Family Room – Page 6

Cutting Corners

Published on August 14, 2013August 14, 2013 by Our Humble Abode7 Comments

How ’bout a round of applause for our new spider base coffee table top:

While marble or glass would be beautiful, I think marble is too heavy for the base. And I know glass would be completely covered in fingerprints, taunting me daily. So I had Ben help me (okay, he did all the cutting) make a paintable top. He cut a sheet of 1/2 inch MDF to 36 1/4 inches square, then made a pivot point to make a perfect circle. A scrap of MDF nailed to the center of the square, like this:

Which gives a rigid edge to spin, following with a pencil.

Using a jigsaw, Ben cut close, but just outside the line. With the corners cut, I got out the orbital sander with 80 grit paper and sanded until I met the pencil line. For a smoother edge, I followed up with 150 grit paper, primed, painted, and sealed both sides with Polycrylic. I set the top on and for the first time in my home ownership, I’ve got a coffee table.

I had a sample jar of Valspar’s Sweet Mint, which I think pairs nicely with the wood base. Fun and colorful, without being bright and crazy.

Sweet Mint is also a near perfect match for the sky in my MT Photo Journal Heavenly print and landscape painting on the mantel.

If I get sick of it, I can quickly sand it down to repaint with minimal money and effort.

We’ve got a few games on top including tic tac toe and the checker book. The terrarium, pulled from the boys’ room, adds greenery and a glass jar with our initials rounds out the set.

Which do you prefer, coffee tables or ottomans? It feels less like a dorm room, so adult, to have one. And really fun to accessorize. Now to convince Ben to replace the ottoman in the living room with a coffee table.

Three Thrifts Under 45

Published on August 5, 2013August 5, 2013 by Our Humble Abode21 Comments

Thrifting, obviously, is a game of luck. Often, usually when looking for something, I strike out. But sometimes, sometimes, I hit gold. And that’s what happened last week. While running around town sourcing the perfect tile for the impending master bathroom remodel, the boys and I stopped in Goodwill. Just as I was about to leave, I saw a folded wooden…thing.

Curious, I opened it. Turns out, it was a funky little table. With all legs hinging at a center point. I’ve never seen a base quite like this.

The table base (no top in sight) was priced at $17.99. I liked the lines and unique design, so I brought it to the check out counter and asked if they could give a discount because it was just the base. The nice gal lowered the price to $9.99 without a return. Sold!

Tip: when thrifting, pointing out the problems of a piece might get you a lowered price.

I’m nearly certain this neat base will live in the family room. On Facebook, a few people suggested a remnant marble top. While I really, really love that idea, I don’t think this base could support that much weight. Boo!

Instead, I think I’ll cut a piece of MDF to size, paint it a poppy color, and call it a day. Light weight, affordable, easy to change.

On Friday, we shopped for a countertop and stopped in another thrift store along the way. And that’s where I found a chrome X base and glass top dining table. For 30 bucks! I had to get it. On my way to pay for it, I saw a sign for 25% off all furniture. Even better, I had a $5 off coupon, so I got this beaut for $17.49.

Eventually I think this will be an outdoor table. Until then, it’s replacing the ugly but functional folding table we had in the dining room. Sure, this is smaller (way too small for the room) but it looks so much better.

After our countertop search, we popped in ReStore where I found a lovely brass and wood light fixture.

This too was marked at $30.00, but is missing a few pieces. Using my ‘point out what’s wrong’ method, I asked about a discount. How ’bout half off? You bet.

I had high hopes for this one, but now I’m not so sure. To use it in the dining room, I’d have to get a 13 inch longer down rod. Which would also require a new, longer wire. Is it worth it? Also, we’re 98% sure the bulbs are halogen, which isn’t ideal for a dining light. So, what do I do with this guy?

Those Little Red Stickers

Published on July 29, 2013July 28, 2013 by Our Humble Abode16 Comments

I can.not.resist. Target in general is a money and time suck, in the best way possible. But those clearance stickers get me more often than not. On my last visit I went in for extra long twin bedding (got it). The sheets were full price (maybe I’ll get a second set in the fall-after college clearance), but I did get Threshold down alternative blankets for 50% off. How awesome is everything Threshold?! Lurve.

Naturally, I couldn’t limit myself to the bedding. I mean, I have to walk by the home decor. Literally, have to go past to get to the bedding. And I spotted more clearance signs there. 70% off calls my name every time. Threshold’s metal cane-look table came home with me. Originally $89.99, I snagged it for $26.98. Now it happily lives in the family room, between the ReStore chairs.

Like a racoon, I’m instantly attracted to shiny things, so it fits. And that little red sticker made it all possible. While I made the pillow cases for the boys, I also made a new set of pillows for the chairs. The sit/stay commands gave me a little chuckle.

But here’s a little more Target goodness, on clearance. Threshold Diamond Pillow, Nate Berkus Brass Rivet Table Lamp, Threshold Monogram Mug.

What’s your all-time favorite Target clearance score?

Three Things

Published on June 21, 2013June 21, 2013 by Our Humble Abode12 Comments

Three things to share today. First order of business, the winner of a Sanus Full Motion TV Mount is Erica. Congrats!

Second on the agenda, sharing a super cheap and über easy way to frame out a canvas. Wanting to finish off the painted canvas I made for Ben, I stopped in Home Depot to pick up 2 eight foot pieces of 1 by 2 pine.

To fit these in my car, I cut each into two pieces, five feet and three feet so I had a little wiggle room when cutting at home. Before making my mitered cuts, I sanded the rough wood using 150 grit paper.

Rather than relying on precise measurements, I brought my canvas out to my work table. Yes, I measure the girly (maybe lazy is more appropriate) way. But, it made it so easy. I just marked the edges of the canvas on the inside of my frame, then used a square to mark the top as well. These lines became the inside of my angled cuts, just lined the edge of the saw blade at the corner and cut.

Before attaching my frame to the canvas, I first applied a coat of Dark Walnut stain and two coats of Minwax Polycrylic (both already in my stash). I debated the attachment method.

First I though I’d nail from behind the canvas, shooting into the canvas frame and then into the pine. But Ben said poplar can have weird knots and it might angle and shoot through my canvas. Um, not the look I’m going for.

Instead I used an 18 gauge nailer to go through the pine and into the canvas frame. Worked like a charm, although I did angle my first shot too severely (fearing a blowout on my canvas) and it went into my work table. Lesson learned. While the nail holes are on the outside of the frame, they’re barely visible. You know, until I take a close up shot.

Now the canvas looks finished, with a slim, modern wood frame.

Oh, and I worked up the courage to deal with the ceiling. Not done yet (this is dragging on!), but looking a little better. Especially when the can lights aren’t hanging down like Halloween zombie eyeballs.

One of my favorite things about this frame is the price. Two 8 foot sections of 1 by 2 pine set me back $2.50. I mean, how can you beat three bucks for a huge frame?!

My second favorite thing about this frame is the depth. It sits flush with the canvas back, but has another 3/4 inch depth beyond. I think it’s a nice touch.

Of course I love how quick and easy it was, too. Took between and hour and two of active time to make. Because this frame was so easy, I want to make two more to finish off these embroidered constellations.

Item number three; last but certainly not least. We’re celebrating yesterday’s summer solstice with a big sale. Now through Friday, July 5, use the code STARTSUMMER to save 50% on everything in our shop!

Oh, how about a number four? Have a wonderful weekend!

Shoulda Been Father’s Day Gift

Published on June 17, 2013June 17, 2013 by Our Humble Abode15 Comments

I hope everyone had a wonderful Father’s Day! Ben is a tough guy to get gifts for. He’s not interested in techy things, doesn’t need dressy clothes, and is extremely practical. Because he mentioned wanting one large item on the family room mantel, I decided to make him a huge painting.

Actually, I came up with the idea after seeing two foot by four foot canvases at Michael’s for 30 bucks. Better yet, I had a 50% off coupon. Inspired by Karen Smidth’s paintings, I set out to make a semi abstract landscape painting based on this photo I took several years ago in western Montana.

We’ve been there several times as a quick weekend getaway and have always really enjoyed ourselves, so it seemed perfect. Using acrylic paints I had in my craft stash, I started painting. Then Ben came home earlier than I expected and saw what I was working on. Luckily, he really liked it, but I’m not totally in love with it.

Some of the details I like. Like the snow-capped mountains and grass.

And the size is great. What seemed huge carrying around the store now looks perfectly normal on the mantel.

The overall look is kind of a minimal abstract mixed with Grandma Moses folksy.

But the colors make me smile and the intended recipent likes it, so that’s what really matters, right?! That’s what I’ll keep telling myself, anyway. Who knows though, it could grow on me. Or I could get the urge to change some things. I didn’t bother painting the sides because I want to build wood frame to finish it off.

And there’s still the ceiling to finish. Ugh, I can’t work up the desire to sand it smooth.

In other news, our bathroom is featured in the current issue of Kitchen + Bath Makeovers!!

Ahh, so crazy to see our faces and home smiling back at us.

Is your guy a tough one to buy for? I considered getting a bocce ball set because we’re building a court out front, but that didn’t seem as personal. Do you have a go to dude gift?