Slipcovers

Instead of buying new furniture for the living room I decided to slipcover an old couch and chair. I had a very talented lady from Faribault, MN make the slipcovers and she once again did a wonderful job! Here is a link to more work that she has done for me. I love the idea of being able to pull the covers off and throw them in the wash. I decided on a denim fabric so it is very durable and washable. The furniture looks new and refreshed!

Living Room Before and After

Here is where I wish that I would have taken before and after pictures, I had already primed the walls when I took the before shot, so you do not get the full effect. There was pink and blue stripes painted on the walls and stenciling painted within the stripes.

Before and After of Sunroom

The house has a great little sunroom full of windows. This is where I have my computer so I can look out from all directions. The great black and white chair is from Zinnia. Here is the before and after pictures, all this room needed was some paint and few cracks repaired.

Before and After

I am not good at taking before pictures and now I am sorry I was not better about it. This house had stenciling on every wall, it looked as though it had been wallpaper, pink and blue striped walls with flower stenciled in, it was a jungle. The kitchen cupboards were pickled or a pickling stain, which I sanded, primed and painted white. I also replaced the old sheet linoleum kitchen floor with commercial tile, very cheap, durable and fun. I replaced the pink countertops, sink and added a black splash. I want glass in the upper cabinets and of course new window treatments everywhere. Here is what I have done so far, I will keep you updated.

Work done in the Kitchen: New countertops, floor, sink, appliances, paint, backsplash, hardware, and removed a closet door to make room for the fridge.

Update

I recently purchase a fixer-upper home in Blue Earth. I have spent the past several months painting over every surface in my little abode, from base board to ceiling. Picking paint colors can be more of a challenge than painting the room, so my salvation has been this great little book and my old House Beautiful Magazines. House Beautiful has a wonder section in every issue that gives valuable information about paint color. This book covers it all from purple (on of my new favorites) to white, yes I said white, there are many different shades and you want just the right one when you are faced with giving all your woodwork a fresh coat of paint or two. So if you are faced with a major or minor painting project look up past issues of House Beautiful or check out this book.

Hello Again

I know it has been a long time, I could give you all kinds of excuses why I have been so lax but I won't. Happy 2010 to all, hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. Zinnias is gearing up for another year of buisness as we will be headed to New York to attend market at the end of the month. Zinnias will be closed on Mondays for the month of January.