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Friday, December 20, 2013

Berkey & Gay Vanity

I'm just gonna put this out there right away.

I'm a dork and maybe ~~completely~~ just slightly unhinged.

When my client told me she had a vanity for me to redo for her I was excited (LoVe vanities!), but when she popped the back of her SUV and I saw this in there I was beside myself (only on the inside though, of course outwardly I was calm, cool, and collected and if you ask my neighbors they would NOT say I was jumping up and down in the middle of my driveway).

It's a Berkey & Gay and I love absolutely every single inch of it, right down to the mahogany drawers! It's so cliche, but so true--they just don't make them like this anymore! And, guess what? She only paid $70 stinking dollars for it!! Can you believe that?!

It's for her teenage daughter and she decided she wanted it black. Her mom was a teensy bit disappointed in her color choice, but I'm so glad we went ahead with it. It's perfectly gorgeous. :)

Before

After

Painting in my "new" garage has been a little bit of an adjustment (as in it takes me 3 times as long to finish anything cuz it is so @#!% humid!), but I am so grateful I can still work during the winter! Yesterday, after this ~~beast~~ little beauty had to be repainted, I was a little frustrated. But, when I came in for the night (yes, I had to take a break from her) I realized how terrible it would be if I couldn't paint for 6 months! I quit grumbling and counted one more blessing. ;)

All the details on this piece are so incredible. And, you know how I feel about a good turned leg!

I just threw these knobs on until she finds the one she wants, but I am still so in love with them!

This is me having fun with Picmonkey. :)

That is also not the seat top to this stool. She kept it so she could do the upholstery and I had to make do with my paint board and some left over fabric I taped around it. lol

Details on the mirror.

I'm going to pick up my mom tomorrow and she's spending Christmas with us, so I will be gone for a few weeks! Hope you're all waiting when I get back! :) I have a few more projects I can't wait to get started on!

This vanity was featured by:
Kathy @Life on Lakeshore Drive
Rachel @ Maison De Pax
Kathryn @ The Dedicated House
Nita @ Mod Vintage Life
Yvonne @ Stone Gable
Karen @ Redoux
Thank you!

Linked up here:

Saturday:

PinkWhen

Life on Lakeshore Drive

Designed Decor

VMG206 Sunday Showcase

Sunday:

Silver Pennies

Creative Home Expressions

I Should Be Mopping The Floor

Monday:

A Diamond in the Stuff

Cupcakes and Crinoline

Pinkapotamus

Lolly Jane

Our Home Away From Home

Tuesday:

Dorothy Sue and Mille B's Too

Adventures of a DIY Mom

A Bowl Full of Lemons

The Winthrop Chronicles

Domestically Speaking

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Wednesday:

Just a Little Creativity

Handy Man, Craft Woman

Thursday:

Mr. and Mrs. Winslett

Friday:

French Country Cottage

Anything Blue Friday @ The Dedicated House

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

A Not So Secret Christmas Present!

I got a phone call from Ania's awesome softball coach yesterday asking me if I could possibly do a little table for his wife for Christmas. I could never say no cuz I just love her! :)

The top was well loved. He really liked the grain in it and so did I, so we opted to leave it natural. He left the color up to me (that always makes me nervous!) so I went with the color of the cedar chest I recently did which she had commented on and said she liked.

*Funny story. The table had been in their bedroom and when he brought it to me she noticed it was missing. She asked him about it and he told her he had "accidentally" broken the leg and it was at his dad's shop getting fixed. She looked at him and said, "It's at Lisa's, isn't it!" Lol!! So much for the Christmas surprise! :)

After

I thought the top turned out really nice after all the spots it had previously, and I love how it pops against this color, too.

I seriously love, love, love this color!

You may not know this about me, but I have a huge weak spot for flowers, too! Gardening was my first love and I can't wait for spring so I can stick my hands back in the dirt. It never ceases to amaze me how unique and intricate each flower is. Lilies happen to be one of my faves. How could they not be? Just look at it! :)

I'm a little nervous about this one....hope she likes it!

My mommy is coming soon!! Woo hoo!!

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Antique Desk & Chair

All over the blog world there are beautiful pictures of decorated mantels and trees, fun and inexpensive crafts, tongue tingling recipes, and sentiments about this wonderful time of year. Yes, it is Christmastime!

But, you will find none of these things on this blog!

Why? Is it because I don't celebrate Christmas? Heck no (although some years I have seriously considered it just because it is so darn commercialized! Seriously, the stuff is out before Halloween now! C'mon!). Is it because I am a stooge? Maybe. ;) Lol. No, it's neither of those....it's because I don't know when to find the time! I am still working on finishing up others' projects and I just did my first shopping and got our tree yesterday. My poor, poor little girl was begging me!

So, this is my apology. I am sorry there are no pretty pics of Christmastime jolly here. BUT, I do have this fabulous makeover to show you!! :)

Oh wait...this is my favorite thing in my home at Christmas. My wonderful hubby bought me the pieces and then built the "stable" out of black walnut. I adore it!

Yes, I get distracted easily! ;) On to the makeover!!

I've come to really appreciate a nicely made piece of furniture. Solid wood, dovetail drawers, beautiful veneers....oh yeah, baby. ;)

This was a beautiful, cherry antique desk my client's parents had in a cabin. She wanted a new bedroom set for her daughter for Christmas, but didn't want to pay the Pottery Barn price. Don't blame ya sista.

* [ So, here is my plug for refinishing furniture. This little desk is better quality than you will find in most major furniture stores (even the nice ones now use a lot of particle board!). It really does pay to do a little bargain shopping and to look past the ugly.] *

Instead of paying thousands of dollars she brought it to me and I made it pretty again for a lot less $$.

Merry Christmas! :)

Before

After

Makes my heart go thump thump!

I sanded down the top and stained it with Espresso (two coats). It looks so rich now and it has such a beautiful grain. Topped it off with three coats of satin poly and she's good to go.

The rest was in beautiful condition, so I simply sealed it with a coat of shellac (wasn't taking any chances--I'm on a schedule here!) and then two coats of Green Bay by Sherwin Williams.

Yes, I still sand between coats...every one!