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Catching Up On Life in General

June 17, 2019 By stylishrevamp Leave a Comment

It’s hard to believe that 5 months have passed since my last post. It is so true that the days are long but the years are short, oh so short. So what’s been going on, a lot and then again nothing. So let’s catch up, shall we?

Last Fall we decided to sell our Island Home. As much as I loved that house, it was time to let it go to someone who was going to love it and use it. Once the boys were older, we rarely used it and when I say rarely, I mean never! Well, I take that back, they would use it with their friends – minus us! It was a home that served it purpose during a time in our lives when the boys needed a place to grow, heal and be.

Whenever I would go there, I would fall in love with it all over again. The views were absolutely stunning but maintaining two homes gets kind of old after a while. So I was happy to let that aspect go. We went to settlement on January 2nd. So, on December 26th we rented a uhaul and cleared it out. On the bright side, I was excited to bring home some of my favorite things from the beach house and merge them into our home. Not going to lie, after settlement, I did feel a loss that I didn’t think I would. Although we didn’t use the house a lot, it was always nice to be able to pop over there when we wanted a quick getaway. My friends ask me if I think we will ever get another vacation home and I can honestly say no. I absolutely loved that home but it was always on the back of my mind. If there was a storm, I worried about damage, in the winter I worried about frozen pipes, in the summer if we weren’t there, I worried that the air condition would go out.

Can you see why I loved her though, just look!?

In other news, our youngest just completed his first year of High School. It’s hard to believe in three short years, we will be empty nesters. I can’t imagine what it will be like not having any of the boys home. It’s hard for me to wrap my head around that one.

Some things don’t change though. Although, I haven’t posted in some time, I have continued with my love of thrifting and vintage collecting. I finally found a vintage half lite door for my pantry. She was a smelly, damaged, ripped from the door frame kinda gal but I loved her. She was definitely a labor of love. I will share the completed look early next week but here she is in “during” stage.

Notice Charlie in the upper right hand corner. He was so over this door. He would rather be inside, sleeping comfortably on the couch.

Now that school is out and we are on no schedule, I want to share more of my finds and revamps in the coming months. Well that is my plan as of now.

To my Dad, the one that instilled in me my love of tools and working on projects…I LOVE YOU! WE’VE GOT THIS!!!

Until Next Time,

Hometown Thrifting Adventures

July 29, 2018 By stylishrevamp Leave a Comment

For the past few months, I have been traveling to my hometown in West Virginia to visit my parents. While there, I took my mama on some thrifting adventures. Today, I am going to share with you one of my favorite thrift shops back home and the reason why I love it.

This thrift shop is so special to me because we used to live there when I was a child. I’m not really sure I remember living there, so much as, remembering it from stories and pictures. When we lived there, the bottom of the building was a store and the upper level was divided into two apartments. We lived on one side and my mom’s best friend of over 60 plus years and her family lived on the other side. There was a door between the two apartments. My mom has so many special memories from that time in her life.

When I was home last, my mom was telling me a story about when she was first married and how she didn’t know how to cook or make a single thing. One day, their Priest was at the apartment because my dad was converting to Catholicism so they could remarry in a Catholic Church. Her best friend that lived on the other side cracked the door open and slipped my mom a cup of coffee so she could offer it to the Priest. I loved hearing her tell this story.

Hometown Memories

My older brothers have more memories of our apartment. I think I was only 3 or 4 when we moved out. Like I said, I think my memories are from old pictures and stories that have been shared.

I have been back to that old building many times over the years because my mom’s best friend ended up owning the building and running the store on the main level. Once we moved, we still went to visit at the store and at her new home which was right next to the store. However, I haven’t been upstairs to the old apartments until recently. When I went home, I told mom we were going junkin’ and this was our first stop.

I had no idea the thrift store was on all three levels. I was so excited to see it. This is the first time I can honestly say I was more interested in the space itself rather than what was inside and for sale. Don’t worry, I have since gone back and done some shopping!

I loved the thought that we used to live there. It is everything that I love today. The beautiful original hardwood floors, the unique lines of the ceilings, and of course what was left of the vintage kitchen! Who knows, maybe there is where my love of all things vintage started.

I hope you enjoyed this little glimpse into my life. To see more of my hometown trip check out my IGTV video.

Until Next Time,

My Obsession with Pillows

May 24, 2018 By stylishrevamp Leave a Comment

Awhile back, a friend shared this tweet with me and asked if it reminded me of anyone…

I’m secretly doing an investigation on how many decorative pillows I can put around the house till husband loses his shit.

Current count:23

— mama77⚽️ (@deegeemindi) April 13, 2017

If you listen to Instagram stories, almost every single person talks about their “obsessions.” They’re obsessed with a new lipstick, outfit, shoes and the list goes on and on. Well, in all honesty, I do not think it’s a real obsession unless they are hiding their crap in the back of their car, a closet or some secret compartment in an ottoman. If they are… then it just may be a real honest to goodness obsession!

Now, we are going to see if my husband actually reads this little blog because if he does the gig is up! Today I am sharing my obsession with pillows and it may be a real obsession. Husband of mine, you may want to stop reading at this point!

I feel like my love of pillows is a fairly new thing for me. It probably started a few years back at Christmas time. I mean have you seen some of the fabulous pillow designs around the holidays? I really think that is where this all began and it has since spiraled into other holidays and seasons. It is so easy to change the look of a room with a few pillows.

Let’s start with my most recent purchase. If I’m being totally honest, I order this months ago but it was on backorder and I kind of forgot about it until it showed up on my doorstep yesterday.

I debated on this one for a while but it was too cute to pass up. I order it from The Painted Fox and it makes a lovely addition to the other 50 pillows on our bed! While I was waiting for this pillow to come in (or forgot that I ordered it, however you want to look at it) I found another one that has since been moved to the chest at the end of our bed.

I was kind of hoping my husband wouldn’t notice but he did. You can’t see them all but there are actually only 9 pillows on our bed. To be fair I sleep with 2 of those 9.

Now on to my sitting room which is a little cozy nook off of our bedroom. I have two chairs and an ottoman in this room. It is where I watch all of my shows. It is a news free zone!

If you are wondering what this is, it is my hidden loot. I have four Holiday pillows stored in my ottoman. Next year, when I start to decorate for Christmas, can someone please remind me that they are in there? You know I am going to forget!

Yes, there are several pillows inside my Goodwill Credenza. This piece is great for hiding/storing extra pillows. I also have my Fall pillows stored in my closet.

Since my oldest son has graduated and moved out, I redid his room. It’s probably a little more my style now than his, hence the green decorative pillow. I will share more on his old room in the next few weeks.

This is another bedroom revamp, I added these decorative pillows to all white bedding to finish off the look. I will share this room in a few weeks as well.

Decorative Pillows

I added blush pillows to the family room recently. I thought there would be some push back on the color choice. Either no one has noticed or they really do not care. I think this room transforms the most by changing out the pillows. Apparently, I am the only one…still no comment from the other members of this household. Maybe that is why I keep buying pillows…no one notices!

This pillow on my bench in the kitchen is one of my favorites and has been around for several years. I really like the texture of it. It is very reminiscent of the Magnolia line of pillows minus the cost. The pillows in my office are also similar to the Magnolia line as well. I picked them up at HomeGoods for a great price.

It’s a good dupe isn’t it?

I added a few new pillows to the sunroom and kept my favorite whale pillow. Charlie is always laying up against it.

and lastly,

more hidden pillows.

Current Count:45

Until Next Time,

My Scores at the Thrift Store and More

April 19, 2018 By stylishrevamp Leave a Comment

I’m back this week to share some more of my scores from the thrift store. This weeks finds come from Goodwill, of course, and a local antique and consignment shop. I think I will start with my Goodwill treasure. As soon as a saw it, I knew I had to have it and it was worth every dollar, all 4 of them to be exact!

Thrift Shop Scores

I am obsessed with this white enamel pot. The lid slides into a locked position and it is actually a strainer. My husband took one look at it and said, ” Oh good, you’re making pasta tonight.” I said, “I bought it because it looks good on the stove and no, we are not having spaghetti tonight.” This baby cleaned up nicely and yes I will use it for more than just a pretty prop on the stovetop…just not today.

I am thinking it will be a pretty prop for a few more days!

In this photo the following items are from Goodwill:

The bread board behind the wreath above the cooktop
The white enamel pot
The pizza-board on the counter
The Hearth and Hand White Enamel Hot Cocoa Pot
The white pot holding the faux greenery (faux greenery is from IKEA)

The next item came from a local antique shop. This thing took over 4 weeks to get home due to the size of it. The shop owner and I tried every which way to fit it into my car but it was a no go. Luckily for me, a dear friend was able to put this monster in her suburban. I must say, a few people were skeptical when they saw it before I cleaned it up. Here she is…

A few things about this ladder,

It’s from the old Bell telephone company.
The shop owner said it was 10 feet tall.
I didn’t measure it.
My ceiling is 11 feet tall.
The ladder is actually closer to 13 feet tall.
I discovered this when I tried to fit it into the room.
My husband trimmed the excess from the top and bottom of the ladder so it would fit.

I will do an extra post on the before and after of this ladder and show you how I am going to style it. I was excited to share it today though.

Also, notice the little canvas bag on the small table on the hearth. I picked it up at another vintage/consignment shop. To me, it is one of those items that is kind of ugly and unique but I find it charming.

I can’t remember if I shared it before but the table is a Goodwill find, it was actually a Target Salvage.

The last item I am sharing, is a small, round wooden bread board. It came from the same vintage/consignment shop as the “charming” canvas bag. I love this little shop. It is only open the first weekend of every month. It is always exciting to go and see what new and unique things they have.

I am loving the wood against all the white. I love the dimension it adds!

Oops, I lied…one more thing to share that I picked up at the same shop. It’s not vintage or used, two of my favorite things but I still wanted it!

Someone in the neighborhood walked by as I was standing on my front porch taking this photo. Yep, that was me, the crazy lady taking pictures of my doormat with my feet in the photo to be relevant on instagram. Any who, that is the latest installment of all my thrift shop scores and more. I hope you enjoyed seeing my treasures.

Until Next Time,

GoodWill Hunting

April 2, 2018 By stylishrevamp 6 Comments

Hello friends! Today, I am sharing some of my finds from my GoodWill Hunting trip. The most common question I am asked is, “How do you manage to find so many things when I can’t find anything?” The answer is simple, you have to go often. I go almost daily. Yep, that’s right. I go to Goodwill almost every single day during the week. I am usually in and out in less than 15 minutes. Today, I hit up two Goodwills and didn’t find a single thing. That is just the way it goes sometimes.

A lot of people do not understand my obsession with Goodwill shopping or any thrift shopping for that matter but it’s just my thing. I know what you must be thinking since I go almost every day…she must have a ton of crap all over her house or she must be a hoarder. You will be happy to know, that is not the case. I may be a drawer stuffer but my house is actually pretty organized. I like everything to be in its place. When I go to bed at night, my home is always in order. I can’t stand waking up to a messy kitchen. I just feel like my day starts off right if it begins organized. It’s the same way with the throws and pillows on my sofas. They have to be fluffed and neat when I head up to bed at night. It’s how I function. Now the garage…that’s another story… I can’t wait to get it organized again…just waiting on some warm weather before I tackle that mess! The other thing I try to do a few times a month is donate items that we don’t use, want or need any longer.

GoodWill Hunting

O.k. on to my Goodwill Hunting finds. First up, is this sweet little wicker basket that I found for $4. I was on the fence about it and when I’m usually on the fence about an item it ends up being one of my most treasured finds. First of all it was filthy and I mean gross filthy! Once I got it home, it went straight into my laundry sink and under some hot running water until the water ran clean. Then I sat it outside to dry.

I love the shape of it, high in the back and swooped down in the front. I am so glad I picked it up. She cleaned up nicely!

Also, all the white dishes and pottery were gathered from all my GoodWill Hunting trips.

Second Hand Shopping

Lately, I have been having a love affair with the color green. I revamped my oldest son’s room and added touches of green.(I have a post coming up soon) I remembered that I had picked up a pair of vintage flower frogs from Goodwill for a $1.50 so I pulled those out.

I repurposed the vintage flower frog into a photo holder.

My last Goodwill Hunting treasure for today is this little black lamp.

I absolutely adore this lamp. Yes, it has a few dings but that adds character! I love how the actual light is hanging on the hook and you can remove it. It is just such a neat piece. Love, love, love it!

Maybe, I will take you with me on one of my GoodWill Hunting Trips.

Until Next Time,

We are Linking to these Parties:

A Round-Up of my Favorite Goodwill and Thrifted Treasures

March 4, 2018 By stylishrevamp Leave a Comment

It is no secret that I am obsessed with Goodwill and thrift shopping. So much so that for my birthday, my husband asked me what I wanted and my response was nothing but silence from him when I carried in my hauls from Goodwill. A few days later, I had to clarify that his agreement to this request was not just for the day of my birthday but for a lifetime. I think it was a win/win for both of us! I am also keeping up my end of the deal that when something new comes in something old must leave the house…I always drop something off at Goodwill, even if it’s someone else’s belongings!

Goodwill Favorites

There are so many things that I adore about Goodwill and thrift shopping. I love looking through all the discarded items that were once loved by someone else. I enjoy thinking about how they were once used. I like that the inventory is constantly changing. The deals are incredible and I like finding one of a kind items. I also like finding items that appear to be past their prime and breathing new life into them. I always get that spark of excitement when I pull into the lot, eager to see what is waiting to be found.

I thought it would be fun to do a round-up of some of my favorite treasures and how I incorporated them into our home.

This is my most recent Goodwill treasure. I paid a whopping $15 for this Pottery Barn desk chair. It is in great shape, just a few nicks and scratches on the wood frame. If you look above the piano, you can see another thrift store favorite. This shelf which is actually from an old buffet side table is flipped upside down. I think we paid $10 for it years ago.

The crocheted soft, creamy throw comes for Goodwill for the bargain price of $2. I always look for crocheted throws or embroidery linens. I just toss them into to the washing machine the minute I get home!

The mirror and the weather vane came from Goodwill and the green metal letter came from our local Barn Show which carries vintage and handmade items.

These black iron frames are reminiscent of something from the Magnolia line from Joanna Gaines. I added them to the shelves in my sitting room which you can read more about here.

I picked up two of these little candle holders for $2 and added them to my DIY shelves in my sitting room as well.

You can see the Goodwill finds here on my DIY shelves. The cabinet is a $40 Goodwill find. You can read more about it here.

All of my white dishes and pottery come from Goodwill. I use it to decorate my buffet and shelves and all my glass front cabinets in the kitchen. I have found some great pieces of white ironstone.

Decorating with Goodwill Treasures

Obviously, I have a little obsession with candle holders. I have more but won’t share them all today.

Still one of my favorites…the teak boat ladder was a yard sale find. Speaking of ladders, I bought a 10 foot vintage ladder which is still sitting at the store because it wouldn’t fit in my car! Yikes, I need to pick it up this week. I hope it is a glorious as I remember it to be! I will share it when and if I get it home.

I still adore this golden beauty. I have a ton of golden thrifted lovelies. You can search “gold” in my search bar and look up more of my favorites. I kind of went on a gold binge for a while. I tend to get hooked on something and shop it like crazy, hence all the candle holders, gold items, mirrors, letters, the list goes on and on. You get my point!

Excuse the Christmas photo but I love this picture with my yard sale chippy white frames! Yep, love them. If you got this far, thank you for sticking it out! I have sooooo many more goodies to share but I get the feeling we are all on overload! Stay tuned for another post later this week where I will share some more of my favorite cheap treats!

Until Next Time,

My Christmas Home 2017

December 22, 2017 By stylishrevamp Leave a Comment

Here we are again. Two and a half shopping days left until Christmas. I am so happy that I am done and completely wrapped! Today the hubs and I went to the mall and it felt so good to be able to enjoy the hustle and bustle of the other shoppers without any stress on us. We enjoyed a nice leisurely lunch, picked up a few odds and ends and came home. I actually like to shop for others and I tend to do it year round. When I see something I think someone would enjoy, I pick it up and keep it hidden until Christmas. I also keep a running list of what I have purchased throughout the year in my journal. Next year, I am going to wrap it when I buy it or so I tell myself!

Now on to the last tour of My Christmas Home. I hope you enjoy. Today I will share our foyer and my home office.

These two tables flank the front door which is draped in garland. The gold bowl on the table is filled with vintage milk glass Christmas light bulbs and the Nutcracker is at least 25 years old, another oldie but a favorite.

Decorating for Christmas using Vintage Items

I picked up this vintage demijohns bottle at our local vintage/ antique Fair. I usually have two feather trees on the foyer table but I wanted to do something different. I sprayed some branches with white paint and added glittered snow while the paint was wet. I then hung our personalized snowmen ornaments on the branches. I have a personalized ornament for each family member and extended family member. I got this idea from my friend’s mom. Her little tree was so adorable and I loved the idea and have been doing it ever since. My mom started me off with my first three ornaments with our boys name on it. Hallmark used to carry the snowmen ornaments but they haven’t had them in years so I search ebay whenever I need to add another new family member.

If you look closely at the banister, you can see another favorite of mine. My mom bought me this Santa when I first got married. Now he sits on the banister, he is one of the first things you see as you enter out foyer. If I remember I will post a close up of him on instagram.

My Christmas Home

If you look in the right hand corner of the photo, you can see the DIY reindeer my dad made for me when I first moved out of my parents home into my first apartment. When my middle son was little he would climb on them to see if he could make them fly. I miss those days!

I only took a few photos of my office. It pretty much remains the same each year but I took photos of the new additions.

The pencil tree is the same one I used last year. I bought it at Micheals for a steal. It wasn’t the prettiest tree I have ever seen but I wanted something skinny and cheap! This year I flocked it and I think it’s an improvement. Although, I didn’t follow the directions for the flock, it turned out pretty well. You were supposed to wet the tree and gently sift the snow while spraying more water as the snow was falling. I did that in the beginning but that grew old quickly. I did spray water on the tree then I tossed the snow in a thicker application followed by more water. Patience is not something I am very good with apparently. I let this dry for several days before I attempted to carry it upstairs into my office. Yep, you read that correctly, I did this all inside. In my defense, I did put a tarp down first! Lastly, I cut up a feather boa from the craft store and placed the pieces on the branches for a snowy look and added some red berries.

I added a few new Christmas throws and pillows to add a bit of brightness and cheer. The other new item I bought was this fabulous green metal K.

That wraps up the tour of My Christmas Home. I truly love decorating for the Holiday Season and creating new memories with friends and family. I hope you and your family enjoy the Holiday Season and Have a Merry Christmas!

A Recap and a Sneak Peek: Paris and Projects

May 22, 2017 By stylishrevamp Leave a Comment

Hello all. It has been forever and a day since I have done a post. I have started so many projects and have even completed a few. I am trying to get myself organized and get back on track and keep you all updated on what I have been working on recently.

I feel like there has been so much going on around here. My husband went on two golf trips which for me means…painting inside and not in the garage. Nothing like painting furniture in the comfort of my home while watching repeats on HGTV. I will post about these projects soon, I promise!

We also took a trip to Paris over Spring Break. Perfection, that’s all I can say. I loved everything about being there. We rented an apartment for a week on the Isle of St. Louis which was centrally located and within walking distance to most sights and close to the metro. One of the highlights for me was going to the Marche’ aux Puces…The Flea Markets. Love at first sight! It was fabulous… all these little shops in alleyways, and tent like structures. I could have spent several days browsing but felt lucky that my guys managed several hours walking aimlessly with me through all the wonderful vintage loveliness. I bought some handle for a tray that I will eventually get around to making… something similar to my Feasting Tray.

Paris Flea Markets

(Paris Flea Market)

One of my son’s favorite spots was Shakespeare and Company.

I have to say I loved this little spot as well. It was the coziest little bookstore, a great place for book lovers and aspiring writers. My husband surprised me with a few gifts from there for Mother’s Day ( I will share more on that in a later post) which doesn’t include the books Gman and I purchased on one of our three trips there. We also stopped in and had breakfast at the little café next door the following morning.

We hit as many of the hot spots as we could cram into our week in Paris. It was such a great trip!

Shortly after we flew home we traveled to our oldest son’s graduation from college. I am still in shock that we are at this point in our lives. We (mainly the boys not me) moved him out of his college apartment into his new apartment which lucky for me is close to us. He has slowly been moving his things out of his bedroom here at home into his apartment as well. I love that he can stop by for dinner or just visit at any time.

Graduation

Within a few short months, we are only going to have our youngest at home with us. Our middle guy is heading off to finish his degree in August, so he will be moving out too. I am thankful that they will all still be pretty close to home! It won’t be the same though and the house is already feeling quiet.

This weekend we are going to have our families here for a celebration and a cook out which I am looking forward to a good time!

Projects in the Works

Now for a little sneak peek of a few of the projects I have been working on over the last few months.

This is the chaos I create when my husband is out of town. I have completely revamped our master bedroom and the sitting room off of the master. I have also worked on the Gman’s room by painting his furniture and adding a faux fireplace! I will share the plans for the faux fireplace and the finished project as well.

Goodwill and our local consignment shops have been good to me over the past few months. I have picked up a lot of great pieces from furniture to mirrors and a lot of bits and pieces that helped pull things together. I was also able to pick up a few pieces for the outside.

Fingers crossed…next week I will share a bit more! It’s good to be back.

Until Next Time,

How to get the Fixer Upper Look by Adding Shiplap

March 14, 2017 By stylishrevamp 1 Comment

Hey everyone.

We are enjoying a Snow Day here and I am loving it! I feel like we all needed a lazy day of sleeping in and relaxing!

A few months ago, I shared some of my project goals for 2017 and today I am so happy to share one with you that I can now check off my list. I drew inspiration from Bless’er House, I am obsessed with her Winter Mantel which includes shiplap. Also, if you have been around here for a while, you know that I love all things Fixer Upper. So this is my version of the two.

How to get the Fixer Upper Look by Adding Shiplap

I am obsessing over this transformation. This is in my sitting room off of the master bedroom where I watch all of my guilty pleasures on t.v. It is a small space but by adding the shiplap, it draws the eye up and makes the space feel large yet still cozy and comfy!

I have been dreaming of this project for months and couldn’t wait to get started. I measured and drew up the plans back in January and this past week, we (me and my boys) were able to pick up the wood that I needed at Home Depot. This project ended up being quite simple (with the help of my boys). The hardest part was finding wood that was not warped and bowed. I still ended up going back to Home Depot two more times for that exact reason and I decided to change the width of the side boards after my oldest suggested it. You can find the wood we used here and here.

The wood, which is pine, comes in different lengths and widths. I choose the 8 inch wide by 6 feet in length. My middle son cut the wood down to 54 inches in the length. I ended up having the gentleman from Home Depot cut my 2 side pieces down to 74 inches for me. After heading back and forth several times, it was getting late so it was just easier to have him cut it for me. If you look at the picture the wood has a groove making the shiplap look like 4 inch slats. To me, it felt too busy so we flipped the wood over and used the solid back side that created an 8 inch slat.

Since our weather has been so unpredictable lately, I laid a tarp down on our kitchen counter and primed and painted the boards in our kitchen. These are the things I get into when my husband is on his golf trip. Sometimes, I think it is less stressful for him NOT to see what I am doing with these projects until they are finished!

While the wood was drying, I marked the studs with painters tape so the shiplap had something to attach to. The rest moved very quickly. My middle, BK, used my ryobi brad nailer to attach the wood slats to the walls where I couldn’t reach. Once the first piece went up and was level, the rest was completed within 15 minutes. Once the shiplap was up, I used liquid nail to attach the side pieces because there were no studs to attach them to. I also used the brad nailer but wanted to use the liquid nails as well to make sure it was attached securely. Lastly, I caulked everything, used wood putty on the nail holes, and added one last coat of paint.

Here is a before (sorry for the Christmas photo, I keep forgetting the before shots). I always use this room but have never loved it and never got around to doing anything with it.

Here is my completed Fixer Upper Look!

The shiplap came from Home Depot.

The primer was Zinsser B-I-N from Home Depot.

The white paint we had on hand.

The glass jars came from HomeGoods.

The greenery came from Michaels.

The mirror I painted black and we had both on hand.

The little round stand came from Goodwill (I am thinking of painting the top white, no rush and I’m still undecided).

I know I have said this before but now I think this is my favorite little spot and tonight I am going to be sitting here by the fire watching Fixer Upper! Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your week!

Until Next Time,

4 Tips for Painting Like a Pro

February 5, 2017 By stylishrevamp 1 Comment

On the blog we are fortunate to have a Guest Post by Erin Holdgate from Zillow Porchlight. Today it’s all about painting, one of my favorite DIY’s for maximum impact. Enjoy!

4 Tips for Painting Like a Pro
By Erin Holdgate
Paint packs a powerful punch in the world of do-it-yourself (DIY) home improvement, especially when it comes to transforming interiors. A well-executed paint job can rejuvenate a dull living room or revitalize a tired kitchen.

To turn your skills from DIY to pro-level, here are some tips from painting and home improvement professionals:

1. Do your prep work
Before you head to the store, remember that paint is only part of the project. The surfaces you will be painting need to be clean and dry before you get started. If you’re painting walls, fill holes left by screws and nails, and patch any cracks – a pristine surface gives you the best final results. Be sure to let spackle or other patches dry prior to painting to avoid debris getting stuck in the dried paint. To prep a piece of wooden furniture before painting, wipe down any dust and vacuum the area thoroughly. This will ensure sawdust doesn’t find its way back on to the furniture after you’ve sanded it.

2. Invest in quality supplies
To get great results, invest in high-quality paint, brushes and rollers. The last thing you want is loose bristles or clumps of lint dried into your living room walls the next day. Opting for cheap applicators is a common mistake made by DIY painters. Save yourself time and money by buying quality materials upfront so you’ll only have to do the job once. And before you head to the store, make a list of what else you might need: sandpaper, primers, drop clothes or finishes. Once your brush is wet, you won’t want to pause to run to the home store.

3. Paint with a full line of color
Now comes the fun part: Painting! But learning how much paint to put on your brush can be a bit tricky. A common DIY mistake is attempting to use up all of the paint on a brush or roller before re-dipping. This actually causes the paint to dry onto the bristles of the brush and the fabric of the roller to become matted. To maintain the integrity of your paint applicators, make sure you always paint with a saturated brush or roller. You’ll know it’s time to re-dip when the color begins to break up and you can see faint patches of uncoated surface.

4. Store leftover paint properly
Once the job is done, reseal the paint can tightly by gently pounding on the lid with a rubber mallet. Some suggest storing the can upside down to create an airtight seal. For water-based paint, your best bet is to place a piece of clear plastic wrap on the surface before resealing the can. For oil-based paint, pour a thin layer of water on top of the paint before resealing. The water will act like a film to prevent the paint from drying out. Make sure to keep your leftovers: You never know when you’ll need to do a minor touchup. Even if you plan to move, the new occupants will likely appreciate having the paint, especially if you mark the can with the room you painted with it.

Whether you’re giving new life to a coffee table or finally implementing one of your living room ideas to makeover the space, many home DIY projects require little more than a gallon of paint. With thoughtful execution and these helpful tips from the pros, the power of a great paint job is at your fingertips.

Thanks Erin for these great tips!

Until Next Time,

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How to get the Fixer Upper Look by Adding Shiplap

How to get the Fixer Upper Look by Adding Shiplap

4 Tips for Painting Like a Pro

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