Painted Cabinets | Sea Spray Condo

Wow, what a difference a little paint can make! As mentioned earlier, my parents hired someone to paint the kitchen cabinets at their beach condo white. This past weekend, Brian and I went down to the beach to attach the hardware and address the backsplash. I was blown away with how much brighter and cleaner the once dark wood cabinets now look! It really looks like a completely new kitchen! Here is a little before and after (apologies for the phone pic).

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Nice, right? It is hard to tell, but the backsplash (if you can call it that) was a grasscloth wallpaper in an ivory color. Here is a better photo of it a bit more close up. I had found this gorgeous tile backsplash that would have been PERFECT, but after measuring, I realized it would be about $300 in supplies. We are attempting to get the condo ready for prime rental season quickly and cheaply, so I tried to get creative on how to spruce up the walls without spending that much money.

The texture of the wallpaper was good, but the color was washed out looking and made the countertops and appliances look dingy. We recently refinished some Craigslist chairs in a pretty sea foam green color: Valspar Mellow Spring. To tie the chairs into the rest of the kitchen, we decided to paint the wallpaper the same color. It turned out pretty great! The painted wallpaper is subtle, but has a nice sheen and texture to complement the cabinets. It looks so fresh and bright in there now. Even with the older appliances and countertops, I think the overall look is still beachy.

I can't wait to get back down there and finish up the rest of the kitchen/living room. What do you think - do you like the look of painted cabinets? I know some people are very opposed; I would love to hear your thoughts!

Merrimon-Wynne House, Raleigh NC | Historic Houses

I have had a slightly abnormal obsession with the Merrimon-Wynne House ever since I spotted the "for sale" sign in front of it a while ago. If only I had a million or so dollars laying around, this beaut would have been mine! It is easy to see why I love this house. From the dapper black double front doors, ornate trim work around the multitude of porches, to the killer lot on an ideal location. Le sigh. I am so happy that someone else fell in love with this handsome home! Jodi and John Strenkowski purchased the house and fully renovated it to serve as a lovely wedding venue. Raleigh brides, be sure to check this one out on your venue search!

Here is the history on the home from the Merrimon-Wynne House's website: "The Merrimon-Wynne House was built in 1876 as the centerpiece of a park-like setting on N. Wilmington Street for Augustus S. Merrimon, a prominent Raleigh jurist.  At the time of his death in 1892, he was Chief Justice of North Carolina’s Supreme Court.  In 1899 Lula B. and A.F. Page (of the Wake County Pages) purchased the property from The Merrimon estate.  Soon after, her husband died, and Lula married J.S. Wynne, of Raleigh.  Twenty years later, in 1919, the Wynnes deeded the house to Peace College, and thereafter it became known as “Wynne Hall.”  It served its first stint as a dormitory from then until 1934."

All of the below photos were taken by Tim Willoughby Photography via Southern Bride and Groom.

Pop Up Camper | Myrtle House

My parents used to drag us kids up and down the East Coast in their beloved pop up camper. As a know-it-all 13 year old, it was quite possibly the worst thing that had ever happened to me. I would sit in the van while my parents ooh-ed and ahh-ed at national landmarks and historic sites while I angrily listened to Christina Aguilera on my portable CD player. Sorry parents. :)

So, you can imagine my parents' surprise when I told them that Brian and I were buying a pop up camper. I am not exactly a camping person, but when trying to figure out the best form of shelter for us as we renovate the Myrtle House, it actually made the most sense. The house is three hours away from where we live and not inhabitable, so every time we head down for the weekend to work, we never get too much done since we have to pack up and head home the same day. With Lola usually in tow, a hotel is both expensive and cumbersome, so an itty bitty home away from home seemed to be the right fit.

We bought a fixer-upper of a camper (surprise, surprise) and, of course, I feel the need to decorate it! Obviously, the bulk of our budget right now is going to the house, so this will be a quick and inexpensive little makeover. Here is what I am thinking.

We purchased vinyl plank flooring at Lowes. The one pictured is different in that it is a floating floor; we actually got a peel and stick plank. This type of flooring is just like peel and stick tile, but with the look of a wood or laminate surface. I think this product is really exciting and am eager to see how easy it is to apply and how durable it is under the wear and tear of a renovation.

I already had this fabric from a previous curtain project, so I will put it to use making curtains for the camper. It is a medium weight and hides light well so it should do the trick! I plan on using velcro to attach the curtain to the camper canvas and then a ribbon to roll them up in each morning. Easy peasy.

I found this little duvet set on clearance at Target (sorry, it is so old I can't find the link to it anymore!). It matches the yellow chevron fabric easy enough and was only $15. Done deal. I had some old gray sheets that match the whole little scheme pretty well.

The only other thing we are going to change is to paint the wood paneling in the camper. I swear, this stuff follows me! I want to meet the inventor of the wood panel...

I will be the first to admit, I am a newbie when it comes to all of this camping stuff. We won't have electricity for a while, so I am a little nervous about making sure we have all of the needed supplies! Any camping/camper advice you may have is welcome. :)

Guest Bedroom Inspiration | Myrtle House

Brian and I have never had a home with a dedicated guest bedroom. The place for overnight guests has either been a couch (sorry friends and family), or our tiny office/guest bedroom in the Brooklyn House. So, it is very excited to have a whole entire room to create an inviting space for out of town visitors. Luckily, I already have most of the needed items for this room (you're welcome, Brian :) so all there is left to do is buy some small decor items. The old guest bedroom was utlra girly (pink, aqua, and flowery) and I always felt kind of bad for Brian's college friends and my little brother when they stayed the night. This design is a little more gender neutral... well, a little at least. :)

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New Wheels | Life

It is a date that will go down in history as both the greatest day ever and the most overdue thing ever. We finally got a truck! Brian found his new ride a few days ago and we took it up to the Myrtle House to get it acquainted with the local landfill as it will be making quite a few trips here in the coming weeks.

We have literally been rattling off ideas of things we can haul like a pair of giddy school girls. Flea markets (and my wallet) better watch out! My furniture purchases are no longer limited to what I can fit into a compact sedan. :)

Hardware | Sea Spray Condo

My parents had the cabinets in their condo recently painted white and I can't wait to see it! With this step done, we can move on to other fun things like picking out hardware.

I came across D. LAWLESS HARDWARE through a blog, and was equally impressed with the unique designs and amazing prices. I especially love their Antique Restoration Hardware collection. Such a better selection than the box stores for antique pieces and old houses. Plus, if you order $50 or more (which is easily done with a kitchen), shipping is free.

My parents already have a lot of satin nickel accents, so when I stumbled upon these simple, yet fresh knobs, I was sold. You can't beat the price of only $1.00! We also decided to go with a clean drawer pull, also for a steal at $1.99 each. I ended up ordering hardware for the Myrtle House too (even though we are WAYS away from getting close to needing them) and got hardware for two kitchens for $50. Boom.

Here are my favorites from the hardware site. Please note that two of these gems are only 75 cents!! Also, if you decide to order, coupon code "prettyhandy" will take off 10%. Happy shopping. :)