from drab to fab: the cane chair makeover.

May 9, 2019 Ally Willis

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When I used to do design work for a contractor, it was in my job description to shop. whether it was to decorate and furnish the newly constructed contractor's office or to select mirrors or cabinet hardware for a client, I got paid to go shopping. every girl's dream, right?

I've actually never been a huge shopper. perhaps it's because I tend to be frugal and don't love to spend money. perhaps it's because it wasn't something I did much growing up. I'm one of four children and shopping [with four kids in tow] wasn't something my mother did often or happily. so, maybe it's genetic—my mom doesn't like to shop, so it's only natural that I don't enjoy it. whatever the reason, shopping is not exactly my first choice unless I am searching for—or happening upon—something for my home. now that is something I love. yard sales + secondhand stores are what my dreams are made of.

occasionally, when running errands for work, I'd make the necessary stops and shop for clients, but I'd also stop by Goodwill or one of my other honey holes if I got the chance. I was doing just that when I came across this pretty little chair. I knew it would need some sprucing, but for ten bucks? I couldn't pass that up.

The white paint makes me think the previous owner tried their hand at DIY-ing, but stopped short of reupholstering it. the green fabric looks a little dated, like it may be from the 80s or 90s. I knew for certain it was older when I was standing on the chair one day to fix something up high and I heard the fabric rip under my feet. oops. good thing I was planning on fixing it up! another tell-tale sign of its age happened when I began the reupholstery... the original foam seat cushion had rotted and begun to break down.

I would've loved to have stripped the chair down to the natural wood. however, due to the cane being painted and the fact that stripping can damage cane, I decided to just paint it. as always, I was going for a timeless, traditional look, so my vision included black paint and some kind of neutral fabric. at first I planned to use an ivory fabric I picked up at the fancy fabric store during a remnant sale, but I ended up using a canvas drop cloth. this isn’t my first go-round using this material for drapery and upholstery. remember this? instead of using a nailhead trim to finish it off, I opted for a softer, more feminine look with this trim I found at Hobby Lobby.

I started off with a bang and quickly ran out of gas. removing the nailhead trim was an extremely tedious—and dangerous—process and took hours. imagine little nails heads flying from every direction. I can't remember how many nail heads there were, but I know it was a lot because I lost count after I got to a hundred. then, when it came time for painting, I decided to give milk paint a try. I wasn't too impressed with the finish, so I ended up using regular ol' latex paint. before I could recover anything, I had to reinforce the seating by replacing the webbing. after that, I had to get a new cushion and cut it to size. suffice it to say, nothing went "according to plan." this chair may have been a steal for the price, but it certainly took a labor of love to transform it.

It only took a year to finish this project! sadly, I'm not kidding. let the record show, though, that I didn't work on this steadily, just whenever I had spare time or felt like it. I bought it in February 2017, right before my first baby turned a year old. then I had another baby that summer. in March 2018, I set to work on the chair’s makeover. for some silly reason, I thought I could finish the whole project within a month’s time. I was in a hurry to get it done, so we could have more seating available for Grey’s second birthday party in April 2018. I missed that deadline—but only by a year! we celebrated our boy’s third birthday a couple weeks ago and this little old chair finally made its big debut!

While I am pleased with the finished product, there is something to be said about the art of upholstery. it is surely not for the faint of heart. the scope of work in my project was on the smaller side and it wore me out! I can’t imagine reupholstering a wing chair or sofa. despite its challenges, though, it is certainly rewarding. but don’t be surprised if I take a little break before I get around to the cane barrel back chair that’s been sitting in the garage for a year or two. maybe next year…

SOURCES

gimp braid trim in natural | Hobby Lobby
buffalo check throw pillow | Tuesday Morning
blue + white lamp | Ralph Lauren via TJ Maxx
blue + white planter | Ross

the apothecary cabinet.

March 15, 2019 Ally Willis

I came across this little apothecary cabinet through an online market page. I probably didn't need it; but as soon as I spotted it, I saw its potential and couldn't stop dreaming of the transformation. and for only twenty-five bucks? it was totally worth it.

the seller listed it as an apothecary cabinet and described it as very heavy. upon reading the description, I assumed it was an antique and a steal at that. I simply couldn't pass it up. now that it's mine, I'm almost positive it is no antique. while it is a heavy piece as it is solid wood, the wood seems newer. obviously if it was an antique, it would have more character and patina. I certainly don't regret the purchase, though.

If you've been following the blog from the beginning, you may remember the bedside table transformation. as soon as I saw this cabinet, I knew I wanted to do essentially the same thing: give it a fresh coat of black chalkboard paint, season it with chalk, wipe the "seasoning" off with a felt cloth, and update the hardware.

Based on the paint job and the decorative knobs, I imagine that this piece previously belonged in a child's room. my initial vision was inspired by old card catalogs. I would've loved to replace the ceramic knobs with card holder drawer pulls. however, due to the dimensions and the drawer fronts being so small, I ended up going with a simple cabinet knob. I prefer the warmth and tradition of brass fixtures and hardware, so I chose this antique bronze flat knob from Hobby Lobby. I snatched them while the hardware was 50% off, so I got nine knobs for $18 plus tax. not too shabby!

I applied 2-3 coats of chalkboard paint, letting it dry completely between each coat. a couple days later, I seasoned, or lightly scribbled, on the surface with white chalk and wiping it down after with a piece of felt. it took a little while for me to purchase all nine knobs, but I got around to it eventually.

Now it sits near our hearth. it adds contrast to the red brick and to a mostly neutral room. the little drawers are so fun! in the spring, I snipped some roses from our yard, put them in jar of fresh water, and placed it in one of the drawers. the apothecary cabinet also doubles as the perfect hiding place for small objects… trucks, pacifiers—you name it. I even found a few Fruit Loops in a some of the drawers. and even though it may not be an antique now, it certainly will be someday. maybe this piece will stay in my family forever, or long enough to become "antique."

SOURCES:

drawer knobs | Hobby Lobby
Valspar chalkboard paint | Lowe’s

laundry room remodel | pt. ii

December 3, 2018 Ally Willis

progress report.

It's time for a quick update on our laundry room remodel! there was a time when I jokingly said that I hoped we'd have this project completed by the end of the year, thinking how in the world could we not? these days, I think it will be a Christmas miracle if this thing wraps up while we're still in the year 2018. if you're just tuning in, catch yourself up on our laundry room remodel by reading part one here.

To be sure, we have made progress. after all, this wouldn't be much of a progress report if there was no progress. the new countertops are nearly complete. all that's left to do is a final coat and sealant once they have cured, which takes thirty days. if you're just joining us, we covered our laminate countertops with concrete. sounds a little crazy, right? it probably is, but my thinking behind that is that nothing can be worse than the dusty blue counters we began with. I mean, even with a risky DIY such as this, it's hard to mess up something like that and have a worse outcome. we were willing to take that chance, anyway. I will share more about this process in the final reveal post. for now, I am really pleased with how things are looking.

After removing the upper cabinets, which were glued to the wall, there were quite a few spots that needed to be patched. a little drywall tape and joint compound fixed that right up. a fresh coat of paint and several true crime podcasts later, the wall looks brand new.

a couple weeks ago marked our five year wedding anniversary. we spent the evening celebrating the most romantic way I know how—DIYing. with a little research and absolutely zero experience under our tool belts, we installed a tile backsplash ourselves! I would bet a million dollars that five years ago, my husband never would have imagined that's how we'd spend any anniversary. in my mind, though, we're right on track! I'm teasing… sort of.

would you believe we actually both enjoyed this project? I know this because Drew actually started on it without me. typically when it comes to home improvement, I am begging/having to consult and formally schedule with my husband to begin a project. not so this time around... while I was chasing our youngest through the house, I passed by the laundry room to find Drew spreading thinset on the wall with a trowel and putting the first subway tile in place. "what do you think you're doing?" I demanded. he turned with a smile, "I just couldn't wait anymore." though I appreciated his enthusiasm, I had been dreaming of this moment for months and wanted to be a part of every second of the tiling process. needless to say, we tucked our boy into bed shortly after and headed straight to work together.

a couple days after the thinset dried, it was time for grout! to be totally honest, this part was not as fun as I had hoped and neither of us much enjoyed it. but it is a necessary step and we got it done and that’s what that counts. it was our very first time to tackle a tile project; and though it was a small area that didn’t require too many cuts, I’m happy to add this skill to our resumé. I’m sure a professional could take a look at our work and spot imperfections immediately, but I think it looks pretty darn good if I do say so myself. I’m proud of us for trying something new and tickled that the results were decent. I'll share more details in the reveal post about products used, tips, etc.

The wood brackets for the open shelving have been painted, as you can see. the lumber for the shelves has been cut. I need to prime and paint the boards. and the plan is to install it all this week. I am extra excited about this part!

I hung a few woven trays on the wall near the desk, so we've got that going for us as well. I am so happy to see this room slowly coming together! I think it's shaping up to be a really lovely space. I need to pick up some spray paint and lock my other handyman [aka my father] down. he’s always been skilled in spray-painting, so I’ve recruited him to help me give the old metal lockers a fresh coat of paint. here’s hoping we knock that out in the next week or two! if we do, it looks like there may just be a chance we could wrap things up before the clock strikes twelve on 2018. I’ll keep you posted…

if you want to keep up with all the little details between blog posts, give the tiny white house a follow on instagram. I post there more frequently, and almost always share as things are happening on the laundry room remodel... as well as in other rooms + projects taking place!

in case you missed it, I’m sharing all the sweet details from the first birthday party we ever hosted. head to the blog to find out more about this no-bake-cake! you read that right! no baking required—on your part. let the grocery store

part one of “be our guest” is live on the blog! this little series on hosting is filled with tips + tricks and birthday party ideas, as well as colorful anecdotes and a few what-not-to-dos. today, I am sharing about Grey’s sweet fir

this table is a little pinker than my usual work, wouldn’t you say? that’s because it’s valentines-inspired. I joined some sweet friends in another secondhand table challenge and all the details are on the blog. I set this table wit

never done this before, but I thought I'd give it a try since I haven't met all of you! also because I wanted to put these dining room "headshots" to good use. it's not every day that I have on makeup and pants that button.
——&m

it didn't take quite as much time or strategy as the eclectic gallery in our bedroom, but it still took awhile to get this one together. I collected the wooden frames for about a year, ordered prints & had photos matted [a mix of custom + pre-cut

the evolution of the stairwell + a visual representation that creating a home truly is a process. and it's one that I love. I snapped the first photo this week; the second, last Christmas; the third, Christmas 2017, and the last photo is the state in

it's been a good Saturday around here! long afternoon naps, my favorite shrimp + corn chowder on the stove, and tonight I'm headed to the symphony with my mother + sister because we are nothing if not classy & cultured. [kidding, sort of] hope y'

creating a secondhand table for thanksgiving was so much fun, that we decided a Christmas edition was a must! in case you missed it or the name doesn't make sense, the challenge is to create a tablescape using only secondhand goods or items you alrea

laundry room remodel | pt. i

September 9, 2018 Ally Willis

the before.

I tend to wait until a project is complete to share it here on the blog. but this time, I decided I'd share this project as we go, updating you along the way... because honestly, when it comes to home improvement projects, things can move a little slow at the tiny white house. that's not necessarily the speed at which I like to do projects, but that's just life right now. and slow progress is better than no progress, right?

Despite the desperate need for updates throughout our home, there were several features that stood out the first time we saw our house. it had good bones, if you will. the laundry room was a prime example. at 8' by 10' with two windows, it is an open, airy space, far different from the tiny laundry closet in our first home. I had big dreams for this space the second I laid eyes on it. I knew it held such potential. one of the main reasons I want to make the most of this room is because it is seen. while we don't exactly "hang out" in it, our laundry room is directly off the kitchen and open to the side entry, or friend's entry. it also leads to the garage. plus, there is no door to the laundry room, so there's no hiding what's in there. we might as well make the most of it!

With so much else on our to-do list [see extensive list pictured above], though, the laundry room just got the basics: popcorn ceiling scraped, wallpaper border removed, a fresh coat of paint, a new light fixture, and new tile flooring. this did wonders for the room, of course; but my vision was far from complete.

since this is larger than the average size laundry room, I really wanted to take advantage of the space in this room, using every single inch. here is the game plan:

replace upper cabinets with open shelving
refinish laminate countertops
paint lower cabinets + update cabinet hardware
install some type of locker system, whether it be wooden built-ins or metal lockers
create a home office + command center

CABINETRY

the cabinetry, though dingy and worn, provides excellent covered storage. I considered keeping the existing cabinets and getting new cabinet doors, but the upper cabinets were small and the shelving was practically useless—too short to store cookbooks or a box of detergent upright. of course, I could lay books sideways; but the more I thought about it, I really wanted to have a little open shelving. I know this is very "in" right now. as a rule, I tend to steer away from anything trendy. but since this is a small space, I thought it would be a good place to experiment. besides, I am fairly confident I can create open shelving that is both timeless and traditional.

COUNTERTOPS

the lovely, blue laminate counter boasts a stainless steel sink, albeit small. but that dusty blue obviously has to go. I considered painting it, but am leaning more towards refinishing it using a concrete overlay. there are roughly one million blogs giving detailed tutorials on this and reviewing why concrete countertops are awesome and/or horrible, so I'll leave that to them. for us, the choice was easy and meets all our criteria:

it fits the budget
I like the way it looks
my husband doesn't want to do it

that's how I know it's the perfect fix. but seriously, after much research, this is our best option. many of the articles I read mentioned scratching + staining as one of the downsides of concrete countertops. since this isn't a high traffic area and since it is in our laundry room, I'm simultaneously not too worried about that and preparing myself to be okay with such things happening. after all, this is a laundry room and a scratch or stain on the counter is far from the end of the world.

LOCKERS

I also wanted some type of locker for storage, whether it be built-in or actual metal lockers. there is a perfect spot for this, in the corner right next to the door that leads to the garage [pictured above]. for awhile, I was set on built-in wooden cubbies. it seemed like it would be more difficult to find the kind of metal lockers I liked for a reasonable price, so I thought built-ins would be easier. again, this was not at all a priority and we never even got around to getting measurements or supplies to build lockers. then one day last February, I found some for sale on Facebook. an old gym in town was being remodeled and they had tons of lockers they were getting rid of. I got a set of six for $72. I had been looking for awhile and never seen any that I liked as much and none as cheap, so that seemed like a good deal to me. here they are, sitting in our garage... where they've been for the past seven months. they still need a little work, but I think they'll be perfect for this space.

HOME OFFICE

my husband gave me a beautiful, antique table for Christmas a few years ago and I knew it would be perfect as a desk. I tend to write, draw, make lists, jot things down in my planner, etc. from the comfort of my bed. now don't get me wrong—I don't ever mind snuggling up in bed for any reason. however, it would be nice and more practical to have a spot specifically for these tasks—a command center, if you will. eventually I'll clear this pretty little piece off. until then, it makes for an excellent catchall.

PROGRESS

the last week of August, we decided to make September a no spend month. I was itching to do a project [shocker, right?] and with the boys at their grandparents' overnight, it seemed like the perfect time to get started on our laundry room! of course, since we're on a spending freeze, there's only so much we can do. lucky for us, demolition is F-R-E-E. early Saturday morning, we got to work and removed the upper cabinets. our home renovation didn't require much demo, so this was kind of a first for us. it took a little elbow grease as the cabinets were glued to the wall, but we got the job done. since I was in work mode and had leftover paint from other projects, I went ahead and painted the lower cabinets. our house was built circa 1980, never updated, and the cabinets didn't get a fresh coat of paint when we moved in in early 2017, so it was much needed. I can't wait to pick out new hardware and install it!

it's exciting to see my vision come to life... slowly, but surely. maybe when October rolls around and we can spend money again, we'll knock more things off the to-do list. I can't wait! stay tuned for progress reports...

sources:

wall color | Wool Skein by Sherwin-Williams
light fixture | Lowe's

the nursery | pt. iii

August 21, 2018 Ally Willis

a nursery for two.

If you've been following the tiny white house for any length of time, you know I have shared before about the nursery. this room is ever-changing and has quite evolved since the need for a nursery arose nearly three years ago. the first, original nursery flooded, along with our house, in the spring of 2016. we set up a second nursery when we moved in with my parents temporarily. you can read about that nursery here. the nursery changed again when we bought our first home, spent months renovating it, and moved in in March 2017. click here to read more about the nursery pt. ii.

some of the changes made were subtle. other changes were more noticeable, such as furniture placement. last summer, a not-so-subtle change took place—not only in our nursery, but also in our family—as we welcomed another baby into the world.

in November 2016, days before Grey turned seven months old, we found out our little family was growing. this certainly came as a surprise, but has turned out to be the best thing, better than anything we could ever have planned. apparently God really does know what He's doing. I wanted the babies to share a room, regardless of the gender [we continued with the element of surprise and didn't find out]. and on July 20th, 2017, we welcomed our second baby, a little boy named Rhett. the sweet nursery for our first child became a nursery for two.

here's a flashback of how the nursery used to look:

and here is how it looks today...

Something we realized about halfway through my second pregnancy is that we would have to purchase another crib. for some reason, it took awhile for this thought to register. you see, when we bought the sweet Jenny Lind crib that our firstborn sleeps in, I assumed that would be the very crib that all of our children would sleep in. turns out when you have babies nearly fifteen months apart, you may need more than one crib. when I sat down to order a second Jenny Lind crib, this message flashed across the top of the screen: "you already purchased this in February 2016." yeah, I know, Amazon. thank you for the reminder.

I loved Grey's original bedding. I chose a simple blue ticking for the fabric and my husband's precious grandmother sewed a darling crib skirt with a box pleat. after we found out we were expecting again and I began to daydream about nurseries, I realized I would have to get another crib skirt made to match. she is the sweetest woman and I know she would happily have done it, but I hated to ask this of her. after thinking on it, I decided to do away with the idea of crib skirt completely. I would just buy matching crib sheets. after all, less is more.

one day, I googled "toile crib sheets" and that's how I happened upon the crib sheets I ended up ordering and using. the brand is Sweet Jojo Designs and I purchased them online from Bed Bath and Beyond. toile has always been a favorite pattern of mine, so the thought of getting to use it in the nursery thrilled me.

Since the very first nursery, a potting bench has served as our changing table. this is one of the first pieces of furniture I bought for our home. I found it at a garage sale for $40 a few months before Drew + I married. in the original tiny white house, it sat in our living room as our entertainment center. it has been in the nursery ever since. the boys absolutely love it. they like to climb onto the lower shelf to sit and play. I think I'm ready to transition it outside to use it as an actual potting bench, but I'm hesitant. I've loved this piece in the boys' room and I know taking it away won't be popular with them.

The window treatment didn't necessarily need updating, but since I was in a sprucing mood... my husband built a cornice board. I actually used the same window panels as before, I just added the cornice board for a little something extra. as most of our projects do, it took much longer than it should to complete; even still, I love how it turned out.

We had to rearrange some furniture to make room for a second crib, obviously. but all things considered, I am just tickled with the finished product. in fact, I love this space so much, which is good since we spend much of our time in it. I originally composed this post in May 2017, few months before our second baby arrived. the closing line read: I can't wait to bring home another precious baby and for all the memories that will be made in this sweet shared nursery. and now, more than a year later, that second baby is a one-year-old and I am finally getting around to publishing it. I will forever cherish the memories being made by the sweet brothers that share this room. it is the joy of my life raising two little boys, watching them grow + become friends, and waking up every morning to their laughter [and let's be real—some days tears]. sometimes I can't believe this is my life.

full disclosure: because I want to be transparent and not create the illusion that my house and children are always clean + perfect, I want you to know that this precious nursery very rarely looks this nice. after all, there are two busy, little boys living in it. the boxwood wreaths hanging on the cribs, though idyllic, are a safety hazard I'm sure and the boys have been known to rip leaves from them by the handful. I threw them up for the photoshoot and took them down immediately after. the books and other accessories pictured do belong in the nursery, but are used less for reading and aesthetics and more for throwing and playing. but I have learned [read: am learning] that this is okay. I want my children to be free to play and make messes and not be afraid to touch the things that make their room, and our home, the special place that it is. I once heard it said, "it doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful." isn't that the truth?