The only thing to suffer during
the making of this secretary was
the house work. This project was
actually built from many pieces
headed to the landfill.
THE NEXT PAIR OF WHITE NIGHTSTANDS - for sale
I have created a pair of bedside tables similar
to my own so someone else can enjoy them
too. They each have 2 drawers with great
storage. The color is a creamy white with
edge distressing creating a perfect shabby
chic finish. They have long legs and have
some beautiful detailing.
RECYCLED DINING CHAIR LEGS - shabby chic bedside tables
There are so many unused and unwanted
dining chairs out there. Every thrift store
and charity shop I go to have a selection.
Most people have a chair or two in their
garage. There are some great up-cycle
projects out there already on Pinterest
and I would like to add one more to the
list with the help of Annie Sloan Chalk
Paint.
Paint.
SHABBY CHIC TALL BEDSIDE TABLES - painted with annie sloan chalk paint
I built this lovely set of matching
beside nightstands by adding legs.
They were finished in a creamy
white creating the perfect shabby
chic look.
They were finished in a creamy
white creating the perfect shabby
chic look.
SANDING OR WET DISTRESSING diy chalk painted furniture
TO SAND OR WET DISTRESS .....
Recently I worked back to back on two similar
Recently I worked back to back on two similar
piece
of furniture because I wanted to compare
these
two distressing techniques. One of the pieces
was
an antique desk, and the other was an antique
vanity,
but both had the same dark finish. I brush
painted
each with Annie Sloan Pure White and when
it
came time to distress I used sand paper on the vanity
and a
damp sponge on the desk. I have compiled some
photos
showing how each piece look in comparison.
SHABBY CHIC WHITE DESK - painted with annie sloan chalk paint
This is a beautiful shabby chic
antique desk with matching stool
that I painted with Annie Sloan
Pure White.
Pure White.
HACKED WALL ART - recycling vintage objects
I enjoy taking unwanted and broken
items
and
finding a unique way to combine them
with
another vintage piece to create a unique
piece
of wall art for your home. Below I have
a few
examples of a few of these projects.SIGN PAINTED ON GLASS TUTORIAL - vintage french graphic
This was a big graphic project to
undertake
as the size of this glass panel is about
a foot
and a half wide by another 2 and half
feet tall.
I hand finished the french typography
right
onto the glass door of this Annie Sloan
painted cabinet. This DIY project is not
for
the faint of heart, and takes patience
and
determination to complete. Now with that
established let's get to the details ...
WHITE PAINTED ART DECO DESK & SHABBY CHIC SWITCH PLATES
I am not a real fan of art decor
style furniture.
But I
do have to admit it is all made with nice
solid wood which is great to work with. When
I started working on this DIY paint project
solid wood which is great to work with. When
I started working on this DIY paint project
I
never dreamt it would turn out as good as
it
did. Let me know your thoughts.FRENCH TYPOGRAPHY CABINET
This could be a
great shoe cabinet!
She looks and really is a true vintage cabinet
turned into an amazing shabby chic statement
piece with a vintage french advert on the
glass door. Long legs and 3 authentic
antique glass knobs.
She looks and really is a true vintage cabinet
turned into an amazing shabby chic statement
piece with a vintage french advert on the
glass door. Long legs and 3 authentic
antique glass knobs.
HOW TO PAINT AN UPHOLSTERED CHAIR FROM TOP TO BOTTOM with annie sloan
I
have painted many upholstered chairs with
Annie
Sloan Chalk Paint but this is one of my
favorite
DIY PROJECTS to date. This chair has
been
with me for a long time and it took years
before
I would commit to paint it. I knew how
good
it could look but it was still so hard to put
paint
on it for the first time. Are you thinking
about
doing it too? Maybe some of the answers
you
need are in this post.
HOW TO CREATE A FAUX DRIFTWOOD FINISH
Are you looking for instruction to create a faux driftwood finish with paint? I have written a how to on creating a grey wood grain type of look on a piece of furniture. This is really a simple project but can get a little messy.
HOW I PAINTED MY FRIDGE with annie sloan chalk paint
The day finally arrived that my shabby chic
fridge was finished, and this DIY project didn't
cost a lot. I was just trying to solve what to do
with some rust stains and broken handles
before it escalated into something bigger.
Check out my SHABBY CHIC FRIDGE ...
VINTAGE FURNITURE REPAIRS - leg supports
Thank you to a couple of ladies who offered their
solution in the comments of my last repair for fixing
saggy drawer bottoms. Every tip and trick is welcome
in the hopes that it will help the next person. If you would
like more information on FLIPPING drawer bottoms as an
option to fix your drawers I wrote an article about that here.
Now on to today's repair ...
VINTAGE FURNITURE REPAIRS - broken drawer joints
Recently I worked on a buffet that needed
major repairs. I photographed most of it
to share how I fixed each problem.
I'm hoping it can help a few of you to
take on a repair or two of your own.
VINTAGE FURNITURE REPAIRS - saggy drawer bottoms
I took on a furniture project recently that turned
into about 8 hours of wood working repairs.
I photographed a lot of it so I could share it
with you and how I fixed each problem.
Let's start with the first problem ....
CANDLES, BOXES, AND A LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE - UPDATES
and Hello readers!
I took it slow in January and did not blog. Boxing
day I injury myself to the point it was hard to do
many tasks so that set the tone for awhile. I started
puttering around the house as most of use do in
January getting things organized again and finishing
off old tasks. It was all at a much slower pace than
usual but I still got a lot accomplished.
Check it out ...
BUILDING LIL BOXES - recycling Christmas cards
The first time I made one of these boxes was
when I was quite young. And truthfully I have
never stopped. They are perfect for hiding small
presents in, or safely storing a small ornament
while packed away for the year. They can also
be used for an advent calendar, hiding a small
treat inside and hung from many different
places in your home.
PAINTING AN ANTIQUE DINING TABLE
Our first dinner at this table ended up being
rather nice. We had been working all afternoon
getting ready for the first snow fall of the year.
Rolling up hoses, readying the walk ways for
a fresh covering of snow. I had also started a
pot of chicken soup earlier and in between
tasks I would find my way back to check on
it. Sitting down to a nice warm bowl after a
long day is always great but for me it got even
better when GG told me he found his ring
while cleaning his vehicle. It is not of
great value but for us it hurt deeply when
it went missing.
better when GG told me he found his ring
while cleaning his vehicle. It is not of
great value but for us it hurt deeply when
it went missing.
SHABBY CHIC TV STAND - long legs & gold paint
Our TV stand is completely unique and a
one of a kind creation I made from an old
2 drawer chest a friend gave me. The piece
needed a lot of attention in one way or
another but little did I know this is what
the end result was going to be.
TO PAINT OR NOT TO PAINT - french country cupboard
they should paint wood furniture or not. I do
struggle sometimes with the decision as well.
I have had many pieces of beautiful wood furniture
that I have re-home because they didn't fit in here.
This dresser and cabinet to the left have been
with me for several years enjoyed as is but I have
wanted to paint them for awhile now. It just took
some time for me to jump in with both feet.
BUILDING MINI EVERGREEN WREATHS - tutorial
The smell that these wreaths bring into the house for
the holidays is priceless and I make a few every year.
Supplies for these wreaths are as follows:
flexible wire
strong utility scissors
live greenery
gloves (optional)
PAINTING PINE CONES - snow kissed pine cone tutorial
It must be that time of year again cause the erg
to create tons of holiday decor is upon me. Over
the weekend I took some time to build a few
wreaths for friends and family. And I wanted to
share a simple and easy trick to embellish pine
cones so they stand out and make a statement
on my wreaths.
HOW TO GET THAT PRETTY TURQUOISE LOOK - sewing project 5
creating distressed and layered finishes
so I used it when I wanted to create a
layered color effect on a thrift
store jewelry box.
layered color effect on a thrift
store jewelry box.
BUILDING WALL ART WITH A VINTAGE MAP
This is my DIY map wall art I built from discarded
items and also PART TWO of the convertible
workstation created for Janome Canada in their
MAKER's SPACE series. For those who
have not been following these projects, I was
challenged to re-purpose several second hand
items to use in a makers space and this project
can be made for decoration or for function.
challenged to re-purpose several second hand
items to use in a makers space and this project
can be made for decoration or for function.
BUILDING A SMALL SPACE WORKSTATION
Do you need a dedicated work place but live
in a small space with little extra room? I have
built a convertible workstation for exactly
that, small space living. I used thrifted items
and transformed them into beautiful decor.
This is the next project I did for
Janome Canada in their MAKER's SPACE
series. This will be a two part "HOW TO",
with this first article showing you how it
works and how I started by building andin a small space with little extra room? I have
built a convertible workstation for exactly
that, small space living. I used thrifted items
and transformed them into beautiful decor.
This is the next project I did for
Janome Canada in their MAKER's SPACE
series. This will be a two part "HOW TO",
with this first article showing you how it
painting the base cabinets.
REPURPOSING AN OLD SPOON RACK - with krylon spray paint
Janome Canada tasked me with repurposing several thrifted items, including an old spoon
rack. I thought this should be a fun DIY project.
I have seen more than enough of them sitting
on thrift store shelves so I figured start with
some Krylon paint and see what happens.
RE-PURPOSING A FRAME INTO A MESSAGE CENTER
When you live in a small space like
I do, it is great to have things that are
dual purposed. To help with organizing
the work space I overhauled a picture
frame into a message center and I enjoyed
this DIY project that included making a
chalk board.
UPCOMING PROJECTS
I used my creative skills for the fall launch
of Janome Canada's next machine series.
It is called the M series and the machine is
designed for all the MAKERS out there.
The LOOKBOOK for the launch has been
released and inside you get to see pages of
creative ideas from Canadian artists including
several of my projects. I was tasked with
repurposing everyday items for use in a
MAKER's space. Come check it out!
PAINTING A COUNTRY STYLE DESK and new shabby chic switch plates
Last time I showed how to change the style of a
piece of furniture with trim and appliques but
there is something simpler to use as well. A
new coat of paint has such a strong ability to
change the look of old things. It can breath
change the look of old things. It can breath
new life into a something you wanted to throw
away and create a completely different style.
PAINTING A SHABBY CHIC TALL DRESSER
I run across many dressers from this era but this
pieces was one of the nicer ones. It was made with
real solid wood, top to bottom. MDF is usually hidden
somewhere in most pieces of furniture built after 1968.
I knew I could take this COLONIAL style and work
some magic on it to get a nice COTTAGE feel in the end.
HOW TO PAINT A SMOOTH FINISH - using annie sloan chalk paint
Anyone who owns a piece of my work
or has visited and touched the finish on my
furniture usually comments about how smooth
it is. There are many different things you can
do to get a smoother ASCP paint finish when
using a brush and I am sharing some of
the secrets I use.
PAINTING A LONG SHABBY CHIC DRESSER
I've been enjoying my summer holidays more than usual.
We took off early in the season to visit with GG's family
and once we returned home I spent more time relaxing.
The school year is going to be here soon and with that will
come the falling leaves and the need to get back to work. I
have already started with a big shabby chic makeover.
Take a look and see what you think.
PAINTING RUSTIC RED FURNITURE
Have you ever seen a piece of bedroom furniture
made from plywood? There are lots of them out
there and they are probably home made by someone's
dad or grandfather back in the day. Plywood is great
to work with because it is super strong and you can
treat it just like solid wood, but have you ever wondered
how to paint it???
NO SEW BED SKIRT - my french bedroom
Two more areas of our new French Country
bedroom I haven't shared yet are GG's bedside
and the bed itself. This room is all about using
unique found pieces I love to make an oasis.
I have also offered an insight to how I built
our bed.
YARD SALE MAKEOVERS BEFORE AND AFTER
This spring we had a yard sale to clear out many
pieces of great furniture that were not going to get
the attention they needed from me. I have a few
kind ppl who have sent photos back of the
makeovers they performed on the treasured
pieces they found at my yard sale.
pieces they found at my yard sale.
ANTIQUE WALL HOOKS - more bedroom reveal
Sometimes I look at other blogs and see photos of
beautiful homes that make me question if they are
real or not. I wonder how could I ever achieve that.
The finishes cost a fortune and my fortune is
dedicated to more personal things like groceries.
I bet many of you also feel the same way. I hope
when I offer tips and decor photos that it feels
more doable and affordable.
JACK & JILL FARMHOUSE STYLE - burlap nightsands
I purchased a pair of pretty classy
late 1960's nightstands only
to find out one was a knockoff.
SHABBY CHIC AND FARMHOUSE SOFA TABLE
GG started to question me right after I stopped to pick these
awesome wood things up off the roadside. They were heavy
bed posts that I knew I could use but in that very moment I
wasn't sure what my plan was. So I made up a cute story about
turning them into lamps and he was content at that. Conclusion,
even the most supportive partners still needs reassurance that the
junk coming home with them will be used one day. So girls
be as creative with your stories as you are with your projects.
Now let me show you what I did with them.
A BENCH MADE FROM CHAIRS and more shabby chic switch plates
If you are thinking of creating a bench from
a pair of chairs I'm here to offer a tip or two
on how it can be done easy by steering you
in the right direction.
USING APPLIQUES ON FURNITURE - rustic french bedsides
There they were sitting one on top of the other on
the side of the street, two little wood boxes covered in
banged up black paint. I was heading the opposite direction
when I first saw them and had to make a uturn to get
back to them. Destined for the landfill yet made of wood
they had to be saved. Each had a drawer and an open space,
to display cherished things. They had great bones for
upcycling into something new but I would need some
other important pieces to transform their look completely.
NORTHUMBERLAND BATH CABINET - repurposed glass door
One warm spring evening I was inspired as I passed by
a salvaged glass door I had leaned against the boxwood
hedge. It had been pulled out of storage while I was
looking for something earlier in the day. It came from
a weather beaten mahogany cabinet I found years ago
that was only good as parts for other projects. I wanted
to start creating something around this lonely pane of
glass right away.
MAKING FRENCH BEDSIDE TABLES - wood working tips
Once upon a time someone spent time and money
to build this little black cabinet, and actually they
built a pair of them. They were definitely built to
last however I thought they could benefit from
some improvements. A color change for sure,
maybe add some interest on the drawer, and
potentially lift them up higher with new legs.
BEDROOM CORNER - Happy Mother's Day
Happy Mother's Day to all you wonderful woman who inspire,
nurture, and go way beyond. Today is the day you should do
NOTHING. Rest, relax, rejuvenate, and relinquish the reigns
to someone else today and see if the world does explode.
FREE to FLEA MARKET CHIC - shabby chic cabinet
A wonderful friend of mine picked up a roadside
treasure and stored it for me in her garage for a few
weeks. What I wouldn't give to have a garage of my
own, anyways back to the story. Once I had the extra
space she then delivered it all the way to my place. Gotta
love friends like this. She had sent me a photo when she
first found it but I had forgotten what it looked like. Upon
opening the back of her truck I became speechless ...
BIG BEAUTIFUL BEDSIDE
This has been my bedside cabinet for years and
there is a boy version to match it for the other
side of the bed. It was a short, dark, typical
furniture outlet piece before I gave it a complete
makeover. It has been photographed a lot and is
pretty famous on Pinterest but there is one
important piece of information I haven't
mentioned for those wanting their very own.
MIRROR MIRROR ON THE WALL- my french mirror
I really do love mirrors, I have always had a large number
of them in my home. I think it is an affordable way to decorate
and easy for many people to do. Art can be tricky but anyone
can hang a mirror. My french trumeau mirror has to be
my favorite of all time. I always smile when I look at it, I
fiercely protect it when anything big is moving near it,
and when it had no place to hang I made sure there was
somewhere to keep it safe.
KITCHEN REVEAL
Over the last little while I have rediscovered a few areas
in our home and the kitchen is one of the spots I have
focused on. I have also never really done a true reveal
on this room so it's about time. It all started with a new
set of shelves and spilled over to refinishing the fridge
and even GG's coffee station got a makeover. I'm super
happy with the new look and now it's time to share our
little piece of heaven with you.
EASY FARMHOUSE WALL ART - with an ink jet picture and a piece of wood
I wanted to make a quick and easy piece of farmhouse
wall art and the first one I completed was with this
vintage cow image from The Graphics Fairy. I was
so happy that it only took one hour and I did it with
stuff I had around the house. And I'm here to tell you
it looked amazing. So I made a second one and wrote
a "HOW TO" to share.
THE SMALL DETAILS OF DECORATING shabby chic switch plates
My home is about bringing together unique worn white
finishes with vintage charm that remind me of simpler
times. A place we always want to retreat to and spend
time together. Vintage switch plates have definitely helped
me create that feeling in our decor. They have won my
heart and have such excellent vintage character they
added a special touch in many rooms around my
home. I have them strategically placed only where
we will see and enjoy them, I don't hide them behind
furniture. Take a look at some of these photos of our
electrical plates to see where they get used and you just
might see a few new angles of our home you were not
familiar with.
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