chest

I was at the shop one day when a friend called me and said, "I have something for you."   You know I love to hear that! :) Her sister had a chest that belonged to their grandmother, and they asked me if I would be able to do something with it.  I knew it had a lot of sentimental value, so I was happy they trusted me with it. ;)  

Before

The trim pieces around the bottom were mostly missing so we removed them and used 6" table legs that we shortened to 4". 

After

  I love how the white, the new hardware, and the legs are traditional, but gave it a fresh look at the same time.

<3

color = Westhighland white SW

TV stand

I have to start out this post with saying how much I love my mom.  She has an inner strength that never ceases to amaze me.  She always knows just the right thing to say and is one of my biggest cheerleaders.  She truly is the best woman I know. 

 She has been wanting something in her bedroom done, but we were only going to be there a few days for Christmas.  She had this t.v. stand she and my dad bought over 40 years ago.  She bought it unfinished for 10 bucks and finished it herself.  It's been through 3 states, 3 children, and many moves.  One of the door panels was taped on with scotch tape--not because of me, I'm sure :).

She asked if her stand would make it on the internet and I said, "Of course." So, here it is. :)

Before

After

I was painting this in the living room (while eating gingerbread men and watching the Denver game, yes, I know, I have a rough life), and mom was sitting behind me while I was distressing it.  I like distressing a little heavier on the corners--I was doing the top right corner and I could feel her eyes on the back of my head and she says, "O.k., I think that's enough right there, Lupe."  She got "the look" from me and then said, "O.k. I guess you know what you're doing."   I told you I love her.  :)

 I went a little lighter on the distressing after her comment. :)

A story of three tables

A friend recently asked me to redo a set of tables for her.  She has 5 beautiful children, 4 of whom are 7 and under.   I got a few laughs (and almost a tear) while painting because neverending spots of marker and crayon kept showing up (even through multiple layers of primer!) .  I loved seeing her children's artistic talent on the tops and bottoms of her furniture! :)

Before Table 1

Before Table 2

After Table 2

Sanding is my favorite part of redoing a piece of furniture, whether it's smoothing out the finish or distressing  (I told Craig I love the sound of the sand paper going across a piece of furniture and he looked at me like I was nuts! lol).  This little table had lots of great edges--perfect. :)

After Table 3

color = Westhighland White SW

glaze = water based tinted with chocolate {paint ;) }

old window frame idea

I am temporarily in custody of this great window frame that I adore (which reminds me of a person I adore!).  It's hanging on my bedroom wall which has nothing else on it so I thought it could use a little something.  I'm not done playing with it, but you get the idea.  I just stapled wire across the back of the frame and clipped the stuff on with clothespins. 

Cedar Chest II

Usually when I find a piece of furniture I like I want two because I can't make up my mind what color I want to do it in--surprising, eh? ;)  When I found this Lane cedar chest I knew I was doing it black, but thought it would look great white and antiqued.  So, when I came across this cedar chest I was so excited I could try out my other "vision"!

Before

Yep, she was pretty rough.  The bottom trim piece was coming off--when we turned it over to see if we could fix it we discovered it was only particle board (shame on you Lane!).  It must have gotten wet because it had expanded to twice its normal size.  Craig gave it a pull and it came right off.  I wasn't too sad because I wanted to put it on feet anyway (more like a bench).  So, we (when I say "we" I mostly mean Craig) made a base and attached bun feet to it.  (You don't know what  a bun foot is?  Well, neither did I or anyone else I talked to, so I had to do some investigating!)

I know I say this all the time so it's probably meaningless by now, but I LOVE the way it turned out!!

 After

When I saw this in my head I pictured it with this fabric on it, but I had to decide between girly and grown-up--hate that! :) The nice thing about it is it's so easy to change!

 This, my friends, is a bun foot.  Yes, I love it! :)

 The finish on this is definitely second (and third) touch worthy. ;)

I had new hardware, but when I put it on I just didn't like it.  The old hardware was gold (I don't even need to tell you what I think of that, right?), so I spray painted it (I could kiss Mr. Seymour for that lovely invention!).

Would love to keep this one, but...

SOLD

Side Table

This little table was in the same barn as this dresser.  It had a leather top and was very dated.  Thought it needed a face lift! :)

 Before

 After

 Really like how the stripes lighten it up. 

 Love the insets in the legs.

Think this is my new favorite gray-- not too much green or blue and not muddy.

$45.00

color = Samovar Silver SW

The Other Half

Another cute little secretariat I found. This one is going in the same room as this desk.  She wanted it to have the same feel, but not be "matchy". 

Before

After

No, I didn't spell it wrong--it's French, of course. ;)

We wanted some of the hardware to be the same to tie the two pieces together.  I loved the shape and size of the bottom pulls, but they were the wrong color, so I spray painted them and then rubbed a little paint in the details and gently wiped off so they would show.

I seriously love the legs--dry brushed the whole piece, going heavy in the "creases" and then did a lot of sanding to keep it light.  It's a little hard to see in the pictures, but I like the subtlety of it.

SOLD

BTW:  I have arm muscles I never knew existed from all the sanding I've done!  I guess it's a great way to tone up! :)

French Desk

Loved the shape of this desk.  I knew a friend was looking for one, so I brought it home with me (after 3 attempts to load it into 3 different vehicles, and men who were less than helpful--yes, they complained it was too heavy and just watched!-lol--I truly am blessed with friends who will go the extra mile!).  Its new home is a modern French bedroom for two sweet girls. 

Before

After

This is actually her nickname in French  (sweet) and her birthday

Had picked out different hardware and on the way out saw these knobs and had to have them!  It was fate. :)  Love the black pulls, too.

The detail around the keyhole is why I bought it in the first place.

Just a little distressing

I did run my hand over it a dozen times ;)

SOLD

color = Snowbound SW

pulls and knobs = Hobby Lobby

font = Zapfino