realtalknic

I'm so excited to introduce Pretty Patty to you all! She is my 1st project of 2015 and I am in LOVE!   I'm gonna tell ya how I did it....but 1st....real quick..... let me tell you why!   More and more I found myself putting things off because they were too expensive....too much trouble....tooo all sorts of things. And when you go without small pleasures you can become a bit snarky. Snarky is not in my personality wardrobe. (I don't think)   Still....I want what I want. Solid wood, not particle board. Dovetail drawer, none of those plastic side pieces. Had to have nice lines.....and FEET! (I really think FEET make the piece....doesn't date it and makes it look....sorta, hmmmm.....SEXY! ) And well....I found all of that and of course....$1000 plus. So my one other requirement? Had to be under $100 complete! I know.....STOP. PLAYING!   So Pretty Patty like many of my other pieces came to me in another iteration. And that's why I love her. I can get c...

Ok peeps....my neck and arm feel like they may be forever in pain but I think it was worth it! The family room ottoman is complete!!! Woop! Before I give you the deets......a lil background... I hate replacing things I already have! Oil changes and air filter replacements? HATE! New tires? HATE! It feels like such an investment for something you already have.....I know....gotta do it but I hate it! So after 7 years my beloved (and expensive) leather topped ottoman had started to peel. Yup. Nasty! I ignored this for a few months. Even pushed her into the corner for my annual Christmas Eve party. (Nobody puts baby in the corner!!!!) Then as it started to really bother me I started looking for a new table. Problem was.....I really like the one I have! Of course I find one that is out of this world fabulous! This baby here can be yours for $1600. Even if I hit the lottery I wouldn't pay $1600 for a coffee table. (OK, let's be serious....if I hit the lottery that scrumptious...

Ok so this is gonna be quick and easy! It's a chalk print hack! I love it! It is cheap and oh so glam! So, I am almost done decking the halls and I am thinking I still need a lil' sumthin sumthin! Y'all know I love Santa and he is all over but I needed something for me....to remind me of the reason we celebrate. One thing about the decorations....some people do it for their guests....I do it for me! Nothing like a cup of coffee and the glimmer of Christmas lights and your house all aglow! LOVE IT! OK, so.......back to the hack! I needed a lil something else and I wanted a chalk print. But so little time and with Christmas just 6 days away I can't really break the bank on more decor. So......check out this under $10 hack! 1st.....start with a thrift shop frame! Score! I got this huge one for $2! OMG! Yep yep! (For the record......it has been in my garage for 2 years now but I knew it would come in handy one day) You can grab one or use a pic you currently have or.....

Before I show you the newest addition to the family.............I wanted to take a minute and share why I love to paint furniture. I come from a pretty basic decorating background (all of which I promptly relinquished upon my moving out of my mother's house!) We had what we could afford, bought from the local chain retailer, possibly with a tax return......did I just write that? Yep! And tons of knickknacks. China mostly. And if you had a green thumb there may be a plant tacked to the wall somewhere near a window. Dusting was a bitch and well, it wasn't embarrassing when we had guests but I wouldn't call it inspiring either. Frankly, just thinking of something inspiring was reaching too far. All of my friends had very similar things bought in very similar places and that's just how it was. Years, and a bit more disposable income later, I go for quality pieces and I use my furniture. If there is something you shouldn't sit on it shouldn't be in my house. I lov...

With my list of projects growing and the budget shrinking....a girl has to work with what she has! The guest room has been calling my name and well, it's the guest room so not exactly a priority when it comes to spending cash. I have been planning and pinning and it was time to start doing! 1st up was a new bed. I grabbed a day bed from Craigslist that included a trundle! This was a complete SCORE! With the amount of visitors we have, pulling that pop up trundle out has been a big huge help! (tip: when the budget is low it is better to buy used than new. $100 would not get me a bed that would last if it got me a new bed at all................perfect condition daybed with trundle that will last for years to come from craigslist...$100) Now that the bed is in I need some bedding. I want the guest room to be warm and inviting. The problem......all of those little things like curtains, and pillows add $$$$ to the budget that can be off putting. Grrrr.....What's a girl t...

I love when the stars align and things just come together. Remember Sloan the buffet? She has found a new home! ( for the record......I do not find naming furniture odd in any way...and Sloan is sharp so.....) Here she is when I first spotted her: Now, she is looking pretty junky here but the ad said "free" and if it's free.......it's for me! Woop! I sent my big guys over to grab her......gave my heartfelt thanks....and made a good dinner because even though I would travel the world for a free junky dresser my guys did not find it fun in any way. Heehee! And she is solid wood with dovetail construction. Double woop!  Ok, so Sloan was my second project using my homemade chalkpaint recipe. You can see that process here:   http://realtalknic.blogspot.com/2013/03/sally-sassy-sidepiece-cheapy-chalkpaint.html Here she is as I worked on her. I can't believe how easy the paint is to work with and how quick it dries.  $8 for paint.......what? Love it!  ...