Because I am not yet ready to debrief Christmas...

...let's discuss my all out flaming desire to go back to painting something. 

I think it has to do with the fact that the new couch is way bigger than the old couches, and I had to push it farther back in the room. That meant I gave up a lot of the behind-the-couch space where the kids play. (The room is weird, and it seems like this is really the only way to position the couch: sort of in the middle of the room!) I used to be able to keep (read: hide) a lot of toys back there, but now there's only room for the play house and some of Jack's Trio blocks. And it's just cramped and I don't like it and I'm not sure what to do about it SO LET'S JUST MOVE ON SHALL WE. 

Obvs I need some sort of living room toy storage. I've been hankering for this Hemnes console, since it matches the TV bench/bookshelf/glass cabinet we bought to form an "entertainment center". 

Nothing special, but with some colorful baskets it screams I CAN STORE ALL THE TOYS! Doesn't it? 

But I am not in LOVE with our "entertainment center". We bought those pieces because we desperately needed something to put the television on AND we didn't want to spend a lot of money AND we couldn't really agree on what we wanted. The grand vision for that space actually involves custom built ins to span the whole wall, hopefully with a fireplace and lots of bookshelves and cabinets. Maybe when we win the lottery. Which would be after we win the lottery to remodel (read: totally redesign and rebuild) the bathroom situation. SIGH.

All that to say maybe I don't want to buy another Ikea thing to match the Ikea things with which I am not in love. ???

So I've been trolling craigslist and I am SORT OF in love with this. In a glossy white? Or even a dark teal? A mustard yellow? I am not afraid of color, people! But did you see how it opens with all those DRAWERS? I am loving the drawers. WHAT DO WE THINK, INTERNET? Can I pull it off?

But it's $200 and I've never painted a large piece of furniture and I just don't KNOW. It's kind of OLD and ORNATE for me, but if it were a COLOR I think I would love it. 

This is why I am going out to Goodwill this morning, also St. Vincent DePaul, to see if there's anything else out there. Again I ask: WHO AM I?

This isn't the only project on my mind today. I am very much intrigued by this DIY bar:

Source: apartmenttherapy.com via Jessica on Pinterest

 

I have nowhere to put such a thing, but it looks FUN and I'm all "Maybe I could give it to my sister for her birthday!" except I am PRETTY SURE my sister is not into thrift store furniture refinished by an amateur, esp an amateur she is RELATED TO which means she would have to TAKE IT and PUT IT SOMEWHERE lest she hurt my tender wittle feelings so OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A BAD IDEA. 

I also want to paint/redo the long dresser we use for a changing table, because I am RATHER UNHAPPY with the mess that is Emma's new room. The room itself has lots of potential - high ceilings, big windows - but I have a crib, a rocking chair, a twin bed and a huge dresser crammed in there and nothing fits right and I don't love it and I've decided that a dresser/changing table redo will be the Magic Solution. 

But again: HAVE NEVER PAINTED A GIANT PIECE OF FURNITURE. 

Also, I think one of the drawers is kind of permanently warped. What would be the point of refinishing THAT. I should be looking for a new dresser/changing table too, huh!

If I were very brave I would talk Phillip into going to Ikea today, because I want to buy and paint RASTs for our nightstands. This idea is my favorite:

Source: nouveaustitch.wordpress.com via Maggie on Pinterest

 

Those are the perfect colors for my bedroom, even! 

What else... oh, I'm looking at all the refinished china hutches, because one day I shall have one. I'm looking at lamps and end tables and I'm realizing that I like everything old and refinished in a COLOR than I do everything new and WOOD-colored and I swear, one day I'm going to wake up and realize I live in some sort of primary-colored badly-painted preschool. 

Comments

[Jesabes]

We need an TV stand/entertainment center/coffee table...something. We got a new TV for Christmas, which we hung on the wall, then got rid of the old particle board cheapo entertainment center. We just need something to put all the components in or on and we can't find ANYTHING we like.

[HereWeGoAJen]

I think I need to go to IKEA this week too. So let me know what you decide on for sure for the nightstands because we need some desperately and I cannot decide. And I need to get Elizabeth a dresser. She still doesn't have one and I think it is time.

[Michael]

Nice colors! I wouldn't fancy going to Ikea at this time of year though, too crazy.

[Carrie]

We went to IKEA today- mostly because we had large pieces of styrofoam to recycle and IKEA is the only place in the city to drop them off. And because we were already going to an event in Kent and E loves the playarea. other than that, I spent the whole time wandering around, muttering about needing to organize things and not finding anything that would work, because I already own everything that fits into our home.

All this to say- Maggie! I have been to your home on a day when things were crazy and you were exhausted and were folding laundry and the kids were running around and I still think everything looks amazing! Your house is oddly shaped and you are doing SUCH a good job of making it work and I think it all is so nice and I am so amazed with what you've accomplished with three kids and the holidays and everything else. Seriously, I know you want to fix every little thing, but give yourself some grace- you are doing an amazing job.

All