CITICASITA

CITICASITA

March 1, 2012

Limed Vintage Vanity Table

I've been a very busy bee lately. I must finish all these projects I have pending. I really admire all bloggers out there who keep coming up with one creative project after another. I surely cannot keep up, nor am I trying to. I've just been able to finally devote time to all the projects I should have finished years ago!
Many moons ago I went to the local charity thrift store and pointed out to my sons Edgar and Alex that I'd come back the next day and buy the vanity table I saw. Well, I went to the store the next day and needless to say, IT WAS SOLD! My sons listened to me rant and rave about it all day long. Boy, was I disappointed, I should have known better. Anyway, the next day was my birthday and yes, you guessed it, they gave me the vanity table as a present! The little scoundrels. They pooled their monies together and bought it and had it stored in their Grandma's house to give to me as a surprise. Well, was I ever! If furniture can be loved, I love this little vanity table! I've been saying I'm going to refinish all these years. At the time Alex was in Middle school. He's now married with two children. What do you think, was it time or not?
Well, here it is. I finally finished it and now on to the next project. I really have to hurry up and finish the vintage head and foot boards for my bed. It's been seven years. We shall see. Stay connected, OK?
I wanted to lime the vanity, not just paint it. When liming, the piece has to be sanded down to the bare wood.  I started with 60 grit and ended with 150 for a very smooth wood grain, making sure to sand in the direction of the grain. Liming is also called pickling or whitewashing. It was used hundreds of years ago to protect wood from worms and insects. A lime compound mixed with water was used. It is now used for decorative purposes.

Sanded on right side. A  small area at a time is best.


Sanded.
Apply Whiting. I used Minwax White Wash Pickling Stain. Washed down color can be used as well.
Stain is to be rubbed into wood grain using a circular motion a small area at a time and rubbing off with rag or brush.
Wood can appear different even in the same piece, the stain will also take differently in different areas. It's ok.


I used Annie Sloan Louis blue chalk Paint diluted with the whiting for a lighter shade.  I also used Minwax Color Express Periwinkle Stain ( in a tube) on a very, very dry brush for a little darker distressing. This was on top only.
The ottoman was a thrift store steal at $4.99! Hope to recover in another fabric.The letter sorter is being re-purposed to hold scarves. Designer hobo leather handbags were $5.99 each at the thrift store. Yay!
A basketful of various vintage battenburg lace and crocheted tabletops from Ira's Antiques.....a find at $10.00 for the lot!
I will be changing the knobs to faux glass handles resembling this one. I'm trying to find it in clear blue. I will post it later.
An old letter sorter is being re-purposed to hold handbags, scarves and long necklaces as needed. Yes, that's my name on the navy scarf and yes, it's missing the 1st S .......for Sunday. Oops! It's all good......
A girl can never have too many pretty jewelry holders. Girl!!! What! Are you kidding? I'll be pfft5 tomorrow!!! 
Antique cut glass from Ira's Antique Shop, $4.50 for all the small ones, the large pitcher was under $10.00, a steal!. I use them for brushes, eye pencils, cotton swabs, flowers, potpourri, etc.


Done!

It takes longer to download the photos than to write the post!  Have a great Week!

32 comments:

  1. Isn't that the truth. A friend told me to reduce the size of my pics before trying to load them to the post. And, that did take much less time.
    Your piece turned out great. Too bad you didn't find time to do it long ago. You could have been enjoying it all this time. Hey, come visit me and maybe you'll follow me back.....Oh, Im your newest follower.

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  2. Better late than never (I hate when I do that)! But it was worth the wait, it looks fab.

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  3. Gorgeous pics and the redo came out beautifully! Took some effort but look what you have now. You have a great eye for neat finds!

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  4. I love this! The two color combination looks so good :) Stop by for a blog visit I'm your newest follower!

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  5. You did such a great job with the table! I feel you about never having time to do anything.

    I made a pact to make a sweet treat every week, we'll see how long it lasts though...

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  6. I know how you feel. I cannot keep up with all the new ideas either. But, when I do get a job done I get so excited. Your dresser came out fantastic!

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  7. Hello, I think this is gorgeous! I love the liming and the blue top! Very inspiring. That is the benefit of sharing through blogging! Yes, there are some very, very productive bloggers - they have inspired me to tackle my 'to do list'. I will give this treatment a try! I have just the desk for it! Thank you for sharing with Home and Garden Thursday! By, the way, I am sharing this through Pinterest in my board things to do!
    Kathy

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  8. That is fabulous! Have been hearing about Annie Sloan paint...Delightful blog! I'm a new follower! ♥
    Anne

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  9. Great job on your Vanity! I love the color.
    thanks for linking up to catch as catch can!
    gail

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  10. What a beautiful transformation. You have done a wonderful job! I seen your post over at Kathy's A Delightsome Life. I'm your newest follower. Hope you will visit Magnolia Cottage and follow back. Have a wonderful day!

    Lisa

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  11. Trust me; you are not alone on projects that are long overdue! I've begun to weed out my stalled projects and only keep those I KNOW I'll finish. ;)

    Your vanity turned out lovely and the story of how it came to be even more so! Thanks for linking to Time Travel Thursday. Be sure to stop in tonight, and see yourself featured.

    Blessings,
    Liz @ The Brambleberry Cottage

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  12. Loved the background story about your vanity table. Time does fly by, doesn't it. The colors that you've refinished it in are so pretty and airy. The cut glass accessories set it off perfectly. You've inspired me to get around to some projects that I have been putting off for a while.

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  13. What a beautiful transformation, and I love the two tone color. The cut glass accessories look so pretty on top,and really sets everything off. I loved learning about the vanity table background. Thanks for sharing your creative inspiration at Sunday's Best.

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  14. What a nice surprise from your boys! And a great transformation too!


    Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
    Hope you have a fabulous week!
    Jill @ Creating my way to Success
    http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/

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  15. It came out darling~ Thanks for linking up at Feathered Nest Friday!

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  16. Beautiful!
    ... what a transformation :)

    Greetings from Australia♥

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  17. Well done! Thank you for linking up to the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop linky party. Hugs and wishes for a lovely week ahead. P.S. The new giveaway has started!

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  18. Perfect job !! Creative hands !!
    Congratulation !!!
    Olympia

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  19. Congrats!!! Amazing transformation!!! XoXo

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  20. GREAT INSPIRATON:) I really like your blog...and will happily follow:)
    I wish you a lovely week. If you wanna see some swedish outdoor ideas check out my blog:)

    LOVE Maria at inredningsvis.se
    (Sweden)

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  21. Your dresser is gorgeous. Thank you for sharing, I am so glad to meet you. I am so excited to find and follow new special places. I will follow on my way out because I am sure I will enjoy engaging and supporting your special place now I have found you. I hope you will find some time to come visit me soon. Cheers SpecialK XoXo

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