The Elves have been busy

Santa (aka my dad) and his elves (my mom, Jay and myself) have been very busy repairing, sanding, priming, painting and perfecting our furniture pieces to bring to the shop this Saturday. 

Yes you heard right.  

I will be moving in some small pieces of furniture, some vintage finds and a few knick knacks. 

If you need a little more enticing to visit me this weekend, I am making some delicious cupcakes to bring and share with shoppers. 

The Modern Cottage Co. 

311 South 7th, Tacoma

Open 12 - 4

I apologize for the dark, messy garage photos. After work each day I have been stopping at my parents to work on these pieces after work  then come home to catch up on life with my family then head out to the garage to work for a few more hours. I am so thankful for my family to just jump right into this and for all my friends who help me find pieces and who offer to paint.  I truly appreciate each and every one of you. 

Thank you! 

The downstairs bathroom makeover

I finally have the before and after photos for our downstairs bathroom makeover. 

This was long overdue.

My mom was over two days before Christmas and announced now was the time. She had a plan all laid out.  I loved it. 

Hope you do too! 

Before photos:

(Boring, I know. This was a very neglected space.)

I do love this beach scene, reminds me of Cannon Beach.  

I don't have a place for it anymore, if you are interested in it, please let me know. 

White walls.

Broken towel rack.

Pale pink vanity.

HUGE mirror. 

Shells and beach glass. 

This was just blah.

Get ready for the ohh la la After! 

After: 

I don't even know how to describe this.

Love, LOVE, LOvE!!!

This curtain was a major score back in the day.

I first spied it at the thrift store for $20, I thought that was a little much considering there was only one panel.  I went back the next week and managed to pick it up for .99! How you say!  Well that color tag just happened to be the .99 price for that day.

It has been shoved in a closet for the past 4 years but I couldn't get myself to toss it out, thank goodness.  I think it works perfectly in here. 

Paint is Martha Stewart - Graphite. 

Table - thrift store find $5

Two vintage mirrored frames - thrift store $20 for pair

All decor items were picked from around the house

{I do plan on changing the actual artwork out of the frames into something else. Maybe an old black and white photo, dont know}

Plates by Rosanna - picked up at my mom's house

Bird Tealight holder - thrift store $5

Bird planter - thrift store $5

Plant - Home Depot $3

Vintage books - garage sales {cheap}

Martha Stewart mirror - Home Depot $30

Room Service sign - picked out of mom's house

Wire basket - thrift store $3

Mason Jar soap dispense - made by my mom

Candle Holders - Pier One 

New lighting - Home Depot $25

We do plan on replacing the sink and vanity, just didn't have it in the budget right now. I am hoping to find one on Craig's List or at Costco. Let me know if you find a good one.

Thanks for checking out my new bathroom makeover.  

It has light a fire in me to start on other rooms. 

Check that off the list

What a bust this weekend was.  On Friday I woke up and had a sore throat, by Friday evening I was in bed at 7pm and was down for the count all day Saturday.  With the help of lots of rest, a few baths, lots of DayQuil and my new savious, Cool Touch Kleenex I was able to finish some projects with Jay's help. We took two trips to drop off more goodies to the warehouse.  

I have had this adorable green shelf for awhile but the time has come for me to pass it one to someone new. This could be yours.

 I wish I had a before of this stool. It had this horrible tapestry cushion and it was screaming to be made over. Painted it with Graphite chalk paint and added some black and white striped fabric and voila! Looks way better.

I scored this great dresser about 10 years ago - it was a yellow when I bought it, then I painted it white, then sage green then cream with a tobacco glaze.  Found these cute glass flower knobs at TJ Maxx. 

Remeber this before from the other day?

Well here she is now!  

 And her sidekick {before}

and After!!

This was the very first piece that Jay and I grabbed off of Craig's List and refinished together.  The middle piece drops down is a blanket chest I think. I just found this cool knob and we added it today. 

Employee Suggestion Box

Employee Suggestion Box 

We picked up this handmade toy box at a garage sale this summer. 

Before I bought it I already had a project in mind.

First I dry brushed three different milk paint colors.

Then I printed off the wording in the size and font that I wanted. 

Traced the words on the box and then handpainted. Let dry and then sand and wax the whole piece. 

I love it so much I am half tempted to keep it and use as my coffee table. I can always make another. This beauty will be at the Ruffles & Rust show.

Map Table

This cute little coffee table did not find a new home at the last show, so I knew I needed to revamp it a bit. 

I have been seeing a lot of decorating with maps in other blogs and catalogs.  In my newly (semi) organized craft area of the garage I have a drawer full of vintage maps. Jay and I decided to use a King County map that is pretty colorful.  We cut it to fit the top of the table. I used a mixture of glue and water and we basically mod podged it on.  We used the scraper to smooth it out and minimize the bubbling. Once it was dry Jay sprayed a clear coat on top for protection. 

Not the best after picture, I apologize.

What do you think?

Again I just LOVE it!!!

Before I sprayed it black it was red. 

Overall not bad, but I knew it could be better. 

My friend Danny cut the corks in half and I hot glued them inside and voila! A nice wine cork tray. 

This was the darling childs bookshelf that I found at a yard sale. Not bad before, but by adding the vintage sheet music in the back it just finishes the piece. 

Ready to go home with you from Monroe. 

Check back tomorrow. 
I will have some teasers for you of some fabulous finds I have that will be at the show. 
Have a good night! 

Out with the old and in with the new

Thank you Jay for my new whitebox! Here is my secret to taking my photos. 

Old whitebox:

Torn tissue paper and getting dirty on the inside 

New: 

While watching the All Blacks (Rugby) he made this. 

A fresh, clean, new whitebox. It is also taller and wider. 

I received this in the mail yesterday.  

A 16x20 canvas that I bought from Groupon. 

It turned ot wonderful.  

I plan on hanging this at the show.  Can you believe I only have 2 more weekends to finish everything!  

Before:

Jay picked up this industrial looking lamp, he had a hard time cleaning all the sticker residue. He cleaned as best he could and we decided to spraypaint the whole thing in a satin black Rustoleum Spray Paint.

After: 

Looks amazing!!