The Beau Curated

A LIFESTYLE BLOG

Kitchen Aid Mixer Makeover

I purchased my Kitchen Aid mixer over 10 years ago, at the time I thought a red appliance was so cool, but my style has drastically changed over the years and the red Kitchen Aid mixer had to go.

I debated selling the mixer and buying a new one (in a more neutral colour), but decided on painting it instead. Follow along for my step by step guide to transform your own Kitchen Aid Mixer.

Step 1: Give your kitchen aid mixer a thorough clean. If you use your Kitchen Aid mixer regularly there might be a lot of food residue accumulated in the nooks and crannies of your mixer. Use hot water and dish soap to clean thoroughly.

Step 2: Disassemble your mixer, by taking off any items that are screwed in place: the metal cap at the front, the metal piece going around (with the writing Kitchen Aid), the bowl holder, etc. Take a picture of all the items you are taking off and where they should be. Keep the pieces with the screws in a safe spot to make reassembly as easy as possible.

Step 3 : Using painter’s tape, tape off all the pieces that you do not want to spray paint and can’t manually take off. ex: the handle to bring the mixer up and down, the on / off button, etc…

Step 4: Lightly sand the mixer. I decided to use an electric sander with paper grit of 120, but you could sand the mixer by hand using the same grit size paper.

Step 5: Use a damp cloth to clean the mixer. Make sure you are wiping away any sanding residue.

Step 6 :

For best results and to avoid chips and peeling you have to use the right type of spray paint. I used Rust-Oleum Appliance Enamel (Almond colour). If you are located in Canada our colour options in hardware stores are very limited, however Amazon has more options. It was more expensive, but I decided it was worth it.

In a well ventilated area start spray painting your mixer. Remember to only put light coats of paints, you want to avoid getting drip marks.

Step 7: Wait a full day in between coats of paint. I did 3 coats of paint on my Kitchen Aid Mixer, but depending on the colour you choose it might take less coats of paint.

Step 8: Wait another full day for the paint to fully cure before taking off the painters tape and re-assembling the mixer.

Maplebrook Retreat

I’ve always dreamed of sleeping under the stars, however my fear of bugs and hate for mosquitos have prevented me from doing so. At the Maplebrook retreat I was able to experience that dream – spending the night under the stars in a comfortable bed and away from all the bugs and mosquitos.

These bubble like retreats, close to Shediac New-Brunswick are the perfect relaxing getaway.

Couple of things to note before enjoying these amazing bubbles. There are no bathrooms inside the bubbles. Private bathrooms with showers are accessible in the communal cabin. There is also no kitchen (ie: fridge, stove, coffee maker, toaster…), think of this getaway as a camping experience. You will need to bring your own food, drinks and a cooler (to keep your food fresh). Every bubble is equipped with a BBQ and cooking utensils are available in the communal cabin. The location does have a restaurant, however it is recommended to check the website for the restaurant’s hours of operation.

The property also has a unique nordic spa – equipped with a hot tub and sauna. You can reserve hourly slots to access the spa through their website.

If you are an animal lover the property also has a petting farm. We had the pleasure of seeing a horse walk around the property during our stay.

If you are craving a camping experience under the stars, but would rather enjoy the luxury of a bed, the Maplebrook retreat is the place for you!

Click on the link for a video of the Maplebrook retreat and follow me on instagram for more travel, home and lifestyle content.

Olive Tree

If you follow all of the popular designer’s you will notice olive tree’s in a lot of their designs. They are a great item to add to any room and they bring lots of interest and texture.

I decided to try my hand at making my very own olive tree and it turned out even better than expected.

Here’s how I made my own olive tree for under 60$.

I started by finding a small sized tree on our property and used a jigsaw to cut it down. I left the tree out to dry for a week or so, then pulled off all of the dry leaves and cut down some of the branches until I was satisfied with the shape of the tree.

I went online to shop for olive tree branches – I ended up buying stems from 3 different sources. I knew they wouldn’t be the same colour and texture but decided that it would make the tree look even more realistic. (I’ve linked all the sources below).

1. AMAZON | 2. WALMART | 3.AMAZON

List of supplies that you will need:

-Cutting pliers
-Floral tape or painter’s tape
-Dry foam (for floral arrangements)
-Drill
-Small drill bit
-Brown craft paint
-small paint brush
-newspaper
-Fake moss

I started by securing the foot of my tree in dry foam. I secured the dry foam in the basket using newspaper. Make sure to add lots of newspaper to keep the tree from falling.

I started building my tree by using the larger stems. I secured them to the branches using green painter’s tape.

I then deconstructed some of my olive branches to have smaller pieces to add to the tree trunk. I added stems in the trunk by using a small drill bit to make holes (if your drill bit is too big and your stems are not holding up, add glue from a glue gun to the stem part. Hold in place for a couple of minutes until the glue is dry)

To cover up my green painter’s tape I used brown craft paint.

All in this project cost me 60$, it wasn’t the cheapest DIY, but it was definitely cheaper than buying one. Plus it was a really fun project and I am really proud of how it turned out!

Sofa – Ikea Finnala | Rug: Loloi Layla Antique Moss | Pillows : Anna and Rose co. | Vintage Prints : North Prints

Textile Art

I love that feeling of accomplishment I get after completing a DIY project. I feel proud of what I have created and I like knowing that I worked hard to create something beautiful. But let’s face it, no one has time to complete a big DIY project every weekend.

This textile art project is the perfect Sunday afternoon DIY. You will create a beautiful piece of art and you will be able to complete this project from start to finish within a couple of hours.

Here’s what you need :

-Fabric (you can buy new or if you have fabric pieces lying around your house you can use that)
-Picture frame
-Scissors
-Glue Gun
-White poster board (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS:

  • Use the picture frame backing as a template, then cut the white poster board (I decided to add the poster board because I wanted a white trim around my fabric)
  • Cut the fabric to desired size.
  • Using your glue gun – glue the piece of fabric to the cardboard
  • Position the cardboard in your frame and close it up

A quick and easy DIY!

DIY Cane Headboard

For the past year we see cane furniture and accessories everywhere, from cane dressers to cane shelving this material has really made a comeback and I think it is here to stay.

I wanted to incorporate some cane in my decor and after looking at multiple cane furniture pieces online, I came to the conclusion that for the price I was better off making cane furniture on my own.

I wasn’t sure just yet on what I wanted to build and since I am not an experienced carpenter I knew I had to stay with something simple. Our spare bedroom was on my list of rooms that I wanted to update, it was a room we neglected and there was no headboard on the bed so I decided that this would be the perfect piece to create.

You can choose the exact size of webbing that you want to buy from Levair’s Woodworking.

First I had to find cane material! I started my search on Amazon and Etsy, but it was very expensive for very little cane material. One night I was scrolling on instagram and ended up on a post from @frankieandgrae , her husband built a cabinet using cane on the doors and she tagged Levair’s Woodworking. This Canadian company is selling different types of cane webbing and with very low shipping cost, I knew I had found my cane supplier.

I chose a frame that was easy to build and that wouldn’t require a lot of expertise. The headboard was for a double bed so I decided that my dimension would be 55″ in length x 28″ in height.

I bought 2 x 3 pine wood pieces and cut them to size! I did a bit of research on the best way to conceal my screws and decided to create pocket holes. At the time I didn’t own a kreg jig so I looked at youtube videos on how to make these types of wholes without having the tool. I was able to do it, but I would highly recommend purchasing a Kreg jig – it’s inexpensive and really worth the price.

After building the headboard frame, I secured the cane to the frame using a stapler. I made sure the cane was centred and as tight as possible.

Then to secure the headboard to the wall I used heavy duty saw tooth hanger, I made sure to line up the saw tooth hangers with the studs on my wall so I was able to put a screw right in the stud and securely hang the headboard onto the wall.

Best of Ikea

Those who know me, know how much I love Ikea. I have so many Ikea products in my home it would be hard to count all of them. I even like building Ikea furniture, even if the instructions can be confusing, because I know in the end I will end up having a functional and affordable piece to add to my home.

I have listed below some of my favourite Ikea finds.

1 – KOARP Armchair | 2- DYSTERMAL blanket | 3 – HEMNES Shoe Cabinet | 4 – FULLTALIG Candle Sticks | 5 – BJORKSNAS Bed Frame |6 – FLADIS Basket | 7 – ALSEDA Stool | 8 – STILREN Vase | 9 – GODTAGBAR Candlestick | 10 – SKOGSTA Stool

This Chair is the perfect mix of modern meets contemporary. The creamy grey colour with the slim black legs matches all decor styles and the cushioned back also makes this chair pretty and comfortable.

This throw is just one of the many affordable throws available at Ikea.

The Ikea HEMNES shoe cabinet is such a functional piece for any entry way. It’s a great way to add storage and a great piece to drop your keys/mail when coming in through the door.

These Candlestick are a steal of a deal and go well with any decor style.

The BJORKSNAS bed frame is pretty and functional. The price is unbeatable (like most item from Ikea) and would go great with any bedroom style.

These baskets can be used to store random items, they can be used as a plant holders or even hang it on the wall as a decor piece.

The ALSEDA stools are so in style right now, they can be used inside or even outside on a patio.

A cute piece to add to a shelf or a night stand. Pretty all on it’s own or you can add some dried eucalyptus\florals.

Add a candle or don’t add a candle, this candle holder is pretty all on it’s own

I have one of these in my bathroom, it’s functional, stylish and the wood colour is perfect.

With my love for Ikea products this will be one of many Ikea related posts.

Leave me your best Ikea find in the comments

10 Throw Pillows Under 50$

Who doesn’t love a good selection of throw pillows? Have you ever heard the saying “throw pillows are like the teddy bears of grown women”! 
Isn’t this true the more pillows the merrier….
Finding a good quality throw pillow under 50$ is harder than you would think and I don’t know about you, but I like changing my pillows around so much that spending too much money on these feels like a waist!
I’ve narrowed down the search for you guys and I’ve also added the best throw pillow insert from Ikea. You will be able to give the “karate chop” look to those pillows like a pro!!
01 Velvet throw pillow / 02 Tasseled cushion cover / 03 Reed / 04 The Harper / 05 The Ruthy  / 06 Dark Blue Pillow / 07 Woven Chenille Pillow Cover  / 08 Herringbone   / 09 Sage Linen Stripe / 10 Clifford Decorative Pillow / Ikea Pillow insert 
 



 
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