LINING DRAWERS 5 QUESTIONS ANSWERED

WHY ...
do I love lining drawers with wallpaper?
For me there are two very good reasons. #1,  wallpaper has great durability for drawer bottoms #2 it is a wonderful surprise to see inside each time you open a drawer.

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RED FURNITURE PROJECTS - painted vintage furniture

It's December and all I can think about is decorating more and more with red and white and tinkle lights. It also makes me think of all the furniture pieces I have painted in red over time.

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BIG LEGS ADDED TO A SIDEBOARD - woodworking

While working outside in the warmth of the summer's sun I took several photos to show how a frame would need to be built to install a set of legs on a buffet. I had imagined these big carved legs added to this cabinet, just like the picture. I had the legs in a crate in my back room but I would need to see how the cabinet was built before I knew if I could make it a reality. 

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SANDING OR WET DISTRESSING AS pure white chalk paint

TO SAND OR WET DISTRESS

Recently I worked on two similar
piece of furniture and because I 
wanted to compare distressing
techniques I did one with
sandpaper and the other
I wet distressed.

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FRENCH TYPOGRAPHY CABINET - graphics on glass

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.

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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.

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PAINTING A LONG SHABBY CHIC DRESSER - spray painting annie sloan

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 eventually did this large shabby chic makeover.

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ADDING LEGS TO A BUFFET - building up the frame work

I imagined these heavy duty set of carved legs added to this cabinet, just like the picture. I even had the perfect set sitting in a crate in my back room. First I would need to see how the original cabinet was built. While working it outside in the warmth of the summer's sun I took several photos to show how the frame needed to be built and what I did to install a set of legs.  

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I TURNED SPIDERMAN SHABBY CHIC - bathroom cabinet

A lot of patience, love and a bit of pixie dust went into creating
this tall bath cabinet.

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MAN MADE CANDLES AND LADY LIKE FURNITURE

Here is a look at my bedside table BEFORE & AFTER

I have a HOW TO article about adding legs here: https://bit.ly/2kS9MVT

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  Our tufted love seat BEFORE & AFTER

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 A selection of George's candles 

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A new look for closet bi-fold doors

https://bit.ly/2PFxB2W

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Stop into FIRSTFINDS HARDWARE STORE to see all the
vintage hardware we have available for your next project.

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FIRSTFINDS HARDWARE STORE 

also has hundreds of switch plates to choose from

  

    CLICK EACH PHOTO FOR MORE INFORMATION

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BEDROOM ROYALTY NIGHTSTANDS - crown hardware

Recently someone brought me a little surprise, a beautiful potted begonia. I decided to use it in styling the photos of these nightstands.

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THE GREY GHOST - deilcraft dresser

The feel of this dresser is definitely wonderful shabby chic. and It is super smooth to the touch with the finish I applied and it has tonnes of carved detailing every where you look.

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BACON AND POTATOES - pantry unit

GG and I had a nice long weekend, we got away on a couple day trips and I did a little painting., I re-arranged an entire room that I will share soon, and got some photos taken of a new pantry unit.

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MOTHER'S DAY HOME TOUR - joanne's livingroom

For all you shabby chic loving moms out there

I have a wonderful room tour to share with you on your special day.

Recently George and I had the opportunity to meet Joanne

and were honoured to see inside her beautiful home.

And she was kind enough to let me have my way with the camera to share with you.

I took a LOT of photos so you may be lucky enough to see more rooms down the road,

but for now I am just going to spoil you with her livingroom.

And trust me when I say,

"THE WHOLE HOUSE LOOKS AMAZING"

Joanne's has been thinking about painting the gold fire screen.

My opinion was either way looks wonderful but I thought we would get your input.

DO YOU THINK THE FIRE SCREEN SHOULD STAY GOLD OR GO WHITE?

WHITE SEWING MACHINE - repurposed treadle sewing cabinet

I was working on trying to rebuild a pile of woods bits and pieces back into something that looked like a sewing table. The Kentucky Derby was on TV while I was do it ...

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WHAT IS A DOERNBECHER - shabby chic white desk

I found a Doernbecher that needed my help.

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GRAPHICS FAIRY COLOGNE IMAGE - french bath cabinet

I am always on the look out for graphics to use on furniture projects.

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THINGS I FIND INSIDE FUNITURE - ladies french kneehole desk

Every now and then something unusual shows up inside my furniture projects.

Like these curtain rods below. Now when I say inside I don't mean in a drawer,

I mean behind the drawers inside the cabinet somewhere.

Really ... how do curtain rods get inside a dresser?

If you know don't tell me it was a retorical question.

I've found a few Aussie coins and recently a 1965 German Schilling.

I don't assume they will make me rich but they do add interest to the projects.

Another interesting find was the post card dated 1919

but more often then not it's just someones missing puzzle pieces,

their discarded matches, a forgotten key, and quite often old receipts.

This one is dated 1976 and it's from England.

They seem to be quite polite when

dealing with overdue accounts, it actually says

"Fearing your account has escaped your

notice, we venture to ask the favor of

a remittance within the course of a

few days"

That was awfully nice of them!

Well now back to the project of the day ...

I know a few of you might be getting excited with these sneaky partial pictures,

but please don't get overwhelmed there is bad news coming.

A drawer that has dove tails on the back as well as the front.

Amazing what several hundreds of dollars can buy you huh?

Yes I spent a great deal more than I am use to on this one, but it's worth every penny in the end.

She even had a couple of surprises inside for me to find.

2 Golden Key Furniture Keys

I'm delighted with that little find, but now the trick will be to find a lock they will open. 

Now for the bad news ...

This magnificent, over the top, gorgeous french desk (deep breath)

is already spoken for, but you can see a side by side before and after pic here.

I know that doesn't make up for it, I'm a bad bad person for teasing you.

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HOW TO REMOVE WATER MARKS - blue maple dresser

This projects will show you a few different things you can do with a furniture makeover. First is the awesome blue color that was created and before we are done I will show you HOW TO REMOVE WATER MARKS.

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WHITE OVER YELLOW - french desk

Just a simple update of a cute desk.

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