A visit to the Southern Ideal Home Show Charlotte

Fun and educational day during my  visit to the Southern Ideal Home Show in Charlotte. This is an annual 3 day show at the The Park Expo and Conference Center with FREE parking. (yes, you read it right... an event in Charlotte with free parking!)

Friday: 10am-7pm
Saturday: 10am-7pm
Sunday: 11am-5pm

Tickets: 

At the Door: $10:00 (Under 15 free with a paying adult)

Advance Online: $9.00 and there are several different discounts offered as well. For more information head to their website:

https://southernshows.com/hfc

Food trucks are always a bonus! And great way to start the venture!

 Always nice to see a friendly face (or in this case, place) when I'm! The Charlotte Habitat ReStores were set up with a great selection of items for sale from their stores and on hand with information about all their services.

(http://www.charlotterestore.org)

I was introduced to Herb's Honey at the Southern Women's Show 2 weeks ago and I am hooked. These guys know honey. Offering North Carolina Raw Honey,  "produced in the Carolina's, bottled bottles in Charlotte", my mind is slightly blown away by the fact that honey collected in different seasons, regions and tree/flower population can produce a completely different flavor. If you have a chance, I definitely recommend stopping by and sampling the different selections and starting your very own honey bear army like mine.

(Herb's Honey Mountain Orchard HerbsHoneyPot.com 704-763-1646)

Buck's Tiny Houses brought out three tiny house models and I realized that all of them offered bigger bathrooms than I currently have on my own house. Which makes me believe that I could live in a tiny house after all.

Super nice people and very educated on the entire Tiny House AND home construction guidelines and regulations. 

(Buck's Tiny Houses www.bucktinyhouses.com)

My new obsession and top of my wish list is a Tower Garden. Cathy Melesh is a Charlotte Sales Rep and her passion and excitement over this nifty self contained, self watering, indoor or outdoor vertical garden that is used on in space shuttles will have you envisioning the garden fresh meals that you will lovingly prepare for your family from your tassel hassle free garden growing in your kitchen... or it in my case, what my meals my husband would lovingly prepare since he's been the dinner chef lately. 

(Cathy Melesh 704-560-0994

cathymelesh.towergarden.com cathymelesh@bellsouth.net)

I also found a new pest control service, a whole bunch of new succulent plants, new collapsible food storage bins, took a selfie with a guy dressed as a bathtub to "outdo" the selfie pic text from a friend sitting on the beach, and made an appointment to have my driveway pressure washed and sealed...

Bath Fitter Charlotte 

All in all I say that it was a pretty productive few hours and a great one stop shop for any all home related needs. There were also cooking demonstrations and the guy from the show Tanked was there taking pictures and signing autographs, and more. 

Special thanks to the Southern Ideal Home Show for giving me an excuse to bail on laundry duty today and to all the vendors I met

Until next time

*In full disclosure: My admission as a blogger was at no cost to attend the Southern Ideal Home Show. However, I did not receive any form of monetary compensation or goods in exchange for positive comments made about the SIHS, the venue, or the merchants/vendors. The post above reflects my honest and unbiased experience had during my visit. 

**Not saying that I'm opposed to receiving compensation for positive blog posts... I got bills to pay too... just making a point to note in this case.**

*** I am also just going to throw out there that if you are a business or company that has decided to add "influencers" to your marketing campaign... my email is andreahartleyme.com 😉 

The Tale of Ugly Cabinet Thing

During one of my weekly (sometimes daily) strolls through Mooresville ReStore, I stumbled upon this beauty for only $35!! To be perfectly honest, I really didn't have a clue what it was but I knew what I wanted it to be!

(that was only $35, so I bought it, because it's not like i could really make it look any worse)

Its like Tetris...

... but with furniture parts.

My mother called me the other day a with a cute puzzle to see if you have an "artistic mind." The equation is:

2+2= fish 

3+3= eight 

7+7= triangle 

I got it right away.

If the answer isn't as clear for you, I will share at the end of this next Restyle story.

The answer to the test above reminded me about the sideboard buffet table I had made for the 2013 Restore Restyle Event. This one did require the OCD or perfectionism that only my husband can add to any project. So where I may have been the brain power behind the concept and design behind the materials to be used by moving around the parts like Tetris in my mind until it all fit. 

After 3 days and some pretty impressive hand drawn blue prints to thoroughly show him exactly how a bed canopy, a wood door, 2 cabinet doors, 8 hardwood floor strips, and some granite tiles were going to come together, his craftsmanship is what made it come to life.

I wasn't exactly sure what they were until I got home later that day, all I knew was that I loved the detail of it and there was plenty of it to use in a project. They turned out to be the rails to turn a poster bed into a canopy bed!

My next challenge was to find a wood door that would match the rails and looked exactly like what I had pictured in my mind. (turns out it wasn't that big of a challenge, it was on the first aisle among the vast selection of varieties of doors and was $40)

Canopy Rails

I picked up the cabinet doors for $4 each and found granite tile that was $2 a piece.

The Repurposed Cabinet Drawer: Part 2

Anchor Wall Hook found at Mooresville ReStore $5

So now your finished making a Storage Ottoman (or 2) of your very own, you maybe asking yourself "what can I do with these super fabulous drawer fronts that are left over?" So I am sharing with you an extremely quick, easy and inexpensive project to turn those scraps and accentuate simple hooks and hangers to make your own swanky wall decor found in high end stores for only a few dollars... 

Carousel $8 Hobby Lobby 

What you will need:

   ☆ Drawer Front

   ☆ Screw driver or drill

   ☆ Wall mount hardware

   ☆ Paint and wood filler (optional)

   ☆ Decor item(s)/hook

~Be creative; give new life to old cabinet/door knobs, tools, keys/locks, mirrors, dishes, ugly towel bars repainted, etc. as your "decor item" or mix and match several objects for functional art.

Picture Perfect Table

During a visit the other day with a neighbor, I sat down at her kitchen table and realized that it had been the table that I had made for the Our Towns ReStore 2013 Restore Restyle Designer Challenge that she had bought the night of the event. Seeing it again and talking about how it came to be, I thought I should share that process.

Couch Cushions: AKA "The Mystery Hole"

We recently bought a new couch, and upon removal of the old one, made the discovery of a life time. When the old couch was flipped up on it's side it made a very interesting noise. The distinct noise of random items falling through couch springs to the side that now laid on the ground. With a quick slit with a razor knife to the fabric on the bottom of the couch I found where all the missing pocket change, small toys, scissors, batteries,  jewelry, crochet hooks, 6 pairs of tweezers (no lie)  and many more tiny objects that had been lost over the past 5 years. 

How did they get there exactly? I inspected the couch seat itself and discovered that where the back of the couch met the seat was a very small crack that let these small items pass through to the "Mystery Hole" where they would be forever lost. 

Determined not to loose any more small treasures and necessities to this obscure menace that was also a feature found on the new couch in addition to the "crack of doom" that apparently is equipped in all sectionals , I set out on a mission to resolve this as easily and cheaply as possible.  And once again, thanks to Restore, the problem has been solved!

I found these 1 inch in diameter 6 ft long foam pipe insulator sleeves at Restore for $.75 each. I simply took my cushions off the couch and wedged the insulators into the tiny trench of terror and crack of doom and loss, then put the cushions back on the couch. After extensive testing over the past 60 days, we have had zero lego or pocket change casualties to the couch monster. 

Problem solved for less than $2!!

Until next time!

Andrea

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ReStore ReClaimed & RePurposed

Procurement of Style:

Maybe you noticed the mysterious little blue tags on items that read “Procurement” while shopping at Ourtowns ReStore? Or perhaps, you are looking for some repurposing DIY ideas for these wonder items filled with untapped design potential? You are in luck because the mystery of the blue tag is to be revealed in this DIY before and after “Procured Products”.

Meet Don Oaks, Procurement Specialist for Ourtowns ReStores that is the on hand, in the field liaison for local brick and mortar businesses and institutions that would like to make donations of goods and/or commodities to the Ourtowns ReStore locations. Whether moving office locations, upgrading/updating, or have excess inventory, Don will meet on location with business owners and office managers to identify, catalogue and coordinate with the ReStores for donations to be picked up. Procurement is a quick, efficient and economical process of eliminating nonessential/surplus office equipment and furnishings while simultaneously providing support to the Habitat for Humanity ReStores’ mission to bring people together to build homes, communities and hope.
In other words, in addition to gently used/new items, Don is the guy that gets a lot of the fabulous, funky, eclectic, retro and vintage desks, filing cabinets, bookshelves and more that you may find at ReStore.

These are some of our very favorite things to revitalize, modernize, repurpose and share:

Metal Blueprint filing Cabinet:

They're big, bulky, full of drawers and come in a variety of dull metal office equipment shades of color and unless you have an abundance of blueprints to file, you might think they are pretty useless at first glance. But this is an item you definitely don’t want to bypass because hidden beneath it's professional exterior is a fun and one of a kind industrial coffee table perfect for stashing away all sorts of things inside.

With a fresh coat if paint, addition of casters, creative utilization of metal HVAC duct, and in less than a days time, this project was complete and ready for it's new life in someone's home. 

Here are some more examples of other repurposed blueprint cabinet coffee tables created in a variety of styles and finishes perfect for any interior design.

Don’t stop there, check out more of our procurement B&A’s:

Are you a business or office manager interested in speaking with Don Oaks to learn more about our Procurement process?

Learn more about Ourtowns Habitat ReStores at:

https://www.ourtownshabitat.org

*DIY Before and Afters courtesy of Andrea Hartley vendor #35 Rumor Mill Market Davidson,NC

DIY Storage Ottoman from Reclaimed Drawers

Combining style and function is always a bonus, especially when that function is much needed storage. I always have some sort of crafting project going on, but with a 5 year old in the house I have to constantly stop and start these projects. This has resultes in 2 separate issues; 1. Having the project parts and pieces spread out over the dining room or living room tables is an eyesore. 2. A half done project and its parts tend to be picked up and moved and broken by others (who shall remain nameless) before I have a chance to get back to what I was doing. Creating a swanky storage ottoman is an excellent way conceal and protect your works of art in progress. With a quick trip to ReStore, you'll have all your materials needed to create one of your own in no time.

Lost and Found: Past Memories Lead To New Found Treasure

Sometimes the best treasure you find at ReStore is something not sold. These old family pictures along with some postcards and other memories were left inside of a drawer of a donated desk. The old postcards were sent from a man traveling back to his girlfriend at the time here in Mooresville. Being a sentimental and cherished token hoarder that I am, I felt that I had to find the proper owner to return them safely back to their home.

DIY Paint Rehab with Andrea

Updating this dated and drab end table to a modern and stylish piece is not as hard as it may seem!

1. Prep: Remove hardware. Clean then lightly sand away any clear shiny coat your piece a have. If your piece has some scratches and dents, continue sanding till smooth. For deep scratches, use a wood filler putty to repair. Once dry, sand putty smooth and level, cleaning off any dust from sanding. 

ReCycled Storage Cabinet

This fire extinguisher box, normally found inside of commercial buildings, is an example of a typical salvageable item ReStore takes as donations to sell in their stores to the public to raise money for Habitat for Humanity to build a home in our community. 

Last year, the Mooresville and Cornelius ReStore locations alone saved 622 tons of salvageable material from going to the landfill. To date, since opening, the Our Towns ReStores have saved more than 7,900 tons of materials from being dumped in the landfill. Combine that figure with the 9 other Metrolina ReStores in the Charlotte and surrounding area and that figure is staggering!

I know what you're thinking, "That's great, but why would I ever buy an ugly commercial fire extinguisher box for my home?"

DIY: Spooky Fun & Games

Recently, I found myself faced with the challenge of providing games for my son's kindergarten class Halloween Party.  The challenge being finding a game that will appeal and entertain 24 five & 6 year olds with rules and directions easy enough to quickly grasp before the natives get too restless.
So, ReStore to the rescue... again.

These DIY's are loaded with frightening fun and simple enough for your kids to do as well!

$2 Bucket = 2 Spooktacular games!

Always the bargain hunter, I felt that this large stack of these metal 5 gallon buckets with lids for only $2 each found in the outdoor area, was a good place to start.

Brighten up your Christmas Decor with ReStore

I had noticed during my recent shopping trips to my local Restore locations, that they were bursting at the seems with these fabulous ginormous light bulbs.

    

So, I set out on a mission to figure out something crafty to do with them since I really didn't have the need nor the fixture for a 1000 watt light bulb....

💡➡⛄

These snowmen are extremely easy to create and assemble. The possibilities of textures and finishes are also endless, so I picked my top 4 and will list the materials and steps for each finish.

Giving Tree DIY

This cute little is a kid craft project that you will want to display year round. A new spin on the classic Giving Tree, transforms what your child is thankful for into a work of art. 

DIY Holiday Light Hack

I LOVE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS! I love christmas lights so much that after I thoroughly "Griswold" up my house, I go to the neighbor' house and help put her lights up, because nothing shows your holiday spirit more than not being able to look directly at the display without suffering mild retina damage.

That being said, and because I feel so passionate about that everyone should share in this luminary joy, I am sharing 2 of my "hacks" to get you started on your very own tribute to the classic holiday movie "Christmas Vacation."

Tips from a Novice: "Cro-shaming"

Admittedly, I may possess the skill sets and ability to accomplish many things ranging from laying hardwood floors, small plumbing repairs, electrical work to making my own home decor and cute crafts made from recycled materials and other everyday items. When it comes to what most would think I would have mastered years ago such as sewing, knitting, and crotchet, the mastery of these has seemed to have evaded me. As far as sewing, I can whip up a pillow case or replace a button in a jiffy, but still limited to very small projects that pretty much only require straight lines. As for knitting and crocheting, let's just say that I probably should have just left the yarn in the craft store I found it in. 

Pictured below are two prime examples of what I call "cro-shamed" scarves made last year.

1 In A Minion

 Adorable mini Minion pencil toppers that will be sure to send you to the head of the class in just a few quick and easy steps.

Coffee Filter Flowers

January blahs got you down? Cheer up, because you won't have to wait til spring to enjoy colorfull flowers with this very inexpensive and easy DIY using coffee filters and food coloring.