Victrola-Making it work

This victrola has been living in my dining room without a purpose for over a year. You may remember that we won it at an auction, a completely caught up in the moment purchase of which there was no checking in with one's partner.  It was all See It. Raise Hand. Win It. Now what. 

Maybe we can make it be a jewelry armoire, maybe we can make it additional clothing storage, maybe it could one day make it up to the bedroom....well, i'm tired of waiting for what S is maybe going to do with it.  If it's going to live in this here dining room, it should at least serve a purpose.

Oh hey, tablecloths, placemats and napkins!  Look how you fit inside those little bitty shelves meant for records.

Now if that ain't upcycling, i don't know what is!

Unrelatedly, Alaska was super amazing.  Awesome.  Inspiring of awe.  I feel blessed to have seen all that we did, from wildlife to the mountain.  After going through almost 1100 photos, I have narrowed down the best which I can't wait to show you guys. Soon, my pretties, soon.

Tell me, how's your summer going?  Vacations?  Yard sale/auctions/thrifty finds? 



I'm partying here: Before and After @ Thrifty Decor Chick,   Sundays @ Suburbs Mama Craftomaniac,  Mod Vintage Life, Motivate Me Mon @Keeping it Simple,  Anything Goes, home stories a-z, nifty thrifty @ Coastal Charm, home stories a-z, tweak it Tuesdays, you're gonna love it, Tuesdays Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, be inspired @ elizabeth and co, tabletop tues, lil luna, get your craft on, sugar bee crafts. sugar and spice @ 733, wow us weds @ savvy southern style, wicked awesome weds @ handy man, crafty woman, beyond the picket fence,  whatever goes weds @ someday crafts, 52 mantles, spring into spring, Transformation Thurs @ The Shabby Creek Cottage, charm of home, vintage thingy thurs @ the colorado lady, Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple, hooking up @ house of hepworths, open house @ no minimalist here, share awesomeness @ 36th ave, tutorials and tidbits, Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring, open house @ no minimalist here, happy hour @ Craftberry Bush, Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest, feature yourself fri @ Fingerprints on the fridge, my romantic home, jennifer rizzo, Weekend Bloggy Reading @ Serenity now, free for all @ 5days5ways, Feathered Nest @ French Country Cottage, frugalicious friday @ finding fabulous, potpourri @ 2805, thrifty things fri @ the thrifty groove,  overflowing w/ creativity @ it's overflowing, nifty thrifty sundays, under the table and dreaming., shaken together, seasonal sundays @ the tablescaper,   a round tuit

It ain't easy being green

Ok, so it ain't a fun and vibrant green yet...but it will be!  Now you may remember when i shopped my own yard sale and absconded with my mother in law's blue/green, curvy, not exactly my style but free table to display the plants in my sunroom.  I lived with it for a while, as we all do with free stuff, and then decided to be on the lookout-but not necessarily look for-a different table that was truer to myself.

This bar cart-ish, sunroom material looking, simple straight lined piece was all of $8.00 at my favorite thrift store, so i crossed my fingers that she'd fit into my little car  scooped her up.

 

What is this material?  Rattan? Wicker? Sea Grass?  And what is the difference between them all, i never know...and will google it later.

 

I love the doors (goodbye clutter) and the wheels.  Take the doors off, and it's very similar to this cart.

serena and lily

 

If it wasn't gross outside this whole summer, i'd be showing you the before and after.  Alas, all you're getting is the 3 cans of spraypaint pessimist me thought necessary to complete the piece...we'll see how many are actually needed...some day.

 

 

My mom thought the cart looked good as is...what would you do?  Paint it?  Leave it?  Take the doors off? 

 

 

Hello, Hi there-Did you notice that little follower widget hit over 500?!  That makes me so ridiculously, stinkin' happy, i can't even tell you!  THANK YOU!!

 

Find me here: debbie doos, krafty kat, thrifty treasures @ southern hospitality, mod mix monday, Craftomaniac, Motivate Me Mon @ Keeping it Simple,   DIY Showoff, Met Monday, Anything Goes, home stories a-z, Tuesdays Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, be inspired @ elizabeth and co, tabletop tues, lil luna, get your craft on,   sugar bee crafts. sugar and spice @ 733, wow us weds @ savvy southern style, wicked awesome weds @ handy man, crafty woman, whatever goes weds @ someday crafts, Transformation Thurs @ The Shabby Creek Cottage, vintage thingy thurs @ the colorado lady, Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple, hooking up @ house of hepworths, open house @ no minimalist here, share awesomeness @ 36th ave, Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring, Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest, feature yourself fri @ Fingerprints on the fridge, Weekend Bloggy Reading @ Serenity now, Catch as Catch Can @ My Repurposed life, free for all @ 5days5ways, Feathered Nest @ French Country Cottage, my romantic home,  Addicts Anonymous @ A2D, frugalicious friday @ finding fabulous, potpourri @ 2805, thrifty things fri @ the thrifty groove, refresh your nest @ making lemonade, show and tell fri @ my romantic home, furniture fri @ miss mustard seed, overflowing w/ creativity @ it's overflowing, nifty thrifty sundays, under the table and dreaming.

 

What do Ikea and milkglass have in common?

They're both lightening up my kitchen!

Huzzah! I'm so glad this came out as well as it did in my head (b/c you know sometimes that just does not happen!)  Happily, this had already been my plan before the May issue of Country Living came out, this just solidified that it was a wise decision.

Initially i had thought this would be more storage than display (attempting to free up some cabinet space here) but the boyfriend said he didn't trust the heavy bowls and other items i was planning on putting there. 

So instead i took all my whites from my dining room closet, made more room in there, and lightened and brightened all up in here.   It's the perfect modern yet classic improvement.

Yep, there's a lot of tweaking and adding to this display.  I just can't stop buying more whites!  If we de-soffit, i want to add some up above the cabinets, so you see, it's very necessary and completely justified that i continue down this path.  (Hope S is buying this...)

The order of the day was de-theme, de-coffee, but not rid completely.

Don't you just love all the ridgey, bumpy, hobnaily goodness??

This au-natural shot is for perspective.  I sit on the right hand side there, and being 5'3 means nothing hits me in the head.  The boyfriend, at 6'3, would probably be a little less comfortable there. 

In addition to the theme of de-theme, the mission was also to sleekify. 

Sleekify one.

Sleekify two. 

Can you believe for four years, all that was on this wall was that coffee poster?  Talk about wasted space!

Yowza.

Themey ruffley before.  Yes, those are coffee mugs in greens.  In my defense (because i feel one is necessary) there weren't many light colored curtain options and this is one hella dark space. 

Prettiness.  Brightness.  Sleekness. 

And also, sneakiness.  Cats on tables.  Not allowed.

The less dreamy side of things. 

Materials:

2 Enje roller blinds in white

4 Ekby Mossby (7.5 as opposed to 11 deep) shelves and 2 bjarnum connecting brackets-this was better on the budget and was more customizable for the room. 

2 sets of bjarnum end brackets found in clearance section, which inspired the whole project.

Operation make-do until realistic dream kitchen?  Success!  I really think it's the littlest project with the biggest outcome we've done in quite a while.  Whadya think?

Find me here: copycat party @ debbie doos, before and after party, thrifty treasures @ southern hospitality, mod mix monday,  Craftomaniac, Motivate Me Mon @ Keeping it Simple, Making the World Cuter @ Making the World Cuter,  DIY Showoff, Met Monday, Anything Goes, home stories a-z,  Tuesdays Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, be inspired @ elizabeth and co, tabletop tues, lil luna, sugar bee crafts. sugar and spice @ 733, wow us weds @ savvy southern style,  wicked awesome weds @ handy man, crafty woman, whatever goes weds @ someday crafts, Transformation Thurs @ The Shabby Creek Cottage, vintage thingy thurs @ the colorado lady, Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple, hooking up @ house of hepworths, open house @ no minimalist here, share awesomeness @ 36th ave, Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring, Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest, feature yourself fri @ Fingerprints on the fridge, Weekend Bloggy Reading @ Serenity now, Catch as Catch Can @ My Repurposed life, free for all @ 5days5ways, Feathered Nest @ French Country Cottage, Addicts Anonymous @ A2D, frugalicious friday @ finding fabulous, potpourri @ 2805, thrifty things fri @ the thrifty groove, refresh your nest @ making lemonade, show and tell fri @ my romantic home, furniture fri @ miss mustard seed, overflowing w/ creativity @ it's overflowing

A tisket, a tasket, i bought baskets

Which is odd, because i'm not normally a basket person.  Could be argued a basket case, but basket collector, no.

Not normally a basket displayer, either, but that thing looks decorative with the alternating colors and large scale. Could be great as part of a gallery wall or something. 

Loved the interesting shape to this white vase. Though clearly not milkglass, i thought it could still go with that obsession collection.  Does not appear to be of any value, but i quite like it.  Little retro, little ga-roovy.

Another nice sized basket, this one used for corralling my smaller purses and clutches.  Better than just shoved in a closet, they will now be shoved in a basket...shoved in a closet. 

Yay for organizing.  It's the small things, people.

Find me here: thrifty treasures @ southern hospitality, Craftomaniac, Motivate Me Mon @ Keeping it Simple, It's So Very Cheri, Making the World Cuter @ Making the World Cuter, DIY Project Parade @ DIY Showoff, Met Monday, overflowing w/ creativity @ it's overflowing, nifty thrifty tuesdays @ coastal charm Tuesdays Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, home stories a-z, be inspired @ elizabeth and co, lil luna, organizing party @ organize your stuff now, sugar bee crafts. sugar and spice @ 733, wow us weds @ savvy southern style, wicked awesome weds @ handy man, crafty woman, diy by design, whatever goes weds @ someday crafts, Transformation Thurs @ The Shabby Creek Cottage, 100 and Under @ Beyond the Picket Fence, Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple, hooking up @ house of hepworths, vintage thingy thurs @ the colorado lady,  open house @ no minimalist here, share awesomeness @ 36th ave, Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring, Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest, feature yourself fri @ Fingerprints on the fridge, Weekend Bloggy Reading @ Serenity now, Catch as Catch Can @ My Repurposed Life, Feathered Nest @ French Country Cottage, Addicts Anonymous @ A2D, frugalicious friday @ finding fabulous, refresh your nest @ making lemonade, show and tell fri @ my romantic home, free for all @ 5days5ways, home sweet home @ charm of home, thrifty things fri @ the thrifty groove.

Controlled Chaos Closet

This is the after.

I know that looks like a flippin' mess, but i assure you, it's controlled chaos. Can you tell the bare bones of this closet are pretty much good for nothing? What can you do with something so tiny and oddly laid out?

Clothes can't be hung in here, unless they're smooshed to the right or hung sideways due to the lack of depth on the left hand side.  For storage, you'd just be able to pile boxes on top of each other.  Putting shelving in this was the only way to go, and it turned this closet into a much more usable space.

S installed this adjustable shelving unit from the HD, and now all of my decorating nonsense, candles, holiday wrapping materials, table linens, and presents for future occasions all live in harmony.  And behind closed doors, where i like them.  It helps me forget that i verge on hoarding.

Aside from taking everything out and organizing, the only real tip i have is to get rid of boxes.  They take up unnecessary space, and you don't need the reminder of what you paid for it.  (Holla at the clearance prices!)

I put glassware and apothecary jars on the first shelf, and anything white on the second.  Trying for some semblance of order, here.

This is the left side, that you have to stick your head into the closet to see.  Top shelf is paper goods and napkin rings (that makes sense.)  Second shelf is linens, third shelf is beading stuff and presents.  Can't wait for my "crafting area" to be set up in the basement, which is where i hope to relocate some things.  "Crafting area" always evokes hysterical laughter from the boyfriend...he knows i'm no Martha.  Martha's puppies are probably more crafty than I.

Candles on the bottom, outdoor flags clipped onto pants hanger.  Again, makes total sense to me.

Aaaaagggh!  DON'T look up there, that's a bona fide mess.  I literally throw things onto that spot because i can't reach.

Who else has a controlled chaos closet?  Or maybe you're lucky enough to have an attic?  You're in trouble if it looks like this! 

Craftomaniac, Motivate Me Mon @ Keeping it Simple, It's So Very Cheri,  Making the World Cuter @ Making the World Cuter, DIY Project Parade @ DIY Showoff, Met Monday, overflowing w/ creativity @ it's overflowing, nifty thrifty tuesdays @ coastal charm Tuesdays Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, home stories a-z, be inspired @ elizabeth and co, lil luna, organizing party @ organize your stuff now, sugar bee crafts. Show and Tell @ Blue Cricket Design, sugar and spice @ 733, wow us weds @ savvy southern style, wicked awesome weds @ handy man, crafty woman, diy by design, whatever goes weds @ someday crafts, Transformation Thurs @ The Shabby Creek Cottage, 100 and Under @ Beyond the Picket Fence, Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple, hooking up @ house of hepworths, open house @ no minimalist here, share awesomeness @ 36th ave, Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring, Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest, feature yourself fri @ Fingerprints on the fridge, Weekend Bloogy Reading @ Serenity now, Catch as Catch Can @ My Repurposed Life, Feathered Nest @ French Country Cottage, Addicts Anonymous @ A2D, frugalicious friday @ finding fabulous, refresh your nest @ making lemonade, show and tell fri @ my romantic home, free for all @ 5days5ways, home sweet home @ charm of home, remodelaholic.