Tag Archives: white

Work in Progress: IKEA Rast Dresser Makeover

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Note to self: cut yourself off from painting anything with drawers. Seriously. If you hear me talking about another dresser or desk to make over with paint, contact me, stat.

I started this project of painting two IKEA Rast dressers about a month ago. Almost every piece of furniture I’ve made with over with paint has had drawers.

Drawers=more planes=more sanding=more painting=more work=less fun.

Here’s a close-up shot of them so far:

IKEA Rast pine wood dresser furniture makeover latex paint Behr Premium Plus Ultra in Sterling Rustoleum Painter's Touch Ultra Cover in flat white Minwax Polycrylic in semi-gloss light cool gray mid-century modern decor bowtie

My weapons of choice: Behr Premium Plus Ultra in Sterling (flat), Rustoleum Painter’s Touch Ultra Cover in White (flat), Minwax Polycrylic in Semi-Gloss.

This round of furniture painting has taught me a few lessons. Continue reading after the jump to see what I’ve learned through this process.

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Vote For Me!

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I finally received word that I’m a contestant in Apartment Therapy’s Bedroom Retreat contest—woooo!

DIY Beachy Zen Bedroom Makeover neutral pallette white cream brown black silver gray green faux bois foam headboard wood bamboo nature beach Zen Asian decor

Check out my entry on Apartment Therapy here or visit the URL below. If you dug my bedroom makeover, please select me as your favorite in this contest.

The link on AT only has a few pics, so come over to my previous blog post herefor more photos & details on how I made this room my sanctuary. Voting ends 4/1 at 12PM EST. Many thanks for your support!

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/angelas-nature-inspired-bedroom-my-bedroom-retreat-contest-186558

My Beachy Zen Haven: a Bedroom Makeover

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EDIT: my bedroom has been selected in Apartment Therapy’s Bedroom Retreat contest! Vote for me here by selecting me as a favorite.

Imagine a place you can relax in, unwinding from the day’s stresses and challenges. This place envelopes you in crisp, clean white yet possesses an earthy, natural energy that calms your senses and mind. In this place, you can only do a few things—dress, sleep and some light reading—but this is perfect. You don’t want this space to encompass a lot of activities, because it’s where you detach from the world. This is your sanctuary, your haven to rest and renew yourself for the new day ahead.

This space is what I created with my bedroom makeover. Come check out how I transformed a blah bedroom into a beachy Zen haven:

IMG_0986-002 Continue reading →

Bedroom Makeover Update: Revamped Shelves & Vignette

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Come check out my first project with paintable wallpaper (and another piece of my bedroom makeover):

bedroom makeover paintable wallpaper Mod Podge decoupage floating shelves IKEA EKBY LAIVA vignette glass artificial plant succulent sand rocks wood bamboo dragonfly bird bowls jewelry storage white beachy Asian Zen decor

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Bedroom Makeover Inspiration

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Now that I’ve made over my living room, I’ve been slowly making over my bedroom. I’ve made it over in the past but got bored with it and took it all back to neutral. But even in that process, this room got neglected. Here’s some earlier before shots & a present shot of the bedroom:

Previous Bedroom decor in wood, white, olive, and chartreuse

Previous bedroom in black, white, turquoise, red, and gray

Bedroom in White, Black, Gray, Silver

In addition to the flexibility of the neutral scheme, I’m creating a specific mood for my bedroom: peace, ease, and relaxation. But I also want to make sure it has some personality. A minimalist scheme would be easy to create but would just feel boring and sterile to me.

To help create this mood, the decor style will be a combo: beach/coastal & Zen/Asian & probably some bits of mod/MCM. I will create this by using wood for warmth and earthiness, geometric patterns used in Asian decor, different tones of white and cream for simple variety, straw/rattan baskets, plants, texture, and silver for accents. Most furniture in the room will be black.

Follow after the jump to see photos of rooms and pieces that inspire this makeover:

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Living Room Makeover with Mod & Moroccan Decor

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It took a few months to complete my living room make-over, but it is finally ready for sharing:

MCM mod Moroccan living room makeover with black white silver gray teal before and after

Click above to see a larger image.

MCM mod Moroccan living room makeover with black white silver gray teal before and after

My living room was previously styled in turquoise (my favorite color) but I decided a change was needed. This makeover was primarily accomplished by updating existing accessories and furniture. Come take a look at how I turned my living room/home office into a peaceful yet enjoyable place with a neutral color scheme.

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Before & After: Entertainment Center/Bookshelf Makeover

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Welcome to the final leg of my living room makeover: the “entertainment center.”  It’s not an entertainment center unit per se, but it’s where I have all my books, my TV and electronic toys. Click on the photo to zoom in.

BEFORE AND AFTER TV Entertainment Center in Living Room with Ikea Expedit Bookshelves -002

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DIY: Customized Wood Panel Wall Art

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One key component of my living room makeover was to create a new decor scheme. I’ve always liked a mishmash of decorating styles, so I came up with a fusion of  mid-century modern and Moroccan decor. When a DIY folding screen project didn’t work out, I had leftover panels of wood. I used them to create customized wall art to fit into my new theme.

There were a few things I considered in making this piece. I wanted an exotic yet subtle design. I didn’t want the decor to feel overwhelming, both in creating it and in its finished state. The piece would also have to be large enough to serve as a focal point and to help visually extend the height of the room.

Check out more info on what I used to create this decor after the jump.

Neutral Living Room Scheme in teal black white gray and silver Hand Painted Stenciled Wooden Panel Wall Decor in moroccan design pattern

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Make Over Your Decor With This Cheap Mosaic Method

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Love the mosaic look but hate to spend the money for glass tiles and grout? Check out a cheaper and simpler alternative I created with scrapbook paper and Mod Podge. Adding a mosaic is a clever way to customize an existing piece of furniture or accessory.

Mosaic Parsons coffee table makeover with Mod Podge, paper, and Rub n Buff in white and silver

Previously, I created a piece of mosaic wall decor but have since retired this piece since it no longer matches my living room. Using this mosaic method, I gave my plain, Parsons coffee table an update along with some Rub n Buff to add a metallic vibe. Sure, buying a new coffee table would’ve been easier, but it would’ve been boring. Learn how to do it after the jump. Continue reading →

6 Tips For Decorating a Home Office/Work Space

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People who accomplish large tasks know it’s best to tackle them one step at a time. I’ve been learning to embrace this philosophy as I redecorate my living room.

My new decor scheme is neutral with bits of color. The main colors are black and white, with some gray, silver, and teal/turquoise. I’m really digging the simplicity of this scheme and it helps create the mood I wanted: spacious, clean, serene, and modern.

Here’s a before & after shot of my home office:

Before and After of Home Office fabric and foamcore bulletin board turquoise to black silver and white desk

And this is the before & after of my art workspace:

Before and After of Art Workspace with folding tables magnetic bulletin board turquoise to black white and silver

Because I work and paint from home, my redecorating plan also entails these workspaces. Along the way, I’ve tried different approaches to fit these spaces into my living room. Here are some tips I’ve found work best, especially in a small home.

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