Mama DIY: Chic Small Bench

Southern Unique Elegance is having a banner spring! We have expanded into a new space, a room to be exact. And as a result, we have been selling more! I think it's because you can see the pieces we have on hand, it feels more like a home, and we're really giving it our TLC. We've made weekly trips to ensure the space is clean and tidy, and we're constantly adding new pieces. We only offer things that we would use in our own home, so you know your getting quality every time.

Now, just because we're adding pieces that we would put in our home doesn't mean they start out that way! We are all about purchasing things that may or may not need a facelift. And, when they do, I'm there with my DIY skills! Recently, we bought this small bench that looked like it had stepped right out of 1992! The fabric and colors were a dead giveaway. However, the piece had nice lines and was fully functional. It just needed a little tszuj. And that's exactly what I did.

I removed the cushion from the bench for starters. The whole thing needed a new coat of paint, in a completely different color, and it needed a light sanding before I painted it. If I've learned anything in DIY, it's that you need to lightly sand anything you're going to re-paint. It helps rough up the wood, takes the sheen off of the paint, and helps the new paint adhere better. And you have far less drips! Lesson learned the hard way!!

Once the sanding was completed, it was time to paint. I'm a huge fan of spray painting. It's so much easier and I feel like I get a better coverage than brushing it on. However, there are times where a brush is what you truly need. For this, I used a high gloss black spray paint. With my handy spray nozzle. That thing is a must!!

Didn't that make a huge difference? It really gives the piece an upgrade without a lot of money! Then it was time to reupholster the top. What goes with high gloss black? Black and white toile. We had the fabric on hand from when I got a new shower curtain. That's right, this is my shower curtain. But it's such a gorgeous fabric! And obviously multi-purpose. 

So here's what you do. Take the original fabric off of the cushion by removing every staple you find. I used a screwdriver and a staple remover when I couldn't get the ones that were truly stuck! Keep the fabric because that's going to be your template. Lay out the fabric you're going to use, wrong side up, and place the original fabric over that. Cut out your new cushion covering. Again, wrong side up, place the cushion on top of the fabric.

Now it's time to upholster! The main thing to remember is to pull the fabric tight. If you don't, you will have a saggy cushion top and no one wants anything saggy! Once you have the desired tightness, begin stapling. Start on one side and then move to the opposite. And remember, something I didn't do the first time, make sure you like the placement of the fabric before you start to staple! I had to take the whole thing out because the fabric needed to be horizontal and I had it going vertically!

When it comes to the corners, pretend you are wrapping a package. Just make sure you get the corners just right. There will be a pleat, and that's okay, but you don't want to have the bulk of the fabric showing underneath. Again, staple.

Once everything is completely stapled, it's time to reattach the top to the legs. Make sure you've kept all the original screws, or other supplies, because you're going to reuse them. If they aren't able to be used again, keep one for accurate replacements.

 I love how it turned out!! It's gorgeous and so chic. And the colors are perfect for anyone's home. And if you want it, it can be yours! Just head down to Louisburg! 

Are you going to attempt your on re-upholstery project or just buy something new? Let me know if you attempt it and how it turns out!

XO,

Andrea

Mama DIY: Take a Seat

Remember those wooden desks from our youth? The ones we used in college perhaps? You sat down in an old wooden chair, with a wrap around side desk and bottom shelf for your books, and maybe scribble something cute on the desk. Well, my mom and I found one at Savers and we brought it home! We had big ideas for it and it turned out so cute!! So cute that we almost kept it because my son decided he had to have it. We didn't keep it and it can be yours!!

So what exactly did I do? Well, let me tell you. I sanded down the desk so that I could get rid of as many scribble marks as possible. I then wrapped the portion of the desk that I didn't want painted. I decided to paint the desk portion of the chair in chalkboard paint because how fun would it be to have this in your child's room so they can draw, practice letters, work on math, and then erase everything to start over! I love how it turned out. And chalkboard paint is so easy to use! You need about two to three coats to get the coverage you want and it doesn't feel rough to the touch. 

After the desk dried, I covered it and got to painting the remainder of the chair. One major thing I learned from this, sand!! I should have sanded the chair lightly to get rid of the varnish finish. It caused the paint to barely stick and drip. I found myself putting a very light coat of paint on it in the beginning and subsequent light layers for the remainder of the paint job. In total, there are four coats of paint and I went through five cans of spray paint. I'm not sure if the sanding process would have helped, but it couldn't have hurt!

So here is the process in pictures!

Isn't it darling? And it's available at our booth, Southern Unique Elegance, in Louisburg! It would be so cute in your child's room or playroom. Or in a fun place in your home. I love the color combo. I think we need another one!

What do you think of the desk? Remember using one of these? Would you use it today? I have more DIY pieces coming your way! Stay tuned!

XO,

Andrea

KC Mama DIY: Patio Table

With the warmer weather during the last part of February, I found myself busily working on projects for our Southern Unique Elegance booth. We have decided that we need more furniture and that's exactly what we've been collecting! But, we're not just focusing on antiques. We're looking at all pieces that we think we would want in our homes and hope they resonants with customers who shop with us! 

So when we found this darling collapsible patio table at Michael's, we knew we had to tackle it! Think about anyone who lives in an apartment or condo and only has a tiny space for sitting. You still need a little table for gorgeous spring nights and cool summer evenings, right? And the fact that this one collapses for storage is even better! Or, you can take it with you for sweet picnic in the park! So many uses for this little table!

Anyone out there heard of chalk paint? It's sweeping the nation so we decided to ride the bandwagon. We picked our color, Sea Glass, purchased all the correct brushes and wax, and headed home with excitement to get started. And when I did, I immediately was annoyed! Can I just tell you right now that I am NOT a fan of chalk paint! I watched the videos, I applied all the tools and tips and tricks when painting of the table, and I still don't like it! I think it's a mindset. Chalk paint is so different than standard paint. It's applied differently. It's not as forgiving. And it annoyed me! The pros are the lack of odor and quick dry time and that's about it. Now, we didn't use the super expensive chalk paint brands. We used the Michael's brand name paint so maybe that's the difference. However, we have decided that for our next paint project, we're purchasing plain paint!

Here is the table from somewhat start to finish. I love the end result, it looks darling in the booth, but didn't love the process! And yes, I did apply the wax!

How cute is this? 

Are you a chalk paint fan or dislike it like myself? Any additional tips and tricks for our next project, if we decided to go chalk paint again? We have a coffee table coming up and we're looking at just standard paint for that one. Can't wait to share it! it will definitely be a transformation!

And the table is up for purchase! If interested, in live in the KC area, let me know. It could yours!! 

XO,

Andrea

The Southern Dictionary

In the South, we have a different vocabulary than say our friends to the North or West. It's like we have our own dictionary and most everyone you meet in the South knows what you're saying. However, if you use a word or phrase around someone unfamiliar with our vocabulary, they aren't quite sure what you're saying. For instance, when I was nine I moved to Overland Park, KS from Blountville, TN. I had a very thick accent that focused on all the long "I's". One morning during a super cold recess, I forgot my hat in the classroom. I asked Mrs. Borth if I could run back inside to grab my toboggan and she looked at me funny. She then asked again what I needed from inside and I said my toboggan. She asked if I had brought a sled to school and I said no, I need my hat. You see, in the South a toboggan is a knit winter hat. 

That's not the only strange one. Here are a few more:

Buggy - A shopping Cart

Pocketbook - Handbag

Stove Eye - Burner

Fixin' - Getting Ready to Do Something

When my mom and I started Southern Unique Elegance, I started thinking of ways we could expand on our Southern brand. I started playing with our southern phrases and dictionary and ways we could use them in the future. There are quite a few, but we were able to narrow it down to "Fixin'" and "Bless Its Heart". Here's what they mean.

Fixin' is something almost every Southern woman uses. It's a verb that explains that you are about to do something. Such as "I'm getting ready to fix dinner." "I'm fixin' to go to the store." "I"m fixin' to throw a fit!" As you can see, we are pretty much fixin' to do just about anything! And it was the perfect choice for our next business venture.

The other Southern phrase that gets used often is "Bless Its Heart". That's right,  bless its Heart, not your heart. Its refers to just about anything and it's not always polite! My grandmother used this phrase often and it just had to be on the list of our Southern phrases. Here are some examples. Let's say you see someone and she's get her dress hem stuck in her pantyhose. "Bless its heart. She has no idea that her skirt hem is caught in her pantyhose." Or if you hear that someone is sick. "Aw, bless its heart. I hate to hear that." You see a baby throwing a fit. "Bless its heart. He needs a nap." And here is another reason it was a perfect choice. The other day, my son was sick and my dad was talking with him on the phone. McKinley informed Granddaddy that he wasn't feeling well and that his throat hurt. I wasn't on the other end of the conversation, so when he hung up the phone, I asked McKinley what my dad had said. His response, "Bless your heart." So it wasn't its, but you can get the idea of how often this phrase is used. It's the perfect fit.

So where am I going with this? I'm fixin' to tell ya. We have made our own Southern phrases tees and they are darling! You always need a cute tee on casual days and you need one with some personality. And what has more personality than a Southern woman? Seriously, have you ever been in a room with Southern women? Have you seen Steel Magnolias? If your answer is no, watch it or just come over! It's insane at times. But so much fun! And so are these tees! Check them out!

I have to say that "Fixin'" is my all time fav! Not only is the t-shirt style perfection, but the word just describes everything about life! And it fits me to a tee...see what I did there?!

What do you think? Love them? Want one? Email me! We are hawking our wares and hope to see you sporting one soon! And if you do, please post pics!!

XO,

Andrea

Southern Unique Elegance

I've mentioned a couple of times that my mom and I have gone into business together and then I recanted that statement. It's really my mom's business and I'm here for the grunt work! Okay, I do a little more than just the grunt work. I get to help pick out the pieces we want to re-purpose and sell. I get to work on the pieces with my dad from time to time. And, I get to arrange the booth when adding new items. And I have to say that's the best part of the job! Oh, and I love working with my mom. 

We have wanted to do something together for years, but we weren't really sure what we wanted to do. We love to craft, but everyone is doing that. We love specialty boutiques, but we didn't really want the day in and day out hassles and issues that come with running your own store front. We had a small staging business and loved it, but the jobs were too sporadic and we didn't really have the storage space for the all the items we needed to store. We love antiquing, finding treasures that need a little TLC, and then finding a place for them in our respective homes. That is was more our calling and we answered! 

We met a woman last May at our bi-annual garage sale who scooped up some of the Hallmark ornaments we were selling. She stated that she was planning to add them to her home decor booth and we started asking questions. Turns out, she had a space in a little shop in Louisburg, KS and sold various items. Antiques, Hallmark ornaments, crafts, and housewares. She said we needed to come check her out and we did. But it wasn't until late October. As we walked the space, roaming into little rooms, walking among rows of vendors, we felt so at home and decided to start asking some questions. It turned our that a space was opening up in November and it was our if we wanted it. We chatted briefly and decided to take the plunge. Booth number 10 was our new business!

We talked the entire 20 minute trip home. We bantered excitedly about what we were going to place in the booth, what we thought would be our best products to sell, and what we could do to really make it our own space. Make it look like us. And by the time we got home, we had our game plan in place. We were going to move in the week before Thanksgiving and we had a lot to do to prepare. We needed furniture to fill the space and make it look like a home, but we also needed it for showcasing our glassware and other small items. We gathered all the antique pieces we've collected over the years, but never used, and began placing them in our heads within the space. Now we needed a name. It needed to be unique. It needed to reflect us. And it came to me one night while lying awake thinking about the to-do list in my head. I originally thought of Southern Unique and Elegant, but it didn't really roll off the tongue. I talked it over with my mom and she said, what about Southern Unique Elegance. And a name was born. Oh, and just so you know, when the name is broken down, SUE just happens to be our middles names. Perfect, right? And not a coincidence.

As we got started at home, my dad helped us sand and paint a drop leaf kitchen table that we found at a garage sale, helped us prep a table that we got for free from a couple in their neighborhood who were moving back to Canada and didn't need it anymore, and he loaded up all the stuff when it was time to move in. I guess you could say it's a family biz now!

Since we started the booth in November, we have added space! We are now renting the space next to us which really helped open up the booth. We have added some additional furniture, home goods, and a few other pieces we think might sell. That's the thing for us right now. Figuring out what sells. What is the best thing for the booth. What people will find the most appealing. And we think it's furniture. However, we went last week to take out Christmas and give the space a little face lift and found that what we thought wasn't selling is selling. I think it's going to be a guessing game and it's so fun to play! Here is a glimpse into Southern Unique Elegance.

If you haven't made a trip to Louisburg, go! It's a quaint little town and Simply Selah, the boutique that houses Southern Unique Elegance and all the other fabulous vendors, is such a sweet place. And after your visit, let us know what you think! We would love to hear what you have to say about the entire experience and what you think of our little business!

XO,

Andrea