My most viewed posts of 2014 !

Does anyone really care lol ?

But since it seems to be something bloggers do - here you go !
( and actually it was fun to do - I've forgotten so many of them )

My Bedroom makeover ( the first room to be finished when we moved in )
You can see the post Here

Here's the seller's MLS photo

My wallpapered Kitchen Buffet
You can see the post Here

The before

My Painted Stone Fireplace
You can see the post Here

Seller's MLS photo

This little cottage from I WANNA live there Wednesday
You can see the rest of this charmer Here

another Hutch makeover
You can see the post Here

The before

Another furniture makeover ( and this one was a doozy - a real HOMETALK controversy for me - with hundreds of comments over there on whether people should paint furniture or not )
You can see the blog post Here
But if you want to see some killer comments - you can see them at Hometalk Here

My outdoor kitchen ( reusing a piece that the previous owner's had in the " mud room "  )
You can see the post  Here

The before

This dresser makeover
You can see the post Here
( which reminds me the seller's dogs scratched one side apparently - and I'll be making a house call to repair it - I'm like a doctor don't you know ! )

The before

My White Slip covers were a hit !!!
You can see the post Here

My Painted and Stencilled Paisley Floor in the den
You can see the post Here

The before ( these floors were a disastrous nightmare )

Another hutch ( you guys love hutches !!! )
You can see the post Here
( not sure if it was the hutch you loved - or the " ODE " I wrote to go with it - but there were a lot of hits )

The before

An antique door that I repurposed for kitchen storage was popular
You can see the post Here

the before

The post on our last home was written up towards the end of 2013 - but still generated a LOT of views, making it one of the top viewed in 2014 !
( I still live there, secretly, in my heart )
You can see the rest of it Here
And I'm glad I wrote up this post because I forgot about my chandeliers - they still have to be installed in this place !!!!

And the number 1 post of the year?
My humble kitchen makeover !
You can see the post Here

The before ( seller's MLS photo )

Oh and my Before and After's page made it to 45,000 views so technically it was a page that got the most hits - not a project at all !

I just realized it's supposed to be the top 10 - I think I gave you 15 ( over kill - it's always over kill with me)

Have a wonderful Tuesday everyone back tomorrow with another I WANNA live there Wednesday - I missed posting one last week
Much love,
Me


I'll be at these fabulous parties - join me !!!

SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE                                  BEYOND THE PICKET FENCE
THE CHARM OF HOME                                        FRENCH COUNTRY COTTAGE
MY TURN FOR US                                                 MY ROMANTIC HOME
FUNKY JUNK INTERIORS                                   LIFE ON LAKESHORE DRIVE
BETWEEN NAPS ON THE PORCH                      A STROLL THRU LIFE
SAND & SISAL                                               STONE GABLE
KATHE WITH AN E                                               HOMESTORIES A TO Z
FROM MY FRONT PORCH TO YOURS              IVY & ELEPHANTS
CLASSY CLUTTER                                                THE 36TH AVENUE
PIECED PASTIMES                                                I SHOULD BE MOPPING THE FLOOR
MISS MUSTARD SEED

A DIY Faux Marble Mantel

I LOVE marble -

And....................I wanted a slab of marble for the faux fire place we built for the bedroom.

You know, that cheap frugal DIY one we built?
So I decided a cheap frugal DIY marble mantel would fit perfectly !

We bought a length of wood for 12.00 - had it cut to fit the mantel ( and unbelievably enough there was exactly - to the tee - to make another mantel for the living room gas fireplace - which I'll age and stain )
It's a nice thick chunk - perfect for this project !

I gave it a coat of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint - Pure White - and then mixed a little Paris Grey with Graphite to create the " veins ": and simple painted them on the white - feathering some so that it was thicker in some areas
( with 2 different sizes of artist brushes - one pointy edge - and one flat edge )

The next photos are before I put polyurethane on it ..................but you can see it on the fireplace at least !

I don't have a tutorial because I was in such a hurry to get it done that I didn't stop to take photos - but if the truth be known it would be difficult to show through photos anyway - you'd kind of need a video I think.
( of which there are probably a million of them out there with far superior results !!! )

I just made my " veins " and brushed them out in places and left them in tact in others - the only important thing to remember when doing this is to bring your veins down onto the front and sides of your slabs for authenticity......................

Another mantel to decorate !  ( this was just thrown together to show you the finished product- the only thing I know that's staying is that wreath from Target ( 25.00 if anyone's interested ! )

And that's my final DIY project for 2014 lol !

Have a wonderful day everyone - I'm off to buy another one of these wreaths - I'm in love !

Oh and that perfect deer?
10.00 ( again Target )
You can see the tutorial for the actual fireplace HERE

Much love,
Me

Looking for inspiration?
Join me at the fabulous parties !

Between Naps on the Porch                                            A Stroll Thru Life
Sand & Sisal                                                            The Scoop
Kathe with an E                                                               Savvy Southern Style
Beyond the Picket Fence                                                 The Charm of Home
The Shabby Art Boutique                                                French Country Cottage
My Turn for Us                                                               My Romantic Home
Funky Junk Interiors                                                        Life on Lakeshore Drive
The Dedicated House                                                      HOMESTORIES A TO Z
Ivy & Elephants                                                       Classy Clutter
The 36th Avenue                                                             Pieced Pastimes
I Should be Mopping the Floor                                        Miss Mustard Seed
REMODELAHOLIC