Johnnie's Junk

I Was Featured

2012-01-25T21:35:00.004-05:00

I was featured on Monday!

Thank you Clydia from Three Mango Seeds for featuring my Pine Cone Fire Starters. I love Clydia's blog. If you haven't met her please do. She is amazingly talented and has a lot to share. Plus on Monday's she hosts a Do It Ya Self Link Party! Hope to see you there and if you haven't checked out my post on how to make these awesome little fire starters here is the link. They really are very useful!

http://www.johnniesjunk.blogspot.com/2012/01/how-to-make-pine-cone-fire-starters.html

Family Room Reveal!

2012-01-19T14:10:00.007-05:00

I finally have a finished room. Sorry that it took so long. I finished the room just in time for Christmas but after I packed up all the Christmas stuff the room was really bare and I realized that I needed to add quite a few more accessories before it was going to feel finished. Being that I do live in the country now and I am on a limited budget well you know that takes some time. I was able to use my creativity and some of my thrift store finds to pull this room together. It is such a great blessing to finally be done moving into our new home. The bottom line is that home projects are never done but at least I can say that we are comfortable now and settled. My husband wants to start working on the outside patio but for now I think that I will enjoy the bliss of not being caught up in something. It has been so weird walking around a completed home and not feeling the pressure of unfinished projects. I must say that I almost don't know what to do with myself. The room has come a long way so of course I have lots to share.

Watch your step but first notice the new hallway lights! Even though I was trying to think outside the box with the mason jar lights I like these a lot better.

Love the new sectional. Merry Christmas to us!!

I adore this shutter awning!

Here are some of my favorite accessories that I added into this room......

I cut and painted this wooden shelf for my t.v. to sit on above the mantel.

I cut this door in half and hung it to the wall and added three mirrors and some burlap to bring texture into the room.

This wreath was a steal for only a few dollars at the thrift store. I did have to remove the old ugly fake flowers and sand some of the glue off but it was super easy. I stained a few of these baskets to add warmth to the bookshelf. Wow, I really need to add to my collection of books in order to fill that baby up. I may paint the wood on the wall in the bookshelf a different color down the road.

The best find for the room because it was free and from a friend!

I was able to replace the original screen with this find from an antique store and I got the tools for the fire place from thrifting. I still need a few tools to complete the sets.

This mirror was another score! Only $20.00!

Cute little signs found on shopping trips and ....

a custom hand painted sign. We sorta have a bird theme going on in our home so it fits!

See....

Love those hand embroidered pictures. I can't believe I got to rescue them for next to nothing!

Since our dog isn't allowed on the new couch she got a new bed. The basket was another thrifty find and I made the bed for her out of free fabric that I also got from the friend that have me the rocker!

Take a look again at where this room started! I am so amazed and thankful that this transformation is complete!

For the last year I have been so consumed with moving and remodeling that the direction of my blog has really become a before and after diary. I really hope that you have had fun sharing the adventure with me and I hope that you may have been inspired along the way. I am looking forward to getting back to work and building my business again. I am so grateful to all the friends that I have met along the way and I appreciate all the support that I have gotten!

Thanks again for a great year!

How to Make Pine Cone Fire Starters!!

2012-01-14T13:38:00.004-05:00

This is the greatest idea EVER! They are super easy to make and they make starting a fire so simple. Their is a ton of info on line on how to make pine cone fire starters and you can really make them using a variety of materials. I started researching on how to make them last year when I realized how much money we were spending on starter logs. I chose the least detailed/fancy way to make them because after all I would just be throwing them in the fire. However, if you were to give them as gifts you may want to make them a little more fancy. Lets get started......

First, you need paraffin wax. You can buy this in a small block like this or you can buy it in a very large block. I used to buy the larger size when I was into making candles several years ago. You can also use soy or beeswax. Cover the wax with a towel and use a hammer to break the wax into smaller pieces.

Now you have to prepare the pine cone with a wick. I used twin but you can use any variation of rope or candle wick.

Simply wrap the wick around the pine cone by starting at the bottom and tying a knot once you reach the top. Make sure you leave enough wick to dip the candles into the wax.

Using a double boiler you can begin to melt the wax. The purpose of the wax is to fuel the pine cone once it starts to burn. Since I don't have a real double boiler this is my make shift one.

You don't want the wax to be directly touching the burner.

Once all the wax is melted lower the heat and dip the pine cone into the wax.

Let the pine cone dry on some wax paper and then dip it again into the wax covering about 1/2 of the pine cone. Do this a few times until the wax builds up.

As you can see in this picture the white wax is how the paraffin dries. I added some beeswax into the paraffin adding the yellow color. If you want your wax to be colored or the pine cone to have a nice smell you can buy color and sent at most craft stores and you add that to the wax once the wax is melted.

Once the wax has dried you can trim the wick and they are ready to go! Use matches or a lighter to light the wick and watch how quickly it will start to burn. Make sure the pine cone is in the center of stacked wood in the fireplace and if the wick burns out too quickly light the top of the pine cone. Also, make sure that the pan you melt the wax in is an old one because you won't be able to cook with it again. I picked up the one I used at a thrift store for a $1.00.

Linking up to:
http://mommahenscoop.blogspot.com/
http://threemangoseeds.blogspot.com
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/
http://serendipityandspice.blogspot.com/

New Year and New Projects!

2012-01-05T15:09:00.000-05:00

I have been off to the slowest start this year. I know that some of you are still waiting for me to reveal my living room makeover and I am sorry for that delay. Where do I begin with my reasons that I have not completed this task? For starters the room was bare after I took down the Christmas decorations. I would like to add a few more home decor items before I feel like its completed. That task has been hard to do because my kids are still home on their winter break and I am still recouping from the holidays. Mainly though the temperatures here in Florida have been freakishly low and I go into hibernation during the winter months. I can barely survive a Florida winter and I can hardly imagine how some of you up north bare your winters. I truly am not myself during these cold months. Bare with me and I hope to share some new stuff with you soon. Here are a few projects that are waiting for me.

What have I been up to since Christmas?

2011-12-28T11:25:00.001-05:00

Since my last post I made it through finishing my living room re-vamp, hosting two holiday parties back to back, and surviving Christmas morning with my family. Last week we got cable for the first time in a year and for the last two days I have been sitting on the couch catching up on all the Real Housewives that I missed this year. That has been fun! So, now it's time to get back to work. Well, sort of. I am on my way to pick up a little girl that I have been mentoring for four years and she will be staying with us through New Years. So, I will be doing a little here and there. I have some final room posts to show you but I wanted to share a few home decor re-vamps that are in that room first.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!!

This rocker was given to me by a customer that thought I could use and re-sell it but I loved it so much that I had to keep it for myself!

I have a thing for these metal eagles. This one was given to me by one of my best friend's during a yard sale trade. I can't remember what I gave her but I am super happy with what I got.

I got both of these for $3.00 at the re-sale store. A little cleaning and some black paint and they will make a statement as wall hangings.

This was an old wooden ladder that I cut in half. I refinished both sides a little differently and put one in my front living room and I am using that as a blanket valet and this one will literally be used to reach the tops of these shelves.

I know this a/c register isn't that exciting but it may inspire someone to re-vamp one of theirs. It's a super easy project!

Yes, Blogger is Fixed!!

2011-12-21T23:16:00.000-05:00

Not sure why or how but my toolbar has finally been fixed. Yes, things are looking pretty different but I'm thinking for the better. So, so happy!

Finally a Tree!

2011-12-21T23:11:00.003-05:00

Yes, I finally finished my Christmas Tree! Three days before Christmas, not bad!! Okay, so I did already have up six other small trees but in order to fully enjoy Christmas ya have to have a big tree for the kids. If you missed it check out those trees here.... http://johnniesjunk.blogspot.com/2011/12/few-of-my-favorite-things-christmas.html!

By the time that I got to my big tree I had used almost all my ornaments. So for the first time I did a rustic tree and used very little to make the tree come to life. The renovation on this room is almost complete and I am almost ready to share those pictures with you. If you could see the room though I think you would agree that a rustic tree works out just perfect in this room.

I only used fabric, twin, pine cones, tree branches, berries and a few glass ornaments on this tree.

I do love this simple star topper. I have to admit though I have seen some pretty amazing rustic tree toppers this year. Maybe next year I will think outside of the box a little more.

The train is something that my husband does each year. It's a tradition that was passed down from his Grandfather. The kids LOVE having it under the tree but I have to admit that it's hard making room for the presents.

Well, I think that will be just about it this year as far as decorations go!

See you soon!

Is all Drop Cloth the Same?

2011-12-18T01:52:00.002-05:00

Okay, I still haven't figured out blogger. I asked technical support today aka my husband and he couldn't figure out how to fix these new settings. He was able to change my toolbar but the html still appears after I post pictures in a new post. However, I can preview without it but that is more time consuming. I'm really not all that tech savvy so I don't like change. Hopefully, I will get used to it or figure out how to fix it. This will tell you what a looser I am...... Until today I couldn't figure out how to get e-mail notifications when someone comments on my blog. Now that I have the setting changed I am looking forward to being able to respond to comments more easily. It was so easy that I am embarrassed that it took me so long to figure it out. While we are on how I fall short I might as well tell you all that I only write this blog to share my ideas and projects. I have no interest in photography or writing so I am really horrible at those things. If I offend you because I have terrible grammar, can't spell or take horrible pictures I am so sorry. I am really not that good at scrap booking either just in case you were ever wondering. I get a lot of people that ask if I am into that. I can't knit or crochet either. Okay now back to the big news...

Yes, I am pretty much done with my back living room! I have some final touches that I'm not sure that I will get to before next weekend but I'm sure gonna try. I will have my family over on Saturday and then my husbands family on Sunday. I did put up our big tree today and the kids were more than thrilled. I will be posting pictures of that when I am finished with the room. I do have some sneak peaks though because I have been working on drapes and I wanted to share with you that I did decide to use drop cloth again. I purchased my drop cloth from Lowe's this time and was very surprised at how little the imperfections were compared to the drop cloth that I purchased at Big Lots. If you missed that post and you have any interest in making drop cloth curtains you should check it out. http://johnniesjunk.blogspot.com/2011/10/drop-cloth-curtains-and-tutorial.html
Originally I purchased (4) 9X12 and (4) 6X12 8 oz drop cloths. When I got home I realized that even though they were the same weight and company the smaller size had a different color than the larger size and it was pretty obvious. Also, I did have (1) 9X12 that had an obvious horizontal welt seam that I couldn't work around in my design. So, I returned the (4) 6X12's and purchased (2) 9X12's and cut the drop cloth down and I also returned the (1) 9X12 with the imperfection. After that I had a very consistent color and the imperfections "as all drop cloth does" I could totally live with. So even though I had a little bit of trouble the amount of imperfections in the material was a lot less than the Big Lots Brand. Let me show you a few pictures to see if that helps.

You can see why I chose drop cloth again. The sliding glass door that I needed to cover is massive. I loved that I had the whole room to lay out my fabric.

It's hard to see the color difference in this photo but it was very noticeable.

See how there is a horizontal seam in one of the panels here? That would have looked very funny with a seam when the other panels did not have one.

I still have a little touch up painting to do but I am happy at the coverage that the drop cloth allowed me.

Today my husband installed blinds for me and these windows are really looking good!

When I first started using drop cloth I didn't cut the fabric before hemming. It's very important that you check your fabric and make straight lines. The drop cloth does not have straight hems or side seams.

Hope that helps if you are planning on using drop cloth. Please stay tuned for my room and tree re-veal.

Wishing all my readers the best week as they prepare for next weekend!

Linking up to:

http://www.thekurtzcorner.com/

Is Blogger acting funny or is it just me?

2011-12-16T10:14:00.003-05:00

Okay, I thought that this would have worked itself out by morning but apparently no. When I try to add a new post the page set up is different? Why? I am getting a bunch of html lingo where a picture normally appears and the tool bar has changed. I don't like this. Can I change this? Please help if you had or are having the same troubles.

Robert and Courtney Novogratz!!

2011-12-15T23:41:00.007-05:00

Do you all know Courtney & Robert Novogratz from HGTV? Well, I certainly do. I just found out that a school in Land O Lakes just received a makeover courtesy of Bounty Paper Towels by the famous duo. The reveal was this afternoon and after calling the school to get some info on their new classroom and of course digging for a little info on the designers they invited me to their cookies with Santa event tonight and welcomed any visitors to see the classroom. I drove 45 minutes to see the space and took my kids to a strange school to participate in activities in a school that they do not attend. That is funny! Everyone had fun though! If I would have known about this sooner I would have done what ever it took to volunteer my time to maybe get a chance to work with Robert and Courtney. I would have loved to have seen how they directed their design team and of course to pick their brains if at all possible.

I hope you enjoy the new classroom.

Blogger is acting funny tonight so I'm not able to link the press reel so you can get more info on this makeover and I'm not able to comment after my pictures.

Sorry about that!

A Few of My Favorite Things Christmas 2011!

2011-12-15T13:43:00.028-05:00

I am very excited to finally share some Christmas decorations with you all. My big tree still isn't up and won't be until my living room re-vamp is complete. I am almost done with that! Since this is our first Christmas in this house it has been challenging trying to make all of my decorations stretch. I have been having fun doing that, looking forward to some new traditions and loving all the new stuff that has been handed down to me.

I hope that you enjoy this mini tour and please stay tuned for my big tree and living room reveal.

Welcome to our home!

We put up very little outside decorations because we are very overwhelmed with all of the other projects going on.

Come on in!

Sitting Room......

Cute tin ornaments that I just picked up the other day.

This was my Grandmothers nativity scene and some rag garland to help fill up that space.

I love to frame our Christmas cards. This one is from two years ago.

Dinning Room......

Isn't this the coolest vintage topper?

This tree is a little bit whimsy and rustic with my cinnamon and salt dough ornaments and handmade garland on it.

I LOVE the rag garland. It really adds a lot to a tree!

All of my Hallmark ornaments were gifts from my Mother. I have 31! She has a huge collection of them. Her whole tree is all Hallmark ornaments. It's beautiful. This cute little popping one is worth $50!

Salt dough!

Isn't that the truth?

Okay, so I really like these Santa's. They were all gifts that I have acquired throughout the years but truly enjoy.

Master Bedroom......

I have two small trees in here.

I decided to make this tree all about my husband and I. It has a few old pictures before we were married and other ornaments that represent our first's!

I can't believe that I have been lovingly wrapping and unwrapping this ornament since 1993!

First house! Now I need to get a new ornament that will represent our newest home.

We were babies in those pictures!

This tree has my favorite paper angels on it and I only have two of these doily ornaments but I love them. They were a gift to me a very long time ago. I have been wanting to make more but never have. They would be so easy to do and what a cute gift idea.

Emma's Room.......

Both of my kids have acquired so many ornaments that they definitely need bigger trees and now that they have bigger rooms I think they will be getting an upgrade soon!

I used her old pillow case dress for a skirt!

She has a collection of Holiday Barbie ornaments that she LOVES!

This one is very cool. You put fragrance oil on it and it makes the room and tree smell lovely!

Emma stole this ball from me. I only have one but wish I would have bought more. It came from a vintage accessory store in St. Pete.

Ethan's Room......

I have always loved his Americana tree. Again he is getting so many ornaments and needs a bigger tree. This tree is filled with a lot of memorabilia from the family!

His Dad proudly served!

My alumni!

Dad's alumni!

Very cool Superman! He is electric and rotates into his full costume!

Ethan has a few of these coin vintage baseball players.

A few hand made ornaments and a

really cool Santa light. Hand me down from Grandma. I love the vintage vibe it has in his room!

I hope to share more soon!

Merry Christmas!!

Linking up to:

href="http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/">http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/

http://www.kellyskornerblog.com

Final Room Progress!

2011-12-07T11:16:00.006-05:00

I am so excited to share the progress on this room. It's the last room to get it's makeover in our new home. We moved on New Years Day 2011 and I can't believe how much we have done in one year and how much this home has consumed our lives. Cleaning, sanding, priming, painting, decorating, sooo many trips to Lowe's and Home Depot, scoring and rehabbing furniture and accessory pieces, making curtains, tearing up floors and cabinets and so much more. What a crazy year it has been. I am anxious to finally be settled and to be in a home that feels like me and that I am completely comfortable in.

I'm looking forward to next year and all that it holds for myself and my family. Thanks for letting me share this part of my life and myself with all of you.

Stay tuned for the completion of this room before Christmas!!!

Green mantel and cabinets gone.

Tongue and grove primed and waiting for paint. I did decide to keep the ceiling natural.

Bye, bye nasty windows. These are clean, painted and waiting for some cute curtains.

So is that massive sliding glass door.

Check out this bookshelf. I am so glad that the paint wasn't chipping and gross like it was in my office. http://johnniesjunk.blogspot.com/2011/05/home-office-renovation-part-one.html No sanding!! Yes!! Primer and a few coats of paint and I will be done. Almost forgot furniture, a t.v and of course a Christmas tree!

I did put up a few smaller trees and outside lights. However, the big tree will have to wait until this room is done. I'll be sharing those trees with you soon!

In case you missed where this room began visit this post!

http://johnniesjunk.blogspot.com/2011/06/other-projects.html

See you soon!

Linking to :

http://mommahenscoop.blogspot.com/

Fabulous but Frugal Pillow!

2011-12-04T11:18:00.006-05:00

I am so excited to have finally won my first giveaway!!

Check out what I got in the mail the other day.....

This pillow looks so perfect in my living room.

That you so much Lisa from Fabulous But Frugal @ www.FabulousButFrugal.com for the adorable pillow and thank you Audra from The Kurtz Corner @ TheKurtzCorner.com for hosting such a fabulous giveaway.

I LOVE my new pillow.

Just in case you missed my Living Room Remodel check it out here....

http://johnniesjunk.blogspot.com/2011/11/front-living-room-reveal.html

Linking to :

Liebster Award!!

2011-11-28T19:25:00.002-05:00

Thanks Vanessa from Home Sweet Butterfly http://homesweetbutterfly.blogspot.com for awarding me with the Liebster Award! So sweet!

Just in case you lovelies don't know what that means it's German for dearest, love or friend!

The award is being passed on to spotlight new blogs with less than 200 followers.

Rules are simple:

1. Copy and paste award on blog

2. Thank the person who gives you the award and add a link

3. Pick 5 blogs to pass the award to and let them know by leaving them a comment on their blog

4. Hope that your followers will visit your friends

Thanks friends new and old for being awesome followers and I hope that you enjoy and pass on the award!!

1. Corn in my Coffe Pot @ http://corninmycoffee-pot.blogspot.com/

2. The Eccentric Lady @ http://theeccentriclady.blogspot.com/

TWO NEW FRIENDS I JUST MET. THESE LADIES HAVE GREAT FARM HOUSE KITCHENS!

3. Turnstyle Vogue Design and Styling @ http://www.turnstylevogue.com/

SHARI IS A NEW FRIEND TO AND SHE HAS SOME PRETTY AMAZING DECORATING SKILLS!

4. A Little Chic @ http://alittlechic.blogspot.com/

BRENDA IS VERY SKILLED AT RESCUING FURNITURE. I LOVE HER BEFORE AND AFTERS!

5. Junky Vagabond @ http://junkyvagabond.blogspot.com/

JILL IS A GREAT BLOGGING FRIEND AND WE DEFINITELY SHARE A PASSION FOR JUNK!

Please go and visit some of my friends. They rock!

If you are following me and I'm not following you. Leave me a note and I will stop by for a visit.

I love meeting new friends.

See you soon!!

Barbie Party!

2011-11-26T14:09:00.005-05:00

Just for fun I thought I would post a few pictures of Emma's party. All these pictures were taken by family. Over Thanksgiving I gathered as many pictures as I could. Since I don't have permission from the parents to post you will find that I am only showing you pictures of my kids. However, Emma did have a lot of friends over to help her celebrate her b-day. Wow, what a special day she had!

Custom made Barbie cake made by my mother. Isn't it just adorable?

My husband tried out the new chalk board and wrote Emma a special b-day message!

I had these Barbie invitations made from an Etsy shop! Visit Lily Girl Paper if you are interested in some fab invites! http://www.etsy.com/shop/lilygirlpaper We loved them!

Lots of drinks, food and deserts, of course!

Since I have no furniture in my back room I was able to set up these tables and chairs for the kids. We did a few crafts and played a few games.

The only picture that was quickly taken of my husband and I. Sadly we didn't get any pictures with our kids. Oh, I hate that when that happens.

My husbands sister! Her, my Mom and my Mother in law were responsible for these pictures. Thanks girls!

We made these cute bracelets!

And had a coloring contest to see who could color the most fashionable Barbie.

We made Barbie earrings and played pinned the earring on Barbie!

The kids enjoyed the hula hoop contest the most. Since the kids were so skilled we had to start making them do tricks after a few minutes. Otherwise we would have been there for days. I was truly surprised by this. I wasn't expecting them to be that skilled!

Ethan won. He had the best moves.

This is a picture of my Dad and niece. We played a game where Barbie had to find her Ken. All the girls and boys had cut out broken hearts and they had to look for the matching heart.

Emma has so much Barbie stuff now. She has been playing for days. Even though she has so many other toys to play with Emma has a very hard time using her imagination and you may have even heard me saying before that she likes helping me rather than playing. Well, after this party she told me, "Mommy, I decided that I'm not going to be a worker anymore. These toys are to much fun not to play with!" That put a smile on my face. I'm glad she is having so much fun!

By the way, has anyone seen the new Barbie commercial? It so made me cry. Barbie makes me believe I can do anything! Too cute!!

Kitchen Re-Vamp Revealed!

2011-11-23T18:30:00.019-05:00

Are you ready for some after shots of my newly re-vamped kitchen? Me to. Finally just in time for Thanksgiving. I tell you... I am very thankful that I was able to pull this off in such a short period of time. I did make my two week deadline but with my daughters birthday and Thanksgiving festivities I wasn't able to get the old camera out sooner. I should have taken pictures during Emma's party but things were so hectic that I didn't even think about that until the party was almost over. The Hubby grabbed the camera but even then we didn't get that many great shots and all that was left after the party was a big ole fat mess. So thanks for your patience.

Here goes....

This was my inspiration! Hand me down from my Momma!

View from the last room in my house that needs a makeover! Can't wait to tackle that tongue and groove. Notice the ultra short bar and stools? I know it doesn't make sense!

I really debated on painting all the cabinets white but I decided on black for the the bottom in fear that an all white kitchen would be too washed out.

I added a few custom pieces into the room like the pot rack which was part of an outdoor grill and the chalk board the I fit to cover up the radio that I removed from the wall.

Also, the drapes.....

the Farm Fresh Sign and the paper towel holder.

I distressed all the cabinets and then they got a coat of Valspar's faux glaze. I was looking for a non yellowing alternative to poly and I didn't get it with this product. Some parts of the white yellowed a little and the milky finish showed in the black paint. One good thing about distressing is that you can always chalk up your flaws to part of your design.

Same thing with this sign. I think it's a little crooked but I didn't notice that until it was done and already on the wall.

Pot rack was pistachio green first then later I decided on black.

This cute little bucket was in my living room but then I decided it was more useful as a recycling bin. Now when it's full my kids can take it outside and no more recycling left to dry on my counters.

After a makeover this paper towel holder came back into the room. It was in the home when we purchased it.

This clock was also inspiration to me. I love it!

Yes, even my knife holder got a darker stain and some shabby love!

I tried to make the most out of this room and yet somehow managed to paint and shabby yet another room of my house! I still would love a new oven, countertop, sink, and floor but we will have to put those wants aside for now.

The hardest part about this kitchen re-vamp was re-grouting the cook top. I had to re-grout twice because the black grout came out white and grey. It was very blotchy and not uniform. A second coat of grout didn't help. I finally purchased a grout cleaner and whitener that helped. After a lot of frustration I am going to have to live with the outcome. The grooves that were in between the tiles before were almost a 1/4 inch deep so it is nice to have them more uniformed and clean. After research I found out that this sometimes happens with darker grout colors.

I love that the kitchen is clean now! I love the accessories I added into the room and I love my new faucet and dishwasher.

One more room to go!!!!!!

If you missed my last post please visit it to see where this kitchen makeover began.

http://johnniesjunk.blogspot.com/2011/11/kitchen-nightmare.html

Linking up to:

http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/

http://dittledattle.blogspot.com/

http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com

http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/

http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com

http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

Hey Ya'll!

2011-11-22T09:41:00.004-05:00

These last few weeks have flown by. I completed my kitchen re-vamp last Friday and had Emma's birthday party on Saturday. Then we went home for an early Thanksgiving on Sunday. Now I am trying to recoup and get some pictures up for you all before the kids are home from school and we have round two of our Thanksgiving festivities. I'm enjoying the kitchen re-vamp but their are many things that I still want to do. Sometimes though a girl has to make do with what she has and that is what I tried to do.

On another wonderful exciting note I am so blessed to have reached 100 followers while I was gone. Thanks so much to all my fabulous readers. I really appreciate the support. I hope to see you all soon!

Kitchen Nightmare!

2011-11-04T00:54:00.011-04:00

Okay, so I have managed to put a little pressure on myself. Although, I wanted to start my home renovations in the kitchen after we closed on our home it seems that now it has been put off until almost last. Why? I decided that it was most important to settle our kids in there new rooms first. Then it seemed logical to work from that point around the home. So it's been almost a year and I can't take it anymore. I have a scheduled birthday party here at my house in two weeks so my goal is to be pretty much done by then. Ouch! Plus I will be having company on Christmas for the first time. So once the kitchen is done I can move onto the last room of the house in hopes to be able to put up the tree in that room and enjoy celebrating Christmas with my family!

I have shared some of these photos with you before but they may be new to some new readers.

Speaking of, thanks you so much to all of you that have shown so much support and love. I can't believe that I have almost 100 followers. I will do a little dance when that happens.

Also, I am leavening these photos with you to enjoy because I may be MIA while I work like a crazy person trying to achieve an almost unrealistic goal. I know. I need to keep the faith.

Kitchen before we closed on the home!

Only two burners worked on the cook top when we closed. I would love a new back splash but I am going to have to settle for re-grouting this one.

I don't think I will be getting new countertops quite yet. But I may be able to replace the sink. The garbage disposal is on the left hand side and the sink there in only a few inches deep. Very strange and not helpful.

I have had so many people tell me to leave the wood and to not paint over it. Mostly men which is also very strange. However, the wood is very beat up and I can't live with all the orange.

I tore down the wallpaper and replaced the light with a fan. It was a cheap alternative to adding more light and plus I like a fan in a kitchen.

Can you see that 60 year old stove? That is also on my wish list but replacing it may be harder than expected. You know they don't make stoves that size anymore? Plus wowzers they are expensive!

I replaced the hood when I replaced the cooktop. So it wood be shinny and new. The old one was beyond gross!

I know it's nothing fancy but remember I am on a budget. I did have a glass cooktop at my old house and I could never keep it clean so I thought I would try some good old fashioned burner covers to cover these coils.

The fridge is staying but I have put a new dish washer on my wish list. That thing is ancient and the door weighs a ton and did I mention that it's not very effective?

Okay, so here I am. All the doors & hardware have been removed. I removed three layers of contact paper from just about everything besides the front of the cabinet doors. That was a job I must say. I will never look at contact paper the same. Yuck! Tomorrow I will be sanding down the insides of the cabinets because the paint is chipping everywhere. Tops, bottoms and sides. I think that if the inside of the cabinets are also clean and painted it will really help the kitchen cabinets feel new even though they are only getting a makeover.

The windows and all the molding are going to be painted white and I will be adding new drapes to the windows that will match the ones that I made for the dinning room.

Oh, I forgot to mention that radio stuck in the wall. Do you remember that it's a radio & intercom system that doesn't work? I have covered most of the speaker holes throughout the house because the cost to replace the system was absurd. However, I would love to have a working radio here in the kitchen. If not I am going to have a huge hole in the wall because it's got to go.

Yes, I am going to save all those hinges. They need to seriously be cleaned and sprayed with new paint.

Well, there you have it. I think with all these cabinets and drawers I will have my work cut out for me. Wish me luck and I hope to have some pretty amazing after shots to show you.

See you soon,

Linking to:

http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/

http://www.alittleknickknack.com/

http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

Front Living Room Reveal!

2011-11-01T13:35:00.020-04:00

Come on in and have a seat. I have some tweaking to do but I'm ready to share!

New Craig's List couches and rug $250.00.

Plus lots of random garage sale pieces and some fun new accessories. Note: the only furniture item left coming from my old home was the coffee table trunk. I wanted so badly to replace that but I will have to wait until I can find what I am looking for. It's okay for pictures but its covered in markers. Um, maybe I can paint it?!

Candelabra and shutter were given to me by a friend and I made the "W" out of old wood I found in the shed. On a budget you have to be creative.

Custom made ruffled pillows made from left over drop cloth. To die for!!

I am looking for a picture frame to go above this couch!

I think that the clock for $10.00 was a score!

Catch all baskets for miscellaneous stuff like Lego's and barbie dolls.

Cute, cute little plates, free!

Where is the t.v. and all the other yukky stuff I don't like to look at? HIDDEN!

Yes, that is an antenna in the window. We still don't have cable! That's why I need to hurry up and get these rooms finished!

New coat rack, super easy to make!

Hand me down stairs that I oh so wish I had a before picture of. I painted the cute little stairs to match the railing and added some cute blocks!

If you have missed the beginning transformations on this room please visit these older links to see just how far I have come and please stay tuned because I know I will be adding more to this room and I have have a kitchen re-model that I am days from starting on!!!

http://johnniesjunk.blogspot.com/2011/08/front-living-room-progress.html#uds-search-results

http://johnniesjunk.blogspot.com/2011/08/almost-done-living-room-and-my-b-day.html

And visit here to read about the drop cloth tutorial. I forgot to let the curtains down for an after picture of the completed room but they really are stunning when there not pulled back.

http://johnniesjunk.blogspot.com/2011/10/drop-cloth-curtains-and-tutorial.html

And last but not least is my last post. Visit that one to see the furniture transformations and revamps that happened in order to pull this room together.

http://johnniesjunk.blogspot.com/2011/10/getting-ready-for-big-reveal-some.html

See you soon,

Linking up to:

http://www.alittleknickknack.com/

http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

http://missmustardseed.com

http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/

http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/

http://www.passionatelyartistic.com

h ttp://www.thekurtzcorner.com

http://diybydesign.blogspot.com

http://www.thestuffofsuccess.com

http://www.thesasselife.com

http://mommahenscoop.blogspot.com/

Getting ready for the BIG reveal. Some furniture revamps first!!

2011-10-31T12:53:00.015-04:00

My front living room is just about done. It's so new and I am sure that I will be adding new things along the way but I did want to share with you'all some of my re-vamps before a show you the whole room and how I put everything together. It's pretty exciting to have an official living room after 10 months in our new home. Once our back living room is done I am expecting this room to be used mostly by the kiddos. Check out the before picture of some of these items and get a sneak peak of how they are going to be used in the room!

This is my favorite piece that I brought into the room. I actually scored this for $100.00. The hardware needed to be removed because the doors recessed into the armoire. That feature was great but my t.v. wouldn't fit into the space with the doors like that so I had to hang the doors on new hinges after I removed the old hardware.

Since I painted the whole piece you can't see where I removed and patched the holes that were left after gutting it. I love that the t.v. is on a shelf. That allows for storing the dvd player and game consoles. Also, I love how this piece has a power strip right where you need it.

I scored this for $20.00 off Craig's. This was the mirror that I intended to go into my bathroom but it was too big so I found a new home for it in my living room.

I just love the twine wreath to. I got that for 3.00 at Wal-Mart and it's a Better Homes & Garden. I LOVE that they have that brand there.

Remember my re-purposed pie cabinet. I thought I was going to sell this piece or maybe use it in my hallway but for now it's nesting in the corner and I think it looks pretty cute.

Free score from my Mother in law. After sitting outside for several months the bottom shelf warped and when I tried to cut a new piece of wood to replace it I couldn't get the right fit. So I cut the legs off and I am happy to still use it as a little side table.

I have a few more accessories and projects that I have already shown you. Stay tuned to see how they come to life when I reveal the total makeover. Sometime after dinner, trick or treating passing out candy and partying like a rock star. Just kidding!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

WISHING ALL MY READERS A FUN AND SAFE NIGHT!!!

Linking up to:

http://primitiveandproper.blogspot.com

http://kammyskorner.blogspot.com

http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com

http://threemangoseeds.blogspot.com/

Halloween Decorations!!

2011-10-26T10:03:00.008-04:00

Yesterday was a Craig's List bench makeover. Today I added a fall wreath and I am going to share with you the rest of my Halloween decorations. Yes, I decorated even though my house on the inside is still is under construction.

It's pretty amazing what some burlap and corn can do to a hand me down wreath!

I need something to go over that bench!

Since we use the side door entrance the most I am glad that I was able to finally clean it up a little bit and move the paint cans and tools aside for now.

This is the front of the house. I didn't want to get too crazy because of all the other projects going on but I do feel like it needs more.

I love my birdcage and since I haven't had it that long this was the first time that I was able to put pumpkins in it. If you look closely at the small pumpkin on the right the letters of my last name are glued on it. My sister in law made that for me last year. Love it!!

Each year in town they have an annual Scarecrow Festival. There you can stuff/make your own scarecrow. My girlfriend came into town with her kids and we had so much fun. Since this was our first time making a scarecrow I think we did pretty good.

Okay, don't laugh but I did decorate or tried to decorate the mantel even though this room has no furniture in it thanks to a recent yard sale. This will be the last room that we tackle but when we do it will be like a blank canvas. I can't wait!

Can you see how much love this room needs? Finish the front living room, then the kitchen then this room! Any suggestions friends? I am debating on covering up the tongue and groove. So far I have decided to keep it on the ceiling but that's it.

Just a little fun in the dinning room!

See you soon for another room transformation.

I am almost done with my front living room!!

Linking up to:

http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/

http://www.thestuffofsuccess.com/

Craig's List Bench!

2011-10-25T14:00:00.003-04:00

I just love Craig's List. I scored this bench for $15.00. It needed a new pad but I tackled that pretty easy. It's new home is by my side door off my carport. Since I don't have a garage my carport has served as my work station. Next it's time to clean up all those tools and paint cans and add some holiday fun.

AFTER!

BEFORE!

Ruffled Lamp Shade!

2011-10-19T11:21:00.005-04:00

My inspiration for this project came from blog land. I have seen several ruffled lampshades and quite frankly I found them to be adorable. I had two white lamps in my bedroom that were screaming for a makeover and since I had a ton of drop cloth left over I thought I would give this project a try. These lamps are from thrift stores of course. I added black craft paint to the very worn and gross metal parts then added a coat of poly. The blue lamp goes in my dinning room and has a new lampshade already. However, after this project I may have to add some whimsy to it as well.

I ripped the drop cloth in 3 inches sections. Then I measured the diameter of the lampshade and double that and then cut the strips of fabric to that length.

I hand stitched a line across the strips of fabric. You can do this on your machine but I always find that I have better luck ruffling with a hand stitched line. Make sure to knot one end of the thread then start ruffling. I always use a dark thread so that I can easily remove it later.

I used pins to hold the fabric in place and then got out the hot glue gun and started gluing the fabric around the shade. I made sure not to glue the thread because it wouldn't have come out. Once I worked around the shade I removed the dark thread and began working on the next ruffled row.

Now I have two cute new lamps for my bedroom. This project was super easy to do and the finished result is pretty amazing.

Linking to:

The Sasse Life

http://www.thesasselife.com/

Drop Cloth Curtains and Tutorial!

2011-10-17T10:34:00.023-04:00

I know that a lot of people have been having huge success using drop cloth to make curtains. Since I don't have a fabric store in town I thought that I would give this a try because I could find 4ft X 15 ft pieces of drop cloth for sale at my local Big Lots for $10.00. I thought this project would be fairly easy for me because I do have some sewing skills and in blog land I have read and seen people with limited sewing skills making fabulous curtains. Well, it must be me but I tend to make everything harder on myself. I'm not saying that I will never do it again I just have learned quite a bit about this material and I may do things a little differently.

Remember these windows that were missing something?

This is the 4 x 15 canvas that I purchased. At Lowe's you can buy various other sizes such as: 6 x 9, 9 x 12 & 12 x 15. The prices range from $10-30. They also come in 8 & 10 oz. The more oz. the more thread count and cost. Since I din't buy my canvas from Lowe's I don't know how that material compares to Big Lots. I may have saved a lot of trouble and time for my self but I don't know that for sure.

The first thing that is very important in sewing any curtains is to pre-wash your fabric. The last thing that you want to happen is to sew your curtains and wash them later only to find that they have shrunk 2-3 inches. I washed each panel in hot water because I wanted to shrink them as much as possible avoiding shrinkage later. For example, washing them in cold water first and then later washing finished curtains in hot or warm water will still cause shrinkage even though the fabric has been pre-washed . Since the material was light enough in color I was able to do that.

I started out with three panels and before I washed each panel I encountered my first problem. Some of the panels were cut in between with a welt seam. I don't have a picture of this but you can imagine needing a long piece of fabric that was cut in half with a seam. The seams were in spots that were hard to work around and not cohesive so I couldn't use them in my design. I did take a few panels back and I found that some pieces didn't have any seams and then others were in places that I could work around in my design.

The second problem was that some parts of the fabric had oil/dirt on them from the machine and factory that rolled the fabric. So I gave those spots and extra scrub before washing them. I was lucky enough that those spots did come out. Also, their were parts of the material that had threads pulled or larger chunks of thread in some parts of the weave. I could live with those imperfections because I was going for a very relaxed look. In all said so far the problems that I had would be non existent if in fact I was using this material for it's intended purpose and not to be make curtains with it.

Again, I would like to stress that their is a chance that Big Lot's drop cloths have more imperfections in them than other brands. I don't know that for sure but would love to know if any of my readers have had this problem.

15 ft is a long piece of fabric to work with. I was lucky that my room had no furniture in it so I was able to cut this fabric without a problem. I draped the fabric over the rod and measured the floor length and then added a few inches for my hem.

The ends of the material have a seam in them and I was able to fold the fabric and sew a pocket for the rod. Not shown in this picture, I would like to add that I wasn't happy leaving the sides of the fabric unfinished so later I did add seams to the sides of the panels which you would have to do first before you make a pocket for the rod and a bottom hem.

I lined up the three panels to make sure that they were all the same length.

So far not too bad. I realized that one panel on each window wasn't going to give the curtains the fullness that I was looking for. Now that means back to the store for three more drop cloths and all the time praying that I didn't end up with the imperfections in the material again.

I played around with the material a little trying to add some detail. This was easy enough to do. I just cut each panel the same size hemmed and sewed to each.

It wasn't until here that I realized another huge imperfection in the material. I had two panels that were the same and one that was completely different. Two had vertical strips in them and one did not. OMG! How could I have not realized this when I was working with the fabric? I did like the strips but the finished look had to be cohesive!

This is a better picture of the difference in the material. It is slight but oh so obvious. So back to the store I went for more panels. I thought about going to Lowe's at this point but all canvas comes in varying colors and I knew it wouldn't have matched the panels that I had already began working on.

So far I had two panels that worked and didn't have enough cloth for the other two windows.

I decided that once I got more fabric I was going to sew the panels together in the center and essentially each window would have two panels. I did like the vertical strip but at this point it was the luck of the drawl on what you were going to get in each bag. When I went back to Big Lot's they no longer had the canvas cloths that I had originally purchased. They were carrying a a Big Lot's brand but with a new label and different colored canvas. I could pull my hair out. I called my husband at work. He works an hour away and he went to a store on his way home from work and was able to find the canvas that I originally purchased. I know by now I have exceeded what fabric from a real fabric store would have cost me and I still don't know what I'm going to get in the bag when he comes home. UGH!!

The first two panels that had vertical stripes I scrapped because they majority of the other fabric I got didn't have stripes in in. I may use them later in another room/project, sell them or possibly burn them. Who knows. Now that each window has two panels they look much fuller than with just one.

I did scrap the original panels but I choose to use the vertical stripped fabric for the top panels. I like the depth that it added.

I added a few tie backs. Since the smaller window only has only one panel I only added one tie back to the wall. It's kinda driving me crazy that they aren't symmetrical but I am hoping with furniture I won't notice it as much.

The good news it that they are finally done and that I have a ton of drop cloth fabric left over. So I may be doing a few projects here and there with that.

See the armoire in the corner of the last picture? Can't wait to show you that re-vamp soon. Now all I need is more furniture, couches, rugs and accessories on the walls. It's almost complete and then on to the kitchen and back room of my house. I have decided not to give myself anymore deadlines because with these rooms I am completely starting over from scratch with no furniture or accessories to work with. So far I have missed one deadline and I don't want to disappoint myself anymore.

If you have had complete success or failure making curtains from drop cloth please let me know!

Linking up to:

Home Sweet Butterfly

http://homesweetbutterfly.blogspot.com/

The Kurtz Corner

http://www.thekurtzcorner.com/

Diddle A Dattle

http://dittledattle.blogspot.com

Between Naps On The Porch

http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

Debbiedoos Newbie Party

http://debbie-debbiedoos.blogspot.com/

Three Mango Seeds

http://threemangoseeds.blogspot.com/

The Versatile Blogger Award goes to........

2011-10-10T10:28:00.006-04:00

Well folks in honor of winning the Versatile Blogger Award thank you Sharon from Rags To Rainbows @ http://www.fromragstorainbows.com/ I have come up with 7 things that my readers may not know about me. Here goes.......

1. I graduated from The Florida State University with a Bachelors of Science in Design, and Textile Science.

2. I married my High School Sweetheart twice. He is a Wildlife Biologist and hardly ever "gets" my design vision but usually comes around to support me.

3. My love for art, design and crafting came from my Mother who is a Hairdresser and my adopted Father who is Master Plumber and can pretty much do anything. Also as a Girl Scout for many years I had a great troop leader and we were always crafting up something.

4. I aspire to own my own gift shop.

5. I am still thinking about having another baby.

6. Before having my two children I worked as a Retail Store Manager but I also was a licensed Nail Technician for 15 years and worked as a Substitute Teacher. I am thinking of getting my Certification to Teach Art as a back up plan.

7. My husband calls me Johnnie Tsunami. A name that I'm not really proud of but he thinks it's funny. I think he is just jealous that I have more energy and a better vision than him.

Now on to the fun part! As a winner I get to pass the torch to 7 new friends. I follow a lot of blogs and I LOVE having access to so many valuable resources and fresh ideas. I am amazed and inspired at the talent that most of my friends and followers have and I love networking with them and also sharing my ideas. In honor of this award I have decided to choose my friends that are awesome but may be new to blogging or because I know they would love the exposure and support. As a blogger I know how hard it is to build up your blog so please go visit them. They have some GREAT ideas. In no particular order......

1. A-Z Eclectic @ http://atozeclectic.blogspot.com/

2. The Creek Line House @ http://creeklinehouse.blogspot.com/

3. The Black's Best @ http://blacksbest.blogspot.com/

4. Momma T's Place @ http://www.mommatsplace-theresa.com/

5. Holly Do @ http://hollydo.blogspot.com/

6. Camelot Art Creations @ http://camelotartcreations.blogspot.com/

7. Reduce, Reuse, Upcycle @ http://reuseandupcycle.blogspot.com/

CONGRATULATIONS FRIENDS!!! I hope that you enjoy the award and passing on the torch!!

As a winner you must follow these three rules......

1. Thank the person that awarded you.

2. Let your readers know 7 things about yourself that you think they may not know.

3. Award 7 other bloggers with this award.

HAVE FUN!!

My First Award!!

2011-10-08T20:12:00.003-04:00

I am so excited that Sharon from Rags to Rainbows http://www.fromragstorainbows.com/ thought of me when she won The Versatile Blogger Award. Congrats to her! Now she is passing the torch to me! Thanks so much Sharon for for thinking of me. I am so excited to get started. I have to first let all my readers know 7 things about me that I think that they may not know and then I get to pass the award on to seven of my blogging friends. Can't wait so please stay tuned for this post. Thanks again Sharon and please friends go visit her and say hi. She is a fellow Junkateer and loves to refinish furniture!

More Furniture Before & Afters!

2011-10-05T13:24:00.009-04:00

Here are a few more before and after furniture re-vamps. I had so much fun sharing with you yesterday that I thought I would continue on that path. Hope you enjoy them! Some of these items will be up for sale but I will be posting them on my FaceBook Page so if you aren't a fan then please join me there! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Johnnies-Junk/130285667038384

Isn't that little refrigerator incredible? I loved this makeover!

The doll cradle is in the left hand side of this picture. Hard to see but you can still tell that this piece came a long way. I just loved the details that were added to the cradle.

Before I moved into my new home I was carrying around these crates with me forever. I used four in my home office renovation which you can visit here http://johnniesjunk.blogspot.com/2011/05/home-office-renovation.html in case you missed it. I was left with one and I absolutely love the way that it turned out. Perfect storage for a little man and I love the wheels.

This little horsey would look great paired up with that crate and could really add some charm into a little boys nursery.

I love bread boxes because I never know what to do with my bread. Keep it on the counter or put in the fridge. A lot of people have moved away from using these but I think that with some new charm they could make a come back.

This paper towel holder came with my new house. Our kitchen isn't even close to being done but I couldn't let this go by without a make over. I pretty much feel that way about anything that is real wood!

Another pretty little bread box. This one was hand made by someone along the way. I think it will add some sunshine in a pretty yellow & red country kitchen!

Thanks Again for stopping by,

Happy Fall Ya'll! Furniture Re-Vamps and Before & Afters!!

2011-10-04T10:48:00.021-04:00

We'll it's officially Fall. I love the "slight" change of seasons here in Florida. Sometimes it is hard to stay motivated in the colder months but I know that I am blessed here in the Sunshine State. I really am a wimp when it comes to cold weather but I am so amazed at how so many of you bear the winter so bravely. Last year I enjoyed so much seeing all the wonderful fall and winter pictures that some of my followers and bloggy friends would post. It amazes me how some of you live so differently than I do and I am also amazed at how some of you stay so motivated when it's freezing outside!

As most of you know I have been frantically trying to finish the last three rooms in my new home. Not only before the weather changes too much but also to have my home ready for the holidays that are right around the corner. I have been busy refinishing some pieces to bring into my home and refinishing some pieces to sell as I clean out my storage shed.

I hope you enjoy these before and afters............

I rescued this cabinet and turned it into a "Primitive" Pie Safe. I think this transformation is definitely better than where it started!

Simply magazine holder. We all need these don't we?

This rocker starts out okay but you can see in the corners that it has been repaired several times and the paint is chipping. Distressed paint good! Chippy paint that falls off when you touch it not good!

I loved this little cabinet even before it's makeover. I see it in a little girls room helping her to keep track of all her kitchen stuff.

I wish I had a better before shot of this mail sorter. But as you can see it is your typical 70's mail sorter that you can find on almost any good day thrifting.

I love it hanging right by my stairs so I can remember to grab my mail before I head up. The only problem is that the mail nowadays isn't always standard and sometimes you have to fold the mail to make it fit. This is why so many people probably have gotten rid of them. I still think it's a score.

When my living room is all done I will use this to help store remote controls.

This little school desk was perfect for my daughter who just started kindergarten. I was really unsure about what color and where to start. I had some left over yellow paint and I went for it.

Then I found this adorable hand painted red chair at a thrift store that only needed some wood glue and a good cleaning. It breaks my heart that someone hand painted this and then fell out of love with it. I know it doesn't match but I love it's whimsy and it's perfect for a 5 year old.

Can you see why I fell in love with it? I can also relate to falling out of love with your hand painted/sewn items. Don't you hate that when that happens? All you crafters know exactly what I am talking about.

Basic Blanket Valet!

Oh, but I had two to re-finish. I think a blanket valet adds a lot of country charm!

You may remember this from my powder room makeover. It's the wooden shelf in the corner. See where it started?

I have lots more to share with you! Weather permitting! Enjoy!

http://mommahenscoop.blogspot.com/2011/10/whateverwednesday-link-party.html

Cecil's Junk Yard!

2011-09-27T19:03:00.012-04:00

Welcome to Cecil's Junk Yard!

In case you can't find it it's right next to this place in Dade City off HWY 301! This look is very popular in Dade City!

Cecil is the nicest old man you will ever meet! He is hilarious and has been collecting junk for 65 years!

At first, I was a little intimidated to pull up one afternoon all by myself. Their was nothing in site but junk. I think Cecil was surprised that I loved his junk yard so much. Now, Cecil's junk isn't cheap but he will bargain with you!

I could have spent hours picking and sorting his junk. The possibility were endless.

Do you all know the famous Cody's Restaurant? Well, they are building a new one in Tallahassee, Fl and the managers/owner came down on that day to buy some junk for the new restaurant. Cecil said that they bought a couple thousand dollars worth and were going to come back for more. Here are a few things that you may see in that restaurant!

Cool, huh?

Well, what's a girl to do? I brought my son back that weekend because I knew he would be crazy for all this junk. He is such a junk bot and actually wants to decorate his room like a Cody's restaurant. We really like it there! Could you imagine having that decorating job? Here are a few additions that we made in his room over the weekend. His makeover story begins here in case you missed it. http://johnniesjunk.blogspot.com/2011/01/boys-all-american-makeover-room.html

Love this because those words sum up my son! High octane for sure!

I hung this sign above his desk. I know it would have been cool to have a hand made one with his name on it but I liked the authenticity of this one and I was told by Cecil that this sign was from a firm in Dade City. He also told me that everything has a story and if he don't know it than he makes it up, ha! So, I'm really not sure on it's authenticity! Ethan is always building and creating and painting something so I figured this sign was perfect to go above his desk!

The pool stick and door stop Ethan picked out a garage sale that day! He's really getting the hang of this!

We added a few Florida license plates that I had laying around and some old car lights that Cecil gave us. It's going to take a lot of junk to fill these walls up. Hopefully not 65 years but I do look forward to many more adventures with my son!

Powder Room Re-Model!!!

2011-09-16T20:24:00.027-04:00

Yes, I am FINALLY finished! I still want to hang more stuff up and play around with my accessories but here we go, come on in........

Aren't these towels so cute? I whipped them up by cutting a towel into three pieces, hemming the sides and embellishing them with left over fabric. They were so easy and I love the touch of whimsy that they added!

I love the way the sink turned out. It was re-purposed from the old cabinet. That post is here for more details. http://johnniesjunk.blogspot.com/2011/08/downstairs-bathroom.html

The little birdhouses became a theme in here. This black one was a thrifty find that I spray painted and the white ones were given to me by my awesome neighbor Ms. Vicky!

The shutter and window were painted fuchsia. It was impossible to paint them without giving them a shabby appearance. I did try for an all white look but it looked gross! I thought that I may need to add curtains or a blind because the shutters were going to go in the trash. When I distressed them and the fuchsia bleed through I decided to put the original fuchsia mirror back into this room. It did look perfectly fine in my laundry room and now the mirror that I re-finished to go in here will have to find a new home.

The window part turned out great! It only took about 20 coats!

The toilet paper shelf was also given to me by Ms. Vicky. I love you Ms. Vicky! She gave me three. This one I hung upside down and thought that it worked perfectly for well, you know what?

I love this saying and I thought that it was so appropriate to hang this plaque over the toilet! HA! Two of my best girly's gave this two me for Christmas two years ago. It was shortly after we moved back into our last home after it caught on fire. We were all very stressed and emotional. This saying is so true. Sometimes you just have to be happy and proud of what you have and make the most out of your situation. I struggle with this everyday and I'm glad to have that friendly reminder.

Speaking of the storm that just passed in my house take a look at these before photos. I have posted more of these photos here. http://johnniesjunk.blogspot.com/2011/06/other-projects.html and don't forget that you can visit my last blog here http://johnniesjunk.blogspot.com/2011/09/re-grouting-bathroom-floor.html and learn how how I re-grouted the bathroom floor.

Walk through before we bought the house. Look it's almost been a year! Previous owners had their Halloween decorations up!

Tearing down wallpaper.

Removing a sink.

Tearing down formica, patching walls and texturizing them, painting, re-grouting the tile floor and adding beadboard and trim. That part my super husband did. I delegated though and of course was his clean up crew. Hey, that was easy, whats next? Only three more rooms left! I still think the kitchen is going to be the hardest!

Re-Grouting A Bathroom Floor

2011-09-07T10:39:00.007-04:00

After waiting 6 weeks or more for my tile guy to show up I decided to take matters into my own hands. Maybe it was meant to be because in a way I didn't really want to let go of the vintage tile but I knew that I couldn't live with it the way that it was.

This is what it looked like before. I did try grout cleaner and bleach first but the grout was just too old and damaged.

This is what it looks like after I am done. Wow, can you see the difference? I am singing! However, I must tell you that I couldn't move or feel anything from my elbows down to my finger tips for about four days!

Let's get started!

First of all, you need a grout cleaning tool that you can get from any hardware store. That's the little tool in the corner. Their are other tools but I liked this one the best and I went through three blades to do my small powder room. Also, you can buy dremel bits for removing grout. I also went through two of those in a matter of 5 minutes. For this job their was no way of avoiding manual labor. You don't have to remove all the grout, just enough to make a new path for the new grout to settle into. Once you do that you need to vacuum up the old grout so it is free of debris.

Make sure that you choose a grout that will blend with your tile. Everyone loves darker grout because it's easier to keep clean but I felt a darker grout would be too much for this small room and that it would be too busy with the smaller tile. I chose grey but I also purchased a special grout/sealer mix that you mix into the grout instead of water. If you use this it helps to repel stains and you shouldn't ever have to seal your grout again. I hope that it's worth the little extra expense. Otherwise, you just mix water with your grout and then use a sealer later after it's dried. You mix until it looks like peanut butter. I made two small batches because I didn't want it to dry out before I was able to complete the project or should I say, "pick up the kids from school". I also used paint sticks to help me glide the grout. I didn't have a tool handy that I didn't think would scratch the tile. Speaking of scratching, if the tile grout line is less than 1/8 of an inch you should use an un-sanded grout. If it's larger than 1/8 of an inch use sanded grout. The un-sanded grout doesn't scratch and helps you to really pack the grout into the small lines.

Wet the tile first with a sponge. I used a kitchen sponge. Then take your batter and work it over the tile. You may have excess and you can put that back into the bucket or keep working with it.

This is what it looks like when you are working. The right side has just been grouted and you can see that it is starting to cure and I am still working on the left side.

Because the grout lines were so small, sometimes I had to use my finger to push the grout into the lines.

Once that has dried for 10-15 minutes you wipe it clean with a wet sponge. I used two sponges and had clean water right there while I was working. Also, I may not have waited 10-15 minutes. I am very impatient. Their will be a milky haze over the tile and you need to use a dry cloth/towel to polish that off. You should wait about three days before walking on it, not saying that I did and you are supposed to wait 4 weeks before you clean it with anything besides water.

Look at this beautiful retro floor. I am so close to working out all the other details. Stay tuned because my powder room reveal will be very soon!!

P.S. My only regret is that I wish I would have done this in my other two bathrooms that have the same tile. If I decide to do this later in my spare time I will definitely call in for back up. Removing that old grout is a serious chore for one person. It's not an easy project but so worth it!

An Almost Done Living Room and my B-day Post!!

2011-08-29T15:14:00.017-04:00

I turned 35 last Tuesday and I wanted to share some of my B-day fun with you all. I know it's a little un-related to design but you may find some inspiration here.

My B-day festivities started with a visit from my Mother-in-Law Kathy and Niece Alize. I love when my Mother-in-Law comes to visit because she is a lot of fun and because she spoils me. My kiddos love to have Alize visit to. Especially my little Emma. She hasn't met a lot of friends in Dade City and she gets a little lonesome. Although, with her strating kindergarten I don't think that will last long.

Momma "B" took me to this amazing restaurant in Dade City. I loved the decor! All the walls were made from doors and windows and stain glass.

I wanted to get more pictures but it is a very small intimate place and I felt kinda silly.

My handsome boys.

Check out the table and seats! They are made from recycled doors. I loved that they tiled the parts of the door that were recessed so the table top would be even!

The food was excellent but dessert was the best. I have a serious sweet tooth!

I really liked this picture of us! Thanks Mom for a great dinner!

I had to take a few more outside because the foliage growing up the wall was stunning!

On Tuesday my Mom also came to spend the day with me and she treated me to lunch at a very famous lunch spot called "Lunch on Limoges"! Seriously, everyone that comes to Dade City knows about this place and I had been Dying to go! It was very old school. The waitresses wear old fashioned white uniforms and cook in an open kitchen. They are also known for their desserts and teas.

Look how cool the menu is. They write the daily menu and then carry it to your table.

Did I mention that it is also attached to a very ritzy dress shop?

That's my Momma! The salad was delicious! I know because I ordered the same thing!

My neighbor Vicky surprised us and bought us dessert. She used to work in the gift shop and asked one of her friends to order it for us. She wasn't there because she was home baking me another cake. She is seriously an awesome neighbor but I think she's trying to fatten me up.

That's us enjoying ever bite!

Cute picture of my Mom browsing. Neither one of us have a "Vera". They are so cute but we are both too cheap. Ha! Maybe one day!

AND now for the coolest B-day present ever............

My talented and awesome Mother presented me with this hand made faux stain glass window of our house. She designed this off a picture that she took. It took her several months and hours to complete. I know she put a lot of love into this! P.S. My husband and I were high school sweethearts and were first married in 93. We only lasted a few years and got divorced but then after a few years apart got married again! So yes, I married the same man twice! However, we only had one wedding so the date is still authentic!

I hung the stain glass above a bench in the corner by my front door. This little area isn't completely ready for it's close up but this window sure adds the perfect touch!! That picture was taken looking from our front living room which has also been coming along.

Look!! I have blinds and curtain rods. I have the fun project ahead of making drapes now!

It's getting there!!

After Mom headed back home my hubby made dinner and we opened presents and had more cake. This time Vicky came over! After all she did make the cake!

I got a pair of shoes that didn't fit and a glass rock from my son and my daughter gave me her used makeup. Emma said that I needed the make-up more than her and Ethan said that he gave me the rock because he wanted to give me a bigger diamond than the one that his Daddy gave me. Gotta love family!!

Seriously, she has been the biggest blessing since we moved to Dade City. She is the best cook and makes stuff for us all the time, she is good to the kids and she grocery shops for us when she is out, and does this all because she enjoys/wants to. Wow, we are very special to have her!

This must definitely be middle age because my b-day wish this year was to slow the signs of aging! Ha! Until next year!

Front Living Room Progress!

2011-08-22T12:12:00.004-04:00

I have been stalled in my powder room because of some tile issues that we are having so I thought I would share some progress that I have been making in my Front Living Room. When we purchased the home it was called a "Sitting Room". It had doors and no lights with a very out dated feel. Since this is going to be our main living room we wanted to ditch the "sitting room" feel. First thing we needed to do was to remove those drapes, take off the doors and add some lights. We are a few weeks from being completely finished but here is our progress.....

This is the saddest picture ever I know! This room is screaming, "I need a design intervention!". This was taken right after we moved in and everything was thrown in that room. Gross!

This picture is looking into the hallway. The hallways have had a metamorphosis of their own. Their not completely done but we are getting close. Here are a a few of the hallway stages...

I really like the new ceiling light and it looks a lot better than the gold contraption that was there. My B-day is tomorrow and my Mom made me the most awesome stain glass window that I am planning on hanging above that bench. I can't wait to share that with you.

Did I mention that all the hallway doors had to washed and painted. They were completely covered in dust from all the sanding and they were pretty dirty from general wear.

Really, I lost count of all the doors that I had to paint. I took me several days but finally they are all done and they do look so much better.

These aren't the same doors in the first picture. Yeah, I pretty much couldn't move for a few days after that!

I had to paint closets to. I hate painting closets!

We skim coated concrete over the asbestos tiles in this closet and painted them using the left over paint from my home office revamp. Visit that post here.... http://johnniesjunk.blogspot.com/2011_05_01_archive.html

It's not fun but the closets are clean and not gross anymore.

Refresh!

Replacing the gold wall sconces hasn't been easy. I have been going back and forth. I want something cheap but cute and not too sophisticated. I decided to hang these super affordable outside lights inside because they reminded me of Mason jars! I'm not completely sold on them and I have been getting a lot of not so good feed back. So, I may change them out! Don't you hate when you think you really like something and nobody else does?

They could work, right? We'll see! Okay, now back to the "Front Living Room"!

Removed those drapes and repaired the molding.

My super hero brother came to my rescue and wired this room with electricity. Thank you Jeremy, I love you! He is the most amazing builder, painter, electrician, jack of all trades. I wish I had half of his talent! Trust me he very handsome. Sorry I din't get a frontal view. He was to busy working.

After he left we had a lot of holes to patch and......

More sanding!

Did I mention the view! Let's relax for a moment!

Let there be light!! Patched holes, painted ceiling and two new fans! Did I mention how much I love my brother?

Okay, now back to my reality for the past 8 months, more painting.

Sneak peak of the color that I chose. I'm hoping this room will be complete soon but I still have blinds to hang, curtains to be made and furniture to buy or in my case re-finish!! On a side note my kids did go back to school today and I am okay with the fact that I didn't make my deadline to have my house finished. I came close though. Now, I am shooting to have everything done before my daughters B-day in November. I hope I can do that!

A Few Additions.......

2011-08-15T16:03:00.012-04:00

I wanted to share with you all a few of my cool finds and how I refinished this awesome medicine cabinet......

I added this cute cabinet to my laundry room. Some of you may have remembered me talking about wanting to add a cabinet to an empty space that I had in my laundry room. That reveal is here http://johnniesjunk.blogspot.com/2011_03_01_archive.html

My laundry room was almost done but I had a huge empty wall right above the ironing board. I was actually on the hunt for a cabinet to re-finish but when I seen this beauty for $3.00 at a yard sale I knew it would work even better than a bulky cabinet but yet perfect enough to store a few extra things in.

I think that it came out of an RV. The women that sold it to me said that her husband didn't want anything to do with it and that she was going to have to replace it with a new one. I wondered why one would listen to there husband when it comes to things like this but I was glad that she didn't. I'm very happy with it!

Yes, that is a toothbrush holder!

Also, you may remember my kids bathroom makeover. If not that is here http://johnniesjunk.blogspot.com/2011/02/kids-bathroom-makeover.html

Since this is the main bath that we are using while my downstairs powder room is under construction I thought that I would share a few of the new additions in there.

Originally I had this shelf hanging on the wall above the toilet but I never truly feel in love with it there and I decided that this pretty little mirror would look much better!

Don't ya think?

There was also a naked spot on the wall in the left hand corner and I found this cute wall hanging to put there. Another thrifty find for only a couple of dollars and yes, I am so grateful for my precious babies and hopefully this will remind them to be grateful to.

I'm going to miss them when school starts next week!

My Master Bathroom!

2011-08-10T14:36:00.015-04:00

Everyone has been telling me that as soon as you are finished with your house it will be just in enough time to start over and go back changing the things that you don't like anymore. Isn't that funny? I do feel that way a little only because I have felt rushed and I think that as you live in your space for some time decor tends to change and you acquire more things for that room. Truly though after I finish the last room I will be ready for a break or a party or something like that. I will never stop though because we all know that you are really never done, right?

Since I just shared with you my lovely downstairs bathroom I decided to share some of the new additions I have made already in my master bathroom.

Some may remember this naked spot. I was on the hunt for a dresser that would fit in the corner. I finally found one and now that space looks like this!

But it used to look like this.....

I also added a towel bar in my bathroom and it looks like this.....

But it used to be a plain old piece of wood that looked like this........

I also got rid of this..... (Please don't pay attention to the dust. That picture was taken during my re-vamp!)

And added this........

It is so much nicer to blow dry the hair in the morning of course that is when ever I get around to doing that. I hate to blow dry my hair and avoid it when ever possible. That is why when I work I always look like this.....

I can't wait until I am an old lady and I can go have my hair done once a week. Those ladies have it made!!!

Downstairs Bathroom!

2011-08-10T11:54:00.005-04:00

What have I been up to? I have been working in here. This is my downstairs bathroom or should I say powder room?

You may remember it when it looked like this!

After the way too expensive quote that we got from a professional my husband and I decided to tackle this project ourselves. This is why it is taking forever. The number one problem besides being completely dated in this bath is that the toilet is too close to the cabinet and if you know what I mean it is simply not functional. I wanted to tear the old cabinet out and put in a smaller one. The cabinets at the store are crazy expensive and I really didn't like any that were in my price range so I'm going to try to re-purpose this one. Currently it is sitting in my carport waiting for some TLC. I did strip, sand and prime it but so far that is all I have done. P.S. before you tear a countertop out you should remove the sink first so that it doesn't fall and break into a million pieces.

This is the man responsible for that mess but I will help him clean it up!

Okay, so we thought......"let's put up bead board over the formica, and lay new tile!". Well, I couldn't live with that because some of the formica had pockets behind it and I thought that if I was going to do this I wanted to do this right".

This is the said toilet that is also in the carport. It has been two weeks since it was in this bath and boy do I miss it because this means that every time you have to use the restroom you have to go upstairs. Notice how lovely the walls look patched and primed. Also, I removed the shutters and started to prime them for some new paint.

Hey, can I have a little privacy here! Just joking!

Here is what we found under the formica. A lot of mold. Boy, I am so glad that I decided to do this. I have never dealt with this before. I bleached and scrubbed the mold and then put a good coat of primer on the dry wall. I'm not sure if this is good enough to lay bead board over or if we should replace the drywall completely.

More over by the toilet area!

The tile that we are going with is the tile in the upper left. I did find someone to install it for $200! They are going to lay the tile over the old tile and I am hesitant about that but I realize that the original tile would be very labor intensive to remove. I was guaranteed that it will stay so I trust in that!

This is the new countertop that I picked out to be used on top of the re-purposed cabinet.

That is if I can pull this makeover off. If not then I will have to come up with another plan.

I also liked this one and I may return the first one because it has a back splash on it and it's cheaper! I am worried that the kids will be too messy when they are washing their hands and that I will end up with more wet walls and mold.

Did I mention that I am also working on my front living room and that I only have four more rooms before I am completely done moving into my new home? I am so excited! I am really looking forward to having my life back and to start designing things that I can sell again. Oh ya, and having cable! My family and I vowed that we wouldn't hook cable up until we completed every room in our home. It's actually not that bad because who has time for t.v. and it is amazing how many stations you can get with an antenna! Thanks for tuning in!!

Dinning Room Reveal!

2011-07-25T20:39:00.005-04:00

Thanks for hanging in there with me as I finish this room. Please scroll through to see just how far we've come.

Dinning Room Accessories & Refinished Furniture!

2011-07-25T16:42:00.009-04:00

I am ready to reveal my finished dinning room to you but first I wanted to share some of my thrift store transformations that I did in this room.

My favorite piece that I added to the room was this dainty cabinet. I have been storing this piece in my shed for many years. My Mom scored this for me for free and I knew that eventually I would find the time to refinish it.

Before......

After......

My Mom also got this potato bin for me when she got the pantry and yes it was being stored in the shed and it was also FREE!

Before......

After......

This table was given to me by my Mother in Law a few months ago.

Before......

After......

I like that this table isn't so serious anymore and I love the little knob that I added in the center. It's really going to help me when I need extra space for food and beverage in the dinning room.

Before......

I wish that I had a better before picture but I forgot to take one before I had primed the stools. They came from an old pub style table that I had. My Dad cut the legs for me.

After......

I have four of these. The other two I am using at the bar that leads to my living room. It is a very short bar and these chairs work perfectly. They are also great when you need extra seats, especially for the kiddo's.

Before......

This mirror was a great find for $15.00. I love mirrors in a room because they are cheap, they take up a lot of space on a wall and because they make a room feel bigger. I have never had a dinning room before and a mirror may not be the typical decor but I went for it.

After......

I got this little chicken for $3.00. I loved it just like this but the paint was like powder and came off when you touched it. A little TLC and this cute little number will last many more years. It makes the perfect door stop to which I did need.

Before......

After......

This little tool box was only $1.00. Actually I think that it was built by a kid probably at one of those home depot kid days. It needed a new bottom and paint.

Before......

After......

I can't wait to show you the rest of the room. I am super excited to finally say that I have only four more rooms to go. I'm doubtful now that I will meet my back to school deadline but I will sure try. Stay tuned!

Dinning Room Almost Done!

2011-07-12T12:25:00.012-04:00

I have been working on several projects as I attempt to finish the downstairs portion of my home. It's been sorta a race to the finish line as summer is quickly moving to an end. Still yet to go is to finish the dinning room, kitchen, bathroom and two living rooms. Here is my progress on the dinning room. I will be revealing the finitto soon!

Again...Here is a picture of the dinning room before we purchased the home. The drapes were literally 20 years old and purchased at Montgomery Wards. Ha! They definitely had to go. I wanted something lighter and I wanted to see the pretty windows.

Removing the drapes, hardware and wooden cornice was a chore. In the end I was left with missing molding that was going to have to be replaced.

Since the house is 50 plus years old I panicked because I was concerned that I wasn't going to be able to replace the molding easily but I lucked out because it was a standard molding that I was able to buy from Lowe's.

Two coats of primer and one coat of paint! I almost painted the chandelier but I ended up selling it on Craig's List for $20.00. The new one that I purchased cost me $77.00. In the end the two chandeliers are very similar and I am slightly upset that I didn't attempt a makeover on the brass chandelier but I am relieved that I didn't have to tackle on another project.

In addition to fixing the molding the hole left from removing an ancient speaker to a radio/intercom system that does not work had to be patched. The cost to replace this system in the house was almost $4,000! Now that's a lot of money! Ideally I would love to have them all working but we decided to cover some of the speakers and to replace the main unit and a few speakers. Did I mention that these lovely's are throughout the whole house? This was the first one we patched. Man I wish I would have gotten that estimate to fix the system sooner!

Of course, I had to repaint the corner cabinets and.....

make new curtains!

That's my fashonista helping! She made that headband all by herself!

Three simple lined panels. I choose not to cover the bottom half of the window. I didn't want heavy drapes or blinds covering the view of the backyard or pretty windows.

The lampshades to the old chandelier made a come back in this room. The room is coming along. I have doors to hang and I need to find some decor to add to the walls. I better get busy....we have company coming over tonight!

A Finished Stairwell!

2011-06-28T00:10:00.015-04:00

The stairs are finally finished! Hip, Hip Hooray! They started out very sad but nothing some sanding, primer and paint couldn't handle.

Thrift store basket! $3.00

A few more accessories......This lamp was less than $30 & it is so much better than the chandelier that was there before!

Hobby Lobby sign. Hopefully, to remind the kids that this doesn't mean Bless This House With Screaming and Fighting!

I was inspired to hang birdhouses in my stairwell when I seen it in a magazine. I can't remember which one but it was probably Country Living or Better Homes & Garden. Two of my favorite magazines. This wall is very tall and awkward and is now home to our new bird house collection. Hum, I wonder how many I can hang on this wall?

These bird houses also came from Hobby Lobby and I think that they tie in to the saying on the sign! In a few years I hope to have a very eclectic wall with more houses.

We've come a long way baby!

Other Projects!

2011-06-14T20:19:00.023-04:00

Since I am just about officially "downstairs" I decided to show you some of the other projects that I am up against. I have only tackled the laundry room and my office downstairs. Everything else needs so much love. Here is a sneak peak just in case you didn't think I was busy enough! Please don't judge!

This is my dinning room before!

This is it now. I removed the drapes and started to prime the walls. That's my Ethan refusing to help. So I let him have a break!

That's my Emma all hands on. You have to love that. Although, I do feel a little guilty when she tells me that she isn't a player, she's a worker. Awh!

I know this is a horrible before picture.

Is this one a little better?

Well, I must say in this case the before pictures look better than the after. Ha!

This a good picture of the kitchen and dinning room. Lord how am I ever going to bring this up to date?

Ouch! That wallpaper had to go!

Not fun!
That's me forcing a smile and holding back tears!

Okay, It's looking a little better without the wallpaper but so much more to go!

Downstairs bathroom. Before! Once again not a great shot. That's more painted wallpaper in case you can't tell!

Getting ready for this!!

OMG! By far the hardest "removing" of wallpaper yet!! I definitely shed some tears!

The walls are getting patched but that is as far as I have gotten here. The toilet is too close to this cabinet and I really want to have the cabinet replaced with a smaller one. Then the tile will have to replaced and the formica walls will have to go. This may be more work than I anticipated and the estimate that we got to have someone else do the work was way over our budget. I'm not sure what we are going to do in this room but hopefully we can come up with a plan.

Living room! Okay, there is no "before" picture because it doesn't get any worse than this. The dreaded tongue and grove. Do I love it or do I hate it? We are considering dry walling it up and leaving the ceiling. Or maybe painting it all. We had this in our old home and started out by painting it but in the end ended up covering it. I'm not sure how we will handle this project.

Definitely need some new window treatments and I need to figure out how to cover this large sliding glass door.

It looked like this before. Even though I know I need something here I had to disassemble these things real quick. I know that they do the job but.......

And what will I do with this fireplace and mantel. Ha, it is hideous but I am determined to make it pretty before winter I hope. Okay, I am really overwhelmed now. I think I need a diet coke!!

Painting a Stairwell!

2011-06-14T10:37:00.004-04:00

I am still painting the hallways and stairs. What a mess!

I am still sore from all the painting and painting.

Even all the Diet Coke in the world couldn't help me keep going until this project was finished. I tried though!

No one was hurt thankfully in the installation of this new light. It is so much better than the chandelier that was there!

My upstairs hallway is getting close to being done. I'm still touching up some paint and I need to decorate the walls with some fun stuff.

Okay, there was a minor delay because of paint. The black that I thought I was going to like so much well I didn't so much. So, I have to start over with primer and more paint but I haven't decided yet on that paint. This is a sneak peak. I am hoping it gets much better!