Thriifty Decor Chick

Before and After Party! (A drape redo)

<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4tQjBP1uTI/AAAAAAAAHNU/7nYpHtLukCk/s1600-h/027%5B10%5D.jpg"><img alt="027" border="0" height="768" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4tQjkk4UiI/AAAAAAAAHNY/96Qx6NunbBU/027_thumb%5B8%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="027" width="556" /></a> Well hello! Hope you had a wonderful weekend! I was busy keeping Kleenex in business with a lovely cold. :) I did get a bit of work done on the basement – I could actually breathe much better down in the cold! It’s going to take quite a bit more time and a ton more work, but I am SO excited about the changes down there. The amount of crap we had has been a bit overwhelming, and getting it out of this house has been such a fantastic feeling! So onto this month’s Before and After – I am pretty much done with the family room (mini) redo, and I’ll show you that whole space soon. There was one last part that was bugging me – the drapes. I get a lot of questions about these drapes and I think many go “ARGH!” when I email them back and tell them I actually made these myself. ;) I started with the brown diamond patterned fabric as drapes, and then decided a few years ago they needed a little sumpin sumpin. So I found a coordinating (and much more expensive) fabric in a tan/wider diamond pattern and added it as a panel to the bottom: <img alt="" border="0" height="768" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S2otkKitFYI/AAAAAAAAG80/Dxrxlu00A5Y/010_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" title="" width="576" /> I adore these drapes. Lurve. I was contemplating new window treatments in here though, because there were a couple things that had bothered me about them as I reworked the room. The obvious was the diamond pattern just didn’t look right to me next to the new rug. (As you can see a bit in the pic above.) The other thing that has bothered me from pretty much the day I put them up is they never seemed to hang right. I always felt like they should look fuller than they did. They also covered a little more of the window than I really wanted. There are two things I always suggest to folks about drapes – hang ‘em high and hang ‘em wide. High and wide gives the illusion the windows are bigger than they really are. I usually suggest hanging the rod far enough to the side of the window so the window treatment will only cover about four inches of the actual window. This allows for more light, and again, makes the window seem wider. Which is never a bad thing! Well, my drapes were covering way more of the window than I wanted. Not sure why I did that, or why I hadn’t fixed it yet? But staring at them the other day, I came up with a solution to all my issues. And it was FREE! First, I took down the drapes and just shortened the rods by five inches. I used my miter saw to do this, but the first time I cut these to 24 inches each, I used my little miter box and saw and it worked like a charm.  The finials had a brassy tone that I wanted to get rid of, but I didn’t want to have to replace the whole set. So I just taped the brassy sections off and sprayed them with my <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2010/02/orb-love.html">ORB paint</a>: <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4tQj-ZzWnI/AAAAAAAAHNc/OgtaDt-a8Jg/s1600-h/021%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="021" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4tQkIWZtPI/AAAAAAAAHNg/4vEGYb26hFM/021_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="021" width="400" /></a> I love them all over again! (Like I did five years ago when I bought them!) Once I got the hardware rehung, I went ahead with my wild and craaaazy idea and just flipped the drapes and hung them with the panel on top. I stepped back to check it out… <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4tQktPCRDI/AAAAAAAAHNk/dvjf9PMv7PA/s1600-h/011%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="011" border="0" height="768" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4tQlPtuvjI/AAAAAAAAHNo/Qu_CXhnC0Vk/011_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="011" width="558" /></a> And luuuurved it! UH DUH. Why didn’t I do this from the start?? Flipping these did a few things – it made the bottom of the drapes way less busy, and the brown matches the brown tones in the rug really well. It also made the gorg diamond fabric the showcase of the drapes, as it should be: <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4tQlTIGoYI/AAAAAAAAHNs/65cYZI_q5OM/s1600-h/012%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="012" border="0" height="400" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4tQlodljoI/AAAAAAAAHNw/4ANLv5UT6Ks/012_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" title="012" width="300" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4tQlzzOpbI/AAAAAAAAHN0/p21XenbNzIA/s1600-h/005%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="005" border="0" height="225" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4tQmJDHgNI/AAAAAAAAHN4/g5kDZnVIvMc/005_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" title="005" width="300" /></a>   I love, love, LOVE this fabric: <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4tQmntc6cI/AAAAAAAAHN8/eT42iPw7Bcs/s1600-h/035%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="035" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4tQm5u6OkI/AAAAAAAAHOA/4d38opfFxjU/035_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="035" width="360" /></a> I would totally wrap myself up in it at night, I love it that much. But it’s not cheap. (I think $40 a yard at Joann’s?) So there will be no wrapping in this stuff. ;) Then I used my usual tried and true drapery tricks to finish up… I keep the outside drapery rings between the finial and the bracket so when fire trucks and trains are driven under the window treatments by a sweet little three-year-old, they stay put: <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4tQnOmA-VI/AAAAAAAAHOE/6NSXc2hJMyU/s1600-h/017%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="017" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4tQnuLxNDI/AAAAAAAAHOI/TFXCMmin0Yo/017_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="017" width="400" /></a> And I hung them <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/04/easy-drapery-tricks.html">from behind with the drapery clips</a>, creating the folds like this: <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4tQnxEwlUI/AAAAAAAAHOM/xF03Apo2xmc/s1600-h/019%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="019" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4tQoDPqOzI/AAAAAAAAHOQ/blzpWxvypTw/019_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="019" width="400" /></a> Try that trick – if your fabric is thick enough and long enough, you’ll never go back to hanging the drapes down from the clips again! I had to use flash in most of these pictures, so I apologize for the poor quality, but this one shows you how much of the window is covered by the drape. I like to use the window panes (if you have them) as a guide: <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4tQohGuHxI/AAAAAAAAHOU/G-FeTm73480/s1600-h/044%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="044" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4tQo6t-xrI/AAAAAAAAHOc/2ZKO2DH99K4/044_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="044" width="360" /></a> Half of one pane is what I typically do. Oh, and please ignore the deck furniture that has been stacked and ready to go in the garage for the past four months, umkay?  :) Priorities people. Shortening the rods made the drapes hang SO much prettier: <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4tQpCtkY8I/AAAAAAAAHOg/G2zIrKLLS7o/s1600-h/015%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="015" border="0" height="768" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4tQpoGCYbI/AAAAAAAAHOk/8zcOQvVaHbE/015_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="015" width="576" /></a> They just “pleat” so much better now! I. love. it! And did I mention? FREEEEE? All of the updates – cutting down the rods, rehanging them, spraying the finials and hanging the drapes again took about an hour. Not bad at all! So here we go! Here’s the before from years ago – with the white two inch blinds, wider rods, and the panel of fabric on the bottom: <img alt="" height="645" src="http://picklemedia1.scrippsnetworks.com/pickle_media1/media/HGTV/na_migration/b5/Photo_Video_b5e98623-2efa-4e81-b881-e2602696e954_medium.JPG?0" title="" width="476" /> And here’s the after – bamboo roman shades (from last year), shorter (debrassified) hardware and the panels at the top: <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4tQp4JX7AI/AAAAAAAAHOo/stIkv86Hbz4/s1600-h/045%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="045" border="0" height="768" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4tQqJQkJdI/AAAAAAAAHOs/1AhfMFtO1ak/045_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="045" width="576" /></a>   You like? I still love them either way, but I love how I made them work with the other changes in the space. I am keeping my beloved drapes! Yippee! Now it’s your turn! Grab the button if you’d like: <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4tQqTjpetI/AAAAAAAAHOw/Wpj2XJ-Gt0k/s1600-h/beforeAndAfterButton2.gif"><img alt="beforeAndAfterButton" border="0" height="225" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4tQqtAux0I/AAAAAAAAHO0/ItUzMgvM980/beforeAndAfterButton_thumb.gif?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="beforeAndAfterButton" width="146" /></a> Then make sure to copy the link from your post into the linky (links to your blog address will be deleted). All you need to link up is a before picture – it can be any kind of project you want to share! Have fun and thanks for joining in! <script src="http://www.mcklinky.com/linky_include_basic.asp?id=19174" type="text/javascript"></script><a href="http://www.mcklinky.com" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="39" src="http://www.mcklinky.com/images/MckLinkyLogo119.gif" width="119" /></a>

Before and After Party! (A drape redo)

Well hello! Hope you had a wonderful weekend! I was busy keeping Kleenex in business with a lovely cold. :) I did get a bit of work done...

9:29 PM

Winner!

<a href="http://www.dimplesanddandelions.com/"><img alt="125ad_dimples2" border="0" height="125" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4k-8sYrc_I/AAAAAAAAHNI/_NeEC6rlkFY/125ad_dimples2%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" title="125ad_dimples2" width="125" /></a> Hello all! Thanks so much for all the funny and sweet entries for the <a href="http://www.dimplesanddandelions.com/">Dimples and Dandelions</a> giveaway! They were SO fun to read. Kids are adorable. Good thing, eh? :)Anyhoo, the winner of the $50 gift card is Jude from <a href="http://dolcecapecod.blogspot.com/">Dolce Cape Cod</a>! Jude, please email me (thriftydecorchick (at) gmail (dot) com) and I’ll get you connected with the Dimples and Dandelions folks. I know I promised you all a post on the stairs this weekend, but I was hit with a lovely cold yesterday and it’s getting worse by the minute. I cross my heart, stick a needle in my eye promise I will share the how-to on the stairs early next week. For now, I must drink hot chocolate. And make soup. And sleep. ;) Don’t forget about the monthly Before and After Party on Monday! (I’ll probably have the linky up late Sunday night.)<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4k-9WnLPcI/AAAAAAAAHNM/wWXLeBk6UWc/s1600-h/beforeAndAfterButton%5B2%5D.gif"><img alt="beforeAndAfterButton" border="0" height="225" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4k-9-8v9jI/AAAAAAAAHNQ/du2n45mfw04/beforeAndAfterButton_thumb.gif?imgmax=800" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" title="beforeAndAfterButton" width="146" /></a>Have a great one!

Winner!

Hello all! Thanks so much for all the funny and sweet entries for the Dimples and Dandelions giveaway! They were SO fun to read. Kids are ...

7:49 AM

Science Fair

<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4c6rIjU6gI/AAAAAAAAHMI/6yoY5ffJqTg/s1600-h/030%5B5%5D.jpg"><img alt="030" border="0" height="768" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4c6rZXhVcI/AAAAAAAAHMM/JToQZtY-F0A/030_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="030" width="576" /></a> I know I’m not the only one who has created their own “language” with family and friends. I’ve done it for as long as I can remember. For example, my best friend (since 6th grade!) and I call each other “Bird.” ALL THE TIME. When we call on the phone. When we’re at dinner. ALL the time.  It comes from the “pretty bird” scene in Dumb and Dumber. I believe we rewound that part of the movie about 80 trillion times that night at her house, laughing so hard we cried. From that evening, “Bird” was born. And it stuck, even 16 years later.  ;) My husband and I don’t even call each other by our names. It’s usually a variety of cute, loving, puke-inducing terms instead. We have also picked up phrases over the years that mean something to us but no one else would ever know. Translation = when we are at the store and talk to each other, I’m quite sure folks think we are either foreign or just nuts. This brings me to “science fair.” It’s a term our friend Mike made up a new meaning for years ago. It basically means a total, complete MESS. Like, “Wow, that traffic was a science fair!” Or, “The license branch line was a total science fair.” Or my current favorite -- “Our basement is a complete science fair.” (More on that soon.) You have no idea how many times I have typed those words here and had to delete them because you all would wonder what in the word I am speaking to you. No more. Now that you are in the know, let me introduce you to my latest science fair. Many of you ask if I ever have a project go wrong. Yes. I do. But I do my best to roll with it and make it work. Like I did with <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/07/when-fab-happens-by-accident-and-for.html">this table</a>. It turned out GORG. I told you the other day  how I <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2010/02/click-take-pic.html">switched some art</a> around from our foyer and family room. Since the day I brought that Ballard Designs art home, I have wanted one of those cool art lights shining down on it. Since just switching out the art was FREE, and we can always use more light in our family room anyway, I decided to splurge and finally get one.  ($26 from Lowe’s.) It only came in brass and brushed nickel, so I just spray painted it: <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4c6r8qxnuI/AAAAAAAAHMQ/tGbKpVRafbw/s1600-h/021%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="021" border="0" height="467" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4c6sGYNPSI/AAAAAAAAHMU/bl0jKnin8Ko/021_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="021" width="350" /></a> In oil rubbed bronze of course. ;) As you can see if you look carefully, my spray paint job left much to be desired. It looks good from the front, but a mess in the back. Ah well. I was OK with that. No one will look at it from the back. If you ever come to my house, please don’t look at it from the back. My only hesitation with this light was the cord issue. You know how I much I <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/10/rewind-my-nemesis-cords.html">desperately despise cords</a>. With a serious, burning passion. So I really didn’t want to see the cord hanging down behind the art. Since my <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2010/01/before-and-after-party-tv-cabinet-redo.html">cord trick</a> with the flat screen TV worked so great, I got a wild hair and decided to put more holes in the wall. Brilliant. I drilled a hole at the top that would go behind the art. I was all giddy in my cord hiding bliss – then I drilled the lower hole so I could pull the cord through and plug it in. Giddy. Then couldn’t get the blasted cord snaked through the wall. I tried and tried, but it wasn’t coming through. I finally gave up on it, after about six tries. I was left with this: <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4c6sktFfWI/AAAAAAAAHMY/d2TrI5ZmApY/s1600-h/025%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="025" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4c6sy4VUKI/AAAAAAAAHMc/XmUdv_QsyR4/025_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="025" width="400" /></a> Oh yeah, and one down below too. (Both have since been covered.) Perfect little round holes. In my wall. Two. Actually, more like six. I had to hang the light twice to get it in the right spot. OK, more like eight holes. But only two are large. Oh dear Lord. Soooo…I have cords showing. That’s right, I said it. I have cords showing. I tried to hide them as best I could: <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4c6tBC0aaI/AAAAAAAAHMg/Cm1ahC5JIDo/s1600-h/014%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="014" border="0" height="400" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4c6tpspl9I/AAAAAAAAHMk/iqC9zwPSZ4E/014_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" title="014" width="300" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4c6uYQKZfI/AAAAAAAAHMo/GDMpX4ZlyLA/s1600-h/016%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="016" border="0" height="400" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4c6uwZqyfI/AAAAAAAAHMs/7fZ761dWyuM/016_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" title="016" width="300" /></a>  I know. Just say it out loud. I know you can see it. Plain as day. I’ve lost my mind. I’m OK with it. Come on, you don’t see it right? RIGHT? <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4c6vDhpL5I/AAAAAAAAHMw/tpNDoLRGX8E/s1600-h/019%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="019" border="0" height="400" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4c6vSwKu0I/AAAAAAAAHM0/XlMu2UrIl3M/019_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" title="019" width="300" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4c6vqJusCI/AAAAAAAAHM4/mtfpEqeK9_E/s1600-h/020%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="020" border="0" height="400" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4c6wGtbCSI/AAAAAAAAHM8/qKhCZLhiNr4/020_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" title="020" width="300" /></a>   It’s there just cackling at me. Every time I walk by. To add to all this, I was a total dunce and just taped over the light bulbs, instead of just taking them out before I spray painted, so when I went to finally turn on the stinking thing and bask in the pretty over-the-art-light…nothing came on. BOTH bulbs were burned out because the spray paint must have gotten on them. So I couldn’t even enjoy this <strike>bleeping</strike> pretty light until the next day, after another Lowe’s trip. I don’t know if it was worth all that, but I do love it: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4c6wQnEoZI/AAAAAAAAHNA/2vlmlWMyqJw/s1600-h/026%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="026" border="0" height="768" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4c6woZDy8I/AAAAAAAAHNE/VMzecv1KPzw/026_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" title="026" width="576" /></a>Two words:  Science fair. Say it yourself a few times. I guarantee you’ll be using this term tomorrow. All. day. long. Like, “This chick who writes a decorating blog I read is a total science fair.” And before anyone yells at me – the electrician is coming. (No, not just to deal with this.) And I will get my cord hidden. Oh yes. I will. So, are there terms you use that no one else gets? I’m not alone, right?   P.S. I plan to post the how to on our <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2010/02/my-biggest-diy-project-stairs.html">stairs</a> this weekend. And don’t forget about the next Before and After linky party on Monday! Oh, and if you want to laugh HARD, read the comments from this week’s giveaway below. I love kids! :) The giveaway is open until tomorrow at noon. (Eastern time.)

Science Fair

I know I’m not the only one who has created their own “language” with family and friends. I’ve done it for as long as I can remember. For ...

7:06 PM

Stair inspiration

<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4DIC1T6b_I/AAAAAAAAHGo/wWv_cqcVoZs/s1600-h/p_100166793%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="p_100166793" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4DIDQZ7yqI/AAAAAAAAHGs/WgAYjnKFmjs/p_100166793_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="p_100166793" width="470" /></a> Well, the giveaway is still to come, I promise! Until then, I thought I would share some inspiration for what I’ve been working on all weekend – beautiful stairs. ;) I am thrilled to announce our stairs are DONE!! Well, other than a coat of poly, but not sure I’m going to even do that yet or not (the stain was a poly mix). Oh, and the landing still isn’t done. Or the the little “extra” I am throwing into this madness. But otherwise, done. :) And gorgeous. I will definitely show you this week, I’m really hoping to show you on Monday…but every time I say that out loud something gets messed up and it doesn’t happen. So until then, let’s oooh and aaah over the beautiful inspiration from Better Homes and Gardens… You’ll see a trend in most of these – gorgeous moldings. I’m like moth to a flame, I tell you what: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4DIDkLaVqI/AAAAAAAAHGw/YWOsZoFolQE/s1600-h/p_SIP929804%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="p_SIP929804" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4DIEMoNZUI/AAAAAAAAHG0/7MLzPu0uTGs/p_SIP929804_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="p_SIP929804" width="453" /></a>Love the fun color on these! If I had a second stair case, I would totally do something like this: <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4DIEQBdoII/AAAAAAAAHG4/bzE1NxLup0g/s1600-h/p_SIP933348%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="p_SIP933348" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4DIEz91JGI/AAAAAAAAHG8/S4W97eGOm-Q/p_SIP933348_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="p_SIP933348" width="407" /></a>Love, love, LOVE the tile on these! I think it’s tile?: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4DIFAZINuI/AAAAAAAAHHA/vLWgO4ryl2c/s1600-h/p_100115698%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="p_100115698" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4DIFX8UNvI/AAAAAAAAHHE/362qOco7W6E/p_100115698_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="p_100115698" width="276" /></a> Many of you have emailed me to tell me you used wallpaper on the risers – gorgeous! Forget the stairs, I want that ceiling!: <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4DIF1_7_qI/AAAAAAAAHHI/hhntVbvY_Gc/s1600-h/p_SIP933898%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="p_SIP933898" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4DIGOObpgI/AAAAAAAAHHM/9W50Aud4CKw/p_SIP933898_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="p_SIP933898" width="479" /></a>Oh my. What <strike>grown woman</strike> little girl wouldn’t LOVE this room?: <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4DIHoyBKZI/AAAAAAAAHHQ/ZK9RFMzDwmE/s1600-h/p_100175809%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="p_100175809" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4DIIGq2FnI/AAAAAAAAHHU/RUtWOluSdZ0/p_100175809_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="p_100175809" width="391" /></a> Gorgeous molding? Check. Beautiful railings? Check.: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4DIIpJW-2I/AAAAAAAAHHY/TSTI4HsNqLE/s1600-h/p_SIP935794_R%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="p_SIP935794_R" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4DIIwr2qAI/AAAAAAAAHHc/9H_Zx8x66ns/p_SIP935794_R_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="p_SIP935794_R" width="387" /></a> Yes please.: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4DIJc17ZtI/AAAAAAAAHHg/m08HYsIiFhU/s1600-h/p_100176537%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="p_100176537" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4DIKRnGPgI/AAAAAAAAHHo/wBROUwIBSvg/p_100176537_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="p_100176537" width="378" /></a>Many of you told me you painted your risers black. I hadn’t seen that look till I found this picture: <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4DIKqw3MEI/AAAAAAAAHHs/NcroCnBqtLA/s1600-h/p_100176989%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="p_100176989" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4DIK78laUI/AAAAAAAAHHw/wvxihBtdj5I/p_100176989_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="p_100176989" width="345" /></a>Love that too! Oh, let’s just add some fantastic storage under our gorgeous stairs: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4DILQQTpbI/AAAAAAAAHH0/qQB2lXfQlqw/s1600-h/p_100180371%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="p_100180371" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4DILtNOBKI/AAAAAAAAHH4/D7puW0CsiV0/p_100180371_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="p_100180371" width="469" /></a> Luuurve the runner on these: <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4DIL4bO4MI/AAAAAAAAHH8/0Up_3mQ5olg/s1600-h/p_REN606279_K%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="p_REN606279_K" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4DINYA1zKI/AAAAAAAAHIA/s6J194F2i0Y/p_REN606279_K_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="p_REN606279_K" width="386" /></a>And, this is how our stairway will look this Christmas: <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4DIN9Q0meI/AAAAAAAAHIE/w8Wt0Eqy8H8/s1600-h/p_MWL438808%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="p_MWL438808" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S4DIOEOsJNI/AAAAAAAAHII/ek4k6vhWhcg/p_MWL438808_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="p_MWL438808" width="463" /></a> OK, maybe not. I can dream. But it sure will be purdy!! :) I’m going to bed so I can rest up my staining arm. Back at it tomorrow!!

Stair inspiration

Well, the giveaway is still to come, I promise! Until then, I thought I would share some inspiration for what I’ve been working on all...

9:44 PM

Giveaway coming soon!

Giveaway coming soon!

I’ve had a few technical difficulties tonight with this weekend’s giveaway – so hang in there and I hope to have it up tomorrow at some poin...

7:27 PM

Investing in what you love

I have a few priorities in my life. There are the obvious – obviously. ;) Our children, my husband, my family and friends. And our house. I have always loved our house, but I adore it because of the effort I have put into making it what it is. What it will be. I love it because I have invested in it – not just with money, but with my time. My sweat. (And YES, many times, tears.)Today the Bub was at a friend’s house for a few hours so I could get some more work done on the stairs. There are certain parts of this project that I just haven’t done with him around – most of them actually. (For safety reasons.) I turned on my music (LOUD!) and got to work. I realized something about 20 minutes into staining the stairs…something very important. I was having FUN. Like, pure, simple, I-am-in-a-DIY-mode-and-loving-it, FUN.Perched precariously on each step, working with stinky stain, doing the monotonous job of staining the treads…and I was having a BLAST. The music kept me moving, the stairs were looking absolutely gorgeous and I was thoroughly enjoying it. I am willing to bet staining stairs is WAY down on the “fun” list for most of you. Call me crazy. ;)Part of it was the transformation I was watching happen. Part of it was the fact that I was alone and doing something that I enjoyed. Sometimes when I talk about my projects I realize many of you must be rolling your eyes and thinking “Shut. up. That must take forever.” Or “Oh GOOD LORD that girl needs to get a LIFE.” The thing is – making our house our home is part of my life. My investment in our home is my time. Do we have the money to buy a piece of art instead of me making it? <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/05/using-ballard-designs-as-inspiration.html"><img alt="DSC00071" border="0" height="400" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S34Th7W4AzI/AAAAAAAAHGc/6YaXy7L8zAY/DSC00071_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" title="DSC00071" width="300" /></a>Sure, most of the time. Do we have the money to pay someone to paint a room? <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/06/squares-and-stripes.html"><img alt="DSC00526" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S34TiV_JHMI/AAAAAAAAHGk/UwqCMvhob84/DSC00526_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" title="DSC00526" width="640" /></a>Probably. Was I tempted to just call a handyman to finish up our stairs in a quarter of the time it’s taking me to do it? Absolutely. But I LOVE doing what I do. Other than being a wife and a mom, there is NOTHING more fulfilling to me to take a before and turn it into a beautiful after. And if I can do it for little money, that makes it even better. Fo sho. Does that mean you will love doing it? Oh my goodness gracious, NO. You may try a craft project or a molding project or try ripping up some carpet and think “That Thrifty Chick has gone and lost. her. mind. This sucks.” (Sorry about that if that’s happened to you. Oops!) BUT. I’m guessing if you complete one project, you will be so proud of yourself. Not like I studied for hours and got an “A” on that test, proud. Or I got the entire house clean today, proud. More like…I am woman. Hear me roar. I am ROCKIN’ it. I LOVE what I just did. PROUD. If you get nothing else from this blog – I hope each and every one of you feel that way at least a few times in your lives. It’s why I’m here sharing what I do. I love doing it. I love sharing it with you. I love investing my time in our home. Working on our home is an investment in me. Every woman and mother should find time to do something that makes them happy and fulfilled. I don’t care what it is. I know 99 percent of the time, life gets in the way and makes that impossible. But once and a while, when the kids are in bed, or when hubby works late, or when the grandparents can take over for a few hours…I hope you do something that you love and that makes you PROUD of yourself. If you invest in yourself and what makes you happy, everyone else around you will be happier for it. Ask them, they’ll tell you. ;)P.S. I have another fab giveaway coming up tomorrow! Can’t wait to share it with you.

Investing in what you love

I have a few priorities in my life. There are the obvious – obviously. ;) Our children, my husband, my family and friends. And our house. I ...

8:28 PM

ORB love

<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S3tPmKRoaaI/AAAAAAAAHEs/70GX68Jnn84/s1600-h/brushedmetallic%5B3%5D.png"><img alt="brushedmetallic" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S3tPmW0KpeI/AAAAAAAAHEw/GgD-HofoMXM/brushedmetallic_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="brushedmetallic" width="190" /></a>No, I don’t love the round orbs used as garden decoration. I do lurve some good oil rubbed bronze spray paint! (“ORB” to us spray paint obsessed folk.) I know – the picture above isn’t of the oil rubbed stuff. It’s the end of the day and I’m just plain lazy right now. Just pretend that can has a brown lid, umkay? I almost had a conniption last year because my trusty Rustoleum bronze spray paint was disappearing off the shelves. Many of you Squeezies actually contacted Rustoleum and there was a bit of scuttlebutt but very little of actual cans on the shelves. I have yet to find that brand in ORB again. Whatev. I have found it recently at Walmart in this Krylon brand. It doesn’t cover quite as well as the Rustoleum did, but I’m happy with it overall! I showed you how I used oil rubbed bronze paint on our vents: <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S3tPm4uJNYI/AAAAAAAAHE0/NZwdB1djPJ4/s1600-h/012%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S3tPnLAS2oI/AAAAAAAAHE4/TtKaF6YGQSs/012_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="" width="360" /></a> I wasn’t sure how this would hold up to the meeellions of fire trucks, trains and race cars that get run over this spot daily…but it still looks great! I’m super impressed. I also used it on the handle on the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2010/02/10-coffee-table.html">$10 Goodwill coffee table</a>: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S3tPnp-f12I/AAAAAAAAHE8/dyl0VwhlChY/s1600-h/015%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S3tPn7IwL5I/AAAAAAAAHFA/zfXzWTg5t9A/015_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="" width="360" /></a> I know you can just take the brass metal jobbies off the fireplaces, but just for kicks I spray painted them instead: <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S3tPoIqCnZI/AAAAAAAAHFE/hMhYd2vM4Ww/s1600-h/019%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S3tPonMlG1I/AAAAAAAAHFI/bsN3eWjvyZ4/019_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" title="" width="300" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S3tPpFB7qLI/AAAAAAAAHFM/HqiR63gfRgQ/s1600-h/024%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S3tPpaQ4PUI/AAAAAAAAHFQ/qSdrHJ6F_Ys/024_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" title="" width="300" /></a> (Do you SEE the toys in the reflection on the right? I’d really like to know when our bedroom become the playroom.) I had no clue how this would do with the heat from the fireplace, since the ORB spray is not for high heat situations. But it's awesome! No bubbling, no cracking. Just NO BRASS. God Bless you ORB. I used this metallic finish on <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/06/another-lamp-transformation.html">these lamps</a> too: <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S3tPplWd9uI/AAAAAAAAHFU/M78Gk6L03iU/s1600-h/DSC00284%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S3tPp-VY_nI/AAAAAAAAHFY/yRch3c1Kkag/DSC00284_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" title="" width="300" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S3tPqHNbNfI/AAAAAAAAHFc/mVf9y96Z8nQ/s1600-h/DSC00309%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="424" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S3tPqbzK7uI/AAAAAAAAHFg/l48vZ07bRr8/DSC00309_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" title="" width="300" /></a> I adore them still! Because I’ve noticed a trend – that I can spray just about anything in this color and I LOVE how it turns out – I tackled this frame the other day: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S3tPq6pSHNI/AAAAAAAAHFk/87ptTeTWH24/s1600-h/003%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S3tPrHq-w1I/AAAAAAAAHFo/N6nK42MzLjE/003_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="" width="360" /></a> I’ve been meaning to do this for at LEAST a year. So sorry for no before pics of it hanging on the wall – I got a wild hair to just do it for goodness sakes the other day, and I was too excited to pause to take a true before pic. ;) Anyhoo, I taped the edges of the art, then covered the rest with a shopping bag, then did a few coats of ORB and got this: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S3tPrtoHdrI/AAAAAAAAHFs/JWEkdet2-14/s1600-h/006%5B6%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="413" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S3tPryRTpTI/AAAAAAAAHFw/5bi4ebZrbQk/006_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" title="" width="310" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S3tPsbcCh_I/AAAAAAAAHF0/CHUlhc9_YS0/s1600-h/010%5B7%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="413" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S3tPslR2FJI/AAAAAAAAHF4/Snk2nakbeHs/010_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" title="" width="310" /></a>   I LOVE how it pops off the wall now! The gold color was SO blah on our walls. It had annoyed me for so very long. Now – you actually SEE it! I love how the dark frame now picks up on the darker tones in the art: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S3tPs22KQ_I/AAAAAAAAHF8/2GnOPwL1RkQ/s1600-h/008%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S3tPtaGBxXI/AAAAAAAAHGA/wGjB1suW-E4/008_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="" width="360" /></a> And when I say “art” – I mean “$20-something print from Stein Mart.” <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S3tPtn_DBTI/AAAAAAAAHGE/563OJ2lVYqo/s1600-h/005%5B4%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="768" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S3tPuLBqsVI/AAAAAAAAHGI/QEy-tukzlkI/005_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" title="" width="576" /></a>    I am slowly (very, very slowly) changing out all of our light fixtures to the ORB finish: <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S3tPuTtpHuI/AAAAAAAAHGM/wG1Xra9ujM0/s1600-h/017%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S3tPu-lm8dI/AAAAAAAAHGQ/to0jm2AEW5k/017_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="" width="397" /></a> This one I bought as is, but you can easily update a fixture with the spray paint too! I am happy to announce that we have ZERO shiny brass light fixtures left in this house!!! Can I get an AMEN???  ;) But we do still have a few brushed nickel lights – which I don’t mind, but I do want to get them all the same metallic tone someday. I’m hoping to order all new beautiful, fantastic, luscious, dark ORB knobs from eBay in the next month or so. I’ll let you know how that goes. ;) I was on such a oil rubbed bronze high from the art (figuratively, not literally), I decided to pop off the brass handles on our sliding closet doors in anticipation of the new knobs throughout the rest of the house: <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S3tPvZwiXoI/AAAAAAAAHGU/OcMnirQ0EpE/s1600-h/025%5B3%5D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_vswDWGRlsPw/S3tPvqFcxzI/AAAAAAAAHGY/7kQRuVmJSgI/025_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" title="" width="360" /></a>Let’s just say it didn’t go as planned. ;) I’ll let you know how they turn out. Keep in mind they are shaped like a bowl. Which means it takes  a VERY light, quick spray, or it just kind of puddles up in the “bowl.” I was a little heavy on the “quick” and “light” sprays. Just FAB. Gah. For all of these items, the only prep I did was to clean them. If they will get a lot of use, you could use a primer before to ensure it will hold up well. But I haven’t had an issues with scratching or chipping on any of my projects – just be sure to let them dry long enough before handling! So have you been bitten by the ORB bug? Or are you a brushed nickel kind of girl? Or the antique brass? (Which I actually quite like.) OR – do you really really love your shiny brass?  :)

ORB love

No, I don’t love the round orbs used as garden decoration. I do lurve some good oil rubbed bronze spray paint! (“ORB” to us spray paint ob...

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