One Man's Trash...

Is normally my treasure!  It is a running joke that I take more stuff home from a visit to my mom's than I came with.  I can't help it, she is always getting rid of good stuff!  And every time I give her trash a makeover she says, "why didn't I think of that!" 

Here is my latest trash to treasure makeover before:

And here are the afters!

This jar was painted with Valspar Jalapeno

and then glazed with Minwax Dark Mahogany Liquid Stain.

Each jar was painted with Rustoleum Heirloom White and then glazed with the liquid stain.  I removed some of the paint to reveal the old color for an aged look.

I love my new treasurers!  What do you think?

I am linking up with Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Mondays!
DIY Project Parade!

(Lately some of my pics have been loading sideways on blogger?  They do not look this way on my computer or on Picnik when I try to fix it?  Anyone else have this problem?  Anyone have a solution??

Enjoy!

The Heart of My Home

Sheila at Note Songs is the gracious host of a fun party this week called

The Heart of the Home!

Come take a look at the heart of my home, my kitchen.

I love that I can watch the kids play in the backyard while I cook and clean.

I spy a little wreath on the playhouse.  I am training her right.

Here is my new fork and spoon that my mom gave me for my birthday!

This is command central for all dinners, homework, crafts, games, etc...



The dumping grounds!  I am keeping it real, y'all!

And of course no heart of the home would be complete without a large guard cat! 

 I think the only thing Fifi is protecting is that chair!

Oops, there is an air-soft pellet under the china cabinet!

Thanks Sheila for such a fun party!

Design Inspiration * Cynthia Aiken

If Charles Faudree is the "Godfather" of French Country Style then

Cynthia Aiken is definitely the "Godmother!" 

Cynthia Aiken is the quintessential southern designer.  Atlanta is her hometown but the North Georgia mountains is her playground.  Big Canoe, a mountain resort community is the lucky recipient of her presence and style.  Traditional southern living is mixed with french country style and offers a cozy yet sophisticated design.


Her design and use of color makes my heart flutter and keeps me dreaming at night of how to interpret her designs into my home.

I love the green on the walls and ceiling with the relief in color found in the crown molding, drapes, back splash and island.  The green is tied in with the bar stools, pottery and other accent pieces.  The mix of wood tones all blend seamlessly.

Both rooms are inviting and livable.  You can picture a family living in this space.  Adding patina to each piece of furniture through actual use.

This mans study is stately yet comfortable.  I love how the style almost contradicts itself.

The pickled oak paneled walls and coffered ceiling are the perfect contrast to the green paint.  The two visually take the tall ceilings down to a more livable scale. 

Perfection!  It amazes me how she was able to fit rustic and feminine together.  What girl would not love to stay in this room.  I don't think to many men could find a whole lot to complain about either.

The contrast of the dark brown walls and white furniture is devine!

I love the fact that you just know that this is room is meant for a boy with out toys and other typical cliches.

Classic, calm and just gorgeous.  This room is relaxing and stylish.  Oh how I wish I had those barrel ceilings!

All photos are courtesy of Cynthia Aiken's Rate My Space postings. 

To see more eye candy and read all about Cynthia's design philosophy please visit

Cynthia Aiken Interiors.

You will not be disappointed.

Who is your design inspiration?  Is there a particular go to blog that you can't get enough of?

I can't wait to hear!

Now that I have revisited her amazing designs, I have lots of ideas and plenty of changes that must be made!

Keep coming back to see what this may lead to!

I Am Going Green

Well really my china cabinet is going green!  I purchased this china cabinet 3 years ago on Craigslist for $100.  Originally I loved the yellow color.  But what I was really dealing with was a nicotine yellow cabinet that someone had cleverly put glaze over to disguise the color.  The outside did not bother me that much but I did feel that it was getting lost in the paint color of my walls.  The inside however tortured me every time I looked at it!  So the entire cabinet got a makeover!

Nicotine Yellow interior!

Can you see the smeared glaze?

This project basically cost me no money.  I used a sample size of Valspar in La Fonda Jalapeno and I used Minwax liquid stain in dark walnut as a glaze to give it more depth and an aged look.  The interior is a creamy white that I had on hand.  I love the result and the impact of color it adds to the room!

Let me know what you think!

I am linking up with Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday!
A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesdays

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
DIY Project Parade
http://thelifeofloulou.blogspot.com/
Southern Savvy Style for Befores & Afters
http://the-inspired-nest.blogspot.com/2011/01/pottery-barn-inspired-decorative.html



We have a winner!

And the winner of the Moen Mirrorscape Giveaway is;


Sherry at No Minamalist Here!
True Random Number Generator
Min: 1
Max: 51
Result: 30
Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Sherry said:
"Hi Lacy, I just found your lovely blog and I have been browsing through the archives. I am now your newest follower."
xo,
Sherry


Thanks for the nice comment and congrats!  I know you will enjoy this product!  I can't wait to see it on one of your mirrors!


Thanks to all who left the sweetest comments and took the time to visit my blog!  Each and every one of you have brightened my week!

Mirrorscape Giveaway!

Don't forget to get signed up for the Moen Mirrorscape Giveaway! 

Click on the link above to read my review of this great product!

"30 minutes to make a statement that lasts a lifetime"

You don't have to live with boring mirrors.  Moen enables you to frame your plain Jane mirror with this simple kit!  It really does make a statement!

Before:

After!

Click here to get entered!
I will be drawing a name on Sunday!

It's Finally Fall Ya'll!

The weather has been absolutely perfect in Florida this week.  My windows have been open allowing the cool fall breeze to chill my toes!  I love, love, love fall! 

Last weekend I decorated my front porch for the season.  I have been wanting grapevine garland for a while now, but didn't want to spend the money.  So I went to a friends house and cut down a bunch of vines.  I should have wrapped them up right after I cut them down and let them dry.  But I made it work.  I also used a ton of pine cones and berries that I found in my yard.  Gotta love shopping the yard!  The flower bucket was put together with remnants of old wreaths I have had along with some more organic finds from the yard.  A few feathers were thrown in for good measure.  The best part is that I only spent $9 all together and that was on the fall leafy garland!

I really love driving up at night to see the warm glow of the lantern.  The glitter of the leaves and ribbon around the garland twinkle in the light.  I plan to work on the garage area this weekend.  I hope the weather is a beautiful as ours!

Don't forget to sign up for the Moen Mirrorscape giveaway! Visit here to read about the review on the mirror framing system and get entered.  The deadline to enter is Saturday at midnight!

I am linking up with A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday
Go visit Rhoda at Southern Hospitality for more fall inspirations!
Common Ground is having a Fall Inspiration Party!
Domestically Speaking for For the Love of Wreaths Party
DIY Showoff Fall Festival