Waste Not Wednesday for a Fabulous Friday
With a couple of large "occasions" rapidly approaching at our home, we have been sprucing up the digs a bit:) As always, I am amazed by what a difference a little bit of elbow grease and paint can make. As I wander back through the past 19+ year journey of homemaking I've taken, I'm reminded of exactly how often paint has provided just the decorating our home needed.
Time and time again a can of spray paint has transformed someone else's castoff into "just perfect" for us. A small two-drawer nightstand became a play stove and oven for not of this world and mustard seed. A coat of crisp, white paint embellished with rose-covered ivy refurbished a dresser for horsegirl's baby things. A metal trash can that someone obtained from either an auction or the village landfill, looked like new more than once with both white and red paint. Out of date brass instantly became shabby chic with a dash of soft white spray paint. Glossy or flat black spray paint has lent instant class to picture frames, baskets, metal stools; on and on the list goes. Baskets morph into perfection when sprayed to coordinate with a specific project. On and on and on the projects involving paint roll through my memory.
There is an indescribable thrill that surges through me at the completion of a successful makeover. Somehow turning trash into treasure produces a satisfaction not unlike scoring an amazing buy at a sale. What is there in certain individuals that produces this pleasure? I like to refer to it as the sheer joy of creating. Our companion blog, A Mother's Rewards, will have a posting about the joy of creating from a heavenly perspective, but right now at Living Large, we are going to move on to the mechanics of transformation by paint.
Like many individuals, I have a deep appreciation of beautiful things. Creating a beautiful environment filled with a calming peace is one of my highest priorities as a homemaker. As tempting as going to town and purchasing all of the latest trends and styles is, the budget doesn't always allow for this. In fact there have been a few times that the budget didn't allow for anything new. What then? It's during those seasons when something new for the house had to come from what was already in the house.
What???? That's right, look at what we already have. Is there a box of miscellaneous "things" or "stuff" hiding out somewhere? Are there closets or cupboards with unused "pretties" in them? Have you been blessed with really nice things, but don't feel as if you have occasion or the right style to use them? Have we got some good news for you! GET OUT THE STUFF AND GO SHOPPING---AT HOME! This process can be done however you like. Items can be set out on tables or beds for you to browse through. Cupboard and closet doors can be opened and their contents rummaged around. If you are like me, boxes will be drug out, you will plop down on the floor and sift your way down memory lane as you imagine new possibilities for each item that is drawn forth.
Some helpful tips to remember as you are "shopping" your house: Don't forget to check out what is already out and about on the walls and tables. Redecorating may be as simple as removing excess to provide a clean, fresh look. Rearranging might be another option for a new look. Removal and rearranging could each be covered more indepth, and we just might do that in a future post. Today however we are going to focus on that hopelessly ugly wall sconce from years gone by. You know, the one that sports that gaudy shine, the one that was "perfect" in the late 80s and early 90s. Ahhh, now you know the one I'm talking about. Yes, and that sweet little wooden shelf with the heart cutouts and darling little pegs underneath. Uh-huh, the grape vine wreaths embellished with dried flowers and calico ribbons. The geese? NO! Throw those out, unless you absolutely love, love, love them that is.
It's the too good to throw away yet too nasty to have out items we're looking at. So, what DO we do with them? Look at them again. Again? Do we have to? Yes, look again and again and again--through the eyes of your imagination. See them painted a different color. See them with their current embellishments removed. See the picture with its frame repainted and a different picture put in it. Look at each item and "see" it undone, redone, and fabulous.
What is your current look or style? What do you want it to be? Can the "things" you have be transformed into something that will provide the look you are wanting? No? Are you sure? Here's an example for you, I have a pair of candle sconces that are beautiful in shape and design yet their shiny brass finish doesn't really work with the look of our new home. I have been wondering what to do with them. I didn't want to pass them on because I really enjoy their lines. A shiny brass birdcage provided the same dilemna. Each of these items are beautiful and still in excellent condition. They just didn't work as they are. I'm not sure why it took me so long, but all of a sudden the spray paint idea flashed through my mind. Ah-ha! That's it! A coat of soft white spray paint later, the birdcage is now part of a incredibly romantic grouping in the master bedroom. Three pillar candles nestle inside the birdcage surrounded by a scattering of dried rose petals.
As I was putting the arrangement together, I realized that I only had holders for two candles of this size. A quick trip to the dish cupboard brought forth a small dessert type dish that works beautifully. The dish was part of my stash of mismatched pretties. Having a stash of pretties that are loners or one of a few, make putting together a new look even easier. Keep an eye out at garage sales or other places for these treasures. Often people who are cleaning out at their house are looking for someone to take little treasures like this off of their hands.
What about those candle sconces? Well, now that I've decided to spray paint them, I have to decide whether I want to use them in the bedroom sporting a soft white finish like the birdcage or whether they need a coating of flat black to travel to the kitchen and/or living room with. See, the possibilities are truly endless.
Now, I'm going to take a side trail on this path of waste not decorating fabulously. Certain styles of decorating do lend themselves to Living Large on Less more than other styles. If you adore the new, uncluttered simplicity of today's country look, then decorating Large on Less will be very easy. Shabby chic also lends itself to the repurposed waste not method of Living Large. While those who thrive in a sleek, modern, contemporary climate may find repurposing a bit of a challenge, the minimalistic characteristic of this design style frees those who choose it to focus on a few significant accents rather than numerous little details.
A quick tip for the contemporary decorating is to look at and "see" surfaces to create artwork on. At our house, we had an old cupboard fall apart. Since it was built with mdf it wasn't worth fixing. I have guarded the pieces of that cupboard with diligence. At Christmas time, I was thinking how nice it would be to have a picture to hang up for the season. I thought of the front pieces from that cupboard. They would be perfect for pictures. Sure enough, they were. Out came the acrylic craft paints and up went two pictures with snow scenes. They weren't professional art, but they were new, and they worked.
First of all, if you don't have at least five basic colors of acrylic craft paints, get some. Secondly, keep an eye open for possible surfaces to create new artwork out of. Lastly, remember that artwork doesn't have to be professional or perfect, it just has to work. This tips works for every Living Large decorator, not only those with contemporary styles. A few bold strokes of color can create a new, fresh piece of art in any room of any style. If you aren't brave enough to try, find some children to do it for you. They aren't afraid. A picture painted by a child inside of a beautiful frame is the best art in the world. No paint? How about colored paper. Cut out various shapes in different colors and/or patterns, arrange them on surface, and adhere them to create a collage. Your new collage can then be sealed with a premixed variety of sealer or a mixture of flour and water that you whip up yourself. Allow it to dry thoroughly and place your artwork in its new home.
Artwork seem too big and scary? Grab an old bottle or cup out of your cupboard and fill it with some flowers and/or grasses from the yard. A ribbon or twine can be tied around the neck of the bottle or the handle of the cup if you like. Place small rocks or pebbles in the bottom of a pie plate, fill partway with distilled water, and float tiny flowers in it OR leave out the flowers and just use pretty rocks and water. Look at what you have, waste not, and it will be fabulous Living Large on Less. Blessed Mama
Time and time again a can of spray paint has transformed someone else's castoff into "just perfect" for us. A small two-drawer nightstand became a play stove and oven for not of this world and mustard seed. A coat of crisp, white paint embellished with rose-covered ivy refurbished a dresser for horsegirl's baby things. A metal trash can that someone obtained from either an auction or the village landfill, looked like new more than once with both white and red paint. Out of date brass instantly became shabby chic with a dash of soft white spray paint. Glossy or flat black spray paint has lent instant class to picture frames, baskets, metal stools; on and on the list goes. Baskets morph into perfection when sprayed to coordinate with a specific project. On and on and on the projects involving paint roll through my memory.
There is an indescribable thrill that surges through me at the completion of a successful makeover. Somehow turning trash into treasure produces a satisfaction not unlike scoring an amazing buy at a sale. What is there in certain individuals that produces this pleasure? I like to refer to it as the sheer joy of creating. Our companion blog, A Mother's Rewards, will have a posting about the joy of creating from a heavenly perspective, but right now at Living Large, we are going to move on to the mechanics of transformation by paint.
Like many individuals, I have a deep appreciation of beautiful things. Creating a beautiful environment filled with a calming peace is one of my highest priorities as a homemaker. As tempting as going to town and purchasing all of the latest trends and styles is, the budget doesn't always allow for this. In fact there have been a few times that the budget didn't allow for anything new. What then? It's during those seasons when something new for the house had to come from what was already in the house.
What???? That's right, look at what we already have. Is there a box of miscellaneous "things" or "stuff" hiding out somewhere? Are there closets or cupboards with unused "pretties" in them? Have you been blessed with really nice things, but don't feel as if you have occasion or the right style to use them? Have we got some good news for you! GET OUT THE STUFF AND GO SHOPPING---AT HOME! This process can be done however you like. Items can be set out on tables or beds for you to browse through. Cupboard and closet doors can be opened and their contents rummaged around. If you are like me, boxes will be drug out, you will plop down on the floor and sift your way down memory lane as you imagine new possibilities for each item that is drawn forth.
Some helpful tips to remember as you are "shopping" your house: Don't forget to check out what is already out and about on the walls and tables. Redecorating may be as simple as removing excess to provide a clean, fresh look. Rearranging might be another option for a new look. Removal and rearranging could each be covered more indepth, and we just might do that in a future post. Today however we are going to focus on that hopelessly ugly wall sconce from years gone by. You know, the one that sports that gaudy shine, the one that was "perfect" in the late 80s and early 90s. Ahhh, now you know the one I'm talking about. Yes, and that sweet little wooden shelf with the heart cutouts and darling little pegs underneath. Uh-huh, the grape vine wreaths embellished with dried flowers and calico ribbons. The geese? NO! Throw those out, unless you absolutely love, love, love them that is.
It's the too good to throw away yet too nasty to have out items we're looking at. So, what DO we do with them? Look at them again. Again? Do we have to? Yes, look again and again and again--through the eyes of your imagination. See them painted a different color. See them with their current embellishments removed. See the picture with its frame repainted and a different picture put in it. Look at each item and "see" it undone, redone, and fabulous.
What is your current look or style? What do you want it to be? Can the "things" you have be transformed into something that will provide the look you are wanting? No? Are you sure? Here's an example for you, I have a pair of candle sconces that are beautiful in shape and design yet their shiny brass finish doesn't really work with the look of our new home. I have been wondering what to do with them. I didn't want to pass them on because I really enjoy their lines. A shiny brass birdcage provided the same dilemna. Each of these items are beautiful and still in excellent condition. They just didn't work as they are. I'm not sure why it took me so long, but all of a sudden the spray paint idea flashed through my mind. Ah-ha! That's it! A coat of soft white spray paint later, the birdcage is now part of a incredibly romantic grouping in the master bedroom. Three pillar candles nestle inside the birdcage surrounded by a scattering of dried rose petals.
As I was putting the arrangement together, I realized that I only had holders for two candles of this size. A quick trip to the dish cupboard brought forth a small dessert type dish that works beautifully. The dish was part of my stash of mismatched pretties. Having a stash of pretties that are loners or one of a few, make putting together a new look even easier. Keep an eye out at garage sales or other places for these treasures. Often people who are cleaning out at their house are looking for someone to take little treasures like this off of their hands.
What about those candle sconces? Well, now that I've decided to spray paint them, I have to decide whether I want to use them in the bedroom sporting a soft white finish like the birdcage or whether they need a coating of flat black to travel to the kitchen and/or living room with. See, the possibilities are truly endless.
Now, I'm going to take a side trail on this path of waste not decorating fabulously. Certain styles of decorating do lend themselves to Living Large on Less more than other styles. If you adore the new, uncluttered simplicity of today's country look, then decorating Large on Less will be very easy. Shabby chic also lends itself to the repurposed waste not method of Living Large. While those who thrive in a sleek, modern, contemporary climate may find repurposing a bit of a challenge, the minimalistic characteristic of this design style frees those who choose it to focus on a few significant accents rather than numerous little details.
A quick tip for the contemporary decorating is to look at and "see" surfaces to create artwork on. At our house, we had an old cupboard fall apart. Since it was built with mdf it wasn't worth fixing. I have guarded the pieces of that cupboard with diligence. At Christmas time, I was thinking how nice it would be to have a picture to hang up for the season. I thought of the front pieces from that cupboard. They would be perfect for pictures. Sure enough, they were. Out came the acrylic craft paints and up went two pictures with snow scenes. They weren't professional art, but they were new, and they worked.
First of all, if you don't have at least five basic colors of acrylic craft paints, get some. Secondly, keep an eye open for possible surfaces to create new artwork out of. Lastly, remember that artwork doesn't have to be professional or perfect, it just has to work. This tips works for every Living Large decorator, not only those with contemporary styles. A few bold strokes of color can create a new, fresh piece of art in any room of any style. If you aren't brave enough to try, find some children to do it for you. They aren't afraid. A picture painted by a child inside of a beautiful frame is the best art in the world. No paint? How about colored paper. Cut out various shapes in different colors and/or patterns, arrange them on surface, and adhere them to create a collage. Your new collage can then be sealed with a premixed variety of sealer or a mixture of flour and water that you whip up yourself. Allow it to dry thoroughly and place your artwork in its new home.
Artwork seem too big and scary? Grab an old bottle or cup out of your cupboard and fill it with some flowers and/or grasses from the yard. A ribbon or twine can be tied around the neck of the bottle or the handle of the cup if you like. Place small rocks or pebbles in the bottom of a pie plate, fill partway with distilled water, and float tiny flowers in it OR leave out the flowers and just use pretty rocks and water. Look at what you have, waste not, and it will be fabulous Living Large on Less. Blessed Mama