Friday, June 29, 2012

Friday Inspiration

This morning I want to share a special piece that I did serveral months ago as our Friday Inspiration. The inspiration for this adorable chest of drawers was my dear friend Kara, who was expecting her first child. Once Kara found out she was having a sweet baby girl, she asked me if I'd be able to redo an old chest of drawers, that was her moms and then hers, for the fast approaching baby girl.

Of course I said yes, I'd love to! I had to start by stripping the paint off of the old chest, which was probably the hardest part of the entire project. You see, having belonged not not only Kara, but her mom too, this piece had been painted over several times with several different colors. After 3 or 4 episodes with the Citristrip, the chest was finally ready for it's ReFabulous makeover!

By this time, Kara had picked out a beautiful name (Savannah) and a precious color scheme for her room (lavender and green). Originally, she wanted to stain the wood on the chest to match the crib she had purchased for Savannah, but once we got down past all of the layers of paint, I realized that it wasn't going to be possible. Too many years of paint had soaked into the wood, making it impossible to get a good, clean stain. So I purchased a can of Valspar Buckeye Brown paint, which was pretty close to the stain color she wanted, and got to work.

To finish off the chest, and give it a special, customized look just for Savannah, I decided to decoupage the inside of the drawers with a lavender and green flower print and a purple on the base of the drawers. And we also purchased faux crystal knobs in lavender for the drawers. It turned out so precious! Leave us a comment and let us know what you think!











Thursday, June 28, 2012

Beautiful Bird Table

On a hot summer day I found a little 3 legged table at a yard sale. It was the most unattractive color or red, quite dull actually. But, the shape was cute, the petite dimensions make it very versatile (you can squeeze it in ANYWHERE!) and it was sturdy.
Now to do something about that dreadful flat dull red color. Perusing our selection of value priced mistints from Lowes I chose a matte blue under coat and a lovely spring green for the top coat.  I decoupaged a fabric square of the sweetest little songbird on to the top of the table, applied AS clear wax, buffed, sanded, and distressed, and there she is.

Such a cheerful little landing place for your cold glass of ice tea while you sit on the porch, or a great little side table where your watch t.v. To purchase this adorable little table, please visit our Point Breeze Cottage etsy shop, or contact us directly at ptbreezecottage@gmail.com






Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Choosing a Paint Color

Tuesday's Tip

For today's tip, I want to talk a little bit about paint colors, and how to choose one. It's not always an easy task, and sometimes it takes a bit of trial and error, but when you get it right, boy does it pay off. Here are a few things to remember when deciding on a paint color for your next project:

1. Have a large collection. What I mean by this is to always have a multitude of colors to choose from. You can find excellent quality paint for a reduced price at just about any location that sells paint. All you have to do is find the section where they keep the "mistints" and find one that you love. Just because it's not the exact color someone else wanted, doesn't mean it's not right for your project!

2. Have a vision. When you're getting ready to start a new project, ask yourself where you envision this piece going. A beach-side cottage? A formal living room? A sunny front porch? Try to figure out where this type of piece would look best and then search for a color that embodies that vision.

3. Never trust the first coat. Have faith in your selection and don't fret when the first coat doesn't look spectacular. More often than not the first coat is going to look thin and streaky, just keep the faith!

4. Don't be afraid to mix it up. This tip actually has a double meaning. The first of which is to try something you typically wouldn't. We've written before about Keeping an Open Mind and trying new things, and that goes for your paint colors as well. Think out side of the box every once in a while. And the second take on this tip is to mix it up, literally. Is your green too pale? You red too bold? Find another color that will either enhance your color or reduce it. White is typically a safe bet for toning down a bright color. Just be sure you remember your color wheel before mixing too many colors.

5. Know your finish. This is important to you final look. When working on a piece, at some point you must determine what kind of finish you want. A smooth, modern and shiny finish would require a more standard paint. While a more textured and  distressed look would typically require a chalk paint and some rubbing with a piece of sandpaper.

You certainly don't have to spend a fortune on paint, but it helps to know what you want. Evaluate your pieces before you make any decisions, and try out small strokes before you settle on your favorite. Most importantly, have FUN!






Monday, June 25, 2012

Baltimore Love, Hon!

From 1953 to 1983 the Maryland hometown football team was the Baltimore Colts. Winning back to back NFL Championships in 1958 and 1959 and several division championships in the 1970’s, the Colts were led by legendary quarterback, Johnny Unitas. Baltimore was disheartened however, when the Colts were offered the opportunity to move to the city of Indianapolis after several shaky seasons. Unable to persuade the team to stay in Charm City, the city government attempted to change state legislature and give the franchise ownership to another group promising to keep the Colts in Baltimore. Unwilling to wait for the government to make a decision on their fate, the Colts franchise packed up all of their equipment and files and headed to Indianapolis on the eve of the legislatures scheduled debate to determine the teams future.
The Baltimore Colts are well known for “leaving town in the middle of the night,” but they still had a loyal fan-base and are part of Baltimore History. That is why we think these Baltimore Colts items are so special and unique. We have a Youth Size 14 sweater with the Colts helmet and logo that is in EXCELLENT condition- I’m willing to bet it’s never even been worn. We also have a Colts helmet lamp that is in working condition, and is only missing a shade. As well as a stadium seat that is also in GREAT condition without any rips or tears, just a slight bit of rusting around the metal portion of the bottom.
This collection of memorabilia would be perfect for a native of Baltimore who has an affinity for the Colts, despite their heartbreaking departure to Indianapolis. Please feel free to contact us about purchasing this set, we’d love to see it go to a good home! You can purchase via our Etsy site or send an email to ptbreezecottage@gmail.com.








Friday, June 22, 2012

Pinning Inspiration!

Unless you have an extreme aversion to the internet, like my husband, you probably know and love the popular site named Pinterest. And as our business is based off of the success of another social networking site, Etsy, we too are in love with Pinterest.

Not only can you find a wealth of recipes, activities, fashion advice, and crafts, but if can also be an incredible source of inspiration for furniture repurposing and refinishing. At Point Breeze Cottage, we love to put our own unique spin on our pieces, but sometimes it doesn’t hurt to peruse the pages of Pinterest for some new ideas either.
You can check out our “Point Breeze Cottage Inspiration” board on my Pinterest page by clicking HERE!

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Colorful Glass

What is it about colored glass that makes me so giddy? When I pause for a moment to consider how all the lovely glass in the world is made, I’m in awe. In the simplest terms: melted sand = glass. Amazing! My daughters are always telling me at yard and estate sales to “WALK AWAY FROM THE GLASS”…(I have too many pieces as it is, but so many colors, shapes, styles, uses, what’s a glass junkie to do?)
Trying to research this lovely blue cream and sugar set has proved to be more difficult than I imagined. I haven’t been able to find one EXACTLY like it, but there are similar ones out there. The age of the set is truly unknown to us, but the condition is excellent. Describing this set as cobalt would be “close” to the truth, but when I look at it I see blue glass a shade lighter than cobalt, it truly is an exquisite color.




Not a coffee drinker or a tea totaler? Have you ever considered that this set could be used for more than cream and sugar? How about for bathroom necessities such as cottonballs and q-tips in the lidded sugar bowl? Or the creamer to corral your tweezers and make up brushes? This vibrant and happy blue would most certainly bring a touch of class to your vanity space while also adding that one of a kind re-purposed look everyone is after today.  Another use I thought of while admiring this set was that it could be used on a desk as a unique and beautiful way to organize pens and pencils, paper clips, stamps, and other whatnots.
These are just a few of the ideas I have for this lovely cream and sugar set.  If you have an idea on how you would use them, please let us know! We’d love to hear from you!


Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Bowles Farm



Today’s local business that we love has really made a name for itself in the Southern Maryland area. Bowles Farm started out as just that, a family farm. Several years ago, however, they tried something different. They turned a couple of their large fields into a Corn Maze. The Maze is filled with winding paths that from an aerial view make a different picture every year. (Check out the 2011 picture representing the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs!)
2011 Corn Maze picture.
From there, the Bowles family also started selling pumpkins, providing hay rides, and even renting out their fully refurbished barn for parties, dances, weddings, and more. It has truly turned into a venue that is fun for all ages, especially in the last summer and fall. They have even started offering an onsite cupcake shop called the Farmers Daughters Cupcakes. Adorable!


Having attended several weddings and dances at “the barn” and driving past it every morning on my way to work, I am always impressed with the booming business the Bowles family has created on their beautiful farm. They truly have a local and personal touch to everything they do.  To learn more about Bowles Farm and all they have to offer, visit their website at http://www.bowlesfarms.com/.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

The Art of Disguise

I have lived in my home for 18 years. For 18 years I have tried, cajoled, encouraged folks to come in through my front door since there is lovely landscaping, a porch with rockers and flower planters, a pleasant entry! But no....EVERYONE insists on coming in through the back door, which is the laundry room, which was standard back in 1994 (Smart people these days put their laundry close to their bedrooms!). All those years my laundry room/back entry was functional, it served an active household with three busy teenagers, but it was not a pretty room. This always bothered me. But nothing bothered me as much as day in and day out the first thing you would see when you entered through the back door was this darn water heater.

Tapping in to the wealth of ideas on Pinterest, and utilizing my local Habitat ReStore, I snapped up a shutter style louvered closet door. The finish and color were all wrong for my style; pine doors with a honey stain and glossy polyurethane, but I knew they could become the shabby, weathered, antique looking "shutters" I envisioned to disguise the water heater. One coat of Zinsser 123 Primer, a coat of Tulip Yellow like my newly painted laundry room walls, a coat of Graphite, a light coat of Old White, a coat of AS Clear Wax, and finally after buffing, some sanding and roughing up and Voila! My version of old shutters with a lovely aged patina to hide my ugly water heater.



They are still a work in progress, as I am looking for just the right decorative objects to hook on the slats. I've only found one cute little thermometer so far to put there. So just remember, even utilitarian objects with no style or beauty whatsoever can be camouflaged through the "Art of Disguise".  If you like the distressed and aged look of my "shutters" you will probably like some of the other pieces we will be offering over the coming months. Check back with us often!





Sunday, June 17, 2012

Green with Envy

Featured Product

Welcome to Monday's featured product! Today we are highlighting a vibrant, vintage, 1960-70's decanter. With thick, solid, green glass, this decanter would be the perfect accent to a home bar trying to channel the dapper fellows from Mad Men.




There isn't a single scratch on this beautiful piece and comes with a perfectly fitted stopper/top. It sparkles in the sunshine and and is sure to catch anyone's eye. Please let us know if you would like to purchase this vintage item from our shop or if you have any questions. We'd love to hear from you! [ptbreezecottage@gmail.com]

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Historic St. Mary's City


Today marks the kickoff of “summer hours” for Historic St. Mary’s City, the site of the fourth permanent settlement in British North America, Maryland's first capital, and the birthplace of religious toleration.  St. Mary’s City is a place full of history and beauty, located in the south end of St. Mary’s County at the junction of the Potomac River and The Chesapeake Bay.  It was established in 1634 as the capital of Maryland.  The colony was a booming tobacco producer and bustled with activity, until the Capital Seat was moved to Annapolis in 1695.  The town was virtually abandoned and sat vacant for nearly 300 years; its only use was for farmland.  Thanks to those farmers, the old artifacts long buried were kept in pristine condition.  Archaeologists began digging the site in 1971, and today there is an almost complete recreation of the colony, using original pieces and reconstruction accurate to the time period. 
Attractions include the reconstructed State House of 1676, Smith's Ordinary, and the Godiah Spray Tobacco Plantation, a working colonial farm.  You can even “friend” Bob, the female cow of the plantation on Facebook! At the Woodland Indian Hamlet, visitors discover how Maryland's native population interacted with English colonists. You can even visit the Maryland Dove, a replica square-rigged ship, and witness a cannonball launch. 


We have been visiting Historic St. Mary’s City for as long as I can remember.  When we were younger we would bring a picnic lunch and take a walk through the old cemetery, and down by the water to look for our own treasures that may have been washed ashore.  It is a great place for school field trips, and I have been on quite a few over the years, learning about the early settlers’ way of life.  We’ve even been to a wedding or two in one of the lovely gardens.  The grounds are also home to St. Mary’s College, a “public honors college” that attracts students from all over the world to the picturesque area.   Historic St. Mary’s City is a great place to come for people of all ages, and a wonderful source of both entertainment and history.    

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Thinking Outside of the Box.

Tuesday’s Tips
I know it's an age old saying, “Think outside of the box,” but it still holds true when repurposing and creating home décor and it is our Tip of the Day. When we go out "saleing" or "picking" and find new projects, it’s easy to make a snap decision on how we want to style the piece. Curvy lines, delicate design = more feminine. Hard lines, bold cuts = more masculine. However, I think it’s important to think outside of the box every now and then and try something different.
For example, just because something is flowy and feminine doesn’t mean it has to be pink, cream, yellow or peach. Try looking at it in a different light. Right now, I’m working on a child’s patio table and chair set that I was completely envisioning in a pale pink for a little princess. But then as I was going through our fabric supply I had a moment of nature-filled inspiration. I pulled out the new fabric Donna had recently purchased and thought, “Let’s make this a set for both boys and girls to enjoy!”
Even though it’s not finished yet, I can’t tell you how excited I am to complete this project. In fact, here is a little sneak peek just to give you a feel of the piece:

So the moral of the story here is to think outside of the box. Sometimes standard works and sells, but to really make a unique piece that tells a different story you need to look at things from a new angle.

Monday, June 11, 2012

Calling All Photographers!

Featured Product
Happy Monday, everybody! Today’s featured product is actually a grouping of 3 pieces we have for sale. When we first started Point Breeze Cottage and this journey into restoring old pieces and other vintage items, we noticed a trend. We were selling children’s rocking and other small chairs like they were going out of style. And then we realized that the majority of clients buying these chairs were photographers. Which made sense considering Photography is a rapidly growing career path.
Having dabbled in Photography a bit myself and considering it a hobby of mine, I can see the appeal of a sweetly painted rocking chair when shooting children’s photos. We love finding an old rocker when we are out “picking” and if the price is right, we almost always buy it. Check out the three adorable little chairs we have for sale in our shop right now:
This sky blue rocker would be perfect for a little boy and his 1st birthday photos!
Rustic and Outdoorsy, this chair would be great for photos of a child who loves to be out in nature.
A child sized rattan chair painted in a pale tangerine looks like it belongs on a sandy beach somewhere.
The only hiccup when it comes to selling these chairs is typically the shipping price. The rockers on the bottom of the rocking chairs make for an awkward shape and size, requiring a larger box and equaling a higher shipping price.  So if you are somewhat local to the Southern Maryland area, please let us know if you’re interested one of these chairs as we’d love to sell them locally!
Before we go, here are some of the rockers and small chairs we’ve sold in the past. See a color or design you like? Let us know and we can recreate the look for you!




Friday, June 8, 2012

Oh So Inspirational

I am a big fan of Instagram, the photo-sharing app that lets you put cool filters on your photos so they look vintage, enhanced, etc. One day I was bored and looking through the "popular" page, and was instantly drawn to a user named ohsolovelystef because of her retro 50's-60's looking photos. I began looking at all her pictures, and began to feel as if I had met a kindred spirit. Not only is her house decked out completely in atomic-era decor, but she is also co-owner of a groovy vintage shop in Winnipeg, Canada called Rhymes with Orange, a mobile shop run out of a 1956 camper (!!!), Etsy shop, and blog Oh So Lovely Vintage


Stefanie and Erin's collection of mid-century modern housewares is incredible, from kitchenware (they, like me, have a soft spot for pyrex) to bakelite jewelry, kitschy wall art, knick knacks, and totally awesome radios. All of which is just scratching the surface. Their blog is a retro lover's dream, with featured products, a "Sixties Sunday" weekly post, vintage fashion, their personal inspirations, and even giveaways. These ladies are an inspiration to me and their shops are an example of what I hope Point Breeze Cottage can become someday, with of course, our own spin on things. For anyone who, like me, knows they were born in the wrong decade, or wishes they could go back to a simpler time, Oh So Lovely Vintage is a great blog to peruse. I hope to one day be able to travel all the way up north to Canada to visit their awesome shop!

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Tropical Paradise

Featured Product


That is what I think of every time I look at this vibrant chair, Tropical Paradise. Given to our team from our fabulous yard saling partner in crime, Cathy, this retro chair was in great condition. Sturdy, solid, and structurally sound. Everything you want to look for when re-doing a vintage piece.
Our design expert, Donna, was the creative genius behind this chair, using Barcelona Orange AS Chalk Paint, AS Clear Wax, and a piece of fabric from Calico Corners. If you are looking to add a pop of Tropical to your home, sunroom, or beach house, this is the chair for you.


Please visit our etsy shop to purchase, or shoot us an email at ptbreezecottage@gmail.com for more details!



 
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