My Apartment Update

Happy Monday!

After lots of thinking-about-it-but-never-getting-around-to-it, I'm finally posting on how my apartment looks now! My apartment has changed so much since last May (and last August, and last month, really!) and I'm so excited to share some pictures. I'm really proud of how things are starting to look, and while this post is mostly for my family to see my updates, I hope readers that I don't know can enjoy it as well. 

You're definitely going to see a few eyesores here and there, but I'm tired of not posting because of the random pieces that don't have a home. So, I'm telling myself its a work in progress and sharing away! :)

This is the view from my couch, which shows what I did with the Henredon chest that I found a few weeks ago at Salvation Army. The chairs are from Target (but I found them at Goodwill- score!), the coffee table is also from Goodwill (you can see it's transformation here), and the framed monkey/armadillo prints were my mom's! 

I can't forget about the gigantic seagrass rug, which my aunt gave to me. I LOVE it!

I am very aware of the (HUGE BUNDLE) of wires in the corner, and that's one work-in-progress. I'm currently in the market for a dark brown wicker basket to stash them in!

I had to take a close-up of the coffee table to include sweet little Ellie. I gave her a cow hoof to occupy her while I typed this... am I a bad dog mom?

The books in the tray I've mostly collected as gifts! I think they add some much-needed color. The foo dog is from Christmas!

Here's the view to the right of the couch. You may recognize the pie safe from this post. Its been moved again! Now I use it as pillow/blanket storage- when Ellie and I watch TV, snuggling is a must! 

Also shown is the Dixie Campaigner side table I found on Craigslist. I can't remember if I ever posted on this piece, but it's now serving as my bar table. I wish I could say I mixed drinks from it all the time, but (un)fortunately it's mainly for decor. :)

(Please note my diploma... Go Tigers!)

A little close-up! (Lamp is from Goodwill!)

This is the table beside my couch. The little collection of pictures covers up the (nail holes in the) wall. My grandma painted the bottom one, which is a landscape from Bluffton, SC.

So you can see a little better... My mom gave me the lamp and foo dogs, and everything else is from random thrift shops!

The view to the left of the couch. I've gotten so many compliments about this impostor Draper chest, and as you can guess it's one of my favorite things. I found this in an antique shop in Anderson, South Carolina. The squiggles were gray and it had black pulls, but I painted it gold and added the rings!

My grandma also painted this blue and white watercolor (thanks Dee!), which matches my old monogrammed pink pillow pretty well. The mirror I found at Goodwill! It was actually white when I found it, and I'm currently debating on what color to paint it... 

A close-up. (Hey Dad!) The candle is from my aunt's gift shop (thanks Mimi!), and is Votivo. They are made in South Carolina and last forever! This fragrance is "Pink Mimosa."

My couch!! This may not be everyone's style, but I went through two other couches before finding this one. It was also found at Salvation Army, and for a steal. I can literally list all the things I love about it. 

(1) Its worn leather, so it doesn't get dirty and smelly like cloth. 

(2) It has nailhead on the arms! 

(3) It sits too low to the ground for a tennis ball to roll under (honestly, this was it's most appealing quality when I bought it!) 

(4) It is long enough to sleep on, and the arms don't hurt when you lay your head on them! 

(5) It is down stuffed, so it's super comfy. 

(6) The cushions are deep and don't slide out when you sit on them. 

Okay, I'm going to stop myself because I seriously could go on and on. Most all pillows in my apartment, I made myself. This picture shows a really good view of the other half of my apartment. 

The table that my TV used to sit on now acts as a catch-all.

Surprisingly, I have been keeping this table pretty clutter-free. I think that's because I like how it turned out so much here, that I don't want junk piled on top of it! 

Bonus: this fab picture of me! Please ignore my face!

The fish platter came from Goodwill, the bookends from Christmas, and the lamps from my aunt's store! (I may have mentioned in a previous post, but the palm trees were candle stick that I converted into lamps! I love them!)

Lastly, my little breakfast nook. This corner cupboard has migrated its way back to the kitchen, where it's now giving height to this little room. As I mentioned before, my rattan chairs are now black!

What do you think of my apartment? I had every intention to write this post weeks ago, but let's get real... The only reason I did it today was because I cleaned up yesterday! ;) Be on the lookout for the long-promised post on my bathroom update!

Until next time,

Emmi and Ellie

The Green Medicine Cabinet

Hey y'all!

I want to share with you how I'm going to start sprucing up my bathroom. Honestly, this space in my apartment is ugly. Pretty much everyone who sees my living room will eventually see my bathroom, so why have it looking like a wreck? I can do much better!

The first thing I've done to make the bathroom a happier place is painting my little green medicine cabinet. It's actually not mine, it's my aunt's (thank you, Mimi!). This little cabinet was one of the pieces she let me take when I moved up here. 

When I first moved in, I hung it on the only free wall in my bathroom. Since haphazardly hanging it, I've never regretted the decision! It's been a great place to fold up bath cloths for easy access from the shower, and also can hold a full pack of toilet paper like a champ. :) 

Here it is in it's former green glory...

And so you can see the shower curtain...

It clashes pretty bad, right?

And now for the paint job! The new color? Black, of course.

I'm loving the new paint job. What do you think? Be on the lookout for a post on my bathroom re-do, as well as an update on what I did with my "new" Henredon campaign chest from last weekend! :)

Until next time!

Emmi 

Friday Find!

Happy Friday!!

I'm posting from my phone for the first time ever to share this awesome find I JUST stumbled across...

Say "hello" to my newest addition- this Henredon Campaign Chest!

Yes, this picture is straight out of the SALVATION ARMY that I found it in! I can't believe it!

This bad boy has a "SOLD" sign on it now, and is waiting for me to pick it up tomorrow! 

Be on the lookout to see what I do with it! Plus better pictures. :) 

Until next time!

Emmi

July Update

Hi Everyone!

My apologies for my recent absence! I've had lots going on, and just haven't had time to blog. I guess that's a good thing though, right? Let this post serve as an update to what's been going on in my life...

The most blog-relevant thing that has happened since my last post is this campaign dresser!

I found this Dixie Campaigner (and it's matching side table) at a junk store in Statesville, NC. I scored both for just $40! As soon as I got it home, I knew it would look great with liquor bottles on it! (Yes, this means my poor little pie safe has been stripped of it's bar duties. But don't worry, I've found an even better use for it!) I LOVE this set up so much, and I'm also loving that this dresser isn't in perfect condition. (Un)fortunately the laminate is chipping in some places, but sometimes I like when furniture looks "well-loved!" Don't you think it looks nice here? You know I do. :) 

I currently have no use for it's matching side table (shorter, with two drawers) and have posted it on Craigslist. Anyone interested? ;) hehe

Other happenings in the past few weeks...

...My friends and I threw a 4th of July party! We kind of match, right?

...We joined my family in Santa Rosa Beach, FL for a couple days of beach vacation! How pretty is this water?

...I got to see both of my brothers!

...Dalton and I visited the Georgia Botanical Gardens in Athens, GA on the way back to NC.

...I got to experience a little UGA night life.

...And after a week of traveling, I was so happy to be in my little apartment snuggling with these puppies!

Hope you didn't miss me too much! I'll be back in the near future with some project updates.

Until next time!

Emmi and Ellie

Summer Wreath

Happy Tuesday!

I haven't fallen off the face of the planet, I promise. I've been working on (too) many things all at once this past weekend. This was one of the best weekends I've had in a long time, and I have a feeling it's because of all the projects I have on my plate. :) Be looking for future posts with the details! 

But to hold you over... I added magnolias to my "Spring Wreath" in honor of it essentially being summer here in North Carolina. 

What do you think? Too out-there? Flashy? Loud? (Spoiler: I love it.)

And a little close up...

Until next time!

Emmi

The Pie Safe

Happy Memorial Day weekend!

As promised, a post on the pie safe!

For as long as I've known the pie safe, it has been in my aunt's gift shop. However, my grandma told me that she bought it at an auction years ago, and then it was used by my mom until she put it in storage. Some time later my aunt starting using it, and now finally it's mine! I've always liked the pie safe for its details and it's rustic look. When it was in the store it was never the easiest to decorate (Mimi, you know what I mean!), but I've still always thought it was cool.

After toting it back from Pinehurst weekend before last, it sat in my car for a week. I've never claimed to not be lazy, right? Once I got it inside, (since I'm embarrassingly out of room in this apartment) it instantly got priority over the little green dresser I was using as a bar cart (its sooo much cooler and matches my neutral colors).

Here are a few pictures I had snapped of the green dresser when it was a bar cart. I got too excited to take pictures of the "before" when I brought the pie safe in!

The little green dresser acting as my bar cart, before.

Eek.

I put the little dresser in my closet for clothes storage, and moved the pie safe to it's place. I knew I needed to incorporate liquor into it somehow, and at first thought it would all go on top. After moving things around, I came up with this.

Ta-da! 

My wooden fish. I found the gigantic red fish in the Hilton Head Goodwill. The white was a Christmas present!

I think the little lamp brightens it up and makes it look home-y. And how perfect is the bottom shelf for my extra books?

Detail of the liquor! Yes, I know some of these bottles aren't actual liquor...

A Goodwill lamp!

No, I have never read any of these books... I found most of them at Goodwill/other thrift shops, and bought them solely for display purposes. (We all have our flaws!) I like to pick funny titles... You might see a few in there.

 My ice bucket and bar utensils!

And how it looks closed up!

What do you think? I like that I can keep the safe opened or closed. There's also something special about having to open the doors to the alcohol out! 

I hope your Memorial Day weekend is a relaxing one!

Until next time!

Emmi

The Past Two Weekends

Hey y'all!

I apologize for my recent absence... I'm trying to post steadily but sometimes life just gets in the way! :) Since I've been gone for forever, I thought I'd share what I've been up to for the past two weeks. 

Last weekend I went "home" to Pinehurst to see my family and celebrate my aunt's birthday (Happy late Birthday, Mimi!). The Thursday before, I finally got Ellie spayed. When we were in Pinehurst, I had to stop her from running and jumping... which is quite a task, considering she is crazy!

Ellie looking not-so-pleased in the back seat. Poor baby.

Beauregard, Ellie and Maggie.

How could I not feel bad for that face?

She is totally fine now, but I was a nervous wreck for the entire week following her surgery! While in Pinehurst, I took home a pie safe that my aunt had in her gift shop. Be on the lookout for a post showing what I've done with it!

This weekend, I did a lot of "looking," and not a lot of buying. However, I wanted to share a find I saw at the ReStore here in Hickory.

How awesome are these rattan and bamboo twin sized headboards? I'm obsessed with those posts!! They make me wish I had a second bedroom to decorate. I think they would look awesome with some gigantic monogrammed pillows.

Until next time!

Emmi and Ellie

Goodwill Finds

Helloooo, Monday!

I hope your week is off to a good start. Today, I have a mini post for you!

If you've been paying any attention to my posts, you know I have a spending problem. Don't worry, it's not a real one where I max out credit cards and shop online constantly. I prefer to think of my spending problem as a thrifting problem. 

When passing Goodwills and junk shops, I have serious urges to stop and go inside. Most of the time, I do. Usually I don't have any money to spend, but if I find something that I can't pass up I'll justify and budget in my mind until I make room for the item. Sick, right? Well, we all have our issues.

The only good thing about my spending problem is that I'm cheap and I'll rarely spend over $50. That is, of course, unless I find something amazing that I can't live without. This rarely happens, so most of my purchases are under $20. That being said, I wanted to share with you some of my Goodwill finds.

Please keep in mind that these photos were taken in actual Goodwills... and were most likely sent to my mom. My clothing may be tragic and the backgrounds may be terrifying, but just try to imagine these finds with a beautiful kitchen behind them. :)

A bamboo-handled server! Since I'm not the most gifted cook and just moved in last year, I don't have that many kitchen utensils. I needed a server, and for 25 cents?! Sold! I may end up staining the wood a darker brown to revive the handle a little. 

An acrylic chip-and-dip with bamboo handles! I'm thinking this piece will be getting a lot of use. I spend a lot of time with my guy friends (and usually that time revolves around eating), so this will probably house lots of chips, dip and guac!

You might think some of these are unnecessary, but it makes me happy to pick! There could be worse habits than thrift shopping, right? 

Bring on the finds!

Until next time!

-Emmi

The Chinese Chippendale Stool

Hey y'all!

I hope your week is off to a good start! Today I want to share my most recent project with you. I found this Chinese Chippendale footstool at an antique shop near Pinehurst, North Carolina while visiting my aunt in the fall of 2013. I think it was around $35, and at first I wasn't going to purchase it... I was a broke college student! After calculating how many nights I would have to eat Ramen for dinner (kidding, kind of), I took the plunge. The details on this little stool were too cute to pass up!

Check out that detail!

At the time I bought it, it was pained white and upholstered with a red and white wavy striped fabric. I hated the red and white, so I painted it glossy black and recovered it with a black and white toile fabric. Thinking the cushion was too flat, I overstuffed it with a ton of fiberfill. Later on, I regretted overstuffing it. It just looked a little out of place! However, it looked so much better (and fluffier) than before, so I ignored it for a while. It has been sitting in the corner of my apartment since I've moved in, and sadly hasn't gotten much use.

How it's been sitting...

After making the curtains that are currently hanging in my living room, I had a little extra beige fabric left over. It was the perfect amount to re-cover the stool! I've had this project on my to-do list for a few weeks, and this weekend I finally completed it.

Of course you want to know how I did it!

I took the cushion off of the stool base with a screwdriver, and ripped the toile fabric from the underside of the cushion. After removing all the fiberfill, I laid the cushion in the middle of my beige fabric and started reupholstering! Take it from me, reupholstering flat cushions is super easy. Using a staple gun you simply staple the straight edges down tightly, then fold the corners over tightly and staple those as well! For some reason, I find this really fun.

The fiberfill is embarrassing!

At this point, I placed the cushion back on the stool and observed my work. Honestly, I could have stopped here. It looked great to me, however I thought it was missing something. Being unsure of what to add, I screwed the cushion on, snapped some pictures, and did a little research.

Not bad, huh?

Enter my newest DIY excursion- piping!

I checked out some piping tutorials online, but was discouraged when almost all articles showed step-by-step DIY piping with a sewing machine. Don't get me wrong, I love sewing projects (I learned how to use a sewing machine in middle school!) but I'm an amateur at best. I hate using patterns and I'm very impatient, so I've never purchased a zipper foot for my machine. I usually try to avoid using zippers or any project that I can't sew up by hand (like all of my pillows).

SO, I was sold when I read a blog explaining how to make your own piping without a zipper foot. How, might you ask? A hot glue gun! This was a sign- super easy, cheap, and fast... my kind of project!

Most websites explaining how to make piping mentioned using cotton cord, which can be found at craft stores. Since I'm pretty lazy, I looked for cord at Walmart when picking up a few miscellaneous items. Of course I couldn't find any, but I did find a $2 clothesline in the laundry section, which was the perfect circumference for my stool's piping. I brought it home and got to work.

I first cut two long strips of my fabric as "on-the-bias" as I could (I repeat, I'm lazy and I like quick results). I hot glued the strips together face to face on one end, making one long strip of fabric. Then, I simply wrapped the fabric around my "cording" and started hot gluing it down tightly. The most annoying part of this was the hot glue strings. Seriously, it was that fast and easy.

My materials...

How the "piping" looks while wrapping it...

After I wrapped all my cording, I came up with one long strip of "piping." I next took the cushion off the base, flipped it over, and started hot gluing my piping around the perimeter. I hot glued the excess fabric, so that the "pipe" part hung off the side of the cushion. When I got to a corner, I cut little triangles in the excess fabric so it would bend easier, and hot glued the piping in a curve.

How it looked when I first started attaching the piping...

My triangles in the curve...

Once I reached the starting end of the cording, I pulled the hot glued fabric apart enough to fold the fabric over and cover my raw cording end (does that make sense)? This part probably took the longest. And by that, I mean "three minutes."

I folded that little top part over!

Ta-da! See all the other old fabric? Ugh!

I quickly screwed the cushion back on, and Voila! My stool is complete! 

Up close! Looks legit, right?

I love this fabric because its neutral and matches both my curtains and chairs! I now have it sitting in front of a matching chair, even though the chair has wooden legs and the stool is glossy black! It all blends, right? I think so. Plus, the stool makes the chair much more inviting to sit in. It looks welcoming, instead of stuffy. I sat with my feet up for most of Sunday, checking out my new perspective on my apartment. :)

What do you think of my stool re-do? Are you tired of reading my rambling yet?

Until next time!

-Emmi