Closer To Fine

Yep. That's me this week. Closer to fine.  I'm powering through the heat and counting my blessings!

I made this sign to surprise my sister, Laurie who recently bought a cottage near Lake Michigan. I've been helping her paint some furniture and stage the place so she can rent it out.  Her son named the place, "Closer to Fine", which I thought was so perfectly fitting for this cute and calm-evoking cottage. Can't wait to show you pictures once we have it "closer to fine". :)

Chumps, I'm not usually one to complain...(oh wait, who am I kidding)? Yes, I am one to complain, but this heat is killing me!  I resorted to hauling my client's furniture into my living room this week instead of my garage/workshop because there is no way that paint, (or my sweat) ever would've dried!

I don't have pics of this week's projects but here's a sampling of last week's:

This is a coffee table that my sis, Lo recently purchased for her cottage to use as a t.v. stand.  She let me do whatever I wanted to it. Yeah! So, I sanded it down, didn't even prime it because I knew I wanted it rustic looking. I used a light beachy blue on the legs and a buff color on the top. I then hand scraped the paint off some spots and distressed it all over.  I finished it off with an overall light stain/glaze.

Here's the AFTER:

And another piece that lacked charm until paint was slapped on it:

Oops! Flip Flopped those around!  The before is unfinished honey color, the after-chocolate brown.

BEFORE

This end table with matching coffee table was dropped off last week by a client who had sent me pics of a farm style dining room table taken from a blog she had seen. She asked me if I could try to get that same look on these tables even though they didn't have planked tops. I told her that I couldn't promise anything but that I'd try.

Kinda time-consuming, but oh-so-rewarding! I couldn't just sand off the black...it was stuck like glue. I resorted to using a paint stripper, which was messy but did the trick.

She and I were pretty pleased with the end product.  Such a different look for her living room. Here's the coffee table. Same deal.

BEFORE

For the top, I actually dry brushed some neutral colored (light tan) paint over certain spots so that when I stained the top, it wouldn't soak right in and pull the honey color through that the table originally had. This gave it some contrasting depth of color.  To finish it off with a protective coat, I used a minwax light colored stain.

I liked the look so much that I thought I'd give it a whirl on the dining table I purchased from an estate sale last month:

BEFORE:

It actually looks a bit better than this now. I loved the new charcoal colored paint on the legs but it was a flat finish. Tonight, I covered the legs with the minwax stain and it looks finished and glazed. Didn't get a chance to take a pic. of that yet. This baby will be headed to my booth next month, but if you want it before I take it there, FB message or email me.

BEFORE

Had to leave you with this bright spot of my week.  Please no hazing my cake decorating skills, but I made this cake for the three LeBlanc (my side) cousins that celebrate summer b-days each year together. Top left is T.J who just turned 12. Middle is our oldest nephew Alex, who just turned 17 and bottom right is Kennedy (my oldest) who just turned 14. 

AFTER

Here they are posing like they did in their pics when they were not even ONE!

Time sure flies by when you're having fun!

And in honor of all these birthdays, here's your quote for the day:

That's for sure! Stay cool chumps!

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Beloved

"You, whose day it is, get out your rainbow colors and make it beautiful".

-Traditional Nootka Song

So sorry chumps about the previous pity party post on my b-day. i ended up having a refreshing and reflective day with my family.  early that day i was out running errands and came home to a special gift left on my doorstep.  it was this bracelet from one of my most unconditonally loving friends. i immediately slipped it on my wrist and was so grateful for the reminder that I am a beloved, chosen child of the KING! 

My b-day gift from my handy hubby was a gift certificate from him for a complete overhaul of my home office! i am so excited! in fact, i am typing this from my temporary set-up on our dining room table facing a complete mess of a project in the adjoining room but it will be so worth it in the end. i'll be sure to post pics of the before/after.

I don't have much time tonight but I wanted to show you some pictures of a kitchen transformation that we've been working on.  unfortunately, Lisa (a "Room for Change Chump") and I forgot to take pictures of the room in all it's natural maple glory.  for all you "oak" fans out there...i'm taking a break from picking on you and for this particular project, we painted over MAPLE- and I don't even feel bad about it!

another shout-out to Dave Williams-painter extraordinaire for a great job on walls and cupboards!

Here's the end result:

New appliances, hardware, granite countertops, sink, faucet, paint colors, bar stool fabric and accessories=brand new kitchen!

we freshened up the paint colors in the great room and the foyer/stairwell.  really, the whole main floor feels brand new now.

Thanks for putting up with my slightly bi-polar personality this week.  I will leave with you a quote from another birthday gift I received from a friend.  Each one of you Changing Room Chumps becomes a friend to me.  Thanks for making it easy for me to feel that way about you.

"Count your nights by stars, not shadows;

Count your life by smiles, not tears;

And with joy on every birthday morning,

Count your age by friends, not years".

-unknown

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Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

"The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving."

-Oliver Wendall Holmes, Sr.

I'm struggling tonight Chumps.  It's T minus 20 minutes 'til my birthday and I've got the blues.  No big surprise to me.  I tend to do this to myself every year. Overthink the past 365 days and lament the fact that those weeks, days, hours and minutes are gone-never to be replayed.  In a way, I should be grateful for that.  There were plenty of moments that I wouldn't want to see again and relive. But then there are others that I would love to have back. Time's a 'tickin and I want it to slow down. 

 My oldest is heading off to high school already this fall and my husband is inching closer to his 50's than 40's and I'm nippin' at his heels. My Father-n-law had open heart surgery this week and reality hit me that I just might not have my four dear parents with me forever as I journey through the rest of this crazy life.

I know, I know...too deep for a blog about interior design but it's hard for me separate life from work, work from relationships, relationships from faith and faith from life. All of which I've been analyzing lately. 

One thing I do know for sure...when I meet you Chumps, I take you with me.  You rub off on me in the darndest ways.

Just this week, I met with a new client but wonderful former neighbor from down the street where I was raised. I didn't know her very well back in the day, but instantly upon walking into her house, I felt I've known her for years.  She was warm, welcoming and her gratitude for life was something unlike I've ever seen before.  I wanted some of it.  Shortly after our meeting, I came across a facebook post on her wall. She was thanking the beautiful friends in her life. A friend of hers in good fun, posed the question, "What about your ugly friends..do you love us too"?  That's when another mutual friend posted this..

"(Name) doesn't have any ugly friends. She only sees the beautiful in everyone". 

This stuck with me.

Do I do that?

Only see the beautiful in people?

I can see it in houses. And living rooms. And floor plans. And furniture. But do it I see it in people?

Another client I met with this week has been struggling to make improvements/updates in her living room for a year now. She invited me over back then for me to offer advice and give direction regarding furniture selection for her main room but couldn't find the energy or time to move forward.  I hazed her a little for this and chuckled with her this week on my return visit about her hesitation to replace what she had. Her response?  "I've had it for 20 years and I just can't find anything better". 

Another metaphor this week for me?

Could I say that about my marriage? My friendships? My interaction with family? My living situation?

"I've had ________________for 20 years and I just can't find anything better".

I think that's called contentment. And I gotta get me some more of that.

In my nostalgia tonight, I stumbled across a file of old pictures that we inherited from our current house's previous owners. Our beloved house was built sometime in the 1920's and has undergone many changes over the years.  I usually love change. My mojo in my decorating business has always been about change and the fact that we need to make room for change in our homes, decor, lives, etc.

Easier said than done, I'm afraid.

In my own life, there's been another year of changes. Changes in friendships.  Age.  Health. Life seasons.  Is there room for change in my life or is that just a cute-sy name for a decorating business? :)

I love my almost- 100- year -old- house.  I love what it used to be but I've embraced the vision of what it still could be. I need to apply that to my own life this year.  These pictures remind me that change and the passing of time can be good. The aging of this house has made it more valuable to me... the scrapes and scars and imperfections add character and charm. Sure, there are still improvements to be made, but it has been well loved.  I feel that way about my own life. You've loved me well, Chumps. I may be scraped, scarred and bruised, but these bruises are sometimes what bind us together. (Sounds like a new fav. song of mine by "Train".)

Okay, so I'm already feeling better about this impending b-day.  I promise to wake up tomorrow with my eyes and heart wide open to new and wondeful changes that will inevitably take place in this coming year.  And as always, you'll be the first to hear about them.  Thanks for knowing that there is room for change in my own life and not judging me for it because I'm not entirely there yet.  You "Changing Room Chumps" are a forgiving bunch and I love that about you.

There's always room for change.

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Home(s) Away from Home

Still reliving our vacation memories this week even as I'm back into my "normal" routine.  The re-entry hasn't been too painful and after spending the morning finding some flea market treasures, I am excited to get painting and repurposing tomorrow. However, both Ken and I have lost track of the days of June because we got up early today to hit the "last-Sunday-of-the-month-Allegan Antique show",loaded up the cooler,  drove all the way down there and discovered an empty, desolate fairgrounds. He sheepishly glanced my way and said, "It's July 1st today". Ugh and HAAAAA! 

We refused to be defeated and noticed a sign that said "Flea Market Treasures" heading back home from Allegan. We managed to fill up the van with tables, an amazing settee, a lamp and an old primitive stepladder!  Mission Accomplished!

Anway, I promised you Chumps some more vacation pics. Not that you asked, but only because I'm quite self-absorbed.  I won't bore you with many family photos, but wanted to show you some of the places we stayed.

That was a Hyatt we stayed in only for one night at our stopover from Los Angeles to San Diego. We were in the city of Huntington Beach, right across the bridge from an area called "Balboa Island".  I loved the bright colors, mix of fabrics and modern design.

We did some window shopping on Balboa Island. (below)

We also stayed at a Mariott in Marina Del Ray near L.A. We loved the area and the hotel and were within walking distance of Venice Beach. Lots of good people watchin' there!

After our week in Vegas, three days in LA, one night in Huntington, we headed to our last hotel in Del Mar-an area that is part of San Diego.  We booked all our stays through Priceline and saw pictures online, but had no idea what to expect.  We were pleasantly surprised to find a newly- remodeled, artsy, modern, and very comfortable hotel-one block off the ocean. 

It was a horse race themed hotel-so bright and spacious. We loved it.

Our view from the back balcony-Hotel Indigo-Del Mar, California.

And here was the breathtaking view on one of our last nights near the hotel in Del Mar.  We watched surfers on longboards catching some waves.  The girls were amazed by how quickly the tide came in that night and they had fun splashing and playing in the surf. Everyone told us how much we would love the west coast and how stunning and gorgeous the beaches were. We definitely agreed with their statements but were also reminded of just how good we have it here too...twenty minutes from our own little "coast"...the sandy shores of Lake Michigan. It was great to enjoy an incredible vacation, but as Dorothy so eloquently put it long ago, "There's no place like home". (Do I sound like a "Pure Michigan" ad, or what)?  Hope you are enjoying these hot summer Michigan days! Next blog...some sweet cottage style homes I saw along the way. Stay cool chumps.

(No that's not me waiting for a wave...just some lonely surfer). Below the girls had fun posing next to a longboard that washed on shore.

Ahhh, Life Is Good.

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