My Favorite Projects & Most Popular Posts of 2013

Well, hello there! I hope you all have enjoyed your holidays!

It seems like everyone I know is doing a recap of their 2013, and I have had a lot of fun going through and remembering the different projects of my favorite bloggers. It seems like I forget about the projects that they have done over the year and I kept going, “Oh yeah! I forgot about that!” So I thought I would join suit, so you can see how I’ve grown this year.

 However, I’m not just going to show you MY favorite projects of 2013, I’m going to go through my most popular posts (as far as most viewed, most pinned, etc) as well!

Here goes!

I tried doing a top 5, but I just couldn’t.  I narrowed it down to 6. Starting with my 6th favorite…

I love this color, and had fun with the turquoise knobs, but I think what was the most fun about this piece was the location I photographed it in. The setting was perfect, with the ruins of the stone castle walls, the creeping vines… it just was a dreamy setting that made this piece stand out to me.

I loved the difference this gallery wall made in my living room. It was small when it was first put together by my friends and I,  but once I added a few pieces several months later, I just loved looking at it! It is a lovely balance of color, texture, and shape.

My 4th favorite was this Herringbone Desk

This is one of the projects I did, that I felt was truly original. I haven’t seen anything out there like it, nor have I since! Not saying that it hasn’t ever been done, but using a herringbone stencil for the drawers, wasn’t copied from anyone and I love that I get to look at it and USE it every day. I haven’t kept many painted projects, but this one I couldn’t resist.

The 3rd fav: French Bleu

I absolutely LOVE how this chair turned out. Striking yet neutral still. The worn-blue finish was one that I will definitely do again. I’m still kicking myself that I didn’t buy all 6 chairs just like this when I saw them at the thrift store!

My second favorite project this year was The One I Kept.

It is the first dresser we bought, knowing we wouldn’t sell it (for awhile) and we spent way more on it than we normally do. The finish is to die for. I love everything about it. It is layered, worn, buttery smooth, shows the beautiful tiger grain on the drawer fronts… it is my favorite dresser to date.

And my MOST FAVORITE project of 2013 is…

French Chair Redo!

I broke this one down into 3 posts because I stripped and tore it down to the springs, re-tied them, and then put it all back together and painted the frame. It was a complete overhaul. The most time consuming thing I’ve done. But it was almost the most exciting. I look at it and I’m amazed that I did that. I almost can’t believe it! I finally got the trim put on! A post tomorrow will be up with more pics of it!

Here are the most popular posts of 2013 from Shades of Blue:

Number 5:

Number 4:

Number 3:

And the NUMBER 1 MOST POPULAR POST OF 2013

(drum roll)

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 It’s pretty clear ya’ll like tutorials. It seems they were my most loved posts. So 2014 will definitely have more of that! We are moving out of our house in LESS THAN A WEEK and then I will be chest deep in boxes, unpacking, rearranging, cleaning, etc etc. So please be patience with me! But there are a few projects that will be done in this new house this year including:

Painting kitchen cabinets

Redo-ing an unfinished laundry room

Installing a shower into the basement 1/2 bath

and of course, painting some rooms.

We also are gearing up for Vintage Market Days on April 4-6, and I’m SO happy to say we will have space to stockpile! haha!

So stick around, and please feel free to offer suggestions for what you would like to see this year from Shades of Blue!

Happy New Year!