Friday Favorite Finds

I have been "window shopping" for sometime now looking for new furniture. But, I need to wait until we sell and buy a new home. I don't want to buy anything until I know what our new space looks like. I am patiently (Ha!) waiting until we sell ours first.

I found these and LOVE them. Just wanted to share. Maybe posting them will bring me some good karma so we can sell, sell sell!

The green leather chair is from Crate & Barrel. The other two fabulous pieces are from Jordan's Furniture. I love them, so they are my Friday Favorite pick!

(I welcome any good thoughts and good vibes sent our way on selling our home!)

Happy Friday,
~MB
http://www.addressingspaces.com/
Bringing new life to your decor and more
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It's DIY Day - Charity Style

Photos of my completed room...with DIY projects sprinkled throughout! Read on for specific project details!

In honor of a Soft Place to Land's DIY Day, I decided to post about my personal favorite DIY project. It was a big one. I have blogged about it before in bits and pieces. But for those of you that are new followers, you may not have read about it. Plus, it is a good cause and worth talking about and it fits into my "Transformation Thursday Post Theme!"

I just signed up to defend my title at the Habitat Restore Spaces charity event. I won two awards last year. One was the Judge's Choice Award which was handpicked by a panel of judges, the Mayor of Winston Salem being one of them. I thought that was pretty cool! The second award was the People's Choice Award. People voted on my room by putting money in the ballot box. The box with the most money won the award. The money went to Habitat for Humanity. A clever and charitable voting system!

The event is to raise money and awareness for our local Habitat for Humanity and their Restore. Designers compete to show their skills and talent by decorating a space at the Restore. We shop the Restore and reuse, repurpose and refinish to create a showcase room.

What the Designers are given...prepare yourself for some down and dirty DIY !

The room starts with just three blank plywood walls.

Access to all the furniture and donations at the Habitat Restore. (google Habitat Restore to see if there is one near you...treasure's a plenty!)

This is a photo of a secretary desk I found at the Restore before I refinished it.

This is a photo of a secretary desk after I refinished it. It took some serious DIY!

A chair that had great lines, before I refinished and reupholstered it.

A few more DIY projects, the chair after I fixed it, a table painted and stenciled, more of my $3 cabinet door wall art, and a stenciled lamp shade.

Here is what my blank walls looked like before some DIY magic.

A few weeks leading up to the event to paint, scrape, sand, reupholster, etc.

An old radiator cover before I refinished and repurposed it into the sideboard table below.

More DIY fun: A photo of the old radiator cover after, glass vases spray painted for unity and pops of color, a serving tray made from a cabinet door, $3 cabinet door wall art & a "gum tree" turned accent piece

A fire place I refinished with paint and an antique glaze. Can you find the ugly old vanity light that I repurposed into a tea light candle holder?? (Hint, it is on the mantel!) Do you see the half of a gumdrop tree glued to a mirror for effect and more $3 cabinet door wall art?

It is decorating DIY at its best and such a friend, friendly competition between designers. It is kind of like the "White Wall" Competition on Design Star. When I won, I felt like a real design star.

The cool thing is that all of the designers DIY efforts help to raise thousands of dollars for Habitat for Humanity. That money goes towards building houses in our community for less fortunate. Everything that we refinish for our room is available for sale to the general public. Pretty cool huh?

I just confirmed my spot for this years Charity Event on October 23rd to defend my title. You should see if they do something similar in your area. It is a win-win for all parties involved!

Happy Thursday,
~MB
www.addressingspaces.com
Bringing new life to your decor and more
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Find more fun DIY projects at A Soft Place to Land...like I said, it is DIY Day!

Color Me Happy

Well, color me happy!

This photo does just that for me. I took it while on vacation at Cape Cod this summer. It is just so bright and cheery! These kayaks were just screamin' at me to take a photo. Love it.

Happy Wednesday,
~MB
www.addressingspaces.com
Bringing new life to your decor and more
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Think outside the towel rack

Here is a quick decorating trick for my Hot Tip Tuesday post. Instead of traditional towel racks, think outside the box a little. Or maybe not so far outside the box in this case. This is a tin planter box that I found and loved. The smokey grey color was perfect for the color palette in this powder room.


I often use decorative planters to store and display my towels in my bathrooms. I always like to add an element of surprise to my decorating and I think this does just that. It falls into the realm of what I call "Conversation Piece Decorating". And, the beauty of it is that you don't need a green thumb to do it! Works for me!




What do you think??

Happy Tuesday,
~MB
www.addressingspaces.com
Bringing new life to your decor and more
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Time Out - For me or the kids?

There are some days I think I need to put myself in Time Out for a bit. But, this ensemble was made for my cute little buggers on those not so cute days. I bought the unfinished chair from a craft store and painted it to match the color scheme in my house. I love black furniture.

I didn't want the chair to say "time out" so I made a mat to go under it instead. It is a vinyl floor remnant that I primed and painted on the backside. They make GREAT floor canvases. I prefer them over traditional canvas because they lay flat and don't crack or crease. I finished with a few coats of sealer on both to protect them from wear and tear.

Ta dah! One decorative little Time Out area where my kids can regroup and reflect, and Mommy can catch her breath!

Happy Monday,
~MB
www.addressingspaces.com
Bringing new life to your decor and more
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Join the DIY Day fun at Soft Place to Land

Staging Transformation

Kitchen BEFORE the transformation

Here are some photos of a kitchen transformation. This was for a lovely client who has relocated out of state. She left the furnishings but needed to accessorize and decorate the home to sell quickly. We chose a pleasing color palette which was the first step in the transformation process. It really makes the home feel warm and welcoming immediately as you enter.

Kitchen AFTER the transformation

The clients friend had loaned her artwork to help fill the space but the colors weren't right. They felt dated. We replaced them with two pieces that coordinated with the new color scheme. They also complemented the wood tone of the kitchen table.

Kitchen eat-in area BEFORE the transformation

Staging to sell verses staging to dwell are two totally different things. We wanted to keep it simple yet pleasing to the eye. We achieved that by adding a little color to the dine-in area with a bowl of faux pears. I loved the wood bowl for the texture and the pears added just enough pop of color to bring life to the space. These were simple changes that made a big difference.

Kitchen eat-in area AFTER the transformation

I shopped for all of the accessories specifically for this space. The client opted to purchase all of the decor instead of renting it. I shopped for items I thought she would love and could use in her new place! More photos of the rest of the staging transformation to come.

My clients will meet with her realtor on Sunday to put her home on the market. Kudos to her for putting her best foot forward by staging her home to sell and outshine her competition. The MLS listing photos will now look great for online first impressions from potential buyers. And, those that view the property first hand will be drawn to the newly transformed, warm and welcoming home!

Happy transformations,
~MB
www.addressingspaces.com
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Wordless Wednesday - Ptthhhh!!!

Yes, I know it is Thursday and I am posting as Wordless Wednesday. I went to publish my original post yesterday and my internet went down. Arg. I just got it back up and was feeling a little sassy today. So, this great photo that I captured at the zoo is directed at my internet. Me and the giraffe are sticking my tongue out at the internet. Ptthhh!

Happy Wednesday,
~MB
www.addressingspaces.com
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Hot Tip Tuesday - Summer Fun Crafts, As Seen on TV

My Hot Tip Tuesday is chock full of ideas for summer fun crafts for kids. Today, I was one of 5 "Smarty Moms" representing www.triadsmartypants.com on Fox 8 TV. We all demonstrated a project you can do with your kids this summer to keep them from getting bored. It was a ton of fun, but man, my 3 minutes sure flew by! We were interviewed by news reporter Shannon Smith Priddy, who was also a featured Smarty Mom (pictured above right). Check out her Bio. She is fantastic to work with and is a Supermom of two herself! BTW, she has a 9 month old, doesn't she look fabulous!?! You can check out my "Smarty Mom Profile" too.

As promised, here are my step by step instructions on how to make your own decorative coasters.

Addressing Spaces

Down Home DIY Decorative Coasters

Created by Marybeth Barrett

www.addressingspaces.com

Project Difficulty: Easy Peasy

Supplies

Four Ceramic Tile Coasters – 4”x4” in a neutral, light tone

Decoupage Glue – I use Mod Podge

Decorative Paper

16 small felt or cork pads

Scissors or Paper Trimmer

220-grit sandpaper

Cleaner (Like 409 or something)

Paper Towels

Sponge paint brush

Wax paper or newspaper to protect your work surface area

A damp cloth or sponge

Optional: Small paper cutter that cuts rounded corners

Optional: Krylon Preserve It Spray

Down Home DIY Instructions

• Protect your work surface area.
• Grab four ceramic tile coasters. These can be found out Home Improvement stores or your local Habitat Restore. (Liberty Salvage downtown has some too!)
• Select your decorative paper and make sure it is large enough to cover all four coasters. The paper can be scrapbook paper, wrapping paper, color copies of artwork or photos, wallpaper, etc. **NOTE: Make sure the design on your paper does not run prior to adhering. You can do a test on a small scrap by applying glue to see if it runs or not.
• Place a tile face down on the paper and trace around it. Repeat three more times. Make sure you have traced around a pretty part of the paper design.
• Trim the paper just inside your trace lines with scissors or a paper cutter. There is a small ledge on most coasters so trimming inside the line will make it fit better.
• Using the sandpaper, sand and roughen up the topside of each coaster. I find this gives it a little more “tooth” so the glue and paper adhere better.
• Clean the tiles with 409 or other cleaner to remove dust and dirt.
• Let dry.
• Use your sponge paint brush to apply the glue to the back of the paper AND the topside of your ceramic tile.
• Once the paper is applied to the tile, immediately cover the top of the paper with a layer of Mod Podge.
• Remove any air bubbles with a damp sponge or your fingers. Repeat the process 3 more times for each coaster.
• Let dry.
• Follow up with 2 - 6 more coats of Mod Podge to protect the paper. Let dry 20 minutes between coats. Down Home DIY Tip: I alternate my brush stroke direction from layer to layer.
• Let dry completely for at least a day before using!
• Add four cork or felt pads to the bottom corners of each coaster to protect your furniture.

Display, use, show and tell!

**Down Home DIY tip- if your decorative paper of choice smudges, there is a way around it. Use Krylon Preserve It Spray according to directions. It protects and seals the paper and keeps it from running. I love, love, love this stuff!!!

Got questions? Email mb@addressingspaces.com. For more projects, workshop dates and inspiration, please visit www.addressingspaces.com.

p.s. There is an upcoming workshop featuring this project on August 20! Check out my site for details.

Cheers, -MB

copyright Addressing Spaces, can not be reprinted without permission. Instructions are for personal use only, not for resale. All rights reserved.

For some more crafty goodness, please check out these links on www.triadsmartypants.com for four more great projects.
I am totally psyched for the Flubber. My kids will flip!

How to Make Your Own Flubber by Katie - it is tons of gooey fun!
How to Decorate Your Own Picture Frame by Ashleigh- Cheap, easy and so personal!
Make Your Own Journal & Bookmarks by Summer- These are so adorable and just spew creativity
Paper Mache Piggy Bank by Krisitie- A very creative project that is artsy and encourages them to save $$ (A double whammy of goodness!)

Happy Tuesday,
~MB
www.addressingspaces.com
Bringing new life to your decor and more
Follow me on Twitter and Facebook

Check out more DIY Projects at Soft Place to Land

Monday Makings - 3 Minutes of Fame Sneak Peek

Here is the Down Home DIY project that I will be demonstrating on Fox News tomorrow morning, somewhere between 5:45am - 8:15am. Right now I am scheduled for around 7:15am. It will be shot live from my house. I will be one of five women demonstrating for www.triadsmartypants.com and the Summer Fun Craft Series. I will get just three minutes of fame - I'll have to talk and work fast.

I selected my coasters since they are fun and fairly easy. Kids can handle this craft for sure. And, you can make it personal by using their photographs or artwork. I love them! This is a photo of my beloved dog Jordan, may he rest in peace. I call this "The Good Life". Both dogs have since passed so this makes this photo extra special. They had the best time kicking back and riding on this boat! Life was certainly good that day.

Check back tomorrow and I will be posting detailed instructions on how to make your own!

Wish me luck!

Happy Monday,
~MB
www.addressingspaces.com
Bringing new life to your decor and more
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Friday Favorite: All "aboat" curb appeal

Today is all "aboat" curb appeal. Don't forget to decorate the outside of your home too, which is something I often neglect!


Now, this totally rocks my boat. I think this homeowner wins the race for the most creative window boxes (everything is a "race" when you have a 3 and 5 year old).

I took this photo in Marblehead, MA. Isn't this fabulous? Again, I love how the homeowner embraced their location and used it as a guide to help decorate, as I discussed in my "What's your 20" post.

But, you don't have to live in a coastal town to use this look. I would do this in a heartbeat. For me, it has so much meaning because it is personal and would be a "shout out" to where I grew up. Make it personal. Make it you!

So, go rock the boat baby and kick your curb appeal up a notch.

Happy Friday,
~MB
www.addressingspaces.com
Bringing new life to your decor and more
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Transformation Thursday - Basement Makeover

Before the beautification by Addressing Spaces

This basement had a great foundation to work with, but it just needed a more functional layout and some new accessories. I used all of the soft furnishing, but just rearranged them in a more conversation friendly manner.

The basement after the new layout and accessories

We purchased a new round cocktail and end table. There were a lot of straight lines in the room so the circular tables help to soften the space. We ended up mirroring the circular shape in accessories and details throughout to make it all cohesive. The addition of some scenic wall art finished it off perfectly.

It doesn't end there. I had total basement envy due to the fabulous bar area...let the good times roll! We made it even better with a little fine tuning and by adding some decorative architectural pieces behind the bar.

The bar area before

The bar area after...I'll take a vodka tonic please!

I love seeing the before and after pictures together. It is so warm and inviting. This space is now the place to be!

Cheers,
~MB
www.addressingspaces.com
Bringing new life to your decor and more
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Wordless Wednesday - Row, Row, Row Your Boat

Look at the beautiful Patina on this puppy! Don't you just love it? I would be happy rowing this boat out on the Big Blue any day. Just give me my Diet Mountain Dew and a couple of decorating magazines and I'd be set for hours!

Happy Wednesday,
~MB
www.addressingspaces.com
Bringing new life to your decor and more
Follow me on Twitter

Hot Tip Tuesday: What's your 20?

There are so many things to take into consideration when choosing the decor for your home. Two of many important elements are the architectural style and your geographic location. So, what's your 20? Where do you live? What is the local culture? Use this as your guide when decorating.

I grew up in a small New England town. I love the style and culture and more importantly how New Englanders embrace the charm and history of the area. I had the pleasure of vacationing in Cape Cod this summer and experienced this first hand.


This is just a simple example of how one resident showcased the coastal beauty by adding sea shells to their landscaping. I took this photo because I loved how the shells are partnered with the amazing hydrangeas. Just beautiful, isn't it? Kudos to the homeowner who created such great curb appeal!

So, embrace your "20" and use it to enhance your own decor!

Happy decorating, ~MB
www.addressingspaces.com
Bringing new life to your decor and more.
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Down Home DIY Decor: Cabinet Wall Art

In honor of Monday Makings...look what I made! No, not my bed silly goose. Although, on most days that is an accomplishment in and of itself! I am talking about this decorative wall art made from recycled door fronts. They were in rough shape but I think I doctored them up pretty good.

I wanted something unique to hang above my king size bed. I like a tailored look so when I saw the style and trim on these cabinet door fronts, I new that they could be just what I was looking for.

I painted them a chocolate brown and a sea foam blue to match my decor. One could say that paint is my best friend. I attached some decorative elements such as the wall sconces, candles and center medallion because I felt it need a little somethin' somethin'. It works for me!

So, if you are remodeling and tearing out cabinets, try to take a look at them with a new perspective. They could very well be transformed into your own unique works of art!

Happy Monday! ~MB
www.addressingspaces.com
Bringing new life to your decor and more
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For a whole bunch of DIY projects check out Soft Place to Land and the DIY Day Post

Thurday Transformation - Planter Makeover

Here is a great wall planter that needed a little life...

Just a simple transformation to add some color and texture to a wall planter. I added rocks at the bottom, reindeer moss and then this faux greenery. It had to be faux because this is a room that doesn't get used all that often.

An easy, peasy transformation that added just the right touch of whimsy to this wall!

Happy transformations,

~MB

www.addressingspaces.com

Bringing new life to your decor and more

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Wordless Wednesday: Welcome!

These are photos I captured while on vacation on Cape Cod, MA. The curb appeal was awesome! I just loved the white picket fence and the gorgeous sprawling roses. The gate was open just a crack as if it were saying..."Welcome, come on in!"


Happy Wednesday,
~MB
www.addressingspaces.com
Bringing new life to your decor and more
Follow me on twitter

Hot Tip Tuesday: Accessorizing with books

Just a quick Tuesday Tip! When accessorizing with books, lay them both vertically and horizontally to give your decor more interest.

Here is a little vignette I created on a side table. You can also use the books horizontally to create more height too!

Happy decorating!
~MB
www.addressingspaces.com
Bringing new life to your decor and more
Follow me on twitter

Monday Makings & Giveway: Cigar Box Purse

Happy Monday! In honor of 4th of July, we wanted to start the week off with a bang! We are partnering with Creative Home Expressions to giveaway our featured Monday Makings project. Simply follow our blog and leave a comment under this post letting us know and you will be entered to win our Cigar Box Purse original creation.

This was made using a real wood cigar box. I added a funky drawer pull for the handle. And, the inside is lined with paintable, embossed faux tin tile wallpaper. I painted it gold to coordinate with the original labels to give it a little bling-bling. It can be used as a purse or it makes a great jewelery catch-all holder!

Check out Creative Home Expressions who partnered with us on the contest. Kathy has a great website, blog and following. Here is a small bit about her "Kathy Passarette and Creative Home Expressions provide interior decorating, redesign, home staging, color consultations and shopping services for every reasonable budget. Kathy has been involved in interior decorating for over 20 years and formed Creative Home Expressions in 2005 with the goal of providing interior decorating services that would be affordable to everyone." Please check out http://www.creativehomexpressions.com/ for more. You can also follow her on twitter. She is always very informative!

Don't forget to follow us and post a comment. Contest ends this Friday, July 10 at noon EST. Kathy and I will announce the winner Friday evening. Good luck!

Have a great week!

All my best,

MB

http://www.addressingspaces.com/

Bringing new life to your decor and more.

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New Blog Schedule

I decided to come up with a format to help keep my blog fresh,fun and up to date. Here goes:

Monday Makings - It will feature something handmade by me.

Hot Tips & Trends Tuesday - Decorating tips or the lastest current trends.

Wordless Wednesday - Images and photos that speak for themselves. I love photography.

Transformation Thursday - Before and After room transformations.

Friday Favorites- Kind of a free for all but it will feature my favorite thing for that week.

I will not be posting on Saturday or Sunday because I will be in my workshop making something for my Monday Makings post.

So, I will try this format on for size and see how it goes. Let me know what you think!

Happy Blogging! (And happy 4th of July!)
~MB
http://www.addressingspaces.com/
Bringing new life to your decor and more.