Vintage Inspiration Friday #45 Just getting started...

This week I threw out a spur-of-the-moment challenge

 for you all to give me some inspiration

in changing up my Living Room.

Wow...!!!

You all addressed many of the things that were bugging me,

but that I just hadn't done anything about.

Fresh eyes and some great advice have yielded so many ideas.

I have a mile long list now of things that I can try,

 and a roadmap to actually get to where I want to be,

instead of just thinking about it.

The first thing I did was spray paint my two brass lamps;

a few coats of Satin White by Valspar,

and a coat of Minwax liquid poly with a little dark stain added.

(spurred on by Nita, I knew this would be the start point!)

(still needs distressing)

Once they were white the dark end table looked wrong...

only way to remedy that was to do the unthinkable;

paint out those tables.

I always keep a gallon of my tried and true Behr two-in-one paint on hand.

(Creamy White)

Never know when you'll go nuts and start a huge project!

My biggest gripe in this room has been the dark wood coffee and end tables.

Just so not me...

I just knew I wouldn't be happy until I painted them.

They are heavy, huge, and clunky,

but have a lot of frenchy charm with the yummy details and curvy legs.

The dark wood just obliterated all that.

One of my helpers.

 (oh Mom, no pictures...)

Before shots from last post.

I had to take a deep breath and just slap on some of that paint;

no going back.

I actually tried the idea by Ahrisha

about leaving the tops stained,

 (love this look and have a few pieces downstairs with this)

but they are just too dark,

and I decided for all white instead of a stripping project.

(not a stripper..te he)

So here's where I am right now,

I have to do my stain "glaze" (any type of dark oil based stain)

and wipe on poly on the coffee table.

The end tables are finished.

I thought about going the ASCP route,

but I have other pieces in here

 with this same paint technique and I'm really happy with it.

I have absolutely no gray or blue anywhere around,

and even though I love that look,

it wouldn't work for this space.

Oh how I love seeing that detail, now!

Painting more furniture pieces,

finding fabric for some new pillows to add to the sofas,

buying new shades for the chandelier and accent lighting,

finding some heat resistant spray paint for the fireplace insert.

Whitewashing the mirror above the fireplace...

on and on...

(painting the clock...?)

but I'm excited with what's ahead!

I have to apologize for being a poopy hostess for the party.

I got about halfway through visiting,

and then the holiday crowd overwhelmed me.

You all had some wonderful Patriotic decor,

I just grabbed a few examples.

Thanks so much for taking the time and effort to join in!

Love you guys!

Jeanine the Queen of Chippy Shabby,

always puts together a wonderful holiday display,

Her July 4th entry way is vintage at it's best!

Richard at My Old Historic House puts on a fabulous

patriotic display with his wire stands, furniture and gazebo.

Tee, from Brown Eyed Belle has such a fresh vintage display for the 4th,

 with gorgeous Limoges plates and just picked hydrangeas.

And check out Kim from Starshine Chic

She has the sweetest patriotic teddy display;

an inspiration from Bethany Lowe Designs.

Thanks again for all the help,

I have plenty on my plate for awhile to see this get where I'm envisioning it.

I'll keep you posted on the progress,

Hope you'll join in today

(please direct people back to this post with a button or link.)

 I'm joining these great parties this weekend:

(Links on the sidebar)

love ya,

I'm committed...

...or should that be,

"I need to be committed"?

You all gave me some fabulous ideas

and inspiration on my last post!

Hopefully, I'll share what I've accomplished for VIF,

 tomorrow afternoon.

now...to work!

Keep a good thought for me.

I haven't regretted painting anything white so far...

Evolution, not Revoltution

After this last weekend with a house full of kiddos,

I should be mopping floors, changing sheets,

and cleaning bathrooms...

but no,

I'm snapping photos of the Living Room

trying to decide on lampshades

and ways to de-fussify my tooooo fussy space.

Vanessa from At the Picket Fence

has a great post on a close subject;

how to add elements of a new style into an existing decorated space.

I can identify...

We purchased a lot of our furniture nine years ago when we moved here,

and my tastes have evolved since then.

I still love it,

I just like to change things up every once in a while.

(The monster armoire was one of our first purchases

 when we were married.

It's been a fixture for all these years,

and I wouldn't change it for anything.)

But when you buy "break the bank" furniture,

I can't justify buying new just because I have an itch for a clean slate.

So I'm in an ongoing process to evolve my spaces into more of "who I am now",

verses who I was "then".

Can you relate?

I'm a big proponent on letting your house dictate the furniture "style" and mood.

Just like I wouldn't put modern furniture in an 1800's saltbox.

Some people might be more gutsy than me...

but that's just my opinion on interior design.

Our house just has a more formal feel to it.

Sorry these photos are washed out,

I was trying to show the little vintage rug

that I recently changed out for summer.

Last year I made chair slips for these chairs...

I was done with the red.

(and believe it or not,

 I actually have edited some of my stuff since this photo!)

So I'm continuing to move toward a lighter more neutral palette.

Like just adding a vintage linen table runner

to help cut the vast expanse of dark coffee table.

I'm thinking of painting and distressing it and the end tables white;

not sure if I want to take that huge plunge quite yet.

So now to the culprit lampshades at hand.

I want something more updated on these puppies.

I'm not ready to buy new lamps

 even though I'd like to do away with all the brass in here.

It's everywhere...

Yes, there are two of them;

one for each end table and each sofa...

I'm thinking these linen shades, sans the lamps,

 from Pottery Barn

may be just what I need.

Can you visualize them with me?

OK, stay tuned for more of what I've been doing in here.

I also have an itch to paint out my grandmother clock,

(scroll back a few photos on the left.

It's new, not an antique)

which I think will be a project soon.

I want that French/Scandinavian look for it.

My sister-in-law has threatened to beat me if I do...

guess I'll have to chance it.

I'm open for ideas on how to change things up.

any thoughts?

linking with these parties this week:

love you guys,

see ya Thursday for

Hope you'll join in!

Happy 4th

Big or small,

hope you're celebrating our country's heritage!

love,