Cheater's Guide to Touching Up Wall Paint

We're coming up on two years since we bought our home, so that means two years since we painted. With holiday guests expected, it's time for a touch up. So a few weeks back I went through the house looking over all the walls and placed a small piece of blue painter's tape next to every scuff, smudge, and scratch. Then I rooted through my paint closet and found the unused paint that I had thought to store, clearly labeled Farrow & Ball Blackened — thank you, Past Self! All I had to do now was mix some of that with 50% water, test a small area to see if the color blended (finger's crossed), and get this job done.

Chair Makeover — Oh Yes You Can Paint Upholstery!

Restored to its original color

I've had this chair for more than a dozen years, and I still love it. Manufactured by Youngs Furniture in Portland, Maine, who source from local, artisanal furniture makers - it was holding up well. The foam was firm and still retained its shape. Only the color had faded, and this was accentuating stains and fabric pilling.  Was it time to say goodbye to this little red chair?

Bedroom Inspiration: Yellow and Gray

1. Duvet fabric, Bubbles - Sterling, Tonic Living
2. Yellow bureau - street find
3. Chair fabric, Casablanca Geo - Citrine, Tonic Living
4. Gray campaign dresser, inherited
5. Piston lamp, Lite Source Inc.
6. Floating nightstands, Slice Wall-Mounted Storage Shelf, CB2
7. Min Bed, Design Within Reach 

What do you think of the gray and yellow theme for a bedroom?

Installing a Custom Kick Plate on the Front Door

Remember when I cleaned off years of sloppy paint jobs and restored our midcentury door hardware? The icing on the cake turned out to be that custom-order solid brass kick plate, which tied everything together. I promised instructions on how to order and install a kick plate, so here goes.