Treasure Hunt Thursday #146 & Highlights

Happy Hump Day! I hope everybody is having a great week thus far. We are thawing out after having a two days of freezing weather. I know everybody is past ready for Spring already. Hopefully it will come and stay soon.

On to highlights from last weeks party! 

Rain On A Tin Roof- Vintage Modern Rustic Kitchen 

Creating a Life- DIY Hutch

Home Heart & Hands- Chair Makeover

DIY Beautify- Sharpie Graphic 

Thank you so much for coming out to party every week! Please if you would like to Pin an idea go to the blog directly and Pin from there!:)

Let's get this party started shall we!?

Common Courtesies

1. Please only link up new links that you have not shared before. 

 

2. Please link up only 3 times. If you have more you would like to share save the share till the next THT so it will be just as awesome.

 

3. Please do not link up items you are trying to sell or other linky parties.

 

4. Please be sure to link back to THT. Hint hint I will only feature those who have the link back. 

 

5. Disable Word Verification to encourage more comments from your visitors!:)

 

I would love to have you follow along with me if you do not already!

 

Can't wait to see what you have to share this week.

Fireplace Makeover- DIY Planked Wall

Before I get going on the makeover, I have already been asked why we are continuing to complete projects on our home when we are thinking of moving. Well here is the update on our moving- unless our dream home appears or we are transfered with Mr. Front Porch's work we will be staying put and continuing to make our current home our dream home. We had a lot of fun though looking around and finding where one day we hope to move to.

Now on to the makeover!:)

Last week I shared the makeover of this mirror. If you missed it you can click here to see it. When I placed the mirror back above the fireplace I felt that something was missing. After touring model homes last month with the fireplaces built up I knew I wanted to do something similar so I began looking for inspiration pics that would fit in with the style of our fireplace.

I came upon this pic over at  Southern Living! As soon as I saw it I knew that planking the wall above the fireplace was the way to go. 

After a little convincing and telling Mr. Front Porch I would pay for the entire project off to Home Depot we went. I purchased two sheets of Birch Plywood 1/4 inch thick. I purchased two sheets because we had to have them cut down to fit in the back of my Flex and we wanted to be sure we would have enough. If we had a truck we probably could have gotten away with just one piece.

We came home and cut the plywood into 5 foot long by 5 inch wide strips. 

I made sure to measure how far up I had my screws in the wall for wreaths and mirrors so I could be sure to place them back once we were thru.

Now planking the fireplace meant that we were committing to adding crown molding all around the living room so I purchased some crown as well as the plywood. The crown was the first thing to go up. Tip for planking the wall is to always start with the planks first and NOT the outside trim pieces. Mr. Front Porch and I drove ourselves mad trying to figure out why our wall looked crooked even though we used a leveler to put up our trim pieces first. We ended up taking it all down and planked first. Lesson learned!

Once we figured out planking first was the way to go the rest of the project was very simple. To space each plank we used pennies and then just attached each one with our nail gun. I used some builders adhesive on a few of the boards in the middle knowing that I would be hanging things from them. I then filled in the holes and sanded them down. After sanding them down I got out the vacuum cleaner and vacuumed out in between each plank.

Next up I started painting and this part drove me mad a bit because I was having a hard time keeping the paint from going into the slats. I ended up painting each individual plank with a small brush to pretty much prevent this from happening. I used a paper clip to get this mess all out.

Here is what we ended up with! Now of course the crown molding portion of the entire living room is not completed yet but if I waited for that to be completed before I shared the planked wall who knows how long it would be!;)

I have to say the planked wall makes a wonderful backdrop for pics.

Mr. Front Porch was opting for me to paint all of the planks white but I felt that it would stand out far too much. I decided to stay in keeping with my inspiration pic and painted the inside planks the same color as our walls- Classic Khaki by Olympic One. Using the same paint as the walls saved me from having to prime the boards since the paint already has primer in it. It took me three coats to cover it all since I was painting with a small brush.

This project cost me approx $76 with some plywood left over for another project I have up my sleeve!;) A lot of wow I think for just $76. If you would like to see the evolution of our fireplace you can click here. It certainly has come a long way in the last 5 years.

Linking up to the following link parties:
Metamorphosis Monday
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Inspire Me Tuesday
Tuesday Treasures
Wow Us Wednesdays
Be Inspired
Feathered Nest Friday

How I Found My Style Sundays- What Meegan Makes

Hello all of you FMFPTY fans and followers! My name is Meegan and I blog over at What Meegan Makes. I am honored to be invited by Pamela to share "How I Found My Style" with you today. I have known Pamela through blogging ever since I starting blogging. She invited her Facebook followers to follow my FB page when I just had a few. I will always be grateful for Pamela. 

How I Found My Style??? Well, I would LOVE to share that with you.

Growing up around my grandparents and their vintage home filled with antiques, shells and comfort, my style began to be shaped. Entering their home, I felt "at home". I have longed to create that same feeling in my own home.

Welcome to our home. I like to think of it as vintage beach cottage. Collecting and looking for items to create my Las Vegas condo into a vintage beach cottage has become a hobby and fun pastime for me.

As I shop thrift shops, I am attracted to items and accessories, like these plates that remind me of that feeling I felt in Grandma's home.

If I find something that I like, but it isn't quite the color I desire, paint is my favorite way to change up or bring in the vintage look I want. For instance, on my living room book shelves each one of these book ends, planter, and cloche' were purchased in a brown color. Using turquoise mist paint, I enjoyed painting and sanding them to fit my vintage beach cottage style. Yes, the books are vintage, too.

Keeping Grandma's vintage brooches in an apothecary jar remind me of fond memories playing dress-up in her home.

I am blessed to have my grandparents bedroom set as my own. Using turquoise mist and antique white paint, I made over the whole bedroom set to fit the motif of a vintage beach cottage.

One of my favorite places to visit is the ocean. I could sit there for hours listening to the sounds of the waves crashing, the birds chirping, and people laughing. I collect shells and display them in our home to remind me of my ocean memories.

I like to have lots of white and blue furniture with a touch of dark wood. To me, it looks vintage, inviting, and "cottagey".

My "girl" print has been in our home for years. And, yes, I painted the frame and the mat to fit my vintage look. Our whole family enjoys this print. We try to imagine what she is thinking and/or how she is feeling. I think she is waiting for someone she is in love with. What are your ideas as to what she is thinking?

My vintage craft cupboard is one of my favorite pieces of furniture. My friend was on her way to the dumpster with it! I know! I snatched it up and began painting it. It was a perfect piece to help me with a vintage beach cottage atmosphere.

Grandma always had watering cans that she REALLY used to take care of her flowers. I like my watering can filled with dried hydrangeas.

My white shelves in our kitchen are a fun focal point. This time of Winter I long for Spring. I like to bring out my vintage milk bottles and blue Ball jars for another way to showcase my style.

Finding this vintage buffet was like the "icing on the cake" to finish my vintage beach cottage home in the desert. Yep, you guessed it, I painted it once I got it home.

I hope you have enjoyed how I found my style. Through my grandparent's I learned what I like and what gives me comfort at home.

Thanks again, Pamela for the invitation to share how I found my style. I had a great time and I hope you did too.

Make it a wonderful Sunday!

Meegan

Meegan I am so happy to have you visiting here today! I always enjoy seeing what projects you are up to. Thank you for sharing how you found your style. I love all of your sentimental pieces that make your house a home!