The (Mostly Done!) Kitchen

<center></center><div style="text-align: justify;">If you've been following along, you know we've gone back and forth a lot on what to do with this kitchen. Here are the posts, in case you're in need of a catch up:</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0591.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/DSC_0591.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 58.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/58.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I finally decided though that we would just work with the existing layout and cabinets and use my favorite concrete overlay technique to make this kitchen work for us until we can do a big upgrade.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 51.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/51.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I'm still hoping for a full kitchen reno sometime down the road, but at least for now, the space feels clean and bright! DIY wins again! :) Here's a little more on what we ended up doing and where I bought everything...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">One of the splurges of the reno was this farmhouse sink from Signature Hardware. We had some sort of funny dimensions to work with and this one was the least expensive of the options that would fit right. I love the clean lines! I also bought the faucet from Signature Hardware and had a local plating company (Papago Plating) strip off the lacquer finish. I love it.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 54.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/54.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The black concrete counters are holding up really well and I love the dramatic look. The waterfall edge is so pretty, and I think with the creamy white cabinet color and the lighter gray on the floors (Ben Moore's Galveston Gray), the black is not too dark for the space.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 61.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/61.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">My favorite part though is the little shelf we built with pine boards that I covered in concrete too. I hung them with simple black gloss brackets from Home Deport with brass screws. I wanted the brackets to just sort of go away, which they do! The shelves are super sturdy though too. We have all sorts of heavy things on top (tons of plates on one side and a 20-lb cactus planter on the other!) and it's sturdy as can be.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 52.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/52.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 56.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/56.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">You can see in this photo too that we beefed up the trim on the doors and added trim to the windows (there was nothing there before). I LOVE how the trim addition completely changed the space!</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo dDSC_0595-1.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/dDSC_0595-1.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;">We made a few changes to the lighting too. Just getting those super frilly and outdated pieces out was a huge improvement! </div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo dDSC_0611.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/dDSC_0611.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;">We took down the too-low ceiling fan and the chandelier over the table area and replaced them with two of these lanterns I picked up for a song in New Jersey before we moved. I painted the pink parts white and sprayed the sleeves gold.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_4785.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/IMG_4785.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 55.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/55.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I think a little white paint and round bulbs can make any fixture prettier! :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 57.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/57.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;">I got three of these brass tilt cone sconces from Cedar and Moss. They are <i>beautiful. </i> I really love them and think they are a steal for the price!!</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 53.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/53.jpg" style="text-align: left;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;">One of my favorite little details of the space ended up being the cabinet hardware! I really wanted something a little different. I searched high and low and finally, finally stumbled on these white milk glass bin pulls. They are so perfect. They just sort of glow! We used brass screws to install them to the drawer fronts, so brass accent is there, but it's subtle.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 63.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/63.jpg" /></div><br /></div><center></center><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 66.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/66.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 54.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/jkomenda015/54.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;">It's (clearly) not perfect. We did this project fast and furious, but the improvement to me is huge. We are loving it and are so happy we could make the room work for us for as long as it takes to save up for the kitchen of our dreams. :)</div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>

The (Mostly Done!) Kitchen

If you've been following along, you know we've gone back and forth a lot on what to do with this kitchen. Here are the posts, in cas...

Read more »

Mint Smeg

I had one of my luckiest Craigslist days ever just a few days ago. We have been looking for a smaller size fridge for the little fridge nook by the pantry to use for drinks and extra food when we entertain (first world problems, I know). I looked around for a while for a cute vintage fridge to rehab, but there weren't as many options there as I had hoped for, and I wasn't totally sure/informed about the safety and reliability, etc of using a super old fridge. I did find a really cute one and went to go see it and then the guy told me he wouldn't sell it to me for less than $700 even though we talked about $350 on the phone. So weird and frustrating.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo cIMG_2601.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/cIMG_2601.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />That same night I got home and searched for "retro" fridge instead of "vintage" or "old" and a listing for a brand-spanking-new mint green Smeg popped up. The asking price was about half of what I could get it for at West Elm, so, not cheap, but it sort of felt like a present falling from the sky in a way. Like, when would I ever find a brand new one at such a deep discount in the exact color I had wanted to paint a vintage fridge?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo cIMG_2594.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/cIMG_2594.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><a name="more"></a><br /><br />Michael, who is normally the financial brakes in our relationship, was totally on board (he must read my blog or something? :)) and we picked it up the next night.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_2671.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_2671.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><center></center><br />It fits perfectly in the fridge nook and there's room on top for extra stuff (single door Smegs are pretty teeny). I have glasses and an ice bucket up there right now.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_2606.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_2606.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_2682.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_2682.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I love that the fridge is on the smaller side because there's still plenty of room for the broom and step stool that we had been keeping in the nook before. The plain old step stool looked so sad next to the pretty green of the new fridge that <a href="http://instagram.com/p/meaWG9wW5p/" target="_blank">I gave it a coat of gold spray paint a couple days ago</a> (I had the paint and the stool out for another project anyway, so why not?... Does this make me crazy?)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_2741.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_2741.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_2689.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_2689.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>True that the fridge was sort of a spontaneous and expensive splurge, but we're really loving it. We have a ton of family and good friends living nearby and it seems like there are people stopping by every day (<i>*dream come true*</i>). And given the fact that I inherited my grandmother's need to feed visitors (which I guess I could do just as easily with an ugly, cheap fridge), this thing is getting opened and used all day, every day. And won't you agree that most any other fridge would have just been a bummer to look at and there's no way its interior could be as well designed as the Smeg's?! Right? It's just a generally more pleasant experience to both look at and open up for your beverage perusing pleasure. So really, us buying the cute fridge was the kind and neighborly thing to do, wasn't it? I was only thinking of you, friends and family! You're welcome. :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_2726.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_2726.jpg" /></div>

Mint Smeg

I had one of my luckiest Craigslist days ever just a few days ago. We have been looking for a smaller size fridge for the little fridge nook...

Read more »

The Well is No Longer

<center></center>We have a giant ficus tree in the back yard that really needed a good trim because it was starting to touch the roof. We got a couple of bids (I was shocked at how much the price ranged!) and when the man we ended up hiring to do the trimming mentioned he did other types of removal jobs too, I got really excited.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo cIMG_3275.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/cIMG_3275.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />About 0.0001 seconds later I blurted out "I have a well!"<br /><a name="more"></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo cIMG_3279.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/cIMG_3279.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Kyle took down the well's roof the same day and that ended up being the easy part. The brick base was really, really sturdy and completely full of dirt and very prickly plants. The girls spotted a little nest of (quail?) eggs though that was kind of cool. No scorpions that I could see, but there were a lot of spiders. Bleck.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_3276.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_3276.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Kyle ended up having to use this little lifter machine thing to get the brick up and out.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_3376.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_3376.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_3379.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_3379.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After seeing all the work that went into this one, I was glad we hired a pro to take care of removing the well (let me know if you want Kyle's contact info- he's great!). I'm not sure we would have even been able to do it ourselves without the serious machinery. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_3385.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_3385.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There's still a project for me here though - I need to pick up three or four rolls of sod now to fix the smallish hole we have left in our lawn. I'd take a dirt patch over a faux well any day though. :) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">(I can't believe it's gone! Yay!)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">How was your weekend? Are you in the middle of any excited projects? I love hearing about what you guys have going on.</div>

The Well is No Longer

We have a giant ficus tree in the back yard that really needed a good trim because it was starting to touch the roof. We got a couple of bid...

Read more »

DIY Extra Tall Baseboards

<center></center><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1010.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2019/IMG_1010.jpg" /></div><br />I love tall, chunky baseboards and I'm not ashamed to say it! :) Beefy floor boards = instant character in a room. Custom milled tall baseboards are <i>insanely expensive </i>though<i>. </i>Luckily it's easy to replicate the look by layering a few pieces of much more affordable moulding. Here's how:<br /><a name="more"></a>After we installed the plywood wide plank flooring, I started nailing up the 8" primed pine boards that we used for baseboards in the rest of our house. These boards come in 12' lengths and cost right about $20 each (so about $1.50 per linear foot). I loved the way they looked in the rest of the house, but in here, with the wide planks being basically the exact same width, the chunky floor board looked super dinky.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_2646.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2019/IMG_2646.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So I used some moulding I already had on hand to create a custom stack of trim. We layered on my door and window casing moulding on top and a simple quarter round trim on the bottom of the pine board.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1289copy.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2019/IMG_1289copy.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Here's a view of the profile:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1318.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2019/IMG_1318.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Pretty, right? I love that it's simple still.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_2659.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2019/IMG_2659.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I used my new favorite finish nailer to install all the trim and it could not have been an easier process. The only tricky part was cutting out the notches for the outlets (of which there are many!), but my Dremel Saw made that just about as straight forward as could be.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1278.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2019/IMG_1278.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I used a miter saw for all the corner cuts and then lots and lots of caulking to fill in the gaps and cracks and nail holes before painting:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_2645.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2019/IMG_2645.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I am not the biggest fan of caulk with shiny silicone in it. This stuff though - the straight ALEX caulk (no PLUS) - is the very best for caulking trim work and prepping before painting.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1317.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2019/IMG_1317.jpg" /></div><br />Once everything was installed, caulked and dried, we painted the moulding the same color as the walls (BM's Chantilly Lace) in semi-gloss in the Advance line. So clean and new looking!!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1011.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2019/IMG_1011.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The casing trim is also about $1.50 or so per linear foot and the quarter round is really, really inexpensive. Maybe $0.30/ft? So all in all, less than $5 per linear foot for 12" high floor boards is a total steal! I really, really love how these baseboards turned out.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1048.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2019/IMG_1048.jpg" /></div>

DIY Extra Tall Baseboards

I love tall, chunky baseboards and I'm not ashamed to say it! :) Beefy floor boards = instant character in a room. Custom milled tall ba...

Read more »

The Side Porch Gets a Little Love

<center></center>On March 29 I'm going to be hosting <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/213220958876335/?ref=5" target="_blank">The Phoenix Garden Party</a>, brought to you by The Home Depot Garden Club. There's going to be all sorts of fun happening at the event - a personal chef and a professional gardener both teaching great classes and offering Q&A. And I'll be there to take some of the classes, too. Come hang out and eat and learn and get your hands dirty!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1395.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_1395.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1494.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_1494.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>In preparation for the garden party, I've been doing some updates to the little side porch area that I started decorating last summer and never finished. I LOVE how just a few small changes to this space made with paint and a few new plants have made a huge impact on the overall look! Here's what we did:<br /><a name="more"></a>You might remember how before, the porch swing was this bright blue color. I liked the color, but it was looking a little circus-y out front with the red door and the bit of blue from the music room popping out behind the windows. Since my goal in life is to not be the crazy neighbor, the blue had to go.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1339.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_1339.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Plus the tannins from the knots were starting to peek through the latex paint the seller had painted it before I bought it. Nothing a little oil-based painted can't tackle!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1370.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_1370.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />We used a quart of low-lustre oil-based paint in BM's Chelsea Gray and I LOVE the finish. It's not glossy at all, but it has a really beautiful furniture-like finish. Similar to what the Advance line produces, but oil-based is about as hard-wearing as it gets. It's a great option for painting floors if you don't want a glossy look.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_2721.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_2721.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After the first coat of paint, we caulked the gaps in the planks and the look is much cleaner on the seat now.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1388.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_1388.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It makes me so, so excited to get our house painted. Brown be gone! :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1400.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_1400.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Do you spy my little pride and joy kumquat trees here? I bought two at Home Depot and potted them in my chalky black planters (the same ones we had on our back balcony in Brooklyn) and flanked the porch with them.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1501.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_1501.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">They're so pretty. :) I think I probably laid it on too thick when I told the girls not to pick the fruit. I heard Evie telling the neighbor kids that "my mom will cry if you pick her baby, baby oranges."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1481.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_1481.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I planted the most delicious-smelling honeysuckle at the tree bases as ground cover. I'm obsessed with the idea. Honeysuckle > dirt.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1384.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_1384.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Also, I couldn't stand the green vinyl stake ties so I used a little nylon cording left over from the cleaning buckets project to replace the ugly with pretty.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1497.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_1497.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I've been able to keep these alive and happy for a couple weeks now (!) and I feel like some of that has to do with putting rocks in the bottom of the planters to help with drainage. I always either overwater or underwater. whoops.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_2723.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_2723.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Is there a prettier color combo than gray and bright, clear orange?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1386.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_1386.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I took off the nasty old hose roller thing that was hanging on the brick before and picked up this cool bowl that's made to be a hose-keeper. It has a hole in the back of the bowl for feeding the last bit of the hose through, so you have just enough to reach the spigot. I love it and it makes it super simple to pull out and to corral the hose.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_2842.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_2842.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">My vintage Homecrest chairs that I picked up at Junk in Williamsburg finally got a makeover! <i>GOLD!!!</i> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1458.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_1458.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Before they were sort of just rusty ivory?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo cIMG_1343.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/cIMG_1343.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">My beloved Design Masters spray paint came to my rescue again and I wasn't disappointed :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1415.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_1415.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1419.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_1419.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The finish isn't perfect, but that's more about the condition of the chairs than anything else. I like that they show their age though, I don't want them to look brand new. The white chairs were refinished and powder coated by a craigslist seller and they look almost too perfect :) I guess the combination of the chair pairs works though.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1467.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_1467.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1440.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_1440.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I did buy new outdoor pillows for the white chairs, but rather than buying new cushions for the gold chairs, we spruced up the old ones with some little hot pink tassels I made from nylon cording and a little bit of wire. Cute right?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1422.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_1422.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I also taped off the edges and sprayed the center third with just regular old white spray paint. I thought the paint would sit on top of the cushion a little more thickly, but it sort of just absorbed in a cool way.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_2773.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_2773.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_2777.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_2777.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>I loved the subtle color difference.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1525.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_1525.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Between the pairs of chairs I put the little antique faux bois table base I found in the backyard of the brownstone that the landlord gave me. I love it and I love her (Hi, Sally!). I found a little table at a thrift store for just a couple bucks and the marble top works perfectly on the faux bois base.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1484.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_1484.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_2827.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_2827.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I got a new bowl planter for the brick wall and planted pretty morning glories.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1399.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_1399.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1476.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_1476.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I also brought a pair of ficus trees I had in the back yard out to the front porch. I am so crazy about the drippy planters!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1409.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_1409.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I planted some Mexican sage in there too. The little blooms are such a pretty pop of cobalt!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1436.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_1436.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_2838.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/IMG_2838.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Anyway, lots of fun changes to the side porch! <span style="text-align: center;">I'm ready to tackle more of our yard, but I think I want to wait until after the garden party. :) I feel like a bit of a novice in this area, so a little know-how and confidence will go far! If you're interested in coming on the 29th, </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/213220958876335/?ref=5" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">feel free to RSVP here</a><span style="text-align: center;">. I'd really love to meet you!</span><br /><center></center><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 282971_10152703850900031_854044833_n.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2018/282971_10152703850900031_854044833_n.jpg" /></div>

The Side Porch Gets a Little Love

On March 29 I'm going to be hosting The Phoenix Garden Party , brought to you by The Home Depot Garden Club. There's going to be all...

Read more »