Green Thumb?

I have this wonderful south - east facing porch totally enclosed with floor to ceiling windows.....I have been a devoted gardener for years....but now it is a bit difficult because of our current location; (due to the winds coming across the bay).....  I found this potting bench in  Brimfield Mass years ago.....


This potting table followed me from our Farm House to our New York City Apartment to the Bay House.... I've used it as a server, a bar, a book shelve...I recently gave it a face lift...

Now inspired by this photo....

I have incorporated this beautiful potting shelve into our  porch....as you can see her face lift gave her a totally new look...and a bit of serenity...

Some Fresh Basil growing..

Amaryllis is a bit late for the holidays.... 

waiting for orchid to bloom

It is great to have pieces of furniture that are so versatile..  Remember its fun to reinvent items in our home.  Don't be afraid to use some paint....and move this around a bit...

If you need help coming up with new ideas for old items in your home give us a call, or follow our blogs...  www.harmonizehomes.com  or ShoreChicyDesigns.com   our number is 917-699-1262 

Hope you enjoyed our blog!

Gilding Wax with Annie Sloan Paints

This weekend I decided to shop the small business owners along the the Jersey beach communities....They have been through so much since super storm sandy hit...

 One of my favorite spots is in Point Pleasant Beach Magnolia Lane Designs 

I really wasn't in need of any additional paints...but I can always find something that I can use....

I decided to buy a jar of Silver Gilding wax for the latest project that I am working on.... The gilding comes in Silver, Gold and Bronze.....I can't wait to experiment with the gilding wax...I will keep you posted!

Follow the link from Maison Decor for some great examples of their gilding projects!

 Visit Shore Chicy Designs  

or call us at 917-699-1262 

Happy Holidays!!

Tiffany Side Table

I picked up this table at a garage sale in Island Heights New Jersey prior to Sandy hitting the area....I loved the look of her... however she sat in the garage since September....I was waiting for motivation....well it finally came....








Here is a sneak preview of what I have started to do with her... two toned; Annie Sloans Provence and Graphite.  I pick up these great knobs at Anthropologie  for a more whimsical look....I still have some work to do on it...but could not wait to show you what Tiffany was looking like.  She will be ready for sale by the weekend if you are looking for a gift (my coffee cup not included)

Priced at $150.00 we do except all major credit cards...

If you have a piece of furniture that you would like to have redone for the holidays....give us a call at
917-699-1262 or if you are looking for a piece, visit our website at www.shorechicydesigns.com 

After Sandy Project

Well, its has been tough mentally to try to get motivated after the Super Storm Sandy....as I await for various workers to show up at the house to repair various flood damaged issues .....

When we purchased this home this piece of furniture was upstairs.  It is obviously handmade and lined in cedar ...and ugly as sin..... but very practical... I've used it as a linen closet and most recently changed it to my work cabinet, holding files, paper, supplies all behind closed doors.








I decided to give it a make over while being held captive.  I choose Annie Sloan's Old Ochre for the base.  I then decided to kick it up and add some stripes.....I painted the stripes with Annie Sloan's Coco...

I measured out 2 inches with a pencil and applied painter's tape

Tape Removed

I decided to paint a decorative key hole for where I will  place the new knobs.

I finished it off with a coat of clear wax and a bit of a dark wax .. I still need to sand and buff...along with applying the new knobs....but at least I was productive today....

If you would like to rehab some of the pieces that may have gotten damaged from the storm, or need a face lift, I would be happy to help...visit us at www.shorechicydesigns.com  or our sister company harmonizehomes.com  or call us at 917-699-1262

The monster Sandy produced a lot of treasures on the curb

From our bedroom window the morning after October 30th

This is my first post in weeks....My house sits about 50' from the Barnegat Bay in Toms River, New Jersey - 5 miles outside of the barrier island where Seaside Park, Seaside Heights, Ortley Beach was called home to many vacationers during the summer months.....I'm sure you have seen photo's of the destroyed area...

A neighbor's house

Once the water receded..in our neighbor hood many people started cleaning out...the treasures that were being discarded ....it really was so sad....and what was worst, is that I could not rescue them.....my truck was lost in the flood...so I had no means of hauling  the items back to a safe house...Actually, I don't really think that I could have done that even if I had a truck.....I just  needed a little humor to help me deal with the daily sighting of ones treasures now on a heap of garbage....

Thrift Shops Finds

Since we're about to be hunkered down at home for the next two days, I'm glad I was able to get out to a local thrift shop and find this cute cabinet which is actually three pieces...I have just photographed the top  portion.    I brought it to my house to work in anticipation of Sandy coming ashore..... 

I would recommend you visiting your local hospital thrift shops!  The hospitals benefit from your purchases and so do you...Happy Painting!

Shore Chicy Giveaway Event at the Cottage!!!!

We hope you will all be able to stop by at some point during the weekend!  Don't forget if you bring a nonperishable item for "Your Grandmother's Cupboard" your name will be entered for a raffle drawing for one of Shore Chicy's Designs.