A New Old TV Stand

This is my TV stand that I bought back in 1993.  It served a poor working girl well during that time.  It later housed a TV, DVD player and DVD's in the kids' room at my mom's house.  When mom got new furniture a few months ago, I got it back.  I realized it would be perfect to put out DVD player on since we moved our TV, but not our surround sound and wiring.  This is my before TV stand.

Check out that lovely "honey oak" orangey stain.  Nice, huh?  Hello 1993! 

So, I primed it with this.

Yes, I am painting in my kitchen.  It's 103 degree heat index outside.  No thank you!

Then I painted it with Behr Black Suede, (suggested by  Sarah at Thrify Decor Chick, per The CSI Project) -two coats and then lightly sanded the edges for a slightly distressed look.  I painted the hinges with Satin Nickel spray paint.

Here's the end result. 

It's not perfect, but it's sooo much better! 

I'm linking this to The CSI Project's Favorite Project of the Year!

Thanks to for giving me the inspiration to FINALLY get this done.  If you have a furniture makeover to enter at CSI Project, click on the button above. 

I am also linking to these parties:  Thrifty Decor ChickBefore and After Party and

 
  


















   

Where Is The Dadgum Tape Measure?????

Did you go to Hobby Lobby last week?  The "wall decor" was 50% off so I spent some of my birthday money I've been saving since January.  I desperately needed some more stuff for my living room.  So, I got these:

I just love them!  I also got a big ole black metal/iron like scrolled cross to go in between.  I was so excited that I came straight home and immediately wanted to hang them up.  I am trying to "finish" the living room because Hubby won't let me start the bathrrom until I finish (apparently, I'm a great starter, but not such a great finisher).  Anyway, I came home and searched everywhere for the durn tape measure.  I searched my kitchen countertop (where it usually gets put down and stays for weeks at a time).  I searched the basket where I keep my handtowels in the kitchen because it gets stuck in there sometimes.  UGH!  Finally, I gave up and decided to search my Hubby's tool...cabinet, thingee. 

Ummmm, I'm not sticking my hand in there!  Something might bite me!  And he says I'm messy!  So, since I cannot find the tape measure, my "wall decor" sits on the floor, ready to be hung.  Maybe I should've spent my birthday money on my own durn tape measure!! 

If it ever gets hung, I'll take a picture for ya.  Still working on the living room rug.  I found the sisal with the red border at Pier I last week, but it was too small.  Back to the drawing board. 

Rug Indecision - HELP!

There are some things in life that I am good at (surely, there is, right?), but there are LOTS of things I am not.  One of them is jewelry.  I'm terrible with jewelry.  The second is hanging things.  I'm terrible.  I have no confidence when in comes to hanging things.  My sweet sister-in-law knows to come hammer ready when she visits from Texas.  I always have something for her to help me hang.  She, on the other hand, is excellent at both jewelry and hanging.  The third thing I admit to not being good at, is rugs.  I'm just not good at it.  Mainly, because I am soooooo picky.  I tend to go for something kind of plain.  I love pattern and color, but it's just one of those weird picky things for me.  I have a hard time finding anything I like.  They're usually soooooo busy that it's just too much for my little brain to handle, so I just don't fall in love with rugs. 

Having said that, this is what I had in mind for the living room. 

Nothing fancy, just a sisal rug with a simple border, red like this is what I had in mind.  I looked at Target, NOTHING.  I looked at Wal-Mart and they were out of the red.  I found another rug I like and thought it was pretty.  It had all the colors from the living room and adjoining kitchen (which will soon be red....IF I ever find a good red)   AND, it was $79 as opposed to the $149 at 20% off Potttery Barn rug above.  HMMMM!  So, I did what my niece used to say, "Buy it and bring it home" (she was three at the time and was referring to a new toy or DVD, but it fits).  So, this is it in my living room. 

I think it's too close to the colors of the paisley loveseat, don't you?  Should I go back to my original idea of the sisal with the red border for more contrast?  -OR- should I start all over again?  HELP! 

Also, I am aware that I need to make some pillows, etc. for the couches.  I'm just trying to get the rug picked first and do a little at a time.  It's so........void of color in there, except for my gold walls.

Decisions and Budgets - ICK!

Decisions!  Decisions!  UGH!  I have been looking online at fabrics for the living room curtains for MONTHS!  ****What is the difference between curtains and drapes, by the way?  I don't know!!!****  Anyway, I finally ordered fabric samples from Warehouse Fabrics, Inc. as they had the best price I found per yard and they were only $2.50 per sample, including shipping.  Some places wanted $5-$6 plus shipping.  I didn't see that happening.  Anyway, the samples came today. 

What do ya think?  I love that it has both black and brown in it.

I am thinking of making a valance for my one window in the living room. 

Something similar to this using the finials and showing both fabrics.

I gotta go work on the budget for the living room/kitchen projects.  My hubby is standing over me hounding me about prices.  UGH! 

Let me know what ya think!

Decorating Dilemmas Party!!!

Amanda at Serenity Now is having a Decorating Dilemmas Party.  I'm excited because boy do I have my share of dilemmas!  The link to the party is here.  Go and see what ya think!  Maybe you can help somebody else with their decorating dilemma.  Maybe you can help with mine.  That would be GREAT!  Here we go!

See that lovely bunch of wires hanging down on that wall?  That is where my big ole TV was.  It was a 60" big old TV that took up the whole wall.  We got a new TV this week and I need something on that wall.  As you can see the couch is floating in the middle of the room looking toward the fireplace and the TV's new home on the mantle.  HELP!  I do need some sort of storage over there, but nothing too obtrusive.  Is that a word?  Nothing that takes up to much depth in the room. 

This is the view from that wall.  I know this room needs LOTS of work!  Don't worry.   The TV is new and I do intend to hide the wires, etc and decorate the mantle.  I'm just not sure what to do about the blank wall in the other picture. 

Thanks for your help.  I'm looking forward to your suggestions.

P.S.  Please excuse my son.  I am sure he was curious as to why I was taking of pictures of something other than him.