Finished Bath Vanity

This is the light fixture for the bathroom vanity. I decided to refinish it in a pewter color and started with a spray coat of Rustoleum enamel, Stainless Steel color.  Then a metallic bronze glaze was applied.

So that the light fixture and the mirror would compliment one another the mirror needed a new finish.   I applied silver leaf to the mirror and used a stencil and metallic bronze glaze to antique the silver leaf.  Now the mirror has become the focal point of the room.

Finish!

Kims Korner Antique Auction

   This last weekend, Sis and I enjoyed the good weather and spent some time at Kims Korner Antique Auction, located in Richmond, Texas. Sunday, rubber plants, mid-century furniture, bone figurines, and a myriad of other items were sold in a three-hour time period. Here is a glimpse of what we saw: 

     If you haven't attended an auction, they can be fun. At Kim's auction, you check in, fill out some paper work, and then they issue you a bidding number.
     You can find deals, but it helps to know a little bit about what you are after. So a little education goes a long way. They always have a preview period that begins a couple of hours before the auction starts where you can scrutinize the items that you are thinking of buying and ask questions. And if you call in advance, they will save you a seat. 
     Be aware that there is a buyer's premium that is added to what you are purchasing plus sales tax. So it is always wise to know your market and set price limits on the items you want to buy before the bidding starts, or you might get carried away. 
     Although we didn't buy anything, Sis and I had a lot of fun watching. If you are interested in going, first check out their website for posted pictures of future auctions and sign up for their newsletter.  ~Sandy~
      

KIMS KORNER ANTIQUE AUCTION 

1646 Blaisdale Road, Richmond, Texas 77406    

281-232-5467

 http://kimskornerantiques.com

Interior Fabrics

     There are a lot of good upholstery fabric stores in Houston, but I want to take you to one of our favorites: Interior Fabrics. We have a few reupholstering projects coming up, so we took a little time off painting, and went shopping for some fabric. The store has a huge selection to choose from, and all are down right beautiful. Even if you were blindfolded, it would be difficult to make a bad selection. However, while you are there, a time warp will occur. To you, it may feel like you have spent only twenty minutes shopping; but in reality, three hours went by. So fair warning.
     Not only does the shop have a large selection of fabric, but they carry hardware for draperies, have a large trim selection, and offer custom upholstery as well. Why would you want to buy something off a furniture showroom floor that you almost like. When at Interior Fabrics, you can pick out a furniture frame and have it upholstered with fabric that you have fallen in love with. Take a glance at the pretty display of upholstered furniture that could be yours.

       

   I could spend hours in their trim section.Wait...I have.

 

 Interior Fabrics has some of the prettiest fabric, but a picture is worth a thousand words.

 

If you know that you will be needing a bolt of  fabric in the near future, you may want to go and select something right now. Do you see all of those red tags on those displays cases?

Those tags mean that there is a sale going on,

and some beautiful fabric is fifty percent off....

 Interior Fabrics' address is 3104 Fondren Rd., TX 77063
713-782-3311

Wonder Faux

   
     Recently, Sis and I attended a workshop offered by Michelle Delgado, who is the owner of Wonder Faux Studio in Stafford, Texas. If you haven't met Michelle, I must warn you that she is full of uncapped energy that radiates once she enters a room; and she has a deep love for the decorative arts field. Also, if you are even slightly curious about the decorative arts, you cannot go wrong by taking one of Michelle's classes. Because of her devotion and patience, she can instill in you a love for the craft and demystify it for you. She can and will have you painting multilayered furniture finishes, plastering walls, and doing your own faux bois and marble finishes.  Needless to say, we found her to be a wonderful teacher that is dedicated to her craft. 
     If you have any interest in decorating, you have no doubt noticed that Annie Sloan Chalk Paint has been one of the current hot topics. Michelle is a vendor for Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, and we went to watch her demonstrate its application at her studio.         
      ASCP has got to be one of the most user friendly paints in the world. Get this, if you have a piece of furniture that you would like to paint, there is hardly any preparation that needs to be done (possibly, a light cleaning and sanding if really dirty). You just open the can, dip your brush in, and paint. How simple is that!
     Now, this is where taking one of Michelle's classes comes in. She can give you tips on the usage of the paint and guide you through every step. Michelle can show you how to take your piece of furniture from ordinary to a really professional looking furniture finish. Did you know that you can have a crackle finish with ASCP by using a hair dryer? No, I didn't either. Michelle's class in the application of ASCP is invaluable. Below is a picture of Michelle explaining waxing techniques during the demonstration.

      
      ASCP is good, but there are other products used in the decorative arts field. Michelle carries Totem decorative products, Variance plaster finishes, metallic foils, and designer stencils. These are only a few of the products that she sells. 
     Also, she has decorated her studio with some of the prettiest finishes. And with guidance, you can duplicate them in your own home as well.

      Take special note of this next picture. It is her coffee bar area in her studio. Notice the tiles on the wall, those are not ceramic tiles in the traditional sense, but embossed plaster. She even got them to chip around their edges. How cool is that. Also, take notice of her use of nail heads on the cabinets. Very pretty, indeed. 

     Sis and I would like to thank Michelle for her Annie Sloan Paint demonstration. It took a lot time and work to set up. We, also want her to know that it was greatly appreciated. Thank you, Michelle. We will be back....I need some of those nail heads....and stencils....and foils.....and more paint.  ~Sandy & Mary~

 If you would like to take one of Michelle's work shops,

Call 281.242.4937 or e-mail at info@wonderfauxstudio.com

Michelle Delgado, Wonder Faux is also on Facebook,

http://www.facebook.com/pages/WonderFaux-Studio-Houston

Blue Bird Circle

     If you live close to Houston, TX and love antiques and bargains, you need to get yourself down to the Blue Bird Circle. Besides destroying rooms and painting everything in sight, Sis and I are avid bargain hunters (there is a missing Picasso out there, and we mean to find it). So this weekend we put down our paint brushes, folded our ladders and went hunting. This is a little glimpse of what we saw: 

     Yes, that is what I am saying. All of these treasures can be yours. Where else can you buy designer clothing and taxidermy at the same time....nowhere, but at Blue Bird Circle. I have first dibbs on the two French chairs and maybe the tea set.
     This is such a nice painted bedroom set, who doesn't like Beatrix  Potter.

     If you have a little boy that loves Captain Jack Sparrow, you have to buy this bed set immediately.

      This painted green chair is calling me.

If you are a clothes horse and appreciate designer duds, this place might be for you. For instance, check out this royal blue 

Albert Nipon suit.      

      My only hang up on not buying this suit is that it only comes in a size two, which I am afraid that I haven't been for awhile. On Saturday, Blue Bird had tons of Calvin Klein, Talbot, and Chico brand clothing. I didn't ask, but I am sure that there is probably a Chanel lurking around on the racks too.
      Also, everybody that shops at a resale store knows that the longer an item has lingered, unsold around the shop, the deeper the item is discounted. Every store has their own policy, but I have to praise the Blue Bird Circle on what they do. They place that information on their tickets. I cannot tell you how much time this simple act saves. Looking for information on an item at a resale shop can be trying. Usually, no one knows, so price information has to be looked up. Time can stand still at moments like these. If Albert Einstein were alive, he would be looking into this resale-store phenomenon and creating an equation to explain it. 

Check out the ticket above. If you wait until February 18, 2012, you would only pay $2,997.50. The information is right there! All resale shops should adopt this policy.
     This item, mahogany table and six chairs, can be found in the better furniture area. For me, the ticket carries a little hint of being an oxymoron, which I like. I don't think my first car cost that much. However, this is what makes the Blue Bird Circle the best at what they do.   ~Sandy~

The Blue Bird Resale Shop location:
       615 West Alabama, Houston TX

For more information: 
       www.thebluebirdcircle.com/ResaleShop.aspx

      

Sewing Niche

One bonus to my vanity area was a large closet opposite the sink counter top.  Some of you may be familiar with the large mirrored sliding closet doors that were popular in the 80s.  Well, they're gone.  The space has been converted into a sewing area hidden by a curtain.

Valance and bench with matching fabric

Plywood covered with marble

 I installed a fabric covered valance made from an 8" wide wooden board to hide an adjustable shower rod that holds the curtain fabric.  The valance fabric was also used to cover an old vanity bench that easily slides underneath the sewing machine.





Curtain fabric.  Love moire!



Easy DIY reupholstery project



When I will find time to sew again is the big question.

Bath Vanity - Making Progress

Called my sister for help installing sink and glad I did since she has more plumbing experience.  Because the sink location  changed we needed to install new pipe so this required a trip to the hardware store.  Hours later after tracking down and fixing leaks we were finally finished thanks to my sister's determination. 

Managed to find mirror I liked at Hobby Lobby.  The price was reduced to $35 because of scuff marks, but I plan on refinishing it so that didn't matter.

We answered a newspaper ad by a local tile installer that was cleaning out his warehouse and offering tile at rediculous prices.  I got this marble tile at a $1 a piece and purchased 20.  My sister has a tile cutter so installing the tile was a pretty easy job, just messy.  The 3 inch decorative tile trim came from Lowes and really compliments the cream color in the marble.

There is nothing like crown molding to dress up a room.  Thankfully we are getting better with our angle cuts and don't waste as much wood.

Please check back for the final results!