Mad about you.

If a picture paints a thousand words, this label paints my life lately. Ken saw this sitting on our kitchen counter on Saturday afternoon after I spent a long day of homecoming dress shopping with our 14 year old freshman daughter and literally laughed out loud in agreement. I was looking forward to sharing a glass with him later that evening but we both got a little manic and couldn't put the tools down on our office remodel long enough to sit! I'm excited to show you all the little changes we've made in our little house but it will be a few more posts before we pull it all together. Hopefully I don't go completely mad before it's all said and done.

Thought it was about that  time again to download pics from my cell phone and show you Chumps the cool things I've been seeing when I'm out and about. I'm always thinking about you Chumps even on my "days off". I guess you could say I'm mad about you!

You know my obsession with clocks, don'tcha? Here's one I found at World Market. Soooo presh. I think I gotta have it for my new office! Do you have a wall for one of these?

I liked this one too. A little more traditional in styling and would be great in a den or living room.

This red one's an oldie but a goodie. They have a similar style to this at Hobby Lobby but all of these were at World Market. Even though I haven't personally been big into red lately, I know a lot of you Chumps are. This is cute and cottage-y and would be fun paired with some light blue or robin's egg blue accents.

I think this one above is really similar to one I saw in the Pottery Barn catalog a while back. This quaint and aged looking clock would be great in an all white room that's layered with texture, not color. Muted greys, tans and creams.

Okay, how fun is this ampersand?

Sorry the photo is blurry but I love how unique and oversized this is. It would make a nice piece of wall art in an office with a photo collage of all your earthly travels.

This might be overkill all in the same room but I loved these letters that are adorned with maps. I snapped a pic. to remember to make these myself with paper mache letters from Hobby Lobby.

In a perfect world without dog and cat hair, spaghetti spills and budgets (wink) "Crusty" would snap up this settee and replace my dining chairs on one side. I loved the tufted button back and the light dusty grey upholstery.

Super cute rustic table I spotted for Ken to mimic when he has time to build me a 'homework' table for the basement.

I actually love the idea of this type of stool with the table above. I would've bought this one if there was another just like it, but it was clearanced out and the only one left. I did find a similar looking one for a client of mine at JC Penny online. $68 is a great deal btw for this one!

Another cute table for a small urban kitchen or a corner in a living room or lower level to be used as a game table. Don't love the chairs they paired it with but can picture it with  four parsons' chairsupholstered in a large graphic print.

A clearance item entry bench at World Market. Only one left. Great price I thought. Neutral in style.

Got my eye on these chairs for my new office!

Adorable lamp!!  Love the color. Love the style. Hobby Lobby. Wait 'til it goes half off. Foolish to ever buy anything there not on sale. :)

I love the ideas I've seen recently of repurposing pallets. We've done a few projects of our own using skids but I was uber impressed with this cutting edge designs spotted outside a great new coffee shop called 6eight at the Colonial Clock building in Zeeland. Check it out sometime soon. 

That's it for now Chumps. Check out my "Room For Change" FB page to see what I brought to my booth at Not So Shabby last week. Happy Fall to you!

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Redo for Susie Q.

Chumps...I have to get this off my chest. I did it. I finally did it. I rolled primer and soft white paint over 100 year old trim!!!  Arrrrggghhh!  It felt so wrong and yet so right all at the very same time.

This is a small window in our front office that used to be stained brownish/orange-ish? I vowed upon moving in to this historic bungalow that I would NOT be tempted to slap paint on the beautifully maintained original woodwork, but I've opened this can of worms. I will probably stop in this room, but I'm making no promises. Is there a 12 step program for something like this??

My weekend was spent painting client pieces and my living room walls. Remember that "Baby Elephant" paint that I fell in love with for my family room walls...well, it found it's way onto my dining walls at around 1:00 A.M. yesterday.

Sneak peek.

That's all you get for now. How 'bout that for a cliffhanger?

Anyway...went out with some former clients/new friends this past weekend and without asking prior permission, snapped some pictures of their house before we left for dinner. (How obnoxious is that)?? Betcha that makes you want to ask me over, huh?

I fell in love with this house immediately upon entering it last year when Susie asked me if I would help her accessorize and finish furnishing it with her.The wall colors were already selected and the previous homeowner was an interior designer and didn't miss a trick.

It has so much charm and character. Not to mention the barns, huge beautiful yard and light filled rooms. (Covet much?---noooooo, not me).

Ummmm....how fun is that? Her husband drilled a hole in the top of a shadow box that she bought at Michael's. Drop a cork in when you finish the bottle. We may or may not have added a cork to the collection that night. ;)

The lighting turned out really bad in this pic so I thought I'd change it to sepia tone. This was a hallway that passed through from the kitchen to the den.

The cupboard above was left behind by the previous owner. Susie wasn't sure what she should do with it. It had some really ornate wallpaper on the back of it. She reminded me Sat. night that I had told her at our original consult last year to line the back of it with fabric. So that's what she did-(or told her husband to do). He simply staped the fabric as a decorative backdrop. Love it!

We're Working on accessorizing this room (den) next. Looking for more rustic/urban coffee table, end tables and wall art.

Cheers Suz, to a budding friendship and a better raspberry wine vinaigrette!

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Wax on. Wax off.

As my friend Kibby would say, "I've been busier than a one-armed paper hanger" lately! Like clockwork each year, fall is our busiest season at Room for Change.  I'm excited about all my new clients and projects this month and have been kickin' it with the painting gig lately too. 

 I'm shameless enough to report that I have a three week wait list right now, but don't let that deter you. Email me if you're interested in turning some of your outdated, over- loved, time-worn furniture into something hip, trendy and soooo 2012!  Here's some of the items I painted this week for a client, and more pieces are being dropped off today so I can start all over again!  (Good thing I am addicted to the 'before and after' of it all or I'd be so nervous about 'brush burnout)! That's painter's slang for just plain sick of it, (which I'm not. Yet). :)

Don't have before's, but picture pepto bismo pink.

One of my clients' daugthers is headed back to college (or maybe heading into 'real life')? Not sure, but whatever the case, they found these reasonably priced pieces and she wanted them teal. She bought the paint. I rolled it on. What teamwork.

These mirrors she found at that "Hotels and Homes". A great resource for inexpensive furniture, lampshades, mirrors and beds!

LOVe, LoVe. LOve this headboard and footboard. Do you think she'll notice if I replace it with mine?

So, I promised you Chumps some pics of the treasures I found at the Burley Park Swap Meet on Labor Day. I spent the better part of the afternoon yesterday suds-ing down and windexing the majority of what I bought. Now it's all clean and shiny and ready to price for my booth.

Beautiful blue baskets that were already this color. NO, i didn't swipe my clients paint and paint these too!

I bought this for 25 cents!!  What a deal. I loved the photograph. It's rustic double doors. I'm framing this in a big black Ikea frame and adding it to my soon- to -be collection for a decorative ledge I've been meaning to hang.

I scored a few of these. They make great hat racks or scarf or jewelry hangers.  I painted them all white to fit any decor.

Why I was attracted to this podium, I'll never know...but I had to have it. The patina was cool and it came in handy as a conversation starter at our Michigan Game driveway party last weekend. A few speeches were given a fun time was had by all!

This started out as one of those work table benches that I'm imagining you can get at Menards, but Ken added a larger wooden top which I stained and I picture it as a small island in a tiny kitchen. Adding casters would make it even more functional.

Soooo excited about this lightweight, but practical piece.  A hanging rod could be added and used in an entry way to hang coats. Or retrofit shelves inside it and make it a sweater or shoe armoire! The color rocks!

Retro tv cart. Use for games, toys, magazines, shoes...

These windows I actually bought from a barn sale that my neighbor clued me into it. She let me have first dibs on the stuff. I loved this color blue and would mount black/white super large pics and use as frames-all three in a row.

More barn sale stuff.

This cottage style barn window-turned cupboard would look great in a half bath to house toiletries and apothocary jars!

And now...presenting my favorite garage sale find of the year!!....

My new-to-me sofa!!  Its the "Bantam Sofa" by Design within Reach. You can still order it online for the low price of $2500!  I can't (or won't) tell you how much I bought it for but let's just say my husband couldn't walk away from it either! I'm not gonna lie...it looks prettier than it is comfy. AND you can already tell what side my dear hubby favors for watching his sports every night. I now have been mandating that he rotate his t.v watching sides each night to even out the wear on the cushion. (What? You think I'm high maintanance)?  You don't know the half of it.
Considering painting over my stenciled wall this weekend? Do I or don't I?
The wall to the left in the pic.

I already have the paint. "Baby Elephant" by Clark & Kensington. Speak now or forever hold your peace. :) Top swatch. (Below)

 Love you Chumps. Can't wait to show you pics of our "in progress" office remodel. Think Pinterest and Pallet Boards. Hittin' it hard this weekend and hope to be buttoned up by Monday. Enjoy your project-free (?) weekend!!

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Back to School (Yippeee)!!!

Okay, Chumps. Can I get a woot-woot for the end of summer and school starting!??

I hate to admit this but I was/am more than ready for the back-to-school routine.  I had an awesome summer with my family and friends but now it's time to hammer down and focus!!

I managed to shed a tear or two last night realizing that my first born nephew is a senior in high school this year and my first born daughter is a freshman! I know how fast these years will wiz by and I am NOT wishing them away...I'm just wishing for a little serenity NOW weaving it's way into my days without the chaos of loveable but lazy (?) teenagers making messes everywhere!

(luv u girlies but time for mama to claim back her castle.)

Sooo, to kick off the last official day of summer, we at Room for Change did what only we would enjoy doing....we set our alarms for early morn and hit the Burley Park Swap Meet in Howard City. We were so glad to get there as the gates were opening because as the morning progressed the crowds (and ensuing heat) were getting to be unbearable.

We jinxed ourselves by talking about 'Crusty's Law" (kinda like Murphy's Law) that when our van is empty and ready to load up some new purchases, our wallets are also in that same state, or whenever our van is packed and we're loaded to the gills...that's when we find all the treasures. Yesterday, because of all the summer spending we've done (hey...no judging...it was worth it), we allotted ourselves $100.  That is like letting a kid loose in a candy store with a dime in his pocket. We were bound to get the gimmies and we were bound to get them bad!

But, alas...we persevered and we stretched that hunski as far as it would go. I'll post pics of the treasures we scored as soon as I wash 'em all up and get 'em presentable to show you. (Burley Park is a little less classy than the Allegan Show and that's saying it nicely). :)

Both shows do NOT disappoint in the way of sights, sounds and smells!

Loved this old set of church seats that a vendor had staged so nicely. This was my favorite booth of the day but didn't find anything cheap enough here. I love the idea of using these in a mudroom or quirky cottage foyer! I might even put fun vintage burlap cushions on them to make them functional and comfy!

Snapped some pics of this booth so I can give Ken a good kick in the pants (with above cowboy boots perhaps)? to motivate him to build some cottage style cabinets, counters, and armoires with all the shutters, windows and doors we have stored.

(just kidding. i wouldn't do that. i would however, wear said boots with a mini skirt and bribe him a little if you know what i mean. wink. for some reason that worked better in my 20's).

I'm glad this barn door was red or I would've been tempted to spend half the cash on this piece. It was $45 and would've worked great on a wall in our newly finished basement but I liked the patina and didn't want to paint over it. Red wasn't part of my plan for the lower level.

I also really liked the pieced together barn boards and have seen this look all over Pinterest lately. I'll be doing a version of that soon with lathe boards that we salvaged from our hallway project last year. Cute look for independence day. I can also picture this with muted greys and blues!

It's fun to see the variety of booths. Here this vendor strictly sold books and magazines.

This is what my teenage daughter would call "Totes Adorbs". For those who aren't familiar with 'teen speak' that's totally adorable!!

The whole set up was totes adorbs and I wanted it all, especially the laundry bin just like the one I sold last year and have regretted ever since. Loved using it for beverages over ice during summer pool parties.

Ken pretended all morning that he was interested in my purchases but he was staking out the t-shirt tents in each row recalling how last month at the show he had found a long sleeved tee for $3.00! No, I didn't let him buy the three quarter lengthed Detroit jersey, but he did find a slick looking black number for working in the garage/workshop this winter! heyyyy-ohhh!

All in all, it was a successful morning. Can't wait to show you the blue metal baskets I found and the totes adorb pink dresser with mirror. (Are you getting sick of 'totes adorbs' yet? If you are, then you know why I'm not sad that school started today)!

Speaking of totes...I wish I'd had one on wheels yesterday like the double zeros in the pic above. Would've made life a little easier and my shoulder a little less sore today.

All worth it to bring these great finds to you my little Chumps! Hope summer treated you well and you're not too disappointed to welcome the cool, crisp days (pleaase??) of fall!

One more shameless plug...

if you haven't liked our "Room for Change" page on Facebook, would you be willing to now? I've made it a goal this fall to post pics of all these frugal finds that I will be bringing and selling in my booth at Not So Shabby!  I don't want you to miss a thing!

Happy Fall Chumps!

P.S. The sofa I posted on my last blog entry sold right away! Thanks for allowing me to buy and sell and for appreciating a good deal just like I do! You know my motto..."there's always room for change"..and I do live by that slogan much to my family's dismay! Good-BUY comfy couch...hello...not so comfy but "mom -thinks- it -looks -cool couch"!

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