Green Room

Nothing is more green than recycling. 

For those of us who collect antiques 

and shop for gently used wares,

we live the green life. 

Sometimes ordinary things can take on a new purpose.

We've all had a time when we used something 

for a purpose outside it's calling  . . .

A coffee cup pencil holder,

a jar holding buttons . . . 

What about bigger things?

Today I bring to you a set of things that

are not only being reused,

but in some cases rethought.

Including a few items from my own home.

But first, a history lesson.

In the 30s this building was an office space.

By the 50s, a small fashion studio

An now you call it home.

You have purchased this building, busted out some walls,

and renovated it. 

You sifted through the remains,

pulled from it some good pieces, and build some new dreams.

The local salvage yard and consignment shop

had a number of things you could put to good use, too.

Modern green living - the old fashioned way.

Doors turned room divider,

a trolley cart coffee table,

 windows frames as decor or a new mirror,
an antique dress form just like the one in my dining room,

a door as a table.

Also included:

4 pendant lights
a bottle, a jar and two styles of edison bulbs

Nesting bowls just like my own (2nd style is CAS-table)

A metal sign that used to hang at a store I worked at in South Station, Boston
(2 styles, worn and worn out)

a 'scissor' lamp with glass bulb,

and an accordion table I finally had to break down and buy I loved it so much.

Well there you have it. 

14 items.

This set is so big I am having to break it up by format.

** door screen footprint problem has been corrected for these downloads**

I hope you enjoy this set as much as I have creating it.

Perhaps it will inspire you to see thing a new way.

People that need to be thanked for their invaluable help:

Raven Shadow @ MTS <------- my hero

OrangeMittens @ MTS/Indigo

HugeLunatic @ MTS

HystericalParoxysm @MTS

Murano @ TSR

Helping to fix the problems with the 

dining table and trolley cart coffee table

as well as TSRW in general.

I also want to thank all the people who have helped me to test this set,

and, of course, Heidi @ Exotic Elements for inspiring the set with her unreleased finial! Release it! hehe

~An Art Wall~

As many of you know I have been

s-l-o-w-l-y 

re-doing my eldest daughter's room
 {I am beginning to sound like a broken record} 
But I have run out of steam, my budget is limited (or non-existent?) and time is not on my side.

So.....

All the materials for the headboard are ready to go, but since I have a saw phobia I am waiting for the husband to help cut the plywood that is collecting dust in the garage. 


Hopefully this weekend after my daughter's 16th birthday party has passed and I can breathe a sigh of relief, I can sweet talk the husband to plug in the saw and help :)

BUT......

One project I ACTUALLY accomplished was putting together an art wall for her room. Being a typical teenager she loves to surround herself with photos. 

What a perfect way to display her photos and other artwork than to create a gallery wall that is so in vogue.

Using a collection of spray painted thrift store frames, a mirror, painted canvases by moi, Ikea frames and monograms, I created a gallery of sorts along her bed that she can add to along the way.

"How did I do it?," you ask with bated breath.

Well....

To create a galley wall that reduces the amount of nail holes, you start by laying out the frames and arranging them on the floor until you have come up with an arrangement you like. 

{This is where I forgot to take a photo}

Next trace each frame, canvas or mirror onto kraft paper. You can use newspaper or a roll of   gift wrap as an alternative.

Start taping each piece on the wall, fiddling with the paper until you are satisfied with the look. I use a level and yard stick as well to make sure I have things lined up.


 Step back to  see if the arrangement is to your liking

Start hanging up the art work, one piece at a time.

{This was a photo taken of my daughter by her friend in a photography class}

Once finished....

Stand back and enjoy! 

I also added small little plastic dots on the bottom corners inside of each frame so they would "stick" to the wall and not shift.

I am thrilled with how the wall turned out. Now onto the headboard.....

Wish me luck.

Linking to:
POP @Domestically Speaking
Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Chic Cottage
Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest
Frugalicious Friday @ Finding Fabulous
Metamorphosis Monday@BNOTP

~A Mirror Transformed~

My daughter's bedroom is finally coming together, I am just adding the finishing touches and a few more furnishings. 

When she came home from her hiking trip she was thrilled with the Stonington Gray on the walls.

 Her words (and my other daughter's words as well) "It looks so grown up!"

 Just the mood I was trying to convey with the colour choice. Glad to have a satisfied client. 

 The furniture is back in, her "collectables" have been edited, new bedding purchased, art hung and I have re-vamped a few thrift store finds. One is this ornate mirror I found at a recent thrift store jaunt, each for $5. I bought two, one for each girl. This mirror will help bring a bit of glam to the room.

This is where spray paint comes to the rescue. 

First I spray primed the mirror frames with spray on primer, then I sprayed them white. 

I didn't like the white frame against the gray, it was too stark.

Spraying the mirror with a bit of black allows it to really pop against the gray walls and now coordinates well with all the other frames on the art wall above her bed. 

{no matter how I tweak the photo, the camera doesn't capture the wall colour}

We are still choosing some photos from her massive collection of photos (teenage girls take a LOT of photos) to place in a few frames.

But here is a sneak peek: 

You can see the peony painting I painted early on in the year.

All that is left is to source out a nightstand and make the headboard, which I will need my husband's help with the jigsaw if I want to keep all my fingers!

Linking to:
Show and Share@Just a Girl

Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Chic Cottage
Thrifty Thursday @ Tales from Bloggeritaville
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday@Coastal Charm

Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest

Frugalicious Friday @ Finding Fabulous

SNS @ Funky Junk Interiors

Sundae Scoop Party@Chocolate Sundaes

  

~Fabulous Find: Mirror~

This has been my lucky week for fabulous finds. 

I found this fantastic mirror in the clearance section of Homesense for $20.

 It is the perfect addition that will add the touch of glamour for my daughter's room. I wanted a starburst mirror but find this one more original. I love how there is the layering of two mirrors and the overlapping wires that give it the look of a flower. With her walls painted Stonington Gray, a tufted headboard, the mercury glass side lamp along with the thrift store lamp I re-vamped with silver leaf, her room will look elegant and grown-up, very fitting for a girl who is about to turn 16.

 Slowly I am collecting the accessories and furniture needed for her room, I have been enjoying the process and can't wait to put it all together. The challenge is to try to spend as little as possible and so far I have been finding bargains galore!

I have another find for her room that I found on Craigslist yesterday and am picking it up on Sunday which will require a coat of paint. Can't wait to show it to you.

Oh - remember how I was hoping and wanting me some chiang mai dragon fabric? 

Well......

 *sigh* 

I found a store that could order some in but {gulp} the price tag was a bit much, at $256 per yard I think I might just have to win the lottery!