Updating a Framed Print: Traditional to Modern

Before we get to the updated print, here's a sneak peak at the guestroom. I really have been working on it, but traveling hasn't helped me finish this thing any faster. I think I'm finally happy with the wall color, but it was touch and go. I really can't capture the true color very well, since this is a North facing room and low light, but it's a soft blue, called Rainwashed (by Sherwin Williams). Now, after I painted one coat, I decided that it was just a touch too gray for my taste, so I got out the aqua paint we confiscated from Grandma Eleanor and did a colorwash over Rainwashed, which brightened it up a touch and made me happier with it. I think I can live with it now. Blues can be SO tricky to get right, as the lighting can make all the difference in the world. And north facing rooms are especially tricky since the natural light is so scarce and that can really gray out a color much more than normal. This is a very soft blue, very similar to Palladian Blue (by Ben Moore) that is so popular. I'll try to get better pics of the paint color when I put the room back together, which should be happening shortly!

I did manage to go to a neighborhood yardsale nearby on Saturday and even scored a few more things. This pretty pillow was $5 and will fit in there perfectly. You'll see this orange red color will play into my scheme when you scroll on down.

I was playing around with some of my accessories and the newly painted aqua table in front of the new paint color. I likey! Found the blue starfish at our new Garden Ridge store. Ladies here in Birmingham, if you haven't hit Garden Ridge before, you'll have to go for a visit. We had them in Atlanta and I was happy to see that they have arrived recently to Birmingham. Head on over to Irondale.

Another yardsale find, this Southern Living decorating book was 25 cents. Yum!

And last, but certainly not least, I have been in the market for a sewing machine. My mom gave me her old 35 year old model, but after I took it in to get it serviced, the guy told me that he could fix it up for $85, but couldn't guarantee that it would keep working for me, so suggested I find a used one. I figured that wouldn't be a problem, since I'm out yardsaling so often, but I had no idea I'd score this year, before the yardsales ended completely. I found this Kenmore model for $45, it looks brand new and from what the lady told me, she has only used it a few times at all. Complete with the manual, I'll be trying it out soon. I know little about sewing, so we'll see how this goes.

I still can't get Grandma's aqua chair (without causing a ruckus), so my plan is to try to slipcover my chair and ottoman (which I'd like to do anyway since I scored that $5 creamy white fabric. Grandma did tell me recently that I can have the chair eventually, so I may get it one of these days, but I'm not stressing over it. Fixing up Grandma's house is going kinda slow too. We've gotten an estimate for painting and getting it fixed up which is a lot more than he wanted to spend on it, so my hubby is mulling over how much to do with it or he may get it cleaned up and sell it as is. Just getting it clean is going to be a major undertaking, but at least the junk is out of there. It needs to be inspected too. We just saw Grandma on Sunday and she is still talking about trying to stay in the house once it gets painted and cleaned up, so she's still giving my hubby fits about it all and not cooperating. We just have to work things around her. So, I have no idea when we'll get it ready for sale, it will probably be after Christmas at this point.

Found this little glass jar for $1 and the concrete bunny for $1.50. This will probably be about it for yardsales this year...until next Spring! So, keep reading for the project today......

I'm working on the artwork for the black and white bedroom and have a large print in there that is hanging over the bed. It really won't go with the new vibe I've got going in that room, so I decided this big frame needed an overhaul as well as a new print. I've done this several times in the past and it's a great way to get a new look by just painting the frame, inner mat, and adding a new print. Way better than starting from scratch. I first measured the old print to figure out what size print I would need. Luckily that inside print measures 22x28, so it's a common size. I looked online for some prints and wanted a little more contemporary look for this now, but didn't find exactly the right one. This is a perfectly good, LARGE wooden frame, but I'm a little tired of the gold look now...so too good to get rid of.
That was an easy fix...black spray paint and Rub N Buff. I've talked about this wonderful product before, but if you haven't used it, this is a good lesson on how it works. And it works really well on a frame with detail, as it highlights those raised areas so well. That's a shadow on the right side of this pic (above) from the overhead lighting.
You can see here on the left side where I haven't RNB'd yet and the areas that I've hit with it. This Spanish Copper color is one of my faves for highlighting black things. It just gives it a really nice depth that plain old black paint doesn't do. All you do is rub this stuff on with your fingertip or a rag. I like to use a rag, but usually end up with a black finger even then. Rub N Buff is a metallic paste and works great. It comes in all sorts of colors like Antique Gold (and other golds), Silver, Pewter, Olive Green, Red, White, Black. You can find it at the craft stores.
And here's the finished print all put back together, a Georgia O'Keefe flower print. You can see I also painted the inner mat black. Just takes a little patience & a small craft brush. Looks like a whole new print now, huh? Oh, and I found the print at Hobby Lobby during their 1/2 price print sale...for $7. Not a bad little investment and a whole new look for that room! I believe this orangey-red will be a great pop of color in there too, so I may have to look for a couple of more things this color to add around the room. I loved this print because it was very graphic and it has a touch of aqua in there too.

We're getting closer to the black and white room redo!

Hope you'll all get out and vote on Tuesday! It's a privilege and blessing to be able to do that in our country, so please VOTE.