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The Makeover of the Awful Green Playroom Commences #gliddengallons

August 23, 2011 By 10 Comments

glidden walmartAlbeit a pleasant surprise, my daughter was a surprise.  Luckily, when we found out we were expecting I had just finished prepping one of our smaller bedrooms for paint.  (Getting to that point is the hard part in my house, since it came with nasty old wallpaper over horsehair plaster walls).  The plan was to use the room as a large walk-in closet, so I had picked out a fun grassy green, assuming there would be a lot of white storage/closet  pieces going into it.  Our daughter was one of those kids that was shy about letting the ultrasound techs see her “goodies”, so we had no idea what her gender was until a few weeks before she was born.  The green I already had on hand was painted on the now-a-nursery walls, with plans to make it more gender appropriate once we knew.  Pink went well with the green, so it worked out, at the time.

green room makeover

playroom makeover

playroom makeover

Fast-forward to the present.  The room currently serves as a playroom, I have come to loathe the green walls, with carpet in the same green.  Now that the room is not filled with furniture & pink toile frillies, the green seems to let off a sort of alien glow.  The carpet did not hold up well to the past 4 years either, and despite my best efforts refuses to come clean.  Yuck!

new room color

Thanks to the #GliddenGallons campaign through Collective Bias, M’s playroom is getting a makeover.  I’ve picked a pretty purple shade from the color palette on the Glidden website.  I love that you can change out trims, and the color of the adjacent room in the easy to use software.  It really gives you an idea if the color will work for you.  The color is called Lavender Phlox, and here is an idea what it should look like in the room.

This is the planned color palette, for the playroom makeover

playroom color schemeM already has a soft pink retro kitchen, so I will be integrating accents of both soft & hot pink into the room.  I will also be keeping a sky blue in mind too, since she has a T-shirt and shoes the same color as the purple chosen for the walls & all these colors are in them… they are faves of ours, so I already know it can work.

walmart glidden brilliance color match

Update: I’ve already painted the walls and must say the Glidden Brilliance paint did an excellent job of coverage (just one coat with touch-ups).  The service from the Walmart employee who mixed the paint for me was very good, and the color match was perfect. Ordered flooring for pick up today or tomorrow, then I will be back to Walmart to pick up a few accessories for the room… they have a lot of things in the hot pink I have in my palette.

Check out the completed Playroom Makeover!

This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias.  Experiences and opinions presented here are my own.

Filed Under: Decor/Renovations, Home & Garden, Household Tagged With: , ,

Painting Baseboard Heat Covers

August 20, 2011 By 7 Comments

repainting metal baseboard heat coversWhile I am by no means in love with metal baseboard heat covers, they are after all rather ugly, changing out heating systems is very costly.  Painting baseboard heat covers can spruce them up though, and help them to blend in with your design scheme.  They were not in particularly bad condition in my house when we bought it, a few specks of rust here & there, some scratches and splotches, but they certainly needed a makeover.  I thought I would share the refinishing process with you, in case you also have metal baseboard heating covers that need to be repainted.

Painting Baseboard Heat Covers

Prepping the Surface for Painting

Step one is to completely disassemble the covers.  If there are a lot of pieces you may wish to label each piece on a non visible while assembled spot, so you will know where they go when it is time to but everything back together.

refinishing baseboard heat coversSand the pieces lightly with 100 grit sandpaper. No need to be fussy in the sanding, you are just trying to sand off and rust, and give the finish a little tooth.  If you have more rust, you may want to use a heavier grit in those areas, to get it off.

If the covers are really grungy you may want to wash them down before sanding, but this shouldn’t be necessary in most cases.

prepping baseboard heat covers for paint Washing the baseboards down with a TSP solution (follow package directions) after sanding.  This will wash off any residue, as well as the dust from sanding.

painting baseboards heat coversWipe the TSP solution off with paper towels, to ensure all the sanding dust is off.  A clean surface is essential.

Painting the Covers

I use a semi-gloss oil paint without primer.  The paint is thinned down a little with paint thinner to glide on smoothly (10-20% thinner).  This is the same technique we have used on other baseboard heat covers in the house, and the finish has withstood the test of time without issue.  Make sure to use a good oil or all purpose paint brush.

painting metal baseboardTo get a nice consistent finish, two coats  of paint should be done.  Allow ample time between coats, to allow for drying.  After second coat make sure to let the pieces dry well before reassembly.  If they are still tacky at all, you risk ruining the nice paint finish you have worked for.

Filed Under: Decor/Renovations Tagged With: , ,

Cool Warped Chair Designs

August 16, 2011 By 5 Comments

These chair designers are messing with our minds!

warped chair

melting chair

bent chair

unusual chair warped

siamese twins chair

Filed Under: Decor/Renovations Tagged With:

Bedroom Renovation Kick-off

August 16, 2011 By 6 Comments

bedroom before

Yes, I am sharing a mighty ugly before pic.

We started the renovations on this bedroom many years ago, but it just never seemed to get completed, although most of what was needed to finish the project is already here.  After work stalled the room started to collect odds and ends, morphing into a catch-all room.   My husband and I are now pretty much separated, and the plan is that my daughter and I will remain in the home, and I will get a roommate.  While I am sure my husband will occasionally help with projects beyond me (electrical/plumbing), the bulk of any renovation work will be on me to complete now.  Boy is there a lot of it.

walnut laminate flooringIn this bedroom, the walls, and tin ceiling have already been refinished.  The trim around the windows needs a little more work, due to replacement window sizing issues.  I need to put leveler down on the floor, so the walnut laminate can be laid, and the baseboard heat covers need to be painted.  Other than that, a little electrical work, including putting up the ceiling fan, and putting up curtain hardware, then the room will be ready to roll.

bedroom palette 1This is the tentative palette I have in mind.  Much will depend on whether I refinish an old bed, or make a tufted fabric head board.  I still haven’t decided whether I will paint the dresser and side tables antiqued white or black.  If black doesn’t get used, I may integrate some muted pink into the room.

bedroom palette 2

blue-grey bedroom

Different style, but bits of what will be in the room.

Here are the faux silk pinch pleat curtains I have on hand, courtesy of CurtainWorks.  The flooring is pretty much the same as what is going down too.

faux silk pinch pleat curtainsHere are a few pictures I found that inspired me.

 

blue bedroom black furniture

Palette is nice. Shows how black furniture would work.

blue gold brown bedroom

Love the bedspread with this blue.

white antiqued finish on dresser

This is the antiqued white finish I like.

I already have an old dresser with nice lines that my neighbor gave me, and a couple cool small mismatched tables which should work wonderfully as nightstands once painted.  The bed is the big question mark at this point.  I am sure I will come up with something interesting though.

I had better go get to work…lol

Filed Under: Decor/Renovations, Home & Garden Tagged With: , ,

Grow Your Own Oyster Mushrooms (Review/Giveaway)

July 20, 2011 By

mushroom growing kitEver wanted to grow your own mushrooms? I recently had the enjoyable task of reviewing an oyster mushroom growing kit from Back to the Roots.  I have wanted to try growing mushrooms for quite some time, but never got around to it, and I also love oyster mushrooms in particular, so this review was a perfect match for me.

I loved the kit and these are the reasons why:

  • easy to use, no complicated directions
  • sustainably produced  (recycled coffee grounds are used as the growing medium)
  • freshest mushrooms you will ever have
  • great learning experience for kids
  • fun to watch the mushrooms grow
  • not long til harvest (approx. 10 days, but I couldn’t wait & harvested at 8)
  • socially conscious company (they help support urban school & community gardens)
  • affordable – starter kit is just $19.95, replacement growing bags are available

To see what I did with my batch of mushrooms… Oyster Mushroom, Goat Cheese and Lemon Thyme Bruschetta Recipe

growing oyster mushrooms - soaking the bag

Soak the bag for 24 hours, then mist daily for a crop of fresh homegrown oyster mushrooms!

Disclosure:  Product sample provided for purpose of review.  All opinions presented here are my own.

Back to the Roots Oyster Mushroom growing Kit Giveaway

One lucky Blommi reader will win a mushroom growing kit of their very own, courtesy of Back to the Roots.

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  • For 2 entries! Grab my ad button (available here), or add Blommi.com to your blogroll -> blog must be public with minimum 25 followers. Leave a link where it can be found, in your comment. (remember to leave 2 separate comments)
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One winner will be randomly selected from all valid entries, and will have 48 hours to respond to their prize winner email notification. If winner fails to respond, within that time period, a new winner will be drawn. Giveaways hosted on Blommi are sponsored by third parties. Site owner will of course endeavor to see all prizes are fulfilled, but is not responsible for fulfillment, nor for missing or damaged prizes. Contest ends August 3, 2010 at 11:59 pm CT. Open to US residents , age 18+.


Filed Under: Garden

Red Mandavilla

June 21, 2011 By 26 Comments

red mandavillaThis red mandavilla is currently growing in my parent’s yard.  I have had mixed luck with growing this flower myself.  I’ve always had the more common pink variety, and have managed to over-winter one before, but they always die in the end.

I like the vibrancy of this red so much, I was thinking about trying my hand at them again.

Filed Under: Garden Tagged With:

Make Your Home More Allergy Friendly

June 9, 2011 By 1 Comment



I wrote this post while participating in a blog tour conducted by Clever Girls Collective on behalf of Claritin®. I have been compensated for my time commitment to the program.

We are right in the thick of allergy season in my area. A chilly early spring followed by a couple bursts of hot weather has kicked many plants and trees that don’t typically bloom simultaneously, into the same flowering cycle.  Pollen counts have been unusually high.  On top of the pollen issue, a good deal of rain and high humidity have spurred mold/mildew growth in many homes, as well.

linensI launched an all out allergen battle in my home a few weeks ago, and noticed a huge difference, in the quality of my breathing.  I personally removed the old carpet from the master bedroom.  Within two days of the carpets removal, I realized that I was no longer waking with a cough.  I also did a few of the cleaning/dusting jobs that I tend to put off, such as a thorough cleaning of the ceiling fans, and have been damp mopping more frequently.

Another important change I have made is decluttering.  I still have a way to go in this area, but I am enjoying the more open fresh feel of the rooms with less in them. This  also makes it easier to maintain them, as the rooms slowly become more streamlined.  As we all know less dust equals fewer allergens, so this has helped a good deal with our allergies.

Paying attention to materials is important in the homes of allergy sufferers too.  Fabric and other porous materials tend to trap allergens.  Frequent washing of linens and window treatments, and vacuuming of mattresses and upholstery, will of course help, but selecting materials which are easier to clean down, and less likely to host allergens will be even more effective.

AllergiesSince a good deal of allergens come from the plants and trees right in your yard, avoiding the planting of common allergy inducing botanicals can save your family from yearly grief.  If neighbors landscape is the issue, keeping windows closed and cleaning/replacing filters on air conditioning units and vacuums can be helpful.

With just a bit of forethought, and a little extra cleaning effort, it is possible to lesson the impact of allergies on your family.  The bonus is that many of these changes will actually make your home more attractive, as well.  Allergy-friendly interiors can be very stylish.

For more tips on relieving allergies visit www.Facebook.com/Claritin. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

Filed Under: Decor/Renovations, Home & Garden

Avoid Nightmare Home Repairs Costs: The Importance of Having a Home Warranty

June 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment

home protection plan

Many things can go wrong in a home.  Appliances break down, natural disasters occur and a host of other unexpected damages can happen.  I live in an inland area in Southern New England, outside of any flood areas, so we haven’t had too much to worry about as far as natural disasters, that was until last week.  Tornadoes touched down just north of us, in nearby Massachusetts.  Seeing all that damage so close, made me think about the security of our home, and the usefulness of having something like a Rhode Island home warranty.

When I started contemplating additional protection, I did not even realize that a home protection plan would cover appliances.  Most of our appliances were purchased when we bought our home eleven years ago, so they are getting to be rather old.  Even our newest appliance is about 7 years old.  My husband is a former maintenance mechanic and welder, so has always been able to fix our appliances when they break down, but eventually one of them will have an unrepairable issue and need replacement.  Home warranty protection would ensure that when the time comes, it will not put a financial burden on us.

I certainly wish we had a home protection plan the winter our boiler went.  That was awful.  We heated the house with portable heaters, for the remainder of the season that year.   It was a rough time.  The boiler was replaced over that summer, but if we had a home warranty from American Home Shield, we would not have had to wait so long.  I would say it is a good investment for any homeowner, but those with older homes like ours will really benefit from the addition protection and peace of mind.

Filed Under: Home & Garden Tagged With:

Freshen Your Kitchen with Simple Homemade Curtains

May 10, 2011 By 4 Comments

homemade kitchen curtainsMaking Homemade Kitchen Curtains can be quite easy and really freshens up the kitchen.

Last night, I had a little spare time so I decided to dig out my sewing machine and whip up a quick pair of homemade kitchen curtains, for my sink window in my pantry.  Both pairs of my frilly white store bought curtains had stains that would not come out, and with money tight, I felt no desire to shop for new ones.  At first I contemplated using a pretty red and white patterned table cloth to make the curtains with.  It would have matched my decor a little better, and saved a some sewing time, since some of the edges would have already been finished for me, but I like it for picnics and use it in pics sometimes.  I snooped through my big box of fabric and found this funky fruit and vegetable fabric, I had originally bought to make a couple aprons with.  It looked summery and cheery, so I pulled it out.

Since the fabric had a grid pattern to it, I wanted them to lie relatively flat, too much gathering would muddle the pattern.  To save time, I used the old curtains as a starter template, and shortened the width in difference to the pattern.  The project should have taken less than an hour in total, but my sewing machine decided to fritz on me halfway through, and I took a few extra minutes making sure the pattern on the two bottom tiers lined up well.  Even with the delays, from start to curtains hung and project cleaned up, was about an hour and a half.

I will probably make another pair to rotate with these soon.  The next pair will either be made from a vintage table cloth, with a small hole in it or I will pick up a fun piece  at the local discount fabric store.

Making Homemade Kitchen Curtains

  1. Measure and cut your pieces, making sure to give yourself plenty of room for the curtain rod, and finishing edge seams.
  2. Double fold side edges and iron.  I stitch these right away.
  3. Fold small bit of edge of top over, press, then fold to make  the rod pocket, and press again.
  4. Double check length, then double fold bottom edge and press.
  5. Sew top and bottom, trim off excess thread.
  6. You curtains are ready to hang.

Save time by re-purposing old table cloths or other linens.  Add vintage charm with some bric a brac or other trims.

 

Filed Under: Decor/Renovations Tagged With: , ,
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