Furniture rehab

At the start of the new year I started thinking about ways in which I can use my free time more wisely. I can only Pinterest gaze for so long before my brain is swirling with ideas. It is my hope that I can use my time to rehab furniture into pieces that can be again enjoyed by another person or family. These cast away furniture pieces no longer fit into someone's lifestyle.  I want to take them and bring them back to life.  My first finished piece is this beautiful Vintage Broyhill dresser/armoire.  It has great bones, was well in tact, and I knew it didn't need much, just a facelift.

BEFORE

Even though certain paints claim that you don't need to sand before painting, I'm a purest when it comes to quality and best methods for paint adhesion. I chose to completely sand this down using 220 grit sand paper. I removed the hardware first and used a Brass Cleaner to get the years of tarnish cleaned off.  After it was sanded, I used a DeGlosser to remove any dust and shine left over.  This cleaner also claims to eliminate the sanding step.  Maybe? But I'd rather be safe than sorry.

 AFTER

I painted this with Annie Sloan's chalk paint found at a cute store in Apex, NC called "Two Old Birds." When you get a chance check them out.  Super cute store!  The color on the outside is called "Antoinette."  I used two coats and finished off with Annie Sloan's finishing wax.  For a special surprise on the inside I used gray chalk paint on the upper cabinets. The drawers were all lined with vintage rose pattern paper.

Quality furniture has distinctive dove tail joints and the furniture maker often stamps their mark on the inside. Something to pay attention to when shopping for used furniture.

The inside cabinet doors were painted with three coats of chalkboard paint and then primed with chalk. It's a super fun way to write notes to your kids or have them write notes to you.

The pink paint, the gold hardware and the gray interior.  How can you go wrong?  I'm so in love with these colors.

This piece is for sale. Please see the For Sale Section if you are interested!

xo
Cathleen

Daughter's Room Reveal

Finally, one room almost totally complete in our new home. We wanted the kids to be settled first, so their rooms were our priority. Both of the children's rooms were completed about a month ago, with finishing touches that lingered.  Our daughter's room is pretty much complete, however I'm waiting on some gold polka dots to arrive in the mail. Here are some BEFORE and AFTERS for you!

BEFORE

This is looking at the corner with her closet. I love that she has a cute little window in her closet.

AFTER

We kept the walls the same color, Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray. The ceiling was painted Limoge Pink by Olympic in a Satin Finish. Joe added white crown molding. The carpet was replaced with Dream Home Flint Creek Oak Laminate that Joe installed.  The balloon shade and rod are from Target. Shelves are from Ikea but we painted the brackets gold. Rug is from Overstock. Lamp is from Urban Outfitters. Further Source list at the bottom. Hope you enjoy her room tour!

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE 

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

As you can see from our last house, a few things changed but a lot has stayed the same. I miss her old leopard print walls. She does too, but it was a lot of stenciling. Maybe some day! Hopefully she'll like the glitter polka dots that are coming her way soon.
Stay tuned for more room reveals!

xo
Cathleen

Source list:
Flooring - Dream Home - St. James 12mm+pad Flint Creek Oak
Walls - Agreeable Gray by Sherwin Williams
Ceiling - Limoge Pink by Olympic
Ceiling Light - Lighting Direct
Bed -Pottery Barn Kids
Rug - Overstock
Curtains - Target
Play Kitchen- Ikea
Doll House - Amazon
Desk - Vintage stained light gray and painted white
Shelves and bookcase - Ikea
White Bookcase - Vintage - painted white

E.Claire's Big Girl Room Reveal

What started out as "just a new" bed for our daughter who's about to turn 5, turned into an entire new room. But of course.  Why wouldn't it be a simple project?  Here's the BEFORE picture of her room, with blue walls and popcorn ceiling.  

I spent an entire day scraping off the popcorn, using a water bottle, popcorn scraper with bag attachment, safety goggles, and my dust mask. I took all of the furniture out the room and covered the floors to make clean up easier.  It took me just one morning to get the popcorn down, ceiling sanded etc.  

Over the next two days, I painted the ceiling pink (Benjamin Moore's Powder Blush in Satin) and the walls white (Olympic's Snow Storm in Satin.)  I stenciled three of the walls using Royal Design Studio's snow leopard stencil. Joe added crown molding and the trim got a high gloss white paint.

Here is the Glorious AFTER! Details and source list at bottom.  I am thrilled how it turned out. Never know with such a bold print on the walls.

Her Gallery Wall turned out delightful. I pulled together things she had in her old room and added some new prints from around the web.

Lots of pink, white and gold hints in the room. Most of the frames used are either white, black or gold.

Her "play" corner. 

The shelves are from Ikea, but I painted the brackets with gold spray paint. I also gave that hallow frame a gold coat.

 

This basket was painted gold (used to be coral.)

This vintage light bulb doesn't need a shade. I simply wrapped up the cord with white ribbon and tied an accent bow around the base.

This was an old desk hand made by a neighbor's grandfather. It was sitting in the boy's closet for quite some time. Glad it worked out in my design plans. I sanded the whole thing down and gave the top a weathered gray stain and the bottom a few coats of white.

 

We raised the height of the curtain rod above E's closet. The old curtain was flimsy and bent, so I bought a black rod with crystal finials. The curtains are by Nicole Miller.

The white and gold polka dot bedding from Target had me at Hello. Perhaps the one thing I was absolutely certain of in this whole project. It's so soft too.

The Moroccan trellis shag rug from Overstock is like walking on a cloud. I'm in heaven.

 One Happy Girl!

Source List
Bed -Pottery Barn sleigh bed (Refinished in Olympic Storm in Satin)
Desk -Hand Made with a Gray Wood Stain on Top, white on bottom
Bookcases - Ikea
Bedding -Target
Pink Pouf Pillow -Home Goods
White pillow at Desk -Came with bedding set from Target
Rug -Moroccan Trellis Shag, Overstock
Pin Board - Home Goods
White small bookcase -Craigslist find, refinished in White
Closet Curtains -Nicole Miller
Window Curtains -Target, with blush ribbon trim added by me
Wall Stencil -Royal Design Studios Snow leopard design
Wall Color -Olympic Snow Storm and Benjamin Moore Powder Blush
Desk Accessories -Home Goods
Under Bed Storage -Kid Kraft trundles
Heart String Lights -Target
Acrylic Chair -Amazon.com
White Wicker Basket -Target
Play Kitchen -Ikea
Shelves -Ikea

 xo
Cathleen