Antique Buffet {Repurposed}

When we brought this buffet home I was thrilled at the find and thought I would do some quick cosmetic work and get painting.

Easy, right?

Not so quick, it wasn't going to be that easy!

To my surprise {and complete frustration}, the drawers that came with it were so badly damaged and warped that once I removed them...they were never ever going to go back into place! Even though I was disappointed that they weren't functioning {and that we failed to realize this before we purchased it}, this was still a really gorgeous piece with great bones so I needed to repurpose it and give it a new look! I've been down this road many times before and knew I had options. So without hesitation, I tossed the drawers and grabbed some wood and converted the spaces into some shelves.

I've staged it with some fun baskets that would be great for storing goodies, but you could also use this as a media stand or to store linens in a hallway.

I'm very pleased with the completed project, I hope you like it as much as I do!

 

 

Finished with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, French Linen.

Thanks for taking a look! Enjoy your Sunday!

Fresh. Simple. Classic. Dresser.

The official start of summer is upon us so it seemed it was perfect timing to break out the white, old white chalk paint that is!
 

 

I've had some really great luck finding gorgeous dressers lately...making it relatively easy to transform a piece like this into a show stopper because it has so much class already.

Painted in Annie Sloan Old White and finished it with clear wax, this girl is stunning. Not much distressing here, just enough to make it look gently used and comfortable. The drawer pulls are original and aged to perfection.

Here are some more pictures and closeups of the finished product.

before

Thanks to all those who have served our beautiful country.

Happy Memorial Day!

-Crystal

Charming Charcoal Grey Buffet {Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Graphite}

A little Sunday before and after to start your day.

These buffets are getting harder and harder to come by anymore and making a decision on how to refresh them is equally challenging. This buffet sat in the garage for a few weeks waiting for me to make up my mind. I went through my color swatches time and time again but just couldn't settle on anything in particular. Then one of my customers came by and had a suggestion that I do it in charcoal with a light blue wash. Sounded like a great idea but after several failed attempts on my sample boards I had to abort that plan.

I always think when you see a piece that someone has refinished that they must have had a clear vision and execution was effortless. But after some of my experiences, I have to imagine that other DIY'ers and furniture refinishers must encounter the same challenges as I do...please say that I'm not alone here!

I decided to paint this girl in graphite {one of my favorite colors in the ASCP lineup} and a heavy and intentional coat of Annie's dark wax.

I really love how the graphite paint lays down, letting just a little bit of the original wood grain show through and then enriched with the dark wax...a charming patina.

 

The inside of this buffet cleaned up amazingly. It almost looks brand new now!

 

 

I couldn't help but pick up a few flowers for the shoot, I love the look of vibrant magenta with the charcoal. It was unfortunate that the day I wanted to take the pictures there were gale force winds that made it impossible to capture a good shot of the buffet staged but I did manage to grab a couple close ups of the flowers before tearing down.

Well, that wraps up another makeover. Thanks again for stopping by.

Have a beautiful Sunday!

~Crystal

Berlin Blue Dresser

Happy April Everyone!

It's been awhile since I have posted a furniture makeover because I have been so busy preparing for some spring sales. Not that I haven't been doing some painting, I've just been to busy to get photos taken and posted. So here is a little piece I finished a few weeks ago...

Most of the time I use a standard paint color straight from the can, with maybe a color wash over it or some dry brushing but not this time. Nope, this time I was creating something special. This time I concocted a custom color that I'm calling Berlin Blue. I mixed Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Chateau Grey and Old Violet together to create a rich smokey blue with some violet and grey undertones. A swift distressing and some clear and dark wax gave a gently used patina. As a little special touch, I used gold gilding wax to bring the knobs and details back to life. 

It was so much fun to mix paints that I look forward to mixing a lot more custom colors!

Nine Drawer Drexel Dresser

This is, without a doubt, the LARGEST dresser I have had the pleasure of working on since UP has been in business. So much storage in this nine drawer Drexel...you could use it as a dresser or even a buffet/sideboard.

It's finished in Annie Sloan Old Ochre and I used Old White to highlight the filigrees and the molding on the drawers.

 

I'll be spending the next few weeks preparing for a Spring Show...stay tuned for details!

Have a great week!

~Crystal

Driftwood Bookcase

I'm fresh back from a three day seminar at the Annie Sloan Unfolded Studio in High Point, North Carolina. We learned so many different paint techniques and styles that my head is just buzzing with creative inspiration! I was honored to share the experience with an amazingly talented group of women and couldn't wait to get back to my shop to start applying what I learned.

While in NC, I finally had the time to experiment with color mixing...I mixed and played until I learned how to create a driftwood type finish. Why was I so determined to create a driftwood look...well, I lust over the finishes that Restoration Hardware creates on their furniture and I knew I should be able to create a similar look for a fraction of the cost. {and I think I've done it}

On the flight home I was already planning and plotting as to what piece I would try the driftwood look on and this stout bookcase seemed to be the perfect candidate!

 

It's really not an overly complicated process, it just takes some time to let the coats dry between colors. If you're like me...you are in a big hurry to see the completed project but trust me, it's well worth the wait! {don't ask me how I know this!} The process is a series of washes with a few different Annie Sloan Chalk Paint colors and then at the end I distressed the piece and used a mix of dark and clear wax to finish it off. I'm thrilled with the final product!

 

 Have a splendid day!

~Crystal

Linking up this week at:
Something to talk about
Motivational Monday
Inspiration Monday