Weathered Bookcase

I love this piece...just the shape and size is perfect!
Originally dark wood and in good condition:
The gal who brought me this, also brought me the Crusty Chair. I wasn't sure I loved the chair, so I tried a different technique on this piece...and here is the outcome!

Oops! The bottom shelf needs one more layer~




This was a really fun piece to do!
~Allison

Linking to these parties!




http://mommahenscoop.com/

Toy Box, Coffee Table or Entry Bench?

I posted about this piece awhile ago..looking for inspiration and ideas. It's a box..I say box because it's so non-descript...so boring. I picked it up at an estate sale last summer for a whopping $5. It's solid too...and in great shape, except, well, it was ugly. And boring.

It sat in our basement for about 6 months...it was trying to be used as a toybox, but nothing ever got stored in there...so I thought I'd give it a makeover. I searched for inspiration and found this coffee table: http://www.junkmarketstyle.com/item/30929/whats-your-number

Amazing, right? I went back and forth on how to do the numbers, tried Michaels for stencils, and came up with nothing.

Then I saw this (HOW do I make this picture fit?)
done by The Thriftress here . I've seen other birds in painted furniture blogland, but now for the life of me, can't remember where :(

I had just picked up some vinyl birds at Home Goods the week before and thought this box would be perfect for birds. I painted the whole thing a creamy white...3 coats. After it was dry, I placed the birds on the box in a way I liked them. Then I painted over the birds with Cape Cod Gray by Benjamin Moore using 2 coats. I used the birds as a stencil. Once dry, I peeled the vinyl birds off, and voila!

Now, I'm confused as to what it is...I think it could be one of three things:

Entry Bench and Storage

Coffee Table with Storage

Toy box

It might even work as an end of the bed bench for a twin or double bed! Where would you use it?

One thing is for sure, it doesn't fit in with my decor. On Craigslist she goes! Have a great Monday, folks!

~Allison

Partyin' Here:

A Crusty Chair and Recent Thrifty Finds

My awesome client brought me this chair and said "I want it crusty looking...the crustier the better". Huh. I've done distressed and weathered, but hadn't done anything "crusty" prior to this. It has a gorgeous shape, but (and of.course...no "before" pic) had a shiney, marbley, dark cream finish. It was yuck...but it did have nice crackles in it.

I had to muster a lot of courage to start working on this...I just didn't know where to start. I sanded and primed with Kilz grey primer. Then I dry brushed a mistint grey I'd picked up. Then I dry brushed again. Then I sanded through so some white peeked through. Then I used some grey water based stain. Then I used ebony stain all over and wiped it off. See...I told you I didn't know how to do crusty...but this is how it came out. Keep in mind the seat will be reupholstered by a professional:

And here are some recent finds that I am suuuper jazzed about!




A pair of antique chairs: $1.99 each
Black occasional table that needs lots o' wood glue: $2.99
Fantasticly ugly, but sturdy coffee table: $6.99
One chair missing a seat: $10 (I know, more than I usually pay, but I loved the shape)
Mirror: $3.99
Fun, springy fabric (2 yards) $3.99
Pair of pulls: $.99

Total: About $33

Doing jazz hands as I'm writing!

~Allison

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Tip Junkie
French Country Cottage