In A Blink of an Eye~

They go from being a chubby happy baby...

driving a little pink car...

to a beautiful young woman, driving a REAL car!

HAPPY 17TH BIRTHDAY,

WE LOVE YOU, AND ARE VERY PROUD OF THE YOUNG LADY YOU HAVE BECOME.

Before and After~

I recently shared our fireplace surround and entertainment center in House Tour Part 1 post.  I found some before shots I thought I would share along with how I achieved the look.

Each piece was primed with 2 coats of Glidden's Gripper primer tinted a couple shades lighter than the top coat color.

The I painted each piece with 2-3 coats of the top coat, a custom Porter Paint color.  I have the formula if anyone is interested.  It is a really rich brown/black.

I allowed each piece to dry and cure for a week (our southern humidity makes it take longer). After they were thoroughly dry, I took like sandpaper and distressed the edges and details to give it the aged affect you see.

After-Entertainment Center

Before-Entertainment Center

After-Fireplace Surround

Before-Fireplace Surround

Sorry the afters are "before",  I have been having a hard time with blogger today!

House Tour Part One~

Well, I have finally managed to take some pictures of the 1st floor of our home.  I am not the best photographer when it comes to dealing with indoor lighting, so I will apologize for the "not so great" pictures ahead of time.  Plus, it has been overcast lately making it even more difficult to capture the rooms in their best light.

First up...the recently renovated kitchen.  We changed out the countertops, from Mediterrean Blue Corian to Cocoa Brown Corian, added new subway tile,new under cabinet lighting, a fresh coat of paint on the cabinets, walls and ceilings, antiqued the island, and changed out a few accessories.  We are really loving the new look.  A little bit more contemporary than the French Country look we did have (picture blues, reds, golds with a toile motif), but yet with a little bit of that Southern touch.

Next up, the family room.  This is where we spend most of our time.  Within the last year we painted the fireplace surround and entertainment center a rich chocolate brown and then distressed it.  Recently we painted the walls and ceilings.  Wow, what a difference painted ceilings make.  Now everyone notices all the beautiful crown moldings we have!  I then added my favorite Southern Living At Home and Potterybarn accents.  I am loving the color combo of the rich chocolate with the red and aqua blue.

Next up, the dining room...we purchased the table, buffet and wine bar about two years ago.  The chairs belonged to our old dining set.  I painted them a wedgewood/slate blue, then distressed them.  I love the mismatched look.

Next we have the Living Room turned Library/Music Room...we never used this room until we added the bookshelves and the piano!  Now it is everyone's favorite place to read or play a board game.

On to the office...

And finally, the front hall and downstairs bath...

Hope you enjoyed the tour.  I hope to have pictures of the upstairs soon. We just recently finished installing new hardwood flooring in every room and the upstairs hall ourselves.  And, there's been some juggling of rooms.  Our younger daughter finally got the "big" room across the hall she has been wanting for years!  Big sis moved to her 1st apartment.  But, of course she still wants a room at home...so that meant redoing little sister's old room!  Fruit basket turnover!!