Painting Washer/Dryer Pedestals

If anyone has looked at these pedestals, then you know they are crazy expensive!!  $250 each is an insane amount for drawers to raise your washer/dryer.  But anyone who hasn't bought them, knows that the height of the washer/dryer without them is super low.  I'd been sitting on the floor changing and folding my laundry.  We have the Samsung Merlot combo, which are hard to come by.  One day we went to Home Depot and they had the "Blue Silver" pedestal on clearance for $40 each.  $40!!!!  We scooped up two of them, because you cannot beat $80, compared to $500.  I asked around Home Depot, but no one seemed to know if I could paint them.  I searched the internet high and low trying to find out the same, there was nothing!   We decided to look at some paint chips, but later decided on spray paint.  We found a color that matched our "Merlot" almost exactly, it's called "Royal Garnet Satin"

We debated on whether or not to use a primer on the pedestals before spraying.  But since my Husband painted them while I was out of town, the primer didn't happen.  He used 1 can per pedestal.   We've thought of using a gloss over the top, since the spray was satin, but we decided against it.  Sure they aren't the same gloss as the combo, but to us, it doesn't matter.  The only place you can see that they look different is when you look into the laundry room from the family room.

For a little under $100, we love our new pedestals

Puppy Chow

INGREDIENTS
1 - 14oz box Chex (corn or rice)
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup creamy peanut butter
¼ cup butter
2 cups powdered sugar, divided in half

Special Equipment 
2 gallon-sized Ziploc bags
Very large (at least 4 quart) mixing bowl

PREPARATION
Pour cereal into very large mixing bowl, and set aside.

Place chocolate, peanut butter, and butter in a large microwavable bowl, microwave for 1 minute on high, then stir the mixture with a heatproof spoon or spatula until entirely melted and combined. (Alternatively, In a medium saucepan over low heat, combine chocolate, peanut butter, and butter. Heat the mixture, stirring constantly with a heatproof spoon or spatula).

Pour melted chocolate mixture over cereal in the large mixing bowl, and mix with a heatproof spoon or rubber spatula until all the cereal is coated with the chocolate mixture. Divide the cereal into two gallon-sized ziploc bags, and add half the powdered sugar to each (add more as desired). Seal the bags, and shake the mixtures until the powdered sugar evenly coats the cereal.

Open the bags and let the puppy chow cool completely.  It will keep for up to a week in an airtight container at room temperature.  But, we like to Freeze ours and it doesn't last a week, because my husband LOVES it and eats it all.  

{pictures to come soon}

Bathroom Overhaul

New look to the Kids bathroom! 
I picked my color, Sweet Mustard (from Lowes). Its crazy bright, but I LOVE it! You cannot be depressed in this bathroom!! The reason I had to paint, was I took down the towel bar, after patching the holes, I had huge white spots. I'd wanted hooks for the kids, so CK can hang towels!! I moved the towel ring as well, down and over, it used to be over the plug. Then I got the wild hair and painted the cabinets. That bathroom is so small that I knew I didn't want to go darker. I'm so loving it!!

I still want to frame out the mirror and change the light fixture, but those are things I cannot do by myself.

Cabinets before.

Paint color before with new paint color

HJÄLMAREN Towel rack with 5 hooks from IKEA

As far as painting the cabinets.  It was SUUUPER easy!  I went into my local Lowes and talked to the best lady in the paint department.  She suggested Valspar Bonding Primer, for glossy surfaces.  OMG  so awesome!  No sanding needed!!  I did 2 coats of primer.  I used a large brush to paint it on.  I let it dry completely between coats.  

I painted the cabinets in "Betsy's Linen".  I did 4 coats of paint, because the grooves were so difficult to get into. I mostly used a foam roller, except I used a foam brush for the grooves.  

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