Shopping: HomeGoods

Opening soon and then the fun begins.  Oh, HomeGoods how I have missed thee.  

HomeGoods stores are all over the tri-state area and majorly lacking in the Seattle area.  This one is finally opening early summer.  I believe owned by TJ Maxx and Marshalls.. it's where you can find amazing trend accessories at majorly discount prices.  For staging and design jobs.. this is one of the easiest, quickest ways to get the most bang for your buck.  Next to Trader Joe's .. cannot wait.

    

Valentine Lolli Card

Fun (cheap!) & Easy Photo Valentine Card

.. and we are live. (again)

my little dreamer...

Yes, finally got the blog started back up. For all of you that joined me on Belleocchio, thanks for following me over to here.. my new blog, Annaoj.

For those of you who don't know.. Annaoj is the name of my label, my design company and my artist signature. And now, read on if you'd like to know why someone would choose such an odd name for their life-long work. Well, it all started in the 8th grade. Doesn't every silly idea? Well, this one stuck. Or I stuck myself with it. I am sure I was dreaming and doodle-ing (most likely when I was supposed to be doing homework) when I came up with the name Annaoj Airam. The name of my fashion house that would grace the pages of Vogue, my signature couture line, the oh-so-important label that would be on everyone's rear (when they were wearing my denim, of course), the sign over my boutique in new york and paris. Yes, I had a plan and it all came together when I wrote my name backwards. There it is. Joanna Maria.. Annaoj Airam. But, please, pronounce it correctly. Not Anna-Oh-Jay (as my mom would say) but think french, fashion, sexy and let it roll... ANNA-ahhjuh. (pronunciation? dunno. this one clearly isn't on webster.com) Try again. ANNA-ahhdge. Ay yi yi. Well, even if you can't say it.. it is what it is. Not exactly the best formula for brand marketing. But it has stuck thru design school, thru my twenties and into my thirties... let's stop there. It is over 20 years old! Excuse me while I go put on some wrinkle cream. Ouch.

So, here we are. Still pursing my dreams, although they have evolved over the years. Spent over 15 years as a design professional, many years experimenting in the kitchen (some of which getting paid for), much travel around the globe and a whole lot of learning. There is no Annaoj fashion house in nyc or paris. Most of the design work I have done in my professional life has been for others recognition and profit but that hasn't been a bad thing either, as looking back I am grateful to have been fortunate to have work all these years usually doing what I love. Creating. Travel expanded my world to beyond my backyard, my city, my country, my dreams... for that I am grateful. My life has been blessed; most recently, with the addition of my beautiful daughter, Scarlett Giulia.  Julia is the namesake of my dad's mom.. spelled in the Italian way. 

So, join this jersey girl in my quest to surrender to the beauty of life. I will share what's happening here, just like before.. design, recipes, style, tips, interviews, finds .. whatever. Exactly. Get ready for a whole lot of whatever. ;)

xoxo

Jo

...and yes, a whole lot of her!

Cabinet re-do

How to make your cheap plywood cabinets look like expensive exotic, Brazilian wood. 

This is a super satisfying and quick project that takes more balls than talent.  It might seem scary to paint something so prominent that hangs on a wall.. but why not?  It's only paint.. and you can always paint over it.  
These cabinets are in a rental kitchen, where the cabinets were cheap and nothing special.  These were unfinished and really needing some style. Style on the cheap. 
Start with a clean surface and tack cloth for any bits.  Next paint on a primer, I love Zissner which you can get at Lowes or any good paint store.  
Next begin painting your cabinet a warm rich jacobean stain or paint.  Paint the whole cabinet, let dry for a bit but not completely.  
Next using acrylic accent paint, yes those small squeeze bottles you get at the craft store.. you don't need much.  If your cabinet is deep brown.. you will want a burgandy, black and a copper for the look here. That's it. 
Here's the learning curve... Start painting the inside of the cabinet door 1st.  Here you will get the feel for it and see what it takes to make it work.  This is a project that you have to just take a step and do it.. all about feel. Inside will give you practice without being the face and needs to be done anyway for this to be believable.  Now I painted the edge of the cabinet shell but only painted the inside with a solid colour, no need to waste paint or time there.  I mean, they are usually filled anyway. 
Using a sponge brush with paint strokes vertical, to mimick the grain in wood... brush up and down with the black.  Next use a towel and wipe off a bit or shall I say into a bit.  Which is really what you are doing here.  You are blending to create a smudging of paint layer that looks like brazilian wood. Next add a little copper paint with restrain.. smudging into the black.  You do not want to see metallic, but what you do want to see is some warmth or glow.  Which is what will happen here, when you use restraint.  If it doesn't look right, rub it mostly off and layer again.  
Don't be afraid.  Stand back and look.. the main thing is to keep the strokes vertical and looking like wood.  

You can see on the plywood cabinet that is above the range that you need to take the brush stroke right off the edge. (photo below)   

After all is said and done, you can either seal with a polyurethane.  I prefer a satin finish.  The walls in this space were done using the same paint.. It was a small galley kitchen with hardle any wall space, so it was not much of an expense.  The paint used was an oyster metallic and gold.  It really achieves a Tuscan-warm look with a bit of luxe.  You can't really see that in these photos.. and it's not finished here.  But in the end and in person the shimmer is so warm and looks really expensive.  Nice finish for a crappy rental kitchen.