Vintage lockers for the playroom!

There is one spot left in my playroom that I hate... here it is.

It was just never "finished" and doesn't jive with the rest of the space in any sense.  It's a giant mosh of toys, puzzles, and books.  The last frontier of that room.

I mean, its directly across from this gallery wall... just not giving off the same vibe!



Gallery wall and custom lamp shade how-to found here. I left plenty of room to add to it over the years.



I had envisioned building in a desk surrounded by pantry height shelving for more storage of course!  Something kind of like this.

source

Well, as luck would have it, I was shopping at the Tobacco Barn with my mom on Mother's Day and ran across these absolutely perfect vintage lockers!!

I was over the moon excited!  They were the perfect size, perfect feel for the space, and even better than what I had in mind. Just think of all the things I can hide in there!!  And there is even a row of shelves at the top that can be mine all mine (because the kids can't reach them!)

 Next step... getting them home.  This ended up being the hard part.  Giving them your money is easy ($150 by the way!  About $450 cheaper than they Ikea system I had designed!).  After mulling over the purchase for a few days I decided to take the truck and head back to buy them while my mom watched the kids.  Guess what happens next... they do not fit in the truck and they DO NOT come apart.  A really old guy in a motorized wheel chair suggests that they will fit perfectly balanced on the sides of the truck.  Good eye old man!!  This wasn't his first rodeo.  I head off to Lowe's and buy $75 worth of ratchet straps (we only needed two but I wasn't taking any chances!)  Two sweaty guys, two random ladies in dresses, and myself end up getting them on, balanced, and strapped down.  It was the longest 45 minute drive home of my life!

So here they are right this very second.  My biceps got a two day massive workout from scrubbing every sticky, dirty, nasty teenage whatever-ness off these babies.  There is still one pesky piece of blue gum stuck to the bottom... I think I might just leave it :-)  Goo  B Gone is a miracle worker by the way!!  It even ate through duct tape!

I'll leave you with a little vintage locker inspiration.  I am pretty sure they are going to be sprayed green with my new sprayer from Will (you know your husband truly loves you when he supports your hobby that drives him totally bonkers). 

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

On another note, Rebekah and family are making the trek to NC this weekend!!  Maybe I'll make her help me paint these.  That is, after we watch our kids and husbands participate in the Mad Mountain Mud Run!  Awesome pictures to come!!

Kandi

Barrister Bookshelf Makeover

I heart this piece of furniture!  This is another one my mom found treasure hunting and brought to me (got to love her!).  It is called a barrister bookcase, lawyer bookcase, or sectional bookcase.  What makes it different is that is comes apart layer by layer.   I wish I knew how old this one was but from what I can tell it was made between 1920 and 1940. 

This two shelf model happens to actually be in 4 pieces.   Top, bottom, and the two shelves.  This is so you can add on to your shelf.

I was thinking maybe I shouldn't have painted this one but the top, sides and legs were not in great shape.  Of course, my before pictures were lost when my computer crashed so the best I can do is this one of it all covered in Easter pretties.  You get this jist!

You can see the wood was not a great color.  Kind of faded and dull.  Once I got it apart I realized the outside had actually been painted once before... this 'great' brown.  All the painters guilt immediately went away!

The doors life up and push back into the piece.

Look left!!!  Sneak peak into the Entry Closet Makeover!!  Its now 90% finished and I'll reveal later this week!

Styled with a few of Will's grandfathers old medical books from the 40's.  Hilarious advice in some of these and they seem like they just belong in here and could have really been sitting on this shelf in his office.

Rebekah and I share a love of orchids and they are the perfect addition to any room!  See her "Decorating With Orchids" post here.

The paint color used on the outside is an extremey pale grey.  It is called Big Chill by Sherwin Williams.  The inside is a green with a tinge of grey called Willow Tree by Sherwin Williams. 
This piece is in my entryway sitting beside the new closet makeover and the whole foyer is soon to be completed!!  Now I just need a super awesome mirror to hang over it, some hardwarde and a last coat of paint on the new bench, and a cleaning service to help get the dust out of my house from all the sanding and cutting!

Kandi

Partying at some of these awesome places!

Motivate Me Monday  Just Something I Whipped Up Polly Want a Crafter Sew Can Do Boogieboard Cottage DIY Home Sweet Home Brassy Apple Polish the Stars Serendipity and Spice Destination Craft Mrs Happy Homemaker Made for You Monday Make it Yourself Monday Ask Anna C.R.A.F.T. The Southern Institute The DIY Showoff Craftomaniac Raising 4 Princesses Between Naps on the Porch Bedazzle Me Monday The Life of a Not So Ordinary Wife Make Something Monday

A Diamond in the Stuff Stringtown Home Organizing Home Life Tuesday Tutorials Giggles Glitz and Glam Be Inspired Tuesday Time Out A to Zebra Celebrations My Favorite Finds Eye Heart Our Delightful Home The Inspiration Board Frugal Treasures Tuesday Too Cute Tuesday Topsy Turvy Tuesdays Trick or Treat Tuesday Chef in Training Sugar Bee Crafts Hope Studios Tell it to me Tuesday Your Cozy Home Party Turquoise Lovin’ Tuesday To Do Party Cherished Bliss Anti-Procrastination Tuesdays Type A Adventures of a DIY Mom Show Me What Ya Got Get Your Craft On Nifty Thrifty Tuesday Tuesday Confessional Teagan Travels How to Nest for Less A Bowl Full of Lemons Tuesday Trade Off Tip Junkie T2T Tuesday Tuesday Treasures Ladybug Blessings Creative Itch Toot your Horn Tuesday Jillify It Tutorial Tuesday Pin Cushion Creations Junk in their Trunk Polkadots on Parade Spicy Link Up 

Sugar and Dots  Rock N Share Clean & Scentsible The Trendy Treehouse Beyond the Picket Fence School House Scraps The Thrifty Home Sew Woodsy Savvy Southern Style Your Whims Wednesday Wow me Wednesday A Little Tipsy Women Living Well Primp your Stuff Wednesday Show and Share Mrs. Fox’s Sweet Party Whatever goes Wednesday

 Live.Laugh.Rowe Adventures in Dinner Mom on Timeout The CSI Project Share Your Cup Thursday Fabulously Flawed It’s Sew Stinking Cute The Shabby Creek Cottage The Crafty Blog Stalker Christina’s Adventures Crafty Scrappy Happy Embracing Change 52 Mantels Bear Rabbit Bear The Vintage Farmhouse Bloom Designs A Turtles Life for Me The Taylor House Rhinestone Beagle The Brambleberry Cottage

 The Shabby Nest Tidy Mom Joyful Stamper My Simple Home Life Remodelaholic Delicate Construction Happy Hour Projects Chic on a Shoestring Decorating 504 Main Hating Martha The Creative Paige Here Comes the Sun Cookie Nut Creations Bacon Time Joy in the Jumble The Grant Life Dotted Line Crafts Love Notes by Lauren Raising Oranges Making Lemonade Redoux Interiors Sassy Sites One Artsy Momma My Romantic Home Petals to Picots Pandoras Craft Box My Repurposed Life French Country Cottage At the Picket Fence Just Us Four Mommas Kinda Crafty Craftionary Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons Just Us 4 Sweet Tooth Friday 30 Handmade Days Lovely Crafty Home

Mama Mias Heart to Heart Homemaker in Heels Family Ever After Lady Bird Lane Serenity You The Gingerbread Blog

 Cherished Treasures Re-made Just Right Under the Table & Dreaming The Sweet talk Shop Sassafrass Salvation Simple as That My 1929 Charmer Heatherly Loves The Sasse Life Joy 2 Journey The Foley

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!!

It's official (well, you know, in an unofficial kind of way).  Memorial Day Weekend is here which means we can now wear white pants again!


Wit and Delight

J. Crew

We can have a pool party!

(No link back)

OK, OK, lets face it... our pool party will look more like this...


Homemaking Fun

On a more serious note let us truly remember what this day is about.  The meaning of Memorial Day is to commemorate the soldiers who have died in war.  They are innumerable, brave, and in many cases under appreciated.  If you see a soldier today... thank him or her.  What they (and their families) give up to keep us safe is unimaginable to most of us.  No matter the state of the United States I feel we are truly blessed to live here.  We need to pray for this country and pray for our soldiers.  That seems like the one little thing I can do to help...

Kandi

Cutting Flowers & Pharsalia

A couple of weeks ago I had the great pleasure of visiting Pharsalia.  Pharsalia is a working plantation home built in 1814 in Nelson County Virginia.  The views are absolutely breathtaking. 



Pharsalia



A Popular Wedding Destination



Foxie with her flowers

 It was my first time to Pharsalia, and I was not disappointed!  We spent the day with Foxie Morgan the lady of the house learning tips on how to cut flowers, walking her gardens and eating an amazing lunch prepared by her gracious daughter and staff.

Grounds at Pharsalia

  Here are a few tips I took from the day. When CUTTING FLOWERS from your garden...

1. Cut early in the morning (overcast, damp mornings are best)

2. Use clean tools and a plastic pail.  Use a mild bleach solution to cut the bacteria that will form on the inside of pail, and on tools.

3. Cut the flower on an angle, and place immediately into warm water. Flowers take up warm water faster than cold water

ARRANGING FLOWERS...

1. Re cut stem on an angle

2. Use a flower food like ProFlowers to encourage long lasting bloom.

3. Re cut stems after a few days, and change the water to reduce bacteria.

4. Stripe all leaves off flower below water line to cut down on bacteria.

My last tip when arranging flowers, use a floral frog. (Can you see it in bottom of my glass container?)  They help keep the flowers upright and in the place you desire.  Floral frogs come in all shapes and sizes. 

Enjoy!  As always I would love to hear your thoughts, or if you have any questions, please leave a comment.

Rebekah

P.S.  If you like the pillow you see in the picture above send us an email and we'll get your custom order in the works!

I did not link up to all these parties, but if you have a moment, check out a few of these blogs, they are amazing!

Motivate Me Monday The Cure for the Common Monday Just Something I Whipped Up Polly Want a Crafter Sew Can Do Boogieboard Cottage DIY Home Sweet Home Brassy Apple Polish the Stars Serendipity and Spice Destination CraftMrs Happy Homemaker Made for You Monday Make it Yourself Monday Ask AnnaC.R.A.F.T.The Southern Institute The DIY ShowoffCraftomaniacRaising 4 Princesses Between Naps on the Porch Bedazzle Me Monday The Life of a Not So Ordinary Wife Make Something Monday * A Diamond in the Stuff Stringtown HomeOrganizing Home Life Tuesday Tutorials Giggles Glitz and Glam Be Inspired Tuesday Time OutA to Zebra Celebrations My Favorite FindsEye HeartOur Delightful Home The Inspiration Board Frugal Treasures Tuesday Too Cute TuesdaySugar and DotsTopsy Turvy Tuesdays Trick or Treat Tuesday Chef in TrainingSugar Bee CraftsHope Studios Tell it to me Tuesday Your Cozy Home Party Turquoise Lovin’Tuesday To Do Party Cherished BlissAnti-Procrastination Tuesdays Type A Adventures of a DIY Mom Show Me What Ya Got Get Your Craft OnNifty Thrifty Tuesday Tuesday Confessional Teagan Travels How to Nest for Less A Bowl Full of Lemons Tuesday Trade OffTip JunkieT2T TuesdayTuesday TreasuresLadybug BlessingsCreative ItchToot your Horn Tuesday Jillify It Tutorial Tuesday Pin Cushion Creations Junk in their Trunk Polkadots on Parade * Laugh Love and Craft Rock N ShareClean & Scentsible The Trendy Treehouse Beyond the Picket Fence School House Scraps The Thrifty Home Sew Woodsy Savvy Southern Style Your Whims Wednesday Wow me Wednesday A Little TipsyWomen Living WellPrimp your Stuff Wednesday Show and Share Mrs. Fox’s Sweet Party Whatever goes Wednesday Live.Laugh.RoweAdventures in Dinner Easy Digital Scrapbooking Mom on Timeout The CSI Project Share Your Cup Thursday Fabulously FlawedIt’s Sew Stinking Cute The Shabby Creek Cottage The Crafty Blog Stalker Christina’s Adventures Crafty Scrappy Happy Embracing Change52 Mantels Bear Rabbit Bear The Vintage Farmhouse Bloom DesignsA Turtles Life for Me The Taylor House Rhinestone BeagleSchoolhouse Scraps The Brambleberry Cottage * The Shabby NestTidy MomJoyful StamperMy Simple Home Life RemodelaholicDelicate Construction Happy Hour Projects Chic on a Shoestring Decorating 504 Main Hating Martha The Creative Paige Here Comes the Sun Cookie Nut Creations Bacon TimeJoy in the JumbleThe Grant LifeDotted Line Crafts Love Notes by Lauren Raising OrangesMaking LemonadeRedoux InteriorsSassy SitesOne Artsy MommaMy Romantic HomePetals to PicotsPandoras Craft Box My Repurposed Life French Country Cottage At the Picket Fence Just Us FourMommas Kinda Crafty CraftionaryKitchen Fun With My 3 Sons Just Us 4Sweet Tooth Friday 30 Handmade Days Lovely Crafty Home Mama Mias Heart to Heart Homemaker in Heels Family Ever After Lady Bird LaneSerenity You The Gingerbread Blog Cherished Treasures Re-made Just Right Under the Table & Dreaming The Sweet talk Shop Sassafrass Salvation Simple as That My 1929 Charmer Heatherly Loves The Sasse Life Joy 2 Journey The Foley