Garage Games - Make it work!

Hi there! Wow, I can't believe we're down to 3 days left of the Olympics! The past (almost) 2 weeks have flown by and it feels like they've just begun. I have so enjoyed our little Garage Games over the past couple weeks and will be sad when it's over! I might have to do this again soon, rather than waiting another 2 years for the next Olympics.:)

If you are new to my blog, WELCOME! Please see this post to find out what the heck the Garage Games are so you can participate and enjoy! Photos will be accepted until Sunday August 12, (closing ceremonies of the Olympics).

The photos I've posted so far for the Garage Games have been just. plain. awesome. Creative, inspiring, unique, sentimental...and today's photos are all of the above!

Our first photo is from a gal who probably could have sent a hundred more.:) She is wildly creative and talented and we both share a love for furniture refinishing.

"This was a dark stained desk and I used Annie Sloan's duck egg paint on it then waxed it with a combination of dark and clear wax.  Love it.  Definitely an upgrade to the Ikea model that was in my office :)" -T

A stunning desk like this would have me wanting to work overtime! Nicely done, T!

Our next photos are from a beautiful girl who's beautiful wedding I had the honor of attending during a historic blizzard a few years ago. While the conditions on their wedding day were not what they were expecting, this wonderful couple, (and their photographer), seized some amazing photo opps! When I saw her Garage Games photos I got so excited! She found a beautiful, out in the open way of displaying some of her favorite wedding and engagement photos!

"These are pictures of our bedroom and our makeshift headboard.  I wanted to actually get a real bed with a headboard and all when we moved into this apartment, but I couldn't find one that I liked AND was in our budget.  So we kept the free metal bed frame from the mattress store and I went to work arranging some of my favorite photos into a "headboard".  I LOVE photos and all of these photos are of our engagement and wedding...so it's something that's no longer just a fill-in but something that I really like!" -CS

Wow. Are you looking at these pictures?! So dreamy....and it would have taken me for.ev.er to get these frames arranged 'just so'. It looks awesome, C!

These photos were so fun! Thank you girls VERY much for taking the time to send them!

Remember, 3 days left to get yours in! Anyone and everyone is welcome to participate and if you read the original post about the Garage Games, you know there are jewelry prizes involved :)

Thank you for popping in!

~Chelsea

Garage Games - One of a Kind Decorating

Hello, hello! I hope you are having a wonderful week! I confess that I've been a bit lazy these past few days. There are projects in the garage that need my attention, (and very sweet clients who are waiting on them), but every single one, (8 pieces), happens to need the same color, (which I am almost out of), and this particular paint is a 45 min drive one way. Not a fun trip with 3 tots in toe. Friday. Friday is the day! I'll pack some fun snacks and we'll make an adventure out of it - maybe stop at a fresh produce stand for some peaches since I have promised my husband a peach pie this summer.:)

While I have been lazy, you have been snapping away! I've gotten a few more Garage Games submissions and continue to be impressed and inspired by your creativity! Today's submissions have nothing in common except that they are totally and completely unique. I love seeing rooms or pieces that you would never find anywhere else!

If you are new to my blog, WELCOME! Please see this post to find out what the heck the Garage Games are so you can participate and enjoy! Photos will be accepted until Sunday August 12, (closing ceremonies of the Olympics).

The first set of photos come from a woman after my own heart; a mother of boy-girl twins.:) I empathize with her desire to create a fun and unique room for her little ones which isn't layered in typical neutral colors. When you know you're having a baby boy or baby girl, it's fun to create a nursery according to that gender. But, what do you do if you have both genders in the same room, (even opposite gender siblings who aren't twins)? J.A. has a fantastic idea that just looks so cool and states the obvious: this room is occupied by a boy AND a girl!

"These are pictures of the twins' room. I agonized for ages about what color to paint their room as they will be sharing it for a while and all of their bedding is pink and blue. I didn't want to have to redecorate anything to go with a new paint scheme.  All the suggestions I got were yellows, greens, and oranges. Finally, someone suggested grey which seemed like a good idea but...boring.  I came across a blog that suggested painting horizontal stripes randomly around a kid's room to give it some pizzaz. That was the answer!  We decided on hot pink and navy blue. I feel like it was just enough to make it interesting - and we only had to buy paint samples - not whole cans to do the stripes so it felt economical. I was even able to use the leftover sample paint on the "A" and "S" letters that we hung on their closet. I think it ties it together nicely."

 Sweet Annabelle is wide awake and ready to go! Stephen is still in the adorable sleeping crouch - my favorite baby sleep position.:)

Annabelle, probably revving her engine at this point, hehe

Annnnnd, Stephen. Up, but not really. Love these photos!

Our next photo is an encore presentation, (which is totally allowed since I make the rules), from my Mom in law! Catch her first set of photos here!

"This is a piece we designed and had made for us while in Bogota.  The decorative tile is also a

part of our backsplash in our kitchen.  Behind the glass of the top drawer on the left are coffee beans.The most difficult part was trying to explain what we wanted in Spanish! The irreplaceable pottery pieces were made with love by our grandchildren with a little help from their parents. The large fish, created on Tybee Island, GA.,  and the handcrafted alligator were from very special people."



Could you imagine designing your own piece of furniture? How fun! This is absolutely stunning!

Thank you J.A. and D for such creative and one of a kind photos!

4 days left to submit your Garage Games photos! You never know who you'll inspire - I've received dozens of messages from folks who are already planning to use some of the ideas they've seen posted here over the past week and a half! Love it!!!

Thank you for stopping by!

~Chelsea

Garage Game's - The designer within!

What an awesome weekend we had! Spent lots of time at the pool, played with family, friends and of course, watched the Olympics! The garage was busy, too; Got one custom order finished and photographed on Friday, another dropped off on Saturday, and two more coming in today. I've also got some crazy fun personal projects to work on as we are so close to moving Shire into Mason's bedroom and setting the boys up together in one room. Add to that our front landscaping which we are in the midst of completely redoing, and our kitchen cabinets which I am toeing the line, ready to start painting. This sounds like a lot, but we are pretty good at pacing ourselves. We tend to chip away at things around here rather than hit them headstrong all at once, (for the most part)! I'll be updating the Portfolio Album, (on the left), with photos of recent pieces as they are finished, so be sure to check that out!

We had two submissions for the Garage Games over the weekend from a couple of clever and talented ladies who would probably tell you they are neither clever nor talented, (oh humility can be such a double edge sword!). But, their photos and descriptions beg to differ!

If you are new to my blog, WELCOME! Please see this post to find out what the heck the Garage Games are so you can participate and enjoy! Photos will be accepted until Sunday August 12, (closing ceremonies of the Olympics).

Our first photos today are from one of my all time favorite people; my sister. She is a recent college grad and in that wildly unpopular transitional stage of life as she looks for jobs. She hasn't had the opportunity to decorate a place of her own yet, but wherever she has lived, she's always had a killer bed. Even her dorm bedding was fresh and fun, just like her. Some of my favorite memories are just lying on my sister's bed chatting, laughing, and getting a back rub ;)

"I love my bedspread! I chose it when I was in high school and moving into my older sister's (Chelsea's) bedroom. I was getting really into the color green at the time, because of its subdued and peaceful nature.  I saw this in a magazine and knew it was perfect! I have so many options with it because of the different colors and patterns. My wise Mama paired it with the small green and pink plaid pillows, which I've learned don't MATCH, but GO. I've had it for five years on my bed at home and still love the beautiful designs. I think that as it gets worn and torn after several more years, I'll like it even more!" -C

Just looking at these makes me want to snuggle up for a nap on her bed.:)

Our second guest today is a friend from our life BC - Before Children. That feels like another lifetime ago! I'll tell you what, keeping in touch with friends who knew us before we were parents just warms my heart. People who knew me as me before I became a Mom are so special. This friend, in particular, was an encouragement to me BC, and after. She is dear and I wish we lived closer! Her photos will strike a cord with anyone who has young kiddos, (or maybe a kid-at-heart). :)

"I recovered my kitchen chairs with this awesome fabric. I had a white based covering on before but it quickly got gross.  So, this time I bought some plastic to cover the chairs as well.  So glad I did that! Literally within 48 hours one of the girls spilled.  They thought they were in big trouble! But the plastic did its job and protected the chair.  It is amazing what new fabric and a staple gun can do!" -L

Notes on type of plastic, from L: "I just got the middle weight of plastic tablecloth at the fabric store.  I felt each of the different weights and picked  the one I thought would work and be easy to work with."

Brilliant, L! Now she can have the fresh, colorful and fun fabric that she wants on her chairs, and let her kids be kids. A win-win situation for all parties!

Thank you very much to these amazing women who shared their beautiful, (and handy), work with us today. You guys are awesome!

If you're thinking about what you want to submit, don't wait too long! We've got less than a week to go for Garage Games submissions. I am SO excited to see what is sent in over these last several days!

Thank you for stopping by!

~Chelsea