Decking the deck

Last weekend I went on a date with Matt...to our deck! I wanted to have a fun date-like evening without actually getting all prettied up and paying a babysitter. But, to make it feel like a legitimate date, I decorated our deck to give it a cool outdoor cafe vibe. 

Since I wasn't sure how night pictures would turn out, I took a few when there was still a good bit of sunlight left. Since it is staying lighter longer, I wanted to bring some color to our deck before the candles and white lights worked their magic in the dark. Using some construction paper and twine from past projects, I made a little flag banner. Not too perfect - I didn't trace my triangles or hang them the same way. Just on the right side of imperfect how I like it. :) It's already rained on my banner since the weekend and while it softened the colors just a bit, the banner is still in tact! Think I'll keep it around through the 4th of July at least!

I wrapped some mason jars in floral wire to create handles and then filled them with small unscented votives

White lights, my disco ball from Home Depot, (one of their Christmas items), and gold beaded garland from the dollar tree, (used in one of my kids' crafts last season). I like anything shiny near white lights for added sparkle! 

 I like the look of smaller, intimate spaces within large open ones. I pulled up the wicker chair, added a few throw pillows to the built in bench, and a colorful little side table, (with a bucket of Root Beers underneath), and made a cozy little 'nook' on our deck for chillin'.

And when the sun went down, everything glowed!

(I roped a rag garland that Shire and I made a while back using scrap fabric over the banister - also still in tact after our rain)

The darker it got, the better it all looked. We played Jenga, Rummy, (twice), and Golf, (twice) - I lost every single game. 

Did you know cigars repel mosquitoes?! And I hate mosquitoes.

Sitting under glowing white lights, playing our favorite games and listening to our favorite tunes - a perfect date with my guy if you ask me.

Thank you for reading!

~Chelsea

This post was originally featured under Chelsea's Garage, now affectionately known as StyleMutt.

Life Happening: Our week in pictures

Hello, weekend. Missed ya.

A week ago my Matt and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary with a wonderful date night out in downtown Arlington....wonderful until my shoe broke during our (long) walk back to our car. 

It went from sweet and romantic to downright hilarious! It was a talking shoe! (I had those shoes since high school! It was a good run. RIP old friends)

Then I was humored again just watching Dad and daughter go at it with their corn on the cob during my birthday cookout.

The first task of the week was making paper airplanes to finish off our little guys' room.

Watched the boys play (in the sprinkler)....

...while the girl created. <3

Made breakfast for dinner during a wild storm we had one evening - cuz nothing says safe and cozy like waffles :)

Caught our breath at a cafe after a morning of errands

Got my iced coffee and the little ones got my homemade pumpkin-banana bread.

My oldest by a minute, but my oldest nevertheless.

My, how they've grown. Combined weight at birth = 8lbs 14oz. Combined weight now = almost more than I can carry!

Almost.

Have a wonderful weekend and happiest Father's Day to all the fine men doing one of life's most special jobs.

~Chelsea

This post was originally featured under Chelsea's Garage, now affectionately known as StyleMutt.

Buffet with salvaged (looking) drawers

Over the past week I have had the absolute pleasure of working with a wonderfully creative client. We've discussed some really fun and unique ideas for how she wants her pieces refinished and they are different from anything I've ever done. I love fresh, new ideas and enjoy working a bit out of the box....so when she showed me a picture of an amazing piece that looked like the drawers had been made from the salvaged wood of shipping crates, I was ready to get started immediately. Such an interesting project!

Here is my replicated version:

I wanted to personalize this piece for my sweet client so I included the city she's from, Washington D.C., on the drawers. For all my francophone friends, imagine how cute this idea would be with Paris streets and addresses! 

I included a few small peeks of the green underneath. I'd forgotten how much I adore a saturated mossy green next to a vibrant aqua. Love!

(Recognize the piece? It's the moss green storage buffet that I had refinished a while ago in Chateau Grey by Annie Sloan chalk paint. It was just the size my client needed and I was happy to refinish it again. She requested Duck Egg blue, also by Annie Sloan. FYI, I've never mentioned it, but it is extremely easy to paint chalk paint over chalk paint. I had completely finished this piece before when it was done in Chateau Grey - wax and all. I just painted right over the buffed wax with my Duck Egg, no problem)

This was definitely one of my favorite custom orders yet and so much fun to work on!

Thank you for reading!

~Chelsea

This post was originally featured under Chelsea's Garage, now affectionately known as StyleMutt.