Dresser Transformation (Guest Bedroom)

Nate had this dresser that he received as a hand-me-down.  It's a nice dresser.  It just doesn't fit our decorating style. 

I had pondered painting it for about 2 years but was too afraid to ruin it.  Once we moved, I decided it needed a make-over.  This was my first attempt at furniture painting...my gate-way furniture piece, if you will.

I was happy with how it turned out.  I just wasn't sure what to do with the hardware so I decided to spray paint it.  It stayed like this for about a year.



We didn't really like it but we were too lazy and cheap to figure out something different (it happens).

When the nighstands entered the picture, we decided to get matching hardware.  And here is the dresser today.  Much simpler.

(Don't judge us and our hunking tv....we like antiques. :P) 

More to come with completing the guest room!

Night Stand Bargain

Our local Salvation Army has some great furniture finds.  Our dining room hutch is our favorite.  These night stands are a close second.

I stopped one Thursday night after work. Saw them.  Fell in love.  And then looked at the price. $20 a piece.  $40 is a little much for me to spend on junk furniture.  I asked to see if they happened to be $20 for the pair.  They were not.  I decided to head home and think about it.

Once I get something in my head.  It's hard to make it go away....like these night stands.  I kept thinking about them...and how perfect they would look in our guest room. And how me purchasing them would help the Salvation Army (I can justify anything).  I decided that I was going to bite the bullet and just buy them because I couldn't stop thinking about them.

So I stopped Friday night (during a snow storm, mind you)....and they were marked down to $20 for the pair.  I decided it was a Christmas miracle, grabbed the tag, and practically ran to the cash register.  I loaded those beauties up and here they are today......

Swoon.

Linking to: Domestically Speaking

Decking the halls...and stairs

I think we finally got the house decorated to our liking...just in time to put it all away again! :P

Lowe's Gift-A-Thon

Nate and I have always been Lowe's fans.  When you build 2 houses, you spend many hours in Lowe's.

We became bigger fans this week-end!!  Lowe's hosted a "Gift-A-Thon" on their facebook page.  They were giving away 90% coupon codes for select products.  So we spent most of our week-end facebook stalking Lowe's (in between cleaning, home improvement projects, and hosting a Christmas party).  I thought it was a ginormous waste of time until Nate received not 1 but 5 coupon codes.....5!! Holy cow!

The first coupon code was for a ROCKWELL 20-Piece SoniCrafter Project Kit.  The kit was valued at $120 and we paid $18 (with shipping because in store pick-up was not an option).  Should come in handy for some upcoming projects.



Second coupon code was for a  Keurig Mini Plus Brewing system (in platinum).  Originally valued at $100 and we paid $8 and picked that baby up in store!


Next coupon code was for the BISSELL  PROheat Upright Deep Cleaner. Originally priced at $79.99 will be ours for $7.99.

 

Next was the Generac 2000 Running Watts Inverter Generator. Originally priced at $579 will possibly be ours for $57.90.  We're still debating on this one...need to do some research for such a high priced item.  We are going to first see if any family or friends need this.

And last, the Dyson  12-Amp DC28 Animal Upright Vacuum.  Originally priced at $599.00, on sale for 20% plus our 90% gives us a Dyson for $47.90.

 Our house is going to be SUPER clean! :)

To recap: ~$1500 worth of products for ~130.  Not so shabby!  Thanks Lowe's!!!

**We weren’t compensated to mention Lowe's or these products, we just thought the gift-a-thon and our gifts were AWESOME!**

Dining Room Evolution

Remodelaholic

Our dining room has evolved quite nicely (along with Nate's photography skills)...



During construction... That dry wall dust still gives me nightmares.



Who needs curtains? Or a place to sit.  This was our "meditation room" for about a year.  I wish I was joking...




Curtains hung high and a bar height dining room table start to give the room a little life!





All decked out for Christmas!



Dining room today! View more house tour pictures here!

Linking up to: Houseography,

Curtains versus Sheets

The kitchen eating area needed something......

I thought the answer was curtains. 

If only I could visualize things before I execute them...
For example, I thought these Ikea curtains would look cute in the kitchen.  Epic fail.  They looked like sheets.  And the pattern was a bit much.  And the curtains were white and the rug was cream.  And Nate hung them too low....and they kept getting stuck in the door.  And... :P

After learning a little bit more about hanging curtains, I decided on these curtains from Target.  And I made Nate rehang the curtain rods. It's amazing we are still married....I wasn't so sure after this adventure.

What do you think?  I wasn't sure what to do above the patio doors. 

We were super annoyed when the curtains kept getting caught in the door (we use the deck A LOT in the summer).  We didn't need the curtains for privacy...just looks....so we did away with the one getting stuck in the door...which left that area feeling like it was missing something. 

We decided on an iron piece from Hobby Lobby to add a little interest. 
Too much? Other suggestions??

Wish List Wednesday

I like to window shop internet browse almost as much as like to refinish junky furniture.  It's a good thing I don't buy as often as I look...or I may need to get a second job...and we all know that I can barely handle the first one. :P

Sooo....Wednesdays on the ol' blog will contain something that I am drooling over that week but don't need to purchase for a variety of reasons (don't need it, already have it but want more, can't afford it, not my style but still awesome)...you get the picture.

Today's wish list item falls under the "already have it but want more" category.

TOMS shoes!!  I have this pair...and they are FABULOUS. 

Grey Wool Fleck Cordones

Super cute, super comfy, and they slip on.  I never understood Nate when he said he had to buy dress shoes without laces because he was too lazy to tie his shoes......now I TOTALLY get it!!  I want to sleep in these babies...no, really.  Plus for each pair you buy, they give a pair to a child in need.  Can you go wrong???

These are on my Christmas wish list...

But I'm also loving these....

Maybe this wishlist thing is a bad idea...it's just helping me justify the need for another pair. :P

The Graduate




Look who graduated from beginner obedience class! We were thinking about getting one of those bumper stickers that say: "My dog is smarter than your honor student." Luckily we aren't bumper sticker type people. :P

 

O Tannenbaum

Bring on the Christmas trees!! 

We started a new tradition last year where we put the trees up before Thanksgiving and then decorate them the week-end after.  Gives us some time to recover from the "fun" that is the 12 foot tree......it's not pre-lit and it involves 2 ladders to put up/decorate...and fully bellies so we aren't cranky. :P

 

First we have tree in our livingroom.  I'm afraid of heights.  Guess who has to place the star??? I always feel like I should have a video camera handy just in case it falls like in some of those classic Christmas movies.  We like classic red for this tree.



I don't have a lot of ornaments that are super special..except for this one from our honeymoon in Aruba.




The second tree is in our dining room.  Much easier to decorate!!



A simple poinsetta in the kitchen...

A few decorations for the table I just repainted...not sure how I'm feeling on this. More to come this week-end when it's light out (oh you know, the only time we're in our house when it's light) and we Nate can take some better pictures.  Also, an outside picture. Get excited. :P

Blizzard Warning Week-end

A Blizzard Warning for the entire state of Iowa equals a lot of time trapped indoors.  Good time to work on some projects. Here's some of what we worked on!



End table on sale at Hobby Lobby.  Liked the black but not for the location we wanted to place it in.



After.  Looks lighter here.  Might need some destressing..still deciding. And yes, it needs centered.




Quilt for my niece due on Dec. 24th.  Still needs tied






Sugar cookies!!  Headed to the freezer.  Will frosten next week-end!

 



Busy week ahead!

We both have lots of projects to finish up at work before taking most of next week off.  Ike has obedience school graduation on Tuesday night (cross your fingers that he passes).  We also need to finish up Christmas shopping sometime.  Nate's work party is Friday night.  And we're hosting a party on Sunday night so there is the preparation for that.  Even though this time of year is hectic, we wouldn't have it any other way!!