Monday, April 30, 2012

Our First Flowers

I've never had a green thumb. So I'm taking baby steps toward learning to grow flowers. I started with three flower pots on our back deck.

I added the rocks and the potting soil...

Broke up all the roots...

And watered them all in just like I'm supposed to. Here they are! 

And exactly one week later, they are still alive! So far so good.

Have any of you started any great outdoor projects this Spring?

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Updating a Fireplace - A Work in Progress

This is the lovely fireplace in our Den. Don't you love it? An awkward mantel and a brass insert...I don't think I need to go into the reasons why I hate it. One good thing is that it's not actually crooked in real life, that's just my bad photography.

Within a few weeks of moving in we removed the mantel and ripped out the brass insert, which left us with this. Marginally better than what it was before.

And then we proceeded to leave it sitting like this for months. Needless to say we haven't made the Den a priority at all. But, the fireplace is the first thing that we see every time we walk into the back door so it was high time to start fixing it up.

This room is always a little dark, even with five windows. So I'm planning on painting the walls Benjamin Moore White Dove, and the fireplace the same color in order to lighten everything up.

I started by giving the brick a good cleaning with a damp rag. There were years worth of old soot in the nooks and crannies.

Once it was as clean as I could get it I applied a coat of Kilz Original oil-based primer to seal in all of the dark stains on the brick so that it wouldn't bleed through my light paint. I got as much coverage as I could with a masonry roller, and then finished getting in the crevices with a brush.

Then I followed that up with two coats of Benjamin Moore White Dove satin latex paint, using a masonry roller and finishing with a brush.
Such a difference! I'm really happy with the change.

Now I just need to:
1) Prime and prep the strip along the top of the brick where the mantel used to be to get it ready for paint.
2) Get this old gas log insert removed and the gas line capped by a licensed professional. I don't want to take the rist of blowing up my house.

3) Scrub out the firebox as best I can.

4) Accessorize! I have a few things in mind that I can't wait to get together!

Oh, and paint the wood paneling in the rest of the room, which is going to be a huge job. Have any of you started any new projects around the house? How about any outdoor projects now that the weather is so pretty?

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Lauren Dunn Art Show - Julie Couch Interiors

Last night we celebrated our new relationship with local artist Lauren Dunn at the Julie Couch Interiors showroom! Julie and the rest of us on staff hosted an art show to feature a selection of her paintings. We're very excited to represent her work in the shop! We have paintings available for purchase, and will also be able to arrange custom commissions to suite your needs.

We had a great turnout. Thanks to all of you who attended! Here are a few shots of the showroom before the event started.

These are my favorite pieces that we featured. Her churches (like the one in the background) are always wonderful, and I couldn't resist the hydrangeas in the foreground either!

For more information about Lauren Dunn and her work check out her website here, or follow her on Facebook here. Or just drop by Julie Couch Interiors and see her work in person!

Monday, April 2, 2012

A Night of Music and Friendship

Hey everybody! For those of you who are in the Nashville area, I'd like to invite you to a fundraiser for Kristi Jo this Thursday evening. Kristi's a fabulous friend and coworker of mine. We'll be at the Tin Roof on Demonbreun Street from 6-10pm. It's $10 at the door and all proceeds will go toward Kristi's cancer treatment expenses.

Check out this website for more information.

I'd love to see you all there!