Saturday, March 31, 2018

Spring Front Porch


Hello friends!
I’ve been planning to share our Spring Porch for a couple of weeks now, but you know the saying…

Life is what happens to us while we’re making other plans…


If you follow me on Instagram, I’ve shared that I pulled a muscle in my hip a couple of weekends ago. You never know how much you use that muscle until it’s not working!!!


So, the bunny and bicycle pillow on our half decorated Spring Porch sat for a couple of weeks until I could manage to stand up long enough to add the other decorations.


Enough about that! On to the Spring Porch!

I can’t have a Spring (and Summer) porch without ferns. A little tip about ferns: 


they’re a little messy!

To take care of them, keep the soil moist and give them a good shake once a week to get the shedding leaves off. I just shake them on the porch and then blow the whole porch off. Ferns also love it if you spray them with water.
Spring Porch, pretty pillows, flowers, buffalo check pillows,   cottage, cottage style, farmhouse, farmhouse style, diyDesignFanatic.com
Mr. DIY took me to Lowe’s a few weeks ago and we brought home some Gerbera Daisies and Ranunculus. Not sure how long Ranunculus last, but I know the Gerbera Daisies will last and bloom for a couple of years in a container. Just remember to water them in the Winter!
Spring Porch, pretty pillows, flowers, buffalo check pillows,   cottage, cottage style, farmhouse, farmhouse style, diyDesignFanatic.com

Had to share a close up of these beauties! (no filter used)
Spring Porch, pretty pillows, flowers, buffalo check pillows,   cottage, cottage style, farmhouse, farmhouse style, diyDesignFanatic.com
Photo from my Instagram. Follow me HERE


Spring Porch, pretty pillows, flowers, buffalo check pillows,   cottage, cottage style, farmhouse, farmhouse style, diyDesignFanatic.com


I just love this bunny pillow I purchased on Amazon about a month ago. I found the light pink pillows on Amazon too.
Spring Porch, pretty pillows, flowers, buffalo check pillows,   cottage, cottage style, farmhouse, farmhouse style, diyDesignFanatic.com







Spring Porch, pretty pillows, flowers, buffalo check pillows,   cottage, cottage style, farmhouse, farmhouse style, diyDesignFanatic.com

Here’s a close up of the other pillow. (also purchased on Amazon)
Spring Porch, pretty pillows, flowers, buffalo check pillows,   cottage, cottage style, farmhouse, farmhouse style, diyDesignFanatic.com






Now that the weather has warmed up, we'll be spending time on the front porch right before dinner.
Spring Porch, pretty pillows, flowers, buffalo check pillows,   cottage, cottage style, farmhouse, farmhouse style, diyDesignFanatic.com

Spring Porch, pretty pillows, flowers, buffalo check pillows,   cottage, cottage style, farmhouse, farmhouse style, diyDesignFanatic.com


Thanks for stopping by and Happy Easter!

Pam

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Fabulous Farmhouse Finds Found On Amazon

diy Design Fanatic participates in Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program which provides a way for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. com. We also have other affiliate links, as well. When you purchase through our affiliate links it doesn't cost you a penny more and any commissions help with our expenses, so Thank You in advance!


I love Amazon.com and Amazon Prime- I'm definitely hooked!
Amazon is so convenient with Prime’s 2 day delivery and sometimes even 1 day is offered. In some markets you have the choice of 2 hour service and now Amazon is trying out grocery delivery. I’m not convinced about that yet; we’ll see.  But, Amazon  has saved me so many trips around town in the past several years. I’ve ordered things for my daughter who lives across the country. I’ve ordered a lot of things when I’m not able to drive.  If Amazon had been available when I had kids, it would have saved me the time and hassle of packing up kids and heading off to search for a certain item.
A few years ago, I realized Amazon  offered  lighting and other reno supplies, and I ordered  a few for the reno for our mountain cottage.


Amazon carries a wide arrange  of  decorative Farmhouse accessories, as well.
Wreaths, signs, pillow covers, rugs, trays, clocks and galvanized tubs, to name a few
I’ve chosen some of my favorites down below with links – just in case you like them too.
fabulous farmhouse finds found on Amazon, farmhouse, farmhouse style, cottage, cottage style, diyDesignFanatic.com


Click on the pic and it will take you to the Amazon link.
I’ve ordered these black and off white Buffalo Check pillows and the quality is really good.
fabulous farmhouse finds found on Amazon, farmhouse, farmhouse style, cottage, cottage style, diyDesignFanatic.com

They’re also available in a variety of colors and beige is quite popular
  fabulous farmhouse finds found on Amazon, farmhouse, farmhouse style, cottage, cottage style, diyDesignFanatic.com

There are a lot of great accent pillow covers on Amazon, as well.
fabulous farmhouse finds found on Amazon, farmhouse, farmhouse style, cottage, cottage style, diyDesignFanatic.com


These scales are very popular on Pinterest and Instagram
fabulous farmhouse finds found on Amazon, farmhouse, farmhouse style, cottage, cottage style, diyDesignFanatic.com


There are also lots of galvanized items
fabulous farmhouse finds found on Amazon, farmhouse, farmhouse style, cottage, cottage style, diyDesignFanatic.com



fabulous farmhouse finds found on Amazon, farmhouse, farmhouse style, cottage, cottage style, diyDesignFanatic.com








fabulous farmhouse finds found on Amazon, farmhouse, farmhouse style, cottage, cottage style, diyDesignFanatic.com



Lots of pretty wreaths and faux florals too.
fabulous farmhouse finds found on Amazon, farmhouse, farmhouse style, cottage, cottage style, diyDesignFanatic.com

fabulous farmhouse finds found on Amazon, farmhouse, farmhouse style, cottage, cottage style, diyDesignFanatic.com


and the ever popular cotton wreath…
fabulous farmhouse finds found on Amazon, farmhouse, farmhouse style, cottage, cottage style, diyDesignFanatic.com


And oh, so many cute signs!

fabulous farmhouse finds found on Amazon, farmhouse, farmhouse style, cottage, cottage style, diyDesignFanatic.com



fabulous farmhouse finds found on Amazon, farmhouse, farmhouse style, cottage, cottage style, diyDesignFanatic.com


and lots of farmhouse accessories
fabulous farmhouse finds found on Amazon, farmhouse, farmhouse style, cottage, cottage style, diyDesignFanatic.com


This clock is a great price – I just might order one!
fabulous farmhouse finds found on Amazon, farmhouse, farmhouse style, cottage, cottage style, diyDesignFanatic.com

and finally: rugs! Amazon has a great selection of rugs that would look great in any decor!
fabulous farmhouse finds found on Amazon, farmhouse, farmhouse style, cottage, cottage style, diyDesignFanatic.com




I covered farmhouse chandeliers in another post – you can see it HERE.
farmhouse style chandeliers found on Amazon, farmhouse, farmhouse style, cottage, cottage style, diyDesignFanatic.com


I hope you enjoyed these fabulous farmhouse finds as much as I did!

Pam


Friday, March 2, 2018

Painting A Framed Chalkboard

*This post contains affiliate links

Hello Friends!
You know when you’ve had a project in mind for a long time and every time you walk by 
it speaks to you? Maybe it’s just me.

This is one of those projects.
I really wanted a framed, distressed white chalkboard ever sine I found a fancy framed mirror on Craigslist, way back when. 
Well, I finally got around to painting it white.
how to distress a framed chalkboard, framed chalkboard, distressed white chalkboard, cottage, cottages style, farmhouse, farmhouse style, diyDesignFanatic.com



This is how it looked before. I bought it before gold was back in vogue. I've always loved gold, but felt the gold was a little too brassy.

But, I left it. Every time I walked by it or took a photo of it, the words “this would look so much better painted white” would come to mind.
how to distress a framed chalkboard, framed chalkboard, distressed white chalkboard, cottage, cottages style, farmhouse, farmhouse style, diyDesignFanatic.com



So, a couple of weeks ago, I had Mr. DIY move the chalkboard to the dining room talbe on top of a drop cloth I went outside to get my Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and supplies. I thought I had an off white ASCP, but it was bright white. I thought I had painted some candlesticks with the ASCP, but if I had checked my blog, I would have found out that I painted those candlesticks with craft paint. 

Hmmm. I got online to order some chalk paint and found Rustoleum has a chalked paint now and I though I’d try it.  Do It Best had some listed online for $10.99 a quart. I thought it was a typo, since everyone else had it for $16.98 or more. I ordered some and had it delivered to my nearest Ace Hardware to save on shipping. I think Do It Best caught their mistake because it’s now listed for $18.99, which is still a great price!
I ordered white linen, thinking it would be a nice off white, but it was white. I decided to go ahead and paint it anyway.
Taking out the chalkboard panel was too much trouble, so I taped it up with some recycled paper from a shipping box.
how to distress a framed chalkboard, framed chalkboard, distressed white chalkboard, cottage, cottages style, farmhouse, farmhouse style, diyDesignFanatic.com


 
After painting the frame with one coat, I decided to paint a second coat because some of the gold still showed through. 
how to distress a framed chalkboard, framed chalkboard, distressed white chalkboard, cottage, cottages style, farmhouse, farmhouse style, diyDesignFanatic.com




I didn't have any dark wax, and that wasn't really the look I wanted, so I used some Minwax Provincial stain mixed with Rustoleum's Driftwood stain. I wanted an old, painted and distressed kind of look. If you want a fancy, really beautiful heirloom look- this isn't it. For that look, see the Annie Sloan website for how to achieve different finished. 
I wanted an old, I've been painted a few times and worn, imperfect kind of look. The stain was sufficient to achieve what I wanted.
how to distress a framed chalkboard, framed chalkboard, distressed white chalkboard, cottage, cottages style, farmhouse, farmhouse style, diyDesignFanatic.com




Then, I used a dry brush technique over the stain with the chalk paint.
how to distress a framed chalkboard, framed chalkboard, distressed white chalkboard, cottage, cottages style, farmhouse, farmhouse style, diyDesignFanatic.com


After that, I sanded some of the edges to expose the gold finishe. I used a flexible sanding block to do this.
how to distress a framed chalkboard, framed chalkboard, distressed white chalkboard, cottage, cottages style, farmhouse, farmhouse style, diyDesignFanatic.com


how to distress a framed chalkboard, framed chalkboard, distressed white chalkboard, cottage, cottages style, farmhouse, farmhouse style, diyDesignFanatic.com



Here's how the mirror looks now:
how to distress a framed chalkboard, framed chalkboard, distressed white chalkboard, cottage, cottages style, farmhouse, farmhouse style, diyDesignFanatic.com



how to distress a framed chalkboard, framed chalkboard, distressed white chalkboard, cottage, cottages style, farmhouse, farmhouse style, diyDesignFanatic.com

 

A slightly darker wall color (it's on the project list), will make the distressed painted chalkboard really stand out.
how to distress a framed chalkboard, framed chalkboard, distressed white chalkboard, cottage, cottages style, farmhouse, farmhouse style, diyDesignFanatic.com



And you know every time I walk past the foyer, I’ll be thinking we need to paint it!


The projects never end!

Pam

You can see how we changed our Craigslist find mirror into a chalkboard HERE.

If you'd like to see how I gave the candlestick a paint makeover, you can find it HERE.


*affiliate links mean that I'll make a small commission on a product should you purchase through one of the links on my page.