Reworking Kitchen Storage with a Revamped Vintage Cabinet

 While I was in Greenwood this past week,

my client, BJ, had me back over to her house 

to do some work in her kitchen and downstairs den.

I love repeat business!

My first assignment on this visit is to declutter

this area in her kitchen.

At present, she is using this utilitarian 

shelving unit for all her wonderful pottery,

many her own pieces…

it works fine, but is sort of messy.

 

The last time I worked at her house, 

I suggested painting this piece.

Today I'm going to transform it into

a beautiful and functional display piece

to hold all her delicious pottery.

Also, this little chair needs some work.

The seat is spent…springs are okay,

but it needs reupholstering.

I tackled the chair first.

I rebuilt the seat with foam and batting,

and then upholstered the seat in

this green chenille remnant.

 Now it looks good AND sits great!

One down, one to go.

 

I started this cabinet transformation

by painting the exterior in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

in Country Grey.

Inside, I used a custom mix of Maison Blanche

Peacock with ASCP Country Grey and Old White.

Next, I painted the exterior in ASCP in Old White.

 I've found when painting dark wood white,

a base coat of a slightly darker tone is better than white.

Then layer it with a top coat of the white paint.

It hides the wood better, requiring fewer coats.

Here's the beautiful hue of the inside.

After waxing the interior,

I started adding all of BJ's pieces.

(Because the shelves weren't completely dry,

I added a liner of wax paper to protect the finish.)

I suggested adding cup hooks to the inside top for all of her beautiful mugs.

So that is the plan after a run to the hardware store for more cup hooks.

For now, 

I placed most of the cups atop the cabinet.

Loving the way her kitchen looks now!

Love the turquoise interior with the green walls.

It's cheery!

This old cabinet turned out to be

the perfect storage solution!

Don't you just love when that happens?

When you can rework something you already own?

Tomorrow

I'll show you what I did to the basement!!

Have a room that needs work?

I can help!

SheShe, The Home Magician

Sheila Fox

sheilafox@aol.com

804-402-4370

What does the….Rabbit….say? A little stool makeover

One last makeover before heading to Greenwood for the week.

I picked up this little shaker style stool/bench at

Through The Garden Gate last week.

(I love that place!!)

It has a woven seat.

Nothing wrong with it as it was…

I just thought I could make it a bit more cushy

and….interesting.

After covering it with foam and batting,

I decided on this printed fabric…

 Underneath, I pulled it taut and used upholstery thread to sew the sides together.

Then I did the same for the ends.

I love the little rabbit..

 Perfect for fireside sitting, 

or at the foot of a bed.

Or use for an ottoman.

$85.

Going to Greenwood today.

SheShe, The Home Magician

Sheila Fox 

sheilafox@aol.com

804-402-4370

Embrace those Mistakes!!!!! Chair Makeover with Linen, Burlap and Lace

Sometimes,

my mistakes are what inspire me to

create something totally unique.

 

Take this little tub chair...

First I had to rip it apart...

To get to this...

 And then I began rebuilding it.
First I upholstered the seat and bottom front...

 Next, I covered the chair in foam...

 And then batting,

stapling and sewing until it resembles…

a chair!

 Now she's ready for her new clothes……

I did the front and then the arms in this ikat….

But I went to make the cushion cover, 

I ran out of the fabric…

so I had to improvise with a seam...

So now I have a close-to-finished chair…
with an off center seam down the cushion top.

I had to pause for a day or two to decide what to do with

this.

I wasn't liking the fabric on the chair anyway.

everything was "too round."

I thought about this large spool of vintage lace

I bought recently….

Since the seam was slightly off center,

I hand stitched the lace trim over it.

Then I added another line of lace,

so at least it looks intentional now!

 I used the lace to edge the arm to front seams as well…

I sewed it onto a strip of the linen fabric 

and then glued to the seams.

The flip side of the cushion and back are

covered in this neutral linen.

And I planned to use it for a band along the chair bottom as well;

 But…

it just doesn't feel right...

 I decided to use a burlap sack for the back...

I added old nail heads along the top and side edges.

Since now I don't have to carry this banding to the back,

it allowed me to gather it…….

I stitched lace to the top edge and attached it with

staples, then nail heads to cover.

This gathering now makes the chair feel in proportion.

 It softens all those circles!

I sewed the lace over twill tape 

and glued along all the seams to hide the staples.

 Incorporating the lace in other places 

now makes the top of the cushion

feel like a design choice!

I love it now!

Other side of cushion...

A little throw pillow also softens..

Little grain sack pillows are perfect.

When I love it,

it's done!

It's going to my Greenwood booth tomorrow.

And I must say,

it is sweet as pie.

The perfect little boudoir chair!!

$499

(Give me a shout if you're interested.)

Need some upholstery?

Send me a photo,

SheShe, The Home Magician

Sheila Fox

sheilafox@aol.com

804-402-4370