Chair Queen

I must have a fascination with chairs...everyone I see I either save from the salvage yard or find at my local Goodwill or Katy Christian Ministries store. Here's a sampling of my recent finds. Many are for sale on ebay. Check them out. I just ran across a huge Thomasville desk with cabriole legs at a local Goodwill for $70. I plan on refinishing the piece and using it in my study that currently houses an ugly, tiny little desk that I purchased at an auction more than 20 years ago. I believe it came out of a government office in DC.

Kitchen Dining Area Goes All Out!!!

Last weekend I came home with 4 dining chairs that needed some major overhauling. I loved the curvy look and just had to have them for my kitchen!!! Several of the chairs needed reinforcements which meant gluing and clamping for 48 hours. Once that was complete, I applied several coats of glossy black 'Benjamin Moore ebony' low voc paint.

I'm pleased with the work so far. I still need to reupholster the seat cushions. I found this insanely gorgeous Waverly fabric and have decided to make a matching curtain for my kitchen window, as well. (I'll show you that project next week!!)

Have a wonderful and safe Memorial Day weekend. Thank you to our troops!!!

Give Your Home Some Personality

If your home or apartment is suffering from 'identity crisis'...(you know how some neighborhoods have no personality and every house looks identical to the one next door)... here's a solution. Add a simple door sign, welcome mat or a monogrammed planter to your front porch or flower bed and...voila...everything looks better and your home stands out from all of the rest. Hint: Kirklands and Big Lots always seem to offer decorative plaques and such.

Successful Treasure Hunting this Past Weekend

The weather was unseasonably cool this past weekend so I went treasure seeking near my neighborhood and found a few items that I just couldn't pass up.

This adorable bird cage will be perfect in my sunroom and just needs a little paint touchup and that's about it...

I found four curlique dining chairs and I plan to paint them either glossy black or an antique beige/white. The lady I purchased them from said that she paid $650 a chair a little more than six years ago. What a deal... I snagged them for $20 each!!! I'll post this little project when I finish it. I definitely will need to recover the seat cushions...this country look just won't cut it!!!!

If Money Were No Object...Here's What I Would Buy!!

Nothing against generic furniture stores, but I loathe the concept of 'everything must match.' In fact, I can't imagine myself ever owning a matching sofa and loveseat and coordinating pillows!!! How BORING!!!

Even one interesting accent can mean the difference between ho-hum and wow!!!

Jubilee...I'm Cuckoo Over You

I just took an amazing stroll through one of my favorite stores in all of Houston...Jubilee in the Heights.

Nestled among antique stores, delis and shopping strips, Jubilee provides a breath of fresh air with its unique offerings. I picked up some mercury glass and a few 'whacked-out' greeting cards that I just had to have. I even know I'll be back for several chandelier wall stickers that I need for my living room walls...they are fabulous and very reasonable. A large sticker is $22, smaller ones go for $16 or so.

The beauty of this boutique lies in its eclectic taste and affordibility. Candles, clothing, jewelry, furniture and lots of bling are just a few of the things that await shoppers. I can't say enough about Jubilee...you just gotta go!!

Jubilee, 321 W. 19th Street, Houston, TX, 713-869-5885

Outdoor Decor Goes Upscale

Bless Sunbrella, Waverly and other fabric manufacturers for creating fashionable outdoor cushions, pillows, umbrellas and other accessories. What once was an overlooked area, today's outdoor patio can look as good, or even better, than indoor furnishings and accessories.

This collection of new pillows can be found at Walmart. Target, Pier 1, Lowes and Home Depot also offer a great line of outdoor accessories.