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Honoring Memorial Day with Modern Americana Interior Design

Hi Friends!

Pretty soon, we will be celebrating Memorial Day (it’s next Monday, in case you have lost track of time!) and, likely, we will find ourselves living in a mix of red, white, and blue. From clothing to housewares, and everything in between, our every day lives will be donned in this classic trio of colors which we know to represent our country, the USA! During this season and the weeks to follow, often well into the summer through Labor Day, we will see flag inspired decor and bric-a-brac decorate our decks and front porches and accompany our side tables and couches in the form of figurines and throw pillows.

If you are having trouble viewing the images, click here.

While homes outfitted in red, white, and blue decor might the image we picture when we hear something like Modern Americana design, in actuality, this design style is so much more than a clever flag display or collage of the display of decor pieces sporting a red, white and blue theme. According to HGTV, “The entire (Americana) genre aims to celebrate the geography, folklore and cultural heritage of the United States” (HGTV Online Article.)

So today, I want to have us explore what it means to incorporate Americana style into our homes and challenge us to see that this style lives beyond flag-themed decor and tchotchkes. Rather, Modern Americana style has roots that run deeper and can serve to help us appreciate the nostalgia, beauty and history of our country. As you read on, we will draw out some elements of this style and share a picture of inspiration that includes these elements and then share where you can go to create this same design in your space!

Elements of Modern Americana Design

As I said, today, I want to walk us through incorporating this design into our homes, so here we go! First, before we begin with our inspiration photo, I have drawn out some style elements that accompany Modern Americana design to help guide us. Here they are:

  • Nostalgia- using antiques, heirlooms, or even vintage inspired pieces that reflect history and heritage
  • Simplicity- an overall style that is clean items are practical and not overwhelming to the space
  • Artisan- incorporating special pieces that honor the artisan community, such as cross stitch, pottery, or hand paintings
  • Craftsmanship- using natural elements in both form and function, such as baskets, urns, or crates
  • Muted Colors – incorporating red, white, and blue is often standard but it is not forced nor firm

Our Inspiration Picture

I love this picture! It features so many of the elements that I have detailed above, conveying the overall Modern Americana design style. But more than this, I love how effortlessly this room depicts an air of national celebration while maintaining its independence from being stuck in an “all things red, white, and blue” mold!

Photo Credit to The Oregonian, Online Article, May 4, 2021

Shopping the Room

Below I have curated similar items from our inspiration picture for you to shop with the idea you, too, could create a similar bedroom in your house. Please note that the items that have been selected below are not exact matches to the pieces seen in the photo. Rather, I have pulled together options you could use that are inspired by the picture. All products are linked to the source where you can purchase, just click on the image to shop. Enjoy!

Large Pieces

Target Dresser
Amazon Dresser
Amazon Rug
Amazon Rug
Amazon Chair
Amazon Chair
Walmart Bed
Cottage Home Bed

Decor Pieces

Birch Lane Basket
Wayfair Basket
Wayfair Pillow
Wayfair Pillow
Target Throw
Amazon Throw
Pottery Barn Lamp
Amazon Lamp
Etsy Cross Stick Picture
Wayfair Embroidered Picture Set
West Elm Sconce
Litfad Sconce

This Style Brings Me Down Memory Lane

Something that I find interesting as I write this particular blog post is that one of the first times I heard the term Modern America is when my husband John and I were on HGTV’s Flea Market Flip, Season 4, Episode 4, Happy Flipping Anniversary (you can watch on Apple TV). Long story, short. We were assigned 3 different categories for our design flipping projects: Stylish Storage, Mixed Textures, and Modern Americana. At the time, I hadn’t really explored this too much, so my instinct was to take something American made and vintage and upcycle it in a modern way. And that is what we did!

Check out my previous blogs about this fun experience here:

This has been such a fun blog for me! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I have!

If you are interested in learning more about our design services, check out our Interior Design Page to read about our 1 Hour Quick Help, our Design Board creation, 2D or 3D layout designs, or our Full Service design services. We would love to help make your space exactly what you want and need it to be!

Thank you all for following along! If you’d like to get this blog in your email once a week, please sign up for our weekly newsletter by adding your email in the little box below my picture. 

If you’ve enjoyed this post, please like FunCycled on  Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest if you don’t already. Keep up to date on the newest finds, vote on colors and give your input on our creativity. We share fun tutorials, great before and after, and new design inspirations. 

We offer interior design, kitchen cabinet painting, and custom built tables, barn doors, and repurposed furniture. Thank you, again, for working with us and for taking the time to spread the word about what we do. 

Happy FunCycling Friends,
Sarah ;)

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Updating One of My Own Designs… Years Later

Living Room Design Ideas for Guys

Hi Friends!

I hope you had a good weekend and hopefully an opportunity to celebrate the mothers who have an impact on your life! We had a great Mother’s Day! I am so grateful for my mom! Here is a sweet photo of the two of us!

Today, I want to share about my process when I am working with clients on an interior design project. The really cool thing about interior design is that it does not live in a box which means it can be a great opportunity to be creative! But what can sometimes be hard for clients is knowing when and how to design a space. And that is exactly when I love to step in and help!

If you are having trouble viewing the images, click here.

Over the years, I have been able to work on just about every type of space, small or large, and have designed for almost every room in the house–kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, basements, and beyond! In today’s Tuesday Treasure, I want to share about one of my clients who I have worked with several times, which means I have gotten the chance to create his first living room design and now his third living room design!

Take a look at this before photo of Ramon’s living room. At first glance, the room looks good, and it is, except for my client was ready to make some changes and some of the pieces he selected years ago were beginning to get worn out. So when we met together, we needed to work through what was working still and what needed to be changed

So when we met together, we needed to work through what was still working and what needed to be changed. After we evaluated those things, we came up with an identifiable list of things to change. After our meeting, Ramon requested a design board be compiled with product selection for him to purchase. Here is the Design Board I created to update his living room.

And here is the after photo of his updated living room space. The biggest changes are the couch, the TV console and rug. While the overall color pallet did not alter, the selections we made gave this living a lighter feel than before. We changed the couch from a dark charcoal to a medium caramel and selected a lighter TV console and switched out the plush rug for a low-pile one (which is washable, too, yay!). Then we moved to smaller items, like changing out some wall hangings, lighting, and small decor pieces to reflect a more streamlined look.

The outcome is stunning! Thank you, Ramon, for working with us over the years! We love making your home reflect who you are and function for you the way you need it to!

So When Should You Consider Updating Your Design?

There is no exact timeline for when a person should update the design in their home. The biggest thing to consider when answering this question is does this space still work for me and my family? If the answer to that question is NO, then it is time to update the design! In addition to this benchmark, I suggest evaluating your space in light of other factors. I have listed some questions to consider when evaluating this for your space.

Important Questions to Ask When Evaluating:

  • Has something changed in my daily rhythm causing this space to no longer work for me?
  • Is everything still functional and in good condition?
  • Do I still like the pieces that are in this space?
  • Are there things in this space that are outdated?
  • What are the elements that no longer work for me?

After asking these questions, if you have found that your space is not working for you anymore or so many of the items need to be replaced or updated, then it is time to think about redesigning your space so it can work for you again!

Here’s Where to Start:

If you are interested in learning more about our design services, check out our Interior Design Page to read about our 1 Hour Quick Help, our Design Board creation, 2D or 3D layout designs, or our Full Service design services. We would love to help make your space exactly what you want and need it to be!

Special Recognition

I also want to share some really great news with all of you! FunCycled has been recognized as a finalist and third place winner of the Capital Region Living’s 2024 Bestie Awards: People and Places in the category of interior design services! We are so thrilled for this honor and want to give a shout out to our clients and the community! To read the Capital Region Living Magazine that features all the area winners, including us, you can click here.

Thank you all for following along! If you’d like to get this blog in your email once a week, please sign up for our weekly newsletter by adding your email in the little box below my picture. 

If you’ve enjoyed this post, please like FunCycled on  Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest if you don’t already. Keep up to date on the newest finds, vote on colors and give your input on our creativity. We share fun tutorials, great before and after, and new design inspirations. 

We offer interior design, kitchen cabinet painting, and custom built tables, barn doors, and repurposed furniture. Thank you, again, for working with us and for taking the time to spread the word about what we do. 

Happy FunCycling Friends,
Sarah ;)

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Beautiful Hope Chest Makeover

White Hope Chest with Bird Decal

Hi Friends!

I hope you are having a good start to your week! Every Sunday, I am reminded to be thankful for whatever might lie ahead for the coming week, and here we are on a Tuesday, already part way through, and it is joyous!

Also, over the weekend, we celebrated our son’s 16th birthday! Can you believe it?! I took this picture of him when we were in Ireland, and I just love it!

In this week’s Tuesday’s Treasure, I want to share with you a reminder for all of us, and it comes by way of a piece of furniture. If you aren’t familiar with the term, trousseau, get ready to learn a few things while being reminded to pay attention to the special details that bring us hope every day!

If you are having trouble viewing the images, click here.

The term trousseau is derived from the French verb, trousser, which means “to truss” or “to tuck” (Merriam-Webster). When we hear the word trousseau, a natural association is to think of a wedding or bride, and rightfully so. A trousseau is a large chest that is used to house keepsakes and important items. In previous generations, a trousseau often served as a way for a woman to store and save up special items and valuables for the day when she would marry. A more modern term we may be familiar with is the word hope chest (or okay two words!) Although the word hope chest finds its origination dating back to the 15th Century in Italy, it was introduced to the US during the 20th century (Brides online article). In turn, a hope chest functions exactly as a trousseau, and these terms are relatively interchangeable. In today’s furniture flip, this hope chest was given new life, to bring some hope into someone’s home and life!

True to it’s character, this chest is large, and it is designed to hold and keep things in safe keeping (hint this is the secret of the cedar lining used in closets, chests, drawers, etc. ) Take a look at the before photo. Does not exactly stir up the kind of sentiment you would think of given its history, but there is always hope, right?

And here is the after photo! So different, right?

The chest is painted in Benjamin Moore’s Simply White (a FunCylced go-to color!), and the top remains refinished and stained in a warm medium brown tone, Jacobean. The bird and branches are hand painted, and we added the black cup handles on the drawers to provide a nice contrast. Here’s a peek at some of the elements that make this chest both practical and beautiful. Gorgeous solid wood, deep drawer for additional storage and organization, and cedar lined. This chest is made by the Lane Furniture Company, meaning it was proudly made in the USA!

This beautiful chest has already been sold, and we know it is bringing great hope and joy to its new owners!

If you have a chest (or old piece of furniture) and would like it to have new life again, reach out to us on our Contact Us page. Or you can always browse our furniture inventory, by visiting our shop page.

Want some helpful tips on how to complete your own furniture flip, check out this how-to blog: HOW TO PAINT FURNITURE LIKE A PRO!

THANK YOU TO THE CAPITAL REGION CHAMBER

I also want to give a big shout out to the Capital Region Chamber for highlighting us this past week and sharing the FunCycled story and our dedication to the Capital District. As a proud member of the Chamber, I am honored and pleased to share the full story highlight with you! You can read it here.

Thank you all for following along! If you’d like to get this blog in your email once a week, please sign up for our weekly newsletter by adding your email in the little box below my picture. 

If you’ve enjoyed this post, please like FunCycled on  Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest if you don’t already. Keep up to date on the newest finds, vote on colors and give your input on our creativity. We share fun tutorials, great before and after, and new design inspirations. 

We offer interior design, kitchen cabinet painting, and custom built tables, barn doors, and repurposed furniture. Thank you, again, for working with us and for taking the time to spread the word about what we do. 

Happy FunCycling Friends,

Sarah ; )

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Tips for an Affordable Family Trip To Ireland

Hi Friends!

How was your weekend? I hope all is going well there! If you follow us on FunCycled’s Facebook or Instagram, you saw that we went on a family trip to Ireland over spring break, and I promised I’d share more details on our blog so you can consider a trip like this, too!

If you are having trouble viewing the images, click here.

I HIGHLY recommend Ireland, and especially at this season of life that we’re in. Because Ireland is so much about the ocean and the castles, I think a trip like this would be tricky if you had small kids or if you and had trouble climbing stairs. We climbed SO many steps! We loved every minute of it, and so did our teens (14 and 15).

We chose to go oversees because we looked into flying to Phoenix for the week and the airfare alone was $3,900 for our family of 4. We went on Great Value Vacation’s site for trips under $1,000 and shared with our kids the lists of places that came up (and NO they didn’t sponsor this post lol). Their top 2 picks were Rome or Ireland. I thought Ireland would be better because Rome may bore them after 4-5 days of walking and looking at old buildings. It was such a great spot because it came with a rental car, and jet lag was no joke for us. I think if we didn’t have driving each day where the kids could sleep in the car, it wouldn’t have been enjoyable. They needed the rest!

We started our trip in Dublin! When we were in the airport getting ready, we met a college student from Dublin who was so sweet and looked through my itinerary to give me her tips for the best places to go!

We spent the first day in Dublin, and went to Trinity College first. It was such a beautiful campus and you can also view the Book of Kells while you were there. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time but really wanted to. So many people recommended it to us!

Trinity College – Dublin
Trinity College – Dublin

If you walk from Trinity to Grafton Street, you’ll see some amazing stores, an icecream shop called Murphy’s and the best hot chocolate I had in Ireland at Butler’s Chocolate Cafe. I was sad that Ireland’s hot chocolate didn’t compare to Paris or London’s. This was the only spot that I liked the hot chocolate!

We also had a really good breakfast at the Lovely Food Co.

The Lovely Food Co – Dublin
The Lovely Food Co – Dublin
The Lovely Food Co – Dublin

We rented a car for this trip, but driving in Ireland is nothing like here in the States. The roads are more narrow than our driveway, you drive on the opposite side of the road, there’s no shoulder, and the speeds allowed feels like there’s no way you could actually go that fast. We headed to the Hoban Hotel in Kilkenny. I liked this hotel the best of all the ones we stayed in. Really cute design, comfy beds, and pretty good food.

Day 2

We headed out to Kilkenny Castle for a tour! This castle was really beautiful and very ornate inside. What set this castle apart from the other castles on our trip were the gardens. They were really beautiful, and it was built next to a river.

Kilkenny Castle
Kilkenny Castle
Kilkenny Castle

Be sure to go across the street from the castle for the restaurant, shops, and gardens. They were really cute!

My therapist told me her favorite spot in Ireland was the Rock of Cashel, and it definitely did not disappoint! It was built in 1101, and that’s hard to even wrap my head around. I felt like I shouldn’t even be stepping on the stones.

Rock of Cashel
Rock of Cashel
Rock of Cashel
Rock of Cashel
Rock of Cashel

We headed to Celtic Ross Hotel, and it was just ok. It wasn’t that comfortable, and it felt really out of the way from the places we were going. Our very favorite meal was a restaurant right near this hotel though! It’s called Jack’s at Pilgrims Rest ; they forage everything from 10km or less from the restaurant, and you could tell. It was all so fresh, creative, and unique. I also loved the design of the interior.

Jacks at Pilgrims Rest
Jacks at Pilgrims Rest
Jacks at Pilgrims Rest
Jacks at Pilgrims Rest
Jacks at Pilgrims Rest

Up next we visited the Blarney Castle which was beautiful in a different way. It was more like ruins, but it had beautiful grounds and an old house and carriage area you could tour. We didn’t give ourself enough time for this. I would recommend 2-3 hours! Oh, and YES the kids kissed the Blarney Stone.

Blarney Castle
Blarney House
Blarney Castle
Blarney Castle
Blarney Castle

When we asked the locals about what we should do, they recommend that we drive on the Wild Atlantic Way. There aren’t many places to pull over and get good photos in Ireland, but here are a few spots we were able to so you can see how beautiful Ireland was!

We also went to a town called Dingle (insert every inappropriate joke here). It was cute, but I’m not sure it was worth the drive. If you’re in the area, you should definitely stop by! We found an adorable cheese shop called The Little Cheese Shop and bought cheese and fresh bread for lunch. Cheese in Europe is so much better than in the States.

The Little Cheese Shop, Dingle
The Little Cheese Shop, Dingle
Town of Dingle

We also stopped by a spur of the moment castle on our drive back to the hotel at Ross Castle, and it was such a special surprise. It was completely rebuilt to an original state, and it was beautiful!

Ross Castle
Ross Castle

After that tour, we had dinner at Murphy’s Bar in Killarney. This was our favorite dinner during the trip! Definitely stop by if you’re in the area. We actually wished we had skipped on Dingle and spent more time in this town. We didn’t get to spend any time walking around to the different shops.

Murphy’s Pub – Killarny
Murphy’s Pub – Killarny

Then we moved to the Inn at Dromoland and stayed there. It was really pretty inside! Up next was our favorite part of the trip; we went to Bunratty Castle which is a huge village and castle with so much to do! We wished we had gone earlier in the day. You could easily spend 5 hours at this stop. They have a medieval dinner option in the castle, and we weren’t originally going to, but we changed our mind last minute and went. It was SO MUCH FUN! We ate with our hands, they had live music, and it was such a unique experience. Definitely worth the money.

Bunratty Castle
Bunratty Castle
Bunratty Castle
Bunratty Castle
Bunratty Castle
Bunratty Castle

The next day we drove of to the Cliff’s of Moher which is one of the most iconic spots to see in Ireland. The only day we had to go was during a huge storm with strong wind warnings. It was the most powerful wind I’ve ever felt! Despite that, it was absolutely beautiful, and I highly recommend it. We couldn’t even get a good photo because the wind was so painful. This might be my favorite family photo of the trip though. 😂

Cliffs of Moher
Cliffs of Moher

The waitress at Jack’s at Pilgrims Rest told us that if we were up at the Cliffs of Moher, we needed to make the trip to Burren Perfumery so we did! This was my second favorite spot on the trip. They have flower gardens you can stroll through, a place where you can make your own perfume, and a shop where you can buy perfume from them. I bought their Winter Woods scent and LOVE it!

The Burren Perfumery
The Burren Perfumery
The Burren Perfumery

We drove up to Aillwee Caves after the perfumery! It was a quick cave tour, nothing that unique since we have cave tours that are bigger in upstate NY, but the drive there was absolute stunning!

Aillwee Caves
Drive to Ailwee Caves

The next day (Sunday), we drove to Elevate Community Church in the morning on our way back to the final day in Dublin. Everyone was so kind, the music was great, and we really enjoyed the preaching, too.

Once we got back to Dublin, we went to EPIC the Irish Immigration Museum. The kids didn’t love it to be honest, but it was good to learn about the history in Ireland.

EPIC – Dublin
Downtown Dublin

Then we walked to the oldest pub in Ireland, The Brazen Head for an early dinner. My airport friend told me only to go during off times or we’d never get in so we went to dinner at 3pm, and it was still full. Thankfully, we were seated right away, there was security outside, and the place was hopping with Irish music. People were smoking inside which I didn’t expect, but it was such a cool experience. So glad we did it!

The Brazen Head – Dublin
The Brazen Head – Dublin

Then we walked from there to the Guinness Store house! I was unsure if I wanted to bring teens to a beer factory, but most people that we asked who were from the area said it was their favorite thing to do in Dublin so we tried it. Once again, so glad we did! It was such a beautiful factory, they had a Celtic concert we were able to go to with dancers and a band. If you go to the top of the building you can see the whole city of Dublin and there was even a rainbow over the whole city! What a perfect way to end out trip! Then we took a carriage ride back to our car.

Guinness Storehouse
Guinness Storehouse
Guinness Storehouse

Many people ask if we’d go back. Maybe one day, but I felt like we saw so much and really have a good feel for the country. We’ll probably try somewhere new next time! I highly recommend going though! It was as peaceful, beautiful country with friendly people everywhere!

f you end up visiting Ireland and find other spots you like, drop the in the comments for other readers to see and enjoy! 

There is a box at the top right of this page to enter your email address to receive notifications by email when I post something new on this blog. Please sign up today! 

Happy FunCycling Friends,
Sarah ;)

If you like what you see, please like FunCycled’s Facebook page to keep up to date on the newest travel tips, interior design trends, and kitchen and furniture repurposing projects. 

Send us a note with if you’re interested in our design services or custom furniture using our contact page. Or buy something that we’ve already designed from our furniture for sale page.

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Large Breakfront Hutch Makeover – Tuesday’s Treasures

White Sand Hutch

Hi Friends!

I hope you had a great weekend! Mine was fantastic both personally and professionally! We hosted our Earth Day Upcycling Contest this past Saturday. It was such a great event, and I am so grateful for those who participated. My hope is that perhaps it served to inspire others to think creatively and to consider repurposing and upcycling! Congratulations to Tami, our Grand Prize Winner and to Ryan, our Staff Pick Winner!

If you are having trouble viewing the photos, click here.

At FunCycled, we love working with clients to help restore and breathe new life into old pieces of furniture. Whether it is a chair, a side table, or bedroom furniture, taking something that is tired and refreshing it truly brings life to me and my team!

My friend and past client Brielle reached out to me to see if I could help her find a hutch for her dining room. She had a large, empty wall so we knew we had to find something large and tall. She gave me her budget and I got to work! In less than a day, I found this beauty and picked it up for her. It’s over 85″ long, and so full of character!! Take a look at the before photo:

We painted the whole piece (inside and out) in Benjamin Moore’s White Sand (image below). White Sand is a beautiful neutral color which met the goal of brightening up this hutch and yet keeping it warm.

And just check out this lovely transformation! With a lighter color paint, you are now able to appreciate the details of the molding at the top and edges of this hutch. Plus, the lighter color helps highlight the window lattice on the glass doors. Put simply, it is beautiful!

White Sand Breakfront Hutch and Secretary

Here’s a closer look at the details! We also changed the hardware for our client to bring a more modern touch to the finished look!

A huge thanks to Brielle for hiring us to do take on this furniture project. We are so glad you love the outcome! We do, too : )

Thank you all for following along! If you’d like to get this blog in your email once a week, please sign up for our weekly newsletter by adding your email in the little box below my picture. 

If you’ve enjoyed this post, please like FunCycled on  Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest if you don’t already. Keep up to date on the newest finds, vote on colors and give your input on our creativity. We share fun tutorials, great before and after, and new design inspirations. 

We offer interior design, kitchen cabinet painting, and custom built tables, barn doors, and repurposed furniture. Thank you, again, for working with us and for taking the time to spread the word about what we do. 

Happy FunCycling Friends,

Sarah ; )

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Reimagining for Impact: Funcycled’s Earth Day Contestants

Hi friends!

I hope you had a great weekend!

Since the start of April, it has been a crazy whirlwind of life! Every day I am thankful for so many opportunities and especially when we get to make an impact within the Capital Region! In today’s Tuesday’s Treasure, I want to give an update on FunCycled’s Upcyling Contest.

If you are having trouble viewing the images, click here.

Just over a month ago, we launched the 2024 Earth Day Upcycling Contest and for the past several weeks, we have been organizing, compiling, and planning for our conclusion of this contest as we host the Earth Day Upcycling Contest Award Ceremony Celebration which will be this coming Saturday, April 20th at Sand Lake Merchant. I know we have had a flurry of activity, but read on to get all of the details about the upcycled projects, how to vote, and to find out when we’ll be announcing the winner at our Award Ceremony!

THE CONTESTANTS & THEIR PROJECTS

DON’T FORGET TO VOTE

If you have not yet had a chance to vote for your favorite, you still can! Voting remains open until tomorrow, April 17th until 9 pm. Here’s the scoop!

Links for Voting:

CELEBRATE WITH US – AWARD CEREMONY & GRAND PRIZE

We invite everyone to gather at Sand Lake Merchant to enjoy some Upcycled creations and celebrate our winner! 

Thanks to everyone who is supporting this event and recognizes the importance of repurposing and upcylcing!

Thank you all for following along! If you’d like to get this blog in your email once a week, please sign up for our weekly newsletter by adding your email in the little box below my picture. 

If you’ve enjoyed this post, please like FunCycled on  Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest if you don’t already. Keep up to date on the newest finds, vote on colors and give your input on our creativity. We share fun tutorials, great before and after, and new design inspirations. 

We offer interior design, kitchen cabinet painting, and custom built tables, barn doors, and repurposed furniture. Thank you, again, for working with us and for taking the time to spread the word about what we do. 

Happy FunCycling Friends,

Sarah ; )

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Creamy and Confusing to Bold and Beautiful: One Capital District homeowner makes RED her color of inspiration!

Red and Cream Kitchen Makeover

Hi Friends!

If I have said it once, I have said it a thousand times, your home should reflect you! Today, I want to give a shout out to Josephine, a recent client located in East Greenbush, who was bold enough to take her too many shades of cream kitchen and transform it into a bold new kitchen space, featuring one of her favorite colors, RED!

When we first met, Josephine shared with me that she is not afraid of color and after a quick tour of her home, that sentence became true fact! I love when clients know who they are and are not afraid to let that shine with the choices they make in their home! Join me as I share her story and kitchen update with you.

If you are having trouble viewing the photos, click here.

It’s ALL cream, so why doesn’t it look right?

Take a look at these before photos of her kitchen. Note the 5 (at least) shades of cream and beige happening. Her walls were one color, the cabinets another, the crown molding yet another and NONE of it matched her lovely dining table and hutch (both also a creamy color of some kind) which sit within her kitchen space. It’s all cream, so it goes, right? WRONG!

So what do you do when it close but not quite right?

We knew that there were several things that would remain in this space, so we began there:

  • the appliances
  • the floor
  • the backsplash
  • the counters
  • and you guessed it, her red decor living around the room!

After realizing what would stay, we needed to determine how to pull eliminate the clashing shades of cream and pull all of the other elements together. Oh, and in the process, it was determined the the red clock (pictured in the lower left photo) was a piece of inspiration! With a little planning and discussing with Josephine (and the help of her SIL), we had a plan!

Here was the plan of ACTION!

  • Paint the upper cabinets in Benjamin Moore Natural Cream
  • Paint the lower cabinets in Benjamin Moore Heritage Red WITH a glazed finish
  • Paint the walls Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee
  • Make sure the trim and furniture pieces coordinated with the rest of the room – so we painted the large hutch and dining table in the same Natural Cream as the upper cabinets
  • To add a layer of sophistication, we decided to paint her dining chairs in Valspar’s Lincoln Cottage Black

Voila! The outcome is stunning! Check out these after photos!

Red and Cream Kitchen
Red and Cream Kitchen
Black and White Dining

A huge thanks to Josephine for letting us work with you! We loved this project, and we are so glad you chose FunCycled to to do the kitchen cabinet painting  and accompanying work for you!

It is a beautiful transformation!! 

Could your kitchen use an update? We’d love to help!! We can help pick out colors, finishes, product and do the cabinet painting, tiling, add new hardware. You can use our Contact Us form to request our design services or a quote for painting your kitchen. Please check out other kitchen projects on our Kitchen Cabinet Painting page. We’ll need to see a picture of your kitchen, a list of how many doors and drawers there are, and where you are located to email you an estimate. This change ups the value of your home and gives you a whole new look at a fraction of the cost of new kitchen cabinets!

Don’t Forget to VOTE: Earth Day Upcycling Contest sponsored by FunCylced

If you follow along, you know that we are sponsoring an upcycling contest in honor of Earth Day. Voting opens this week, so be sure to watch on our social media channels to select your favorite upcycled project and cast your vote! Click on the image below for additional information and details.

Thank you all for following along! If you’d like to get this blog in your email once a week, please sign up for our weekly newsletter by adding your email in the little box below my picture. 

If you’ve enjoyed this post, please like FunCycled on  Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest if you don’t already. Keep up to date on the newest finds, vote on colors and give your input on our creativity. We share fun tutorials, great before and after, and new design inspirations. 

We offer interior design, kitchen cabinet painting, and custom built tables, barn doors, and repurposed furniture. Thank you, again, for working with us and for taking the time to spread the word about what we do. 

Happy FunCycling Friends,

Sarah ; )

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Flipped Furniture Frenzy!

Hi Friends!

If you follow us on social media, you probably know that FunCycled has been generating some really great furniture flips recently, and the best part…EVERYTHING you see here is IN STOCK!! But what you might not know is that furniture flipping is how FunCycled first began!! Join me down memory lane and also to get a full overview of our current inventory, plus our latest Featured Furniture Collection.

If you are having trouble viewing images, click here.

Memory Lane

In 2012, my husband John and I saw an opportunity to share our passion and know how for furniture flipping! I have always been creative, and I found this creativity to really take flight when I found moments to restore something broken or unused by refreshing it, repurposing it, and transforming into a new treasure! Check out some pics from back in the day!

Current Pieces

From this painted and stained buffet to vintage storage trunks (great for coffee tables or toy corralling!) to end tables and night stands, FunCycled has some amazing pieces in our inventory! Take a look! Be sure to click on each image to get full details. BTW, the cutie black end stand with gold legs is a set of two! Can you stand it?!

If you see a treasure that would be perfect for your space, reach out to me on our Contact Us page or you can email me directly and let me know what piece you would like!

Featured Collection

This collection comes with a larger piece which could be used as a dresser or even a buffet or sideboard as well as two side tables for night stands or even end tables for a living room! Also check out that before photo!

Check out some close ups and details of this collection! The double stripe and black and gold hardware add a touch of flair and I can’t get over how much I love the retractable doors the open to additional storage! LOVE!!

Each piece has been painted in Benjamin Moore’s Steam and stained with a mix of gray and brown stains that I had on hand–sometimes that just the perfect shade!

Again, if you see a piece (or more!) that you would like for your home, reach out to me on our Contact Us page.

Want some helpful tips on how to complete your own furniture flip, check out this how-to blog: HOW TO PAINT FURNITURE LIKE A PRO!

DON’T FORGET

FUNCYCLED IS SPONSORING OUR UPCYCLING CONTEST! (Click the image below for more details.)

Earth Day 2024

Thank you all for following along! If you’d like to get this blog in your email once a week, please sign up for our weekly newsletter by adding your email in the little box below my picture. 

If you’ve enjoyed this post, please like FunCycled on  Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest if you don’t already. Keep up to date on the newest finds, vote on colors and give your input on our creativity. We share fun tutorials, great before and after, and new design inspirations. 

We offer interior design, kitchen cabinet painting, and custom built tables, barn doors, and repurposed furniture. Thank you, again, for working with us and for taking the time to spread the word about what we do. 

Happy FunCycling Friends,

Sarah ; )

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Outdated Oak Kitchen gets the Full Makeover Treatment!

Hi Friends!

We recently spent time with one of our clients whose kitchen was not only stuck in the past, it was not the most functional, and our clients knew they needed a change! From freshly painted cabinets & new hardware to new counters, adding backsplash and helping to customize their island (the wow factor at the end!), our clients made the most of everything, and the outcome is AMAZING!

If you’re having trouble viewing the photos on this post, click here.

Take a look at the before photos. The kitchen has a decent amount of storage, but the layout of the cabinets was not ideal. These cabinets were outdated and needed new life, and the shelf below the small high up cabinets was not functional, so we needed to make sure that was corrected!

First, we took these tired, oak cabinets and painted them in Benjamin Moore Simply White (a perfect go-to) and added new hardware. We also replaced the microwave shelf and small uppers with a full sized new upper cabinet for more storage. Then we installed backsplash and new counters. This quartz counter is durable and beautiful, and the tile selection is such a great complement to the refreshed island!

Next, we moved on to the kitchen island. To really make this island stand out, we added shiplap around the base, painted it in Benjamin Moore’s Smokestack Gray and installed a beautiful farmhouse sink (AKA apron sink) with a coordinating faucet.

Check out this amazing view of the before and after of the outdated oak island to island turned statement!

To complete the room, we added board and batten, then our client painted it Benjamin Moore’s Simply White, around the room to add texture and timeless character to the space.

If you’ve with me long enough you know that to really finish a space you have to consider all of the details, and that is just exactly what we did with this kitchen makeover! It is beautiful! Check out some final pictures!

A huge thanks to Stephanie for letting us work with you! We loved this project, and we are so glad you chose FunCycled to to do the kitchen cabinet painting  and accompanying work for you!

It is a beautiful transformation!! 

Could your kitchen use an update? We’d love to help!! We can help pick out colors, finishes, product and do the cabinet painting, tiling, add new hardware. You can use our Contact Us form to request our design services or a quote for painting your kitchen. Please check out other kitchen projects on our For Sale page. We’ll need to see a picture of your kitchen, a list of how many doors and drawers there are, and where you are located to email you an estimate. This change ups the value of your home and gives you a whole new look at a fraction of the cost of new kitchen cabinets!

REMEMBER, FUNCYCLED IS SPONSORING OUR UPCYCLING CONTEST! (Click the image below for more details.)

Earth Day 2024

Thank you all for following along! If you’d like to get this blog in your email once a week, please sign up for our weekly newsletter by adding your email in the little box below my picture. 

If you’ve enjoyed this post, please like FunCycled on  Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest if you don’t already. Keep up to date on the newest finds, vote on colors and give your input on our creativity. We share fun tutorials, great before and after, and new design inspirations. 

We offer interior design, kitchen cabinet painting, and custom built tables, barn doors, and repurposed furniture. Thank you, again, for working with us and for taking the time to spread the word about what we do. 

Happy FunCycling Friends,

Sarah ; )

Posted on by

Spring is Here, Capital Region!

Vintage Turquoise Buffet

Hi Friends!

Happy first day of Spring! Sometimes we are tempted to think it will never come, especially after a cold and snow-filled Winter (which we have not had), but here it is! Spring has arrived!

In today’s Tuesday’s Treasure, I want to share some inspiration for all of us as we transition from Winter to Spring.

If you are having trouble viewing images, click here.

Colors for Spring

At this point in the year, most of us are ready for something a little brighter in our homes. Check out these Spring inspired pieces of furniture we have been able to complete over the years!

Choosing the Right Color

With so many choices, it can be hard to know the how to make the right selection. To add a touch of Spring, I suggest choosing colors that are light and bright and remind you of what is happening outside as Spring arrives. Because the full bloom of colors doesn’t typically arrive until May and June in Upstate New York, I like to introduce greens and blues along with shades of white and gray. But you can also select other pastel colors to add a touch of color while still feeling bright and airy! Here are a few tips for making the selection for you:

  • Keep in mind the style of the piece of furniture and what type of hardware it has or will have if you plan to change it.
  • Consider what other colors you have in your space. Remember, they don’t have to be an exact match, but they should coordinate.
  • If this is a new color you would like to introduce to your home, make sure to add a few other touches of that same color around the room.
  • Take note of a bigger vision you have for the space, keeping in mind this might be a first step toward that vision!

Find these inspirational color pallets for your next project!

(photos credit to M4 Designs FL care of Etsy)

Ways to Style

This is where you get to have a lot of fun! A “go to” item for me is styling with books! They add height, texture, and interest. Or grab a vase or pretty glass bottle in a bright or complementary color and add fresh greens. Depending upon your style and what you love, use the surface to display a special heirloom or antique, like this vintage camera atop the beautiful teal and gray-washed credenza.

If you want to buy one of our repurposed pieces of furniture, visit our Shop page.

If you have a piece in your home and you want it custom painted, we can help! We work with clients all the time to bring new life to their old, tired pieces of furniture. Reach out to me on our Contact Us page.

To learn more about custom painting and tips to do the job right, visit our Custom Furniture Painting page.

REMEMBER, FUNCYCLED IS SPONSORING OUR UPCYCLING CONTEST! (Click the image below for more details.)

Earth Day 2024

Thank you all for following along! If you’d like to get this blog in your email once a week, please sign up for our weekly newsletter by adding your email in the little box below my picture. 

If you’ve enjoyed this post, please like FunCycled on  Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest if you don’t already. Keep up to date on the newest finds, vote on colors and give your input on our creativity. We share fun tutorials, great before and after, and new design inspirations. 

We offer interior design, kitchen cabinet painting, and custom built tables, barn doors, and repurposed furniture. Thank you, again, for working with us and for taking the time to spread the word about what we do. 

Happy FunCycling Friends,

Sarah ; )