Decorating Style Quiz

A few months ago I received an email from Home Goods that included a short quiz to discover my decorating style.  This was GREAT since I've always had a hard time pinpointing what it was.  I've changed my decor as the trends have changed, but when I took this quiz I realized that, deep down, my basic decorating style has remained the same . . . a little bit plain and a little bit fancy.  So what did the quiz say about me? That my style is Farmhouse Glam!  That's it!  I've  finally got a name for how I decorate! 

The quiz is very quick yet surprizingly accurate . I emailed it to some friends and it really seemed to pinpoint their tastes as well.  To take the Home Goods Stylescape quiz click on this link.  Once you've found your style you'll also find some tips on decorating in that style.  But before you start, here are a few pics taken throughout my home that will show why I am Farmhouse Glam.  Duh!  Was I blind?

Farmhouse furniture

 

 Glam furniture

 

Farmhouse curtains (made from painter's dropcloths)

 

Glam curtain hardware

 

Farmhouse bench

Glam wall decor above the bench

Farmhouse cabinets with a distressed finish

Glam backsplash

Farmhouse picture frame hung above a Glam picture frame

 

Farmhouse burlap cord cover . . .

 . . .on a Glam chandelier

Farmhouse copper pots

Glam silver & crystal pieces

 

 Farmhouse catch-all in entry hall

 

Glam "Welcome" in entry hall

   Farmhouse light fixture

 

                                                            Glam light fixture

And finally . . .  it isn't just our home decor that defines our style, but our choice is clothing is often similar.  Case in point . . . here is a typical outfit I'd pick to go out shopping or to church.  I am all about jeans and boots (farmhouse) but I love to add sparkle to my outfits (glam). I also love the soft cozyness of this little faux fur jacket.

This was such a fun quiz and it only takes about two minutes.  Give it a try!  I'd love to hear back from you what you find out about yourself and your own unique style. Enjoy!

Patti

Linking up with:
MyRomanticHome
FrenchCountryCottage
CommonGround
ImpartingGrace
EmbracingChange
TheShabbyCreekCottage
LizMarie
RedouxInteriors
TheShabbyNest
FromMyFrontPorchToYours
HaveADailyCupOfMrsOlson
NoMinimalistHere
VintageOnADime
SavvySouthernStyle
BeyondThePicketFence
SouthernLovely
Designed Decor

Vintage Dresser & Mirror Update

So here she is, my latest furniture transformation at long last complete!  I started this vintage dresser several months ago when I was in the process of testing three homemade chalkpaint recipes. You can read my review here to find out the one I rated as the BEST!

(Hmmm . . . I'm beginning to think I need to get a "staging" place for taking pictures of my furniture)

Anyway . . . this is how she looked before.

                                           

The dresser came with a marble top but I've left it off for now as I have other plans for it.

The marble was covering up some damage to the wood veneer top so I scraped away loose wood, sanded and filled with Wood Filler, sanded again and started painting.  The top isn't perfect, it has some little dings and divets (just like me!) to give it the character that comes with age, but it looks pretty good with a few coats of paint . . .

 . . . and a little Annie Sloan Soft Wax buffed to a soft shine.

I added stripes to the sides for visual interest and to modernize this piece a bit.

I held onto the original wood knobs for a future project and purchased glass knobs from World Market. 

 I also purchased this floral applique from an Etsy shop online, then painted and antiqued it.


Here are some close-ups of a light distressing I gave the piece. I will be selling this and I've found that some people don't like much distressing.  I can always add to the effect later for anyone who prefers more.

Next is the special surprise when the drawers are opened!  The wood in the bottoms of the drawers was a bit rippled, like there had been some water damage. They were still solid though so I decided to do a little decoupage to hide the roughness.  I got the graphics (old postcards, French script and vintage ladies) from The Graphics Fairy.  I then painted the insides of the drawers with a third paint color.

  Here's a closer look at the lovely ladies.  That little tutu is my favorite color!

The three colors used on this dresser are: Behr Dream Catcher & Myth on the outside & Prelude for the insides of the drawers.

One last surprise is a peek at the back of the dresser. I painted it rather than leave it unfinished so it doesn't necessarily have to stay up against a wall.  This little gal is a wallflower no longer!

I hope you enjoyed seeing another OLD THING made NEW. I sure enjoyed sharing it with you.  By the way, what do you think of stripes? I'm thinking of adding some to my walls. 

Blessings to you,

Patti

Linking up to the following parties:
FrenchCountryCottage
CommonGround
ImpartingGrace
EmbracingChange
MyRomanticHome
MissMustardSeed
RedouxInteriors
LizMarie
TheShabbyNest
FunkyJunkInteriors
DesignedDecor
DIYShowoff
ClassyClutter
TheGraphicsFairy
TheDedicatedHouse
ModVintageLife
IShouldBeMoppingTheFloor
CoastalCharm
Elizabeth&Company
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MyUncommonSliceOfSuburbia
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$1000 Visa Gift Card Giveaway!!!

Before I get to the exciting Gift Card details, let me just say that I've noticed this past week that a LOT of my incoming emails have ended up in a Spam folder.  Since I've promised to follow back anyone that lets me know they are following me, I'd like to ask that you please comment on the bottom of this post if you notice that I haven't signed up to follow you back yet. This is especially true for those following by e-mail, as I can't see who you are! Thanks :)

So on to the $1000 Visa Gift Card Giveaway.  Mallory & Savannah over at Classy Clutter have given us 10 TIPS TO PREVENT COLD AND FLU THIS SEASON.  It is a great article.  Who doesn't want to avoid sickness?  At the end of their post is also a Giveaway . . . a chance to win $1000!  I'm blogging about their post in exchange for an entry in this sweepstakes and I want to pass the chance on to you, my followers, as well!  So head on over to their blog to place your entry and while you're there take a look around.  Their blog has many great projects and tutorials. I am now one of their new followers.

I'll be back later today with my latest furniture re-do so I'll see you then :)

Patti
 

The Grow Your Blog Party!

Today I'm joining up with the Grow Your Blog party hosted by Vicki over at 2BagsFull.  Hundreds of bloggers will be posting who they are and why they started blogging.  We will then have the opportunity to "visit" with and begin to build relationships with other bloggers like ourselves.

 

So here is my part.  As my blog says, my name is Patricia Krank, but most people call me Patti.  People that know me say that I am friendly, kind, a good listener and a compassionate person.

Some say that I am a bit mischievious but I think I just like to have fun!

Those that know me WELL say that I am funny, silly, a tad bit driven (as in always needing to be in the middle of a project)  . . . and sometimes a little crazy!

(If that didn't scare you away, then we're good!  Keep reading :)

 

I was born and raised in Washington State and currently live in a lakeside home just outside the state capitol of Olympia.  Yes, it is a bit soggy here, but very green!  We often dream of retiring to a warmer, drier climate, but when summer comes, and we get our pontoon boat back into the water, there is no better place to live.

 

I'm married to my best friend and partner in crime (I mean ministry), Kelly.

I have two beautiful daughters (Joy & Bethany) who live in opposite corners of the country - Buffalo, NY and Pasadena, CA (exotic aren't they?)



 

 . . . and these are a couple of guys I found to be their bodyguards (in reality, this is B's boyfriend Dave & my son-in-law Andrew, but they look kinda tough in these cool(?) caps they found).





 We also have three dogs, who are spoiled beyond belief!

 

So why did I start blogging?  Two things:  I've always felt compelled to write . . . AND .  . . I've always loved decorating, crafting, DIY projects, or just about anything to make my home a more beautiful and comfortable place to live.  You know the "nesting" urge that comes right before having a baby?  That is me ALL the time!  I never had time to pursue this passion to it's fullest until retiring from a career in the dental profession. (Retired? - HA! I'm busier than ever!)  The bug to begin blogging began in earnest with the remodel of our little lakeside cottage a couple of years ago.  I'll be doing a full post with before and after photos soon, but here a couple of before and after peeks:

 



 Kitchen before . . .

and after.

Living Room before . . .



and after. 

 

 Since we were doing this remodel with limited cash (and ran into the need to re-wire the entire cottage = $$$) I was forced to furnish "on the cheap". I found used furniture online, then stripped, sanded, painted, and recovered cushions.  Here are a few pictures of my furniture re-do's:

 

Before and after upholstered furnishings:

 

Before and after pine armoire:

(Oops! I had this project half painted before shooting any pics)

 



Before and after drop leaf table:

and chairs . . .

 

 

 

This was my first try at refinishing furniture and I was amazed at the joy this new hobby brought into my life!  As I worked lovingly on each piece I saw OLD THINGS becoming NEW and my eyes were opened to the correlation to the ministry that my husband and I are involved with.  Hence, an outlet for my drive to write and my drive to create came together in a blog called . . .

My goals through blogging are threefold:  The first is to share with others how one can make a home of beauty even with limited resources. Most of the projects I do are with things I have on hand or find while out "thrifting".  I only pick solidly built furniture pieces that will last for years to come.  I hope to inspire others to think twice before paying full price!  My second goal is to build enough interest in my projects to eventually begin to sell them.  I am thinking of doing my first French Flea Market next summer and I'd like to build a big enough "store" of goods to try selling on Etsy.  I know I need to start pinning on Pinterest and building my Facebook page as well.  Whew!  There is so much more to this process than I ever imagined!  Thirdly, I'd like to pass on a little hope to those who are having a hard time. The intention of my blog isn't to be "preachy" but being Freedom Session Directors is a huge part of my husband's and my lives.  We regularly share our own experience of lives transformed by God, so some of that is bound to spill over into my writing from time to time.

I have a lot to learn as a novice blogger, especially since I'm technically challenged by virtue of age alone.  It appears to me that I am older than most of the other bloggers I see out there of my genre.  However, I inherited "Sisu" from my Finnish mom (loosely translated into English that is strength of will, determination & perseverance) and "stubborness" from my Irish dad . . . so I'm pushing on to learn the ins and outs of this crazy blogging world! 

So . . . on to the GROW YOUR BLOG PARTY!  I'm looking forward to the chance to explore other blogs and make new friends over the next couple of days :)

 

Blessings to you,

Patti