Before and After: Kitchen Countertops

As promised I have a small little kitchen makeover tid bit for y'all today.  Before we start I need to note that full credit for this idea came from my friend H.  I walked into her apartment (which is the exact same type of unit as mine) and exclaimed, did you get your kitchen remodeled?!  Jealousy took over, I wanted MY kitchen to be remodeled too.  I had to figure out her secret.  She calmed me down and said that no, her kitchen had not been remodeled, but she had painted the countertops.  I was shocked to see that such a simple solution made the ENTIRE kitchen look remodeled.  Since H also works for the apartment's where I live I knew that it was ok for me to recreate the look AND she was nice enough to give me her leftover paint.  So now friends, it is time for me to share the secret with you!

Alright, here is my kitchen before:

Please note the color of the countertop.  What you can't see is that it was also really dingy and had stains.  Also, you might remember that I painted my cabinets with chalkboard paint.....

Weeeeellll I made a few changes.  After:

I went back and painted the cabinets white and....PAINTED the countertops grey!

I would show you the rest of the kitchen countertops...but there are dirty dishes.  Welcome to my life.

So before you get all in a tizzy and think I just used normal paint, let me say that this is a special kind of countertop paint from Rustoleum.  It required about 2 coats and it reeks to high heaven so you'll need to make sure that you do it before you go out of town.  

What do you think of this quick and easy makeover that makes a big impact?  Would you ever paint your countertops?

Freshy Fresh

Alright, I have been a bad blogger lately.  I'm not one who is keen on excuses, but let me offer this:  it's because I have been gang busting getting my shop in tip top shape.  So, with a promise to have some really good posts this week, including a quick kitchen fix for not a lot of $$, I give you some of the newness in the shop.

Banko Elephant Teapot

HERE

Vintage Set of 4 Kitchen Canisters "Flour, Sugar, Coffee, and Tea" w/ Lucite Knobs

HERE

Vintage Eyewear Holder

HERE

Vintage Mad Men Bar Set

HERE

There are lots of other new things too!  Go check it out, then tell your friends.

Earthquake?

Here's to the trembling.  I am kind of sad that I didnt' feel it :(  I've always wanted to know what one is like...you know...in a completely safe way.

The Monday Newness

Shop newness.  Y'all I have been buying like a crazy woman for the shop this weekend.  Even more goodies to come.

Foo Dogs.  White.  Fantastic.

HERE

Vintage Glass Ice Bucket w/ Carrier and Tongs.  SO Mad Men.  Bar Chic.

HERE

Pair of Turquoise and Gold Mid-Century Modern Lamps.

HERE

Really neat Ferris Wheel style vintage tumbler set with glass tray for snacks/ice bucket.

HERE

LARGE green retro mid-century mod lamp we affectionately call "Big Green."

HERE

What do you think of the items I'm vending?  Anything you would like to see more of?

Giveaway: Couture Arabesque

I love a good giveaway and I would be remiss to not pass this one along.  Leah over at Couture Arabesque is giving away not one but TWO vintage Oscar de la Renta pieces!  She has a fabulous vintage Etsy shop but to celebrate the 1 yr. anniversary of her blog she is giving away two signed ODR pieces valued at $100.  Fun double fun.

Go enter here for a chance to win...I see these being a staple for fall!!  

How Does One Make a Lamp?

Remember those Asian tins that I added to the shop yesterday?  Well I found the same thing on another Etsy shop...just made into a lamp.  I thought it was really cool and that I would share.  I wonder how hard it would be to make a lamp from a tin canister?  I can't imagine too hard....but then again I have no clue.  If someone bought my tins and made them into 3 lamps they would be getting a steal!

$65

HERE

Some New New

I think I've started a pattern of beginning the week with new items added to the shop and I hate to break a good pattern so here are the new news.

I adore these Asian Character Hollywood Regency Wall Sconces.  If these don't sell I already have a place picked out on my wall for them.

HERE

I kind of have a thing for vintage English Tea Tins, they all have these fabulous patterns and colors on them.  Would be great for the kitchen.

HERE

YouTube Friday: Young Folks

Love this song.  Love this video.  I'm heading to the beach with A.  Looking forward to a long weekend and hitting up some new places to procure more items for the shop!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Sequins for a Cause!

Alright, so you know that I love sequin dresses and you also know that I love The Bachelor/Bachelorette.  I got a message last night that made me super excited because it combined the two.  I know, it's too much to stand right?  Remember my friend from back in the day, Ashley Spivey, who was on the Bachelorette?

Here she is with Brad getting the first impression rose:

Ashley tweeted me a message last night after I posted about my sequin dress to let me know that she was auctioning off three of her personally owned dresses as part of the Bachelor/Bachelorette charity auction to raise money for the Red Cross and asked if I could help get the word out.  Pretty great.  Of course I can!

So all of her dresses are....SEQUINED!  Check them out....

The one from the first meet and greet!

Ashley's "Women Tell All" dress!

I swear if I were a size 0 I would make sure this one was mine!

There are plenty of other clothing items and accessories from Bachelor/Bachelorette contestants like Emily Maynard, Trista, Jillian Harris, Ed Swiderski, Shawntel, Molly Mesnick, and many many more!  All proceeds are going to a good cause...if you are like me you know you want to own a piece of Bach history so check it out!

Sequins Sequins Sequins

ummmm so I warned that there would be some vintage sequin dresses coming because I think that they are all sorts of fabulous.  Here is what I am currently offering up.  More to come!

HERE

$32.50

Ok so a big thanks to my friend D who came over and modeled her cute figure in the dress for me!  I imagine that a sassy girl who wants to get noticed on a night out on the town will wear this dress.  It could have the shoulder pads removed, or be taken to a tailor to have the sleeves removed for a slightly more modern look.  Christmas Parties this winter?  Yessss.  Dress is a medium.  Spread the fabulous.

Added

Added this week:

Reallllly cute elephant Teapot.

HERE

I would buy a beach house just to put this vintage tray in it.

HERE

YouTube Friday: Selena Gomez

What?  It's a guilty pleasure....

People Who Are Talking About IT

Thanks so much to Jenny over at Jenny Castle Design for blogging about CURATE!  She was even nice enough to shop at CURATE herself and pick up the lion's head brass tray!  She has an amazing blog with so much inspiration be sure to check her out because this girl has style!!

Just a few images pulled off of her blog from this week alone.  Feast your eyes!

Spotted: Vintage Sequins

Left:  dress from Elizabeth and James inspired by Right:  MK Olsen wearing a vintage sequin dress

I find these vintage short sequin dresses that are straight out of the 70's and 80's all the time and I think that they are fantastic.  I wonder, if I sold them in my shop would anyone buy them?  I think it would be a great party dress/ going out dress for a great price!  Could I bring back the sequin shift?  

I say yesss!

Newness

In the shop...

Dog's Head Bookends

Scalloped Brass Tray

Lion's Head Brass Tray

Vintage Plaster Elephant

The elephant is about the size of a large tall house cat and scared my 100lb. dog.  Yup.  He's special.

The Lewis/Elephant stare down.