DIY Coat Rack

Hopefully you all went over to Konen & Co. to see our headboard turned entryway bench.  We decided we wanted to make a custom coat rack to go above the bench.  I just love how this whole project came together.  And now that I know how inexpensive it is to make my own I will never buy a new one again!

I started out by measuring the length of my bench so I knew how wide the shelf needed to be.  From there I just eyeballed the top piece, I knew I wanted it to be deep enough to display things on top of it.  I also needed to be sure the bottom piece was tall enough to fit my hooks on.  (I actually used some left over heavy duty plywood for that part.)  Then I found these corbels in the lumber section at Lowes and knew they would be perfect!  All the materials I needed for this project were under $15.  Be sure to pick up your hanging hardware while your there also. ;)  We used a hanging kit that would be strurdy enough to hang coats and display items on top.

Here it is all laid out ready for assembly.

 Here is a view of the back.  You can see the two screws going into the corbel and the top piece is our wall mounting hardware.

Close up of wall mounting we used.

After I got it all put together I stained the entire piece dark walnut.

My handy dandy hooks that I got from Good ol' Hobby Lobby for under 3 bucks each!!!

Then I painted the entire piece in Behr Black Suede and distressed the edges.  After it was dry I attached the hooks.  Then I called upon the hubs to hang it above our new bench.  I just absolutely love this little nook now!

If you have any questions on this project please feel free to ask away in the comment section below. :)

Guest posting this evening.

Hey friends, I'm over at Konen & Co. guest posting today.  Please swing on by to check out my headboard turned entryway bench.

Plus you can see my awesome giveaway, enter to win just in time for the holidays!!!

Good luck! :)

First workshop...check!

Well my first workshop has come and gone.  It was so much fun!  I had the most talented ladies to work with.  I swear they're all naturals and I hope they feel brave enough now to tackle more projects in their homes.  Can't wait to have another class, I love bonding with other DIY'ers. 

Our home is ready for fall!

Finally got around to some projects that I've been wanting to do for our home.  This burlap banner is one of them.  I like to keep the decor inside pretty simple and neutral for the most part.  

Here is another Pinterest inspired project that I finally completed last week.  I love the look of this rustic wreath.  So simple and inexpensive to make.  I wrapped a straw wreath in burlap cut into 4 inch strips and hot glued the ends.  Then I hit the scrap booking section at Hobby Lobby and found some paper that looked like old white washed barn wood for my mini banner.  I also scored these fun canvas flowers in the scrap book section, just a little hot glue and I was good to go!  I added the little cloths pins last minute because they were just so darling (how can you not?!).

We had this old chair sitting in what I like to call our chair cemetery (aka our basement), so I decided to paint it white and distress it.  It's the perfect spot for my white mums and burlap pumpkin (which I also got at Hobby Lobby at 40% off).  I wrapped my mums in burlap and secured them with some twine, mostly because I really didn't want to plant them in the pots and I love burlap and can't get enough of it! 

I always have wood slices that I use for decor all year long so I used some out here to make some plants and pumpkins taller and add a little more rustic vibe to the whole porch.

My son isn't old enough to carve pumpkins yet so I will enjoy being able to choose what to do with them for the time being. :)  And I decided white distressed pumpkins this year.

Autumn porch decorating

Fall is one of my favorite times of year.  I love the cooler weather, warm cozy sweaters, boots, the color of the trees, and of course the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte.  And along with those things I love decorating for fall!  I thought I'd share several of my favorite Autumn porches that inspire me.  Everett and I will be painting our pumpkins today and planting our mums.  We will put up our pictures after, until then enjoy these beauties!

I love this porch from one of my favorite bloggers, Our Vintage Home Love.

Mixing in old vintage pieces like this wooden crate and lantern give a sense of soul to your decor.  I just love the stories behind old pieces.

This warm porch is from Better Homes and Gardens.

Love all the fall colors, so welcoming!

A more rustic porch, LOVE.

Simple and bold!

Love the chair!

Pinterest inspired project!

So, I finally took a break from other people's projects to finish up this one that I've been dying to do!  Here is what you'll need:

-old window or large frame
-cardboard (backing for photo)
-spray adhesive (I used elmer's brand)
-photo
-staple gun

First off you'll need to choose a photo, one that you won't mind being gigantic! lol  I choose something that wasn't a straight on face shot because I wanted it to seem like you were actually looking out a window and seeing a scene outdoors.

Save it as a black and white photo, then put it on a flash drive and take it to Office Depot/Office Max.  Tell them you want an Engineers Print on gloss paper. (Mine was 24" X 46", they can only go up to 24" wide)  I then trimmed my photo down to the size I needed to fit my window.  The print only cost $10!!!!  What a deal!

Cut your cardboard to the same size and spray adhesive on cardboard then very carefully place print on it smoothing center to outside avoiding wrinkling.

I used a staple gun to attach it to my window.

And TAAAADAAAAA, you have a beautiful, interesting piece of art!

China Hutch

Found this beautiful (and very solid I might add) piece at an estate sale.  I couldn't wait to do one of these.  I've been drooling over these on Pinterest for over a month now!  So here she is!  The color is a pale gray with a pop of terra cotta orange.

Can we take a moment to appreciate the gorgeous original hardware, OK continue on! :)

Back by popular demand, another slate buffet.

I was really pleased with how this transformation turned out.  Just goes to show what a little TLC can do for an old beat up piece of furniture.

Learn to transform your hand-me-downs into a piece of furniture you'll love!

“Painting Furniture 101”

October 13th 10 am - 4 pm 

$95.00 ($45 deposit & remaining $50 due day of workshop)

Using chalk paints you will learn painting, aging, and distressing techniques. You will also learn how to properly finish with wax to create a  durable, gorgeous finish.  I will teach you how to customize your finish on your furniture with tinted wax , as well as tons of furniture painting tips and tricks to save you time and help you become more efficient in your creative process.

Workshop includes instruction and furniture painting tips and tricks.  I will be available to answer any questions you may have as you finish your piece of furniture with CeCe Caldwell’s Paints & Waxes.  Classes are limited to 5 participants, so everyone gets one-on-one instruction!  I’ll provide a catered lunch, snacks, and drinks. 

 *Workshop fee includes all paint and supplies.  You simply show up with your piece of furniture, wearing your painting clothes, and be ready to have fun!

Please bring one piece of furniture you want to beautify!  Small pieces only because space is limited.  A chair, end table, or night stand would all be great choices.  Please feel free to message me if you have any questions.  Hope you can make it!

To reserve your spot please send a private message to Hand-me-downs by Hanson’s Facebook page.  Space is limited so if you are interested hop on it!

Payment and Cancellation Policy: Cash or checks only please.  Cancellations up to 14 days prior to the date of the workshop will be able to attend a future workshop date. 

"Oui Madam!"

She lived happily ever after!  I loved the detail on this china cabinet, very french country.  I had to take her a color that would show off all her loveliness.  I choose a vintage white with the slightest hint of grey and some dark wax to add some character and age.  I did take more pictures of the whole process this time.  Enjoy!

Before:  

I use an old cloth and windex vinegar and wipe the whole piece down and let dry completely. 

 Remove all hardware and paint with brush (I did two coats).  I use a chalk paint that requires no sanding or priming.  My kind of paint! :)  More about the paint here!

Let dry for at least a couple hours.  Then apply clear wax to entire piece, remember not too much!  Less is more, wipe away any excess as you go.  Let wax cure for at least 30 minutes.  Then I use a piece of light grit sandpaper and begin distressing the edges and detailed pieces.  Wipe down with clean cloth.  Then I go back with a dark wax in creases and detailed areas to add more character and age.  Wipe with cloth to remove excess dark, work kind of fast so you don't get too much dark wax on the piece.

After wax has set for a couple hours you can go back and buff to desired shine.  

Here is the final product!

If you have any questions feel free to leave them in the comment section below.  Thanks!