Light fixture DIY

We started with an ugly ceiling fan in our kitchen, which was later replaced with a prettier ceiling fan.  First the fan stopped spinning, and then eventually it stopped lighting up as well.  It was a dusty, non-functioning, eye sore that had to go.  I started looking at suitable lighting to take its place, but the prices were a little disheartening.  Then one day my dad showed up with a glass globe light.  He had an extra that he'd picked up from the RE-store, and it was mine if I wanted it.  The first thing I did, was spray the rusted brass with a metallic silver spray paint.  I felt like it still needed something, but I wasn't sure how to precede.   I ended up going to an estate sale a block away from my house.  It was the sort of sale that said in big, bold letters; "NO EARLY BIRDS"!  I dutifully obliged, and showed at exactly 9 o'clock.  It was apparent that they had started earlier though, because the couple of great finds were already spoken for.... I found a cool Samsonite makeup case that matches a suitcase I bought last year, but not much else.  Then I went into the garage and buried under an inch of dust was a 1950s drum light shade with hand stitching.  They didn't even charge me for the shade, b/c it was trash to them.  The shade was originally tan colored, so I sponge painted it a minty aqua and drew gold stripes with a paint pen.  I love the way the final light turned out.  It has a sort of art deco vibe, and it cost me $4 total (the cost of a paint pen!)

What do you think?

Hopin' and Wishin'

My kitchen progress is coming along, slowly, but surely.  Finding all the right pieces takes a lot of patience, and of course budgeting for some of the more expensive changes has to be accomplished one improvement at a time.  This year, we painted the cupboards peacock blue, created a chalkboard refrigerator and added to our collection of colorful 1950s housewares, including our pastel ceramic Monterey dishes.  My goals for 2013 are: finding the perfect retro oven (it has to be one of the harder to find 30" models), replacing the light fixture above the dining table, and re-tiling the back splash.  Maybe by 2014, I can think about new counter tops?!?

Bold indicates items that I covet, the rest is already in place. (From left to right): Our Peacock Feather blue cabinets, chalkboard fridge, white subway tile for the back splash,  vintage Pyrex, yellow wooden "eat" sign, Airstream kitchen hand towel,  1950s Wedgewood stove,  Yellow Lustro Ware canisters, "Why, yellow Gorgeous!" kitchen hand towel, mint green shake mixer, "Make Lemonade" printable,  aqua Lustro Ware reamer, gold star burst clock, pastel ceramic dishes, Amy Butler fabric in Coreopsis, George Nelson Saucer light, & mint green rotary wall phone.

What's your perfect kitchen?

XOX

Kitchen chair revamp

Today I replaced the fabric on my Danish Modern Craigslist chairs.  The chairs had a cream brocade fabric on them that was looking rather sad and grubby.  I switched it out for some Amy Butler fabric from the August Fields line.  It has a repeating pattern with mint, gray, and butter yellow.  Mint green is my current obsession thanks to my birthday rotary phone.

What do you think?

Slowly but surely

  When we bought our home, seven years ago, there were a lot of things I loved about our house.  Our kitchen cupboards were not one of them.  They were honey oak colored and I've always loathed them.  It's taken us a really long time to get up the courage to change them.  Of course the work involved with painting cabinets was a deterrent, but the phrase "resale value" kept rearing its ugly head.  I finally had an epiphany.  This is my kitchen.  The next owner can change the house to their taste.  The only person I need to please...is ME!  Okay, my husband should like it too. ;)  First, I bought a deep chocolate brown, an espresso color that I thought would look sophisticated.   We started to take the cabinet doors down and again, I asked myself, was this what I really wanted?  Why had I really chosen this color?  IT WAS SAFE.  Was it going to make  me truly happy? Not really.  I returned to the paint store and exchanged the paint...for Peacock Feather blue.  I'm totally smitten. Here is the before, accursed honey oak:

And now Peacock Feather...

I also primed and painted the refrigerator with chalkboard paint.  It's the perfect place to write phone messages, grocery lists, schedule reminders, and inspire each other.

I'd love to replace the back splash and figure out a way to camouflage the dishwasher.  I'd also love a new apron sink, and a George Nelson Saucer Light for over the kitchen table.  I'm not sure those last two are in the budget....ever, but a girl can dream! What do you think of my "ice cave"?