Happy Holidays!

Christmas snuck up on me in the most major way. Do you feel the same? The girls took on most of the holiday decorating themselves this year (hence the sparse tree with the crooked star), but looking around, I love it all more than anything I could have done if I had had the time. These kids are so, so excited for Evie's birthday tomorrow and then of course for Christmas. It's seriously just magical to watch them scurry around the house making preparations. :)<br /><br />We are doing some last minute shopping this afternoon (wish me luck), a little service project this evening and then tonight I have a whole lot of gingerbread house pieces to make for a little family party we're having over here tomorrow for Evelyn. We've been hosting a lot of visitors the past couple days and truly, there's nothing like house guests to push me to get projects done. Am I right? I started hanging art in our house this week (some of these are thrift store pieces I just bought for the frame!) and while there's still a long way to go with decorating projects, suddenly it feels like <i>our house. </i>Perfect timing!<br /><br />I hope you and yours have a really lovely week. See you in a few days. Merry Christmas!!<br /><center></center><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Christmas2013.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/Christmas2013.jpg" /></div><br />

Happy Holidays!

Christmas snuck up on me in the most major way. Do you feel the same? The girls took on most of the holiday decorating themselves this year ...

Read more »

Meet Helene

<script src="http://thirdparty.fmpub.net/placement/571864?fleur_de_sel=[timestamp]" type="text/javascript"></script><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #919196; line-height: 18px;">This post was brought to you by </span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #919196; line-height: 18px;">American Express</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #919196; line-height: 18px;">. Helene is just one Member of the American Express PassionProject. See all of the inspiring stories <a href="http://r1.fmpub.net/?r=http%3A%2F%2Fad.doubleclick.net%2Fclk%3B276492443%3B102918209%3Bi%3Bpc%3D%5BTPAS_ID%5D&k4=7127&k5=571864" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></i></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love that San Diego is a quick and easy road trip from Phoenix. A couple weeks ago, we hopped in the car and spent the weekend museum hopping at Balboa Park, filling up on fish tacos and shrimp ceviche, and checking out the amazing tidal pools at Cabrillo National Park. One of the highlights of the weekend was getting to meet <a href="http://hipandhandy.com/" target="_blank">Helene Cornell</a>, who lives in a beautiful bungalow in a historic neighborhood near the park.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aaDSC_0569.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/aaDSC_0569.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo xDSC_0551.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/xDSC_0551.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Helene is pure sunshine and we became fast friends (she just sent me her adorable holiday card). You can't help but smile while you're talking to her, especially when she's telling you about her passion: restoring airstream and canned ham trailers. After she's finished with the restoration part, Helene rents her trailers out as guest rooms to travelers and friends. You can find her listings <a href="http://www.urbanholidayrentals.com/" target="_blank">HERE</a>. Helene turned her passion into her business and she's learned a lot about </span>entrepreneurship<span style="font-family: inherit;">, design and people along the way. </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: start;"><center></center></div><div style="text-align: start;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_8344H.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/IMG_8344H.jpg" /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="http://www.deannbphotography.com/" target="_blank">Deann B Photography</a></i></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here's a little about Helene and lots of photos of her beautiful home and one of her canned ham trailers!</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0714.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/DSC_0714.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><a name='more'></a><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">JK: Tell me about how you first got interested in refurbishing vintage </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">airstream and canned ham trailers.</span></i><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">HC: I purchased my first trailer about six years ago on Craigslist to make </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">an impromptu guest bedroom to accommodate the overflow of family and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">friends in our small house, which was already kind of like a hostel. I </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">realized we could rent the trailer out for profit shortly after, as </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">our friends seemed to love having their own cubby. My husband decided </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">to go back to school, and buying our home at the top of the market was </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">putting a lot of stress on the finances. I didn't realize the vacation r</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">ental business was the solution to our problems. Over the years, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">hundreds of people have stayed, and subsequently we've expanded the fleet of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">trailers to make room for more visitors and enthusiasts from all over </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">the world. I grew up camping and moving around a lot, so it only made </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">sense to offer a more experience-driven approach to lodging.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo cDSC_0524.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/cDSC_0524.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo zDSC_0576.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/zDSC_0576.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i>Where do you find your style inspiration?</i></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">HC: I'm inspired by different cultures, from the materials, colors, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">textures and energy of tradition and travel. I believe design should </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">be a relationship that you build based on your personal experiences, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">so when you look at a rug you bought from a flea market in Mexico, or </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">a framed piece of art that you inherited from your grandmother, you </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">are telling a story that conveys a comfortable and emotional </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">connection. Narrative is the most important inspiration, which can </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">only be defined by you, so like any medium, it is subjective. </span></span><br /><div><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo sDSC_0721.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/sDSC_0721.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Another HUGE factor for me is humor and engaging your inner child. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Design should be fun, and should not be taken too seriously. If there </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">is any way to add an interactive element, a humorous touch, or a illogical </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">addition, why not? Imperfections make us more human.</span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img alt=" photo xDSC_0578.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/xDSC_0578.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><br /><img alt=" photo aDSC_0703.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/aDSC_0703.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo xxxDSC_0593.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/xxxDSC_0593.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i>Where are you favorite places to shop for decor and fashion?</i></span></span><br /><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aDSC_0733.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/aDSC_0733.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img alt=" photo DSC_0707.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/DSC_0707.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">HC: I am a huge believer in the re-purposing of used items. My go-to is </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">craigslist and thrift stores, as giving new life to something is </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">affordable, friendly to the environment, and a great way to give back to your </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">community. Forming connections with like-minded designers makes this </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">job fun and rewarding, as my friends send me photos of things I might </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">like when they are out digging through garage sales and auctions, and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I do the same. I try to avoid box stores at all costs. Your time and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">money is worth so much more to your neighbors and community.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0701.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/DSC_0701.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo zDSC_0602.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/zDSC_0602.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Also, I highly recommend going to auctions. If you come visit me, I will </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">take you to an amazing one, but if I told you more now, I would have to </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">kill you. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">(hint: it involves a taco cart, a six pack of beer, and the best deals are </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">at midnight!</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">)</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo xDSC_0611.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/xDSC_0611.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i>What do you love best about your job?</i></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo xDSC_0630.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/xDSC_0630.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo xDSC_0612.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/xDSC_0612.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">HC: I love how much I learn from other people. Over the last six years, I </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">have hosted people from all over the world. I have a guest book of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">some of my most memorable visitors, and on days that I am feeling </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">down, I read through it and know that even if for two days of their </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">lives, I have made a fond memory page for both of us. I am constantly </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">surprised by people, including myself. I am finding myself more open to learning a new skill and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">making a better experience for my guests. Even the super mean and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">annoying guests help me learn how to be a better person. It's important </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">to remember that no job is easy or perfect (and if someone claims that, they're lying).</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> We are all a work in progress.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aDSC_0687.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/aDSC_0687.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aDSC_0684.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/aDSC_0684.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Do you do a lot of DIY projects at home and in your trailers? </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">What's been the most successful one?</span></i></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">HC: I do about one DIY project a week. I find the process very meditative </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">and rewarding. My brain actually turns off while I am building things, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">so there is nothing I would rather be doing. There is something about </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">solving a problem and completing a project from start to finish that </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">gives you self esteem. It is so fun to look at a photo, draw out </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">something similar that will help better your environment, and then just start building. </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo xDSC_0615.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/xDSC_0615.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo xDSC_0613.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/xDSC_0613.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">T</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">he great thing about most of my projects is that they are small in </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">duration and scale, so I don't get in over my head or burned out. Most of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">them only take a couple days. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">One example is that </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I built an outdoor shed for my washing machine to make room for </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">converting my garage into a guest house. And now I hang up our clothes to dry, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">so that saves some energy. The next weekend </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I built an outdoor shower out of two pieces of corrugated metal and a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">couple of 4x4 treated posts. It cost around $150 in materials, and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">another $150 for plumbing as I hired someone to tie into the outdoor </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">washer/dryer plumbing. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">It </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">was super easy and took only about 6 hours to build.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aDSC_0654.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/aDSC_0654.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The coolest thing is I actually completely turned off our sprinklers as I was </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">showering outside with organic shampoo every day, and the grey water </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">was watering our yard. Showering outside is a great feeling and more </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">people should look into how to use grey water around their house.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> I save a lot of money </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">on our water and electric bill this way- </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I wish I would have done it years ago!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i>I bet you've had some interesting guests! Tell me about some of the people who have stayed with you in your home and in your trailers.</i></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo zDSC_0647.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/zDSC_0647.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo xDSC_0644.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/xDSC_0644.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">HC: A lot of creative transitory types have reinforced that having a good </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">sense of adventure will improve your quality of life. Whether you are </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">an electronic harpist, a break dancer, a sex therapist, a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">spoon bender, going on your first solo trip with your kids across the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">US on bike, saving money for dialysis, a bipolar saleswoman or a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">famous rapper... I think people are put here to teach us something. (and those are a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">sampling of personalities from only one year!)</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aDSC_0673.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/aDSC_0673.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">What is your advice for other people interested in turning their </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">passion into their job?</span></i></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aDSC_0668.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/aDSC_0668.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">HC: Fear is the main thing that holds people back from taking risks. So </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">facing fear is huge. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I have had started around eight different companies in various creative </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">industries. Some of them supported me for a couple years, some were </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">very expensive start-ups that left me in debt. You just have to accept that </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">there are going to be some failures, some setbacks, and a lot of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">learning along the way, and that you should never judge yourself based on your </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">peers. This has not been an overnight process, and it took a lot of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">work to cultivate a good life for myself. Although a good life </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">actually has nothing to do with finances, and that is one thing that I </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">have learned to let go of. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The most important thing is to live your life with love for yourself </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">and those around you, without fear and judgement. I also laugh at </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">myself, a lot. Having a sense of humor can save you when you need it t</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">he most. </span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aDSC_0672.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2014/aDSC_0672.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div>_________________<br /><br />Isn't Helene and her home (and trailer!) beautiful? She has such a great outlook on life and on work. And I love her approach to decorating - everything looked and felt perfectly-imperfect and soulful in her spaces. And I totally agree that decorating should be all about personal narrative.<br /><br />Next time you're in San Diego, <a href="http://hipandhandy.com/" target="_blank">email Helene</a> and check our her spaces for yourself. She likes to give her guests an insider's tour of the city and I have a feeling you'll want to see her secret shopping haunts for yourself! :)<br /><br /><i>PS Here's a video of the lovely Helene. She's seriously so great. Love her. :)</i><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/CfuYY4F4lE8?rel=0" width="560"></iframe><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div>

Meet Helene

This post was brought to you by  American Express . Helene is just one Member of the American Express PassionProject. See all of the inspiri...

Read more »

How to Spray Paint Hardware

I was just working on <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/12/stickygrams-in-my-office.html" target="_blank">the whiteboard tutorial</a> and I when I got to the photos about the primer I used, I realized I haven't yet shared my new favorite product! I used it to DIY the pulls I used for the wardrobes in <a href="http://domino.com/an-ode-to-the-pax" target="_blank">my first Domino piece</a>. (PS my next project article will go live soon!)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo xDSC_0799.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/xDSC_0799.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />This spray primer is life-changing for those of us with itchy spray-trigger fingers! Especially if you've ever wanted to (successfully) spray paint knobs and pulls. In the past (like when I sprayed <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-best-gold-spray-paint.html" target="_blank">my laundry room hardware gold</a>) I've been a little iffy about whether or not spraying hardware for kitchens or other high-use areas is actually good idea. I was always worried about chipping/adhesion issues.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_8036.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/IMG_8036.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Seriously though, this Rustoleum spray primer, which is specially formulated for metal applications, works like a dream. It coats thickly, but evenly, and it <i>really</i> sticks to the metal and provides a great new base for your paint to hold on to.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo cDSC_0585.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/cDSC_0585.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><a name='more'></a><div style="text-align: left;">When I found these industrial pulls below, I knew I wanted to spray them to look brass and that I would need a really good primer to pull that off. And you know what they say - necessity is the mother of spontaneous purchases. And this one totally worked out for me!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo xIMG_7743.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/xIMG_7743.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I found the pulls in the hardcore hardware aisle (not the same aisle as the regular knobs and pulls). This aisle has window sash pulls, latches, hinges and garage door pulls. It's usually the aisle that also has rope and and chain at Home Depot and Lowes. I love how chunky and squared off these were, but I picked up a few garage doors handles too, just for comparison. I think my gut was right about the square pulls, but I also think these others could be cool in the right application. Filing away for later!</div><br /><br /><center></center><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_8039.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/IMG_8039.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So, some people might want to use a deglosser or a TSP spray as a first step before spray painting hardware, but I sort of feel like the primer makes that effort unnecessary. Depending on the existing finish you're working with, deglosser can make for a slightly uneven finish - it can sort of gunk things up sometimes and you never really know when.  So I think it's best to only use it if you have to. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_8047.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/IMG_8047.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I did lightly sand the top of the hardware first, just to make sure there were no bumps or residue anywhere. Then I flipped them over and sprayed the underside first.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_8051.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/IMG_8051.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The key, always and every time you're painting anything, is to do multiple light coats with drying time in between. Even and maybe especially with your primer. After two good coats on the back side, I flipped the hardware over and sprayed the tops.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_8063.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/IMG_8063.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If you notice any bumps, drips or dust specs, leave them to dry and then lightly sand them off after the primer has cured. Often dust specs will just wipe away with a cloth after the paint has dried. Don't mess with wet paint!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_8112.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/IMG_8112.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I repeated the same process with my beloved <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-best-gold-spray-paint.html" target="_blank">Design Master Gold Metal spray paint</a>. Man, this gold is perfect! The paint is a great quality, but the color is spot-on for what we're all looking for in brass-like hardware, especially after it fully dries.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_8223.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/IMG_8223.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I did one final step and used a spray lacquer on the tops, just to give it an extra layer of protection. It did change the look of the finish a bit (it's a bit more shiny now and the extra layer changes the way the light refracts, so the gold is a touch less bright). The jury's out on whether or not I would repeat this step next time. It is nice to have that safety precaution though. Maybe I'd just try a matte sealer and do a really light coat?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_8226.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/IMG_8226.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">To install the pulls I bought a box of #10 brass 1" screws. It's a good idea to drill pilot holes first just to ensure you're installing them in the exact right spot. One of my pulls is slightly off and it's driving me nuts (must fix!!).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_8228.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/IMG_8228.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The sprayed pulls are holding up perfectly and I love them more the more I see them. My mind has been racing, thinking of other projects to do with that amazing metal primer. (that white board tutorial is coming up though! Stay tuned!)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo xDSC_0799.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/xDSC_0799.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0766.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/DSC_0766.jpg" /></div>

How to Spray Paint Hardware

I was just working on  the whiteboard tutorial and I when I got to the photos about the primer I used, I realized I haven't yet shared ...

Read more »

New Piano!

We bought a piano as an early Christmas present! It got delivered a few days ago and I'm loving how it looks in our music room (which is still not painted - I need like a week of nothing to do but house projects).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_1019.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/DSC_1019.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />I wanted something small since we have other big pieces of furniture going in there (the chesterfield and probably the tiger chest?), but I didn't want the smallest spinet size piano either.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_0101.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/IMG_0101.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><a name='more'></a><br /><br />This one is just a hair bigger than a spinet - it's like a small console piano. The back top opens up so the sound can be louder if you want it to be (the kids will <i>not</i> be taught that little trick though).<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo vDSC_1048.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/vDSC_1048.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_1056.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/DSC_1056.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>It's a touch more feminine than I had in mind originally, but I like that it's still very simple. And I really love the bow-like music stand.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo vDSC_1015.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/vDSC_1015.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The finish is a little roughed up, but it's not horrible in person. I think it will be easy to touch it up with one of those furniture markers and maybe some ebony Restor-a-finish.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_1003_2.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/DSC_1003_2.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The brass casters could use a good cleaning and some Brasso.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_1014.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/DSC_1014.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When we first saw the piano, the bench wasn't upholstered and when we came back into the piano shop to buy it they had sent out the bench. :/ </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9827.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/IMG_9827.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The checkered chenille is not my favorite but I haven't had a minute to pull off the fabric. I hope the top of the bench wasn't too damaged. I can always cover it back up with a new fabric if it is though.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo vDSC_0986_2.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/vDSC_0986_2.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br /><center></center>It was a really great price since technically it's a starter piano (we only paid a couple hundred dollars and they delivered it, which was huge for me!). It has a really beautiful sound though - not at all tinny like some smaller pianos can sound. It's been so fun to sit down a play and to help the girls with their practicing. Lessons start for them after the holidays!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo xDSC_1035.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/xDSC_1035.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Oh! Also, did you see my new rug? </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0999.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/DSC_0999.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_0011.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/IMG_0011.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's a silky Ralph Lauren beauty I scored on clearance at Homegoods! I love the way the light hits it and it is seriously so soft! Linus practically lives on it - I think he likes it more than his dog bed. (such a snobby poodle.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_0104.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2015/IMG_0104.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />

New Piano!

We bought a piano as an early Christmas present! It got delivered a few days ago and I'm loving how it looks in our music room (which is...

Read more »