Updating a Dated Oak Dining Set

Slumberland Furniture

Last week I was contacted about helping to update a dining room. On the homeowners' wish list were a few easy projects like removing a dated wallpaper border that the previous owners had installed and choosing a new wall color. They also gave me a design challenge, I'd need to incorporate an existing oak dining room set into the design. Since frugal is my middle name, this is the kind of challenge that I love.

When a snowstorm hit our area on Friday, upsetting my plans to see the room, I spent the morning coming up with a few options that might work. Keeping in mind that the homeowners are open to painting the pieces and that the chair seats are in need of reupholstering, I found some inspiration pictures that could offer some suggestions for updating the pieces without spending a small fortune.

Option #1: Country Chic

Leave table as is/Replace or slipcover chairs at the heads of the table/Paint remaining chairs

Decor Pad

Embellishing Loose fit slipcovers from Pottery Barn, $29, with a ribbon trim at the bottom would be a budget-friendly way to achieve a more customized look.

Option #2: Rustic Elegance

Cover the table/Skirt the chairs

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Option #3: Cover It Up

Paint all exposed wood/Reupholster seats

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Option #4: Go Bold or Go Home

Paint the table a neutral/Paint the chairs a bold color/Cover seats in a contrasting fabric

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Option #5: Modern Family Style

Stain the top of the table/Paint base of table/Paint chairs/Reupholster chair seats


Via Reckless Bliss

In the future the homeowners might want to consider replacing just the chairs and keeping the existing table. The table could be stained or painted to freshen the look.

Pottery Barn

Before making a choice, the homeowners will want to think about how they use the table before proceeding. Because dining sets take a lot of abuse, painting should be approached with caution. Several coats of a protective sealant after painting could help. Additionally, to avoid damaging the top of the table, having a glass top cut is a wise move. (A large piece of glass with smooth edges could run several hundred dollars, adding an additional expense to the project.)

When reupholstering the seats of chairs it's a good idea to choose fabrics that are easy to clean. Laminated fabrics and indoor/outdoor fabrics are great choices if small children are in the house.


My favorite look is option #5, Claire's kitchen from the set of Modern Family. Which option would you choose?

My Recipe for the Perfect Cup of Coffee

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On a cold winter morning nothing is quite as soothing to me as a cup of rich, steaming coffee. If you arm yourself with a few tips, you're sure to get a satisfying cup every time.

Buying and storing coffee beans

While I'm generally a bargain hunter, I'm willing to splurge a little on good coffee beans. If you can find and afford fresh roasted beans, you're off to a good start. While my favorite coffee on earth is the Blue Mountain Coffee we've purchased when vacationing in Jamaica, my everyday coffee of choice is Peet's. I like this brand because the beans are roasted in small batches, giving the coffee a smooth, rich flavor. I use both their decaf and French Roast.





Locally, I pay about $9.99 for a 12 oz bag of beans that will last me two weeks. Consider this, if you stop at Starbucks twice a week for a large coffee you've spent more than I do making my own at home seven days a week.

After purchasing my beans I store them in an opaque, airtight container, this keeps them fresher longer. Air is the arch enemy of fresh coffee beans. I Remove only enough beans for a few days use and store them in the refrigerator. There is some debate as to the wisdom of storing coffee in the freezer as condensation can form and make its way into the porous beans, but I always store my extra beans in an airtight container in the freezer.

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Grinding your coffee


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Grinding my coffee beans just prior to brewing results in a fresh tasting coffee. I use a small grinder and gently shake it as I'm grinding the beans for an even grind. My preference is for the grounds to resemble the consistency of fine bread crumbs. I use a ratio of one tablespoon of grounds to one cup of cold water. Use more or less grounds to get the strength you desire.

Machine Choice

While true coffee connoisseurs might favor a French press, I prefer the automatic drip method simply for the efficiency and convenience. For anyone who insists on great coffee, splurging on a good machine is worthwhile for one reason alone, the amount of time that it takes for the coffee to brew. Brewing time has a major impact on the final taste of the coffee. One of the highest rated machines on the market are those made by Bunn, brewing excellent coffee in a fraction of the time.

Our coffee maker is made by Cuisinart.

If you can find a machine that drips immediately into an insulated carafe rather than a glass pot, you're better off. If you do have the glass pot variety, transfer your coffee immediately into an insulated carafe. Once the air hits the coffee, the taste will start to change. In addition, coffee left on the heated surface of a machine gets a burnt taste from sitting too long.

I like to add a nice splash of Half and Half to my coffee for a rich, creamy taste, no skim milk, flavored creamer or sugar ever makes an appearance in my cup.

A good cup of coffee is one of life's true pleasures.

How do you take your coffee?

New Fabrics for Quick Projects

The closer it gets to the weekend the more my mind starts turning to quick projects that I could complete before Monday rolls around. When I saw some of the new fabrics at Fabric.com my mind was swimming with ideas. At only $8.98-$21.98/yard, you can get a new look without breaking the bank.



Laminated fabrics for just $11.98/yard are kid-friendly and would be ideal for whipping up a new shower curtain, placemats or a tablecloth:












Get a jump start on a project for spring with these indoor/outdoor fabrics:












A yard of any of these would cover two chair seats:















How about new pillows for the living room in one of these:













A window treatment for a special little girl?







This is just a sampling of their smorgasbord of fabrics. The orange and white indoor/outdoor fabric is my favorite. Check out all their new arrivals here.

Do you have any projects brewing for this weekend?

Reading Nooks for any Budget

Freezing rain through the night Sunday turned into snow on Monday afternoon in my area, but I didn't let that get me down. After conquering a few chores around the house I got a fire going, made an enormous cup of herbal tea and sat down with the latest book from Bernhard Schlink, author of the enormously popular book-turned-movie, The Reader. Curling up in a cozy nook with a good book softens the blow of living in a cold climate.

If I were to design my dream reading nook it would include a comfortable chair upholstered in a great fabric. I'd have a coordinating ottoman to rest my feet, the perfect side table to set my glass of wine or cup of tea while I read and an elegant lamp to keep me from squinting at the words on the page. To finish I'd want a super soft pillow and a throw blanket, let's make them both cashmere, shall we.

When I woke up from the dream and realized that the nook would set me back to the tune of a couple grand, I'd have to come up with a more affordable place to devour my novels, biographies and mysteries. It might look something like this:

The chair in my dream room from Crate and Barrel was almost $700, the budget chair has a similar look but costs less than $400 at Pier 1. By replacing the cashmere throw for a cable knit and the pillow for one in velvet my budget would open up considerably. My budget reading nook comes in at well under $1,000 by shopping sources like Target, Pottery Barn and Home Decorators. That just might leave enough room in my budget for a new mug for sipping my coffee while reading. I'd splurge on this cute library books mug by Kate Spade.

Have you read any great books lately?

Back to the (Mood) Drawing Board

Last spring I put some careful thought into the creation of a mood board for the design of my entry. The jumping off point was the Andalusa Rug from West Elm that I had just ordered.

The Mood Board

With the rug back ordered and not expected until the end of June, I had time to start hunting for a faux bamboo bench and to and give my current wood stained entry way chest a coat of glossy black paint to mimic the look of my inspiration piece. Things were off to a good start when I found two small faux bamboo benches at my favorite antique mall. These were a steal for $77 for the set.

A coat of paint , some new fabric and I'd be on my way

Spray painting my old entry chest went off without a hitch.

Before

After, not a carbon copy of the inspiration piece, but it would do

Before I had a chance to start looking for the accessories and fabric to reupholster the benches the rug arrived. I loved it as much in person as I had when I spotted it online. Too bad I hadn't realized before ordering that light colored rugs and dirty shoes aren't exactly a match made in heaven. It was the beginning of summer vacation and every time one of my kids' friends stopped over the rug got a new smudge. It was back to the drawing board, the mood drawing board that is. I'd need a new rug STAT!

The Andalusia Rug is now at home in our guest room/home office, a room that doesn't see many dirty shoes. I've spent months looking for a new rug to inspire a new mood board. Last week, I finally found a rug that I think could work. Minutes after spotting it online I placed an order.

Martha Stewart Living Ogee Dot Area Rug

I love the pattern of the new rug, but more importantly, it will hide dirt! As for a new mood board, you'll have to stay tuned.

Bring the Spa Home for Less

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Over the weekend my husband flew to Florida for a golf weekend with the guys leaving me home with the kids. With my daughter at a sleepover and my son off with friends Friday evening, I started my weekend off right with a spa night at home. By gathering up a few supplies like my favorite cozy bathrobe, a stack of lush towels and my collection of bath products, I created a spa-like feeling in the privacy of my own bathroom. After a luxurious soak in the jacuzzi surrounded by lit candles, I slept like a baby.

Spa treatments can cost 100's of dollars, but creating the feeling of a spa experience in your own home can be very affordable using things you probably already own. To get started, take a minute to think about what amenities make a spa experience special to you. Here's a list of my must-have's:

Fluffy Towels

No home spa day would be complete without a relaxing soak in a warm tub. You'll want a few cozy towels on hand to wrap yourself in as soon as you step out of the water. My go-to source for thick, lush towels is always TJ Maxx. I recently picked up a stack of Ralph Lauren Towels in a soft shade of blue for $7.99 each. White sales are often held at this time of the year, so stock up now.

Keep extra towels beside the tub to get a small taste of the spa experience after your morning shower too.

Apartment Therapy

Soothing Music

Soft music never fails to calm the mind and help you relax. Nature inspired sounds, light jazz, soft violin tunes or classical compositions are good choices. If you don't own any cd's conducive to creating a relaxing environment, check to see if your local library lends out cd's. Another low cost option would be to download a variety of songs from iTunes and create a play list or cd that is individualized to your specific taste. (That would make a nice gift for a friend too!) Target stores also carry a good selection of cd's for relaxation at reasonable prices.

Candles

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Dim lighting and candles are essential ingredients to providing a calm atmosphere in which to relax your mind and body. Whether you light a single pillar candle or dozens of tiny tea lights or votives, the glow of candlelight adds a measure of ambiance that can't be rivaled.

Baskets


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Gathering all of your home spa essentials in one place makes creating a spa experience in a moment's notice much more attainable. Corral your necessities in one large basket or a couple smaller ones that you can tuck into a closet or under your bed and pull out whenever the mood strikes-or you have the luxury of 30 minutes to yourself.

Bath Products


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Bath salts, oils, lotions and creams are necessities for creating a spa-like feel in the privacy of your own bathroom. Available at every price point, there is no excuse for not treating yourself to a few bath products that will heighten your experience. (See below for low cost homemade options.)

If you have very sensitive skin or tend to have negative reactions to fragrances used in bath products, it's easy to create your own. Did you know that very few people are allergic to olive oil making it the perfect choice for dry skin? Add it to your bath water or use it to soothe overly dry skin on the hands and feet.

Create Your Own Spa Products at Home


Image and bath salt recipe from Martha Stewart

Essential oils derived from plants can be used to add a pleasant aroma to homemade bath products. Essential oils should never be applied directly to the skin, instead, combine them with what is called a "carrier oil". Olive, almond, avocado, grapeseed and apricot oils are all good choices to use as carrier oils. A good rule of thumb is to add 1 drop of essential oil for every 9 drops of your carrier oil. Most health food stores will carry a variety of essential oils or check out websites that carry supplies used by massage therapists. An excellent source for affordable essential oils and other products to create a spa experience is Massage Warehouse.

Bath salts are very easy to make at home with some ingredients that you may have on hand. Combine the following and store in a tightly sealed container:

6 parts sea salt
3 parts epsom salt
1 part baking soda
A few drops of essential oil of your choice

For a soothing toner for your skin, combine witch hazel with a few drops of lavender essential oil.

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Grab your coziest robe and a pair of slippers and you're ready to go.


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It's only Monday, by the end of the week you will be ready for some R & R. Gather your supplies during the week and you could be enjoying a home spa day this weekend.


What would you include in your list of home spa essentials?