White Washed Brick

So my fireplace is about as done as it can get for right now! I only say that because it would be 100% done if I could decide on what type of mantel I want to add. Right now we have a mantle of brick but I would like to build a wood 'cover' to make it wider and more substantial.

Anyway here is what it looks like now:

 

Sorry the photos aren't the best but my computer isn't liking my camera card right now so these come from my iPhone. See how I didn't white wash the top brick? That's the mantle so it'll all get covered up anyway. I am so happy with it- even if it does look a little pink in direct sunlight! haha!

Here is a close up of the paint finish:

Also while this whole brass fixture/red brick makeover was taking place we added a new pet to our house. Since Lil Man loves fish we got him one and he named him Hollis (where he got this name I do not know haha). Hollis lives on the mantle so that Lil Man can see him all day everyday!

And just because I love a good before and after- here is a picture (the only full fireplace shot I could find!) I took two Christmas' ago of the fireplace before:

And again the After:

 

So much better don't you think?

A little info about the paint: 

 I used a little quart of Behr Swiss Coffee and poured a bit in a paint pan then added the same amount of water and mixed them together. I used a brush to put it on the bricks and then a cut up flannel pillowcase to wipe some off. Easy Peasy! 

If you have questions about the paint or process used on the lights & fireplace surround check out these posts.

That's it for today! Happy Friday!

I am linking up to Thrifty Decor Chick's Before & After Party!   

V-Day mantle!

I am excited that my fireplace re-do is finally done so that I can join Beth at The Stories of A to Z's Friday Mantel party!!

So here is my on a budget and don't feel like going to the store with a 2-year old Valentine's Day mantel!

 

And yes I know my tv is off center and the cords are showing (I'm working on that- the tv is off center because the power cord is too short to center it) but this is my REAL mantel- exactly as all my guests see it so that's how you see it- no photoshopping! Although I was tempted......

Here are some close ups with links to where to get the *free* printables!

 

V-day banner and happy heart day circles printed, trimmed, hole punched and hung with dental floss (mmmm minty!)

 

Painted wooden letters from Jo-Ann's last year. They came white and I painted one X & one O red and placed them on the mantel so they spell out XO XO on either side of the tv :)

 

These are hanging from my sconces and it's the same Happy Heart Day circle with a heart freehanded on  heart paper and cut out.

Everything that is printed is printed onto white cardstock and hole punched then hung with dental floss (this is stuff is so strong plus it gives a minty smell when my heater comes on haha) I taped them where necessary with regular scotch tape.

Go check out all the other (much more impressive & festive!) mantels over at Beth's Mantel Party!!

Fireplace Before & After

Woohoo! The shiny polished brass is *almost* gone from my house (have to switch out the dining room chandy for one I bought almost 2 years ago, oops). But at least I can say it is gone gone gone from my living room! Woot!
Here is the shiny offender before:

And here is the lovely after (2 coats of heat resistant paint in the only color they had: satin black):

 

And now my nesting has turned on the brick. I want to white wash them, and don't tell me I can't or I shouldn't.....it's my house- I live here. :)

So hope you like the transformation! 

-Kristi

Nesting.....

I am in full on nesting mode and it's happening much earlier in my pregnancy then with my first child. (I'm only 22 weeks!) While I love the extra ideas and plans floating around in my head and the energy that helps to make some of those projects come to life...I don't think hubby shares my enthusiasm. Oh well, he humors me.
So first up is something that has been BUGGING me since I moved in: Two sconces (one on each side of the fireplace mantle) that match the sconces my parents had/have in their bathroom while I was growing up.I'm not a fan and I'm totally not a fan of feeling like I'm in my parents bathroom while I'm in my own living room! haha! So this weekend I fixed it!

Using this: Rust-Oleum American Accents Metallic spray paint in "Oil Rubbed Bronze"

Taped off around the fixture (& taped the part where the bulb goes in and where you turn it on)

Sprayed two coats, added the bulb back & then added a little clip-on chandelier shade to finish it.

Can I just say: LOVE IT!! Love love love love love it!

So apparently that didn't fix my 'nesting' instinct for long because now I want to use this post by Our Suburban Cottage blog to take my hatred for all things brass out on this:

My fireplace surround. *sigh* this is the best picture I could get & it's pretty fitting that the sun GLARING off of it is abundantly clear.

Anyway, because I have to wait until the little one is in bed to paint it I decided to enlist the help of hubby in peeling up some ugly peel & stick tiles in our bathroom. They were put in by previous owners about 10 years ago.

Here is our bathroom 'before' (keep in mind I am standing in the hallway to take this picture-that's how TINY our bathroom is)

Note: The floor is clean in this picture-it's just not a great color lol...also note the over abundance of caulk around the bottom of the sink too....will be fixing that with my new caulk remover ;)

Here we are 'in progress' The hairdryer worked great in making the tiles pliable enough to peel up.

Beneath the tiles is original hardwood floors that are in pretty decent shape...just painted green. I have an idea for how to make 'em look good AND be sealed properly against water damage without spending a lot of money. Let it be known I would much rather have a crew come in, remove the fixtures, rip up the floor, lay a new sub floor and tile then replace the fixtures. But that's not in the budget right now...and since its our only bathroom if we ever do that we need it to be a warm season outside so that using the rented port-a-potty wouldn't freeze our bums off! Lol!

Anyway. I'm nesting and there are more projects that apparently I NEED to have done before the baby comes so please send loving thoughts to my husband as he *patiently* deals with my prego nesting hormones.
-Kristi