Painting Upholstery

<center></center><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4498.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda007/IMG_4498.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />I tried <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2009/03/spray-painting-upholstered-furniture.html" target="_blank">upholstery spray paint</a> years ago with pretty good results, and I've been wanted to try painting upholstery with a brush for a while too. I got a pair of little white swivel club chairs a few months ago for $30 for the pair. I love the shape of the arms, but the fabric was pretty dingy and old. I knew I would want to reupholster these eventually, but I didn't know what room they'd go in and I wanted to wait to choose a color/pattern. These felt like the perfect candidate for painting the upholstery.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1155.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda007/IMG_1155.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />I followed <a href="http://www.hypheninteriors.com/2011/03/painted-upholstery-process-revealed.html" target="_blank">these instructions</a> and used textile medium and Valspar paint from Lowes which is actually acrylic paint. The color I chose was Sunburst Orange from Benjamin Moore. It's a bright, fun coral that's perfect for accent chairs.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1167.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda007/IMG_1167.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />The basic idea is you mix textile medium with really, really watered down acrylic paint (so you can buy craft paint if you don't have a huge surface area to cover like I did with two chairs). You spray the upholstery with a water bottle and then softly brush on the paint mixture.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1174.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda007/IMG_1174.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">You have to do several coats with drying time in between and you sort of have to find that sweet spot of even coverage and not too crispy from the paint. These chairs are a little stiff, but if you use a sanding block to knock off any uneven bumps and to loosen up the paint a little, it ends up feeling sort of like canvas. Not exactly like silk velvet, but not too bad.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4517.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda007/IMG_4517.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I wouldn't do this with special chairs that you're going to sit in all the time or a primary use sofa, but it's a perfect option for accent chairs or (and maybe especially!) dining chair seats.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4507.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda007/IMG_4507.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Have you tried painting any of your upholstery? How did it work out for you? I'd love to see any links if you've posted about it.</div>

Painting Upholstery

I tried upholstery spray paint years ago with pretty good results, and I've been wanted to try painting upholstery with a brush for a w...

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Kids Crafts and Cook Smarts

<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo CS12.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda007/CS12.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Summer break started for us about a week ago. It's a whole different ball game here in Arizona with 100+ degree weather and indoor activities are a absolute must with the girls! I sat down with them and made a list of crafts we could do together over the next two months. Things that are easy, inexpensive and fun. I've been wanting to paint plain canvas tote bags to use as reusable shopping bags for a while (because my old ones are just about finished, and truly, they're not the cutest), and the girls were super down. I think what they came up with was prettier than anything I could have created by myself. :)</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo CS1.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda007/CS1.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo CS2.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda007/CS2.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I watered down basic acrylic craft paint with one part paint to three parts water. It goes on smoother, dries quicker, and makes for a way easier clean up. It also ended up being a fun lesson in abstract painting. We walked around the house first and pointed out the art and patterns that looked more abstract and they looked closely and the paintings and made notes about how to get the look. </span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo CS4.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda007/CS4.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo CS5.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda007/CS5.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">So cute, right? These new bags are making grocery trips so much more appealing lately, and I've desperately needed a bit of a kick in that department! If I have a menu for the week and a written out list, things are great. But life gets in the way and sometimes I end up at the store stocking up on the basics and come home feeling like I have nothing to make a complete meal. I came back from the store a last week and Heather pulled a jar of peanut butter out of the bag and said "Um, we have like three jars of peanut butter in the pantry already!" Oops. </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo CS6.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda007/CS6.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">It took only a few minutes of poking around on <a href="http://9nl.eu/4ydm" target="_blank">Cook Smarts</a> to fall in love with the concept after they reached out to me. The first thing that jumped out was the shopping lists. <a href="http://9nl.eu/j7zv" target="_blank">Cook Smarts sends you four recipes <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_553758114" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">on Friday</span></span></a> for the following week (you can use their set menu plan or customize your own) and a shopping list of everything you need for the meals. It's broken up into categories like "produce" and "spices". You can print the list or email it to yourself, which is a huge selling point for me because then I always have my list with me on my phone. Their site is super easy to use and beautifully photographed and organized- which always helps. </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo CS13.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda007/CS13.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">I decided to jump right into the week Cook Smarts was currently on and make the <a href="http://9nl.eu/krb5" target="_blank">Three Tomato Spaghetti with Kale and Apple Salad</a>. I'm so, so impressed with how easy and simple the recipe was. Not only did it take exactly how long they said it would (35 minutes) to cook, but it was insanely simple and most importantly- delicious! Like really, <i>really</i> good. The dressing on the salad was perfection and the whole family ate it up! I can't wait to try more recipes. Two other meals this week are <a href="http://9nl.eu/krb5" target="_blank">Batterless Chile Rellenos and Chicken Fajita Bowls</a>- <i>I'm so in. </i></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo CS7.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda007/CS7.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo CS14.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda007/CS14.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are also <a href="http://9nl.eu/ugj6" target="_blank">the cutest little videos</a> on every recipe with some cooking tips- like how to dice a shallot or the best way to slice cabbage. When you sign up, you can choose to try a starter account and then you can try out three meal plans for free, and starting at about $6 each month, you can have access to an absolute mountain of delicious and easy recipes.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo CS9.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda007/CS9.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">I texted a few of my friends about Cook Smarts after discovering how customizable the meals are. Every single recipe has a gluten-free, paleo, and vegetarian option - seriously so convenient for families with food restrictions! My sister's family has gluten allergies and we cook a lot of meals together, so this feature has been coming in handy for me lately!</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo CS11.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda007/CS11.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Cook Smarts is generously sponsoring today's give away of a $250 gift certificate to Whole Foods and an adorable reusable grocery tote. To enter, just <a href="http://9nl.eu/er7n" target="_blank">sign up for a FREE Cook Smarts account</a> and leave a comment here with which recipe is calling your name!<br /><br />Contest ends next Friday at midnight.<br /><br />PS - for 30% off your first meal plan, use the code LGNCOOKS. (Code expires on June 12)</div></div>

Kids Crafts and Cook Smarts

Summer break started for us about a week ago. It's a whole different ball game here in Arizona with 100+ degree weather and indoor activ...

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Kitchen Mini-Reno - The Cabinets

<center></center><center></center>This week is a little crazy. Our church does a stay-away camp for hundreds of teenage girls in our area that I was asked to help with and that finally, after months and months of meetings and work, is happening this week. Balancing the end stage planning of that really fun project with all the recent house projects going on here has been a little tricky, but also so exciting! It feels like things are really starting to <i>happen</i> this week! The <a href="http://instagram.com/p/oyWueDQW-3/" target="_blank">bookshelf installers came yesterday</a> and they are a good halfway there and the other projects are ahead of or at least right on schedule. I only hope this pace continues until our big photo shoot deadline at the beginning of July (Knock on wood!).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0583.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/DSC_0583.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><br /><img alt=" photo aDSC_0445.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/aDSC_0445.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />So, the kitchen. Many of you have weighed in as I've bounced around different thoughts and plans. I've swung from wanting to do a full-blown-knock-down-tear-out kitchen remodel to "let's just leave it all as-is for another year or two and then renovate" - and every version of a remodel in between.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo ssDSC_04481.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/ssDSC_04481.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><br /><img alt=" photo IMG_0815.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_0815.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><a name="more"></a></div><br />One of the first things I try to figure out about a new client before we start working together is their change tolerance. Some people need more time on decisions, some people move very, very quickly. Usually somewhere in between yields the best results. Unfortunately, I swing a little more on the side of "very quick" decision maker when it comes to my own house choices, which comes back to bite me sometimes. I've been trying to learn how to slow down and pace my decisions, but I am super comfortable with change. I'd love to move to a new house every year if I could! Or at least I'd love have a new kitchen every year if it wasn't so expensive and wasteful! :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_08071.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_08071.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4785.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/IMG_4785.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Anyway, what I'm getting at is that I spent a little more time thinking about what I wanted to do in this kitchen than I might normally spend, and I still waffled right up to the very end on how much money and effort we should put in here. This room is a head-scratcher for me. It really, really bothered me how much I didn't like the room we spent a huge amount of time in every day. But I think we've finally figured out a longer-term plan that makes sense for the house and for us.<br /><br />I'm sure you remember that we're going to need a new roof here in the next year or two. The roof (which is going to cost a ton) is higher priority than a fully brand new, re-worked kitchen. So we decided to spend the next 1-3 years putting our pennies away for a new roof and a new kitchen. And in the meantime, we'd do a Jenny style make-it-work remodel in the kitchen. Because of the photo shoot, I can't show you one or two angles, but I want to share a lot of the process with you over the course of a couple posts. We're about 90% done now and I can't believe how new the room feels! And it also feels bigger! A huge part of the change was removing the granite.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aaDSC_0500.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/aaDSC_0500.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />I really tried guys. I wanted to make this work, but it was a doomed relationship from the start. It's not you, Granite! It was me all along.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aDSC_0508.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/aDSC_0508.jpg" /></div><br />Slowly and carefully we scored and pried, and the granite was removed. The cut out parts by the sink and cooktop ended up snapping, but all the other lengths were successfully salvaged and are being reworked for another family's bathrooms.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aDSC_0490.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/aDSC_0490.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><br /><img alt=" photo IMG_4931.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/IMG_4931.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">And we used plywood to build countertop bases for concrete. I was really tempted to go with stone, but it was a pretty obvious choice to go with the concrete overlay. It looks great and it's CHEAP. Like less than $100 for all the materials required here (concrete, plywood, concrete color additive). Actually scratch that. The sealer I bought this time was about $100 alone, but it was worth the splurge. It's really good and it's food-safe, which is so important for a kitchen space, obviously. I'm totally getting ahead of myself though. More on concrete later.</div><br /><img alt=" photo IMG_5015.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/IMG_5015.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">After removing the granite, it seemed like a good time to have our handyman install a vent hood. There had been a downdraft vent at one point, so we just had to open up the drywall and connect the new overhead hood with the existing vent to the outside. It was so simple and I have been SO HAPPY to cook lately. :) No ventilation is bad, bad news, guys!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5026.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/IMG_5026.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I wish the hood didn't show at all, but we only had a couple of inches to work with (the HVAC vents are right above this, so we couldn't get any more height - grrr) and this was the thinnest vent we could find for the money. It's worked out though - we ended up running concrete all the way up the back wall, so now it's a lot less noticeable. I'd rather have an inch or two of hood visible than no hood at all I guess.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5021.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/IMG_5021.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5020.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/IMG_5020.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">You probably noticed the color change on the cabinets here. This is the primer coat, so it's brighter than the final color (Ben Moore's Swiss Coffee). We wanted to go with a really warm white to balance out the cool wall color (Titanium). The floors are probably going to get a change too. We had a few drips and spills while doing the cabinet frames and the concrete so we need to do touch ups anyway. Might as well go a little lighter.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aaDSC_0431.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/aaDSC_0431.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aDSC_0423.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/aDSC_0423.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">The cabinets were updated with some L-shaped corner moulding, cut with my miter saw and installed with a really cheap pinner gun I got on clearance at Lowes. It took a full day to get just the moulding on (sooooo many cuts), but I love the cleaner look of the shaker style fronts. We saved a ton of money by going this route and salvaging the cabinet doors, drawers and frames, so it ended up being worth the effort.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4766.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/IMG_4766.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I bought a new spray gun with a wider spray radius than the Critter. I will defend <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-best-and-easiest-to-use-spray-gun.html" target="_blank">my undying love for the Critter</a> til the day I die, but it does spray a little slower and finer than the bigger guns. I found <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CLWWQIO/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00CLWWQIO&linkCode=as2&tag=littgreenote-20&linkId=FFVEH4LLV3RBWEP4" target="_blank">this Grace airless sprayer</a> at Lowes on clearance (they have the BEST deals on clearance tools!) and it's been pretty great. The airless feature means you don't need an air compressor. You just plug it in, fill the cup with paint and start spraying. I'm really happy with how fast it sprays and how smooth the finish is. This is the primer coat below, after we had sanded and caulked the new moulding.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo cIMG_4937.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/cIMG_4937.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After taking these photos, I sprayed a second coat and covered the drawer sides and glides on that pass, so everything is white now. It is such a clean look.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4341.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/IMG_4341.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The cabinet frames are not the best, but they function and now they're much prettier. I'm waiting for the hardware still and I'll show some afters soon and talk more about the counters. We went with black and I'm pretty much in heaven with the combo of the dark counters and the creamy white cabs. Good stuff.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5029.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2020/IMG_5029.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I'm so happy we decided to just make the big stuff work for another year or two. To me, a few days of hard labor and a couple hundred bucks are work it to have a prettier kitchen, even if it is just a temporary fix.</div></div></div>

Kitchen Mini-Reno - The Cabinets

This week is a little crazy. Our church does a stay-away camp for hundreds of teenage girls in our area that I was asked to help with and th...

Read more »