Welcome back!

As most of you know who follow us on Facebook, I am creating my own space in our master bedroom. Husband is being very gracious by letting me do this as, of course he will now have less space. However, he has the entire garage right? He does share his space though when I borrow a corner to paint a piece of furniture . So.... I finally found the perfect vanity from a dear friend in the business, Cindy Sullivan at Vintage Loved. Happy dance!  Now I am searching Pinterest for inspiration each day hoping to gain an idea for perfect look for my own creation. 

I am going to do my best to blog more in 2014. As most of you know, I had a baby in April which has consumed my time as well as our other 3 children . Yes, that's right we have 4 children.......they are amazing! Also, we are hoping to be able to start an online vintage style boutique as well which will carry funky retro inspired accessories, jewelry, and boutique clothing size L and up for we ladies who look like Sophia Loren, not Kate Moss.

We wish you all the best for a happy and fabulous 2014! 

All the best,

Marti 

xoxo

My new vanity! Thank you Cindy .

Inspiration from Pinterest

Weekly Pinterest favorites........................

What a busy week we have had!  I wanted to give you a few pins I found inspiring this week.  Hope everyone has a blessed Easter:)

Marti



I love vintage typewriters!
http://pinterest.com/pin/136163588706323444/




I really would like a stack of these in the house.

http://pinterest.com/pin/136163588706235476/


As you know, old china and dishes are my favorite to collect.

http://pinterest.com/pin/136163588706020223/




Simply divine peonies...

http://pinterest.com/search/?q=peonies

The Graphics Fairy Tuesday......

I found these "Instant Art" ideas on The Graphic Fairy Blog. I absolutely love all her blog has to offer. The best part is it is free. She has so many different genres to chose from. Here are some of my favorites I found today.

Marti :)













All images may be found on The Graphics Fairy Blog. Click the button on my blog page to connect.

Caroline Grace has a new room........................

I finally tackled painting a dresser I have been wanting to refinish for years. The dresser is a pre-depression piece of my grandfather's.  My daughter Gracie has a sweet room perfect for an 8 year old with the traditional yellow and blue Laura Ashley floral. It is classic, so she can grow with the decor, but the plain dresser needed some spunk and updating. 

Let the fun begin with paint..........

I searched for awhile for the perfect yellow. As most of you know, yellow can be hard and I didn't want her to have a Big Bird yellow dresser. So after using the Valspar App I discovered Homestead Resort Tea Room Yellow. Let me say I am absolutely in love with this color and so do most of my followers. I have been asked by everyone what color I used. The drawer color is something I mixed myself, but it was perfect for the look I was going for. I left the hardware as is due to the fabulous patina and they were just too pretty to paint over. I also painted a matching end table which belonged to our children's godparent's mother.  It also is from the same era.  The top of the end table swivels which gives 2 completely different looks. What do you think?

Marti :)

My "go to" Websters Chalk Paint Powder purchased locally at Vintage 615 in Spring Hill, TN

Before

After

I am sorry I do not have a before photo, I know....bad blogger :) This look I added a stencil as well.

All photos property of Grey Vintage Style.

Are you ready for Spring?

Hello Friday!

The sun is shining on this gorgeous day here in Nashville and I am so ready to work on the garden. Due to the weather though, I have brought Spring indoors to my family. I have put together several groupings of botanical art I stumbled upon on The Graphics Fairy Website. She has an amazing collection all free of genre after genre ready to be used for you to create. If you have not explored what  Karen aka "The Graphics Fairy" has put together, please go straight to her site and check it out. You will be amazed with all you can create. Here is a sample of a few I have used in our home.  Have a fabulous day!
Marti

 

 

Photos courtesy of The Graphics Fairy. Click on the button on my page and search under botanicals.

Whirlwind Weekends............

Whirlwind weekends............

I want to apologize for not writing the past few weeks. We have had projects galore getting the nursery ready and then we had a weekend family trip, so my blog was put on the back burner temporarily.  I have been busy though with pages and pages of ideas for our home, planning the nursery, employing the Mr. to help me, and prioritizing which projects are most important.

I admit, I keep getting distracted and need to focus on the nursery.  So we did just that this weekend. Painting of the crib is almost finished.  The color we went with is Cracked Pepper by Behr.  It was suggested by my friend Cindy Sullivan of Vintage Loved. It is amazing gray! I also toned down an old brass mirror in this for over his dresser with the cracked pepper.  It looks great. Then I raided my Dad's wood supply and found perfect pieces he had already pre-cut to use to make distressed signs with cool surfer lingo for one wall......"shoot the curl", "hang ten", "surfer dude", etc.  I am excited about this and hopefully will get the signs done next weekend.

I also finished the cute little cabinet I had posted earlier which will be perfect for his Lego storage and Matchbox cars. The rocking chair was given to me by my parents on my first birthday. I will post more pictures as it comes together. Here is a preview...............

Just a few finished items...........more to come:)

Saturday fun......

Today the Mr, and I did many projects, but the one I want to share with you this evening is that of repurposing the kitchen dining room chairs. Due to the snow this morning, we turned our living room into our studio so we wouldn't freeze in the garage.  I also finished a piece for Grey's room, changed the mantle decor, and husband is painting the crib as I type:).

The chairs were an old oak finish which had been heavily worn and had old latex paint drippings on them. Because of this, we did have to sand all the paint spots off of them in which someone had carelessly left.  Then we were able to go to town painting.  I am not a fan of oak finish, but it is easy to update and paint.

I absolutely love our kitchen table as it handles the heavy traffic and kid goo of a large family very well:). I purchased it from a high school friend who also repurposes furniture.  She found it at an estate sale here locally.  I also like that it is on wheels and large enough to add more chairs when needed. We are excited with the result and fresh, clean look. What do you think?

  

Marti :)

Three French Hens...........

I do not know about all of you, but I have been having a productive and fabulous weekend!  I have met new friends at a local treasure shop in Nolensville, TN called Three French Hens. It is full of vintage goodness and the owners are friendly and fun. I purchased an old window there and tried my hand at painting with the infamous Maison Blanche Paint in Antique Blue. This is the first time I have painted with chalk paint and absolutely love it. It was so easy and  I even let my eldest daughter Ella (she's 9) paint the second coat.

Ella trying her hand at repurposing:)

It is drying as we speak. Then the Mr. and I rearranged the furniture in the formal dining room and the space looks so much better!  I have to reupholster the dining room chairs and then paint a bookcase (which I am repurposing to go in dining room) to display my beloved brown transferware I am collecting.  It is slow process collecting the china, but if you found it all at once it would take the fun out of it, right?

Also, I have painted another lamp for the master and am painting this cute little horse a friend found at a thrift shop to put on Etsy.  I am hoping to attempt a burlap shade for the master room lamps, but that is going to take some practice :).

I am smiling at myself as I am typing because as I look down my fingers are stained in gray and turquoise paint from all these projects.  Too funny. I better get that off before my "day job" tomorrow:).

I wish you all a wonderful rest of your weekend....enjoy!

Marti

Image borrowed from Pinterest.

Treasure Hunting .........It's Addictive!

Beginning GVS has been so exciting and I am having too much fun meeting new people, taking classes, brainstorming, and just enjoying this new adventure as a family.  I am struggling with focusing on just one room of our home at a time though.  Every time I go out looking for vintage goodies for my son's room who will be arriving in May, I find items which would be perfect for other areas of the house. I am sure quite a few of you struggle with this to as treasure hunting is so addictive when you are finding fabulous finds and bargains. 

 So after pouring over Miss Mustard Seed's new book I am going to follow her advice and focus......well, I am going to try to slow my creative mind down:)

These are just a few helpful hints she suggests in her book Inspired You......

          1.  Know when a bargain is a bargain.

          2. Take cash and do not spend more then the cash you have budgeted....my major down 

                fall:)!        

          3. Buy what you love as this is your unique style.

          4. Go prepared with an empty van or truck if you are looking for big items. 

          5. Don't buy things just because they are cheap. If you do not need it, what good is it to waste

               $2 on an item you will never use.

          6. Dress down...do not put on the jewels and pull out the latest LouisVuitton to go junkin' if 

              you are looking for people to come down on the price.

          7.  Don't be afraid to dig and wear old clothes

          8. Make it a family affair and give the kids a few dollars so they can participate in finding 

              vintage goodness too. This also teaches them about budget and honestly my eldest

              daughter is much better at staying on budget then I am. 

A few Pinterest photos I came across today....I love turquoise. don't you?

            

Marti

Vintage Bottles Make Me Happy........

I absolutely love the look of vintage glass bottles, don't you? They provide such a simple elegance to display in a window or even on a mantel.  The way the light shines through the blue and turquoise, especially just makes me happy. These are what I find myself always drawn to when visit my favorite little antique shops searching for vintage goodies. Mercury glass is always an awesome find, as it adds just enough sparkle to your home. Mix and match different sizes, styles, and textures for a unique look.



                                                       
                                                          

                                                      
 
Images borrowed from Pinterest except the milk bottle which is available in my Etsy shop.

Painted Mason Jars

As most of my followers know, I love mason jars and their simplicity. They are very versatile and easy. Also, if one gets broken or knocked over by the children, big deal. They are so inexpensive to replace and that gives me an excuse to try something new with them :).

For this project, I "borrowed" three mason jars from my husband's case of canning jars.  Shhhhh... :).  I then simply flipped them over and pulled out the spray paint. I prefer to use the Rustoleum as it seems to cover better.  The color I happen to have on hand was Heirloom White.

                                        

I applied the first coat just to get a good base because if you spray too much it drips. If this happens take a paint brush and blend it out. Make sure you turn them upside when you paint so the paint drips down the jar as it drys

 Then I applied two more coats. Let dry between coats so you can see where you need to add more.

Then I like to finish them off with some twine or jute wrapped around them to complete the look.  They are then ready to put your goodies in them, such as fresh flowers and or even alone to decorate.  I even use mason jars in the middle of the kitchen table for napkins, so if the children need more they can just grab one.    



                                                         

Simple....simple.

Marti

Save the World..Buy Vintage

This is one of my favorite sayings and prints I have every purchased. I bought this from Michelle Holmes at Vintage Junky www.vintagejunky.com  here in Spring Hill, TN. I love her little shop and it is in my hometown. I try to shop local when I can as I am not a fan of malls or crowds at all.

So when the Mr. and I purchased our home a year ago, her shop was the first I visited to find funky treasures for our new abode.  I saw this in her shop and instantly loved it.

I arranged it with my Mother's vintage copper cookware over our pantry........

I jazzed it up by buying a blank canvas in which I painted the same color as my kitchen. I then used my trusty Rustoleum Heirloom White and painted a frame I have been saving for awhile looking for just the right use.  I mounted the print directly to the canvas with Mod Podge and voila!!! Simple....simple.  It truly is a statement of how I love to repurpose and upcycle vintage items.  I love giving old things new life.

Marti

Grey's Room

The Mr. and I are currently working on our baby boy's room, which is who this blog is named after....Grey:). We have chosen to go with a bright surfer style motif,  which we are really excited about.  I am originally from San Diego, California and my husband has loved The Beach Boys and all things California since he was a little boy.

This being said, this is what we have come up with so far. We have found several of our finds at a little store here in Tennessee called 2Storeys Antiques. This has become one of our favorite little shops and the store just makes us happy when we go. The owners are very helpful and kind and Mr and Mrs. Storey have become mentors of mine.

Our first purchase for the nursery was this lovely dresser which was distressed. The Mr. and I immediately fell in love with this piece.  It is the perfect shade of blue in which we both had in mind. It also can be used for a changing table. I am not a fan of changing tables as they usually are unattractive and one does not get much use for them after the baby is grown. We wanted a unique room for this special little boy.

Next we found the perfect bedding online at www.mysillymonkeysbaby.com called Little Surfer Sunshine. It has the perfect colors of aqua, orange, gray, and pear yellow.

We have three more pieces on our list to finish. One is a rocking chair my father gave me years ago.  It was outside for awhile, so we have to refinish it. Second is our daughter's crib which is a natural shade, so we are going to paint it as this is not my style at all. Finally, we found a little cute side table in which little Grey will be able to keep all his little trucks and toys in. We have to repaint that as well and probably will use the same color as the dresser.

To do pieces....

                                                         




We are also searching for the perfect accents and lamps to finish the look.

So stay tuned and I will update the progress as we count down to delivery in May 2013.

Marti