I’ve moved…Please visit http://www.bonflourish.blogspot.com
More Antiques, Primitives and Painted Fun July 3, 2009
I’m adding more items to the Mercantile as fast as I can gather them, clean them and paint them… Sometimes the difficulty is parting with them. I tend to purchase things to refurbish, paint and sell and somehow they fit perfectly into my home and never make it out!
This week was the perfect example, I purchased this great coffee table to paint and put in the store…
oh, but look at how nicely it fits into the shape of my sofa… all it needs is a bit of paint, a cool thick and chunky tufted cushion on top making it an ottoman/table (and raising the height, it’s a little low)… see, I can’t part with it. I will post when I have finished it… which brings me to my next problem, once I decide to keep it, it never gets finished!
Open For Business June 23, 2009
Well, I have the window looking presentable… some of the furniture filled in and space left for more. I will be loading and painting all week, I’m sure. It’s really amazing how much furniture and stuff a small space will hold! Off to do more…
No Water Needed June 18, 2009
Last summer I searched high and low to find a live topiary. I finally found one at Home Depot no less! The tag on the beautiful little tree/shrub/plant said it derived from Australia. I over watered it. Then I under watered it. Until finally, all the leaves shriveled up and fell off. I had finally killed the poor thing.
My next quest was to find a really good fake. They are around in stores… a nice one can be pricey… and I would have most likely purchased one or two if I hadn’t read a great tutorial on how to make your own, by 320 Sycamore. She’s very creative, you will definately love her blog! Filled with design projects turning junk into treasures. So above is my version. I purchased foam balls, green moss and glue sticks at the dollar store. The green leaf bunch was purchased from Michales for maybe a couple dollars. All together the project took an afternoon and the cost was under $5 using a pot I already had. Cut the “trunk” from a tree branch in the yard, you can even add a little grape vine to wrap around it adding texture! Isn’t it cute?
So easy to do. Start with a round green foam ball (I started with a square and rounded the edges with a knife). First you need to remove the leaves from the stem that forms the bunch. Then, tear your leaf sections in half so that each measures roughly an inch or so long? I used the stem to poke holes in my ball and then dipped each leaf section into hot glue and inserted. As you are close to covering the entire ball, poke a hole in the open space of the ball with your branch (trunk). Put hot glue on the tip of the branch and insert it into the hole. I then hot glued the square foam into my vase. Repeated the process with the branch inserting it into the vase foam with hot glue. To finish, add green moss to the top (no glue necessary, it should just stay in place).
Setting Up Shop June 16, 2009
The preparations have begun. I am gathering up my collection of finds, painted furniture and primative treasures to sell in the Mercantile Mall. I will be “setting up shop” all week in preparation for my June 22nd move in date. I am excited to be involved in storefront sales again.
I’m feeling a Birds Egg Blue theme here… I think I should rotate my stock based on color. I am also really excited to have a window space in the store… 104 Main Street, Milford, Ohio. If you’re strolling by, take a peek in the window and see the treasures.
It can be painted… June 7, 2009
It can be painted…
With everyone talking “Green” and the current state of our economy, we need to rethink the way we decorate. When redecorating or updating a room, we don’t need to use our entire budget buying all new items.
Instead of buying new, RE-New. It can be painted!
Here are a few great re-new make overs:
Once upon a time there was a client that didn’t like her fireplace mantle.
Can you blame her? Her earthy import style decor DID NOT go with this Victorian inspired fireplace mantle. She was having the mantle inset tiled with Slate.
I removed the excess decoration, added a little texture, painted, glazed and… voila, new mantle!
This was not only a more affordable solution, but time saving and stress saving as well. They would have had to have the mantle removed and undergone lengthy construction otherwise. My clients were very happy, I was glad I could help, and they lived happily ever after.
Another great project was this dark stained armoire from the 1960’s. It was my clients when she was a young girl.
After priming and painting, I then glazed it to give it an aged patina. A final layer of decorative painting gives the finished touch.
The left side shows the “before” side with out the decorative painting. What a difference a little paint can make!
And a dresser painted to match…
This light Oak cabinet was too contemporary to fit into to the “new” vintage bathroom design and color scheme.
White paint, gray glaze, a touch of distress for age, new hardware… and it’s whole “new” cabinet.
Next on the list… removing an old (too new looking) cabinet and replacing it with a new (old looking) cabinet. Here’s the “before”
I’ll be removing the small cabinet in the center (Knowing I was removing it, I had tested out the black paint on it to see how I’d like it in the room. The upper cabinets will be painted black when the carpentry is finished). I’ll post the “after” soon.
Beautifully Economic in the Kitchen June 5, 2009
A New Home for the Microwave
Welcome to the Flourish Decorative Painting Beautifully Economic Design Solutions series. I will be exploring, experimenting and executing design solutions for your home and garden in an affordable and hopefully “green” way by reusing, recycling and repurposing.
Look for future posts on cabinetry, furniture and beautiful home decor.
As the first installment in the series, I wanted to be sure to include this quick and easy space saving Kitchen design project.
Problem: This microwave on the counter top takes up too much space and would look much better as a built-in. I needed to find an extra space in the kitchen that could easily hold the dimensions of this microwave and have an electric access. Possibilities, inside the pantry, inside an upper cabinet, build an additional cabinet or, inside a lower cabinet:
Solution: Install into a lower cabinet in the island.
First step, remove the Cabinet doors (That was easy, removing a couple screws… not so committed, I can always change my mind).
Remove the cross bars by cutting with a jig saw closely to the outer trim leaving a flush surface saving that nice strip of horizontal oak for later (Ok, now I’m totally committed). Sand any rough edges. Fill any gaps or holes with wood patch. Sand smooth again
Add more surface on to the existing shelf to give enough width to hold the microwave. Drill a hole to access the electric.
It’s a fit!
Attach that saved piece of horizontal oak with trim nails and glue to the edge of the shelf to give it a nice finished look.
Add baskets and cookbooks, you’re done! Fast and easy!
I will post when I am ready to paint. The plan is to paint and distress this cabinetry, add larger crown moldings to upper cabinets, add shelf’s onto the back side of the island, raise the island counter top to 1/2 worktop height, 1/2 bar height, and move the refrigerator.
If I put this in writing …. I will have to get it done! Right?
Stay tunned…
FINALLY I have set up an etsy store August 7, 2008
After what seems like an endless summer of traveling (back and forth across the country) and shuttling (kids around town) I have finally gotten back to business. I have gotten back to painting and dwindling down my stock of vintage furniture that is patiently awaiting my brush. And, I am excited to announce the opening of my etsy shop! If you know of anyone who would enjoy painted vintage or antique furniture or decorative items, please send them my way. I take custom orders, paint on client’s furniture or find what they need. I have great children’s room pieces soon to be added to my site. You can check it out at: http://bonflourish.etsy.com
Or click on the etsy mention at the right of your screen (I still haven’t figured out how to get a little image on there, but the connection works!). I have only listed 10 items so far, but there are more to come… stay tuned!
She bought sea shells… on ebay May 22, 2008
Well actually, I didn’t buy these shells. I collected them at the beach last week while on vacation with my husband and children. They all pitched in and hunted with me for these sea treasures. They knew mom had a plan …
Isn’t this coral chandelier magnificent?
Sorry for the awful photos here, they’re from various issues of Veranda, House Beautiful and Country Living magazines. My scanner is out of commission for the moment and I had to shoot these with the camera. Bad pictures, but you get the idea…
I am infatuated lately with shells. Did you ever notice that once you have an interest in something you tend to see it everywhere (or is it because I have seen it everywhere, now I am infatuated)? In either case, now that I have this obsession, I have to create something out of shells.
In magazines, for summer decor, they seem to be in every spread. So, since my collection of shells was hardly enough to create anything on a large scale, I headed to Ebay. Voila, shells-a-plenty.
I bought these
and these.
And with them I plan to make these:
Where am I going to put these shell creations? I have no idea… ahhh, maybe a shell chandelier over the master bath tub, mmmm just maybe. Next stop, garage sale or thrift store for a discarded brass chandelier! I’ll post when I’m finished.
Looking for Real Faux May 16, 2008
These are some decorative painting inspirational finds from my recent trip to Savannah.
Do you want walls that are interesting, rich with depth and texture? Do you desire something aged and time worn? Where do you begin? Whether doing it yourself or hiring a decorative painter, identifying what you like is the best way to start.
Look for real textures and colors that exist in the world around you. Look at everything from sidewalks to ceilings. Look in historic villages and towns. Look at old and new structures. Look at slate river bottoms and mossy green hillsides.
Great inspirations are everywhere! The mix of old world and new construction is my favorite combination. You don’t want everything worn and old, then it just looks worn and old. The pairing of old and new, vintage and contemporary, are what make a timeless combination.
Wouldn’t this aged crack and textured stone (shown below) add a fantastic richness to your decor?
Or a wall aged with an old graphic advertisement adjacent to your new cherry cabinets.
The cool colors of this garden frame the inviting warmth of these beautiful front entry doors.
Mother’s Day May 11, 2008
Wishing you all a Happy Mother’s day.
Today I thought I’d share a page out of my art journal.
I love to create in my art journal. It’s a place to draw, doodle, paint, collage, scribble, think, write… a place to create for ME. I highly recommend this to everyone.
How do you start? No one can explain better than Suzi. Check out Suziblu on Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRF4bsTToyk and then after that check out this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1U_DB4UFmk. She’s hilarious and has many fun and inspirational multi media ideas. Now go create and enjoy.
I’m not (usually) a fan of vinyl wall decals… May 3, 2008
(images from danielle thompson)
Until I came across this incredibly cute application created by Danielle Thompson. It was featured on http://decor8.blogspot.com. Every aspect of this room was so well designed and the use of vinyls is perfectly clever and appropriate!
She has a full description on how she created this masterpiece with several more pictures on her blog:
http://thompsonfamily.typepad.com/thompson_familylife/2008/02/new-home-decor.html
Another great application of this design would be to have these frames adorn the walls of a staircase that lead to the toy room. Or, put them in the toy room and create an ever changing gallery of your children’s art!
Love it!
Some friends dropped by the other day… May 2, 2008
These two stopped by the other day and visited with me for a while. They were actually curious about what I was doing! Don’t they know it’s Turkey Season (or is it wabbit season)?
I’ve been getting things painted! Yeah! These serving trays are two of the smaller items that I will be putting on my soon to be open Etsy (http://etsy.com) site. I’m trying to keep the Etsy stuff small-ish for easy shipping.
SHOPPING ALERT…
Before I get back to work, I wanted to show you these incredible pillows!! They look pretty ordinary, I know. The incredible part is that they were on clearance at Garden Ridge for $3!! They’re down… with zippered slip covers… for $3 and $4 American Dollars!! I had stacked my cart full, but think I’m going back for more (so leave some for me)…
Ava’s very French/Madeline Inspired, Nursery Furniture April 30, 2008
As my anxious mommy-to-be client awaited the arrival of her sweet Ava, she brought me several pieces of furniture to paint. With fabric swatches and paint colors she presented her vision for the nursery which was to be in a Madeline (like the book series) French theme.
Some pieces, like this little bookcase, were handed down from her grandparents. It wasn’t by any means a fine piece of furniture.
It was more like a utility piece that hung around the attic or basement for years.
After scraping away contact paper applying some wood glue, nails and paint…
it turned into a happy little bookcase awaiting the great cardboard classics like Good Night Moon and I love You This Much.
The foot stool and rocker she found at consignment shops had hard old foam cushions that she worked on replacing and re-covering while I sanded, painted applied more pink polka dots. I painted two time-worn brown stained dressers, that were her own when she was a girl. A white antiqued finish gave them new life.
What she didn’t know, is that her friends wanted to surprise her with a baby shower gift that would coordinate with her collection.
They decided on having me paint this handy and useful portable stool.
Doesn’t it look like a little frosted cake?
