Day 1 of 31 Days of Prepping for the Holidays

So first on my list is redoing a couple of pieces of furniture.    This is my favorite kind of DIY project.

Painted furniture can add that something "special" to any room.

My first victim....I mean redo is this lovely dresser.   It has great lines.   And check out those legs....I have something special planned for them.

I love redoing furniture and giving them a second life.   I have painted many different types of furniture from BIG UGLY OAK dressers.....to cute little nightstands made of out MDF.....to my Oak dining room table which I have had for over 20+ years and is now painted a gorgeous satin black.

A couple of things to keep in mind when picking a piece of furniture is to pick one that is well made.  Check out how these drawers are made.

This dresser has good bones all around.   She just needs someone to show her the love.....

So Day 1 of my 31 days of prepping for the Holidays was prepping this little dresser by giving her a nice sanding and then priming her so that when I show

her my
 
love 

it 

sticks.

More tomorrow.   

Be sure to check in with  Debs mind

at

A mind on design.

31 days of prepping for the Holidays........Cabin to Cottage

Well you know me.......I always have a huge TO DO list of things I want to accomplish before the holidays.

This year is no different.    I live in a different house this year........but it seems 

somehow....

someway....

I always have a TO DO list that is a mile long.

Sooooooo.....I read a blog called

THE INSPIRED ROOM 

She has put a challenge out there to post a 31 days series about whatever inspires you....

and well you know what inspires me.....

THE HOLIDAYS

and of course getting ready for the holidays.

So I will be posting everyday something about what I have done to get ready for the holidays 

 as I work on converting the Cabin

to 

COTTAGE.

Woo Hoo!!    Are you ready Day 1 begins tomorrow?

As for me I will be channeling 

"The Little Engine That Could"

I think I can.....I think I can.....I think I can......

Sharing a blog: Meet Design in the Woods

As you all know I love remodeling and flipping houses.   However it takes lots of planning and you know my favorite quote  "ALWAYS BE PREPARED".   You can never be too prepared when you start a remodeling project.

This is a picture of one of my remodeling projects..........and trust me every thing in this kitchen was thought out and all my HOMEWORK was worth it!! 

Carla Aston from Aston Designs located in The Woodlands, Texas just wrote a blog post with tips on getting prepared to start a remodeling project.   I honestly couldn't have said it any better.

Please check out Carla's Blog.  I think you will find it as inspiring as I do.

REMODELING...DO YOUR HOMEWORK... 

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE FROM CARLA ASTON  

My current remodeling project is currently in the planning stages although I have started some painting and wallpapering.

 This is a picture of the downstairs hallway.  It has new travertine flooring.  I also just painted and  hung some new art. 

The hallway was a dark cave before and now it is light and bright and provides a great pathway to the guest bedrooms.

My cabin is going cottage with a twist........

"MOTTAGE"   

As things progress I will give you glimpses here and there.   I am so excited!!

Woo Hoo!!!
 

Weekly Wowzers

Image credit

I had put a question out there about what I could do to improve my blog.    The response was overwhelming....(not)  Of course I will interpret this to mean "YOU LIKE ME..YOU REALLY LIKE ME"  but in the off chance you were just to shy to speak up please know I would really LOVE to hear from you....I mean REALLY!!!    

However I did have one brave soul that responded and hey.....ASK...and you shall receive.   Thanks Michelle.   Michelle's suggestion is that I make a weekly post about how to make small changes that give BIG impact!!     So here is my first post on this topic...and again thanks Michelle.

I just love having family and friends over and for me one of the easiest things that can be done to make a WOWZER statement is to have fresh flowers......EVERYWHERE....in the house.   I will admit I am not the best at keeping indoor plants alive so I do default to fresh flower arrangements.  But the thing is you don't need to spend a fortune on buying fresh flower arrangements.  It really can be done inexpensively.   I just had a girls weekend up here at the cottage and one bouquet of flowers from the local market for $15.00 bucks and some greenery from the outdoors gave me FIVE beautiful arrangements.

Adding greenery from outdoors such as small branches, redwoods, fern or pretty much any type of greenery you find right out your front door can extend that bouquet.  Look at these different kinds of greenery.   ........ hmmm.......Oak tree branch with Acorns???    I bet you can find those somewhere around.

Image credit 

 Image credit

If you change the water after a couple of days and pull out anything that isn't looking so fresh anymore you can extend the life of the arrangements.    I am on day 12 of my arrangements and 4 out of 5 of them are still looking mighty fine.

Image credit

Next week Weekly Wowzer will be about Mirrors......oh yeah and you know how I love mirrors....last count I had over twenty!