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Painting Laminate Bathroom Cabinets

The title of this post really should be "Putting Lipstick on a Pig."<br /><br />The garden level bathroom is straight from the 70s, complete with lovely beigey-pink floor tile, a non-functioning hot tub style bath (ew) and, my favorite, laminate counters <i>and</i> cabinets. Please do your best to control your jealousy:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/DSC_0207.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">It's one of those spaces that you walk in to, trying to brainstorm ways to make it look better, and then you walk out five seconds later saying "Just burn it down."</div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/DSC_0233.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Then last week I was at a Home Depot in Westchester that I hadn't ever been to before and they had a bunch of the Martha Stewart hardware in stock, including <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=202241362&storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&ci_sku=202241362&ci_kw=%7bkeyword%7d&kwd=%7bkeyword%7d&cm_mmc=shopping-_-googleads-_-pla-_-202241362&ci_gpa=pla#.USWrflpASXQ" target="_blank">these polished nickel babies</a>.</div><br /><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/DSC_0244.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I decided to go for it and came home with $27 worth of hardware and a hope and a prayer for this sad little bathroom of mine.</div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/DSC_0221-1.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><center>    </center><center style="text-align: left;">I painted the cabinets with two coats of my trusty Rustoleum enamel in gloss black. If you have similar laminate cabinets that you're dying to ditch, I totally recommend going this route first. Why not? You can prime if you want to, but I didn't worry about it. I just gave the old laminate a good cleaning first. </center><center></center><center><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/DSC_0436.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></center><center></center><center style="text-align: left;">Then I installed the new hardware once the paint was dry to the touch.</center><center style="text-align: left;"></center><center style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/DSC_0377.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></center><center style="text-align: center;"></center><center style="text-align: left;">I had to hang the pulls a little higher than I would have normally preferred because of the way the drawer was made (boo). But it's still an improvement in looks and in functionality (I basically needed a screwdriver to pry the drawers open before the pulls were on).</center><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/DSC_0415.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We also brought in the vintage lucite stool <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/04/how-to-clean-lucite.html" target="_blank">I reupholstered here</a>. Evie climbs up and kneels on it when she's washing her little hands.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/DSC_0320-1.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I also added a new wastebasket from West Elm. $5 from the clearance section. Love the pattern here.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/DSC_0398.jpg" /></div><br />And I hung two of the <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/38006200/" target="_blank">$5 magnifying mirrors</a> from IKEA. We've had these for a couple of years now and they are A+ in my book. As I side note, I am <i>crazy in love</i> with anything scissor-arm (<a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/09/making-wall-mural.html" target="_blank">these brass beauties</a> were my favorite purchase to date).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/DSC_0285-1.jpg" /></div><br /><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/01/gems-at-urban-outfitters.html" target="_blank">This cute new coat rack</a> from Urban is also a favorite now.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/DSC_0250.jpg" /></div><br />Truthfully, I am crossing my fingers that the landlord is up for a full bathroom reno this summer. (and really, shouldn't he be? maybe I should send him this post as a refresher on how nasty the space is!) But before then, I have big plans for the mirror area and I'm going to paint out the kick panel black and I think I'll add little feet so the vanity looks more like a piece of furniture. I wish I would have just done this while I had all the paint and everything out. In person it's not as obvious that that kick panel needs to be painted out.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/DSC_0210-1.jpg" /></div><br />All in all, I don't totally, <i>totally</i> hate this space anymore. And burning it down is a distant plan B now. So, that's good! All thanks to these pretty pulls and a little black paint.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/DSC_0442.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">What pigs have you been slathering with lipstick lately? I'd love to feel like I'm in good company here. :)</div>

Painting Laminate Bathroom Cabinets

The title of this post really should be "Putting Lipstick on a Pig." The garden level bathroom is straight from the 70s, complete ...

2:30 AM

Give Away from StyleMint (With Five Winners!)

<span style="background-color: white;">So this is weird. As I sat down to write this post about </span><a href="http://t.stylemint.com/aff_c?offer_id=22&aff_id=2244&file_id=16441&aid=2%24spons%24p3437%24c4339%248497" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">StyleMint</a><span style="background-color: white;">, an adorable online fashion shop founded by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, I happened to be watching a late-night rerun of Full House (the episode where Kimmy and DJ are babysitting and the kid's head gets stuck in the banister so they rub margarine all over him - so good), AND I look down and I'm wearing a t-shirt</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><i style="background-color: white;">from</i><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">StyleMint</span><span style="background-color: white;">! What does it all mean?!</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: start;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/SMLGNTs1.jpg" /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: start;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: start;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/SMLGNTs2.jpg" /></i></div><br />Clearly the stars have aligned and this give away was meant to be. Five winners will be chosen to win a cool t-shirt of their choice from <a href="http://t.stylemint.com/aff_c?offer_id=22&aff_id=2244&file_id=16441&aid=2%24spons%24p3437%24c4339%248497" target="_blank">StyleMint</a> (some of my favorite styles are shown above). To enter, <a href="http://t.stylemint.com/aff_c?offer_id=22&aff_id=2244&file_id=16441&aid=2%24spons%24p3437%24c4339%248497" target="_blank">register</a> and choose your favorite pieces and leave a comment on this post with your top picks.<br /><br />Here are a few more of my favorite pieces available now at StyleMint. They're offering a discount to first-time shoppers - <a href="http://t.stylemint.com/aff_c?offer_id=22&aff_id=2244&file_id=16441&aid=2%24spons%24p3437%24c4339%248497" target="_blank">check it out</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/SMLGNBLOUSES2.jpg" /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/PANTSSHIRT.jpg" /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: start;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/SMLGNBLOUSES3.jpg" /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: start;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/SMBLOUSES1.jpg" /></i></div><br />The five winners will be chosen on Sunday night at midnight. Good luck!<br /><br /><i>PS Also I just remembered that about once a week someone on the street tells me I look like MK&A's little sister, Elizabeth. So basically what I'm saying is... I was meant to be an Olsen. I wonder if they need a decorator?</i>

Give Away from StyleMint (With Five Winners!)

So this is weird. As I sat down to write this post about StyleMint , an adorable online fashion shop founded by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen,...

2:30 AM

How to Keep Houseplants Alive?

How to Keep Houseplants Alive?

I love having at least one plant in every room. And I usually think a room feels sort of stale if there's nothing alive in the space. Bu...

1:35 PM

How to Paint Perfectly Crisp and Straight Lines on Walls

<center style="text-align: left;">After <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/02/cleaning-up-my-recycling-closet.html" target="_blank">this post</a>, some of you emailed for tips on painting really crisp and straight lines on walls. I have a simple approach, but it works every time for me! One little disclaimer though - stripes don't work well on highly textured walls. The lines just never look perfect, which would bug me a bit. So, best to attempt stripes only if you have smooth or close to smooth walls.</center><center style="text-align: left;">(Oooh! An update from the comments section: If you have textured walls, use caulking to seal the tape and you lines will be straight!!) </center><center style="text-align: left;"></center><center style="text-align: left;"></center><center style="text-align: center;"></center><center style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/stripes.jpg" /></center><center style="text-align: center;"></center><center style="text-align: center;"></center><center style="text-align: left;"></center><center style="text-align: left;">To start, use a ruler to make your registration marks. My stripes are 8" wide, so I made a little mark with a pencil 8" above the floor board, every 18" or so around the wall of the closet, making sure to mark at the corners and turns especially. Then just measure and mark 8" above every one of those marks, going all the way up the wall.</center><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_1293.jpg" /></div><br />Then use painters tape to connect the marks. Try hard to not bend the tape. If you pull the tape out gently and straight, you can trust that your lines will also be straight.<br /><br />You can see here that the stripes don't look evenly spaced (because they're not). You'll need to tape above the registration mark and then below the registration mark to block out the full 8" for the stripe.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_1295.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Then go back over the tape with your thumb and really smooth out and lay down the tape, just on the edges you'll be painting.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_1301.jpg" /></div><br />Here's the real trick for perfectly crisp lines: seal the edges of the painters tape with some of the base wall color before painting on the contrasting color. Don't paint the whole width of the tape. Just a bit along the edge of the tape on the side where the stripe will be painted.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_1304.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Let that dry before you paint on the stripe color.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_1307.jpg" /></div><br />For my stripe color, I wanted to do a gray that sort of coordinated with <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/01/powder-bath-updates.html" target="_blank">the gray I just painted in my powder bath</a>, since the doors are across the hall, only about three feet apart from each other. I didn't want to do the exact same color and I wanted something much lighter, so I mixed about one part BM Chelsea Gray with two parts White Dove.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_1313.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">You can roll or brush on the stripe color, and then I like to pull the tape off while the paint is still wet. I don't think it matters either way though, if you prefer waiting til it's dry. (#impatient)</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_1317.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Check out those lines! Not a <i>bit</i> of paint bled through because that extra little strep of sealing the edges with the base coat paint. I've used all brands of painters tape before too, and none of them give me the same results without doing the sealing step.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/IMG_1324.jpg" /></div><br />It's one of those completely satisfying projects that moves pretty fast. I busted out this closet in about two hours.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/DSC_0379.jpg" /></div><br />PS Some of you asked about the citron boxes I have on the shelf here. They're shoe boxes from Crewcuts! Ha! J. Crew is having an additional 40% off sale items plus free shipping, so how could I resist picking up some new spring kicks for the girls? The cute, sturdy boxes were a little bonus though, for sure. :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/crewcutsshoes.jpg" /><br /><a href="http://bit.ly/12EPoda" target="_blank">dot oxfords</a><br /><a href="http://bit.ly/ZbYRUi" target="_blank">neon t-strap ballet flats</a><br /><a href="http://bit.ly/WJ5HAm" target="_blank">neon zipper boots</a><br /><a href="http://bit.ly/12EPDF1" target="_blank">sven clogs</a></div>

How to Paint Perfectly Crisp and Straight Lines on Walls

After this post , some of you emailed for tips on painting really crisp and straight lines on walls. I have a simple approach, but it works ...

7:33 PM

Lately on Fab: Kate Spade Saturday

It's the weekend and I'm in the <i>best mood! </i>It was a really great week around here between Valentines day and all sorts of great news (<a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/best-home-design-inspiration-blog-the-homies-2013-183531" target="_blank">this</a> was so cool, you guys! Both categories? <i>THANK YOU!) </i>and we're all finally healthy. Good times.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/KSSFAB1-1.jpg" /><br /><br /><a href="http://fab.com/?utm_campaign=littlegreen&utm_source=mediakix&utm_type=p&utm_medium=blog&ltb=on" target="_blank">one</a>  //  <a href="http://fab.com/?utm_campaign=littlegreen&utm_source=mediakix&utm_type=p&utm_medium=blog&ltb=on" target="_blank">two</a>  //  <a href="http://fab.com/?utm_campaign=littlegreen&utm_source=mediakix&utm_type=p&utm_medium=blog&ltb=on" target="_blank">three</a>  //  <a href="http://fab.com/?utm_campaign=littlegreen&utm_source=mediakix&utm_type=p&utm_medium=blog&ltb=on" target="_blank">four</a>  //  <a href="http://fab.com/?utm_campaign=littlegreen&utm_source=mediakix&utm_type=p&utm_medium=blog&ltb=on" target="_blank">five</a>  //  <a href="http://fab.com/?utm_campaign=littlegreen&utm_source=mediakix&utm_type=p&utm_medium=blog&ltb=on" target="_blank">six</a></div><br />Speaking of weekends and good moods, did you here that Kate Spade is launching an adorable new line called <a href="http://fab.com/?utm_campaign=littlegreen&utm_source=mediakix&utm_type=p&utm_medium=blog&ltb=on" target="_blank">Saturday</a>? The line isn't officially available until March, but my friends at <a href="http://fab.com/?utm_campaign=littlegreen&utm_source=mediakix&utm_type=p&utm_medium=blog&ltb=on" target="_blank">Fab</a> are selling a selection of preview items, and they are so, SO good. Modern-prep at its best!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%203/KSSFAB2.jpg" /><br /><br /><a href="http://fab.com/?utm_campaign=littlegreen&utm_source=mediakix&utm_type=p&utm_medium=blog&ltb=on" target="_blank">seven</a>  //  <a href="http://fab.com/?utm_campaign=littlegreen&utm_source=mediakix&utm_type=p&utm_medium=blog&ltb=on" target="_blank">eight</a>  //  <a href="http://fab.com/?utm_campaign=littlegreen&utm_source=mediakix&utm_type=p&utm_medium=blog&ltb=on" target="_blank">nine</a>  //  <a href="http://fab.com/?utm_campaign=littlegreen&utm_source=mediakix&utm_type=p&utm_medium=blog&ltb=on" target="_blank">ten</a>  //  <a href="http://fab.com/?utm_campaign=littlegreen&utm_source=mediakix&utm_type=p&utm_medium=blog&ltb=on" target="_blank">eleven</a>  //  <a href="http://fab.com/?utm_campaign=littlegreen&utm_source=mediakix&utm_type=p&utm_medium=blog&ltb=on" target="_blank">twelve</a>  //  <a href="http://fab.com/?utm_campaign=littlegreen&utm_source=mediakix&utm_type=p&utm_medium=blog&ltb=on" target="_blank">thirteen</a>  //  <a href="http://fab.com/?utm_campaign=littlegreen&utm_source=mediakix&utm_type=p&utm_medium=blog&ltb=on" target="_blank">fourteen</a>  //  <a href="http://fab.com/?utm_campaign=littlegreen&utm_source=mediakix&utm_type=p&utm_medium=blog&ltb=on" target="_blank">fifteen</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I hope you're having a great week, too! xo</div></div>

Lately on Fab: Kate Spade Saturday

It's the weekend and I'm in the best mood! It was a really great week around here between Valentines day and all sorts of great news...

9:40 AM

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