Project time

My goodness, the days and the weeks slip away!

I’ve got a few projects to share….

First up, I always find myself pinning pretty painted stairs on Pinterest.  Perhaps it is because I have pretty wood stairs in the main living area and know I would be fooling to mess around with what’s already nice.  Regardless, I love the look of painted runners and decided to have some fun on my cellar stairs.  After all, why not.  They were one heck of an eye sore and were in need of some loving anyways.  Six coats of paint, lots of patience and hours later and I’m happy to say that I’m pleased with the outcome.

For anyone considering tackling this DIY in the near future, be forewarned that this is not a job for perfectionists!  I started with three, yes THREE base coats of white.  I used some paint we had left over from another project.  After all coats were fully dry, I taped out my pattern using blue painters tape.  BAD idea!  Sadly the paint seeped underneath the tape and in taking the tape off, it peeled off my three base coats.  I applied three coats of the blue “runner” paint {ask for stair paint at your local paint store – it seems a bit more heavy duty… and a bit more expensive as well!}  While I was heart broken with result of the painters tape,  with some patience, a small paint brush and a bit of time, I fixed it up free hand and happy enough with the result.

Here are the before, (please excuse the grunge… The dingy gray is after being scrubbed twice!) during and after shots.

I also had some fun on the stairs that lead from the garage into the house… A much quicker project and one that didn’t stay clean for more than 5 minutes!

Mike thought I was crazy, the boys thought the “racing stripes” were pretty cool and I’m enjoying the fresh look.

 

I love, love, love repurposing and refinishing.  I would fill every free moment doing it and am so fortunate to be able to use an electric sander like crazy after my surgery (silly but my hands would be numb after a few minutes prior).  It feels like a waste to not have a fun project so last week I found this old, beat up bureau on consignment and loved the double hinges on the top drawers.  Do I need a bureau?  Not really but did it come home with me?  You betcha!  The poor kid that helped me load it into the CRV must have thought I was crazy. I had Jake with me and I had to take all three car seats out to make it work.  Luckily I was able to strap one car seat in safely for the little man but it was questionable for a minute whether he would have to ride on the roof.  Perhaps I should consider a truck when we’re in the market for a new car.  Do they make trucks with three rows for passengers or does that put me into the FULL sized van category?  Eek!  Not ready for that!'

Without further ado, here it is, fully sanded, stained and sealed.

And last but not least on the project list is our bathroom mirrors.  Months back I found some refurbished wood.  Large planks that again almost cost me Jake’s life but instead I drove down Route 91 with my back tail gate open.  Sorry, Mom, safety first!

This is our master bathroom.  A bit dated style wise but in good shape and totally livable.  Someday I’d love to put in new tile floors and countertops but they’re on the bottom of the wish list, likely to be forgotten!  So in the meantime, I washed and sanded the boards and recruited Mike’s help to make a frame for our mirror.  I love the large size and it’s completely functional but the frame gives it a more modern/rustic look and feel which is what I’m after.  I like cozy and this is a start!

One mirror down, one to go ……

What do you think?