Before and After Party!

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7r_qaT3gRYg5bBU1Pa0BuN7K9gFth-rFV9ZeJoTJyjrjj6EOE0RXaXI46ut6sr8LnBQgjE015gifhFVURDxvC7HEAnBzX4bMVHiyIcEmHnpJFAJjxzkNIN1t_B_llsDd6kITjSGnvkFE/s1600-h/beforeafter.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378550007787686418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7r_qaT3gRYg5bBU1Pa0BuN7K9gFth-rFV9ZeJoTJyjrjj6EOE0RXaXI46ut6sr8LnBQgjE015gifhFVURDxvC7HEAnBzX4bMVHiyIcEmHnpJFAJjxzkNIN1t_B_llsDd6kITjSGnvkFE/s400/beforeafter.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 246px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a>If you've read this blog for one hot second, you know how much I lurve before and after pictures. I mean, I could just spend hours pouring over magazines full of just those pictures. I love to pick out both the big and teeny tiny changes that were made. Kind of like a Where's Waldo of decorating.<br /><div><br /></div><div>I have a whole tab of <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/search/label/before%20and%20after">before and afters</a>, but I thought I would share a before I've never shown you (the after you've seen). </div><br /><div></div><div>As I've mentioned before, our living room used to be one of my biggest decorating pain-in-the-rears. The ceilings are high, there aren't many walls in the space, and it was just overwhelming to deal with.</div><br /><div></div><div>I was decorating UP:</div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378541092449364930" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgYCx4EtZpBl8I-A3PWo5EdJ1VmX0uIUP_M9ghVXpCwuv_cZF9F2uE3JITFBujQtLbf-GZj1LIJ81pEL-sVdg5vtvBEH5WmZ5xuwPfjExi1jBHuCx6vOaGaqdVBAIuFJ1oVY5qPx2aA5w/s400/livingbefore2.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div><div>I got up on my tippy toes on an eight foot ladder to hang that stinkin' art up there. Yeah. Risked my life people! </div><br /><div></div><div>The little itty bitty shelves up the wall with the itty bitty accessories weren't helping anything. (In my defense, I had just put them up when I decided I was taking them down, so I never finished decorating them.) </div><br /><div></div><div>The light drapes were doing nothing for the space -- even though they were lined, you could only appreciate their pretty stripes at night:</div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378542270794031698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaFdeYjd2ArXL45u_-LxOfwisDB5yEwuE5_32DrGd5BO2Mbp-S8Cu56t6E60jARcaHHFjBQgiQsAZAJArlmSFI6lNEaY1nRUaRMhHimxjaCPacrYRExrtMDEl1rQqgqnTlA2Q1wik9o_g/s400/DSC00841.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div><div>Soon I understood the power of bringing it all down...I know I've said it a million times, but it makes such a huge difference! It instantly made the huge, tall room a cozy, warm space:</div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378541128361074930" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8_vZQmvbyfK8kim-G-GJLUEg-BTE4wnGCCUasXJJjG_vzhSuZiim68JqHvdKkXlPSZ_zxMOqnhkxrgEpBraIX8LSTzj_1sOdZeaDDWQQIfgNQy7uGFivIRd30M5ShqicoEiYvp5SBQE/s400/DSC01430.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div><div>A new, taller table, with taller accessories, chunky shelves (see previous post) and deep red drapes added the warmth I was looking for. And oh yeah, you don't have to tilt your head back to see the art. ;) </div><br /><div></div><div>Speaking of that art -- I wanted to show you another before and after I worked on last week. Did anyone recognize the art on my new shelves? (If not, just look at the before pic above.) I loved the poppy print, but the frame was a mess. I bought it on clearance and had to fill in all the scratches and dents with a Sharpie. It was just feeling dated to me. </div><div></div><br /><div>Sooooo...I decided to cut her up! I used my L ruler thingy (no clue what it's called) to make squares around the poppies:</div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378541105038648946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV7cJ8d1olvk9-9ikxh2uMDrLok_SpEy14ipGIyfIZpTLck6oBDENi2VDki7nFI-gTBUBJNjMXOavjEZEWFulLrPUX_XRpYCMS2VIoH5g_QcvRp4Wvtd71r56MQY67K59eTZyksIGIGnY/s400/DSC01401.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div><div>And my big bad self used the jigsaw to cut them out! And when my arms and hands stopped jiggling, I touched up the sides with some black paint and they turned out like this:</div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378541115489803394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiha2rRzBhSDOgLvSTpuI0vuNcwAvsi4z2ZGbucSQH1T01VjigL6C1TxJz0EzpvtnOFeJCYyhBVFqIm11A01SxRk63REn-DlKEcu-J4CvfddDtChn5vE-ZKSdAdA6USGNBmiE0-J0Xup7A/s400/DSC01419.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378541136270296642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7dnZIIdnkKv0BkXrLNTNTJX6IyeoCt86UlxLl7ayLLUQgAmzwUnKh_HVUDHI82DygwWBjDW5pjCNlt1qyg5Ay-upVnjmcFPKAkzpENiVSuOc7JvkVzpfUcAjggJPduYD9bIGFz0XsQc/s400/DSC01413.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbI0_WrF1FeD7jhyphenhyphenzLODsddplhl3EmLStvbrBnSQnIemJ_B2F5VDPqsGpktRf2-fec_ILVmPsb8T080R_a7roLzsEzVtLmwqUSc3XTbtvAkjHRyzeLItmcRm2rHQ1WLqqxc42nwYJS5dA/s1600-h/28375_0_4-2770-traditional-powder-room.jpg"></a>Lurve!! They are so super cool, I just love them. And they were FREE! </div><br /><div></div><div>This weekend, I worked on taking this before: <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378549511932668610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgydvHiWavixA6T2uvrrLMMx0sg5ekJamTvYz2Fc24kK-ZMFG313mDxPFBIVHnXkVobs1b-WvaHg1RTeerqZD8SUbTQVXefb3tSMTnuzwt_iqIY8rYdch1JGEa5S0_gbwdr8dI3DglMRPc/s400/DSC00991.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />Into a super cool, sexy, warm <em>after</em>. I can't wait to show you!! I'm so stinkin' excited about this room. Yippeeee!!</div><br /><p>So now, share your befores and afters!! It can be anything you repurposed. Or a room redo. Or a messy closet decrapified. Anything! The ONLY rule is you must have a before picture! Because seriously, that's half the fun. </p><p>Remember to insert the link to your POST, not your blog. I will have to delete links to blogs, and I hate being the meany. Have a great Labor Day and enjoy!<br /><br />(I'm trying out a new Linky. Please, dear God, let it work!!)</p><p></p><br /><br /><script src="http://www.mcklinky.com/linky_include_basic.asp?id=5090" type="text/javascript"></script>

Before and After Party!

If you've read this blog for one hot second, you know how much I lurve before and after pictures. I mean, I could just spend hours pouri...

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Inspired by Ballard Designs again!

So you remember this <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/07/when-fab-happens-by-accident-and-for.html">cutie little table</a> I <strike>picked up</strike> made my sister get from the neighbor's trash? Yeah, she still takes a lot of credit for this beaut:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzinXC1Et4L_GY-97oVtp-bmw0PV1tRX9eUKXtLGksgH0Bc_AXlyLrdsIYUZpYUrQ9-Zbk8s-i30aes4fbLoUF3Q465TP7lURnVBnCtO2bZnfpKSS11-zSuRLPt4Md1njotDnJ9ZMbFuE/s1600-h/DSC00819.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377433623022852434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzinXC1Et4L_GY-97oVtp-bmw0PV1tRX9eUKXtLGksgH0Bc_AXlyLrdsIYUZpYUrQ9-Zbk8s-i30aes4fbLoUF3Q465TP7lURnVBnCtO2bZnfpKSS11-zSuRLPt4Md1njotDnJ9ZMbFuE/s400/DSC00819.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a>I mentioned then I had a Ballard project in mind for above this table to replace the art I had on the wall. I saw these in the catalog the day before I finished up that table and knew they MUST BE MINE:<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377434561571722002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUe9cRIwkCjDDGIRc-aqJlsp7fyAYzWcDInlozfXUjKEG0YahqbM8pDVmD3KApVWXDVX-_9dPkELftzDHkTq08LW4GOCQ_4rwy0Ks4qoeTb9pvZ5cuLlC_vWp7JhhC2h6iEUjX2fCUB4/s400/WS340_A_BK193.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 369px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 369px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />I knew as soon as I saw them they would be perfect for that wall, and I also knew they would be easy and cheap to do on my own. I like easy and cheap.<br /><br />I've had the materials for this project for ohhh...ummm...a MONTH, maybe more? And then I saw <a href="http://beneathmyheart.blogspot.com/2009/08/cafe-shelves.html">Traci</a> had done them as well and that was the inspiration I needed to get my booty movin'.<br /><br />I started with my main materials -- I used eight inch wide boards and chair rail for the trim around the shelf:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmx_RdZxR7lNu7GyI9Ienpr8nlLjhQgnHHF5Hfq6GU5P8scudFKostqZd1R4XAqm1jjtk7i9HrvTykmCOwpv_mREP86VH3n9087bi3JLLR27Zsyfb_mjJl9gRiWp5CwGKqr1ZSyY-kGbw/s1600-h/DSC01392.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377433172164327426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmx_RdZxR7lNu7GyI9Ienpr8nlLjhQgnHHF5Hfq6GU5P8scudFKostqZd1R4XAqm1jjtk7i9HrvTykmCOwpv_mREP86VH3n9087bi3JLLR27Zsyfb_mjJl9gRiWp5CwGKqr1ZSyY-kGbw/s400/DSC01392.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> My table is only two feet wide, so I wanted them to be a bit smaller and got them cut at 19" long. The piece of wood was less than $4.<br /><br />I started measuring and cutting the trim to figure out the cuts:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCCZF31ZKvdZWmVhM90srsE66mwqzU1pc9SG4k8MXPMKJNcEPHYHZVPVKn4HGs4nkJF-p8ZmUXHcgWaFGntD1eOIeQei5T1xXEaIMm2DV8rU_PgR2-x18FFOg3O0UFER_8ILT8rrFLQYo/s1600-h/DSC01395.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377433161130266370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCCZF31ZKvdZWmVhM90srsE66mwqzU1pc9SG4k8MXPMKJNcEPHYHZVPVKn4HGs4nkJF-p8ZmUXHcgWaFGntD1eOIeQei5T1xXEaIMm2DV8rU_PgR2-x18FFOg3O0UFER_8ILT8rrFLQYo/s400/DSC01395.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> At first I was using my miter box, and then remembered I AM WOMAN and went right for the compound miter saw instead. Either way works! <div></div><div><br />The next step was to yell a bit, (maybe) cuss a little, and stomp my feet because I measured wrong and ended up running out of my trim. Instead of another trip to Lowe's (it was nap time so I was stuck anyway), I used some trim I had already purchased for another project.</div><div></div><div><br />You have to cut the trim at a 45 degree angle so they meet up at the corners. I used my nail gun to attach them but you can easily use finishing nails:<br /></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377432908041643442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihuRhlIEvbsl4VwyC8KJpWDTT1oH1wrlDf-5ZkSPVMKtaglQO5dVW2dn-U2H92A0gJn5NZXT5XflD_Fdt4qjajCxi-sj8ISowCw2rT9S7GdCaY5sa5ex2deKxT-R2dEaPQxYYm7dGslw4/s400/DSC01400.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />Isn't that trim GORG?<br /><br />When done, this is what you'll get:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTeft-iwdRoViOUmHWwF6QHhgNia4fbkL7ilkTJBqk4ZeFnbgPKGuHM4u0K-r9xGU7XVPs0NzXHalYsPJdh76ob2r6ZQi9XsPTvCfDdJSwUQ4E76muRMu0QRXbDbw5IvMjTug9p8mCbSo/s1600-h/DSC01396.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377432944186456418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTeft-iwdRoViOUmHWwF6QHhgNia4fbkL7ilkTJBqk4ZeFnbgPKGuHM4u0K-r9xGU7XVPs0NzXHalYsPJdh76ob2r6ZQi9XsPTvCfDdJSwUQ4E76muRMu0QRXbDbw5IvMjTug9p8mCbSo/s400/DSC01396.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> I got my corbels from Home Depot -- they have a much better selection than Lowe's. I got my corbels for the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/05/beadboard-kitchen-island.html">kitchen island </a>from there too. </div><div></div><div><br />To install them, I measured where I wanted them each to go underneath:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQu5wkTn3PSPhlGEvySq0Wqze5oQ1AwtDQ7z8iIAowSTFPWrWrSLQhjoT42igVSEoiUy56ENidrs9FKxzkPS9l4-vXL0YMJx3dbWXl8WVM5VW-J9tvYRsXFj5vDyoPNs2NjcBh7Cmksw/s1600-h/DSC01397.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377432935652392162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQu5wkTn3PSPhlGEvySq0Wqze5oQ1AwtDQ7z8iIAowSTFPWrWrSLQhjoT42igVSEoiUy56ENidrs9FKxzkPS9l4-vXL0YMJx3dbWXl8WVM5VW-J9tvYRsXFj5vDyoPNs2NjcBh7Cmksw/s400/DSC01397.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> Then used heavy duty glue to put them on:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkPC83NH1gm5BXbSqWd90J7dbpA10hUNp8WAWK6m66vLtFRMV1t271SrtR4rT3c3ej365R8Fr1P34w2peMloND_orrI8mcAahI5FcLukc5KfqLcZaDCZqOVNbOC73KG742AYDrCNKAcM/s1600-h/DSC01399.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377432920803646978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkPC83NH1gm5BXbSqWd90J7dbpA10hUNp8WAWK6m66vLtFRMV1t271SrtR4rT3c3ej365R8Fr1P34w2peMloND_orrI8mcAahI5FcLukc5KfqLcZaDCZqOVNbOC73KG742AYDrCNKAcM/s400/DSC01399.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> I popped in a few nails to secure them while the glue set, but again, this is not necessary. </div><div></div><div><br />I chose big, fat corbels cause I like 'em big. I like 'em chunky. (Just like <a href="http://olderandwisor.blogspot.com/2009/08/i-like-em-big-i-like-em-chunky.html">Rebecca</a> does. Oh yeah.)<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdm-8RB7LjEUjV5-lIhLZ23T25k5nZj5PuoUpvTzF6qwIgZ12lYOetfVyxfxio-OdGQ0pQTcz0ClP9FAm5Sm_FP7OSyGs4xoLg3p-YQ49Vcd3ip-5m_zQKTlzRJqgDno5sFULLG0u844E/s1600-h/DSC01398.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377432913610607026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdm-8RB7LjEUjV5-lIhLZ23T25k5nZj5PuoUpvTzF6qwIgZ12lYOetfVyxfxio-OdGQ0pQTcz0ClP9FAm5Sm_FP7OSyGs4xoLg3p-YQ49Vcd3ip-5m_zQKTlzRJqgDno5sFULLG0u844E/s400/DSC01398.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> Then I used my one dollar glossy black spray paint and sprayed them within an inch of their lives:<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377432297626706834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhseUrDgpJ4S9rsT4uTsY7LIz9rqb16QQyVvTntG7PqVZn5QkR5BnRpjQwDr8lVtwqWElyUjmibFDhYk_bBsTnrBpp_oA7PlQfsgvvMBxoVF69uzyWH9kmkrnlbqXjabNkCuogBhEXzcKg/s400/DSC01417.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWbl8D5fqrMYghn3sW2o-tGp44W8sxnT2sYqO1xc8Zvt7kyIzh-I8aEfx0SvN4n31Dj4ISOyTKMDP2WFo8tkGxmEoVgAMCbOWvBlbQmx190K4-0gs0pp5ShSqY6z7x6hT5EdfLm3Objek/s1600-h/DSC01413.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377432307086257682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWbl8D5fqrMYghn3sW2o-tGp44W8sxnT2sYqO1xc8Zvt7kyIzh-I8aEfx0SvN4n31Dj4ISOyTKMDP2WFo8tkGxmEoVgAMCbOWvBlbQmx190K4-0gs0pp5ShSqY6z7x6hT5EdfLm3Objek/s400/DSC01413.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a></div><div>It took me a whole day to accessorize them to my liking but I think I'm finally happy:</div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NVcJrReTBzl3r8JrC7dWsVSt8nrEcY-dFkxIBhKfA7hta78RyRIi5F6cYCEt0a-IRDz0DxN1HXUihetNxHXcJOtXuoVRFUtgLKf_sHfVggks_aSNpijXByO0cTJP00sqERJSdTs8iNc/s1600-h/DSC01425.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377432278081654466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NVcJrReTBzl3r8JrC7dWsVSt8nrEcY-dFkxIBhKfA7hta78RyRIi5F6cYCEt0a-IRDz0DxN1HXUihetNxHXcJOtXuoVRFUtgLKf_sHfVggks_aSNpijXByO0cTJP00sqERJSdTs8iNc/s400/DSC01425.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> WAIT. </div><div></div><div><em>Now</em> I'm happy:<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377432285771478530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaiZ-GMTSk4FKhJH1of6ed5vI7ERUZtal1YvfSnQx32XWy-S7LSOayLS-FWCQVglsVj-bK0QPPXGQUIhA1oviEW90bTVZTsfnHOiIKLsCqGcn1vRuuyO8xFnaH6Ipbbj8Q36Per5dXD7Y/s400/DSC01430.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />The lamp cord is (mostly) covered. I can breathe. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p>We don't have a ton of surfaces for accessories -- I mean, I have plenty, but I always wanted something else to spruce up, especially during the holidays. These will be so fun to experiment with! </p><p>Because I got the big and chunky corbels ($9 each) the whole project was about $48. If you use smaller corbels, you could get this done for less than $40 easy. Oh yeah, did I mention Ballard's version is $80 for ONE of the smallest shelves? <em>Ummmmkay.</em></p><p>Accessorizing is something I struggle with -- it takes me awhile to get the tchotchkes how I want them. Later this weekend I'll show you the process I went through with these shelves and a few tricks I've learned along the way. </p><p>Oh yeah, and next week, to celebrate my one meeeeeeeeeeeeellionth "hit" I'm going to share everything I have learned about blogging. I get so many questions asking for advice and I think this will be a helpful post. To celebrate, I have a small giveaway for one of you as well. :)</p><p>Have a great Labor Day weekend!</p><p>Update! Traci gave a great tutorial <a href="http://beneathmyheart.blogspot.com/2009/08/cafe-shelves.html">here</a>! And Jen did one <a href="http://justforrachelinalabama.blogspot.com/2009/09/home-made-shelf.html">here</a> too!! FAB! I love seeing all these miter boxes out there!!</p>

Inspired by Ballard Designs again!

So you remember this cutie little table I picked up made my sister get from the neighbor's trash? Yeah, she still takes a lot of credi...

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What have I done in a year?

Well, I know. Plenty. But there are certain projects I have been meaning to tackle for at least a year now, and I haven't yet. Some are because they cost more than I want to spend, most I blame on my complete and utter inability to focus on one project at a time.<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>First, to get what I'm saying here, you need to go read this post if you haven't already -- <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2008/10/i-dont-heart-you.html">I don't heart you</a>. Go ahead. I'll wait.<br /></div><div align="center">Taps fingers. </div><br /><div align="center">Looks at watch.<br /></div><br /><div align="left">Umkay, done? So I have a serious aversion to the brass in our house. I really, really do not like it, not at all. Even so, I have gotten rid of very little brass around here.</div><br /><div align="left">These are still around:<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376594779733758946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxinf_qyAk0IOyv_wBUQ3l1RsLW0b66wsxsLrPS9m0MwgExtSO0INiKuGKo9aJgdylyVJBRjzp-y4t6sd5xWXSEZzIZdTYs3AnATyLm7BtQcbDHLi3x1gVi5RME1lAcnYrWsr423KlAlA/s400/DSC05524.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" />And a couple of these:<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376597530333595074" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElRhBbjWgM9m9TEC1-vohhG9ONma8adt7RzDVpMYhFPnGjMnA_sRUgwBhHJMSNBDa3rawVOv0REmvc_Yi8Bu9HvIpPQ1BkeyYE8im0SurL1FVViiKpA7sgJjTBC6hQMlaDCXAKboGJVU/s400/untitled.bmp" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /> They are high, so nobody sees them. That's what I keep telling myself. </div><br /><div align="left">I have spray painted these though:<br /></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376594239453417570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMV9wBXSwYfoXdtde5xf2PEab2rEub8pVz3Vo8jTO3nSBx_KpnE_3zRe8upt9K3PUv0fR_hzCTLhKb1OCgt7C5tWY6UNv20Y4AEuO1AjOsZQiJA95ID0w9Uqp6K-UcS7FHF7WcQlraexM/s400/DSC05561.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" />I figured out a while ago you can just pop them off, but we do like having them there:<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376603191225785682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ZENncEK8-1U21BNbRPjbiZf2-A65ndqg0lRo0J-VitZ7f8CnoZSE90GiHprVuL7k4aiq8Ljg7OLl1qJ45StD6hvqNVuP2HcxCut_ONabJlb0h6D10RZFM9Jquz7nOU7M31FeSMTwCQw/s400/DSC01385.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" />YES I know they look <em>just like</em> the vents, and you can barely see them. I know that now, I didn't realize when I was spray painting them. Gah. And I didn't use high heat spray paint, (it's oil-rubbed bronze) so we may have take them off when we light the fireplaces anyway. I was just so anxious to get rid of some of the BRASS.<br /><br />I spray painted some of these too:<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376603163581367938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZsnIx7CMv6vo03YNYVRuErPpZS-t0LRKDo_ZjEMcK0byvzVfOjyj48oZWBCklxN7u1P90xxeIa4uhWt4OX6hVw2kGnElUUvXjFxTbO9D_VUbzs5DD_B0U90FsQezH4QM6eNEPOeh8ZI/s400/DSC00916.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></div><div><div align="left">And now they look like this:<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376607496559705138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSByWpsw8SyEz4NjeX-DnDZN-pz5vLyIqv-2DV7gzOqpSet-OI_zSN251_GIzceJPIq1vZr9-EBbcjJkOajCFYvTy-J0aGPXlyu8fmfPG70AAqsC0JlfAuQmWCQeawskQYMvrqGr2SNgw/s400/DSC01390.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" />LURVE!</div><br /><div align="left">I'm a freakedy freak and hated the light in our master closet. It was boring and didn't put out much light.<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376594256097271506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihsctqBYmNQyj2VoL0d9JFxA_waFP8y0iGQP1em1XeFWNT-_8R3cgiy_Z2O1I-XyqZZ0WdolnalRC17xKMYfkvIDNHJvM1Ds6n_v1UCGUa7YBmcjSpQqD-FsWYtDsHbpA9f6H_lsquEAU/s400/DSC05559.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" />So I did replace that and love it!<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376603204736993138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPPRYY5KSYPyWQAhkKa7PATR7PM7onDLMk9Qw9M3LF4FkR8TYOw8h7QBTpfFvFGsj2_Z8-zOg7KTPktr-oj9XBxs7RESdhoRdtyorZyVUtKiB-CDsAu8fJt2hAs20QHAPxfOFnsjXoeE/s400/DSC01388.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 333px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" />It was less than $30, not a bad price to pay to actually <em>see </em>our clothing. </div><br />Not ONE of these has been changed out:<br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376594250330564466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJYwZvfwWDjEQ81TgvZV6r847dBk14RoJQVosHIEjNTWYDaoGfWFGZuBsExm7AXza4v9JrR50yP3Q8Cq3FTNv4omYDVL92tL8pYrNqO4T41qcSu4-p-x9Wr2YrAKMLDUTyTqW6CVi98A/s400/DSC05560.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" />This is my final frontier -- I hear it's fairly easy to change out faucets but I haven't attempted it myself. But I will. <em>Oh yes. I will.</em><br /><br />I showed you this <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2008/11/somebody-stop-me.html">cutie little desk</a> almost a year ago:<br /></div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-FN-GqZFPE9TfjriY6uDN6i1-Js-uguZDf3JnIKQZz5R3o02J_bexftH2mRMvuLWhh-k_fM_lZ7OHiznC8lyQABFUx0aU6VjK0m1ZshEJ8UBlwhoOtot7WqmvfW2Jxdn9bMeVmrujno/s1600-h/DSC06135.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376594231627119778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-FN-GqZFPE9TfjriY6uDN6i1-Js-uguZDf3JnIKQZz5R3o02J_bexftH2mRMvuLWhh-k_fM_lZ7OHiznC8lyQABFUx0aU6VjK0m1ZshEJ8UBlwhoOtot7WqmvfW2Jxdn9bMeVmrujno/s400/DSC06135.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 282px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>I got it at a barn sale and it was only $15! It only took ten months (TEN MONTHS) but I finally redid it. I sanded it down and spray painted the whole thing with the extra paint I used on our <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/07/details-of-deck.html">deck planters</a>:<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376594788339720626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmgCGdSchATeI2T0sGeyRpMmzdOOkLrxjgvv4rVAq7r17DJbAg8AA3UwFH0Zue5-4grMbEHrlLNWIT9jKwDTre_wIbQLI_FunLZn1i4UkHrOa46I3rcpbQ-UURaD7rMVXVMP2Oar7NTw/s400/28367_0_4-4904-traditional-family-room.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></div><div>I hope to use this color in his big boy room, so eventually the desk will be in there. I added his name to the back of the chair with stickers (that blur is his name) and I am just thrilled with how it all turned out:</div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376610551638011938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwtqGzEYQVSo3LLbCXH_BfGxSdvqeR_YwDVf-IkuJBD4a7EU-7HJnS9MGriVfdJ1QP-8Wyxik1h_Zu83vwmT-ZB-jmLFOb0biS14w7i-HkP70ht15QxAEauONCCSGEbgBgn_TkjgAhtLk/s400/photo_2_e7c69371fcc1fbb23e946aca77abc916.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 302px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" />LOVE it!! I don't think it's antique but it is nice and used (maybe from the sixties?) I love all the dents and marks in it:<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376603180177699970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI2qoP5TrNJRysi18_6Pi9kzSIwdc_F5jmBjZ6tTlg0ysKARZcay5Yt7WfQVMoEXsFDopD1f9dJTVrk7DpBB2IOAABgguP9NJWFG-drgcdUMyGZv6MQ85TvUe1J7pOoWWdh8rc5QzZ0Lc/s400/DSC01383.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" />Best part is our son really uses it! :)</div><div></div><div><br />You may remember how excited I was about this...uhhhh...<em>thing </em>last fall:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVqBPWFspipToKvi6HnXGE4nKGmOt-eWfhz5fJBvg-rddUYfytNIUqoF7ZtFKqIWeKFR9WGpfsgO8Ry34Okld2N26vOiykiq1Mz2PsorT6ulb-aFfrJxpGL5lLHQMvvBFujUZV_mSWHQ/s1600-h/DSC06151.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376594224077076258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVqBPWFspipToKvi6HnXGE4nKGmOt-eWfhz5fJBvg-rddUYfytNIUqoF7ZtFKqIWeKFR9WGpfsgO8Ry34Okld2N26vOiykiq1Mz2PsorT6ulb-aFfrJxpGL5lLHQMvvBFujUZV_mSWHQ/s400/DSC06151.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> I can't even tell you how excited I was to get it! I had such high hopes. Uhhhh...let's just say it was a big, huge, massive <strong>FAIL</strong>. Yikes. I mean, it was <em>bad</em>. I ended up tossing the whole thing. Even the lights didn't work. </div><br />They can't all go right, you know?<br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>

What have I done in a year?

Well, I know. Plenty. But there are certain projects I have been meaning to tackle for at least a year now, and I haven't yet. Some are ...

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