See the lamp on the left? I bought it a few days ago at the German equivalent of American chain store, TJMaxx – it’s called TKMaxx and is owned by the same parent company. You can occasionally find good, affordable things in their if your timing is good. I found this huge table lamp for under $30 but there was a little problem – I really disliked everything from the base color to the shade pattern. I loved the shape of the base and the size of the lamp overall though so I decided to buy it and change a few things up.

I wanted the base to be a chalky matte paint, and I happened to have a small container of Flamant paint in Mentalo (JU407). I painted 4 coats (yes, 4!) to cover the original base because I didn’t have primer and felt too lazy to go out and buy some. Doesn’t matter, the results are the same – a nice looking lamp! I topped it with a slightly smaller lamp shade to change the look a bit – I used the Mibo pendant light that I bought several years ago from Design Public but never used — it’s been sitting in a box since 2007! I removed the lighting kit from the shade, flipped it upside down, and popped it on top of the light base. I like it, it’s quirky, and works until I get tired of it and decide to change once again. :)

Bottom line when shopping is this: Don’t look at what something IS look at what it could BE. A new paint color and shade can make all the difference in the world and it took only a few hours to do it!

(images: holly becker for decor8)

You’ll love this IKEA hack! Elena Ferrer, aka Meisi, is a graphic designer and illustrator who lives in Alicante, Spain on the Mediterranean coast and is quite a crafty lady! She recently took her tired brown Leksvik IKEA cabinet, fixed the broken door and then thought that if she just emptied the cabinet, painted it in a gorgeous shade of aqua, and stenciled the door that perhaps she could make something that nobody notices in her home a thing of beauty and function. In a single day, she transformed her unloved dark brown “boring” cabinet into something personal in a style that reflects her taste and style. After the paint dried, she decorated her cabinet with favorite things, including her collection of books, fabrics and yarn.

I like that Elena printed the stencil for the doors onto paper, cut out the motif and then used paint and a sponge to apply the paint in a pale beige. See the cabinet BEFORE here. What a change, right!? It’s so inspiring to see how far a can of paint and some creativity can go!

Thank you Elena for writing to me to share this with decor8 readers today.

(images: elene ferrer)

I don’t know about you, but this totally caught my eye over at Martha Stewart’s website recently… Dip-dyed baskets, in particular, those cute totes that you see at the weekly farmers’ markets made of straw with the leather handles. I have a couple of them, they’re a dime a dozen where I live so they are easy and cheap to come by. I love the idea of dip-dyed totes using white paint, or I bet silver would look fab too. These are so fresh and summery.

I’d like to have a few of these baskets in my home – maybe one in the living room for magazine storage and another in the kitchen to hold Pellegrino bottles? Here is how to make these beauties.

What do you think of this idea, would you, could you, have you?
(image: martha stewart)

I came across such an inspirational project while surfing for paper mache ideas on the web… I bumped in to the wonderful world of Ann Wood, whom I’ve known for years, but never thought to look at her blog for such a project. Sure enough, talented Ms. Ann shared a DIY project from A-Z on how to make Paper Mache (Papier-mâché) Teacups and my little heart nearly leaped from my chest. Hey, it doesn’t take much for me – some girls want diamonds and I’m perfectly pleased with a nice little project to try at home with my girlfriends…

To see the entire project, download the teacup template, and to see what Ann Wood is up to lately you’ll need to click here. She’ll love to have you pop by for a visit, I’m sure. And if you make any pretty paper mache teacups, let me know!

(images: ann wood)