happy birthday mom.

Today is my mom's birthday. Happy Birthday mom!

She had mentioned to me in the past she wanted me to refinish a little pine end table they had in the family room. It had seen better days. I'm sure she thinks I forgot she had mentioned it but nope I had plans!

Enter the before: the top was all worn down and the legs dinged up.

I snuck the table out and gave it a much needed boost!

The room is pretty neutral with pops of navy so I decided to paint the base navy (yes I'm in my blue phase right now) and refinish the top to a darker richer stain.

Ahhh! So much better!

Avery helped me with the first coat. She actually did really well. I told her I'd consider putting her on the payroll.

Happy Birthday Mom, hope you like it!

p.s. mom if you find spelling errors in this post (because you always do) take the night off it is your birthday!

Avery Cabinet re-done.

The "Avery Cabinet" is up in the shop!

It got a fresh coat of blue paint with some nautical inspired numbers for a little something extra.

I tested out the Elmer's Glue trick and it worked pretty good. If you don't know the trick it's supposed to give paint a crackle finish.

All you have to do is paint the glue on pretty thick and let it dry a little until it's tacky then go over it with paint.

I used the navy as my base coat and went over it with white then once it was dry did a dry brush over the white with more blue to tone it down a bit an give it a more wore look.
If you want to try it out I suggest working in small sections at a time because the glue dries quickly.

The inside of the antique wardrobe is all cedar with a hanging bark up top. I used it to store crafts and things in it. I hung velcro cubbies from the top bar for more vertical storage.

Happy Friday Everyone!

furniture snap shots.

It seems the days are flying by and my schedule has been so packed I just haven't had the time to share any furniture lately and I've been painting up a storm.

Sadly I haven't had the time to properly style and photograph anything. Which is one of my favorite parts of this little biz!

*spoiler alert:

priming and sanding aren't one of my favorite parts but it goes with the gig :)

If you follow me on Instagram (Averybird24) you may know we recently upgraded our trailer to an enclosed 5x10. We've already done one delivery/pick up with it and can I just tell you it has been amazingness! My darling husband redid all the plywood on the inside and got tracks so we can just strap things right to the walls!

And in this crazy New England weather it allows us to do deliveries no matter what!

Okay so back to the furniture here are some pictures of a few items we just delivered last week. I'm ashamed they are taken with my phone in peoples driveways but flying by the seat of my pants seems to be how things are going lately.

This dresser got some fresh navy blue paint

(I know you can't really tell by the photo but it's a rich classy navy)!

I was going for a more nautical feel I think because the color is called Hale Navy (by Ben Moore if you're wondering). I went with it and got some really cool weather wood carved knobs and one of my go to brushed nickel cup pulls. 

I've been working with a lot of pregnant mommas to be lately. This first project was a dresser and nightstand for a little girls room. From what I've seen; the crib, the rug, the wall color...the room is gonna look amazing!

I told my client I'll have to grab some photos of the completed space but in the meantime here's the furniture. I grabbed a shot right before we rolled it into the trailer so I could email it to her at work.

She was excited and wasn't going to be home for the delivery...of the furniture not her baby :)

Soft white dresser and nightstand to go with the white crib. Light distressing around the edges and per request brushed pulls (look familiar?) and glass knobs. The glass knobs are really pretty the almost look like pinecones.

The nightstand has a little cubby and the babies room is going to have soft touches of light blue and pink so I found a blue in the same color way as the pink walls and popped the inside with it. Just a little fun touch of whimsy.

I'm still on the hunt for a tall bookcase to finish off the nursery!

This next piece was picked up a few weeks ago along with a king headboard & footboard that I didn't grab a shot of. Again phone pic in the horrible basement lights.

(hanging my head in shame)

This guy got sanded down to natural wood and re-stained on the top and a cream base with light distressing and original hardware per the clients request. The bed got a matching paint finish.

I have the newly painted "Avery" Cabinet finished just have to grab some shots and I promise they won't be with my phone!

So sorry for not sharing in a while I'm really trying to work on putting together a better "schedule" for myself and my goals. Speaking of goals I started a list last night of some thoughts and ideas I'd like to tackle with my business, the blog etc. 

I'll share that soon but in the meantime if anyone has any suggestions on what they like, what they don't like what you want to see more of or not so much of please, please share!

trashy lights.

No. I'm not referring to the leg light from A Christmas Story.

I'm talking about Avery's new light fixture in her room.

If you've been around awhile you may remember me DIYing her the pink stick chandelier:

how to instructions

We'll I liked it and all but in true Courtney fashion; been there done that, it's been over 2 years I'm ready for something new and Jeff hates hanging chandeliers for me so why not bug him to help me switch it up kind of mood!

So whats a girl to do?

Buy a trash bin at Homegoods for $14.99 and convince her husband that a trash bin can be converted into a light fixture. He knows better to even ask questions anymore :)

So after I removed the velcro lining and we bought a socket kit and a ceiling attachment screw thing...Avery had a new light!

Oh and where was Avery while all this was happening you ask?

With the other caged animals per request of course!

This picture cracks me up. It's on of her favorite things to do...toss in ALL her "babies" and jump around with them.

Okay so back to the light....

What do you think?

I love the way the light casts shadows all over the room.

I still need to get some touch up paint to cover the screws and socket to make it look prettier.

Oh, and if you follow Reckless Glamour on Facebook I mentioned I had some new stuff to add to the shop. Well things have gone before I could even post them. I had a client pick up a bed and dresser I refinished for them and they spotted the mirror and grabbed that too.

At least I managed to grab a few photos so I thought I'd share anyways.

My cheerleader in the reflection looking perfectly posed!

cataloging 103.

Let's talk about catalogs for a second. Lately I've noticed they are getting more and more like mini home decor magazines however the best part, they are free!

I've said before how I somewhat "study" these catalogs looking for hidden items and ideas they may not necessarily be advertising for sale but I see them as good ideas to recreate.

First one I came across was the layered rug look.

Adds a lot of texture and interest. Potterybarn shows the idea here on an angle.

I came across it the next day in the Ballard Design catalog. Again with the neutral on the bottom layering in the pattern but this time without the angle.

This would be a great idea in a home office if you have a chair on wheels because the lower pile rug would allow for easier roll-ability (yes I made that word up, i think)!

Do you see what I see?

I see a rolling pin with twine wrapped around it. Great use for a rolling pin right! It allows easy access to snip off a piece of twine. Or you could use ribbon or butcher's string.

Functional design right there.

I dog eared this page for myself but wanted to share just in case there are any crazy magazine hoarders out there like myself.

I like the look of the wicker and wire baskets with a bunch of magazines in them. Keeps things clean and easy to find. I have magazines piled on my end table and on a bookcase but will be working on getting baskets for them!

I can't remember which magazine I saw this next idea in but thought it was a great idea to add a little touch of the unexpected to a bathroom.

Get 2 of the same size frameless mirrors in different shapes like these ones from Potterybarn and hang them over a double sink vanity.

They won't jump out as being two different mirrors but they could be different enough to add some interest and quirkiness.

This next item I'm adding to my want list! I'm sure you've seen those french cafe chairs usually in wood with a wicker seat.

Well I just saw them in the new Ballard catalog in metal and I'm LOVING them!

constance metal chair

If you want to check out my past cataloging sessions click here or here.

Avery Cabinet.

Hi All!

Hope everyone is starting off 2013 with a little spring in their step....I know I am! I'll be back soon with a little update as to why I've been MIA lately as well as some plans and ideas I have for the future. However I just wanted to do a quick post letting you know I have decided to sell the "Avery & Co." cabinet.

Things are always moving and changing around here and I need the space. I do plan on repainting it. If you are interested in it let me know and I can customize the color based on what you like otherwise I'll be left to my own devices! :)

Antique wardrobe with original metal wheels.

measures: 28 long x 24 deep x 65 high

$140.

merry & bright.