Today I'm doing something a little different for Get Me Motivated Monday.  Instead of featuring projects from all over blogland, I'm obsessing with one blog in particular.

Last week I saw this coastal map covered coffee table done by Kristine of The Painted Hive.


She had rescued a beat-up glass-topped table on eBay by painting the metal frame white, then covering the scratched glass surface with a map.  The refurbed table lives at her parents' beach house, which is just perfect.

I knew immediately that I wanted to feature the table in this week's GMMM post, but was drawn to some other project photos on Kristine's home page, so I started poking around her blog.  Wow ... she has a real eye and a lot of talent!

Her personal home style seems to be a fresh, clean cottage look.  Her colors are neutral and natural, and her spaces are relaxed.  She puts just enough into the decor so that it's finished, but clean and uncluttered.  Her rooms have a vintage feel, but more upscale than "shabby."

Kristine is a skilled rehabber, and has produced some amazing transformations for her home and for her eBay shop.  (Sorry to those of us who aren't anywhere near Melbourne, Australia!)  Here are a few that I'm ga-ga over.

First is this awesome aqua industrial cabinet (or locker?). This is just the kind of thing that the Picker Sisters would freak out over.


Next is a boring deco dresser that she now uses as a nightstand.  Instead of using a traditional paint stripper, she used commercial grade graffiti remover and said it works great!  (Note:  It's readily available online if you're interested in trying it.  I know I want to.)  Aren't the library pulls perfect?  And the stain color?


Another industrial look is these vintage schoolhouse stools, which Kristine brought back to life.  The stencils are based on text from vintage flashcards, and give the stools just the right amount of panache while still keeping their simple charm.


After checking out Kristin's blog for a while, I realized I had featured her music stand-turned-tripod lamp a while back, when I had first blogged about the merits of Pinterest.


I'm pretty picky about which blogs I follow, as I can never keep up with my reader as it is, but I am now adding a new one to my list.  Hop on over to The Painted Hive and check it out yourself!

Hollie