5 Easy Faux Marble DIYs

The look of marble is very on-trend right now. Marble countertops, marble cutting boards, white marble vases and decorative bowls... it's all over the decor world. The bad part? It's expensive. And being a natural stone, it's expensive because of just that. It's hard to come by, takes a whole 'lotta resources, and it's quite the process to get it to the state that us consumers want to purchase it at. But what if I told you that you could get that marble look in some ways that won't break the budget?

I love nothing more than a good DIY thats just as useful as it is pretty. But then again, who doesn't? Well, add in the golden word of DIY's; e-a-s-y and I don't know about you but I'm sold. You don't have to tell me twice! Without any further hesitation, here are my 5 favorite faux marble DIY's.

All DIY's are featured on the links below

Kitchen Decor // Cocktail Coasters // Accent Furniture // Shelf Space // Planter

This post is a part of the #DefineYourHome series by Defined Designs. The series is meant to bring inspiration, knowledge, and ideas to you for getting your home in top notch shape and ready for entertaining this summer. I encourage everyone to share a space in your home or something you took home with you from this series on social media using the hashtag #DefineYourHome

Tips & Tricks on Tackling a Furniture Makeover

Hello, Hello! I'm so excited for today! Not only because we're jumping right into the #DefineYourHome series... but today I'm covering everything you need to know to tackle a furniture makeover with Jenna from Rain on a Tin Roof! If you have a DIY itch that you just can't seem to scratch, then sit right down and stay a while. Whether it's your first time taking on a furniture makeover, or you just want to know how a pro makes it look so easy - then Jenna is your girl.

Jenna writes the blog Rain on a Tin Roof and let. me. tell. you. She is wonder woman when she has a paintbrush in her hand! I had the chance to ask her a few questions and had her share her secrets so you can tackle that furniture makeover you've been thinking about with pride. Then you can head over to her blog for all of the furniture & DIY inspiration that any person can need! You can find all of her furniture makeovers here. But before we get to the Q&A, check out my favorite makeovers from Jenna:

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6

DD: Is there a certain process you like to stick with when refinishing a piece of furniture?

        Jenna: Sand first (if needed), clean, prime (if needed), paint, top coat (if needed). See all those "if needed's"? Every piece is different. Not all pieces need sanding. If they don't, always clean the piece first. If the piece has a shiny finish, definitely prime it. Most all pieces will need to be primed unless you are using a paint that typically doesn't require priming. Paint in multiple, light coats. Don't glob it on - that will ruin your paint job! If you are painting a piece that will see a lot of use, definitely use a top coat.

{photo via Rain on a Tin Roof}

DD: What type of paint/ tools can you not live without when it comes to your makeover projects?

        Jenna: Last fall, I discovered the Velvet Finishes paint line and I can't say enough good things about it. It's my new go-to furniture paint. With it, most pieces don't require priming or a topcoat. I also love my electric palm sander when I have to sand a piece - it makes the process go so much faster. And on those rare occasions where I have to strip a piece of furniture, I love my heat gun. For large pieces, I will use my paint sprayer to drastically cut down on time. If I don't use my paint sprayer, I high quality paint brush is a must.

DD: If there was one product that you could recommend to a first-timer to pick up for their first project, what would it be?

        Jenna: A Velvet Finishes paint. It's next to impossible to screw up a paint job with it.

{photo via Rain on a Tin Roof}

DD: What are the most common problems you run into when taking on a new makeover project? How do you prepare to fix them?

        Jenna: It will always take longer than expected - always. Even though, I've done countless furniture makeovers, it never fails I always think I'll have a new one knocked out in a day or so. NEVER HAPPENS! Always allow for more time than you think. It's probably going to take more coats than you think too. Make sure you've got enough time and paint on hand. 

DD: What is your favorite furniture makeover project you've done to date?

        Jenna: Oh my word. For me, that's like asking a mother of 10 who her favorite child is! haha! If i have to choose, it would be this chair makeover. It's a simple black, white and green combination, but it's still very bold.

{photo via Rain on a Tin Roof}

DD: If you could give one piece of advice to a first-timer, what would it be?

        Jenna: Don't be scared! Painting furniture is probably much easier than you think! Start with a piece that you won't care to mess up and that is smaller in scale. You may just be surprised how much you rock at this furniture painting thing!

I think it's time for me to take on a new project! Do you have a piece of furniture that you've been wanting to makeover?

This post is a part of the #DefineYourHome series by Defined Designs. The series is meant to bring inspiration, knowledge, and ideas to you for getting your home in top notch shape and ready for entertaining this summer. I encourage everyone to share a space in your home or something you took home with you from this series on social media using the hashtag #DefineYourHome

Friday Favorites

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 similar here // 6

One of the things that brings me back to being a kid this time of year is dying easter eggs. I always loved picking out the colors and dunking eggs in the cups just to see the pretty colors show up on the eggs. Being a naturally creative person, I can only imagine how much trouble I could have gotten myself into if Pinterest had been around back when I was deciding which crazy colors to mix and make years ago.

In honor of the Easter Bunny coming this weekend, I've gathered my favorite non-traditional easter eggs. I think I have some decorating to do this weekend!

Tips and Tricks to Hiring a Paint Contractor

Happy Thursday! Did you check out the first day of the #DefineYourHome series? Since this series is all about inspiration & information on all things home, home decor, and home improvements, why not keep the series going with some tips and tricks for home improvement?! {say that 10x fast} I had the opportunity to sit down with a local painting contractor here in Charlotte, called Cardinal Pro Painters and pick their brains on everything house painting.

For those of you who just don't have the DIY skills, or maybe even the time to get up on that ladder and paint your home... this one is for you! If you aren't local to Charlotte - I've had Cardinal Pro Painters spill the beans on how to find a painting contractor and what to look for in one. If you are local to Charlotte - You're in luck! Cardinal Pro Painters has offered Defined Designs readers a 10% discount on all jobs! All you have to do is mention to your estimator that you saw this post after you have received your estimate. (Offer valid until 1/1/16 and only on jobs over $1,200.00) Offer will be applied on estimate sheet.

Check them out here!

{photos via Cardinal Pro Painters}

DD: Tell us a little bit about Cardinal Pro Painters. What sets you apart from other painting contractors in Charlotte?
        Cardinal Pro Painters: Cardinal Pro Painters offers it's customers peace of mind. We are fully insured, licensed, EPA lead certified, BBB accredited, and offer our customers a written 2 year warranty. I believe that any homeowner hiring a painting contractor should ask to see these documents before starting any work on their home. We also give our customers a detailed and specific estimate outlining the prep process involved for their job, the number of coats that will be applied on all surfaces, and the type of material that will be used.

Our customers look to us for our craftsmanship, cleanliness, and professionalism. If these are the traits someone is looking for in a painting company, then the should always read online reviews from past customers and not the self-published "testimonials" on the company's own website. Unlike other painting contractors, CPP does not ask for upfront deposits to start a job. We only ask for payment after the entire job is finishes to our customer's complete satisfaction.

DD: How often should a homeowner repaint their home exterior?
        Cardinal Pro Painters: This depends on many factors. One is location. If you live near the coast, then the harsh elements (sand, salt, wind, and intense sun) will cause your paint to fade much quicker and you will likely need repainting every 2-3 years to look it's best. Here in the Carolinas, the cold winters and humid summers make paint start to look tired after about 5-6 years. Another factor is the quality of the paint used. If your house does not have much shade to protect it from the sun, then we strongly suggest going with a higher-end product to have a long lasting paint job. Finally, the labor involved makes a big difference too. Using the best paint will not do you much good if adequate surface preparation is not done to your exterior. This involves power washing, caulking, sanding down where needed, and replacing any rotted wood. Your painting contractor should be able to do all of that for you and then apply two coats of paint. Two coats is always recommended. Applying only one coat may save you some money and look fine when you put it up, but it will degrade much faster and require another paint job sooner. This will cost you more money in the long run.

DD: How long should they expect the painting process to take?
        Cardinal Pro Painters: This is a very good question to ask your painting contractor. And the answer is very different for every home. Your contractor should have the manpower needed to get the job done on your schedule and time constraints. Our crews typically consist of 3-4 painters. Full interior repaints usually last 5-6 days, and full exterior repaints usually last 3-4 days. This is considering an average size house and painting all previously painted surfaces with 2 coats. If our customers have a tighter schedule, than we will get the job done faster by using 2 (or more) crews for an additional fee.

DD: Do you provide color selections? If so, how do you go about helping a client select colors for their home?
        Cardinal Pro Painters: It is ultimately the homeowner's responsibility to choose colors as not everyone likes (or even sees) the same colors. Our estimators do bring a color book for our customers to browse through. We can suggest which colors to use on what walls and how to choose accent walls so that they can compare the colors and decide which ones they want to go with.

{photo via Cardinal Pro Painters}

DD: What should homeowners do around the house to make sure they are prepared for your company to come paint? Interior/ Exterior?
        Cardinal Pro Painters: We only ask that pets be kept away form the areas we will be working in (for their safety) and that no other contractors be working in the same area. We figure in moving a customer's furniture and wall decorations to the center of the room in our estimates.

What type of home improvements are on your spring cleaning list this year? How are you going to define your home?

This post is a part of the #DefineYourHome series by Defined Designs. The series is meant to bring inspiration, knowledge, and ideas to you for getting your home in top notch shape and ready for entertaining this summer. I encourage everyone to share a space in your home or something you took home with you from this series on social media using the hashtag #DefineYourHome