Room makeover in progress!

By Chelsea



Hi guys! I have GOT to share this note I received from my grandma yesterday, following my previous post, (which you'll need to read to understand):

"Chelsea, the only time cows stay out late (all night) is in the summer when its warm.  The cows come home around 4:30 PM. cause they get full, if u get my drift!!!  Gm L"

My grandma grew up on a farm; I just love when she shares little tid-bits like that. Isn't she hilarious?!? I love you, Gm L. :)

Today is just a quick pop-in to fill you in on some exciting things going on here! I have a bad habit, as a blogger, of not sharing things I'm working on until they're already finished and I'm able to share the oh-so-dramatic 'after' photos. But as a blog reader myself, I genuinely enjoy hearing what some of my fellow DIYers are up to, even if they're just in the beginning stages of a project. Even ideas are fun to read! 

So, that being said, there are some really fantastic projects going on right now - not just for Chelsea's Garage, but for One Kings Lane, (again!), POPSUGAR Home, (BTW, thank you guys for selecting me as your home blogger of the week over there! Check them out here and find more talented and creative bloggers), and a handful of clients. One near and dear 'client', in particular, who's project I'd like to share with you today: my Mom! 

Cate, (my friend, SIL, and clever guest poster here on CG), and I have been in cahoots planning the makeover of a guest room in my parents' new home.

Current room:

My Mom's style is so much cooler than mine. I'd describe it as very laid back and relaxed, but nowhere close to boring. She mixes raw, natural elements with funky, industrial pieces. And she's really good at adding a small dash of unexpected whim to keep things interesting and to prevent a room from feeling too serious. The coolest things in my wardrobe have come from her and my favorite elements in my home are inspired by her. 

After Cate and I had a chance to hear some of my Mom's hopes and desires for the room, we've come up with a key check list:

-Keep the Queen bed, (rather than replace it with a King), but make the bed appear larger in the room. Hard to tell from this photo, but it is a rather large room. The room could easily handle a King, but why replace a perfectly good bed in excellent condition unnecessarily? The Queen stays, but make it appear larger than it is.

-Find a storage piece that can also be used for the TV. It's just a small box TV with a VCR, (what's that?), and the only three guests that would happen to use it, (until there are others), are my little ones. But, my Mom loves putting a little video on for the kids up in that room when they're having trouble calming down for a nap. It's a nice room where all three of them can relax on the bed and at least have some quiet time, if not a nap, when we're all over there visiting for an extended period of time. The piece also needs to have a decent amount of storage, be high enough to watch the TV from the bed, and not be so bulky that it's difficult to walk around.

-Design the room around this piece of art which my Mom picked out at HomeGoods. Isn't it gorgeous?! It'll go right above the bed and serve as a central focal point for the room. This painting is our inspiration as we collect ideas for bedding, lighting, floor coverings, furniture, everything. How fun is that!!

-Comfortable seating area for guests to read, take a nap, feed a baby, (my Mom quite adores her grand-babies), or just kick-back, (while perhaps watching, yet again, the animated Robin Hood with the kids).

Those cover some of the main elements that Cate and I have been tackling and we are so excited about a few ideas that are both imaginative and stunning. Rather than wait until the room is completely done, I'm going to do my very best to take lots of photos of the room as it transforms and keep you updated on the progress. 

Now, should we try to keep my Mom out of the room until it's completely finished, (after the painting is done)? I vote YES!!

Thank you for stopping by!

~Chelsea

Garage Sale Peek-A-Week #1 (plus, what's got us screaming with joy)

By Chelsea

Hi friends! These were taken earlier today...

...moments after our first Yard Sale sign spotting of the season. :)

Are you feelin' it, too? Shire sure is! The future love of her life is going to have to make a hard decision at some point: Either find a hobby of their own on Saturday mornings in the Spring and Summer, or embrace hers and join along. This girl can yard sale til the cows come home, (whatever that means. Do cows stay out late and break curfew?)

Back to reality. There are less than 6 weeks until the June 7 garage sale! Cate and I are super excited and working hard to bring a fantastic collection of pieces. I thought it might be fun to share with you a peek-a-week of a piece I'll be selling on June 7! With only so many weeks between now and then I won't be sharing everything, but enough to prove it'll totally be worth your time to stop by! I'm even planning to pull out my paint, brushes, and a few spare pieces to offer on-going chalk-paint demos! It'll be a fun time, for sure.

Peek-A-Week #1

Custom aqua nesting tables w/ gold-dipped legs

If you follow me on Facebook you might recognize these!

I loved these as-is, but the rattan was faded with water marks on so many spots on the top. Since I couldn't decide on what color to paint them I put it to a vote between Duck Egg blue, Paris Grey, or Old White. Although Duck Egg won the votes, I decided to tone it down a bit and mixed 1 part Duck Egg with 3 parts Old White. I LOVE this mix! So subtle but with a hint of fun.

Find this and other one-of-a-kind pieces at the market!

Saturday, June 7

9am - 3pm

My garage! Located in Herndon, VA, email me for address.

No cost to get in

Refreshments available, as always!

Thank you so much for stopping by!

~Chelsea

Time away and upcoming fun!

By Chelsea



Hi friends! It's been a while, eh?! So grateful for some time away over these last couple weeks. And especially thankful for a beautifully creative friend and sister-in-law who shared her genius ideas with all of us while I was away! Just in case you missed them, you can see Cate's latest ventures here, here, and here.

Two weeks ago Matt and I packed up the van, loaded the kids and drove 17 hours down to sunny Florida to visit my in-laws. The time away spent relaxing and playing with my family was worth every minute of the drive. But still, I want to kiss the person who invented portable DVD players on the lips. On. The. Lips.

Here are some highlights from our vacation!

The water; I have a hunch our kids may be part fish.

Helping Nana with everything!

Catching beasts, (aka bass), in the canal behind the house.

Sunset beach date with my Matt

Watching this little love, who doesn't care for the sand, 

be brave and make the most of our time at the beach.

It was wonderful. Praising Jesus for blessing us with a vacation. What a treat! 

And while we were away I got an email from an Apartment Therapy photographer who was interested in shooting our house for the site! The only time that worked for both of us happened to be a day and a half after we got home. Whaaaaat?! It was almost a "Check please!" moment. But, Natalie, the photographer, was so kind and definitely helped ease my nerves about having the kids around, getting the house ready, etc. It was a push for sure, but Matt and I were able to use that short time to get the house cleaned and camera ready. What an honor to have our home featured on such an inspirational source! I can't wait to see it! Once it's up on their site I'll link up here on the blog so you can check it out!

Natalie was truly awesome. She showed the kids the camera and even let them take a few pictures!

Coming up; an exciting announcement from Cate and me that local friends won't want to miss! Hint, keep June 7th open.

Thanks for stopping by!

~Chelsea

First piece of Spring!

By Chelsea



Hello there! Three days ago I was looking at the weekend ahead with a pit in my stomach. None of us could walk through the garage, that's how full it was. Saturday morning Matt and I got our kids, (who have kind of become wild animals throughout this fierce winter), outside to do their thing, and we tackled the garage. One mound was a trash pile. The other a donation pile. Here are a few words I would use to describe our garage-clearing experience: Invigorating. Cleansing. Therapeutic. Rejuvenating. Terrifying. (every time I went to pick up a bag or towel or move something that hadn't been moved in months, I was sure I'd see a dead animal. Or worse, a living one). Romantic. (hey, watching my man lift heavy stuff is never a bad thing).

So, when I got to drive the van jam-packed with stuff to donate to the thrift store, I couldn't help stepping inside to check out what they had in the furniture section. I mean, we had just cleared TONS of room, so why not, right?!

True as it may be that I was probably not the right one to go to the thrift store, (especially with all the new space in our garage), I really could not pass up this beauty. Thankfully, Matt agreed!

First piece of the Spring season! 

I have a lot riding on this piece, not least of which is a better mood!

Hello rocker-chic hardware!

So, I'm starting on the piece this week. Old White with light distressing, original hardware. Dimensions are 47.5"L x 30"H x 17.75"D. If you have any interest at all please contact me ASAP at chelseasgarage@gmail.com. Finished pictures will be up when it's done! 

And just so you don't miss it, our beautiful Cate, (SIL, just married my brother, incredibly talented DIYer), will be stopping by soon to share some of the amazing projects she's been working on over the past few months. Stay tuned!

Thank you so much for stopping by!

~Chelsea 

Pretty succulent centerpiece

By Chelsea

January 28, 2013

What a difference a year makes! We had daffodils popping up in our garden due to the mild temps, so we transplanted the bulbs and brought them in to unleash. Definitely no daffodils trying to emerge this year...

But we're not without any popping fresh greens, either.

During a quick trip to Home Depot with my littles, (and my Mom!), we picked up 3 different real succulents, (because the fake ones are over 3 times the price)! 

These three ranged from $1.99 - $3.99ea.

I did a bit of research beforehand to learn how to take care of succulents. They like dry soil, sun, and do well in a shallow dish. I wanted to use a pretty green glass bowl I found at the thrift store a while back, but since it doesn't have holes for drainage I poured some rocks in first so the soil could sit on top of those, allowing water to drain into the rocks.

I had plenty of help ;) And I scooped a couple handfuls of rocks out after this picture. That was too many - I really just wanted a couple layers of rocks.

Then I added soil on top of the rocks

I dug three shallow holes and stuck the plants in. I haven't watered once, and it's been a week! I read that in the winter they go dormant, so they only need water 1-2 times a month. I don't know how I feel about that but I will trust those who know (wayyyyyy) more than me!

I love how this centerpiece turned out but only time will tell if it was successful! Anyone green thumbs out there have any suggestions to keep these babies happy?

Thanks for reading!

~Chelsea

Beautiful piece available for custom order!

By Chelsea

Hello, hello! I've got an awesome piece to show you today; one which we, (as in my Matt), braved icy sidewalks and steps to pick-up because it was just too good to let slip between our fingers. But we got it, it's here, and it's ready for a fresh makeover!

This lovely is sturdy as can be and measures at 62"L x 30.25"H x 17.75"D

The bamboo detail along the edges of the body and drawers make this one so interesting! 

I've never seen anything like it before and can't wait to get to work!

Price to refinish is $450.

If you are interested and have any questions at all please don't hesitate to ask! 

If I don't get any takers by Monday February 3, I will do my own thing with it. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

~Chelsea

Pin thin {Pinning only what truly inspires me}

By Chelsea

Hi guys! As we embark on a new year with new goals and ambitions, I think this is also a good time to address our old ones. I don't know how many of you use Pinterest, but I started an account a few years ago...and didn't use it for a long time. Just this past year did I start pinning ideas here and there. It's a great resource for saving ideas, but for me personally, I like to 'pin thin'. I don't typically pin anything to my personal boards that I don't plan to use, do, make, or at least seriously consider. I do keep boards with project ideas for other people and those tend to fill up fast, but for the most part I prefer to pin with care. The images below are of a few ideas I pinned followed by my version. **Sorry - my photos are all taken with my phone camera....which is all about to change. Thank you, Matt!!! :)

Pinned

My version

To keep our entry way functional with three little ones, I found this vintage red toolbox to use as a bench for pulling shoes on and off! The art I made myself, (but am thinking of redoing in some sort of ombre), and with a woodsy back yard I always have fresh green branches I can pull in!

Pinned

My version

I pinned the dresser transformation above a long time before I got to try it myself. Finally, the right client came along who wanted a media console with lots of storage and room for the media boxes. When I showed her my pinned inspiration above, she loved it! After she chose a paint color I replicated this version to her specifications.

Horrible garage photo, but this was once the hardware was finally decided, ordered, and attached. We loaded it up to make the delivery right after this shot! (Is it just me or do I look like a hologram?)

Pinned

My version

So, I didn't actually make this table, (the Garner Extension table from World Market), but when I showed it to my husband he liked it so much that we decided to sell our old handed down set and purchase our first dining table and chairs.

Have you replicated any of your own saved inspirations recently, (Pinterest or elsewhere)? If so, feel free to share! I love seeing your creative handy work!

Thank you so much for coming by!

~Chelsea

Lessons and stats of 2013

Posted by Chelsea


Happy New Years to you! No matter what's behind you in 2013, I wish you all a refreshed sense of joy and peace looking ahead at the new year before us. I wonder how long it will take me this year to get used to writing 2014. That's always a fun adjustment...

I wasn't planning to write today, but for the fun of it I was looking back through my archives to see what my first post was in 2013, and was surprised to see that I posted on January 1, 2013! It was a reflection on the 2012 year, (you can read it here if you'd like). This blog has become so much more than Before & Afters of refinished furniture pieces. It's become a sort of window into my life with my family, thought processes of fresh ideas, new discoveries of painting techniques and products, inventive home decorating tricks, and even a place I have felt comfortable opening up about my experience raising my three little ones at home and balancing that, my favorite job, with my other job - Chelsea's Garage!

And on that note I will be completely honest with you, as I always am; 2013 was hard for me. It beat me down. Chelsea's Garage picked up tremendously this past year - both my business and this blog. Growth is like a rose with thorns. It's a beautiful thing, but comes with unexpected challenges. So, at the same time that this business was more than tripling itself from the year prior, our children got older, (the nerve of them)! For the bulk of the year, we had two 3yr olds and a 2yr old. I think if my husband and I could survive that, we can do anything together, (I'll probably be laughing at that statement when they're all teenagers).

Since our twins are October birthdays and will be older for their grade, last fall I thought I would try to homeschool them in preschool for this school year before sending them to public school next year. Oh baby. No sooner had I begun the homeschooling than when the palpitations started in my heart. 6 weeks later I was meeting with a highly recommended cardiologist and getting a handful of tests done. And I've got nothing to show from the tests, thankfully, except a pretty fresh perspective on the priorities in my life.

I quit homeschooling and I can't tell you how happy I am to admit that, because the tail two months of 2013 were our best. I gave myself back to my kids and reclaimed a gift I didn't realize I had. Time. The twins will be starting preschool in the fall, leaving me a few days a week for the first time in their 5 years of life. Never again after that will I have these three little people home with me all the time at the same time. So we're just going to have fun and make the most of our time together. That's the new plan until preschool starts next fall.

With the plate of my life becoming substantially fuller over 2013, I learned a few lessons over the year that I'm grateful to share, (for anyone still reading):

Lessons of 2013

~Say yes to my family more. I had the honor of responding to quite a few emails this past year asking for advice on starting a furniture refinishing business. One thing I always stress is that much of this business is spent on the computer. How else will my furniture sell if I am not being proactive in editing photos, writing descriptions, getting them up in various online selling forums, and then responding to all the inquiries?! It's how my business moves. But, it is extremely time consuming! I was getting so angry with myself every time I uttered the words, "Not right now, sweetie" to any of my kids when they asked me to do something with them. So, enough of that. This girl is closing her computer more and getting some real face time with those sweeties. 

~Choose my jobs wisely. Just because a custom order may pay well does not mean it is worth it. In fact, looking back over 2013, I think I turned down a total of about $2,500 worth of work that I just didn't feel good about. Whether a job was just extremely involved to the point where I could not handle it and my kids, or because I didn't think I was the right person for the particular request, learning to 'pass' was a wonderful lesson. It's grown me as an artist and has helped me zero in on what actually makes me unique from anyone else who refinishes furniture.

~Stay true to my style. When I look back on all the pieces I did in years prior to 2013, the styles really range. I was very experimental when I first started refinishing furniture - which was extremely fun! But I really hit a groove this past year and found a niche. Not too sweet, not too feminine, and a little edgy. That's me in a nutshell. Each piece is a reflection of who I am, for better or worse. After I refinished this piece, I had someone email me saying they had been looking for something exactly like that for their dining room, but didn't care for the rustic style and asked if I would repaint it. I declined because I loved it as is. It was exactly what I wanted it to be and knew that if no one claimed it, it would be a piece I'd hold onto for our home. A week later it sold to a young couple living in Washington D.C. 

~There is peace with Jesus. This was a very un-peaceful year for me, until the end. I was working so hard. At everything. I like to work hard, I really do. I'm not trying to brag, I just really like it, (However, I am not a perfectionist and am choosey about what I'll work hard at. For instance, I do need to work at cleaning my house more). Anyways, I found myself juggling a lot of balls at one point and learned that I'm no juggler. I wasn't sleeping and my heart kept racing like it does when I ride roller coasters. Enough was enough. I started spending more intentional time with the Lord in the mornings and writing in my journal again. And there was the peace. I asked and He answered. 

To close out my first post of 2014, 

here are some fun stats I found from the past year!

-A whopping 34 pieces from this past year sold to young residents living in the heart of Washington D.C. I may never live my dream of residing in a big city, but I love knowing that there are little pieces of 'me' all over one.

-This piece was the most frequently viewed on the blog, (post here):

-This post I wrote last Spring about my favorite outdoor Ikea pieces received the most hits in 2013. The images at the end of our Ikea decked deck have made a splash on Pinterest! Go Ikea!

-This paper wreath tutorial is not only the most pinned image from Chelsea's Garage, it was one of the most pinned/repinned paper wreath tutorials on Pinterest. Thanks to Tom Clancy's Patriot Games and Nicholas Sparks' Message in a Bottle for the paper.:)

Thank you all for being a precious part of Chelsea's Garage. Every hit means a lot and I'm so grateful for you. Looking forward to taking the lessons learned from 2013 and applying them to 2014!

~Chelsea

Friday Love {SALES}

This photo is AWESOME! Chick with the pink slippers on the left is in it to win it. I mean, look at that form! (Pink Slippers, if you see this please send me your address and shoe size. I'd like to mail you some running shoes for next year).

Indeed, I love me a good sale. 

I also love throwing a good sale!

That's right; it's time to clear some room in the garage! I've been reducing prices on some pieces that I really need to have outta there to make room for new inventory. Please check out my Available for Sale link below and if anything interests you email me right away so we can coordinate a time for you to stop by! (Located in northern Virginia)

Available for Sale

Happy savvy shopping!

~Chelsea

Sweet little dresser {Paris Grey}

Posted by Chelsea

Hey guys! Last week I mentioned that I took the week mostly off from working on my own refinishing pieces...and I did...mostly. But I couldn't resist squeezing in this little one, (well, little compared to the 60" long buffet's that have consumed most of my refinishing schedule in preparation for Thanksgiving)! Someone who was trying to sell it found me and asked if I'd like it. It had unique lines along the edges that I'd never seen before, and a size that I find quite versatile, (can't you see this as a changing table in a nursery?! Or a cozy guest room? Or dazzling in a dining room?). I was sold!

I refinished this piece in the classic color, Paris Grey, by Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. It is a favorite, hands down. You simply cannot go wrong with a soft grey, and as soft grey's go, Paris Grey beats em' all, (and I've used enough to make an informed opinion). Since this piece has soft curves and lines and I chose an equally soft color, I wanted to contrast the softness just a bit with some mild distressing and black hardware, (I simply sprayed the original hardware in flat black by Rustoleum, my go-to spray paint for hardware).

SOLD

40"L x 30"H x 18"D

Contact me if interested in a similarly refinished piece.

Thank you for stopping by!

~Chelsea