And the winner is...

Thanks to everyone who joined our blog and entered our GIVEAWAY for the lavender Middle Kingdom porcelain bowl.  And now for the winner...

# 10 - My Crafty Home Life

Congrats to Linda from My Crafty Home Life!  Please contact us to arrange for delivery.

So since Mom is super inspired by her Spring Into Action Challenge, I've been starting a new to-do list and sometimes these things can seem so daunting, right?  I figured I should start small and work up to larger ticket items (like hanging three new pendant lights in my kitchen or all new dining chairs).  One thing I can get done relatively quickly is a hardware refresh ('scuse the techy talk) on my Bombe chest in my entry.  I bought it a couple of years ago when I was fully on board with the rustic meets untreated or reclaimed wood look and now I'm left feeling too shabby and not so chic about it.

 

I bought four of these pups ponies to add to it..

 

I'm thinking of painting it dark green, navy or black with some contrasting trim.  A la...

Source: sheridanfrench.blogspot.com via Bethany on Pinterest

I love some brass hardware!  I feel like it's one of those things that you either love or hate.  While I've been busy falling in love with brass all over again, Mom cringes at the thought of its revival after finally finishing the update to stainless/brushed nickel about five years ago.  Same disconnect between us about wallpaper, too.

Brass looks super good in a campaign-style enviro.  Or to add a touch of warmth to a space.

                                          Source: paloma81.blogspot.com via Bethany on Pinterest                                                  

                                                    Source: houseandhome.com via Bethany on Pinterest                                    

                                                                Source: cotedetexas.blogspot.com via Shannon on Pinterest 

                                                                       Source: framesofreadingroad.tumblr.com via C on Pinterest                     

                                                                 Source: mynottinghill.blogspot.com via Bethany on Pinterest       

                                                                         

                                                                              Source: abchome.com via Bethany on Pinterest      

Source: parlourhomeblog.com via Bethany on Pinterest

                 

                                                                                   Source: lh5.ggpht.com via Lori on Pinterest

How do you feel about brass hardware?  Love it or leave it?  Mixed in or one finish throughout?

PS - Did you have a nice Easter?

-Bethany


PPS - Congrats again to Linda on winning the GIVEAWAY!

Office Project Numero Uno (also happens to be a good Ikea Hack)

I wanted this bookcase.

But it wouldn't fit in my tiny office space. 

So I settled for a Hemnes from Ikea and got to work.

Step One : Cut a hole in the box (sorry for the Saturday Night Live reference) 

We primed all of the surfaces that we wanted to paint with a quality primer.  Sherwin Williams Adhesion Primer is what we used here and it's never led us astray.

So we primed away in mom's kitchen.

And primed away on mom's floor.

We did two coats of paint; this is after the first coat. Usually I like to preach the poor quality of Behr paint and true to form, it did an awful job of adhering to the primer, but that's what we used here.  The color is called Tuscon Teal. 

 

We painted the back board of the bookcase, which happens to be a thin sheet of cardboard, not even MDF.

And we painted some more.  This time the interior of the frame.  

The blue is really showing up royal versus the teal that it is.  Had to switch to Instagram to show the color better.

Thus, pay no mind to the 70's vibe going on in the following pics.

I added a little sparkle.  Can you blame me?

 A package of 4 brass box corners from eBay set me back about 53 cents.  WAHOO!

And voila!

More legit pictures soon.  And by soon, I mean probably in the next year because I have yet to master the art of taking decent photos.  So for now, most of my stuff is from my iPhone.

Happy start of the week!!

-Bethany