Christmas 2022 House Tour

The house is officially all decked out for Christmas! I am all about slow decorating when it comes putting up my Christmas decorations.  I don't do a bunch of new things every year but I do like to tweak things and move things around!  So far this season I've behaved myself and only bought ribbon. 😂 There is definitely a possibility I am forgetting something in this moment but let's just go with that!  Here are a few pictures of our home, I really enjoyed Christmas decorating this year.

Now I think I am finished decorating but no promises!  I hope you enjoy creating a cozy home this holiday season 💖💖

Off White Buffet Makeover

 Hi friends!  Let's chat about this makeover!  As far as projects go, this went as smooth as possible.  Can I get a heck yes?! 👏  I feel like every sixth project goes smoothly so I'll take it!  I purchased this buffet off of Facebook Marketplace a few months ago because of the kitchen table that came with it.  I have been on a new kitchen table search for YEARS!  That is not an exaggeration... unfortunately.  And as soon as my husband brought the table home I knew it wasn't right.  I guess I am a little picky. 😜 It was just too formal? plain? just. not. right.  Since I wasn't excited about it, I decided to list the table and chairs and sold them quickly for the same price I purchased the buffet/table/chairs.

Easy Fixes that Helped me be a Better Furniture Painter!

Hiii friends!  I hope everyone had a great weekend!  Last week when I was working on a piece of furniture I kept thinking about how much improvement I've made in the last year.  When I finished the grey console table I was like "Wow Leslie, this is pretty dang good"... 😂😂 please don't think I'm cocky, trust me I know I've got so much more to learn!  Getting to this point took a lot of trial and mostly error, but I figured out that making some small adjustments made my furniture pieces a million times better!  

1.  Stop buying cheap broken furniture.  Ohhhhh it is still hard for me to turn down a beautiful FREE antique dresser but if the drawers look like a disaster or there is peeling veneer, I keep my sanity and pass.  I'd rather buy a 1995 solid dresser for $60 (over budget 😉) than a $10 antique dresser that looks like it was left outside for the last 5 years.  Y'all, I was so proud of myself yesterday...  I went to pick up a free desk, but when I got there is was cheap looking and I walked away.  Go me!  

2.  Start rolling!  This was such a turning point for me.  In the beginning I used nice brushes but my pieces still looked so amateur.  Brush strokes going every which way...  Then I started rolling and my finishes were elevated so much.  Now I have to mention that so many furniture painters totally rock brushes, I'm just not one of them.  I've actually wanted to try spraying but if I'm honest... I am super intimidated annnnnnnd it's winter.  Here are the rollers I like (fusion also sells a great roller!):

I do add an extender (the fusion one) to my paint and occasionally will brush spots that have too much stipple (paint is bumpy). Another roller I've used and see a lot of people love. 

3.  Use good paint.  I know iiiiiiii know, $2 oops paints are so tempting 🙋🙋🙋 but the quality and durability is. not. the. same.  I use mostly Fusion Mineral Paint and General Finishes Milk Paint and love them both.  They go on so smooth and the pieces that I've done in my own house have held up great!  There are a lot of other great brands out there that I am planning on trying this year, I'll let you know how that goes! 

4.  Caulk.  Cawwwwwlk.  😉  This was something I always rolled my eyes at...  This was way too over the top for me...but alas I am here caulking every piece of furniture I touch now. 😂  When you paint furniture you can see every gap where 2 pieces of wood meet.  I use to just jam as much paint as I could in the gap but it would never look as polished as I wanted it to.  It is super easy add caulking and I use a baby wipe to smooth my lines! So easy! 

Before

After - Just Needs Paint

Alright y'all, I'd love to hear your easy tips to painting furniture!  👇 

Master Bath Makeover!

Hiiiiii!!!  It feels so good to have the bathroom finished and to finally be able to brush my teeth in here again!  When we moved into our house in 2014 everything needed updating.  We decided to do everything as cheap and generic as possible, because we thought we'd only live in the house for 3ish years... Jokes on us!  Flash forward to 2021 and I felt like the generic bathroom really didn't match my style.  Before I talk about what we did here are some "awesome" before photos!

Why I Prime!

I can’t tell y’all how many times when I post a priming video that I get the question “why are you priming? doesn’t that paint require almost no prep?”.  You are right, most of the paint I use doesn’t require a lot of prep!  So why do I prime???

Faux Fireplace

Hellooooooo!   I wanted to share our newly updated entry room with y’all!  This room has had a bunch of different looks since we moved in 6 years ago and I think this look is a close second favorite to the blue carpet. 😉 

Cane Cabinet - Furniture Flip Challenge

This cabinet makeover was a part of the Furniture Flip Challenge and was such a fun makeover! Let me just start with how I got the cabinet.  I found it on Facebook Marketplace for $60 and was sure that I would paint it black on the outside and white on the inside.  I offered $40 and the seller told me it was already pending pick up.  I was SO bummed!  He messaged me the next day saying that it didn’t get picked up and I could have it!  Woohoo!  When I picked it up I was so surprised/sad that it was missing a glass pane.  Of course I didn’t say anything because I am so awkward at pick ups (I am getting better though!)…  We load the cabinet and I get back in the truck and look at the listing.  Not only is it obvious the glass is missing in the picture but the description had included that info.  I was so embarrassed!  Such a rookie move!  The cabinet sat in my laundry room for months because a) it was missing a glass pane b) I really didn’t know if I liked my original idea.  Avoiding hard projects, that is me!  

Cane Cabinet Makeover!

Hi friends!  Y'all, I did it!!! I finished the cabinet in 3 weeks for the Furniture Flip Challenge and could not love it more!  Here are few pictures I took and I'll be back next week to give a full tutorial! 

Pink Desk

Hi y'all!  I think I might of just found the most perfect pink paint!  I cannot believe how cute this desk turned out.  😻  It started off a little rough around the edges and was in need of some serious love:

Finding the Right Furniture to Refinish!

I got the question months ago... Leslie, how do you find the perfect furniture pieces?! When I started flipping furniture a little over a year ago I had no idea what I was doing, and believe me... I have bought SO many duds.  A few that I just resold almost immediately and some that I got paid almost nothing to refinish.  Now, I am not a genie but I have a few things to look for when shopping on Marketplace, Next Door, and thrift stores!