Fireplace Transformation

The brass fireplace screens had to go. I didn't want to spend money on new ones, so I decided to paint them. I found some great guidance on Pinterest and headed off find Rust-oleum high heat spray paint. I sanded, cleaned, and covered the glass and then waited for a break in the rain to run outside and paint them. It was super fast and easy and I love the look of the finished black screens. 

Then it was time for my personal decorator (mom) to come over and help me arrange the mantels. I have quite a collection of K's, so we decided to display them in the family room. We found a large unfinished papermache K and decoupaged it with map pieces from places that Kyle and I have traveled together to provide size variety on the wall. I attached the K's to the brick fireplace using Command strips so that I can change it up whenever I want without leaving holes all over the brick.

Now for some before, during, and after pictures!

Living Room - BEFORE

Living Room Fireplace without screen

Screen - ready for painting

Painting time!

Living Room - AFTER

Family Room - BEFORE

Second one ready to go

Family Room Screen Painted

Family Room - AFTER

Decoupaged Map K

Just In Time

for the rain to begin....
I know - it is crazy to stain your deck in October - that is even what the hardware store told me as I bought their last three cans of cedar colored Penofin stain...but we made it just in time!

I had my first experience with a power washer - it is satisfying to see the difference it makes, but what a tedious job! 
Then choosing the stain...
Being the Engineer that I am - I had to do my research.
I found a great website that rates stains and then narrowed it down based on the single fact that I did not have time to order one of the "best" ones. 
http://www.deckstainhelp.com/category/deck-product-reviews/deck-stain-reviews/

We learned some valuable lessons when staining:
1. Don't use a painting mitt. Seems like a great idea - right! Save time on the rails by using your hand as the brush...that is until each rail is coated in little bits of fuzzy mitt. 
2. Do use paint pads but buy the more expensive long handle extension. Our wood one broke in about 5 minutes.
3. If it is windy - go ahead and secure the plastic paint liner to the tray. Yup - we dumped stain all over when the wind picked up the liner. Duck tape to the rescue...again.
4. When it says wipe down the stain within 30 minutes - they mean it. We ended up with some "extra" stain in some places.

Another project we finished just in time was trimming the bottom branches of a few large "Christmas" trees that we have. They were looking very dated so my mom and I worked to   show off their trunks and it made such a difference. 

Last but not least - my car is parked in the garage! The garage is definitely not what you would call clean or organized - but I made it fit. Yippee!

Now for some before and after pics:

Deck before - covered in lichen

Powering washing...so tedious

BEFORE power washing on the left - AFTER on the right. 

Deck done

This is a terrible before pic - but the tree we trimmed is on the far left

No more out of control Christmas tree

Before of second tree

After - look it has a trunk!

Happy wife = happy life

5 Months Later...

The living and dining room have taken us a long time to decorate, but they are finally looking finished and I am so happy with the result. Since we moved from a 900 square foot house, we really didn't have living or dining room furniture. It was fun to have a clean slate to work with, but also meant that we had a lot of furniture to agree on. My decorating consultant mom shopped all around to help find the right pieces and I owe much of the credit to her!

Here are some before and after pictures...

oh those mirrors!

old drapes and nasty carpet

light pink walls and cream carpet....

Finished Living room!

Living and Dining Rooms

The fireplace still needs some work...

Dining room with new drapes