FFA Challenge #1

So, Mandi over at Vintage Revivals has started a club. The FFA is "Fearlessly Finding Awesome". This is not a "clubby" club, we won't be raving into the wee hours, sucking on pacifiers and dancing to trance music...or will we? Nope, this is about being fearless in your home. Fearless in decor, challenging you to make your space more "your space" and less like everything we see online or in magazines. First challenge is to Catch a Dream or to define your style "FEELING". Not with the traditional decor words but how you want your home to FEEL. What makes you, you? You know?

So in answering that, I think we all want our homes to feel and look like US. As in, your new friend walks into your home for the first time and says "OMG, this is exactly what I thought your house would look like. It's sooooo you!" To say I am outgoing is a bit of an understatement. I'm totally THAT girl. I've been described as too loud, too funny, too much my whole life. Now, translating that personality into a home could possibly make my place feel like Ringling Brothers had decorated it but there are other things about my personality that I do want to bring into my house. I am very maternal. I love being a mother and I love that my house is that house. The one where the boys' friends come and hang and feel comfortable. I like worn, comfy looking things that I don't have to shriek over. I have never yelled "Do not put your feet on that!". I am funny. Irreverant actually and I say exactly what's on my mind about 99% of the time. In my design style, I'd like more whimsy, humour and things that make you stop, look and laugh. You may have figured out that I love water. Duh. I'd like people to walk into my home and be reminded of beach days or a summer cottage trip. Not that I'm into stringing fishing nets from the ceiling (that makes us mermaids nervous) but I want that vibe. I love, love, love to entertain. I'd like for my guests and family to feel welcome. WELCOME. Open spaces, fun decor, colour and a beachy vibe. Comfortable, hey you - put your feet up....or help me make the margaritas kinda thing. What can I getcha?

Countertops and Dust Rhinos

 

After a week of 80 degree days all week, we got a yuk weekend of drizzle, clouds and cold temperatures. Sounds like a drag, right? No way! How do you create your own fun at home with the DH? You paint your kitchen counters. You KNOW he was excited. 

You may remember the green countertops bane of my existence that are on every vanity and kitchen surface in my home. Well, I’ve been here for almost 7 years and it is time to banish the Leprechaun from Casa Dharma. Don’t you just love the scroll design on the green? Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh.

I also had been drooling over the tutorial from Jenna at SAS Interiors. Her tips came in mighty handy!! Her product kit and mine differ because we have a different option up here in Canada but the tips and tricks were priceless. Here is my kit, the Countertop Refinishing Kit. The one Jenna used was a Countertop Transformations Kit. That kit costs $249 CAD.So when I saw a deal on at my local Home Hardware from $199 to $149 CAD, I said “Self, get thee to HH.” This kit is enough to cover 50 sq ft. My kitchen counters measured 43 sq ft. Here is where you hope the manufacturer
is not pulling your chain!

I chose to use the black finish to match the almost-stainless appliances and my new greige hoodfan. Here is
where we started on Saturday at 9 a.m.

No one could have prepared me for the ICK-Factor during the removal of my appliances. Um, note to self. Do that more than once every couple years, yo! Bunnies, meet dust-rhinos.

There is a major investment of time and inconvenience involved in this project. I don’t suggest this one for anyone with little patience or little kids. Kidding….but not about the patience part. Oy vey. There are a lot of steps, mucho drying time stops and starts and it is picky-picky. However, that being said, if I can do it. You can do it.

First up, clean, tape, protect cabinets and sinks etc.  Then onto scuff/sand your surface area.

Then it is on to the base coat. Dry. Second base coat. Dry. Now 3pm.

Then it is time to put on your stonecoat finish. This is messy and does not look so hot. Hang in there.

Second coat on at 7pm. That’s looking better, right?

Annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnddddddddddddddd…………………….now we dry. Overnight.

Wake up at 8:10 a.m. and stumble downstairs. Thank all that is holy for a man who makes coffee in the morning. Get yourself together, Dharma and start sanding the surface of your new stonecoated countertops, cause that sounds fun on a Sunday before noon, right? Right? This was my idea. Sand.

The stone flecks in the paint are exposed and they range in colour and size. The effect is pretty realistic really. I was a bit surprised how good it looked.

Now the fun part. Clear coat, dry, clear coat and leave it alone for 24 hours. Order Chinese food

We decided to put the appliances back before the end of the day. Here is a bit of a sneak peek. We have paint touchups and silicone to complete tomorrow. Then back to reloading my kitchen with crap.

A reminder of our Before and After:

And I’m dust rhino free to boot, I won’t have to clean under the appliances for another 4 years.

It’s Saturday night…..what are you doing?

This chic is knee deep in stonecoat covering the bane of my existence. We all know that it’s not easy being green.

Be back soon. Back in Black

Break out the SPF! What?

It is the first day of Spring today and it is over 75 degrees up here in the wilds of the Canadian north....

What. the. H.E. double-hockey-sticks?

I started my spring cleaning last night. I have 4 levels in my house and I am committed to doing one level a night and then doing my groceries on Friday after work. Peeps, we don't get weather like this often and I am not letting a potential weekend of it go by unused :)

So....should the weather hold, my house will be clean, my laundry is caught up and my home will be stocked with food & drink.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Source: google.ca via Dharma on Pinterest

Happy Birthday Sista!

Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day. For most of you it will be a day of clovers, green T-shirts that are celebration-appropriate and possibly a lime green beverage.

For me St. Patty's is and always has been a special day. Not just because somewhere along the immigration line, I had an Irish ancestor or two but because it is my baby sister's birthday.

Babies, this year is a milestone. This year my wee sis turns the big 4 and 0.

How did we get from this?

All the way to this?

Anyhoo....we shall be going out in great style, dressed to our 9s and dancing the 40s in all night long. I can't wait to have an evening out with her and our bestest girls.

Happy Birthday Jules. You make my whole world funnier, better and just the right amount weirder.

Grey, gray or greige?

Have you ever had or do you currently have one of these? Or something similar? I think I put up evidence of this in a post from last year.

You know the one thing that does not go with your faux-stainless steel appliances that you got on sale as floor models? Right. Well, I do. I call him Hank. As in Mr. Hanky. As in gross.

I have thought about begged for an OVR microwave. $400. I have thought about dreamed of switching out this hood for a stainless one but as aforementioned, my appliances aren’t exactly stainless either. $250 for something that will not go….what is a girl to do? I know.

When the going gets tough, the tough IMPROVISE. Or Disaster DIY….

Have you pitched a tent or are you just happy to see me….Hank?

Well, I did manage to find some Rustoleum “Hammered Metal” in stainless but the darn trigger gave up….it was back to the paint stash. Quinn did give his feelings on the whole “We can’t use the “heavy metal” paint son.” issue.

But…after consulting the stash, we did find a water based latex spray that may or may not endure. We shall see. Grey, gray or greige. You decide. Krylon has yet to let me down. Yet.

Alright Mama! Bust this sucka out! See my cheering section? LOL

Ummmmmmmmmmmmm…….does this look spotty to anyone else? Where is my brush?
Remember sweep with fine spray strokes. Sweep! Sweep hard!!!!!! (Canadian curling joke)

………………..DRUMROLL PLS……………………………………………………………

Seven years. Seven years I have lived with Hank. Hank is now gone, I christen thee, Hansel the Handsome. I’m just hoping Hansel lasts until I get my dream appliances. Hey, a girl can dream.

I’m gonna link this up to a few paint parties through the week, I’ll be posting links as I do

Thanks for diving in at the Mermaid,

Dharma

Linking up to: Thrifty Decor Chick's Spraypaint Party

Thing that make you go Mmmmmm-hmm!

I love the new issue of Lonnymag! Just out for March/ April 2012, there is a new feel for me to the e-zine. It's a bit, if I may say, more luxurious and less DIY. Not that I hope that is the driven direction of Lonnymag from here on in...I do have a budget, dear ones. But like I do with Veranda, I enjoy to float out above my suburban yawn-inspiring decor every once in a while and see something spectacular!!!

I am loving these bohemian, tajmahal, very-L.A. drenched spaces that come from the castles of dessert sheiks or from the hilltop mansions of 1950s-era mavens of the silver screen. Or at least, that's my fantasy. Do you like to only look at "attainable home decor and/or DIY" or do you dream big and become inspired from larger-than-life motifs and design like this? Or does this make you want to hurl?

Source: lonnymag.com via Dharma on Pinterest

Imagine being 2 little girls and sleeping over night in the above room.

Source: lonnymag.com via Dharma on Pinterest

Behold! The largest chandelier I have ever ding-dang seen! LOL The scale of the art and the ceiling medallion in this room blows my mind.