European Inspired Cafe Chairs!

I have always loved the style of well, everything surrounding you when you're in a European country. I've been fortunate to visit amazing cities including Barcelona and Paris, and I love going through the photos after returning home. But I decided I wanted more than pictures of these trips in my apartment--I wanted some of the essence of these incredible cities--so I thought European-styled cafe chairs would bring back delicious memories of cafes and parks I've visited. I just love that look---well, who doesn't?

After poking around online, I found chairs with the European flair I was looking for at a great price.

(Just $15/each at Ikea) 

Before:

After:

Two TARNOs go sunny yellow (Glidden's Canary Song--a gorgeous yellow I love and will surely be using again!), and the frames get a matte gray spray paint. 

And two are painted dark gray (Behr's Dark Granite) for contrast. When not needed for extra seating, we push them together to make a convenient little bench in our entryway. 

It just keeps getting better....they fold up flat for easy storage. This project came in around $70, (4 chairs $60, spray paint $5, two sample sized paints $2/ea) 

The result? I have a unique set of cafe chairs that bring back memories of strolling through magical places with those I love, and cheer up the place even on the rainiest of days!

More to come!

L

Kitchen, Accessorized. Providence, RI

In the previous post, I shared the kitchen makeover I did in Providence.  Now here's the kitchen with accessories after it was all painted and contact paper-ed.

Before:

After:

 Accessorized:

We brought in more color through the rug, accessories, dishtowels, and art. We used existing features to help choose the best colors (i.e. the yellow in the sink, and the green and blue in the contact paper).

Even the dishtowels and contact paper co-exist beautifully.

A rug in the kitchen may seem a bit unconventional, but it brings in warmth with its color (and with its texture, literally!) 

The contact paper holds up extremely well around the edges of the sink (who knew?)

Yellow makes its way through the kitchen in the details, from the sink to the stove, to the art, sugar jar, the rug, and even in the mirror's frame. Touches of black in the frames and appliances also create cohesion.

On this side, you see lots of blues & oranges (two colors that look fantastic together; on opposite sides of the color wheel)

A beautiful green hutch provides extra storage, and brings a rustic touch to the space.

This printed flour sack linen is perfect for art in the kitchen, and ties in to the rustic feel as well.

The pantry area,

glowing with pride!

Just add a stool for a great breakfast nook.

The finished kitchen! 

more to come,

L

Kitchen. Providence, RI.

This kitchen was drab and screaming for help, with green walls, yelloohhhh... countertops, and bland wooden cabinetry. I just couldn't let my aunt live with it, let alone eat in it. White paint (Benjamin Moore's China White) and contact paper were inexpensive solutions and made such a difference in this space.

Before:

After:

The last tenant tried to change things up with green walls, but they picked the wrong green with the lighting and colors in the kitchen. We painted the green walls China White, making the kitchen feel instantly clearer and cleaner.

Then we had to tackle those cabinets. They had to go. So paint made its way onto the woodwork as well.

Before,

After,

Before,

I couldn't stand the countertops. My aunt said she could live with it, but I just couldn't let her!

After,

To keep things inexpensive and landlord-happy, contact paper with a botanical print brought a little color, fun, and whimsy into the kitchen. 

But how does it hold up with water around the edges you might wonder? Surprisingly, really well! It's been over a year since I applied it, and it still looks as close to perfect as the day I put it on.

And the yellow sink that was gross (possibly toxic) before ties in well with the new counter, and now looks funky instead of dirty.

I found the best way to apply it was to start the end at the edge against the wall, smooth it over that lip, and then apply it from the back to the front of the counter, slowly and smoothly, pushing out the air bubbles as they came up. (Oh, they came up!)

I cut the contact paper about an inch below the front edge so I could fold it under the counter, and then secured it with white tacks.

Before,

This little pantry area looked sad and neglected, but with the same treatment, ended up looking great with the rest of the kitchen. A great breakfast nook & extra storage space.

After,

(spoiler alert: the 70's lighting gets replaced!)

Before,

After,

This kitchen went from dark and dingy to clean and bright.  Night and day? I think so! 

More to come,

L