~thrifty thursday~{tortoise shell makeover}

I started with this bright shiny white tortoise shell from Nate Berkus at Target.

I wanted the end result to look like one

 of Restoration Hardwares tortoise shells.

I started with 2 coats of Annie Sloan paint in Coco.

Then I dry brushed on Behr's Swiss Coffee in random areas, going every which way.

When that was dry I used a combination of clear and dark wax, paying special attention to getting the dark in most of the crevices. 

I am really happy with how it turned out.

 It looks more realistic than the Target version I started out with.

I've had this kicking around my storage room for a while now so I am glad to be able to put it to use!

xoxo

~lately loving~

This watch from Daniel Wellington:

This slim bluetooth speaker:

These funky headphones:

This candle:

What are some of your favorites?

xoxo

~a few new things in our dining room~

I recently just scored at the Restoration Hardware Outlet.

I found these linen chair slips, regularly $279.00, marked down to $14.99!

Do you even know how fast I paid for those and bolted home to put them on my Ikea chairs?

Yep, they fit perfectly on my Ikea parsons chairs!

So naturally, the new dining chair slips made me want to have a sit down family dinner and make the dining room all pretty and clean. So here you have it, my clean dining room with my new linen slipcovers.

If inquiring minds want to know, the bowls are from Target.

You can find them here along with many other pretty colors!

xoxo

~how to paint a sign if you don't have a steady hand~

This is by far the easiest way to create a custom sign without having to use a skinny paintbrush, and you are allowed to have coffee while you do this project! No steady hands required!

Here is how I made this sign.

I started off with a $16 shadow box from Target.

I love the color of it and thought it would be perfect for this.

This is the exact one I used.

When you get the shadow box home, take it apart so you are just left with the frame.

Using the glass as a guide, cut a piece of mdf the same size.

The secret to the perfect lettering in this sign is these little re positionable letters from the office supply store. If you've been reading my blog a long time, you know that I use these letters for EVERYTHING.

Paint the piece of mdf {medium density fiberboard} black.

 If you want your wording to be a different color, use that color instead of black.

Let dry completely before moving on.

Decide what you want your sign to say.

I made 2, one says "our nest" and the other "home"

Before you start sticking them down you will want to lay them out and make sure the letters will fit on the piece of wood.

I measured and drew on some guidelines with a ruler and pencil just to make sure everything was centered before I put the stickers down.

Once your stickers are in place press down firmly to make sure there are no air bubbles.

Then put on 2 coats {letting each coat dry in between}

of cream colored paint on in thin layers.

Go right over the letters.

After the 2 coats are completely dry, use a sharp knife or razor blade to carefully peel off the stickers.

Pop it back into the shadow box frame and you are done.

These are so easy to make that you could make a whole stack of signs with different wording and just pop them in and out of the frame for different occasions!

xoxo

~Monday must haves~

Here are a few things I am loving right now!

{click on individual pictures to enlarge, or click on the bold words to take you to their page}

This charcoal knitted pouf from World Market:

These barstools are almost identical to the ones I have in my kitchen:

I just got this candle and it smells divine and will turn your whole house into spring instantly!

Love, love, love the scent of gardenia.

I just finished this book.

It's about a girls struggle to lose over 100 pounds and how she did it.

Even if you don't need to lose that much weight, it's a must read, I found it fascinating.

This shower curtain is on sale!

Hope you all are having a great Monday!

xoxo

~a stylist's fashionable home tour~

Meet my friend Tiffany.

She lives in West Seattle with her husband Kyle and their 8 year old twins Flynn and Lula James. 

Tiffany is a Stylist and Personal Shopper working with clients in NY, SF, LA, and Seattle. 

You can take a peek at her work right here.

All photography by Deb Achak. 

Are you ready for the fabulous tour?

Let's start with this fabulous kitchen:

The kitchen is painted C2 Shaker.

The floor is eco friendly Marmoleum. 

The refrigerator is a chalkboard that has their weekly schedule including meals {each family member gets to choose one week a meal}

Pendants are Serena and Lily.

Espresso machine is by rocket, and the sign by the refrigerator says, "stop worrying" and is torn from a photo book and placed in a vintage frame. 

The dining room:

Walls are high gloss Benjamin Moore Hale Navy.

The wave print is from Ikea.

The end chairs were purchased for $25 at Senior Center and painted a high gloss white and seats recovered in blue leopard.

The table used to be her husbands desk. She covered it in a white leather hyde and topped that with stamped glass with reverse painted gold and added gold tacks to hold it all together. 

The gold tassel bench is from a flea market.

The guest bedroom is where she takes all her blog photos.

Walls are Benjamin Moore Sky Blue.

The vanity is from a flea market and she recovered the seat with pink velvet.

The bed is a French made canopy from San Francisco with World Market drapes on all four sides. 

I love her living room.

Walls are painted Benjamin Moore Pink Bliss.

The piece above the mantle is a brass vintage light fixture sprayed white.

Flamingos are from Pacific Galleries 

{which if you live in this area, you know Pacific Galleries!}

The rolling ottoman Tiffany picked up at a garage sale and the chairs are from Ikea.

The pillows are all custom except the elephant, which is also from Pacific Galleries. 

The hide rug is from World Market. 

The blanket is vintage from Sand Point Idaho, and the gold table is from Target. 
{similar}

Green lamp was $25 at a flea market.

The large mirror is antique and the painting is done by her talented twin sister.

Her website is here. 

The vintage tribal breast plate from the 60's is from a garage sale in West Seattle and was only $25.00.
The silver pouf is from Target, similar here.

This stair runner is actually 3 Dash and Albert woven area rugs repurposed to make a runner.

The office was originally a mud room. The walls are raspberry {by Authentic Home} and inside of cabinets is painted matte grey.

{Dove Gray, Authentic Home}

The rug is from Pacific Galleries, as well as the chair.

The wooden elephant is from a flea market.

The twins room:

Beds from Craigslist, painted white.

Bedding from Target with assorted pillows.

Light is from Crate and Barrel, 
{similar here}
and the bedside table from a garage sale.

The master bedroom is my favorite!

Rugs are from Santa Fe. The dresser used to be painted metal and she stripped it. The antique end tables have their polished slate tops turned upside down to be chalkboards.

The purple lamps are from Pottery Barn and the walls are matte black, Benjamin Moore Baby Seal Black.

The hallway is painted Dove Gray with Ikea frames holding assorted photos and kids artwork.

And just for fun.....

Love, love, love this home.

In fact, I am totally obsessed. 

Thank you Tiffany for letting us all in!

xoxo