Repurposed Secretary Hutch into Awesome Cabinet

Hellooooo???

This is the longest hiatus I've ever taken from blogging. I have no excuse other than less time. If you'd like more frequent updates...more pictures/less talk, feel free to follow me on Facebook here. I tend to share Instagram pictures and pictures of what's headed to Carver Junk Company. But stick here with the blog if you want before and afters!

Anyhoo, I'm back with an amazing piece. I picked this up at a yard sale recently. It's the top half of one of those massive secretary desks and people, it.is.so.heavy. I didn't realize it when I picked it up because three gentleman helped me get it in the car. When I asked the hubs to help me get it out of the car, I'm lucky that he'd had 3 beers (it was date night) prior...because he felt like Superman. I, on the other hand, thought I was going to drop it and was yelling for him to "get help". It obviously safely made it to the garage.

Because the bottom originally laid flush on the bottom of the desk, and the desk no longer exists (in my world anyway), it needed a base with legs/feet. My father-in-law took a 1" thick piece of wood and cut it to the dimensions of the bottom. He attached 6 bun feet from home depot and attached the base to the bottom.

I used Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint in typewriter on the exterior and a custom mix of Fusion Mineral Paint on the interior. More about that new paint in the next blog post, but it's a really great paint!

Here is the new cabinet...I love, love, love it. If I had space...and didn't have 3 boys that would shatter the glass in a hot second, I'd keep this one!

Yes, it's on wheels for easier moving. No, I did not take it off just for pictures. Too.darn.heavy.

Are these not the coolest oil cans? Love the color and patina.

Great to be back on the blog. Hope to get here more often!!

~Allison

Solid Pine Buffet Table: Typewriter Milk Paint with White Wax

I found this amazing piece at a local charity shop.

I hemmed and hawed for a few days about color. We had too much blue at the shop, so that was out. I had picked up white wax a few weeks prior, but had been scared to use it because I'd heard it went on really heavy.

So I painted the base and drawers with Miss Mustard Seed Milk paint in Typewriter (black). I left the top natural but added a coat of Jacobean stain to bring out the scratches and damage...so it looked really distressed. Loved it.

Then I added white wax on one of the drawers and was instantly smitten. Here's why:

This is black paint with white wax over it...so yes, white wax goes on heavy, but I LOVE the effect it gives!

~Allison

Curbside Find: French Desk in Typewriter Milk Paint

So every time I find a curbside piece, I get so overly excited that it's embarrassing. Sure, this piece looked great on the curb, but someone had cut off 2 of the back legs (on purpose!) in order to make it fit in a tight spot. Who does this? And if it's you, please stop. In my next life, I will write a blog called "Crimes Against Furniture".

I didn't even take a before pic of this desk because it went straight to my father-in-law. Quite frankly, I wasn't even sure HE could fix it...and he can fix most anything.

It took him three solid days of measuring, cutting, routering and whatever else he does, to make this desk back to functional. He did an amazing job!

Another vendor at Carver Junk Company challenged me to use Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint in Typewriter. Aimee at The Vintage Estate does a lot of black/gray/white pieces...and I use a lot of color, so it was a good challenge.

So here she is...a solid, good sized, French desk in black. Available at Carver Junk Company August 20-24.

~Allison

Roadside Rescue: Accent Table in Eulailie's Sky

I recently found this table on the side of a highway close to my house. The guy who had put it out there said "It's only been there 3 minutes!". I had whipped a u-turn so fast after seeing it that my kids thought I was a race car driver!

One of the drop leafs was warped beyond repair, so both needed to come off. Fortunately, my father-in-law recently acquired a router, so he was able to finish the exposed edges. This piece would be perfect for a side table/desk that I had been searching for. 

This gal now resides in a sweet baby girl's nursery!

~Allison

Dresser Update: Gorgeous Kitchen Scale milk paint

I picked up this dresser off of Craigslist and couldn't believe how sturdy it was when I saw it in person. This dresser is a medium size at 38" long, but is far heavier than she looks. Sturdy and clean!

Before:

After Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint in Kitchen Scale. I.love.this.color. I used Hemp oil to make the color more rich and used clear wax to seal it.

Did I mention I love this color? 
~Allison

Duncan Phfyfe Dresser: Paying My Sitter with Furniture

This style of furniture has my heart. The pulls, the curves...swoon!

I had been looking for a day or two for a solid, cute and functional dresser that could be used for a TV stand. My awesome sitter that comes one morning a week was looking for one and we made a deal that I could pay her by painting stuff! Win-win!

Before:

After paint and cherry stain:

I'm very happy with how this turned out and can't wait to see it in it's new home!

~Allison

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Antique Washstand in Milk Paint

Each time I use Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint, I love it a little more. 

When I was working at Carver Junk Company two weeks ago, there was one sample size of MMSMP Boxwood. I thought I might mix it with the Artissimo to make a deep teal.

I found this washstand at a sale and it was perfect for MMSMP...dried out and ready for some fun color.

And here it is with the custom color and hemp oil.

This is headed to Carver Junk Company tomorrow for their June Sale!

~Allison