Painted Deck... The Tutorial

Finally!! Here are the ins & outs on how I created our stenciled floor for the Home Depot Patio Challenge this year.  There are probably a zillion different ways this could have been accomplished, but this is how I did it.

First things first... Why a painted pattern?!

We had a plain old run of the mill stained deck previously which was absolutely fine.  We had our stenciled area rug on top of that.  The rug held up like a champ!  But the only problem was, when it rained, the rug stayed wet for days.  And here in the south, during the summer, it typically showers once a day... you catching my problem.

I knew I wanted something on the floor do add some interest & once I saw this image I knew this was it!

source anyone?!  One of those pinned too many times to trace deals.

I tired being all original & creative to come up with my own pattern, but I just kept coming back to this pattern, so why reinvent the wheel right?!?

I laid out my patterns in CAD (I have it, so I used it!) this could also be done by sketching your pattern out on some graph paper.  This helped me determine the optimum size of the motifs as well as spacing them out so there would not be a lot of awkward cutoff areas.  It also worked out perfectly that we didn't have to paint around our Cinder Block Planter... because that puppy ain't moving!

Once I had my sizes determined (roughly 40"x40") I needed a large enough piece of cardboard to sketch the design on.  I ended up using a water heater box that conveniently died while this was going on.  I free handed the motifs on the cardboard as I liked the organic feel of the inspiration image.

Once my motifs were drawn I cut the pattern out using a box cutter.  Ta Da!

Starting with a clean deck (aka removing as much pollen as possible!) I traced each of the motifs in place using a pencil.  I then painstakingly filled in each of them by hand using an Oil Based Porch & Floor Paint in Gloss.  This can be found at any Home Improvement store.  (It doesn't require a primer btw!)  Due to the uneveness of the deck & all of the slats I decided this would be the way to go vs a traditional stencil... call me crazy!

Each of the motifs took two coats to get full coverage.  The second coat went on much faster than the first, but I did have to wait 24 hours between each coat... love & hate oil based paint.  Great durability! But also crazy stinky & takes forever to dry.

I literally did one or two motifs a day during nap time... So it took about two weeks to complete.  But if you have the time & better yet a partner this could easily be knocked out in a weekend.

Sealer... I actually haven't sealed it yet!  WHAT?!?!  I have been waiting for it to get a bit chippy first as that is the look I am going for.  Knowing full & well that paint on a deck is going to chip, I am letting it happen.   That being said, I am so impressed with how it has held up so far!  Through nasty rain, freezing & warm temps... so far so good.

For reference, our Deck was stained using Cabot Semi Solid Stain in Cordovan Brown & the Porch & Floor Paint was standard Gloss White... no special mixing or formula required!

Updating the Hall...(again)

We were recently gifted a large haul of amazing antique furniture.  Like shut your mouth amazing!  So I have been switching around some of our, well, not so amazing furniture to make room for the upgrades.  It was perfect timing as I was purging all of my hoard for the Room Service project.  So a few things had to go! 

Our hallway was the easiest place to start... I know, I liked it too.  It even ended up it Kelly Edwards "The Design Cookbook" next to a project by the amazing Tobi Fairley!  But the mirror was needed at the room, the garden stool doesn't really live there & the ladder had been knocked over one too many times by the Tasmanian devil, I mean my daughter.

So in it's place, I placed a vintage brass quilt rack to house our extra towels.  And I filled the walls with two large frames filled with the ever popular spotted fabric.  I had a yard leftover from the room's new headboard & thought these would make a really great graphic statement in our little space.   Y'all know how I love to mix a print!  Plus, ever since I saw this space in Lonny Mag I have been wanting to duplicate the look somewhere...

I think the hall was the perfect place for this in our home...

The large scale of the framed fabric actually makes the space feel larger & is a great solution for the wallet as well.  You'd be hard pressed to find art of that size for $7... just sayin.

Now here is the bad news... Everyone is looking for this fabric & I fear it may be discontinued as it has been sold out everywhere.  I got the last few yards from Fabric.com on clearance... not a good sign for it's return. But if you want to keep an eye out for it, it is Premiere Prints Togo.  

The fabulous Brittany from Brittany Makes has shared her favorite spotted fabrics for all less than $20 a yard, maybe one of these would work for your upcoming spotted project!

Leave a comment below if you have found it anywhere!

Bye Bye Brown Living Room!

If you have read my little corner of the web for some time, you know that I am not a fan of brown.  That being said, for some reason when we were furnishing our house 6 years ago I went brown crazy.  It was my first time living with a boy (the hubs) & kinda thought brown was the safe choice to make him happy too.  Brown sofa with the matching chaise (still banging my head about that one!), brown rug, brown drapes I even painted our dining room brown.  

Slowly by surely the brown is disappearing.  While the brown sofa will remain for a while, I think once some of the other elements are changed, the brown sofa might actually grow on me... This change will not be an overhaul, just a little freshening up... Here is what I am thinking:

The main change will be the rug...  I have been looking for a jute rug for a while now, and I am thinking something like this hand knotted one will be just the right one.  We are also swapping out our coffee table, again.  Our upholstered ottoman/cocktail table just doesn't work for our family, so I have already started a project with the table above as the inspiration.  To help bring the space to life, we will be adding some brightly covered pillows to join the menagerie of black & white pillows we already have.  If you are looking for an easy update... pillows are it!  There is also some artwork happening inspired by those killer Acrylic Prints I saw at the Antique store a few weeks ago thanks to a very sweet friend!  I cannot get them off my mind!  Mine however will not be $899! And lastly, I have an idea for some sconces... we'll see if that one pans out or not.

All of this will start happening after this next week... Room Service Atlanta is being INSTALLED!!!  Finally!!  This will be the last sneak peek people.

(Fun right?!?) Happy Monday!!

Room Service Atlanta Update

We are almost done with the Room Service Atlanta Project!!! Furniture has started to make its way into the room (& out of our dining room YAY!)  Painting is all but done... which has been one of the longest processes ever.  It seemed like every time I turned around there was something else that needed to be painted.  Three coats on all the walls, trim work & doors, the bathroom walls & flooring were painted, as well as all the kitchen cabinets & counters!  (I am painted out!)  The light fixtures are all being installed today & I am hoping for no surprises when it comes to the condition of the ceiling under the gigantic fluorescent light box that was there originally.  Really not wanting to paint the ceiling... I have a few ideas up my sleeves just in case I need to "fix" something.

Besides the paint, the biggest transformation in the space has been the flooring graciously donated by Mohawk Flooring.  To read all about our DIY Laminate Install head on over to Creative Home & my blonde moment... So happy to be blonde again!! 

Sorry the posts haven't been very creative lately.  I have literally been spending every free minute at the space trying to finish it up.  I was so blessed with all the donations & honestly would not have been able to get this done without them (& my partner in crime HB for helping me as much as she can! THANK YOU!!!)

This space is going to be full of ideas!  The reveal should be up within a week!!!! & then I will be taking a very long nap lol.  Not really... already have new plans & projects happening at the house & such a cool giveaway coming up.  So stick around!

My Weekend with Taniya Nayak

If you have ever turned on HGTV or the Food Network, you are sure to have come across the lovely & talented Taniya Nayak.  Known for shows such as Restaurant Impossible & Design to Sell (to name a few...) she lends her talented eye on some spaces in need of some serious help!  She is also the face of Mohawk Flooring!  Since I write for their new blog, I was thrilled when they mentioned she would be in town for a local store opening.  Even more excited when they mentioned going to dinner!  That is really a situation where you can get to know someone.

I rounded up some of Atlanta's local design/blog talent & we all met at JCT Kitchen for some serious southern food!  Of course the group photo gave us all demon eyes.  Happens every time right?!  But check out all that food! Fried Chicken, Collards, Black Eyed Peas... Mmmm.  It was good.

Dayka Robinson, Taniya Nayak, Katie Bower, Rachel Withers, Erica Ward, me & Amanda Swindall 

Even better than the food was the company.  It's been quite a while since I have had a Girl's Night Out, so this was definitely needed.  We obviously gabbed about design, blogs & of course design shows.  We did get a little behind the scenes dirt... but I'll keep that info to myself.  Sorry. I don't kiss & tell :)  

I will tell you that Taniya is the sweetest person.  She is so down to earth & completely one of the girls.  We kept laughing because we ended up having so much in common.  Both of our Husbands are Restaurant Guys, we love restaurant design (I really miss that) and we even eat our cupcakes the same way.  It's a sandwich technique that I've perfected over the years... well she does it too!

After a late night, we had to go get our beauty rest for Builder's Floor Covering & Mohawk Flooring Showroom Opening event that happened in Buckhead (a suburb of Atlanta).  

We walked the red carpet...

Checked out some of the featured products...

& sat down for a Question & Answer Session with Taniya herself!

Yes, it was legit with microphones & everything!  I asked some questions that Mohawk Followers submitted,  asked a few background questions of my own & went out to the crowd for some of their questions.  Obviously Taniya is a pro at this kind of set up... me not so much, but I tried my best.  She was even nice enough to allow me to answer a few of the crowd questions & provide my designer two cents.  I must admit, I felt pretty important.

The event was a complete success & a lucky family even won a $20,000 Room Makeover designed by Taniya!  How great is that?!?

The amazing Heidi Rew from Parties for Pennies did all the Party Planning for the event (the weekend of her sister's wedding!!!! Talk about busy!!)  And she did an amazing job!  I mean look at these cupcakes displayed on Carrara Marble floor tiles!

To see more about the event & all the details, head over to Creative Home!

I had such a great time with Taniya & we've promised to stay in touch.  Maybe I'll stop by & say hello my next trip to Boston!

Big thanks to Mohawk for setting all of this up!!!

Mother's Day Gift Guide

1. Designers Guild - Orangerie Rose Pillow

The lovely Kimber from House of Pemberley donated one of these for the Room Service Atlanta Project & I am officially obsessed.  Knowing it has to leave our house in a week is already making me crave at least one for our own home.  A pair would be even better!

2. Illume Candle

Illume Candles are by far my absolute favorite candles.  All of the scents are so luxurious & they last forever.  Every mom needs a little lovely in her life right?

3. Stella & Dot Golden Arrow Bangle

This little bangle is quite appropriate for Mother's Day as my little one instantly had me struck by Cupid's arrow.  This would be a constant reminder...

4. LaVanila Perfume

I must admit, I am a scent snob.  A can't handle a lot of florals, but all of the LaVanila scents have just the right notes of vanilla & something.  Nothing to overpowering, but enough to make a mom feel special.  It is my go to!

5. Stella & Dot How Does She Do It - Navy Stripe Bag

What mom on the go doesn't need a great bag?  This navy & white striped bag is perfect for those warm summer days.  It can easily go from Play Date to Client Consult.

6. Lindsay Letters "You're Pretty" Mini Print 

Let's face it, Mom just needs to be reminded of this every once in a while.  And at $7... this gold foil print is the perfect reminder.

Painted Mismatched Chairs

It's fun to have a local client who entrusts me to do a little DIY project for their home too, so when it came time to choose some dining chairs I threw out the idea to buy some old, non matching, thrifted chairs & paint them all in my favorite Kelly Green.  This would not only give the homeowner a custom look but would also be much more cost effective then buying three new matching chairs.

Of course, when you are looking for something at a thrift/antique store you can never find it.  Why must that always be the case?!?  It took a little longer than anticipated to find three well built chairs with the right lines, but I finally did!  They all have great lines & balance each other out.   

They definitely needed some TLC though... My initial plan was to brush them, until I bought the center one with all the spindles.  So out came the spray.  First, a good solid coat of primer & a quick sand with a fine grade paper.

Already so much better.  After the primer was dried & sanded I gave them a few coats of Rustoleum's Meadow Green (the same as my HGTV Magazine dresser...I can all it that now right?!?)  I then sealed them with a spray polyurethane for durability.

Now these lovely ladies have some attitude!  I can't wait to see them once paired with the Acradia Extension Table from World Market

And this settee from Wayfair!

It really is going to be lovely!  Can't wait to get them delivered this weekend.