Hello friends, I hope you all had a Christmas that filled your home with joy, your heart with love, and your life with laughter. Every December 31st, I like to spend some time reflecting on the year coming to a close and plan goals for the new year ahead. Part of that reflection is taking a trip down memory lane here on the blog to take another peek at all the projects created this year. While I'm doing that it's also fun to do a little research to see which ones resonated most with all of you. So today I'm sharing the 12 most popular posts of 2018 - A Year In Review.
So without further ado, here are the 12 most read posts of the year ending with the most popular plus a bonus pick, like a baker's dozen. To visit the tutorials for each project, press the link that is underlined.
Painting chair spindles can be grueling, especially when you're painting multiple chairs. The easiest way to paint chair spindles, bar none, is with a paint sprayer. BUT when you don't have a sprayer or have to paint indoors, this is the second easiest method to get the job done. It's all about using the right paint brush.
These solar powered fence lights were so easy to make by pairing thrift store metal candle sconces and dollar store solar lights. They fabulous flanking the water wall on our backyard deck!
This was my first attempt at trying the raised stencil technique and I was surprised at how easy it is to do. I love how the raised details added so much charm to a rather ordinary wooden chair. The chair belonged to my Mother and was one of her favorite thrifty finds.
This is another furniture makeover where I tried a new technique for the first time and now I'm hooked. These gorgeous IOD (Iron Orchard Designs) Image transfers are easy to apply to chalk painted furniture. Unlike a decal, they are super thin, don't have a glossy sheen, and the edges pretty much disappear. I have a few more makeovers planned using these in 2019.
It's not often that I name a piece of furniture but I became very fond of this antique dresser from the 1800s while working on it. Holly showed up on my doorstep looking like she was on her last leg but all I could see was her beautiful craftsmanship like the hand-carved dovetail joints. She deserved to have someone breath new life into her and I was happy to take on the challenge. I became so fond of her that I decided she's a keeper!
This was a makeover that took me down memory lane to my days sitting at a desk just like it in my elementary school days. The makeover didn't go without its challenges but they ended up being a blessing in disguise.
In this post, I share a detailed tutorial on how to add graphics to wood surfaces like furniture, DIY signs, and home decor. I find this process very relaxing and lose track of time going into the zone, as I call it.
Remember the popular concealed TV cabinets with sliding doors from the '80s & '90s? I repurposed one in a dark cherry finish from the Bombay Co. and turned it into a high gloss Hollywood Regency style bar cabinet with Breakfast At Tiffany's vibe inside.
With just a bit of elbow grease and very little paint, this well used 5-drawer dresser was redeemed with a whitewash paint finish and geometric stencil. The dresser had been gifted to my family and bounced from house-to-house over the last three decades. What a difference a little paint made!
This antique bookcase was painted my favorite color and is now the focal point in my home office. Floral fabric from the dollar store was decoupaged onto the back for added farmhouse charm.
It took three years of stubbing my toe on the chairs taking up valuable real estate in the basement workshop for me to finally give this dining room set a makeover. The trestle table had a missing leaf and the Jacobean style chairs needed a lot of work. I don't know why I procrastinated so long because it didn't take long to give this set a brand new life and I was thrilled with the night & day transformation.
I was so happy to see this made the most popular title because it was one of my favorite furniture makeovers in 2018. I walked into this makeover with a clear vision in mind and walked away afterward thinking, well that was interesting! And it all started with one napkin and an old dresser that looked like it had been taken into a back alley and beat on.
When I noticed not one home decor project made the cut this year, I had to include the most popular one of 2018 as a bonus. I especially wanted to include it because it shows you how easy it is to turn an old picture frame into a handy serving tray.
It was such fun seeing which posts resonated most with all of you and I hope you found some inspiration here.
Before I sign off my last post in 2018, I want to thank you so very much for the kindness and support you have given me over the past year. Your lovely comments, sharing my projects on social media, and heartfelt emails mean so much. You are the wind beneath my wings that keeps me motivated to keep creating, learning, and striving to do better. For that I thank you.
12 Most Popular Posts of 2018
Every year I'm surprised by some of the ones that made the cut and others I thought for sure would and didn't. This exercise is also a great gauge for me to see what types of projects I should be doing more of. If you have any suggestions, I would love to hear about them either in the comment section below or press the contact me button at the top of the blog and drop me an email. I always love hearing from you!So without further ado, here are the 12 most read posts of the year ending with the most popular plus a bonus pick, like a baker's dozen. To visit the tutorials for each project, press the link that is underlined.
12th Most Popular Post of 2018
Easy Way To Paint Chair Spindles When You Can't SprayPainting chair spindles can be grueling, especially when you're painting multiple chairs. The easiest way to paint chair spindles, bar none, is with a paint sprayer. BUT when you don't have a sprayer or have to paint indoors, this is the second easiest method to get the job done. It's all about using the right paint brush.
11th Most Popular Post of 2018
How To Make Easy DIY Solar Fence LightsThese solar powered fence lights were so easy to make by pairing thrift store metal candle sconces and dollar store solar lights. They fabulous flanking the water wall on our backyard deck!
10th Most Popular Post of 2018
Mom's Favorite Chair Makeover With Raised StencilsThis was my first attempt at trying the raised stencil technique and I was surprised at how easy it is to do. I love how the raised details added so much charm to a rather ordinary wooden chair. The chair belonged to my Mother and was one of her favorite thrifty finds.
9th Most Popular Post Of 2018
Duncan Phyfe Coffee Table With Color Furniture TransferThis is another furniture makeover where I tried a new technique for the first time and now I'm hooked. These gorgeous IOD (Iron Orchard Designs) Image transfers are easy to apply to chalk painted furniture. Unlike a decal, they are super thin, don't have a glossy sheen, and the edges pretty much disappear. I have a few more makeovers planned using these in 2019.
8th Most Popular Post Of 2018
Holiday-Inspired Antique Empire Dresser MakeoverIt's not often that I name a piece of furniture but I became very fond of this antique dresser from the 1800s while working on it. Holly showed up on my doorstep looking like she was on her last leg but all I could see was her beautiful craftsmanship like the hand-carved dovetail joints. She deserved to have someone breath new life into her and I was happy to take on the challenge. I became so fond of her that I decided she's a keeper!
7th Most Popular Post of 2018
Vintage Metal Classroom DeskThis was a makeover that took me down memory lane to my days sitting at a desk just like it in my elementary school days. The makeover didn't go without its challenges but they ended up being a blessing in disguise.
6th Most Popular Post Of 2018
Image Transfer Technique Using Graphite PaperIn this post, I share a detailed tutorial on how to add graphics to wood surfaces like furniture, DIY signs, and home decor. I find this process very relaxing and lose track of time going into the zone, as I call it.
5th Most Popular Post Of 2018
Hollywood Regency Bar CabinetRemember the popular concealed TV cabinets with sliding doors from the '80s & '90s? I repurposed one in a dark cherry finish from the Bombay Co. and turned it into a high gloss Hollywood Regency style bar cabinet with Breakfast At Tiffany's vibe inside.
4th Most Popular Post Of 2018
Whitewashed Geometric Dresser MakeoverWith just a bit of elbow grease and very little paint, this well used 5-drawer dresser was redeemed with a whitewash paint finish and geometric stencil. The dresser had been gifted to my family and bounced from house-to-house over the last three decades. What a difference a little paint made!
3rd Most Popular Post Of 2018
How To Add Charm To An Antique Oak BookcaseThis antique bookcase was painted my favorite color and is now the focal point in my home office. Floral fabric from the dollar store was decoupaged onto the back for added farmhouse charm.
2nd Most Popular Post Of 2018
Two Tone Grey Dining Room Set MakeoverIt took three years of stubbing my toe on the chairs taking up valuable real estate in the basement workshop for me to finally give this dining room set a makeover. The trestle table had a missing leaf and the Jacobean style chairs needed a lot of work. I don't know why I procrastinated so long because it didn't take long to give this set a brand new life and I was thrilled with the night & day transformation.
Most Popular Post Of 2018
How One Napkin Transformed A Serpentine DresserI was so happy to see this made the most popular title because it was one of my favorite furniture makeovers in 2018. I walked into this makeover with a clear vision in mind and walked away afterward thinking, well that was interesting! And it all started with one napkin and an old dresser that looked like it had been taken into a back alley and beat on.
Bonus: Most Popular Home Decor Post Of 2018
Coastal Picture Frame Serving TrayWhen I noticed not one home decor project made the cut this year, I had to include the most popular one of 2018 as a bonus. I especially wanted to include it because it shows you how easy it is to turn an old picture frame into a handy serving tray.
It was such fun seeing which posts resonated most with all of you and I hope you found some inspiration here.
Before I sign off my last post in 2018, I want to thank you so very much for the kindness and support you have given me over the past year. Your lovely comments, sharing my projects on social media, and heartfelt emails mean so much. You are the wind beneath my wings that keeps me motivated to keep creating, learning, and striving to do better. For that I thank you.
Wishing you all peace, health, happiness & prosperity in 2019
