BEFORE & AFTER - Tall Black Dresser

I present to you my first Kauai furniture project. I know, you probably thought the Nautical Side Table came first, but it didn't. I got this tall dresser from a couple one of my first weekends here, and it was in great condition: solid wood, but a little dated. Those knobs... I didn't even get a good "before" picture because I was so eager to get those knobs off. It looked like a pretty standard style dresser, and when it was all finished it looked very "normal," compared to my usual pieces. 

Interesting though - I'm pretty sure this piece was custom made because the original wooden knobs were not a standard size. I could not for the life of me find any knobs to fit, not even online. So I had to buy a standard size and Kit helped me drill new holes and fill in the old holes. 

The inside of the drawers were so clean. The wood was gorgeous.

I taped off the edges really well (pat on the back). Honestly I was so impressed with my lines. 

Since I can't stop painting things black, (see here, and here, and here and here), this one got a coat of black chalk paint, topped with a metallic sheer brown, called coffee. I think it was a random Martha Stewart paint purchase.

Minimal distressing. I like to see a little wood in every piece. Just to remind us of what it's made of.

A few coats of furniture wax later, and it sold to a lady about to have a baby. 

What color would you have painted it? I've gone black and am having a hard time going back!!

Aloha, Rebecca

Read more ...

Before & After: Herringbone Chair and a Vintage Sewing Table

Did anyone else do a dump-run post-Christmas? I mean, with all the junk, not all the new gifts you just received. Well, we CLEANED HOUSE. Also, while we were in Oklahoma and Arkansas, a few rats decided to move in to our laundry area and car tent. So it was a necessity. My husband was clearing out EVERYTHING, and in order for me to keep my beloved trash vintage furniture that I planned on working on, I had to get my butt in gear and look like I was working on it! So here's 2 projects that transpired out of the urgency of Kit's dump run:

 Aren't they fun? 

This kids herringbone chair was lots of fun to do.

You can see it in the foreground of this photo, in all it's wooden glory. Ivy was helping me that day.

After spraying it with a little Kilz, I painted the seat yellow, then taped out a herringbone pattern.

Then I painted the whole thing in a charcoal grey satin, and distressed the whole thing.

I just want to live in the picture below, with that driftwood and Coco the monkey:

For Sale on Etsy for $25.

Now, on to the Vintage Sewing Table that was in horrendous shape, which is how I scored it for $5 at a garage sale. 

That's aluminum foiled stuck on the inside of the table, in the upper right photo.

 After wondering the best way to salvage this piece, I decided it just couldn't be a sewing machine table anymore. I removed the entire inside sewing machine piece, and just screwed the top on. Also, the wood was just in such poor shape that I couldn't preserve it as a wood piece. Look at all that water damage!

I still wanted some wood to show through, so I went for an ultra distressed look with the following layers:

1. charcoal grey on the whole thing

2. tomato red dry brushed on the top and sides

3. "shiloh" grey/beige color on top and sides

4. distress with a medium grit sanding block

5. Miss Mustard Seed antiquing wax

6. Miss Mustard Seed furniture wax

7. Sand the original hardware

That rug is from The Nest here on Maui. My mom got it for me for Christmas. I love it. So does Godiva, because she keeps sneaking in my room to sleep on it and I have to shoo her off of it.

That bunting is up for sale in the Etsy shop. Click here to see it.

That's my DIY votive I made last year. Click here to see that post.

One last look:

I just love a good 'before & after.'

-Becca

Read more ...