A passion project

You may be saying "what and why is this a passion project"? 

Simply put, it's a new project that you pick to complete each month. It can be anything that you want to challenge and commit to completing for a given month. For me it also that boost to get something I have wanted to go finally done. 

This project is one I completed late last summer. Many other passion projects have came and went, and I plan sharing them too!

This furniture was part of a Bassett set that was my grandmothers. She bought it used in the early 1970's, it was built about 1959-1960. Now you may be saying don't paint an antique! But the pictures may not show just how beat up the finish was. I originally tried to sell the set, but the only potential buyers were women who wanted to paint and resell it and were wanting it for a ridiculously low price. So I decided to just keep it myself to upcycle for my guest room.

I didn't want the distressed look and I didn't want the paint to chip so with some research I settled on using General Finishes Milk paint. It is actually acrylic based and very durable. Brush marks literally fade away too.

The colors used were Key West Blue and Antique White. 

After a good sanding, each color took 2 coats which I brush painted, then some minor touch ups.

I still have the large mirror to deal with, but I will not use it with the dresser. I have plans to use it in my guest bathroom which will be another "passion project"!

French clocks Accent chair

This actually was my project for 2014 but only getting around to share it...
Each year I donate an up-cycled theme decorated chair to a great cause. Chairs for Charity to bring awareness to L.A.M. My friend Carrie suffers from this lung disease and is a champion for getting the word out and raising funds and awareness of this little know affliction. You can read more about it here.

I purchased 2 of these chairs from a local thrift store for $15 each.

Above is the primed chair--I forgot to take a pic of the original I was so excited to get started!

I used a chalk finish paint from the Lowe's recipe. Just love that it is so cheap to just buy one of the little 8 ounce jars in any color and mix up my own. This was a color called "Linen". 

After I did some random stenciling, I used a dark wax to get a nice aged look, let that dry, then lightly sanded randomly for distressing. Followed up with another light coat of clear wax and buffed.

I recovered the seat with heavy french script upholstery fabric--I only removed the piping of the old cover. Simply went over the top of the old fabric. Easy peasy.

The chair bid up to $125.00. Not bad for less than $25 investment!

Stay tuned for my 2015 chair--same design and a hint---this one is a very pale grey!

Joining in 

French cottage side table

Joining in on the party over at Etsy Cottage style blog, I thought I would share another of my refurbished finds....

 

 here is the "before" 

I  have not finished the letter holders:) that will be in a later post...

I picked up this table at a garage sale..it was wobbly with loose legs and the top was full of water stains. But it has dome much potential! I had to bargain a bit, the owners said it was in the family since the 1930's, but one of the grandkids took it to his college dorm and pretty much had destroyed it. They didn't want to spend the money to have it refinished, but it was also hard to let go. But for $20 it was mine.

the details are amazing. The legs re-glued, and new pads on the feet and a good sanding to smooth the top. I painted it a soft heirloom white and added an antique glaze.This was to be displayed in a local antique shop that I was consigning in, but the owner abruptly closed the shop, so now I will most likely sell it on craigs list locally since it is too hard to ship from my website.

I added a coupe waterslide decals to the top and sealed

Viola!  Vintage French cottage!!

French cottage hall tree refurbished...

Time to share!  During the summer months I really dive into refurbishing and re-purposing as may pieces as I can fit in.

This piece was a moving sale find for $15. It needed a bit of TLC and a few minor repairs. Primed and a coat of butter yellow paint along with an antique glaze. Then new fleur de lis hangers made this piece so very French country cottage style. The mirrors I simply flipped them over and covered the back side with old newsprint scrapbook paper. So if someone wanted to have mirrors again, the option is still there.

 

Want to see what it looked like "before"

here it is--we took it apart to transport it--

ugly YES, but I had a vision for it, and I love the finished piece!

stay tuned, I have several other re-purposed pieces I will be sharing soon!