Live Pretty on a Penny: August 2014

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Thank you so much for all of your kind feedback regarding my dining room cabinet reveal earlier this week. Every time I look at that little cabinet, I am in awe of the power of paint. Making over that cabinet gave me the final push to "finish" off this room, which has transitioned over the past couple of years.

This is how my dining room looks today...

I am happy with its evolution, but I just have a couple more things that I would like to complete.

The lighting... This chandelier is the original one that was there when we moved in.

I don't completely hate it, but I definitely don't love it. So it has to go.

I have been scouring Pinterest, and these lighting ideas have definitely inspired me.

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Via DecorPad.com.

Roy Sausalto Five-Light Drum Pendant: This sucker costs $855! I know the price will no where near work for my budget, but I still really love the style.


via Apartment Therapy

I am again attracted to the drum pendant shade. This is the Eden Pendant from CB2. Would you believe that I already own one of these? Purchased it two years ago because it was "cute" and never did anything with it. It will more than likely be the first lighting option that I try.I don't know if I like that it only has one light bulb slot available. That just doesn't seem like enough light to me.

Isabella & Max Rooms: Street of Dreams Portland Style: House 1

via House of Fifty

Lighting is very hard to select, especially for such a visual person like me. As I digress, I would rather buy all of them, hang each one, live with it for a day or two, and take back the ones I don't like. I know that's doing waaaaay to much:( But I know I won't be able to make up my mind very easily.

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The blank wall... Because this art piece is so striking, I have a hard time filling this blank wall that sits across from it. Mainly because I don't want anything that will take away from it, or fight against it, if that makes sense. This wall sits to the right of my newly painted cabinet.

So the other day while perusing the aisles of Target, I came across these picture ledges.

Image courtesy of Target.com

What drew me to this ledge was that it had a pretty gray-washed tone, which I had never seen in a picture ledge. These ledges are by Threshold, they are 23" long and cost $12.99 each, plus I used the Cartwheel app and received an additional 15% off. I purchased two. Once I put them up, I will let you know how I style them, or heck, if I even like them on this wall.

If you have any other lighting suggestions, please let me know! I always love to hear your input.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Until next time!

Monday, August 11, 2014

Happy Monday! I am proclaiming it to be a fantastic week! How about you? I am so excited to be posting because my dning room cabinet is finally done!!! I am so happy with how it turned out and I can't wait to show you the results. So enough small talk, lets get to the reveal.

But first, I thought it would be fun to show you a real throwback. Like so throwback, that we weren't living in the house yet. This is a picture from the from the real estate listing. I love throwback pictures because even though I feel like my room changes take forever, the old pictures still allow me to see the progress. Looking at this listing picture shows me that I have made even progress than I think!

Photo courtesy of trulia.com

And this is how the room looked a few weeks ago prior to the cabinet update.

To achieve a smooth paint finish, I primed my piece using a Zinnser 1-2-3 Water-Based Primer in white and a sponge paint roller. I did not sand at all, because this primer helps to eliminate this step.

I primed with two coats, letting dry in between each step (about 2 hours in between each coat), then applied the paint. After all of your kind comments here and on Instagram, I was able to pick a color. I went with Behr Wheat Grass, color-matched to Glidden paint sample size in a Satin finish. This color is a like a true citrusy green color. It's so pretty.

Following the paint, I went over the cabinet with a water-based polycrylic by Minwax to protect it from scratches using a traditional 2 inch Purdy paint brush.

I switched out the original knobs for some medium size crystal knobs from The Home Depot. They were $2.99 each, and I purchased four.

I also switched out the original round mirror to a sunburst mirror that was originally in my bedroom. The round mirror will find a new home soon. The sunburst mirror is from The Home Depot and is only $35. Great price for such a stylist sunburst!

So there you have it. I hope to finish this room VERY soon. I will be back later this week with a few remaining plans for this room. I just love how paint transformed my little cabinet so it has inspired me.

Just for fun, let's take one last look at this makeover:

Before: