Light Fixture Makeover

When we moved in there were some pretty awful light fixtures up. 

This type of light was in our entryway and hallway. 

And the one below was in our kitchen. It definitely could've been worse but they were not my style. 

The ones I REALLY wanted were about $300 each light and we don't have that kind of money. So I went to the classifieds which is my tried and true shopping place for just about everything. I found two light fixtures that matched, in the design below, both for $30. Bam! I knew these beauties could be beautified quickly and easily. 

I also found another similiar chandelier on the classifieds so they would all resemble each other. 

I took off the ugly glass shades and taped off the lightbulb opening so I wouldn't get any paint in it. Then I went to town with my trusty can of spray paint. 

(FYI- All spray paint is not created equal. I love rustoleum from Home Depot, or Krylon from Ace. I use a satin or flat finish because I'm not a glossy person. I also often spray paint things on my grass with no ill effects besides some paint lines for a few weeks until it grows out. )

My husband thinks the bare bulbs resemble cow udders but I don't care, I like them anyway.  They look 1000 times better and it cost me next to nothing. 

Easy Shelving

I had a few questions about this shelving so I thought I'd write a post about it. It's super easy to do and looks fabulous. For this particular shelf I got a 2x8. I have other places in my home that I've used a 2x10 and even a 2x12 depending on the location of the shelf and the use. I bought the corbels at Home Depot, and have also used the basic black shelf brackets as well for a cheaper/more industrial appearance.
Home Depot will cut your boards to length if you need them to, for free! I always make my husband do it, but hey, it's an option.
Sand your board down enough that it doesn't have slivers, and stain it to the color of your choice. I use Minwax stain, this particular shelf is Espresso.
Make sure to hang your shelves using studs because they are definitely heavy.

SPACING:
I always space mine a few inches above the tallest picture I want. Honestly I just eye ball it, but that is my general advice. The same with the top shelf. We have a vaulted ceiling here so it's a bit different, but in our last house I spaced it about 4 inches below the top of my ceiling (because it was low). Don't be afraid to make them long and fill them up with treasures!

Stairwell Makeover

These are the only pictures I have from our current home before we moved in. It's the same awful yellow hue, the banister is sturdy and has a good shape but it's horribly bland. Check out the handrail. It was about 6 inches tall and a big ole blocky thing. Of course it was one of the first things to go. 

In our previous home we installed this plumbing pipe handrail and we LOVED it. I knew I would put another one in our next house and here we are. Thanks to a handy hubby who's willing to go along with my plans. 

I sanded down the old banister and painted it with that handy cupboard paint I had on hand. Repose Gray, in Valspar again. I rolled it on with a foam roller to catch all of the drips. Painting a banister isn't the easiest thing to do but it looks fabulous. 

Love it. 

Girls Room Peek

We have been busting our butts this last week to finish up the basement bedrooms enough to get the carpet installed. Here's a sneak peek at Miss K's room.

Front Door

 One of the most simple changes to make to the exterior of your home is changing your front door. The door that was on the house when we bought it was very ugly. It was an oval window with floral designs on it. It was painted a dark brown color and had a vine of sunflowers hanging above it. Obviously I had plans to change it.

These pictures are from the house listing. It was funny when I found the listing because the pictures were horrible and there was almost no information. It had the address, the price, and the lady's phone number. That's it. I could tell it had a basement from the pictures though so I jumped right on calling about the home. Score. The pictures below are the actual pictures that were listed.

I found this door on the classifieds, as usual, and freshened it up with a coat of paint. It looks fabulous. The first day it was hung I had a handful of neighbors ask me if we painted our door or got a new one. It made that much of a difference. 

The interior side is stained to match the rest of our home. 

Antique Door Knobs

Today I wanted to share one of my favorite decorations. My mom started this door knob board for me a few years ago, and I have added to it as I've come across random items to put on. Most of them are old door knobs, but I've also added a few other gadgets like handles, hinges, and locks. I love the look of it, especially because the items on it are items that most people would throw away. I love junk.

I sanded the 1x10, stained it in Espresso, and had my hubby help me attach all of the fixtures. Quick, easy, and fabulous.

Chair Makeover- White Furniture

Painting furniture makes a huge difference in the look of your home. I know many people who get rid of furniture because of the color, or because the finish is coming off. If it has a good shape to it and is a sturdy piece, refinish it. Look at my new bar stools. I snagged these puppies on the classifieds for $30 a piece, a steal because they are solid wood. I loved the ladder back look of them and knew that with a coat of paint they would look fabulous. And they do. 

I painted them with some exterior Behr paint I had on hand. Then I put a polycrylic finish on them. I If I would've been more patient I could've waited until I had a place to spray them with the paint sprayer, but I wasn't patient and I wanted them done so I laid out the sheet in my kitchen and off I went. 

I have been asked if white is a pain to keep clean, and the answer is yes. You definitely have to wipe them down more often than if it was a natural wood color. However with the finish on them it is easy to wipe off so I don't consider it a real problem. 

I love my new stools!