Hanging Out on the Summer Porch ~ A Painted Icebox Story

This old icebox was passed on to us years ago and it's played many roles in our home...

*tv cabinet

*end table

*bedside table

*and most recently it hung out on our back deck for the summer.

But I switched the big bench from the front porch to the back deck and so this icebox and folding chairs ended up here on the front porch.  The big bench is heavy and so it's a stay put kinda guy and these lightweight chairs are easily moved wherever the shade is.  I like having the option of moving my chair to a better spot if I want to!    

But this poor old icebox really has seen better days, don't you think?  The weather from last summer really did a number on the finish.  And although this piece is cute ~ it's clearly a "fake" icebox and so it's not going to win any restoration awards for me.  So I figured I'd have some fun with it and paint it a happy color to liven up the front porch area.

Ace Hardware had their big Grand Opening Celebration last weekend and I got this sample quart of paint for free there.

I was going to go with a cheerful yellow (by popular vote on facebook) but the hubby voted 'NO' on yellow and well, his vote made all the difference since he also has to live with it.  Sorry to all of you yellow voters out there!!!  Quite honestly I was surprised that he picked this color out of the three choices I showed him.  

I thought for sure he'd choose the green or yellow first.

I sanded the old finish off with a sanding sponge before giving it a new coat of paint.  I didn't use a separate primer just two coats of Clark + Kensington Paint + Primer In One in 'Stepping Out'.  :)

Very nice paint with great coverage, btw.

We love our little front porch with our Family Established Porch Sign

And the gorgeous hanging basket we purchased from the High School Baseball Fundraiser.  Best idea for a fundraiser EVER in my opinion.  I love my hanging flower baskets!!!

Just a few details to make this space feel really welcoming and CHEERFUL.

• Icebox Drink Table in a fresh new color
• Some fun floral pillows
• A sweet Dahlia in a vase (fake)
• Some ferns on tree stump end tables (soon to be painted stumps, I think!)
• A soft apple green rug

It didn't take Sadie long to realize there was a nice soft rug here.

I think she approves of the new porch makeover...

...especially the soft place to lounge.

Sadie says it's perfect for chilling on a lazy summer day.

Oh, what color do you think I should paint those stumps?  White or gold or some combination of both?  I can't promise you Scott won't trump the popular vote but I would still love to hear what you think!

Thanks for stopping by today to see what we've been up to.

Enjoy the Summer sunshine and stop to smell the flowers from time to time  :)

I know I will!

Cheers,

Sherry

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DIY Mini Terrarium ~ Beach Inspired with Air Plant (Tillandsia)

I saw an article about Artemisia, a DIY Terrarium Store in Portland, Oregon, and I could barely wait to go check it out for myself.  My sister and I were able to go about a week ago and it was AMAZING!

I will share pictures of the store and all the treasures they have to offer later but I wanted to show you the mini terrarium I was inspired to make after visiting Artemisia.

I picked up this tiny little Air Plant.  It's also known as Tillandsia or Tilly.  They don't require dirt of any kind and only need to be dunked in water about once every two weeks.  If you are in the Portland area you can visit Artemisia for Air Plants and other Terrarium products.  Amy at Artemisia was the sweetest, most helpful she could be!  For more info and care of Air Plants or to order your own online check out Airplantcity.

I love plants and nature but I'm not the most vigilant about watering, soooo, a plant that requires minimal care is definitely a plus around my house.  And one that only needs water every other week?  NICE!

I was preparing to meet one of my wonderful blog friends for the first time, and I knew she loves the beach, so I decided to throw together this mini beach terrarium with the little air plant and a few other things:

• CLEAN SAND ~ no salty beach sand allowed...the plant would not appreciate the salt
• VIBRANT BLUE MOSS ~ This piece I picked up at Artemisia 
• DRIFTWOOD ~ from my beach stash 
• SHELL ~ also from my beach stash
• JEWELS ~ I bought a bag of 'itty bitty bling' at Artemisia
• MINI GLASS TERRARIUM ~ is actually a stemless wine goblet I stole from my personal collection (one can never have too many wine goblets!)

I put a decent amount of sand into the goblet and added the air plant...tucking it's long root into the sand to hold it in place.  Then I just placed the other beachy components randomly wherever I thought they looked good. That's the fun part of making a terrarium...you get to play with the pieces and make it exactly like you want it.  Then if you change your mind you can move things around again...

Sounds like my kind of hobby :)

I couldn't resist adding the 'itty bitty bling' jewels.  Everybody needs a bit of bling, right!?

Then I tucked it into one of my Farmers' Market Baskets with some raffia and another little surprise...

The silver starfish is actually a magnetic brooch ~ you don't have to poke holes in your clothing.  So smart.

I rushed off to meet my friend Meegan of What Meegan Makes for the first time with my little gift in hand.  I was so excited to meet her I locked my darn keys in my car and was forced to pay an exorbitant amount of money to get them sprung free.  She was worth it!  We had the best time together; laughing and sharing stories and talking about everything blogging.  Good Times!  I was so happy to see her delighted with her little beach terrarium.  Is it any surprise that she came carrying a gift for me as well?  Please go say HI to her at WhatMeeganMakes and tell her I sent ya!  I think you'll love her just as much as I do.  :)

Meegan in pink and me in black and white.  Love her!  

What a great day (even if I did get robbed by a greasy locksmith who was bent on taking advantage of my desperate situation.  Jerk!)


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Windows, Doors & Drawers ~ Repurposing Household Items

I have an addiction.  I can't seem to get enough and it's already affecting my everyday life.  I don't know what will happen if I don't get my fix.  Yes, it's true.  If you aren't careful you may become addicted too!

The truth is I'm addicted to repurposing, recreating and reusing discarded furniture and household items.  It's a good thing there's no shortage of cast-off items to keep me at it indefinitely.  And for that quick shot of inspiration I like to visit Hometalk to see what other's have been up to.

Some of the items that are so often discarded can be easily repurposed into amazing home furnishings and decor.  The possibilities are endless!  So I thought I would share just a few ideas I found on Hometalk just to get your creative juices flowing.  I have an entire board devoted to the repurposing of Windows, Doors and Drawers and I'll continue adding new ideas each time I find them.

Find all of the above projects and many more in detail on my Hometalk Board 'Windows Doors and Drawers'

Next time you see that stray window, door or drawer on it's way to a landfill you may just want to grab it and see what you can make of it.

Wonderful windows re-purposed:

Design Dreams by Anne created this adorable little greenhouse with some old windows.

This amazing old window headboard was shared by Liz Marie Blog.

Wildflower Creative has a thing for vintage windows and I have a thing for how cute this photo display window turned out!

We've had fun with old windows here at Pondered Primed Perfected too, like these Porch Signs we created.

Delightful door DIY's:

The Pink Hammer Blog fashioned this fabulous desk from a door.

Tammy of Deja Vue Designs didn't let this roadside find pass her by.  

Instead she created a one of a kind hall tree just by adding a few key details.

How about this Privacy Screen put together by Not Just a Housewife?  

I totally need one of these on my back deck!

Now for some drawer redesign:

Proud Pooch Mama, Roeshel of DIY Showoff, is the creative force behind this drawer doggy bed!

Brightnest showed us a fun way to reuse those little cabinet drawers as planters.  Oh so cute!

And let's not forget the cabinet doors themselves:

Beth used this cabinet door as a canvas.  It looks so sweet!

Jaime of Crafty Scrappy Happy created some stylish storage with these little cabinet doors, some hooks and some knobs .

For even more Window Door & Drawer ideas visit my board at Hometalk

Thanks for stopping by today!

Sherry

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22 Clever Cabinet Ideas found on Hometalk

I'm a fan of clever ideas.

Many of my favorite projects involve taking something that is intended for one use and using it for an entirely different purpose.  The really cool thing about being a DIY blogger is we aren't limited by conventional ideas when it comes to our projects.  Everything we come across is seen as a possible makeover, repurpose, or upcycle project.  We are forever looking at the potential behind each and every yard sale, thrift store and roadside find.

I get excited when I see other peoples' ideas for the clever use of furniture.  There are so many great ideas out there.  And just to show an example of the creative ways people are finding to re-use furniture I've compiled 22 Clever Cabinet Ideas from  posts I've found on Hometalk.

Click photo to go to 22 Clever Cabinet Ideas on Hometalk

Cabinets hold special significance for us here at Pondered Primed Perfected because Our Very First Blog Post Ever  was about a freebie garage cabinet that Scott and I cleaned up and painted to use as a craft cabinet INSIDE our home.  It was a fun project to tackle together (we learned so much through the process!) and that cabinet has been an invaluable source of storage and organization ever since:

But we aren't the only ones repurposing cabinets.

Here are just a few Clever Cabinet Ideas I found on Hometalk by doing a quick keyword search:

At the Picket Fence shared this cabinet turned fun game center, with a dart board inside and chalkboard doors for keeping score of all the good-natured competitions that are sure to happen.

You may not like having all your sewing stuff out in plain sight but want it handy when you need it, right?  How about creating a Sewing Armoire like A Southern Belle with Northern Roots shared on Hometalk.

Coffee, anyone?  I totally need a coffee bar in my home like this one, shared by Wit Wisdom and Food on Hometalk.  If only it came with a built in Barista!

And if you need something a little stronger than coffee...Eve of Reduction shared this sewing cabinet turned cool Beverage Cart.  I'm totally feeling thirsty now.  :)  

The above and below cabinets both remind me of the stereo cabinet that Scott and I repurposed into a fun mini bar.  We shared that post on Hometalk too.  See our Hometalk post HERE.

This old stereo cabinet, shared by Practips, makes a perfect bathroom vanity.

And speaking of bathrooms, check out this cabinet:

Recaptured Charm shared this kitty commode she created from an old, discarded cabinet.  

(When it's all closed up you would never guess what's inside!)

Maybe you don't need a cabinet inside your home anymore?  There are many clever ideas for repurposing cabinets for use in your garage, shop or yard too.

How about this metal filing cabinet flipped on it's back and drawers removed.  A little paint and pegboard create an ideal storage spot for all those long handled tools and whatnots hanging about in the garage.  Shared by Brightnest on Hometalk.

Or this mini potting shed made from an old Armoire and shared by Art is Beauty.

WOW!!!  Those were just a few of the cabinets I compiled on my Clever Cabinet Ideas Board on Hometalk.

Click photo to be taken to 22 Clever Cabinet Ideas

You won't want to miss the rest of these Clever Cabinet Ideas.

You can visit my board on Hometalk HERE.

And next time you look at a discarded cabinet, just let your mind ponder the possibilities! 

If you haven't checked out Hometalk yet, you really should.  It's just overflowing with Home Improvement ideas and inspiration all being shared by Professionals, Bloggers, and Homeowners alike.  You can create an account to share your projects and even ask questions when you need help or advice on any home related subject.

Plus you can follow all of your favorite Hometalk peeps to see what amazing projects they are sharing there!

What are you waiting for?

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When that little voice inside your head says "paint the bed"...you paint!

My parents gave us a King Sized Sleep Number adjustable mattress.  They decided they would be better off with another type of mattress and so they generously brought their sleep number up and delivered it to us.  Many thanks to my wonderful parents!  We also got brand new memory foam components from the Sleep Number company.

You have no idea how much we appreciate you and your generosity, Mom and Dad!!!

So here is how our Master bedroom looked on Friday night.  How's that for red and dated? (below)

We were so excited to be getting a dual adjustable bed, especially because Scott likes his bed FIRM and I like my bed SOFT.  Can you believe it?  On another note, it is our 13th wedding anniversary today!  And that's about how long we've had this knotty wooden bedroom set.  Actually, I think we bought it when I was pregnant with Alex so we would have room in our bed for Scott, Myself and my big belly!

Of course getting a new mattress fueled the fire to change our bedroom.  It was long overdue.  I've had the paint for months...many months.  Sometimes I get all 'painted out' for awhile.  But it was time for that decade old, dated red TO GO!  It sucked all the light out of our room.  Great for sleeping but not so good for anything else.  We needed calm and peaceful, BUT we also wanted light and cheerful.  And so I pulled out all the painting supplies and got busy Friday night after work painting the walls with my helper, Alex.  Best to get the walls painted while the old mattresses were off the bed and it would be easier to move, right?  So I pulled the bed out from the wall and got to painting.  But that little inner voice in my head just kept at me, saying "You know you want to paint the bed...you've wanted to for a long time."  And I knew it was true but darn, painting the entire room:  the walls, the trim, PLUS the bed, was a lot of work in one busy weekend!  And I really did not want to take that bed frame apart and carry it downstairs by myself while Scott was away at tennis championships.  NO WAY!  And the thought of not finishing and being left without a bed for any number of nights...NOT GOOD.  It is our anniversary today...did I mention that!?  ;)

But late Friday night while Alex was sleeping and Scott was away, that inner voice started whispering to me again..."Now's your chance!  There's no mattress in the way, you've cleared the room and you've already got all of the painting supplies up here."  And so I grabbed a little roller and started painting the bed with some white paint...right there in the middle of the night...in the middle of the room...

Turns out a bed CAN be painted right where it sits.  Some cardboard under each leg so I could paint all the way down without getting paint on the floor was all it took.  Being extra careful not to paint the carpet or anything else in the room was important.  I just went with white because that's what I had and I'm very happy with the decision.  Even Alex and Scott like the white.  Yes, those men that are forever teasing me that I paint EVERYTHING white, said they really like it.  And so do I.  It is a nice, subtle contrast with the soft blue/grey of the walls.  And I like that the wall color makes it feel like we are floating on a cloud.

And the bed can be set to the perfect firmness for Scott AND me.  We feel like we are in heaven!  Thanks again Mom & Dad.

There's still much left to be done in this room, but for now we are loving the changes and taking our time deciding what color to paint the other furniture in the room.  If we decide to paint it.  Although the changes feel pretty good.

We still have an end table...

A big dresser with a mirror...

And the secretary desk (that came from my sweet grandma) I use as a side table to possibly paint....

A few more details and we might have an entire room makeover to share.  I think I just wore myself out thinking about all the things that still need to be finished...shwew...it may be awhile now!  Haha.  Let's hope not.  :)

Thanks for stopping by today to see what we've been up to!

We love that you are here!  Please take the time to click on your favorite method to follow (on the sidebar or that little purple bar conveniently located at the bottom of the page).  THANKS!

Sherry

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