Home Organization: Living Room Chapter 2

Continuing on my quest for a more organized and all-around more relaxing home, I hit the living room for the second time.  With the eastern side of the room cleaned up it was time to hit the western half. Since I had already picked up the toys and books, plus cleaned up the sofa - this side of the room was pretty well organized.  What it was lacking was any sense of style or personality - just like the east side of the room before the addition of the vibrant draperies which are intentionally rocking a high-water style and the throw pillows.

Since I moved the large map from the large wall to the mantle (which seems to work better) the wall is back to being a large blank wall.  I didn't tackle that bare space, but I did work on the wall to the right of the fireplace.

DIY // A Budget-Friendly Fireplace Update

We recently bought a fixer-upper and with most fixer-uppers there are both things you love and things you hate about it.  The fireplace is one thing I feel that way about.  I love it's potential, but am having a hard time living with the way it is right at this moment.  It is all brick, has copper trim and copper vent plates, a cast iron insert and then a tile hearth.  The top half is painted the same color as the walls (a cream color) and the bottom half is high-gloss white.  Absolutely nothing matches.

 Here is the photo that was included in the listing.  Not really my idea of a focal point.

Our plan is something similar to this:

We love the built in bookcase, the wood mantel and the two windows flanking the fireplace.  The addition of the windows would add so much natural light to our space, especially since this is a southern facing wall.  I just can't wait until it looks like this!  But there's just many other more pressing issues that we have to deal with first, so our dream fireplace has to wait.

Yesterday, while I was redoing another chalkboard (this time with white paint around the trim) I had a brilliant idea to paint the fireplace and I am so glad I did!  I used my Behr Polar Bear White in a satin lustre to paint the metal trim and vent cover and then did the rest of the brick.  I went in knowing that it is just a temporary fix, so wasn't too concerned with priming the metal beforehand.  There's still work to be done with the tiled/metal-trimmed hearth, but with the addition of a quick coat of a greige (with more emphasis on the beige) coat of paint on the walls, this quick little update has made all the difference.

So, what about you guys?  What areas of your home were eyesores before, but with a simple change has them looking a whole lot better?

DIY // A Simple Chalkboard Update

Here's a quick re-do project that took all of 5 mins (not including drying time.)

I snagged this small chalkboard at goodwill a few weeks back and gave it a quick update with some green paint around the frame.

It was still looking a little beat up, so I taped off the sides and gave it three coats of spray-on chalkboard paint to freshen up the surface.  Doesn't it look so much better?

What quick, little changes have you done that made all the difference?

DIY // How To Make a Personalized Tap Handle

Hey there, Vamps!

Merry Christmas!!  My hubs loves beer (as do I).  And he especially loves brewing beer (as I do not. Just can't shake the mess or the stink.  But, like I said.  I love the outcome.)  So, what to get a beer brewer that has everything shy of a commercial brewery?  A custom tap handle, of course.  Luckily, I had the art ready to go. Back a couple years ago my graphic designer friend, Kat, helped me create some beer labels for mine and the hub's first wedding anniversary.  (My sappy self stuck with the traditional paper gift.)

There was no way that I was going to pay a buttload to have someone make one, so I scoured ebay to find a used tap handle with a round face, so that I could easily transplant the label.  I found so many oval and random shaped handles that I was afraid I wouldn't find what I needed and then I saw it.  In all it's perfect round face glory.  And only $10!  I jumped on it faster than you can say zwickle.

It's a Redhook Brewery Chinook Copper Ale tap handle.  (Redhook is our old hometown brewery, which made it even more perfect. Even with the impending defacement.)

Supplies:

Step 1:  Tape off anything you don't want painted like the metal connector at the bottom.  Spray a light coat to avoid running. Repeat. I ended up spraying 4 coats of the chalkboard paint to each side of the tap handle.  (The chalkboard paint allows us to write whatever beer is on tap and change it as the brew changes.)

Supplies #2:

Step 2:  Print label, cut out and apply to tap handle.  I used mod-podge to adhere it.

Step 3:  Remove tape.  Attach to keg, drink and Enjoy! 

Now all we need is a kegerator.  Next project?

What about you guys?  What did you get/make for your someone special?