Author Archives: Linda

The Union Jack Coffee Table: Part 1

Posted on July 12, 2013 by Linda

I have always wanted to create a furniture piece that featured the Union Jack design. What kept me from doing it is my fear of taping.  I hate to tape stuff – I am much more of a freestyle decorative painter – so I have postponed doing this design.  I also am not very good at it – measuring etc.  It’s not my cup of tea.

But, I received a free drop leaf coffee table a few months ago and I thought and thought about what I would do with it.  The Union Jack came to mind and so I dove right it.  I am going to do a step-by-step on how I did the design tomorrow – so if you want to do something like this, please come back and read how I did it and the mistakes I made along the way.

Here’s some after photos…

Union Jack design with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

Union Jack coffee table

(more…)

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3 Comments | Posted in Annie Sloan's chalk paint, Decorative Finishes, Makeovers, Paint, Tutorials

Changing Our Great Room Fireplace Mantel: Day Two

Posted on June 28, 2013 by Linda

For Mother’s and Father’s Days, I made the great room mantel more personal…reflecting the people in our family.  Purposely, I displayed photos of mothers with daughters especially for Mother’s Day.

changing the look of a fireplace mantle

I brought out a cherished picture of my mom that I really need to save and preserve better than I have it now (or else I will lose it).  It’s such a small but lovely photo of her that I wanted to give it more prominence so I placed it inside a small vase with a dried hydrangea.  I added two of her favorite books as well.  I miss her so much. (more…)

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Leave a comment | Posted in Decorative Finishes, Holiday Decorating, interior design, Makeovers, Paint

My Great Room and Mantel: One Room Three Ways, Day 1

Posted on June 28, 2013 by Linda

I am participating in a special link party where we have to show a room decorated in three ways.  Here’s my “first” version.

When my husband and I embarked on a major home renovation several years ago, I decided that our new great room was going to be a thing of beauty.  I had been carrying around a few ripped out pages from a shelter magazine from the early 90s that showed a room in the Hamptons with beautiful Chinoiserie walls, antique furniture – and the owner of the home standing near the walls, dressed in an elegant smoking jacket.  Not that I wanted his life…just his walls!But after the sheetrock went up in our room, I just got this feeling that the place needed to be a lot less formal and perhaps more rustic.

fireplace mantle with corbels in off white

Before

(more…)

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Leave a comment | Posted in Decorative Finishes, interior design, Makeovers, Paint

Fast and Beautiful DIY Finishes for Accessories: Part 2

Posted on June 15, 2013 by Linda

What I love about reviving accessories that are sitting around my house collecting dust is that it’s such a quick fix and that it saves you money.  All you are investing is a little time and some paint.  

Here are some accessories that I revamped in my home that you can update too…

Miss Mustand Seed's Typewriter Milk Paint on an old book with a Royal Design Studio stencil

A few months ago, I went to Robyn Story’s blog and noticed that she had used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint to decorate some books she had.  I thought that this was a great idea – but I decided to try it with Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint in Typewriter.  Here’s how I did it.  (more…)

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2 Comments | Posted in Annie Sloan's chalk paint, Decorative Finishes, Makeovers, Paint, Tutorials

Fast and Beautiful DIY Finishes for Accessories in Your Home: Part 1

Posted on June 12, 2013 by Linda

If there’s one thing that I do when I only have a little bit of time, it’s revamping an existing accessory in my home.  I’ve done it for photo shoots, gifts, home staging…or “just because,” I can always squeeze in a few moments to add beauty to an existing ugly or forgotten item!

 

revamped miniature Swedish Mora clock

A black miniature Mora clock I found at Marshall’s that I revamped

reproduction Mora clock before

You can read how I did this miniature Mora clock transformation here. (more…)

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11 Comments | Posted in Annie Sloan's chalk paint, Decorative Finishes, Makeovers, Paint, Tutorials

A Blog Reader’s Wrought Iron Staircase Dream Come True

Posted on June 9, 2013 by Linda

I just love it when readers of my blog call or email me to help them create a dream they have in their head for their home.  One reader (actually a husband and wife) emailed me a few months ago to see if I could help them gild (gold leaf) a powder coated railing they were having built and installed in their home.  “No problem,” I told them in a follow-up email.  “Are you sure you want it “gold leafed…real gold leafed?” I asked.  “Yes!” was the answer.

 

gold leafed wrought iron staircase

The Inspiration Photo

(more…)

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2 Comments | Posted in Decorative Finishes, interior design, Makeovers, Paint, Tutorials

Napoleonic Blue and Old White Chalk Painted Demilune with Stencil

Posted on June 3, 2013 by Linda

Here’s a great little $5 demilune table that I found on Craigslist. The owner said to me “It’s only half a table and that’s why it’s $5.”I said “No problem – I’ll be right over!” I guess she didn’t know what a “demilune” was. I added some Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and a Royal Design Studio stencil – and changed the look completely.

half moon shaped table painted with Annie Slaon Chalk Paint

The “before pic” shows what a sorry but very serviceable piece it is. (more…)

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3 Comments | Posted in Annie Sloan's chalk paint, Decorative Finishes, Makeovers, Paint, Tutorials

Creating Some New Finishes and Designs for Cafe Havana in Smithtown NY: Part 1, The Grasscloth Finish

Posted on May 31, 2013 by Linda

sign out front Back in 2008, I had the pleasure of meeting Eddie Rivera, who was taking over an Italian eatery – and turning it into a Cuban restaurant. We got along very well at our first meeting and soon I was helping him turn a dated and dingy place into a fun, lively and, of course, colorful restaurant.  (more…)

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Leave a comment | Posted in Benjamin Moore, Decorative Finishes, interior design, Makeovers, Paint, Tutorials

Miss Mustardseed’s Flow Blue Milk Paint: A Before and After Chair

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Linda

e chair after 0058

I don’t know why it took me so long to try out Marian Parson’s Milk Paint – but I finally did and I loved it.  I’m not the world’s biggest “blue” fan but because Marian uses it so effectively in her home and her Milk Paint colors are so beautiful (especially this blue!), I figured I would try to learn to love blue!

 e chair before

Sorry for the blurry “before” pic, but here’s the sorry little “free” chair that I had from one of my clients.  Lovely shape but the upholstery was so dated.  I sanded down the chair somewhat – I say “somewhat” because what I really mean to say is I did it so quickly that you would hardly notice that I even sanded at all.  Mistake!  I mixed up the Milk Paint per the instructions and then I went at it.  It was chipping – yippee!!  But, guess what – it chipped so much that even a whole section just about came off entirely.  I should know better, being a decorative artist, but I guess I was so anxious to experience this product that I didn’t prep correctly. So – give your furniture some sanding before using, especially if it’s a shiny, varnished finish, as mine was.

 closeup chair 0057

Here’s a closeup. I finally did some sanding on the piece and so the chipping was much gentler which was more to my liking. After I finished, I waxed the piece with Miss Mustardseed’s Furniture Wax – that helped to preserve any further chipping as well.  So. if you have a shiny, varnished piece, make sure you sand to give the product a surface that will accept the paint.

The final touch was to give it a better cover. I had some leftover Osnaburg linen fabric from the project I did revamping a realtor’s office,  I always loved how Miss Mustardseed would cover her dining chairs – so I shamelessly copied her!  Somewhat.  My amazing window treatment guru, Mary Ann Schultz, made me this lovely skirt for the chair from the leftover fabric.  I wish I had sewing skills – but, very sadly, I don’t.

I am not sure where this little piece will eventually go – perhaps in our guest room (which I hope to show you soon!) or maybe it may have a temporary home in my next staging project.

Let me know what you think!  Have you used Marian’s Milk Paint?  If you haven’t, I hope you will give it a try. And no – this is not a sponsored post.  Just love the product and the creator!

e chair after 0058

A few other pics…

Miss Mustardseed chair side e 0140

Miss Mustardseed chair e 0134

Sharing this with…Miss Mustardseed; Redoux, Shabby Nest; French Country Cottage,

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3 Comments | Posted in Uncategorized

Beautiful Pinkney Street in Annapolis MD

Posted on May 19, 2013 by Linda

I just spent 5 days in Maryland visiting one of my oldest friends, Joanie, in Crofton, Maryland.  Every year I travel there with another childhood friend, Annie – and we always have a great time.  We have all been friends since 1st grade and we were bridemaids in each others’ weddings (and I was Joanie’s Matron of Honor when I was 9 months pregnant with my youngest!)

e Annie and Joanie

 My friends…Joanie, left, and Annie on the right

I never get tired of visiting Annapolis.  I love the shopping and the food and, of course – the company of my friends, but there is something about the beauty of the place that lures me back each year. Not only was it the first capitol of the United States, it probably is one of the most preserved historic places in our country.

Today I wanted to share just a few photos of the colorful houses I found, especially on Pinkney Street. These mostly shiplap siding row homes are so charming to me.  While there are grander homes in Annapolis, I seem to gravitate toward these simple, yet colorful spaces. Let me know what you think!

e door 1

Lovely brown/yellow combo. Even the door to the alley is accentuated!

e red house black door

 Classic red and black

e blue door

I am loving this blue door!

ee yellow house Collage

One of the most photographed homes on the street!  How happy!

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2 Comments | Posted in Color Roundup, Paint