GW for NEW couch

After many months of searching for a small sectional everywhere and losing patience. That is Big Lots, American Freight, Value City Furniture, World Market. Seriously, it was impossible to find a small cozy sectional at the right price. but I was convinced I'd find the perfect one. I sold the BLACK futon for $125 on CL. Stashed the $125 away and hoped to break even with a brand new couch.

And then today I found this gem.

She was sitting in the corner at the GW just waiting for me to adopt her =D 

Dimensions: Sofa 84"W x 38"D x 38"H

She came w/ a broken leg and a broken side bar, but as you all know... I see potential! But the couch was priced at $279 last week. Then today at $179. I talked them down to $100 before I had fully thought it thru to whether or not it could be repaired. Then there was the issue of it being blue. I figured "well, maybe it's time I leave my comfort zone of browns, tans, whites and black and bring in different hues. BLUE! That's an organic color right?

But I had one more step to take. Before buying her, I had to call Ashley Furniture and ask some serious questions on the damage of the legs (NOT THE FRAME); does that compromise durability, warrantee, stability of the couch? How could I repair it? would my replacing the leg compromise the couch? They quickly offered to send me a new leg and side bar with instructions for FREE!!! Oh my! *on the cell fone leaving the office to run back to GW* then a call to Cheri. She's the only girl I know that has a truck that I can use and she never complains =D Thanks CHERI!

WHAT?! WHAT?! WHAT?!! A $100 for a brand new couch an w/ warranties including. Okay, okay. Am I being punked? where's the hidden camera? Ashton Kutcher?

I got the best deal of the month on this beautiful couch that is originally priced at $599. I love the straight lines, I'm not a fan of a bubbly round edges (yes, I know it goes against everything feng shui). I'm gaga over the bright nail head design, the Showood accent around the couch, the firmness and the velvety fabric. I'm hoping this will lighten up the room.

After removing the side door and squeezing it thru the slider doors from the back yard and then the stairs *Oh boy, I'm reminded that I MUST loss weight* Here she sits in my basement... please ignore the red accents. As you all know I'm so over the RED! ICK!!! *I see a garage sale in my future* Jenny can you hear me!! =D

How about the nail heads?

Don't forget. It. Was. $100. From $150. For a brand new couch at GW. YAY!

Now let the search and saving begin for the chair and ottoman. Or I can always consider two leather chairs from VCF.

Oh Goodwill, how I love you more and more each day... Thanks for all the beautiful finds!

Look at how pretty she is. YUM! I can't wait for late fall to lay on it, cozy up w/ warm blanket next to my fireplace and some hot cocoa.

Do you remember the candle holders I got from a garage sale this summer? if not see them HERE

and check out the basement HERE  I'd love some tips on furniture positioning.

~Rosanna

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Mama needs a new couch!!

I have the ich and now it's time for a new couch... I'm thinking a small cozy sectional. I'd like it dark brown over a brown zebra rug or something that pops and says FUN and DARING!


So, here's what I'm thinking... Check it and let me know what you think.

Big Lots has this for $500. I'm thinking it's still too much. I would go for it if it was $300 so, I'm going to wait a bit till it's on sale =D


Or 

It has to be something I can move with so, I would prefer a new couch that doesn't need replacing in 2 yrs. and that would fit neatly in any basement.

Help me out and tell me what you think and share your suggestions and where to buy if you've been in the market.

~Rosanna



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Ikea Wish List

Oh my I'm so excited about my trip to Ikea in 2 more months... I wanted to share this years Ikea wish list.

Ektorp Ikea Couch

Ektorp w/ chaise

This one in WHITE sofa goes for $399. The sofa w/ chaise $499. YAY!! That is so do-able. I can't wait to bring that home.

Then, I was thinking about a red pedestal round side table like this one from Crate and Barrel if I go w/ the sofa. Although it's beautiful I really want to avoid RED for the next year or so... I'm a bit burned out by RED everywhere =D

So, since the red won't work right now, I'm leaning towards the obvious black or...sofa table behind the couch for a lamp and accents.

 Hemnes Sofa Table

I'm thinking that the sofa w/ chaise is the best solution, but the sofa table will cost me an additional $169. Does anyone know if Ikea has coupons? LOL

These I'll scoop up because I will be reupholstering w/ them.

Bleached Merete 2 curtain panels

I have those in my living room and bedroom and I have to say... that I absolutely love them. They are heavy but yet they still let some glow in.

This is my shortest Ikea wish list ever. But then I have so save some mula for HomeGoods =D

~Rosanna

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Desk Up-Date

This area has been a pain on my butt... I just haven't been able to get it together AGH!!

This summer this is how it all started. I picked it up at a Garage Sale . It was in nice cosmetic condition but the darn thing was not strong enough to endure being in a house w/ my 2 boys and I. Let's be honest, you know when a 5 yr. old says "mommy, can I play on Nick Jr.com that means that there will be leaning on the desk, bumping and who knows what else...But I saw it's potential and snagged it up anyways =)

It sat in the garage for a couple of months until I finally was motivated enough to start putting it back together. Something a little E6000 helped with.

After a couple of days of being glued and clamped it together I brought it in the house.

I was still not happy w/ anything about this area at all. It just spells CLUTTER. So, I tried to make it better

I think I might of slightly successed. I lub clocks. The tick tock is zen to my ears =) candles, vase to complete the area? I still didn't think so and had to make another final change (at least till after the holidays).

 

I painted the desk black to match the vintage dresser re-do and added the same glass knobs to keep it all cohesive and to save on unnecesary costs of buying more knobs... 'Tis the season for Christmas gifts not new dresser knobs, I keep telling myself =)

So, what do you think? any suggestions or tips?

~Rosanna

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Vintage Dresser Re-Do Reveal

Hey guys, I finally completed the vintage dresser. I thought long and hard whether I should paint the mahogany or not. I'm so pleased w/ how it turned out... It's pretty BLACK!

Although, look at what I was working with HERE

I filled in the cracks and dents, but not too much since I was painting it black I wanted to keep some roughness. I don't know, just made sense to me and I really love how it turned out. (Sorry bout the grainy cell pics on the photos below)

It's simple and it only took about a week to finish it up.

I've listed my process here.

I found it at the GW for $3.00. It is an Estey Furniture dresser. I looked every where for information and the only thing that I was able to find is that it originated in the 1800's. I'm not quite sure what the exact date on this dresser is, but if you have any idea please, please, please let me know...

I went w/ the glass knobs, since I have so many of them why not use them right?

I love the legs on this dresser. So dainty and feminine!

Don't look so bad for being a $3.00 dresser, right? LOL

 

Psst! can you believe after all that work it has a bottom sticky drawer LOL

~Rosanna

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Sneak Peek at the Bargain Vintage Surprise

So, remember THIS piece?

Despite the Michigan cold I've only worked 3 days on and off on this dresser and I wanted to give you a sneak peek *smirk*

I washed it w/ TSP, sanded it, applied wood filler in some areas, but not all because I wanted a bit of that dinged up look (not distressed). I sanded it some more and skipped the priming. When I use Rustoleum I've found that I can skip the priming process or perhaps I'm just far to eager to get it done =)

It's a little large and I'm not sure if she'll stay where I've place her, but for now I'm absolutely in lub w/ this dresser turned buffet turned storage for all the "stuff" around my house =)

The clock is another GW find for .30 cents. It fits along w/ my clock craze. The lamp is the one I had in the dining room that I removed and moved on the dresser dresser turned buffet turned storage for all the "stuff" LOL

What do you think of the knobs? I'm leaning towards the round glass knobs that I used in the living room, see it HERE. They are Belwith Glass knobs, they feel so great on your fingertips and it's perfect for those teeny hands too.

 

It's simple, modern and sophisticated all at the same time and this is what it looks like on the piece... or I could go w/ a more traditional glass knob. It's a bit small for such a big piece don't you think?

So, what do you think so far? Ready for the reveal in a couple of days? I can't wait to hear what suggestions you'll have for me. You blogg-ettes have given me so much support in updating my space on a shoe string budget.

PS: don't you worry! I've already sanded out the drips =)

~Rosanna

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DIY Printing French script on fabric

Having grown up in a European society and spending summers abroad, I'm a crazed Francophile!!

I've wanted to try and do this and it only took me 2 months. And when the boys went to bed and the dishes were washed, washing machine was empty and the floors were moped and living room vacuumed I gave this a go. 3 weeks ago I decided to remain a present mother to my boys and not get distracted by projects around the house. I will share w/ you when ever possible or when something truly has brought me joy and if what I share inspires you as you all have inspired me; I am a happy blogger! =)

So here's what I did;

1. Went to The Graphics Fairy picked a bunch of ephemera's and pictures that I couldn't live w/ out, specially since I'm working on this dresser for the basement (it will serve as a "throw all" organizer). It's cold outside and my nose and finger tips hurt working on that dresser but I have to have it done by Xmas... It's a personal goal is all =)


2. I cut the fabric to cover a plain piece of paper


3. I used Green Frog painters tape to secure it on the paper and that tape is much easier to remove from the fabric w/ out having to force it off and touch the ink. I did this to Burlap and white twill for aging and framing on the dresser turned buffet.

4. I placed it in the printer and pressed print

5. VOILA!! c'est fini =)

Here's where it ended up going

The Graphics Fairy uses Citra-solv Natural Cleaner & Degreaser to transfer the design over to fabric. That I will try in a couple of weeks and I'll let you know how bad the stench is... LOL

**BTW, forgive the carpet, but it's cold here in Michigan and projecting on it keeps me warm =)

~Rosanna

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Basement Before & After

I can't believe how many small changes have been done and how many more there are to go. The kitchen and bath were RED. Today they are bit more demure and warm in NEUTRAL.

Biggest Before & After; the basement. This took 4 months to complete and I'm still working on it... AGH =) My plan is to have it all done up by New Years *yeah right* Lol

I love our 1/2 bath. It makes it so much easier to hangout in the basement and the boys having their friends over for the night, not to mention family & friends not having to fight over the powder room when it's a full house.

Fireplace; I choose to have the top of the brick fireplace covered w/ drywall (no screws in it) we just had a couple of 2x6's added long ways and the drywall floating over it. The 2x6's add support for a t.v, mirror or art, all w/ out ruining the brick.

Here it is today...

 Still have to add molding and go thru my tickle list and get all those odds and ends completed. Oh, how I wish I had extra time and a few pair of hands to help me. But I'll get it done!

Little things here and there that I'm not thrilled about.

For instance, I think the living space is too crowded. I will be moving stuff around in the next week since I'm in the look out for a couch that will be NEUTRAL and open.

But don't you love what it transformed too after 4500 dollars I think it was way worth it since the first bid was of 9K the second was 7K and the final cost was 4K but if you include the 1/2 bath plumbing another 500.

I have been using furniture we had, hand me down's or GW finds. So, I have not spend much on furnishing. That will come later. I have a plan! =)

Half bath. I had a pocket door added to keep the space open. Yes, it does cost more and it takes pre-planning but it was a fantastic solution. I'm loving our pocket door, too bad I couldn't add it else where.

This bathroom is big, NEW and always clean. I hope to add a shower in the next 2 yrs.

See the curtain? that is where the shower will go in a couple of yrs. but for now the curtain hides the electrical box and it's become useful for storage. I have a shelf in there where I try to organize things onto and keep things on hand.

I like how it looked w/ the white canvas better. I might have to incorporate that in for Xmas *wink*

This is what it looked like a month ago, but I wanted to change it around. Now like I said I feel the way it looks today is awfully crowed and boxed in. So, tonight while I watch Desperate Housewives I will make some changes.