From Shabby to Chic

Have you ever found a piece and thought, "I bet I could really transform this piece."  Well, that is what I thought about this little cabinet.  It was thrown into the bin at the Goodwill Outlet.  It literally weighed almost nothing!  So, it was super cheap since at the outlet you pay per pound.

Apples and green just aren't my style.  This piece needed a little shabby chic transformation.  Of course, chalk paint was called for since the surface was pretty slick.  I first used Provence which proved to be a little too bright.  I decided to tone it down with a little Martha Stewart Milk Pail.

The apple cut out had to go on the door.  Out came my handy dandy Dremel.  Now for a little Rachel Ashwell touch.  I salvaged some material off a bed skirt I had stowed away for just such an occasion.  I attached the fabric to the inside of the cabinet door with hot glue and trimmed it out with a little bit of ribbon.  I think it really makes the cabinet!  So feminine and delicate!

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Project springs from inspiration

Warning:  Extremely photo heavy post!

I know you understand.  We have all been there.  Drooling over another blogger's home.  I have followed Savvy Southern Style for a long time.  I absolutely fell head over heels in love with her hutch.  Just take a look at it.

 

source:  savvy southern style

Now that you have seen it, you can understand why my heart went pitter patter.  I have been on the hunt for just the right piece.  With diligence and time, I came across just the right candidate on craigslist.

It start out like this:

Indecision hit and I put out a call for help to you guys.

I decided to go with ASCP Paris Gray base coat with a dry brush of ASCP Pure White.  These shots are from Christmas.

When I put away the Christmas decor, I wasn't diggin' the blue anymore.  I decided to take everything out and paint the back gray.  Then, I set to work cramping in as much of my ironstone hoard collection as I could.  I added a few touches of spring.  I am completely loving it.

 

 

 

Every time I walk by, I stop and smile!  I really love how it has turned out!  Love to know what you think. 

 

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Between Naps on the Porch

Horsing around

Don't mind me.  I have just been horsing around! 

I am sure you all have seen Miss Mustard Seed's delicious restoration horse.  If not, you can check it out here.  Beautiful isn't it?!  Because I am cheap (I am not sure hubby would agree), I found two horses to satisfy my need to horse around.

First up, a little wooden horse from Goodwill.  It had a hole through the middle which leads me to believe it was part of the carousal horse phase back in the late 80's.  In fact, I remember my oldest sister having one all decked out in mauve and blue.  Anyways, I saw the potential.  Do you see it too?

 

Not quite like Miss Mustard Seeds, but a poor man's substitute.  In honor of Miss Mustard Seed, I used her milk paint, Grain Sack.  The wood was pretty much unfinished so no chipping.  Just a little sanding and wax.

 

 

I like my MMS inspired horse that was a mere $3.  The second horse I actually redid over Christmas time.  This guy was in my garage forever.

 

 

Not really a fan of the hand painted scene.  With this horse, I used ASCP Pure White.  I used ASCP Graphite on the details.  Then gave it a coat of Annie's craqueleur followed by some dark wax.

This close up is not the greatest.  I am not sure if you can even see the cracks.  I could only get so close on my 8' ladder. 

 

 

 

 Still not close to MMS's horse, but I still like it!  I would love to know what you think!

 

Linking up to:

The Shabby Nest:  Frugal Friday

French Country Cottage:  Feathered Nest Friday 

 

Duck Egg Dresser

Hello all!

I don't know about you but I am itching for garage sale season to start.  During the winter, I rely on estate sales and auctions to get my deal thrills!  That is just what I got when I stumbled upon this dresser.

The gentleman helping me load it into my car really didn't believe I could get it into my backseat.  I assured him there have been many different pieces of furniture squeezed into that very car!  This piece was surprisingly heavy.  Of course, it went in without a hitch.

The top was pretty scratched up.  I grabbed ASCP Duck Egg Blue and gave it a coat or two.  Distressed it here and there.  Finishing it up with a coat of wax.

All ready for some lucky person!

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SOS! Need your help!

I am racked with indecision.  I cannot decide which color to go with for my new china cabinet.  There is a cabinet it just isn't pictured.

I love Paris Grey on the left but I don't think it looks great next to the wall color which is not something I am willing to change right now.    So, I dry brushed on some Pure White.

I am begging you to weigh in.  I have to get this done before Thanksgiving. 

 Thanks!

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Pottery Barn table transformation

I got lucky.  I happen to be talking to a mother of my son's school friend.  After finding out I had a booth, she mentioned she had a table if I was interested.  Come to find out, she just wanted to get rid of it.  How can a gal like myself pass up something that is free?!  Well, of course I couldn't.

The table is from Pottery Barn.  The finish was shot and sticky.  Just the perfect condition for me to try out a weathered look.  Here is the before:

Can you see that this table was well used? 

Of course, I had to strip it.  The wood seemed to have soaked up a ridiculous amount of a red stain that peeks through most Pottery Barn black furniture.  It was proving to be the bane of my existence for a few days during the stripping and sanding process. 

After much persistence (and many grits of sandpaper), I got it as down to as much of the bare wood as I was going to get it.

I started off with a whitewash.  It definitely needed more depth.  So, next was a gray wash followed by a french linen wash.  I did some dry brushing here and there until I was satisfied with the result.  I gave the base and apron 2 coats of french linen and wax.  To finish up the top, I used a water based polyurethane (3 coats).  I much prefer polyurethane over wax.  I find it more durable, especially, for a dining table.

Here is the new weathered look.

Take a closer look.

I asked hubby if we should maybe keep it or if it should go to the booth.  He was concerned that there were no leaves to extend it.  I am not so sure why this would be a concern for him seeing how we barely ever have company.  Anywho, I decided to put it in the booth.  I am hoping someone can appreciate it because it took quite a bit of work.

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French chaise redo

I really wanted to start sharing my bedroom transformation but I am not quite ready to dazzle you with that just yet.  What prompted the bedroom redo was a purchase from the auction of two beautiful french commodes.  While putting them in place, I realized that there was no room for my beautiful french chaise. 

It broke my heart but I knew it was time to let it go.  You see, it had become a nightstand.  I also stored things under and behind it.  The only time it was used was when my kids catapulted off of it onto the bed.  My hubby had liked to set his drinks on it.  Don't ask me how we never really spilled them but we did create quite a few water rings.  In my efforts to spot clean, this is what happened:

Not too pretty!  Since I was going to sell it, I needed to do minimal work.  When I bought this piece originally, I pretty much thought I would keep it forever.  That is at least how I justified paying the price in my head.  I knew I would barely make a profit.  My plan was to at least get back what I paid for it.  Knowing not a lot of people would pay for it with huge stain marks, I got to thinking.  After a bit, a light bulb went off.  There have been plenty of gals out there painting upholstery with chalk paint.  Why not give it a shot.  I researched tons DIYers blogs and decided to go for it.

 I grabbed my Annie Sloan French Linen chalk paint and went after it.  I did dip my brush in a little water to help it apply more evenly.  I love the end product.  To think that I didn't have to reupholster it.  Isn't she just dreamy now?

Of course me being ever so thrifty, I had to come up with a creative way to cover all of the staples.  I admit.  I never covered them from when I originally bought it.  No judgements please.  Cording was just to expensive to get if I wanted to break even on this piece.  So, back to thinking I went.  Then, the next light bulb went off.  Why not cut strips of muslin, sew together, and braid it to make a unique cording?!  Why not indeed!   

I thought I would share some pictures of my booth.  I recently added the fabric garland which I am in love with.

I would really like to know what you think of the chaise redo with chalk paint.  I am sharing over at: