Monday 9 May 2011

I love Ikea... Sometimes

I bought a dresser from Ikea that I have had my eye on for some time.  Its simple, has lots of space, and of course, is pretty.  However, there was something that did bother me, and I couldn't figure it out.  It was when my best friend, Christina, purchased the exact dresser, that at the exact same moment we both blurted out "It needs crystal knobs".  Yes, I am obsessed with crystal knobs.  Its an amazing way to elevate to look of something that cost next to nothing.  So, we journeyed to the local Home Depot and purchased some knobs for $8 a piece.  I only replaced the top four knobs with crystal knobs and the rest I replaced with chrome knobs.  It was such an easy change to complete the look and feel of my bedroom.











This is what I think of when I should be working...

Back in November, I had a quarter life crisis and quit my career in Fashion only to go to a job where I answered the phone, took appointments and stared at a computer screen for 8 hours a day.  I hated life.  I have recently learned that my personality type does not get any satisfaction from a job, as such.  It now explains why it only took me two and a half month to lose my mind.  My thoughts would wonder and I would go to websites and come up with wild ideas for projects that I could do (ex: China hutch).  It also didn't help that I had a 32" flat screen TV beside my desk playing HGTV.

My mind was never stopping.  All I could think of were things that I can do with the house I was living in.  I was dissatisfied with my job and not at all happy with the house I was residing in.  I could only fix one... the house.  What I really wanted to do was gut out the whole place and renovate every inch of it, and maybe I would be happy.  Only, that required money which I had a lack of due to the recent decision to change careers.  Good one, Vanessa!  So, the impatient me had to learn that I cant have it all.  I would have to take baby steps.  The first thing that needed to change was the fire place.  Why, you ask?  I don't know.  Maybe because it was this grandeur part of the living room that needed to make a statement?  Or, maybe because it was only going to cost about $30 to do and I despised the mid 1990's renovations the previous owners completed?  I haven't decided, yet.

It really wasn't difficult to do, but it was a giant mess.  As I would spread the stain around with a t-shirt rag, the drops would fall on the plastic, that my feet would step on, which would then go all over the carpet.  So, needless to say, it wasn't as clean as I had anticipated.  The process overall wasn't challenging.  I would say the only thing that I was not excited about, was waiting for this gorgeous fire place to dry so I can spray the matte finish all over it.  It took a good 24 hours to dry, then I was able to place all the pretty, little trinkets on top of the mantel.  Et voilĂ !



Friday 6 May 2011

I might not be an actual princess, but it doesn't mean I shouldn't feel like one!

I will admit that I am absolutely jealous of Kate Middleton... Sometimes.  Do I want paparazzi following me all the time, all the eyes of the world watching my every move, or even the fate of a monarchy in my hands having to produce an heir to the thrown?  No, thank you!  However, I am envious of the fact that she will have the liberty to enjoy all the beautiful Victorian antique pieces, in Buckingham Palace.  Though, I may not live in the Buckingham Palace, I certainly can make an easy piece of furniture feel like it.

No, its not a Victorian era chair however, my inspiration came from that era by using a Demask jacquard fabric. It was a day I was wasting time at Fabric Land and came across this long roll of upholstery fabric.  It was $20 a meter, but wait!  Since I am a Fabric Land member, I reaped the reward of the exclusive offer of 50% for members only with additional 20% off!  Can't go wrong.  So I bought 4 meters of it.  I had no clue why I needed so much, but I needed it.  Who knows?  What if I had to have it everywhere in the house and when I went back to Fabric Land, it would be sold out?  I would be devastated.  I would have sleepless nights because all I would think about is how I should have bought 4 meters.  Did I mention that I am a little bit of a Shopaholic?

About 6 months later, I finally figured out what I wanted to use 1.5 meters out of the 4 meters for.  You see, I have this adorable vanity table from Ikea that needed an adorable chair to go with it.  I also had this boring chair from Ikea, I got for free, that I had a vision for.  I did at some point feel the need to throw out this blasĂ© chair, but in the back of my mind, this chair was destined for greatness.

One Saturday afternoon, in front of the TV, I worked away at making this chair fulfill the destiny it was meant to endeavor.  With some extra foam, a staple gun and my Sears sewing machine, it would be the story of the ugly duckling turning into the beautiful swan.  Now, every morning as I sit in my chair at the vanity, applying my make-up, I can close my eyes and imagine how it would feel to be Princess Kate in her Buckingham Palace.










Thursday 5 May 2011

One Mans Trash is Another Mans Treasure

Last summer, I gladly accepted my step moms china hutch she had no use for.  I honestly wasn't sure what I needed it for.  However, how could I pass up free furniture?  It wasn't long until I found amazing Kate Spade crystal wine glasses, bone white china tea set, and all the fun stuff to go in a hutch.  I now had a reason to need the hutch because where else was I going to put all my new pieces?

So over a period of a few months I still couldn't fall in love with the hutch.  All the crystal in the world could not make the hutch look any less than "I gladly accept free furniture".  But, I could never throw the hutch away.  Why would I?  Not only was it made out of solid Oak and free, it also represented a time when my step mom worked so hard for it.  She was a single mother, making ends meet working as a nurse in Fort McMurray, trying to provide a a great childhood for her son, and living pay cheque to pay cheque.  She saved every last penny to buy this hutch.  This hutch was staying with me.

I had to come up with an alternative to truly love this beautiful piece of furniture.  It wasn't until the dark, cold and gloomy winter we had, that it hit me.  Why couldn't I just stain it?  It was at that point that a wave of energy and creativity rushed through me.  I started doing research on stains and how much of a huge project I was going to take on.  Since there was a gloss finish on the wood, I would have to sand the whole entire hutch down.  I was getting impatient, already.  So I had to make some calls to local paint stores to see what tools I needed for this "I want to pull my hair out" project.  I called Benjamin Moore and spoke to a very  helpful woman, who told me of this miracle product to stain.  This miracle product you DON'T need to sand down anything.  Yes, I said it and I will repeat it.  You don't have to sand down anything.  It's called Saman.  An oil based formula, it dries fast and is odorless.  Perfect!

So away I started.  I took out all the glass, the doors and shelves then dipped my brush in the miracle stain and worked away.  I wont lie, it wasn't a 2 night after work project like I hoped.  It took a good week to finish.  The most frustrating part of the project were the doors.  They had contours and rivets that made it difficult to keep the stain even and not too heavy in some spots.

My end result was beautiful.  After all the glass was placed back, doors with updated hinges and knobs, and crystal wine glasses all in their places, it was breathe taking.  Now, my once "I gladly accept free furniture" was now a one of a kind that no one could ever have.