Shining a light on Rub 'n Buff

As you know, we are moving.... which for me, means BLANK SLATE!  My, oh my...  To say I am excited about decorating our new digs is quite the understatement!  New walls to adorn, new colors to try... a whole new look for our new life, in a new city, in a new house! {{AHHH}}  

Momma is HAPPY!

It's also quite the undertaking and can get costly, which will make daddy UNhappy...

 so I am re-vamping as many things that we currently have to keep the budget to a minimum.  

In doing so, I'm trying things I've never done.  

Like using Rub n' Buff.  

I've seen several things on Pinterest where it's been used and I love the transformation, so I thought "eh..why not". 

My color palate is quite eclectic and I'm using lots of gold accents so I thought I'd try Rub n Buff's Gold leaf on my lamps.

I'm sure you're thinking I'm crazy.  These lamps are gorgeous the way they are.

I love these lamps.  I love the wood... I love the shape... I love everything about them...

But 

They need to work in my new space, so... I had to change em up a little.

 Let's get started.

 This is the BEST tool you can use for this product!

YOUR FINGER!

My first attempt was somewhat of a flop. I didn't know how to really use the product

... so it was clumpy. 

And let me tell ya.... a little goes a looooong way.

I was afraid of rubbing it off, so I didn't rub it enough. 

Ugh.  

I began rubbing it a little harder to see if I could rub the clumps off.  

And those areas did this...  

Which really looks pretty cool.  Happy accident for a new look..

 but it's distressed, and that's the opposite of what I'm going for. 

SO... What now??  What's a girl to do? 

SAND IT!  

Yup.  

I used 320 grit paper and voila!  

Smooth as a baby's butt and ready for a fresh coat of the Rub n Buff.

{Still... if you like distressed... this looks WAAY cool!}

I added a new coat and guess what?

It's smooth! 

I used a q-tip to get in the crevices.

This is only the first coat.  I will need two.  

You need to wait hourrsssss before you add another coat (another lesson learned).

Patience is golden.  (ba dom domp... pshhh)

Whatcha think?!  Once I get new shades (either black or emerald green), I think they'll be stunning!

  

But you'll have to wait until we're in the new house for that reveal  ;)

So go out and try something new! 

hugs,

k.

Spreadin the love:

seven-alive

Happy hour projects 

I have issues.. of the best kind!

Oh dear heavens... WHAT have I gotten myself into?!?  

I am literally coming out of my skin, I am so freakin excited!! BUT.  I am a Nervous Nelly!!  (have I mentioned I am a Gemini!! Not that I believe in all the hocus-pocus, but I def have 2 sides of me at odds all. the. flippin. time! I live in a constant state of indecisiveness! ... on the one hand.. blah! blah! blah!.. but on the other hand.. blah! blah! blah!  hahahaha)

Ok, so here's what all the excitement is about~

I. am decorating my brother's corporate apartment in NOLA next weekend.... SITE UNSEEN!  As in, I've never been to his apt. Ever.  Sure, I have a few random snap shots to go by my mother took, but no measurements, no layout... no nuthin! {And by apartment, I mean I am focusing primarily on the entryway, living room and kitchen}

With the exception of his style direction "New Orleans elegant grunge"... he has given me FULL REIGN!! I was told, and I quote, "do yo thang!"  Oh you bet I will, mister! Game ON!

He already has a couch and loveseat and I think a coffee table and end table ~ I'm not even sure! I do know his lamps are ghetto and frat looking so they'll be the first to get the ol' heave ho!

I have a $500 budget, which may sound like plenty.. but girlfriend!  It's pennies to a girl with champagne taste on a beer budget!  (I may have been accused of this on more than one occasion by more than one perosn! MAYBE~) 

So, I've shopped every Goodwill within a 10 mile radius (because as I've mentioned before.. I rarely venture out the "loop" alone!)  I have been fortunate and found some pretty cool stuff!  I've also been to a couple garage sales and gotten lucky!

I don't want to show you all the goods before hand because I think it'll loose its grandeur! {see how I'm building suspense and excitement!}  I will take photos of the finished room and walk you thru what I've done.

But just so you have an idea, and because maybe it's a teensey bit torturous to taunt you, here's what I've gotten so far....

A pair of louvered shutters (55" in height)~ which I will paint and distress with black chalk paint!

 An antique mirror ~ that's totally GORG and I soo wanna keep it for myself!!!

An iron mirror with scrollies

A column

A floor lamp

An iron Fleur de Leis

6 Black and gold frames to make a composition wall

A book with photos I will put in above mentioned frames

Tropical Greenery

3 pairs of candle sticks

Iron lanterns

A black "CAFE" sign

Baskets

Deep Blue "Velvet" drapes

Wall sconces

Shelves for the wall

An iron serving tray ~ which may or may not be hung on the wall ;)

I would like a rug, but that'll have to wait as the budget has been met and I will not purchase that item for a site un-seen project with no measurements! I ain't THAT ambitious OR talented, folks!!  

So are you as excited as I am?!  Gaahhh!!! 

hugs.

k

My junk store find!

A couple Saturdays ago, Big Daddy, Shelby and I went junking and Goodwilling around Austin. They have some really "unique" places, let's just say, and leave it at that! The tag phrase "Keep Austin weird".. they got it nailed down! ha ;) Anywhoo.. I came across this fun bamboo ottoman and knew immediately it would have a place in my home. AND it was only $10 bucks! Thankyouverymuch I'll take it!

So between wind gusts and rain.. I [spray] primed it.....  (I LOVE anything I can spray!  Instant gratification~ That's my middle name!)

Then I sprayed it the perfect shade of Pimento by Krylon to match the wicker chair in the cozy area Big Daddy usually sits with his iPad.  (we call her Paddy... she's his girlfriend. He spends lots of time with Paddy ;) heehee)

 

 Dont'cha love it!!  I do!  See, INSTANTLY GRATIFIED! :)

^^That's Big Daddy's chair.  He likes the new ottoman too!  Thanks junk store in Austin! 'Preciate it!

What are you workin on??


hugs,
k.

Somewhat Simple Linky Party

Project Queen Linky Party

Nothing wrong with a little teaser on a Sunday.....

Howdy y'all!!

So... the counter tops still need to be installed and "finished", and the faucet still needs to be replaced...  BUT... Because I am feeling a little generous today.... I thought I'd be nice and give you a little teaser with the cabinets and the sweet little chandy!!  (which happens to be the bomb diggity if you ask me!) 

Ok.. ready???









Now remember... it's ONLY a tease......

I am IN LOVE with how the plain blah white medallion turned out!  And my cutestsie little white and pink chandy is now scrumptiously sparkly bronze!!

I know what you're thinking.... "she did a sparkly bronze chandy with silver accents? Has she NO taste at all?!?!"  My answer is this..... TRUST ME!  It's going to all fit together and look spectacular once the counter tops are in place!  ;)   (but you still think I'm nuts, huh?!)

The ECLECTIC process begins...

Like many, well MOST, of you, I am addicted to Pinterest and Houzz! I am drawn to so many different styles, but the one that I keep going back to... the one that calls my name... is a sweet mix of Traditional Vintage Eclectic. I love everything about the old and the classic and the patterns and the pops of color and the sheer organized chaos of it! So as I looked around my house, I asked myself, "Self, if you love eclectic design so much... why in the world does your home not shout it?!" {not to worry. I didn't actually answer my self... well, not audibly anyway} ;)
Don't get me wrong. I have bits and pieces, here and there, of funky unexpected little things (for example.. I have the fun elevator sign at the stairs),



but it never seemed to be "just right".... so here's where I've started to change that. I dipped into my throw pillow stash (I have a sick obsession) and VOILA!!


My living room before.....

(My apologies... I am fully aware at how much my camera sucks!)


And the AFTER....



Can you even believe the luck in ALL my throw pillows working together so harmoniously?!?! I love, love, love it! ♥♥ NOW.... it's really time I get my rear in gear and find a new rug!
Ugh.... it never ends...... which leads me to another thought....

I am seriously considering renaming my blog "IF YOU GIVE KRISTY AN IDEA..." You know, after the book "If you give a mouse a cookie"... Because one thought ALWAYS leads to another... and another... and another.... :D hahaha :D


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