Favorites for my Sister

My sister recently moved from Minneapolis to Chicago. She got her own apartment...her first "big girl" apartment with no roommates. It's a great apartment..I visited in August to help her decorate (and, let's be honest, get away for some girl time). She picked out a couch and new bedding, but needed some accent pieces.

When she was back in Minneapolis visiting a few weeks ago, she shopped in my garage...and chose a few pieces for me to rehab. As it turned out, my parents were going to drive down this weekend and could deliver the newly painted goods!

Entry table before


Entry table after


I have no "before" of this chair, but think..GLOSSY, blinding glossy black paint with a pleather seat. It did no justice to the shape of this chair.

Here she is after some flatter paint and new seat. This will be amazing in my sister's living room! (can you hear my giddiness?)


The final piece that will be arriving at my sis's place any minute is the next one. I think this is my fave piece so far. I found this bench under a heap of stuff at Elko Flea Market over Labor Day weekend. It was my virginal debut at Elko...and I was hooked the minute I walked in. This bench was DIRTY. Peeling veneer, musty smell...but I liked the lines a lot.


My sis picked it to be a distressed red.


Rustoleum Colonial Red in Satin with Minwax Dark Walnut stain


And a little surprise inside.

I love it. I hope she thinks it's as fabulous as I do.

Linking to:
">



www.justagirlblog.com

The Little Sideboard that Could

I should be arrested. Really, I should.


I love to go to estate sales on the final day. Usually, not much is left, but whatever IS left, is often steeply discounted. Say...50% off.


Back in July, I hit an estate sale on a Saturday. I loved a lot of the stuff at this sale, but it was above my usual price point (which is ridiculously low...but that's another post). I decided I'd come back the next day and see what was left. On the way out, I saw a small sideboard...with one front leg propped up in a coffee mug. The price on the piece said "$10...broken leg". I noticed that it was a nice piece, but I didn't know a thing about fixing a leg. So I went home.


The next day, after the kids had managed to run me out of the house, I headed over to the same sale. You know...just to see what was left over. There was the same sideboard...this time, for $5.oo. FIVE bucks. I took a closer look at her. Lifted her up to see what the damage was on the leg. Here's the kicker....the leg wasn't broken. It was completely intact!! I looked at every single leg...all attached and all sturdy. I felt like I'd won the lottery. The peeps working this sale were extremely cool and down to earth...they basically paid ME to take it home. Another shopper helped me load it into the car and away I went! I looked behind me several times to make sure I was street legal.


Are you done with the long story? Want to see the sideboard? Ok....

Thomasville Sideboard

Check out those sweet little flowers!

She needed a little work. I painted her with a creamy white, distressed her and wiped her down with Minwax dark walnut stain. I wasn't sure about how she turned out, but a gal who owns a boutique in Minneapolis contacted me off of a Craigslist add. She bought this piece and she sold it in her shop the very next day!

Here's the finished product...

I know...it was a long story, but FIVE dollars? I'm still watching my back for the cops! ;)

~Allison

Linking to:

Just A Girl Show and Share
www.justagirl.com

Too many chairs!

Yikes...my garage is over-flowing. Too many trips to Goodwill and too many great prices at garage sales. Add that to a few projects for a client...and the hubby is not happy! Time to unload some inventory....



So when my neighbor's nanny was visiting last week and all the kids were playing, she mentioned she was looking for furniture for her new apartment! Of course I led her out to the garage and told her to take her pick! She picked 2 matching chairs that had great potential....but needed a lot of updating.

Enter black paint and fabulous fabric...that she picked out and delivered to my doorstep!

I truly LOVE the way these turned out...and I can say that because I really didn't have anything to do with it. I just did what she told me to....she designed them! Enjoy, Lisa!

The table is another rehab, but it isn't nearly as great as these chairs! ;)

Linking to:

http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2010/10/rats-infestation-across-blogland.html

http://www.storiesofahouse.com/2010/10/project-diaries-volume-3.html

http://primitiveandproper.blogspot.com/2010/10/piece-of-work-wednesday-link-party_12.html

http://www.domestically-speaking.com/2010/10/41st-power-of-paint-party-2011-paint.html