Lost in Creative Space: Part V - Finishing Touches

The finale of my first blog series is drawing near and it is bittersweet.  I wasn't expecting the anticipation I've had each week to sit down, write and share with you!  To catch up on the series, I invite you to see how I updated my furniture, wall color, organization and the "throne" for my space.  It's been quite the adventure! 

I don't know about you, but when I watch space makeovers on TV, I love when the designer puts the final touches on a space.  These finishing touches really inspire me to update a room, along with a great new wall color!  There's nothing like adding pops of color, photos, knick-knacks and pieces of personality to complete a room.  The final touches to my creative space were easy to find and affordable to add.  I would add them over a span of months as I found them.  Before starting the space, I would Google, Pin and watch Craigslist for decorative inspirations.  Pieces like these spoke to me, kind of like those Pier 1 commercials right now... 

The Company Store Antiqued Chandelier: 

"Let me shed some more light on that for you, Candace!" 

I had so much fun styling my shelves with frames, baskets, simple organizers, vases and knick-knacks!  I combined my old decor with new decor for a whole new look.  When updating decorative items, you can consider adding a little spray paint to your current knick-knacks or frames, or even distressing them.  I also found that recycled food jars make for great storage vases! ;)  These kinds of simple upcycling ideas can create a new look at little to no cost.

Below are my larger finishing touches.  I really truly LOVE the cool guest chair I found! I couldn't pass it up at T.J. Maxx (for $59.99) one day well before I'd even painted the room.  It definitely set the tone for my pop of hot pink. :)

The rug ($13) from Ross added some pop + sparkle against my blah beige carpet.  For some Clearly Candace personality, I really wanted add the letter C as a theme in my space.  I found the above 24" hand-carved C from Etsy ($33+shipping) to be my focal point in the room.  I also picked up a few smaller Cs (~$1-$7) to add to the mix.

I love this Etsy print I found on Pinterest and made one for myself.  The damask mini hat boxes came from Hobby Lobby, and I probably should've waited for a sale, but I couldn't bear to lose them ($23).   I love the impact made by the color and size of these two items next to each other, so I've decided to put an encouraging Scripture in this 8x10 frame with a similar look.  Don't worry, I plan to downsize the Love print for a 5x7 close by.  :)

For my desk, I added a Target lamp and pink Ikea shade for $17 after my old lamp broke.  The $2 Ikea frames, a pen/pencil holder and some pink Gerber daisies give it a nice feminine finish.

And last, but not least...lighting!  Yes, that adorable Company Store chandelier pictured above was new in the box on Craigslist.  I had initially planned to find and paint an old chandelier to to replace the sad little dome light.  When searching for an old one, I stumbled upon this one priced at a quarter of its retail price--SOLD!  No DIY work, a great look and a great price!  Here it is after being so graciously hung by my hubby.  I opted for the simple, (no pink drops) look.  I think it is a beautiful final touch to the room.

Each of these accents give color, personality and style to my space.  I'm sure I'll be adding and rearranging things as time goes on, but that's just me.  Finishing touches are too fun!  I am very anxious show you my full space photos in the upcoming finale post.  There's nothing like seeing a completed project and comparing the before's and after's of a made-over room.  I can't wait!  

For today's post on "beautifying and adorning" my space, I thought this Scripture on the adornment and beauty of a Godly woman was fitting.

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."  
1 Peter 3:3-4

Keeping Him in mind,

Lost in Creative Space: Part IV - "Throne" Away

I've been excited to share this particular post with you since my series began! You can catch up by checking out Part I, II & III.  Today's post is about a spontaneous addition to my creative space that came out of nowhere! :)  It all started on the curb....

Yes, you heard right - the curb.  If this thought bothers you, you may not wish to read on. ;)  I was driving my son to school one dreary morning after it began to rain.  I noticed that a neighbor around the bend from me (who I don't know personally, but a close friend does) had put something on the curb on trash day. This something made me slow down and look closer as I passed.  Being the daughter of a mother who is a collector, finder, redo-er and seller of "special things" (for a better term), I have never once taken anyone's "trash" in order to make it "treasure."  However, on my way back home, I realized why I slowed down in the first place.  I stopped, opened the back of my SUV and heaved THIS into the back of it. 

 



One large, heavy, navy blue chenille chair....someone's trash.  I know, crazy, but I somehow looked past that part and saw potential.  Mom's "special" genes must be seeping in! ;)  I liked the chair's shape and wooden detailing.  I did find a busted spring, but I still deemed it makeover-worthy.  You see, a few days prior, I was exploring the wonderful world of Pinterest.  I came across this pin and read the how-to.  Because of this, that chair grabbed me....so I grabbed it. :)

The pin is from Hyphen Interiors by Kristy Swain and the popularity of the post has since greatly increased!  It's an easy tutorial on brush painting paint+medium  onto upholstered fabric.  All I needed were latex and acrylic paint, textile medium, a spray bottle, a paintbrush and a little sandpaper. 

I let the chair dry and air out a few days outside.  Then I attacked it with Lysol, upholstery/carpet cleaner and a vacuum.  Disinfecting it in addition to the painting process would rid the "old and used" and make it new again.  Once clean and dry, I began the process....

I followed every step in Kristy's tutorial.  I chose black paint.  I considered other colors (green, pink and even cream), but with the dark blue fabric, I thought black would be a safer, easier color transition that would better hide dirt, wear or flaws.  The first coats (2) latex+medium+water coats were the primer coat, creating a thin stain look on the fabric.  A little buffing with the sandpaper helped soften the arms other areas after each coat dried.  The coat of acrylic+medium+water transformed the chair from blue to black.  Once complete, the fabric's texture was now more of a soft canvas, versus its former chenille.

The wooden details came next. Below are close-ups of them beforehand.  I replaced the old brass casters and with larger modern black ones ($4.99/pair at Home Depot), for a better roll on my chair mat, rather than sinking into it.  As for the wood, it certainly needed some love.

And love was added.  Spray paint works wonders.  It's a totally new chair! 

And to go even further, I tried something for the first time. I'm in LOVE.

 Cue Angelic Voices! 
How do you like my new throne? :)

 Requisite Before and After photo:

I am completely in love with the look of my new and improved upcycled chair!  The only downside is the the broken spring that I have resolved by adding a thick pillow cushion so I don't even notice it. :) And now...

Curbside Treasure Meets Creative Space!



Spiritually, when I think of making the old new, I am instantly reminded of the gracious blessing of being made new in Christ.  And He is still making me new today.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone the new has come!"  2nd Corinthians 5:17   

Does anyone love the song Beautiful Things by Gungor as much as I do?  I'll confess that I've listened to this song multiple times in a row on multiple occasions. :) It's very relevant here.  It's beautiful and powerful (with strings!) and the "You make me new" bridge is my favorite part!  Spiritual or not, I encourage you to click to listen.

Thanks for visiting!

Keeping Him in mind,