Mini transformations with spray paint

August 09, 2011

I’m back with one more post about the family room redo – are you tired of seeing it yet?

Don’t answer that. :)

Many of you had questions on the little details in the space so I wanted to get the info on all of the accessories in one spot.

First up, the TV area – the old TV spot was a thorn in my side, and now I couldn’t be happier: tv above dresser

The dresser was (another) Craigslist find. It’s a Henredon and I adore it – it’s one of my very favorite pieces in our whole house. It’s GORG.

The lovely lady lamps were from HomeGoods last year – they are a beautiful green with a gorgeous finish. LOVE.

The mirror was also a HomeGoods find and it started out black. I got it months ago for another room, and it didn’t work there, so I put it back in my car to return it.

When I went to open the back of my SUV to get it out, it fell out in the parking lot. GAH. So…it wasn’t going back. ;) Drats.

The corner was busted and it had a few scratches (I can’t believe the mirror didn’t break!), so I sanded those down a bit. It was way too dark in black (I wanted something brighter above the black hole of a TV), so I took the mirror out and  spray painted the frame bright white. It turned out beautifully!

I haven’t found the mirror again, but I did run across this one at Target just recently:

target mirror

It’s so close, and I think it’s the same exact size! I love how the mirror balances out the dresser and TV and all that jazz.

I showed you the mantel changes awhile back:

And it mostly stayed the same, but that brown candlestick needed some color!

Enter my Mountain View spray paint:

krylon mountain view

It was just what the mantel needed!:

corner fireplace

That mossy “S” was a crafty project using sheets of moss:

candlestick trio

I showed you how I hot glued my fingers made that one here.

The IKEA sofa table got a little accessory redo too, yet again using what I already had:

sofa table vignette

I had never done much to accessorize the top before:

hemnes sofa table

So I went hunting through the house. :) The lanterns were a smashing deal a couple years ago – I got them for $10 each at Walmart. They used to sit on our deck and looked like this:

walmart lanterns

I wanted a brighter look, so I busted out the brushed nickel spray paint and there. you. go:

brushed nickel lanterns

The tray was a $4 Goodwill find I’ve had for awhile and was black, originally white:tray with books

Someone had spray painted it black and I sprayed it back to white. Again. Got it? ;) I picked large blue books, again to pull some blue over to that side of the room. The faux greenery puff ball I showed you here.

And the lamp has gone through a few transformations – the latest being a coat of blue:

blue vintage lamp

It’s a vintage light that started out ivory and brown with a different shade:

Then went to black, then green:

 

I luuuuurve the funky shape of it! We’ll see what color it is next. ;)

The very first thing I do when we get a new sofa (which is all the time, you know) is to take off the pillows that come with it. I ditch the matchy matchy and use pillows as a chance to pull in some color and customize the space:

blue red cream pillows

I used the pillow forms that came with the sofa and made the striped pillow covers with Waverly fabric from Joann’s. The large furry cream pillow in the corner is from Target and IT’S SO FLUFFY!!!! (Name that movie!)

The others are all Pottery Barn pillow covers I picked up last summer. The embroidered one on the left was a total splurge but I. LOVE. it. I don’t buy my pillow inserts there though – they are insanely expensive and I actually don’t think they are firm enough anyway. I use old pillows to stuff my cases, or get forms with a coupon at Joann’s or Hob Lob.

Whew! I hope that helps to answer any questions you had about the space! Other than a few pillows, I used what I had to finish up the accessories and wall decor for the whole space. I’m really, really pleased with how it all came together!

If there’s something I missed, let me know in the comments and I’ll let get back to you there! And…I swear, that’s the last I’ll mention the family room for about, uh…a few days? ;) 

So tell me, have you transformed something with spray paint lately? It’s magic in a can, I tell ya.

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Comments

  1. Fab transformations, my friend! :) You know that ORB-ish container that you hang on your front door in the fall? With flowers in it? I found something sort of similar at the thrift store...except it was country pink and blue (ick). I ORB'd it right up and now it's fab! :) XO

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  2. You are a spray painting ninja!!! And I still love love love that couch...don't paint it..

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  3. Movie reference: "Despicable Me."

    I'm so inspired by all you do in your home. Thanks for sharing your personality with us!

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  4. I love your entire room. It has turned out so pretty and all of your decor is just right. Hugs, Marty

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  5. Fabulous! Now I know the story of the mirror. I knew it was the Target one you sneaky spray painter you :-)

    I always have at least a few items in the paint shop {aka garage}. Or on the way in. Always!

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  6. Girl these are awesome! Thank you so much for sharing the details. You totally inspire me, and although I've been digging LL Cool J's "Around the way girl" for a long time like you, I now also sport the infamous spray paint finger and have trigger cramp! :)

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  7. whew! ok Im tired just reading all this! Girl you are dangerous with that spray paint! LOVE LOVE the lamp in blue!

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  8. Oh my goodness! I love all of your transformations! I love experimenting with paint as well. You did a great job.
    Blessings,
    Sandra

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  9. The title of your post really caught my attention, it's the mini transformations along the way that make for the bigger transformation. Sometimes mini is all I have time for!
    Tracey

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  10. You know it's really nice to see somebody do this and not break the bank! Thanks for being so inspiring!

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  11. I LOVE your family room!!! It's soo cozy and inviting. Shhh don't tell, but I like your room better than any other bloggers family rooms I've seen. ; ) Soo many are white and bright and that's gorgeous, but I like love the warm colors. My living room palette is quite a bit like yours and it's great to see "my style" out there. Know what I mean?

    Oh, and I love your embroidered cushion!! I have one similar from Ikea. I'm pretty sure you took a pic of it on your last trip there? I wanted it FOREVER and last Christmas my stepdaughter and her mom got it for me. I was soo excited!

    Wow I'm just rambling now, sorry. : ) I should get to bed. Anyway, LOVE it all! Have fun staining your deck.

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  12. That's a great looking TV area. The dresser really looks good. Hard to pass up a good used dresser, isn't it. Every house should have at least a couple of them as they are such useful pieces and work in many rooms of the house.

    Great job!

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  13. I really like the lamp in blue. It matches your rug so well.

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  14. I LOVE spray painting. Maybe it's the fumes, I don't know. (Just kidding.) When I go thrifting, I look at things and think, how would that look in a different colour. You have done some fabulous transformations yourself with spray painting. It's really a life saving solution for a lot of objects, isn't it?

    Where is that fabulous rug from? Love it!

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  15. I love the way you change up accessories, especially the colors. You could do a whole post on lamp evolution. ;)

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  16. Movie Reference is Despicable Me. That exact quote is my ringtone. I LOVE IT!!
    Not to mention, I love love love EVERY single one of your ideas! I am attempting to redo ALL of my house, one room at a time of course, and your blog has been a vital part of my undertaking!
    Thanks so much for all you do!!

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  17. That was quite the Craigslist find, it is beautiful!! The last thing I spray painted was my daughter's bike after being handed down to my son. He LOVES it (boasting his favorite sport teams colors and name.)
    Janell

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  18. I used a little magic in a can to transform a really OLD cafe set for my deck. Due to my friend Dave Ramsey I am unable to buy anything new for outside (envelope empty! drat!) but our set was really looking bad. It was a rusty, faded grey color and now is a vibrant, fun and cheer-me-up teal blue. LOVE it, looks and feels new. Thanks for the inspiration! In the past few months I have also repurposed an old brass light fixture and sprayed some cute butterflies for my girls room that were horrible brown and are now pink, green and purple. Serious magic!

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  19. I'm currently spray painting some cute frames I found at a thrift store. I'm having a love crush with robin egg blue. Can't get enough! :) LOVE your changes. I'm inspired!

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  20. The blog world changed my life talking about spray paint. I used it first on a couple of ugly gold frames that we took off of some paintings my grandmother had. Spray painted them white to use them for jewelry holders for the girls. You wouldn't recognize them anymore. And then in our half bath, my husband had built a shelf that never got hung up. I painted since he finished, the stain didn't match and we sprayed it a chocolate brown. The shelf is perfect in there now! Thanks for pushing me to use spray paint!

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  21. So much yes. The mirror. The sofa table. Spray paintint that lamp.

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  22. Sarah--I'm just dying to know where you got your pic frames you used on your pic wall along your staircase!! Thank you sooo much!! Emily-Teachemabcs@yahoo.com

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  23. When the boys go back to school i am busting out the paint again and painting a room, some kitchen chairs, and a desk. That should keep me busy for a while. LOVE the Mountain View. Beautiful color (:

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  24. Hi there~
    I got so many wonderful ideas from this post, thank you! Your ideas and transformations are extraordinary! XO ~Liz

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  25. I so wish my husband would let me do something like this and get rid of the big, ugly mammoth tv cabinet we have. Men and their ugly tv cabinets....UGH!

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  26. I'm a spray paint junkie! I painted my fireplace insert recently and it was a huge transformation! http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockingthesuburbs/5978011864/in/photostream

    after!
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockingthesuburbs/5987637863/in/photostream/

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  27. Oh I just love all that you do!
    Super talented!

    I do looove the shape of that lamp too!

    xoxo

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  28. Everything looks great! I can't imagine 79 degrees. It's not even that cool in the middle of the night here. Today we're under a heat advisory until 7pm.

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  29. Seriously 79 degrees?!? It's like 105 here with a humidity of a trillion. I'm not liking you very much right now! Jk :)


    LOVE every detail of it! Spray paint is amazing stuff! Especially when someone as talented as yourself has her finger on the trigger :)

    That Target mirror is gorgeous! Reminds me of the one from Ballards that I have been coveting. I Must. Buy. One. Now!

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  30. Love your space! I have the same pottery barn pierce sofa, isn't it amazing, especially with kids!

    Can you please tell me what your wall color is? I think it's the perfect compliment to the sofa and the blue's that your bringing in :)

    Thank you!

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  31. you make me happy.



    I really don't have more to say than that. It honestly does make me happy when I see a new post from you!

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  32. Where is your couch from?

    I want to make a mirror with a letter on it too!

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  33. I've recently fallen in love with spray paint too! I just found a table that someone was throwing out on the side of the road and transformed it into a beauty with some white spray paint. I'm obsessed :)

    http://savingindy.com/2011/08/08/trash-to-treasure-refinishing-a-coffee-table-for-10/

    Thanks for all your great ideas every day!

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  34. I have a question about your mirror. Did you take it apart to paint? I have a mirror with wood pieces in front of the mirror that I want to spray paint but I can't take it apart. There is all kinds of curves so taping it would be a nightmare. Any suggestions?

    Thanks!

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  35. Despicable Me. :0) Love the many transformations! I always go to the Goodwill in search for cool lamps...haven't been so lucky, but I still keep trying.

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  36. I LOVE that Ikea sofa table and how you accessorized it! Could use something just like it in my entryway...hmmm...thanks so much for all your great ideas, as always!

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  37. Thanks for the great ideas Sarah! Truly enjoy your blog. We are in the process of building a new home and are planning on using some of your ideas in it. Can't wait!!! Keep the creative juices flowing! jamie at www.mainemommy.com

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  38. Beautiful transformation! I am in serious love with the lamp.

    One burning question, though...your curtains. Did make them? If so, what fabric? If not, where did you buy them. Love the design! cmnowacki(at)gmail(dot)com.

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  39. I love the blue spray that you used on the candlestick! I used the same colour to transform an old tv, that I received for free, from drab black to fab blue. Super quick, easy and turned out fantastic.

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  40. Spray paint is such an inexpensive way to transform items, and the results are great. Thanks for the reminder about what great results you can get with just a little paint!

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  41. WARNING! Long comment! We knew we were going to move this summer so with the help of your blog and when you did the guests posts I have been storing up things in my head...insert move. Our home has been trapped in 1986 (dusty rose wall paper!, blue miniblinds, some seriously hideous light fixtures)...we have lived here for three weeks and I think I am going to explode with craftiness. We haven't even finished unboxing everything and I stain my bathroom cabinets in my spare time! I keep telling myself to pace myself!

    Thank you for your sweet blog and inspring me...though my husband may ban your site until I get moved in and only let me read a snidbit once a month!

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  42. I love seeing how a few simple changes can completely change the feel of a room. And I love that mirror! It's amazing how bursts of color can transform a room that might have once been bland. I think this blog does something very similar. This Blog

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  43. Off to get me some nickel spray paint TONIGHT! Those lanterns look amazing!

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  44. Great transformations!!
    I love your inspiration'
    Can you tell me if it would be possible to paint a "Ginger Jar" glass lamp? It has a glossy smooth finish. I am tryingto find information on it's possible transformation!
    Thank you for any information you can pass on.

    Ruth

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  45. You have inspired me in the past to use spray paint, and I LOVE how you're not afraid to use different colors. It makes a room more interesting to have o many great colors in it!! Keep up the awesome work!

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  46. I can say that the entirety of the house was very great. From a simple decoration to arrangement of the furniture, they are all perfect. Plus using air fresher will add some delightful ambiance to your house.

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  47. Decoration is a joy creating work. I like your mirriors.


    send gift to pakistan from uk

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  48. I love spray paint but every time I use it it ends up badly. Do you have any advice on how to make it look smooth, no bumps, run, grass sticking to the bottom from doing it outside?? I need the where, how part of the spray painting experience for you! You can email me at missa747@hotmail.com.

    Thanks
    Melissa Miller

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  49. Where did you get the area rug? I'm using pretty much the same colors in my family room, and I haven't been able to find an area rug I like.

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If you have a specific question I will do my best to answer you back here!

You can find our paint colors and links to items at the "Our Home" tab at the top of my site.

THANKS so much for reading!