor of love but worth every bit of effort that I put into it. My nephew came in the kitchen this week and said “Every time I walk in here I have to check to make sure I’m in the right house!”

peninsula area before

everything and flooring after

It is quite a dramatic difference! You can click here to see all of the photos and progress.

Another popular post was a tour of our summer cottage – part 1!I still haven’t gotten to part 2 but hopefully will do it soon!

Lakehouse exterior 1

Click here to take the tour! Another popular post was a surprise use I discovered for Bar Keepers Friend. Click here to see my discovery. 

I completed several projects using parts of my grandmother’s piano that my son and I deconstructed.

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This old upright was repurposed into this entry table,

table from piano parts

this headboard,

upholstered headboard 1

this headboard,

piano headboard 2

and a couple of towel bars.

towel bar 2

I still have material left to complete several more projects from the piano parts.

I completed several upholstery projects.

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You can read about this one here.

floral sofa 3white sofa 3

You can see my updated living room furniture here.

oak chair 6oak chair 15

These antique oak chairs were updated very quickly and easily. You can get the details by clicking here.

old chair 1new red chair 2 - cropped

I was delighted with how well this $15 thrift store find turned out. You can read about it here.

floral sofa before 2jess sofa 1

I also made a slipcover for my grandmother’s sofa to be used in my son’s apartment. You can read about it here.

I completed several furniture painting projects.

dresser 6dresser 17

This dresser was painted for my sweet friend’s nursery. You can see the progress here.

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I painted this antique music cabinet for the screened porch at our summer cottage.

bunk cabinet 1

I painted this bamboo cabinet black and put it in the bunk room at the summer cottage to use for storage.

Mackenzie Childs table and chairs 1

I decided to have some fun with this table and chairs. You will have to click here to see how ugly they were before!

coral table 3

I made a few more updates to our guest room that you can see here and here.

fabric covered shoe box

I repurposed this shoe box by covering it with fabric and I repurposed this vintage gas can into a lamp.

Gas Can Lamp

I also shared highlights of trips to Philadelphia, the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC, and the Country Living Fair at Stone Mountain Georgia.

I am looking forward to the coming year and hope to make a few more major updates to our home and share them with you.

I’ll be sharing this post at Rhoda’s party at Southern Hospitality and at Savvy Southern Style. Click the links to see lots of inspiration.

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Monday, December 16, 2013

Christmas Beverage Station

I don’t know about you but I am thoroughly enjoying the Christmas season.  While I am still decking the halls around our house, I took a different approach this year. I decided to enjoy several seasonal events instead of fretting over decorating the house. I hosted my family for Thanksgiving then got started on Christmas on Friday following Thanksgiving. With the help of my crew, I was able to complete one of my business installations on Friday. Then on Saturday we traveled to Atlanta to see the Story Tour. If you are not familiar with it, you need to check it out. The Story tells the story of the Bible through music and the cast is somewhat of an all-star cast of contemporary Christian musicians. It was a special treat.  On Sunday, we came back to our church for Keyboards and Carols which is an all keyboard program. It is always excellent. We also attended our downtown Christmas stroll, several Christmas parties, and the Christmas choral program at the nearby college where our nephew is enrolled. I also completed another commercial installation and have finally done a little decorating at home. I have also shipped lots of dinnerware. If you are interested in Bethlehem Christmas dinnerware, there is still time as turn around is very quick and shipping is still moving very quickly.

I wanted to share our Christmas beverage station in the kitchen.

hot beverage corner

The little ginger jar to the right has individual Keurig packets.

santa and snowman beverage station

I thought it would be fun to put the hot chocolate powder and marshmallows in these bottles that originally had syrup in them.

hot chocolate santa

The snowman bottle holds mini marshmallows.

marshmallow snowman

This fun corner makes me smile very time I see it. I hope that you are taking time to enjoy the season too!

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I’ll be linking to the Scoop at Stone Gable.