French Commode Transformation: How to make a chest look like a beautiful antique!

Ah, yes, just before the holiday, 

today I was able to crank out a couple more pieces before the rain cometh.

This was a client's piece that she wanted me to paint…..

 Yes, probably hand painted but not in this country….
The owner was over the "flora and fauna"motif.

A few finish issues……..

 But it has nice curves, nice pulls...

I painted the base in two coats of 

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Paris Gray.

I also painted the pulls in Pure White.

Here's what it looked like with the painting finished.

 

Here's what it looked like with Wilma laying claim…

(she has a great time checking out
all the new and different items that are constantly

coming through the SheShe ranch.)

Today, I moved it outside and added waxes: 

First clear, and then I used

some dark wax on a small chip brush 

to lightly "hit" all the intentional brush strokes

and imperfections, edges. etc., 

to really bring out all this great texture.

and to simulate age.

I did the same with the pulls:

Added dark wax to get in the nooks and crannies..

Here you can see the dark wax treatment a bit better.

See how you can highlight all the imperfections 

to make the piece appear time worn and antique?

After bringing it inside (just in the nick of time, I might add,)

and after the wax was dry, I buffed it to bring out a lovely sheen.

Parlez vous français?

How "she she!!!!!"

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!!!!!

Don't forget to support your local small businesses this Saturday!

Another Radio Cabinet redo: Antibes Green Really Pumps up the Wow Factor!

This is like the third old radio cabinet I've revamped.

They make excellent bars!

Check this one out I just purchased from a dealer:

 Here's how it looked when I purchased it.

 The top lifts up. 

You could put an ice bucket in here, or wine bottles, etc.

 It had some severe veneer issues….

 I glued/clamped what I could...

 Next I wood filled all the places that had lost the veneer.

 I sanded the wood fill smooth, 

and painted in Annie Sloane Chalk Paint in Antibes Green, 

one of my very favorite colors……..

I had to remove some of the old trim to patch the veneer,

so I added this small braid molding to spice up the front a bit.

 Here it is all painted and waxed.

 I kept the original hardware.

 Inside, I added butcher block shelves…….

tons of storage for glasses, napkins, etc

 Perfect for a holiday bar.

It's for sale @$165.

Greenwood Antiques and Uniques.

Ask for SheShe's booth!

Friday's Feat: Frances' Fabulous Funned Up Foyer!!

Okay, now that I have your attention with all that fine alliteration…;)

My friend and client, Frances, 

asked me recently to "fun up" her front foyer.  

Here's what it looked like when I started:

 She had just placed the barrister cabinet in the back, but wasn't liking it there…

It's a family piece and she wants to put it in a protected place.
The rugs aren't working here..
They're from a previous house,
and finding news ones are on the "to do" list.

Here is the area to the right of the front door.
Frances would like more of a statement here
with perhaps a new lamp at the window that opens out onto the front porch.

The window on the right side has been converted to a mirror, 

with victorian style coat hooks on the outside woodwork...

 Behind the front door is this empty wall….

Hmmm….
why not a wall coat rack here?

Out of the way, convenient...

The foyer has a beautiful staircase, 

with lovely woodwork beneath...

But then there's this little partial wall under the stairs...

And smack dab in the middle is this heating vent cover

that sticks out like a sore thumb.

Gotta do something about this..

I have a thought for this space,
which at present  is actually 

quite large but unused.

It involves this awesome sofa that's currently in an upstairs office.

(Frances wants to convert this room
back into a guest bedroom..my next project!..

So she was thinking she'd have to part with this piece.)

I think this sofa would look totally stunning 

in the foyer tucked in that space!

 We can then move the barrister cabinet 

into the adjoining living room, on a protected wall.

It fits perfectly here,
but Frances isn't sold……
she thinks maybe it "brings down" the living room

because it's so dark and somber.

Nothing a little facelift can't fix!

I used grasscloth to line the backs.

It really breaks up the brown,

and provides a great neutral backdrop

for her art pieces.

And while we're in the living room, 

we moved the little round table from the foyer here.

I found a great zigzag lampshade for the alabaster lamp.

Looks great!

But I digress! 

Back to the foyer…

With a little manpower, the sofa has claimed it's new spot!

Looks great!
Love the lines of this sofa
and now you can see them
when you walk through the front door!

Next, new rugs!
I found those runners at a local home improvement store…
Two are just the right length for the entire foyer.

A trip to a fabric store,
and I found some fabrics that really work to tie together
all the poppy orange, greens, and blues!

I whipped up several pillows with down inserts.

This little console table was a piece that I did years ago with decoupaged art.

Now it has found it's perfect place in the universe!

I spray painted this vintage lamp. 

The poppy orange color

ties in with the sofa…

I added a few of Frances' and Lud's pieces…..

they look very happy.

Next, I swapped out the art in the foyer to

work better with the new arrangement and furnishings.

Oh, and may I draw your attention to the

heating vent? 

Because now you don't notice it!

I cheated and painted the little partial wall in the same color 

as the woodwork to disguise that vent.

Now your eye doesn't rest there, it just feels like

a backdrop for the furnishings!

Just to the left of the sofa, 

I added a sweet little thrift table I painted white.

And on top, this incredible aqua glass lamp!

I love how the lamp 

mirrors the still life painting I hung above it.

When it's lit, it casts this wonderful aqua

glow in this little corner.

So incredibly cozy!

Moving to the front of the foyer, I

 removed the hooks from the woodwork on the mirror,

and touch up painted the trim.

 I used the hooks, and an old twin headboard,

to make this custom wall coat rack 

which I hung behind the front door.

At the front window, 

we positioned this piece that was in

the living room: 

An antique oak organ bench.

Below it, I placed a copper boot tray...

 On top, I found this fun little giraffe lamp 

with zigzag shade from Shades of Light.

Totally unexpected…

but the quirkiness and scale of it just WORKS 

on this petite table.

And I added a small pillow to the chair here 

to add some softness to the wood.

I must say,

 this makeover really makes me smile...

When the lamps are all aglow, 

I believe I can here a big fat "WELCOME!"

What a wonderful first impression of

Frances and Lud's beautiful home!

Don't you agree?

One Bench + one Rug = One Moroccan Style Footstool

Twice a year, in the spring and fall,

several dealers in the Greenwood/Crozet, VA, area,  

get together for their famous 

Girlfriends Antiques and Home Decor sale.

Usually at the Old Trail Golf Clubhouse…

This year, I found two little treasures:

This old bench with old red paint patina….

Love the primitive lines..

And this cotton printed rug:

 Of course, I did not need another stool/bench, 

or a rug, 

but, well,

I just saw these two together.

 I felt obliged to marry them!!!!

 I found a piece of scrap foam that I cut to fit the top...

 I didn't have any batting, 

so I just used a piece of an old quilt to top the foam...

I cut and stapled all the edges under the lip of the top.

 Then I did the same with the rug…..

 I stitched up all the corners because the fabric was too thick to staple.

 After sewing the corners, 

I added a decorative gimp along the four sides 

to cover the raw edges.

 One of the legs was a little ka-ka.. 

so I fixed that with a little wood glue.

Next, I had one of these while the glue dried;)

 Isn't it sweet? 

JUST as I envisioned!

I'm beaming all over...

 Here it is in my booth at Greenwood Antiques and Uniques.

 It was one of several items 

I sold during last weekend's Open House.

I miss it already!

But just knowing it's out there, 

under someone's tootsies,

makes it okay…

to let go…

I guess...