French chaise redo

I really wanted to start sharing my bedroom transformation but I am not quite ready to dazzle you with that just yet.  What prompted the bedroom redo was a purchase from the auction of two beautiful french commodes.  While putting them in place, I realized that there was no room for my beautiful french chaise. 

It broke my heart but I knew it was time to let it go.  You see, it had become a nightstand.  I also stored things under and behind it.  The only time it was used was when my kids catapulted off of it onto the bed.  My hubby had liked to set his drinks on it.  Don't ask me how we never really spilled them but we did create quite a few water rings.  In my efforts to spot clean, this is what happened:

Not too pretty!  Since I was going to sell it, I needed to do minimal work.  When I bought this piece originally, I pretty much thought I would keep it forever.  That is at least how I justified paying the price in my head.  I knew I would barely make a profit.  My plan was to at least get back what I paid for it.  Knowing not a lot of people would pay for it with huge stain marks, I got to thinking.  After a bit, a light bulb went off.  There have been plenty of gals out there painting upholstery with chalk paint.  Why not give it a shot.  I researched tons DIYers blogs and decided to go for it.

 I grabbed my Annie Sloan French Linen chalk paint and went after it.  I did dip my brush in a little water to help it apply more evenly.  I love the end product.  To think that I didn't have to reupholster it.  Isn't she just dreamy now?

Of course me being ever so thrifty, I had to come up with a creative way to cover all of the staples.  I admit.  I never covered them from when I originally bought it.  No judgements please.  Cording was just to expensive to get if I wanted to break even on this piece.  So, back to thinking I went.  Then, the next light bulb went off.  Why not cut strips of muslin, sew together, and braid it to make a unique cording?!  Why not indeed!   

I thought I would share some pictures of my booth.  I recently added the fabric garland which I am in love with.

I would really like to know what you think of the chaise redo with chalk paint.  I am sharing over at:



Trumeau Mirror

I have long dreamed of having a real antique trumeau mirror but the prices just keep me away.  I stumbled upon this beauty one day and knew it was for me.

I believe that this was set on top of a dresser or something because of the bottom of it.  I love everything but the colors.  I wanted an opportunity to try out my ASCP French Linen.  This was the perfect time.

I gave it 2 coats of French Linen followed with dry brushing on ASCP Old White.  It now sits on display above my fireplace.  My urns are holding some fake greenery.  I know it is a no-no according to decorators, but I just can't seem to keep anything green alive for long.  I really like the punch of green.
 

Isn't it lovely?!  Here take a look at the details.

I am sharing it over at:


     
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Frenchy find

Hello all!  I have been meaning to post about this great garage sale find.  My mom, sister, daughter and I were driving past a garage sale.  Of course, I had to whip in to check it out.  I cannot say that my sister or daughter have this treasure hunting in their blood but I keep trying to change that.  Anyways, I almost missed this treasure among the bushes.  This is it:

What a great french find!

To a closer look at the painted scene on the bottom.

I have looked all over this thing for markings.  The only thing I could find has a stamped 12 on it.  If you have any ideas of the true value, please let me know.  The owner said it was her grandmother's.  She knew it was at least 89 years old.  Now, I don't know if this is really true or not but I would welcome any information you might know of pieces like this. 

I hope you are having luck with your treasure hunting!!

Sharing at:

   

French drum table makeover

I am finally starting to get back to almost 100% thanks to the antibiotics.  I have still been pretty lazy.  Thank goodness I had pictures from a project from about a month ago. 

I don't know why I have a fascination with french furniture but I do.  I came across this french drum table at an auction about three or so years ago.  Here it is painted a glossy black and would be cream on the leather.  A little boy had come along and peeled off the cream paint.  I couldn't really get mad because what did I expect painting leather?!  So, this is how it sat for about a year and a half.  Please don't judge me too harshly.  When I needed to fill a little space in my booth, this seemed like a good candidate.

Since ASCP is said to stick to everything, I thought I would throw it on and see how it goes.  I painted Pure White first followed by one coat of Duck Egg Blue.  I little distressing and waxing.  Here is a not so good picture of it in my booth.

Forgive the poor photo.  I think I liked it better glossy black if there would have been a way to keep the paint on the leather.  But with the super power of chalk paint, it has a new finish and a new home already.  Sharing over at:

No turning back now!

You may be thinking, where  I have been (or not)?  To be honest.  For the past week, I have been utterly lazy.  I haven't had the desire to do much of anything.  I take that back, I did do a little getting my booth ready for the holidays.  Nothing like taking a jump to get yourself out of a lazy slump.

Remember these chairs? 

I think the consensus was to paint the wood white and proceed with upholstering with a drop cloth.  Today I decided to get the process started.  First thing I did was pulled off the cording.  I have learned from past projects that you really want to be careful not to pull the cording too hard and rip the fabric since I needed to use the fabric for a template when I go to upholster it.

Once the cording was off, I needed to paint.  I sanded the frame and spray painted the primer.  I love how fast this went.  I followed it up with two coats of a satin white latex.  So, here they are at the point where I now can't turn back.  Nothing like spray paint on fabric to make you want to actually get the project done instead of letting them sit and sit and sit. 

Now that I have shared my first step, perhaps this will hold me accountable to make progress on a daily basis.  I may give the chairs a gray wash to tone down the white.  What do you think? 

I'll be back tomorrow to share whatever progress, big or small, that I make.  Hope you'll stay tuned.

French chest

I opened my mailbox Saturday and my order of chalk paint had arrived.  I had been eagerly awaiting its arrival.  I had this little french chest I purchased off of Craig's list. 

It is a chest of laminated pressed wood loveliness.  I knew that since chalk paint is supposed to stick to any thing, I wanted to put it to the test.  My goal of course was to make it look like an old piece.  I did two coats of Aubusson blue under a coat of Paris Grey.  I have to say the Aubusson blue was shocking for me.  The color is different in real life than on my computer screen.  I was much happier once the Paris Grey went on.  Okay, I will be honest.  I have an extremely hard time with change.  So, painting the piece other than a white kinda makes me twitch.  I have commit issues what can I say?!  Enough blah, blah, blahing and on to the reveal.

I don't care for the existing knobs and handles but replacing them seems like it could be challenging and cost money.  Before I go, I wanted to share where it is currently residing.

Some of you that have follow me, might recognize those chairs.  They are next on the project list.  I just need your help.  First, should I paint the chair frames?  Next, I would love a neutral linen but who really wants to pay $35/yd for the good stuff?  Don't get me wrong.  I would love it but just can't seem to justify paying it.  So, what do you think my options should be?  Love to hear your thoughts.  Hoping to working on the chairs after reading your advice.  Ironically, I drafted this post earlier and just saw Miss Mustard Seed post on chairs that are almost identical.  Pop over there to get an idea of what they would look like neutral. 

I'm sharing my little french chest over at:

     

French luck

I don't know if I've mentioned this but I love all things french.  I don't know if it is just the idea that everything European has such a sense of history.  I can't really afford the 'real' french antiques.  They seem to be priced for the rich and famous.  So, I do the next best thing and scour for french mass reproduction type pieces.  These are the pieces I have found at reasonable to great deals and blogged about:

 

After seeing all of the pictures, it seems I may have a problem perhaps an obsession that appears to be excessive.  But we will ignore that for now, what do you say?!

So on my never ending quest for french furniture, one day the heavens opened and I heard the trumpets when I found this gorgeous french armoire on Craig's list.  I knew I had to jump on it.  I mean when would something this cute come up again since armoire are almost a thing of the past.  So, I drove an hour to fall in love in person.  I couldn't get the lady to come down in the price but sometimes you have to pay a bit more for something you love.  Here it is:

A closer look.

Gorgeous right?  Here is where you come in.  I am tormenting myself on whether or not to paint it.  Here are just two inspirations.  The first from Miss Mustard Seed blog post here.

The next is from Savvy Southern Style.  She posted about it here.

I think it would look good with a wash or really weathered look. 

To paint or not to paint that is the question I ask you.  Would love your input!  No, no, I need your input.  Looking for your opinions at:

Frugal Friday @