2013 - Page 15 of 36 - Pretty Handy Girl

Before and After, chair glides, Chalkboard paint, floor protectors, Furniture, painting, Painting & Antiquing Techniques, painting chair, Spray paint wood, Trash to Treasure, Tutorial, Upcycling

The Painted Chairs – a Second Chance Makeover

My search for some small chairs for the kitchen table area is finally over! The chairs I had before blocked the view from my kitchen to the family room and vice-versa, their backs were too high and overall they were too big for that small space.

I’d seen some pretty, small and colorful chairs from the catalog magazines I receive, but their prices weren’t that pretty. Almost $150 per chair! Craiglist was my searching place, it almost took me a year but I found them, $5 each!

Their condition was good, no squeaky sounds, loosened parts or missing screws. Their appearance was on the drab side, they looked better in these pictures than they did in real live. At some point they had been re-stained but the job was poorly done because they felt bumpy.

I knew they deserved a second chance! And I knew just how to do that.

Materials: Read more

September 4, 2013/24 Comments/by Cristina Garay

book, Giveaway

Two Good Reads

Okay, let’s get this out upfront. THIS IS NOT A DIY POST. There, I said it. So, if you want a tutorial, come back tomorrow.

Now, the rest of you who like to read, I know you like to read because you stuck around. And if you follow my blog, I know you like to read and DIY! Which is why I know you’ll love Ladies’ Night by Mary Kay Andrews!

What really made this book all the more enjoyable is that the main character, Grace, is a blogger and she loves to remodel homes!

This book is full of laugh out loud moments as jilted Grace Stanton recovers and bounces back after she catches her husband with her assistant. Ladies’ Night is filled with juicy nuggets of revenge. A shirtless and attractive guy. And a crew of divorcees who bring the hilarity to a weekly Anger management class.

I highly recommend Ladies’ Night as a fun read that will keep you laughing and take the weight off your day. After I finished the book, my Mom snatched it up and couldn’t put it down either (fun for all ages!)

Enjoy!

The second book I’m recommending is Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain.

Where Ladies’ Night is light and fun. Necessary Lives spins the amazing tales of several women affected by the forced sterilization practices in rural North Carolina. Based on true stories (but told through fictional characters), Necessary Lies will takes you into the seemingly simple life of a rural farm in North Carolina.

You’ll walk in Ivy Hart’s shoes as a young teenager falling in love with a boy who is not “in her class.” And you’ll work alongside Jane Forrester as she struggles to help and do what she thinks is right for her clients including Ivy Hart and her sister Mary Ella.

Your beliefs and understanding of the forced sterilization program will be changed forever. I promise. A must read and a true page turner. Check out Diane’s site for more ordering information!

The giveaway has ended! Congrats to Tami, Mrs. C. Ashworth, Patti, Marie and Carol!

Disclosure: I was provided with two review copies of each book. I was not compensated or told what to write. I’m sharing these books with you of my own will, because I’m sure you’ll love them as much as I did.

September 3, 2013/10 Comments/by Brittany Bailey

Decorating, Guest room, Home Decor, Home Maintenance, Lowe's Creative Idea, Tutorial, Window, window dressing

How to Install Window Blinds and Curtains {Lowe’s Creator}

Painted Lampshade & a Quick Guest Room Makeover | Pretty Handy Girl

Whoa. What happened to summer? Labor Day is here and that means the holidays are just around the corner. I’ve started to think about sprucing up our guest room in anticipation of having guests. The number one complaint our guests have (not that many of them complain) is that there is too much light that comes in the window in the morning. When Lowe’s asked us to focus on window treatments in September, I realized the time had come to address this blinding light situation. Little did I know, that installing new blinds and curtains would take less than an hour!

Here is the basic window that I started with. (Yes, there’s a roller shade there, but it was hidden under a valance and frankly it’s a pain to use.)

After taking a few measurements, I headed to Lowe’s to look at the options for window blinds and curtains. It was a tough decision because I really liked some of the roman shades. But, I wanted a blind that wouldn’t block much light when it was raised. I settled on the Levolor cordless room darkening cellullar shade. Not only does it have a low profile when installed, but raising it and lowering is as easy as pressing a button. Plus, no strangulation hazards because there are no external cords! I’m kicking myself for not doing this sooner.

How to Install Blinds and Curtains from Lowe’s in less than an hour: Read more

September 2, 2013/11 Comments/by Brittany Bailey

art, arts and craft, decor, Decorating, Guests, mirrored glass

Mosaicworks Glass Tile Rainbow Mirror {Guest Post}

Have you ever been browsing Pinterest or the blog world and come across an artist that has literally left your mouth hanging open? Well Karen from MosaicWorks may have caused me to drool a bit on my keyboard. I immediately asked her if she’d like to share a tutorial with you.

But, first let me give you a little background about Karen. She studied Illustration in Art School and ended up as a graphic designer (the similarities are uncanny.) She also authored and illustrated a children’s book called Mr. Bob’s Magic Ride in the Sky. She lives in Oshawa, Ontario with her husband, two daughters, and two dogs (William and Kate…the royal canine couple.) She’s a blogger and an extremely talented mosaic artist! You MUST follow her blog at MosaicWorks.ca. Her creative projects are brilliant and her musings and short photo posts are enough to lighten your day.

Without further chatter, I turn you over to Karen!

Hello Pretty Handy Girl readers. I’m a mosaic artist who, like Brittany, is always up for a good DIY. Read more

September 1, 2013/9 Comments/by Brittany Bailey

Aged, Build It, distressing, Do It Yourself, hole repair, kitchen, Kitchen Renovation

How to Build a Custom Wood Range Hood

Have you seen the beautiful custom range hoods on my Pinterest board? From the beginning of our kitchen planning sessions, I knew I wanted to put in a custom wood range hood. But, finding a tutorial to build one was tough. The one that helped me the most was Cristina’s how to build a range hood tutorial.

build custom range hood

I knew when I built our hood that I’d need to take detailed notes and photos to help you accomplish your own project. I hope this tutorial helps you build your own range hood!

Build Custom Range Hood Materials: Read more

August 30, 2013/54 Comments/by Brittany Bailey