Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Budget Bathroom Makeover

Two months later I am so excited to share our bathroom afters.
The before was pretty drab. We have been in our house 4 years and the bathrooms have not bothered me THAT much. They are clean and functional. Lately, we have been discussing the possibility of moving and since the market is crazy right now we figured it would be worth it to spruce things up.


We chose to paint the tile, update the countertops, add new lighting, plumbin fixtures and hardware. We painted the vanity and framed the mirror.


Oh, hi. This bathroom is so skinny it is almost impossible to get some decent pictures.


Tile Painting
This was the biggest expense and made the biggest impact. I am thrilled with the results. It honestly does not look like it has been painted. I would highly suggest hiring a professional. This was tedious work and took most of the day just to prep. Raleigh folks, I recommend Amazing Refinishing if you are thinking about having your tile painted. The prices are fair and they were meticulous.

There are not a ton of options if you are painting the floor tile so I went with white. I was nervous it was going to drive me crazy. So far, I do not have many complaints. I can see hair/dirt more than before, but it is not enough to make me regret the decision. 

Countertops
A great way to save money is to find local granite fabricators and visit the remnant yard. We used a marble stone called Mont Blanc. It is my favorite part of the bathroom.

Plumbing/Hardware
I used a polished nickel finish. The hardware is Martha Stewart from Home Deport and the faucet is Water Creations.

Lighting
The vanity light is the Pullman from Shades of Light.

Vanity
In an effort to save some $$ we painted the vanity ourselves. The color is Benjamin Moore Dior Gray. 

So there you have it. It is always touchy when you say budget because every one's idea of budget is so relative. This was not cheap and we really did not want it to look like a DIY. We saved where we could, but really wanted to make sure it would appeal to buyers in our area.

What are your thoughts on painting tile?  I have no experience trying to paint it myself. Anyone tried? Good or bad?

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

MY FAVORITE PAINT COLORS

Deciding on a paint color can be an overwhelming task. There are so many choices, most people have no clue where to even start. I have a couple favorites that I tend to gravitate towards. (Note: Colors appear slightly darker than the actual color)


What are some of your go to colors? I would love to add some more to my list.

Monday, April 28, 2014

Weekend Recap: Vintage Finds and A Bathroom Makeover

It is spring and that means one thing to me... ESTATE SALE SEASON! The warm weather brings the best sales and it is my favorite thing to do on the weekends. My mom got lucky and found me a set of gold bamboo flatware in Morganton.

I finally found a secretary. I have been talking about it for quite some time.  I am excited to get some ginger jars on top of that thing.

I finally snapped some pictures of the updated bathrooms.  Remember the before? We finished in February and I am just getting around to sharing. Lots of fun things, including tile painting to discuss tomorrow.

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Birkenstocks Are Back!

 While they may not be the most attractive shoe that has graced our feet, they are the most comfortable. 

If you do not trust me, trust Ashley..

and Alexa! She would not steer you wrong.

This person who looks like Sienna Miller obviously knows how to dress herself.


Really long tan legs do not hurt when wearing an unattractive shoe.

Obviously, by this picture you can tell I have always been ahead of the fashion times.

I have found people are very opinionated about their love or sometimes hate of Birks.  If you cannot tell I am in love and think everyone should get a pair!

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

The Green Velvet Sofa

 I guess you could call it a trend, but there is nothing trendy about a green velvet sofa.








1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8


My favorite sofas skip the tufting, usually have one cushion and a pretty skirt.



Thursday, April 17, 2014

I need a vacation!

Yesterday I shared the contents of my beach bag with Mrs. Meares. Last night we sat by the fire (our heat is not working) and wished for warmer days.
I decided to add some more items to my beach bag...


Friday, April 11, 2014

Happy Friday

This is everything. 



Thursday, April 10, 2014

Designer Crush: Celerie Kemble

Celerie Kemble of Kemble Interiors needs no introduction. She has graced the covers of our favorite shelter mags like Lonny, Elle Decor and House Beautiful. Kemble Interiors, which is a family affair, has a pretty impressive portfolio that will leave you wanting more. 









Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Opal Envy

I would really like some opals in my life. I have always been attracted to the funky colors since I was a child. Wwake takes my obsession to a whole other level.




Friday, April 4, 2014

Mark Your Calendar!

I come out of a blogging hiatus for the one and only Iris Apfel
This is probably the most highly anticipated sale One Kings Lane has ever had.  Iris is selling 800 items of her personal collection starting TOMORROW.