Dining Room Project - Wall Art

The room is so bright I needed to figure out how to tone it down with wall art. I decided to go thrift store shopping for some vintage looking frames that had a lot of texture. I figured I could fill them with some cool diy art. N came up with an awesome idea of using silhouettes as the art. We had seen a cool decal of a chandelier at Target for the center piece.  Unfortunately all the other decals were lame, so I needed to figure where to buy some or how to make some. I started googling for ideas and found a forum that used contact paper to make art.. BINGO!

The making of our wall art:

You basically buy contact paper in the color of your choice (make sure it's the sticker kind)

Using an Exacto Knife just make sure you have a plan... and create!

Dining Room Project - Painting

I began painting the wall a light yellow... but I ended up not loving it. I didn't take too many progress pictures because it's such a small room.... I figure you get the idea. 

Dining Room Project - Before

As I wait on my budget to get replenished so that we can get new flooring and stuff... I decided to start on the dining room. My color inspiration for this room is bright yellow... the color of HAPPINESS! hehe...

Below are a few stages of BEFORE pictures:

(This is the way the dining room looked when N moved in... look at that pink!)

Followed by painting it a dark green... which was a nice Guy color

Kitchen Project - Painting the walls

I continued my kitchen remodeling project with a first coat of my apple green paint. I did not put any blue magic tape on the edges because I was uber confident in not messing up the edges with my painting skills. I was totally wrong! I advise whatever you do just use the blue tape, it will save you a lot of retouching hassles.

I still need to do a second coat but it's looking pretty fun!

WHAT A MESS!!!

A little but of cleaning up and it looks better already... now onto paint coat # 2 & edging

Next we are budgeting for new backsplash, flooring and sink :)

Kitchen Project - Painting Old Cabinets

The first step in deciding to update your old kitchen is to choose a color palette. My colors of choice will be apple green, light green and white. I was also inspired by crackle paint that you see in old country stores or barns. To recreate that on my cabinets I bought some distress clear crackle paint to give it a fun country appeal.

1. Remove all the cabinet doors so that you can wash off any grease or food junk. 

(use mild soap and warm water)

2. Either sand your cabinets or use a deglosser so that it will be easier to paint

3.While your cabinet doors are drying - Paint cabinets with white primer (the oil based primer ensures better resistance against kitchen grease)

 4. After the cabinet doors are sanded you are ready to paint... I warn you this is an intense process :)
- The initial coat of paint will be a white primer
- Then use the color that you want to see through your crackle (in my case light green) - Let it dry
- Apply the clear crackle paint in one direction (the thicker the coat the larger the crackle... the finer the smaller)
- Once the crackle dried you can apply the top coat of your choice (in my case White)
- Watch the magic happen... it's pretty cool

5. I also painted the knobs a lime green

6. Repeat Process and put everything back together :) 

Kitchen Project - Before

Our first stop is our kitchen which is in need of a real update. As you know N and I are newlyweds and are on a budget so everything we do has to be within reason. My ultimate goal for all my projects is to reuse everything to it's full potential.  The plan for this kitchen remodel is to make it happier and brighter. I love using color and creating some drama, I want the kitchen to be a fun place to make dinner (not that I cook very well anyways.) My plan for the kitchen is to paint the walls bright lime green and repaint all the cabinetry in white. The reason I chose white was because all our appliances are white... so I wanted that connection through out. The only thing we need to replace right away is the old dishwashing machine (which in the next few pictures you can see we did!)

My inspirations for this area were some cute barn animal coffee mugs I bought... they kinda inspire me towards a country chic way... also the idea of a bowl of limes. I love limes. 

Below is my starting point:

Old dishwasher is ready to go!

YAY!!! Look how nice the new white and quieter dishwasher looks!

This particular piece of "furniture" actually came from an old KFC (also left by the previous owners)

I am ready to begin this project....

Project Bishop Remodel

My mom and dad are amazing DIYers and very artistic, so no wonder I have a knack for anything home improvement. Interior Design has always been one of my passions and for the first time I have a house that I can add my personal touch. As long as I have a smart plan lined out N is always on board.