Projects Galore

I've got so many projects in the works right now but haven't actually finished anything for a while, but I thought it was about time I updated. Here's what I've been up to:

I carried this credenza up three flights of stairs by myself the other day and now it's finally in the living room where it belongs! I picked it up after seeing it listed on craigslist, and have every intention of painting it eventually, but for now, I don't think it looks bad at all. And it's so much better than what we had the tv on before. [Don't mind the dust!]

Right now, I've got two of these chairs in the kitchen, where they are drying after a coat of primer, while the other two wait outside on the deck. Wanna know why? Because they smell, and they are sticky. I know primer should cover up most of the smell, but what do I do about those seats? Put a clear coat of paint over them and recover them?? Suggestions, please! I love the lines of the chairs and want to paint them green, with fun blue patterned seats.

I think I picked the perfect time to work on these projects because I've got tomorrow and Friday off from work and we'll be snowed in!

Naked Patio Furniture

I spent the last couple of weeks housesitting for my uncle about 20 minutes away from my apartment. While I was there, I saw a few listings on craigslist for free furniture right down the street from my apartment! What a bummer. However, on the very last day of watching my uncle's house, I happened to see some free, cushion-less patio furniture listed--and when I mapquested the lister's location, I was thrilled to see that it was only 6 minutes away!

To be honest, I drove there hoping to pick up one of the small tables they'd listed. But when I arrived, those tables were gone, and the patio furniture frames were so much nicer than I'd expected them to be. I started loading the pair of chairs into the Party Van, and then got talked into taking the loveseat as well, although I have no idea how I'll ever get all three to work on the tiny decks in our apartment. For now, the two chairs are stacked together, and then set across the top of the loveseat.

So now that you have an idea of what the bones look like, do you have any suggestions for what I should do with them? I don't want to give in and buy generic WalMart cushions that everyone else will have. I imagine my sister and I will have to cut some foam pads down to size, and then fit them with indoor-outdoor fabric. Will that work best? Should I try one of those laminated fabrics? Does anyone know if a crib mattress will fit the loveseat?? I'm so open to suggestions over here, it's unreal. Thanks, everyone!

Belated Thrifty Thursday

Don't you just love a good trip to the thrift shop? I do. Last week, my sister and I got together to hit up Goodwill and the Hobby Lobby next door to it. We went in looking for small furniture, kitchen items, and home decor for her future apartment, so of course, she walked out of Goodwill with one glass and one picture frame, and I left with seven glasses--a set of four tiny, greenish-blue wine goblets which Kat originally spotted, two yellow highball glasses, and a whiskey glass etched with the word 'BOCADILLOS.'

In case you don't know, and most people probably don't, bocadillos are simple but tasty sandwiches served at bars and cafes in Spain. I studied abroad in Madrid four years ago, and the omelette and green pepper bocadillo became my everyday lunch, consumed between classes at the Complu. What this glass was doing in a Kansas Goodwill is beyond me, but I knew that I had to have it. 

So now my collection of colorful glassware is further expanded! I know I've jumped wholeheartedly onto the bandwagon since reading that House Beautiful article, but I'm not worried about it at all... because you know who else is on that bandwagon? Macy's. They're selling this set of four faux vintage glasses for $36! And that's the sale price! I got mine for a dollar each at Goodwill. I call that a deal.