One Girl, a Can of Spray Paint, and a Dream....

One Girl, a Can of Spray Paint, and a Dream

That's me. Just some paint and some dreams. And a whole lot of DIY and HGTV network programming.

I'm TOTALLY addicted to those shows. So much so that the hubby has threatened to get those channels disconnected. Like that would stop me--I still have the Internets and all the design blogs for inspiration!!!!

So, no. That wouldn't stop me, but one thing is true. Everything looks so simple on those shows. During my very first project, I quickly discovered that doing it yourself is not always that simple. I suddenly realized that those shows have skilled craftsmen, professional designers, and who knows what goes on behind the scene or behind the camera. I came to this conclusion while spray painting a chandelier in my dining room.

Here's the before picture:

 
I HATED this thing...with the brass...and the wood. But upon watching some of those design shows, I realized that I should be able to transform it into something I could live with. What did I have to lose? Worst case scenario, I would just buy a new one.

So here's the after:

 
Much better, dontcha think? I found the lamp shades at Hobby Lobby. Together with the spray paint, they have transformed this into exactly what I had in  mind.

Here's how I painted the chandelier. First, I sanded the brass part with some medium grit sandpaper--I just sanded it enough to dull it up some so that the paint would stick. Then I taped newspaper to the base of the ceiling and taped a plastic drop cloth around the base of the lamp and laid pastic on the floor. Then I went crazy with the can of spray paint.

This is the first time that I had ever used spray paint. It took me a few minutes to get a handle on applying the paint evenly. It would probably have been wise to practice on some scrap wood or metal outside first. Instead, I just used a brush to smooth out the spots that clumped up a little. After the first coat dried, I then sprayed a light second coat to even everything out.  

 
Up next: before and after pictures of the finished French country cottage dining room.

What's Behind French Country Cottage Closet Door #1?

 
 

Well, what do you think would be behind a closet door? Duh, that would be a closet?!?!!!! However, it is a 1940s closet, so I can understand your confusion. It's almost 3' x 3', which is only about 9 square feet. By today's standards, that barely counts as a closet.

But I tried to make the most of the limited space.

 
 

We are trying to make the best by whatever means we have available. This means hooks, wire shelves, and a wooden shelf for shoes.

 
 
We installed under cabinet lighting and small battery operated dome lights on each side of the walls.

  


And because we have two large closets downstairs, we are able to make this space work. I can only store a small number of my clothes here, but that just means that I have to exchange them often with clothes that are stored elsewhere. No big deal. In fact, I had so many clothes smashed into my previous bedroom closet that I always seemed to grab the same items over and over, so this doesn't seem like such a bad arrangement.

 

French Country Bedroom Finished. Well, Kinda Sorta Maybe Finished.

I have a feeling that my experience with remodeling projects is going to be like that relationship that does not end. You know, the one where you break up and get back together later, and he breaks up and you get back together later, and you both know that it's not really over--even when you say that it's over. Regardless to what has been said, you know that it's just a matter of one chance meeting or one of you picking up the phone at any time and it's back on. It's sooooo on.

That's how the remodel stuff is going to go down for me. I've never going to be totally finished. It's always going to be a matter of one chance find or deciding that the vase looks better on the dresser vs. the desk. I don't really know how anyone finishes--truly finishes--a project. I don't think it can be done.

With all of that said, here are pictures of my mostly completed bedroom remodel project. I wish I had taken "before" pictures, but I had not. Just imagine a powder blue room with Cowboys curtains and Cowboys posters on every wall. That's the before picture.

Here is the after:

 
 
Please ignore the Diet Coke on the desk. I am a dork sometimes. The bedding is the Springmaid Bellis collection, purchased at Target.

 

I reclaimed an old nightstand and painted it white for the new room. 

 

 The little French landscape prints were purchased in a sales bin LONG ago. I spray painted the picture frames with black spray paint in flat. I also purchased pieces of glass from my local hardware store.

The picture frame came from Target.
 

I purchased the small desk and the oval mirror from Target. I swear that I do shop at more stores than just Target. I do love me some Target though, and I was able to find many items for this room there.  
 

The dresser came from Homemakers, the clothes hamper from Pier 1, and I found the vase and dried flowers at Walmart of all places. 
 
 

The light fixture came from Home Depot.

I made the window treatments myself. I know they are a little old school, but I really wanted French awning inspired curtains to complete my modern French country cottage vision. Of course, it's not really complete because being complete would mean being finished and as I mentioned earlier, that's probably never gonna happen.