Classic Red & White Cabinet

I love the nostalgic feel of this red and white cabinet!

This one came from a woman who was moving to Florida to start a new life in an artistic community. I really admired her spunk! The cabinet had once belonged to her grandmother. It was now being used as a bookcase and the doors were removed and stashed in the basement. The drawer had been lost in a move somewhere along the way. I brought it home in pieces, just the way you see it.

The inside of the cabinet had been painted red to coordinate with the pulls - a good idea in theory, but I was pretty quick to break out some primer!

After two coats of primer over the red, the entire cabinet got two coats of creamy white homemade chalk paint. I didn't even consider another color. This one was a classic and white just felt right!

The door pulls are original red plastic and super cute!

We cut a panel to cover the drawer opening. So yes, it's a faux drawer!

 

I had two red knobs in my stash, so of course I had to use them.

I finished the piece with a light distressing and a coat of clear wax.

I really love the way this one turned out. It's not a dramatic change. We just brought it back to life as it was intended to be. And I think it's pretty adorable!

 

I'm sharing with ...

My Repurposed Life

Craftberry Bush

 I'm Not A Trophy Wife

Serenity Now

Life on Lakeshore Drive

DIY Showoff

Finding Silver Pennies

Three Mango Seeds

It's Overflowing

Nifty Thrifty Things

Dwellings

The Dedicated House

Kammy's Korner

A Delightsome Life

 

Back-to-School with New Furniture

Every girl heading back-to-school needs a desk.

 

And if she's a college student moving into her first apartment, she needs a dresser, a nightstand and a mirror too!

 

 

I recently completed this project for Molly. Her mom came to visit me in the spring and we went snooping through the garage together. I had just picked up this dresser and nightstand at an estate sale.

 

 

And this desk has been hiding in the dark recesses of my garage for a while now.

 

 

Molly was hoping for a chair with an upholstered seat and I was thrilled when this one popped up at a yard sale.

It's sometimes hard to find a chair narrow enough to fit the opening of an older desk and this one was perfect!

The color is Martha Stewart's Popcorn mixed in Behr's Premium Plus, then mixed with my homemade chalk paint recipe. I'm still painting the majority of my furniture in the homemade chalk paint. It mixes easily, covers great and I just really like the flatter finish. I still prep with a light sanding and a good scrubbing with TSP Substitute. And my go-to top coat on most pieces is clear Fiddes & Sons wax. It goes on smoothly and dries really fast. I had been using a wax brush for a while, but found that I really prefer a soft cloth for application and buffing.

 

I love the floral detail on the chair.

And Molly chose a fun fabric for the seat!

 

 

We updated all the hardware for a fresh look and to coordinate the pieces.

 

I thought this nightstand was especially cute!

 

 

Molly is attending a small liberal arts college in my hometown - how is that for a unexpected coincidence!

 

I hope your school year is off to a great start Molly.

It was pleasure working with you and you mom!

 

 

I'm sharing with ...

My Repurposed Life

Finding Silver Pennies

 

That grey and white thing I do!

At our spring tag sale, a very sweet customer reminded me that I never shared a dresser that I painted for her. I don't know how I let this one slip through the cracks because I love the way it turned out! And it's been a while, as you'll soon see!

 

 

Carole came to our holiday tag sale looking for a tall dresser to give as a Christmas gift to someone special. We had a few for sale, but none that seemed quite right. So we took a walk out to the garage and I let her look through my inventory. Luckily she found exactly what she was had in mind.

Carole also knew exactly what color she wanted. Her exact words to me were ..... you know, that grey and white thing you do. When I hesitated, she said ..... don't worry, I'll send you pictures. And sure enough, evidence of that grey and white thing I do. Both projects were from the summer of 2011, when everyone was trying out chalk paint. Wow, I'd say Carole has quite a good memory!

 

 

I don't normally paint furniture in December, but I was happy to make an exception in this case. And that of course meant painting in the house because the cars were already back in the garage for the winter!

 

 

I didn't have any "real" chalk paint on hand, so I did a quick color match using Behr paint and mixed up some homemade chalk paint. I think the end result looks just like the inspiration photos!

 

 I used white to accent the fluted top drawer, the hardware and a few details.

 

Yes, I even took some pictures in the snow!

 

And since it was December, I just decorated around the dresser until Carole came to pick it up a few days before Christmas. I hear there were pajamas and other goodies in the drawers on Christmas morning for it's lucky new owner!

 

 

Whew, that one was long-overdue, don't you think?

I'm sharing with ...
My Repurposed Life
Craftberry Bush
I'm Not A Trophy Wife
The Shabby Nest
Miss Mustard Seed
Silver Pennies
Three Mango Seeds
Mod Vintage Life

 

A Pretty Pair of Chairs

I have a pretty little chair makeover for you this time around.

I picked up this pair at an estate sale just before our early spring tag sale. I didn't have time to give them a makeover before the sale, so I decided to put a tag on them just in case someone wanted to take them home and enjoy their vintage goodness. But they didn't sell and I was fine with that. I was excited to give them a fresh new look!

I was surprised to find stripes lurking under the needlepoint covers.

 

The fabric and padding were in great shape, so I just added a layer of batting and some pretty new fabric. The batting was for softness and I wanted to be sure those stripes didn't show through my fabric.

 

The chairs were painted in Behr's Silky White mixed up with the homemade chalk paint recipe, lightly distressed and waxed.

And isn't that just the cutest fabric?

Sweet little birdies!

I love the fresh new look!

We'll see if they sell this time around. Our spring sale is just three weeks away!

I'm sharing with ...

Beyond the Picket Fence
Embracing Change
Redoux
French Country Cottage
Nancherrow
Craftberry Bush
I'm Not A Trophy Wife
My Repurposed Life
The Shabby Nest
Simple Details
Life on Lakeshore Drive
Dwellings
The Girl Creative
Mod Vintage Life
Chic on a Shoestring Decorating
Miss Mustard Seed
Kammy's Korner
Lou Lou Girls