Monday, June 20, 2011

Quick Fix: Stove Update

I don't have a great shot of it, but the stove in my kitchen was two-toned.

This was annoying for two reasons; 1. the white on it was more of an ivory and it looked dated, 2. my other appliances are all black and it seemed awkward and out-of-place, like everything else had been updated and the stove was forgotten.

Saturday morning I had a haircut and I came home to this:

I don't know much about electronics and technology and all that, but I never would have thought the inside of a glass-topped stove would look like this!

Again, please forgive the fuzzy pictures, I still don't have a camera...

J took the entire stove apart, cleaned everything well, taped off the stove top and sprayed everything with this Rustoleum Appliance Epoxy from Home Depot.



It's amazing what a difference it makes!

It really does look like a brand new stove and I couldn't be more thrilled with the results! Start to finish the project took about 2 hours active time (dismantling, cleaning, painting, reconstructing) and he let the pieces dry for about 8 hours before putting it back together.

As you can see, I haven't started on painting the kitchen yet, although I do have the colors chosen and a tentative plan in place. We have been busy focusing on the dining room. The walls are finished, the ceiling is almost finished (we ran out of paint on the last coat, so I had to get another Quart), the medallion for my chandelier is painted (the paint crackled, so it had to be sanded down and repainted, then the dogs both stepped on it the second time it was drying!), he put the first coat of paint on the crown moulding on Saturday, and I *think* I have decided on curtains. Maybe it will be sorta finished by the end of the month!

Oh, and while I was out Saturday morning for my haircut I stopped by World Market. They have some really great products right now, I seriously could have spend hundreds (at least) on all the fab stuff I saw! Check out this gorgeous chair:

It was on sale for $179.00 and it was super-comfortable! I just love the colors and the little turned-wood legs, so precious.

I have been wanting this lamp for months after seeing it on the website:

But I hate the fact that it has a high-gloss finish. It's supposed to look time-worn and distressed, but then it's shiny? That doesn't work for me. It's looks matte online.

These dining chairs are gorgeous:

I love the ethnic vibe they have, but it wouldn't be overpowering. Plus, they are fairly reasonably priced for being solid, heavy wood with beautiful detailing.

I bought some fabric napkins that I had planned on turning into curtains for the kitchen, but then I got home and second-guessed myself, so they are still in the bag... Maybe they need some pom-pom trim or something to jazz them up and make them look less like napkins? I can't find them on their website, but they have a chartreuse background with pink, fuchsia, yellow, and teal floral designs on them. The problem I have with them is the stem details are dark brown and my cabinets and appliances are black. I HATE mixing black and brown (in my own home) and I really just hate brown in general, unless it's wood, leather, or a dog.
So I think I may return them for these instead. They still have the deep teal I need to bring in the dining room wall color and the yellow from the future kitchen walls, plus the brown seems to be minimal in this design. And the orange is really fun!
Although, I really love this design too, but they didn't have them in my store and I am afraid they will be too pastelly compared to the dining room. The yellow in the kicthen is going to be more of a pale, buttery yellow, so the curtains really need to *pop* to bring in some of the strong color from the dining room walls.

What do you think? What projects are you working on now? Anything you're trying to accomplish that's currently sucking up all your brain capacity? Do you tend to over-think every decision you make and everything you bring home?

Friday, June 17, 2011

Instafriday

It's that time again! Since I still can't seem to get back into the swing of things (work has been crazy, Dozer broke out of his impenetrable den, G wrecked his motorcycle and I had to go pick him up from the emergency room at 3 am), here's a snapshot into my life...

I've been contemplating cutting down these big bushy things in front of my house, then they went and bloomed. Any idea what it is? My real estate agent thought they were Lilac bushes when we looked at the house, but that is obviously not a bloom from a Lilac bush!

The three inherited hydrangeas behind the house have finally started to bloom, each plant showing multiple colored blooms!
Blue

Lilac and Green

Hot Pink on same bush as the first Blue
I have always had a thing for gargoyles. When I lived in an apartment I had a "Welcome" sign on the front door that depicted gargoyles. As soon as I picked this house, I just knew the front posts on the porch would be perfect for my very own gargoyles!

Forgive my inexpert way of covering up my address and the obvious need for tuckpointing.

I have a second one on order for the left side, which should be available for pickup tomorrow. I just love him. I know they are not for everyone, but every time I open the front door, he makes me smile. They will need names, though... Any ideas?

My new boy, J, had a bad day at work yesterday, plus some ex-girlfriend drama (which I can completely sympathize with), so I decided to make him chocolate chip cookies! Can you believe I had never made chocolate chip cookies? I told his buddy that and he was all "That's un-American!" lol

I used this recipe from Martha and they turned out really great! They are still squishy this morning, which is important, since I HATE crunchy cookies.

I just love this nail polish color, My Lifesaver, from (can you believe it?) Justin Bieber for Nicole.
It's my favorite and I get so many comments on it!

I can't seem to keep the dogs off the bed, no matter how many times I tell them "Get in your bed". They do, then they come right back to my bed as soon as they think I'm not looking...





Who could say "No" to that face?!


Well, that my week in a nutshell. We finished painting the dining room, but I still haven't found my camera and J still hasn't found the power cord for his camera and my iPhone is throwing the color WAAAAY off, so I still don't have pictures. Plus, I haven't decided on drapes and the crown moulding is not up yet... Someday.

See all the other Instafriday posts here.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Instafriday

I saw this cute new post idea from Jeannette via Lindsey @ The Pleated Poppy. I'm having a hard time getting back into the swing of regular blogging, between the craziness of trying to get the house in order, some boy drama (past, not present), getting Dozer settled in, and just generally trying not to go nuts from it all... I though this would be a good, simple way to get at least one post a week out and keep things sort of updated... Especially since I STILL can't find my camera. I actually have two cameras and both seem to have gone on walkabout. Gah.

I did some shopping at Homegoods on Tuesday and couldn't help taking a pic of me with my new fabulous Kate Spade purse! (Which I totally shouldn't have bought, seeing as I can barely afford my house as it is...)
But I figure it all balances out, really. That skirt is about 6 years old and it's from New York and Company, the T is Old Navy, and the sandals are from TJ Maxx.

My mom, J, and I hit up the Gypsy Caravan on Monday. I was pretty disappointed and thought last years wares were much more impressive. I did manage to get one shot of a fab booth.
I really wish I had picked up some of those purple bottles, but I forgot to bring cash! Ridiculous, I know. I am a terrible flea market, thrift shopper. I felt silly asking to borrow money for some old, dirty bottles... Neither of them fully appreciate dingy, crap quite like G did...

Dozer is officially a resident in our new home. I picked up his crate on Tuesday. I think he'll be plenty happy here.

My parents wanted to know how Dozer and the new boy were getting along...
I think a picture is truly worth a thousand words in this case.


What random scenes have you captured on your phone camera lately?