Closet Office Nook Part 2

It doesn't look like I'm going to finish this project this week. I can't stand up too long, my knee is acting up for some reason. Oh well, the perils of "The Third Age"!

I have a couple of ideas as to what to do with this closet. The walls need work but since I'm planning to knock it down, I don't want to invest too much time and effort on that. Sooooo, I have these lovely almost new doors I removed from the closet and hmmm, maybe, just maybe, I'll paint them to look worn and distressed and just clamp them to the wall. Maybe put a shelf on it for books. That'll be the backdrop, after all I'll be hanging a mirror or even pictures on it, so I won't even see the wall. I was also thinking of covering it in a textured, raised, paintable wallpaper. That's costly. How about just painting over it and leaving as is, since I'm knocking it down anyways. The thing with that is that one says one's going to do a thing and it'll take forever. Sometimes not at all.
I took the closet down and kept the doors. The plan is to distress the doors and hand paint them to look rusted.That is a job! I'm probably better off just painting the wall. 

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I'm thinking the door will look something like this when I finish with it. Maybe in another color, like turquoise. That may be more work than just painting the wall. Oh, what to do, what to do. There are two doors to consider. Although I only really need one against the wall.

Doors removed from closet. 

I also have to paint the desk. I have a beautiful Annie Sloan Chalk Paint I ordered for my bathroom console re-do. Since I already have the paint, doors sanding paper and desk accessories, cost  for this project is zero! Soooo, looks like I have my work cut out for me. It won't be finished this week-end though, what with hopping around on a cane and all. The Doc will take care of me, I hope.
This vanity was given to me by my two sons as a birthday present years ago. They used their little after school job money for it. The one piece of furniture I love, if it's possible to love an inanimate object. It was also a thrift store find. They sure are their mother's sons!

Well, my motto is, "The only way to do it, is to do it!" So let me go and start something. Maybe fill in the nails holes on the wall. I can always sit on the bench to rest. One hole at a time!

Enjoy your week-end everyone!

Guess what, I went ahead and painted one of the doors after I published the blog. I'll just have to keep editing it. Bear with me. Nah, I don't want o write it over, too many link parties to go over again.

Dropped my glasses into the paint in the process. Hysterical! Anyways, I will be distressing it and adding another color over it and then a third. How's that for hopping around on a cane???!!! Well, stay connected and see Part 2, maybe 3. Adios...........

Update #1: Desk should be something "like zeez!", when I'm finished with it.....maybe

I love the look on these doors also.

I can only work on it little by little, as I'm resting my leg a bit. Stay connected to see how it turns out, ok?

First coat after sanding. French Blue.

I rolled a candle over the second coat. The second coat won't adhere to the area I used candle on.

Second coat is darker than the first. Paris Blue. Still to be burnished, sanded and waxed.

Two doors being worked on. The desk is another story. Rest 15 minutes, work 30 minutes and so on. Gotta do what I gotta do!
More to come.......hasta la vista, baby!!!

Smile!!

This is like painting on a canvas. I'm using an artist's brush dipped in a mixture of paste wax and Minwax Color Express Stain in mahogany.

     
I'm not smiling, I'm in pain....off to the doctor! In the mean time I have been aging and distressing this door. Five coats and sanding in between. I'm only half way done on top. Still have the bottom and other door to do. I used a stain for the rusted look. Wish me luck with the doctor. Amen...

January 22, 2012.......one door down....rehab for knee.

January 29, well, I'm back. Part 2. I have wear and tear on the knee and arthritis. Who needs it! Anyway, hopping right along still, I'm done for now. My son secured the doors to the wall and I put up some office storage I had around the house. I made my own chalk paint and painted them white with a paste wax finish.

There are many chalk paint recipes on the internet, I used 1/2 cup Plaster of Paris mixed into 1/2 cup water and then added to about 2 cups of paint. I needed to experiment and mix really well. Amounts are optional depending on the consistency desired. More POP gives a thicker consistency. More paint gives better coverage.  I also decided not to use my vanity. Instead, I painted the work surface I already had with the chalk paint. I purchased 2 corbels to support the work surface and after painting everything white, used paste wax to buff it up a little.  After putting everything up, I decided to use a longer bench I re-purposed from my bedroom. A tool box purchased at an antique shop is being used as book storage. I have all this stuff I can use!

When needed I can switch up the computer for the sewing machine. No problem!

Heart pin cushion made by my friend who passed. thanks Anita......

My work space is done................when I get better I might add a couple of small ledge shelves I have around here somewhere. Here are pictures........thanks for stopping by.

Vintage Dresser

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Well it seems I must continue with my projects, like it or not. When you live in a place long enough there is always something or other that needs to be fixed, painted, repaired or replaced. During my present empty nester years the prospect of increasing my income to buy beautiful new stuff is non existent. Not significantly anyway. Soooo I get creative and when I need something (or want, which is a better word), I go a few blocks away to my favorite........you said it, thrift store. I find oodles of stuff there. Of course half the time or more, I can't take home what I want. I have no room!

Well it turns out I needed a dresser since I used the one I had as a media center (see my post here Re-purposing a Vintage Dresser Re-Do). Just as I suspected I found a vintage piece at the T.Store. The poor lovely was pretty neglected but I had a vision! I already had leftover chalk paint and paste wax, so the next step was just to paint it. Once I start painting it's ok, it's getting to even start to do it that's a problem. This blog works as a catalyst to help me hurry up and finish the "durned" thing!  I'll then have something to write about and pictures to post on the link sites. So here goes! The thrill of it all!

Vintage dresser. You can see it's missing a wheel or two, also a handle.

When buying a used piece it's important to clean it thoroughly after bringing it home. I removed all the drawers first. Then I washed it down with Murphy soap and a soft bristle brush. I then placed  small containers with baking soda in each drawer  and inside the dresser to remove musty odors. Antique furniture should be aired out and allowed to dry thoroughly after cleaning. I cleaned and disinfected with water and vinegar solution inside and out. I use 1 cup of vinegar, to 1 gallon of water. I don't want to keep spreading the dirt so I use a lot of rags. It had what appeared to be nail polish stuck to the top, but it came off when stripped.  I then wiped it down again with a tack cloth and applied wood conditioner. The top was stained in Minwax Wood Finish in red mahogony.  I then applied  Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Old White to the body of the dresser and drawers. After it dried I used AS Paste Wax with a tad of burnishing stain mixed into it and applied for distressed look. I didn't sand over it this time, but if I want a more chipped look, I can. Lining the drawers with a vintage style paper gave it that old style look. Sorry I don't have pictures of it all, I believe my camera was broken then.

I love its lines, even if it's not the french look I like. BTW, space under the stairs renovation seen here. 

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Vintage look drawer liner. I found an old picture of a lady in one of the drawers. The clothes she wore and car in the background dated it to around the early 1940's, she probably had it from before that

Top after stripping and cleaning. It's discolored where nail polish stain was.

Red Mahogony stain

Minwax Color Express Wiping and Finishing Stain gives the white a burnished look. I kept the chippines, no wood filler applied.

The newest old lovely!

She's a beauty!

Stained wood top glows!

Unfortunately one of the handles was missing. I found a replica of the original online. I ordered two and used them on the top drawers. Whew! That was some search! Sure I could have changed the handles, but I liked the original and wanted to maintain the integrity of the piece. I even ordered old wheels online for it. The new ones just didn't look right. I was undecided whether to use the original mirror or the vintage, chippy, old one I had bought moons ago. Right now I kept my old one. which I bought 10 years ago. I didn't have to do anything to it. It was already a shabby, chippy old lovely!  When I finish painting the one that came with the dresser, I'll change it up.......ummm, maybe.

The rest of the bedroom is another project as stated in my sneak preview photos on sidebar. Stay connected!

Well the dresser is done and thank goodness I have a place for my "stuff"! Now to move on to the rest of the place. Where do I get the strength......moan.

Bought New and Repainted Old

Well the holidays have come and gone for most of the world. There are still others celebrating "Epiphany" or "Three Kings Day" to which I give my best holiday wishes.

With most of the holiday "splendor" gone, the work of taking down the tree and decorations is upon me. I don't mind putting everything up, it's taking it all down I don't like. In the middle of all that there are still projects that had to be completed. Still others to come.  One of them I had put on hold, was the re-painting of two dining chairs.

When I see a furniture piece I like, it doesn't matter to me if it doesn't come in the color I want. I'll just paint it over! I know, I know, no one wants to "paint over" a new piece of furniture.  It's almost as if you're ruining it. But no, if you do it right, with the right paint and method , it can look  just as good.

Marchella Chair from Pier 1 Imports. Murky green color.

After painting.

I love country french furniture and the whole look that goes with it.  They tend to be large pieces that wouldn't work well in my space though.  After several tries from the charity thrift store, I finally gave in and ordered a table with a glass top from a popular retail furniture store. I'm still having trouble adjusting to the size of the table. I like the farmhouse style but can't find one small enough. I've been researching how to make my own. One of these days I'll come up with something.

I couldn't find the right dining chair that wouldn't look too large or fancy in my small space though. I finally found the perfect one at Pier 1 Imports. They have a smaller footprint than most and fit the bill perfectly. However the color was a  murky green. Of course if my decor colors coordinated with it, it would be fine. It's easier for me to paint a couple of chairs, than to change my whole color scheme though. Not to mention less expensive! So with a small can of paint and a faux finish I already had, I was able to transform the murky green to my favorite white, aged look.

I used  Krylon  spray paint in flat white, then used a faux finish for a distressed look. Since the chairs were new, I only needed to sand lightly. The faux finish is a natural wood tone that blends in with the white. I applied the faux with a dry rag method, dabbing some off as needed.  It replicated the original finish the chair had before I painted it white. I rubbed  paste wax over it after it was dry. The chair was old world green when I bought it, kind of murky. It looks grey in the picture, but it's really green with dark distress marks.                                                                             

Before and after faux finish.

                                                                                      

Faux distressing can be seen lightly.

Chair after painting white.

The hardest part was covering the wood part with painters tape. Getting the tape in the small curves can be annoying. It takes patience to paint anything and do it right, but since it relaxes me I don't mind. Finding the time to do it is another thing. I didn't know about chalk paint when I did this, otherwise I would have used it instead. Who knew!

The other two chairs were curb finds disposed of by a neighbor. They don't match but are french ladderback in a fabulous aged oak, so you know I was going to take them home!  They were refurbished and repaired where needed and are waiting for new rush seats.  That'll have to be a whole different post. I don't know which I like the most, the new or the trashed. I guess I like both! The little step stool is a vintage find from my favorite thrift store. It goes well with the two benches also from that store. I love those french curvy legs! Those are projects that will be coming along soon, I hope.

Until my next project, have a good week everyone!

The Little Table That Could

feliz año nuevo -       bonne année   -  

     عام سعيد  -  nЗ новым годам  -   pace e salute  -   head uut aastat  -   šťastný nový rok  -nგილოცავთ ახალ წელს  - kali chronia  - bònn ané  - nav varsh ki subhkamna  -  gleðilegt nýtt ár  -  ath bhliain faoi mhaise  -  akemashite omedetô  - sala we ya nû pîroz be  -   laimingų Naujųjų Metų  -  umyaka omucha omuhle  - szczęśliwego nowego roku  -  feliz ano novo  -  bliadhna mhath ur - sanad wanagsan  -  unyaka omusha omuhle -  สวัสดีปีใหม่byddyn newydd dda

рећна н

ова годин 

...and others. 

With the daunting task of extending my dining room wall and building a plate rack for the plate collection over, I can move on to other things that have been pending.

Wood accent table in the middle.

A couple of months ago on one of my junking finds, I bought this little accent table. It was stained a dark cherry and grungy. What I like is that it has a display top with a glass. I can do a number of things with it. My daughter-in-law, who is a very creative school teacher, cut out some paper snowflakes which I thought of using under the glass. I also thought of a french script fabric under it. How about a photo collage of my family? I can do all that as the mood strikes me. Right now I opted for a pathwork look. Using leftover scraps, I used them to create a fabric display under the glass. I think this little table can take it!

Folded over edgea and ironed for smooth edge.

Cutting fabric to size of glass.

Sanding after stripping and cleaning.

I assembled the fabric to create the look I wanted and cut the fabric strips to size. I then folded the borders and ironed them down to create a crease. I used a glue stick to keeps ends down and ironed everything again. Using leftover wallpaper to form a template, I then glued it to the fabric.

Pathwork insert after cutting to size. 

Adding stripper according to instructions on can and making sure to wear gloves.

Outlining template from leftover wallpaper.

I wanted to keep the table stripped to a natural wood in order to match it up to  the french bergère chair and the cocktail table.

Pre paste wax and buffing.

I used the patchwork border on this wall hanging a couple of months ago.

        

Double sided curtains from which some of the remnants were taken.

                I kept it a little chippy and with a little paste wax and buffing, they'll make a good pair, rather trio!

The little table and the chair will be getting a little white wash burnish on raised edges, like the Crate and Barrel cocktail table. Stay tuned  (umm, connected).

This is the little table that can do a lot!

I can't wait to see what else I can come up with to put under the glass! Have any ideas?


I wish everyone a truly healthy, blessed and prosperous year. Remember, all things are possible if you Believe!