Adding Value to your home..................( cheaply )

Good morning everyone!!!

I don't think I've ever shared this story with you - but a long time ago ( when the Earth was green and there were more kinds of animals than you've ever seen )

We lived in a home prior to the one that most of you know by now..................

It didn't have a fireplace - and as much as I wanted one we had already spent a LOT of money on renovations and just couldn't justify having one installed.

( Oh how I wish I had started blogging then - what stories and makeovers I had back in the day )

Anyway on a business trip to Toronto - I took some time off to go " antiquing " with a very dear friend and came across an old - 150 years old - fireplace mantel - it was a double one and my heart stood each time I walked back into the shop - which was probably 4 times that afternoon.

Finally - I couldn't fight it anymore - and bought it - with absolutely no way of getting it home ( Toronto is roughly 550 kilometers or 325 miles ) The purchase price finally agreed upon was 150 dollars.

I didn't mention it to John for over a week because I was sure I could get it delivered for a reasonable price and once it was at the house he'd realize how perfect it was and how the living room had needed it all along!

Well to make the story short - the prices I was quoted were so over the top ridiculous that I had to come clean and beg him to pick it up the next time he was in Toronto on business ( he went quite frequently at that time )

When he got it home - my son and he both agreed that it was horrid - John was furious with me - my son thought I was nuts - I can distinctly remember John saying it was going to end up in the garbage because it was such an eyesore .....................

But I sanded and scraped and sanded some more and scraped some more - I gagged working on that piece because to tell you the truth it WAS pretty bad - but in the end I had a magnificent mantel -
I then purchased a piece of mdf - and had it cut to fit the insert - with an opening in the middle to insert an electric fireplace.......................

I'm so sorry for this photo - preblogging days remember ( and to tell the truth I'm not much better today lmho ) but it's the only one I can find...................but doesn't it look like it was meant to be there?

Anyways - all this to say - that the total cost was
150 for the Mantel
100 for the Electric insert
10 for the piece of MDF

260 dollars.....................

And when the evaluator came in ( when we were selling the house ) we were told it had added 5000.00
dollars to the value of the house.

Sooooo - if you don't have a fireplace - get on Craigs list and buy a mantel  ( I would suggest getting one in your own city mind you )

I just purchased this for 50.00 myself -
I don't think it's going to add any value LMHO - but it may help keep the 3 season porch a little warmer in the new house :)

on cold winter days - it'll be nice to have in here

Have a great one all!!!
Much love,

Headboard Makeover for Team Suzan

Good morning everyone !!!

I'm going to be taking a couple of weeks off from IWLTW's ( possibly 3 )because a lot of work goes into them ( A LOT  ) and I really just don't have the time now  with moving day fast approaching...................

So you're stuck with a makeover today :(

John picked this up on Sunday afternoon - and I just couldn't wait to get my hands all over it lol
I was on the fence about buying it - but so many of you thought I should - so I did -

Suzan says - John - do you think you could pick up this headboard?
John says - NO - I DON'T THINK I COULD PICK UP THAT HEADBOARD
John says - I thought you didn't want it?
Suzan says - But a lot of my blogging friends thought I should go for it
John says - Do they all know we're moving in a about a week?
Suzan says- Yes they do - and they still think you should go pick it up for me.
John says - I don't know who's worse - you or them....................
Suzan says - I'm going to tell them that, you know.

LMHO - and for those of you that are on his side half the time - see where it gets you????

As soon as I heard him pull up I ran and got my brush out and was holding it as we walked in the door,
He came in - crouched - and looked behind boxes -
Suzan says - What ARE you doing?
John says - Just checking to make sure none of your blogging friends are on the premises.
John says - You seem to have a team behind you now.
Suzan says - Their all here in spirit, sweetheart
John says - Make sure you tell them I ran and picked this up for you
Suzan says - Of course I will - Thanks!!!

I do believe the man is getting a sense of humor.
I like it.
A.
Lot.

it sort of reminds me of this one - and in fact is made of the same material - some kind of resin I think
The one below has a coat of polyurethane on top of the chalk paint - and you can see the difference in the color - it's what I'm going to use on this one as well..................

Moving in 9 days - we're both a little frantic at this point.....................

But hey - I managed to get a headboard painted LMHO

Priorities - I seem to have a little problem with that :)

But John made me laugh and that's always a good thing in my world

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint - Paris Grey - Pure White

Have a wonderful day everyone :)

Much love,

Partying with these Fabulous Ladies!
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