Home improvement: Part 2

In addition to the newly painted bookshelf, we also spruced up the dining room - with art. 

I like art. I don't have any painting/drawing skills, but I love the idea of having authentic art in our home. Unfortunately, that's expensive.

(I gave my husband the slient treatment for the better part of the four-hour drive from Asheville to Charleston because he denied me the purchase of a $400 piece of artwork. It was our first anniversary trip, and I was convinced that this sum of money was completely entirely worth it. Yeah, I had to apologize later.)

So, I'm always on the hunt for prints, photos, etc. that have meaning or reflect some part of our family. On Memorial Day, I stumbled upon this Etsy shop, called Mapity, featuring photos of locations on a map, with a vintage feel. And I was in love. After a bit of husband sweet talking, I picked out four prints:

Pearl Harbor (HI): He was here before we met.
Atlanta: I was here before we met.
San Francisco: We got in engaged here.
Charleston. We live here now.

Here's a close up of the San Francisco print:

(image via Mapity)

We hung them on Saturday afternoon (along with a mirror that had been leaning against the wall on top of a cheapo Target entry table for the better part of a year). I think it makes the dining room complete.

Before

After

 

(12 x 12 frames and mats from here.)

Home improvement: Part 1

The blog world - and HGtv - have ruined me. Too many good ideas lurking around every corner. As a result, I'm constantly announcing to my husband "what I'm going to do." But, I never actually do it. Until now.

This is our living room.

In the top upper corner, there is a boring brown bookshelf with glass doors. I bought it used before B and I got married for maybe $40; I was drawn to the mid-century look. It's older, but it was definitely made after the advent of laminate furniture, because it isn't solid wood. A couple months ago, I decided I wanted to (spray) paint it a robin's egg blue. This Saturday, I bit the bullet, and I did it. The result isn't quite what I anticipated. I expected the satin spray paint I used to still have a slight sheen to it; in reality, it's definitely a matte finish. However, for the amount of time, money, and effort put into the project, I'm really glad I did it. It adds a pop of color and interest to the room.

With the help of the hubs, I drug it out into the cul-de-sac to sand it and spray paint it.

I used fine sand paper, and I quickly passed over it with a cloth and rubbing alcohol to get the resulting dust off before I painted it. Is this the right way or the best way? No clue, which makes me doubtful, but it worked.

I paused between sanding and spray painting for a "cherry coke" icee. (I am currently obsessed, and the sweet hubs grabbed one for me while also fetching rubbing alcohol - after telling me that, "No, hydrogen peroxide and rubbing alcohol are not interchangable.")

 (Gross and sandy.)

(It holds my cookbooks and a few coffee mugs we've picked up on our travels.)

I think I will step away from the spray paint for a while. But, seriously, it's pretty fun.