Since I'm trying to get a handle on all my hoarding of good intentions, I promised myself that I wouldn't bring any garage sale reject back into this house unless I was ready to do something with it. To keep myself honest, I have given the Man of the House permission to toss all procrastinated rejects into the trash at the end of June. Therefore, I thought it best to get cracking.
I started with this rejected croquet set. Now, I realize that the logical thing to do would be to play a game of croquet, but that isn't the reason that I hoarded it.
I only hoarded it for these.
I had a notion to paint and decoupage some faux ceramic orb thingies for my kitchen. Yes, I realize that I could have found black and white ones nearly anywhere, but I'm a hoarder and a cheapskate so I made these.
Not too bad.
I wanted them for my baker's rack. I've been dinking with that thing since I painted the kitchen last winter. I've probably changed it twenty times.
Here's how it's looking today.
Sorry... the lighting is terrible.
Too bare and predictable?
Too bare and predictable?
Too much?
And is the height gap on that bottom shelf bugging you, too?
It always looks like I have enough on my shelves or tables to the naked eye. Then, I take a photograph of them, and they look sort of bare. Then I add things, and it looks too crowded to the naked eye. Then I remove a few things and, it looks bare...
Does anyone else have that problem?
I also changed out my bar stools this weekend. You might remember that I bought those stools back in February during my Great Tagalong Shopping Adventure. The cushions were beige and suedey and didn't match the rest of the kitchen.
I covered them with this houndstooth instead.
Like it...
So anyway, that's what I did this weekend. How about you?
Here's what I'm working on next:
Based on the mess I'm making, you might never seen an after shot of this one.
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Sharing this with Marty for Tabletop Tuesday
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Sharing this with Marty for Tabletop Tuesday
42 comments:
Debbie, you've been busy. I LOVE your houndstooth stools! I've got a couple of stools on my "to do" list, but I really just want to replace them. Can't find what I want yet, so there they stay ... UGHly! Your Monday makeovers, however, are a visual treat. (Maybe some kind of large tray behind your cookbooks? That would fill the space a bit more.)
The orbs are cute and I'm lovin' your recovered stools Debbie! Looks like you had a busy weekend! So whatcha gonna do with mallets? :@)
Debbie,
The orbs look so cool painted black and white...I wouldn't have thought to paint a design on them but they look great in that dish. I absolutely love the houndstooth check on your barstools makes all the difference, I think. The height difference on the bottom shelf wouldn't bother me but if it bothers you, you might want to switch out the soupbowl/ladle with the books. Try it, (take a picture) and see what you think. :)
I started something new this Monday that I think I will try to do every week...my growing up on a twelve acre farm in the late 40's and early 50's in Southern New Jersey.
Oh, Debbie...I really enjoyed this visit, more than you know. Little flashback's kept entering my mind, with my mom...how she would do all of this, as you do. You ought to see all of the things that are in her house ;)
You do a wonderful job, by the way!!
This was just great because it gave me so inspiration for when we settle in to our new place...I was missing getting to make things and now I can think back on your great ideas. Keep it coming on, keep it coming on...oh my now I have that song in my head...I will continue to be inspired. Since we are near the same age I know you know that one.
Love the new orbs on the baker's rack -- never thought of repurposing croquet balls in that way. Love it! I am not bothered by the height in the bottom row. I love it as it has lots of red in it. Also the new stools are smashing with that houndstooth. I didn't do much on the weekend. A little cleaning, a little entertaining and I wasted about 5 hours driving my son, his friend, and my husband to the river for a fiver raft trip. On the way home I realized that my son could have driven and I wasn't needed. Joni
Hi Debbie, thanks for stopping by. I love that red transferware plate you have on the bakers rack. I collect them. Boy are they hard to find here.
I love your stools and there is nothing like transferware -- it looks good no matter where you put it!
I am a hoarder and therefore, when it comes to throwing things away, I just can't seem to part and the few times I have, I later found that I needed them, and if I lived nearby, I would probably volunteer to take your curbside goodies{lol}
I also move things around too, and am never completely satisfied I really like what you did with your bakers rack, and your orbs are darling.
Thanks for sharing.
Hugs,
Sue
We went to five estate sales and who knows how many garage sales. It was tiring and hot. Then all the loot has to be cleaned and washed etc. But we love it! The balls are awesome. I love game pieces displayed about the house. I am eyeing our Domino Train pieces for a glass carafe.
I think you are to hard on yourself. The kitchen shelves look perfect. The seat cushions are a great idea. Busy weekend!
I'm begining to think you like to tease us!
Looking forward to the porch light reveal.
You did a great job with the crocquet ball makeover, I like your baker's rack in the 2nd photo (it is not too much stuff to me) and your upholstery job looks professional! I am sure the porch light will be great, too. xo,
Love the painted crochet balls and your red transferware dish!
Hi Debbie,
I love your "orb thingies". They look great on your kitchen baker's rack. I snooped around and saw your toile curtains too! Your yellow walls with black the red touches look great together!
I have the exact same issue when I take pictures. I've decided that for the camera, I need to load things up, but for real life, I too like things scaled back a bit. I'm not sure why the camera makes such a difference...strange.
Keep us posted about the porch light. Can't wait to see what you come up with!
Sharlotte
LOL! I love that you used your unused croquet set! That is awesome. I love all of your make overs actually! :)
~Liz
You know what, Debbie?? I just stand in awe of you - you are the most creative person I know. The "orbs" are perfect - very interesting and eye-appealing. And I don't think the baker's rack looks bare - I think it's just right. I know what you mean, though, about trying to have everything look just right. I have these shelves in my living room with all sorts of collectibles on them. You wouldn't believe how many times I've rearranged them trying to achieve just the right *balanced* look - (well, actually you'd probably understand - "The Hub" certainly doesn't).
Love the bar stools - and yes, whatever are you going to do with that lantern? I can't wait...
What did I do this weekend? Cleaned out some bookshelves (I had like a thousand books - double-stacked and piled on the floor).
Not creative, but a stab at MY hoarding, nonetheless...
OK, 'fess up - what did you do with the croquet mallet? There must be something decoupage could do for that.
Great job on the orbs! I love the new seat covers, they look wonderful. I am not good at shelf arrangements, I am not artistic enough. I think it looks good, and the most impt is if you like it!
I'm loving your red and yellow kitchen Debbie. Your "orbs" turned out great ~ I never have the vision and or guts to make anything. I like the baker's rack both ways and really love your new stools makeover!
You are on a roll. Could you send some inspiration this way?
Sue
Well, it looks like you've made your first step toward reupholstering something. The stools look great. I think I shall nudge my new apartment dweller to try that job on her (her sisters actually) stools. With the bakers rack...I think it has just the right amount of stuff on it. If you need to photograph it, add more stuff.
Too bad you didn't think about the mallets when you started your wack it back attack. Just sayin'...
Debbie, I have the exact same problem -- my shelves look fine until I photograph them, then they look bare! What about adding a tray standing up against the back of the lowest shelf on your baker's rack? That has worked for me!
It's all fabulous, the stools, rack and faux balls. Just a little counsel (because you are right behind me), my grands love those games and set them up in the backyard almost daily. You may wish you'd kept them in the near future! As for your rack looking bare, I really like it and might add balance with a taller plant on the opposite corner, bottom shelf...hugs from Idaho, and you are always invited to my parties, no rolly-can required. Take a tranquilizer, fly into Boise and I'll be there!
LOVE the houndstooth check stools! And leave it to you to take croquet balls and paint them. LOL!
Cheers!
You are so clever making over those croquet balls! :-) And I love the fabric on your stools too. I think your bakers rack looks perfectly lovely!
Vanessa
I love the baker's rack. It looks wonderful. I do know what you mean about how things look in person and then on camera. Huge difference. One of the things I use all the time when I need height and filler is a plant. A big pot of ivy would look wonderful on the bottom shelf. Beautiful piece and the bar stools look fabulous. Thanks so much for joining TTT. Hugs, Marty
Love the croquet balls and the houndstooth check!
I take practice shots of tables etc. It sure gives another perspective.
Hi Debbie...
My friend, what a awesome way to handle buying and getting projects completed...I love that idea! Eeeks...I have to admit though, there would probably be way to much stuff going out to the junk pile at the end of the month at my place! Nooooo!!!
Anyway, I just love what you did with the croquet balls...totally awesome! I would have never thought of redoing them and using them for decorative orbs. I love how they turned out...sooo pretty done in black and white! They look great on your bakers rack as well! I love how you have accessorized the shelves...it looks perfect! Love the red and white together with a few accents of black! I know what you mean about seeing an area and thinking it looks "just right" and then you take a photo and it feels a bit empty. I think it's because when we see something with the naked eye...we are taking in the whole picture of the room. Photos just specialize!
Ohhh...and I love your newly recovered black houndstooth bar stools...FABULOUS!!! And...I love how the houndstooth looks with the toile...love, love, LOVE that look! Well done, my friend! Thanks for sharing your new pretties with us...I really enjoyed!
Warmest wishes,
Chari
You have such an eye for repurposing things. I love that! I really like that houndstooth you put on the bar stools too. I have a bathroom vanity stool (a thriftstore find) that I've been meaning to recover and you have inspired me to get off my keister and do it! :)
Oh I know exactly where you are coming from with the bakers rack. I have the same problem as you every time. Too much one minute and not nearly enough the next. LOL! Yours looks incredible by the way and I love the red and white with the black. I like everything you put on it and think it looks perfect....seriously. The balls you made are adorable. But honey, I am in love with the hounds tooth bar stools. I love hounds tooth and it looks fantastic on your chairs. You have been quite the busy bee! Good luck on the outdoor lights. I did mine last year, and it is tedious but well worth it!
I have zero advice on the baker's rack. I'm terrible at arranging stuff on shelves, etc. I do love everything you have displayed though. That while bowl you have the plant in is gorgeous!!! I love what you did with the croquet balls too. So cute! Great idea!
I love, love, love the houndstooth on the stools. Houndstooth is one of my favorite fabric patterns. I love it and it looks great with the toile curtains!!!
Okay you are far MORE talented in your finger then I will ever be - whole body.
That being said - I love your baker's rack. I think it's perfect.
Love what you did with your stools.
Where do you find the time to do all that and blog - lol.
And I have no idea what is happening with the 'light fixture'?
The Creative One strikes again. Love it! I think the baker's rack looks great in either picture. The height gap worries me only slightly. :-) You asked! It might be a nice place for a small lamp atop a couple of the cookbooks, even if you can't plug it in there, or maybe a clear unique vase with something interesting inside. Love the houndstooth!
I love how the bar stools turned out, and what a difference with the crochet balls! The baker's rack looks just fine to me.
D
I loved your baker's rack any of the ways you had it decorated! And that houndstooth fabric on your bar stools is just perfect!! Look forward to seeing that lamp again! blessings ~ tanna
wow. I am impressed. and I am of the opinion that more is more and less is ... well just less. So I say add more to the bakers rack :))
(())
Love it all, seriouly though, where do you come up with all these ideas.I would never have thought to decorate and display croquet balls but they look great.
Hi Debbie!
You've been so busy -- good for you!! What you did with the croquet balls is so creative, and I LOVE your houndstooth stool covers. They look so elegant with the beautiful toile curtains.
Thanks for visiting my blog and taking time to leave a comment. I'm glad you enjoyed the post. Isn't it funny how we Americans love to "try on" the British accent? Maybe you could visit your friends in England one day -- after your daughters have finished college. If you're like us, everything is pretty much on hold until then.
Hugs,
Denise
Uhhhh, excuse me? I'm looking foe my friend, Debbie? You know, the one who claims to not be artsy? Well, if you find her, could you maybe ask her if she ever finds another set of croquet balls and decorates them/transforms them I would really like some? Thanks.
Xo
Lynn
The croquet balls turned out so cute! What a fun project and I love the houndstooth on the bar stools. You could hang some plates on the back of that taller shelf or prop a picture behind or get an empty frame and put some toile in it and put that behind your stuff your displaying.
treasures said...
Hi Debbie,
I didn't realize we had so much of the same decorating tastes . . . my kitchen is yellow, I love toile (one bathroom is black and white toile) and love red transferware. I change out the plates in my kitchen from red, to blue, to combo French Country. Your croquet balls turned out great, as well as your stools. You are getting much accomplished. I am very good at overloading my decor areas. Sometimes I put it all together and then take something away. Your baker's rack looks great; not too much. If you want to add height to the bottom, you could try your books upright with something from your kitchen as a bookend or try the teapot on top of your book stack.
Have a great week!
~ Julie
I think your decoupaging skills are unrivaled. The balls are AWESOME! You've picked up every bit of my slack here lately. No wonder I've been feeling unmotivated. I sent it all east. ;)
Wow...you were really industrious!! Everything looks so nice....great job! I love the change on the stools. What a difference!
I so enjoyed your post. You are one clever lady. I like repurposing too that is what my post is this week. Hope you visit.
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