Monday, January 9, 2012

Beauty and the Beast...a tale of two pieces (and some exciting news!)...

Hello, friends.  It's been too long.  I'm sorry I've missed you to tell you Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year.  I was so busy with projects for my family, and actually spending time with them, that I couldn't find the time...and afterall, I think that's the way it should be.

Onto the story...

I grew up (mostly) in an older house in a small town.  Today, my mom and younger brothers still live in that little old house, and I've moved on with my family in my own little old house.  If you live in an old house, you know that storage is usually an issue.  For my mom, it's no exception.  She has lived with the smallest closet in the world for my entire life-- first sharing it with my dad, and now having it completely to herself, and it's still too small to fit her clothes (and not because of an over-abundance of clothes either!).

This fall, she started hinting at wanting an armoire. Hinting became telling, and soon I found emails filled with antique armoires coming to my inbox.  I knew that's what I would end up getting her for Christmas.  I picked up one armoire early on, but as the emails progressed, I realized it wasn't really what she was wanting.  She needed something with room to hang clothes, and the one I found just didn't have ample space in the top to let a shirt hang.  I had to keep looking...

On another trip shopping with Mom, she stopped to look at a French nightstand.  She liked it, and told me about how she wanted to redo her bedroom, and she would like the distressed French look.  A few weeks later, I found this little beauty at a Salvation Army for $25 (more than I usually like to spend, but these seem so rare to find around this area!), and picked it up for her.



The week before Christmas came, and my hunt for the right armoire was still ongoing.  I couldn't find a thing...not in my price range at least.  Then, three days before we were to have Christmas together, a Thomasville armoire popped up on CL for $75.  It was big.  Big enough to be it's own closet and to have a hanger bar, but it wasn't an antique.  Still, it coordinated well with the little nightstand, and the price was right.

With it getting as late in the game as it was, I took the chance on it.  Afterall, if she hated it, at least I had a place to sell it.  My little brother ("the muscle") and I picked up a trailer and headed to St. Louis for it.  I'm so glad he was with me.  There's no way it would have made it home with me without him.  It took four people, and a lot of maneuvering and straps to finally get it in the 5x8 trailer on it's side, because it wouldn't fit on it's back.  It was, in every sense of the word, a beast.


I went to work on both pieces.  I used Miss Mustard Seed's French armoire, as well as And George's French armoire as inspiration.  I love the grey and cream color combo.  It would go perfectly in my moms room, and I loved how And George's piece was careful to use the cream only on the outer curve of the grooved details.

 


I painted the pieces with a homemade chalk paint (and not what you think!  I'll share more on my next post!), and added a decorative piece to the bottom of the armoire.  I thought it was a bit plain without it, and it needed another pop of cream.  Unfortunately, I didn't finish the entire piece before we had Christmas, but it was far enough along to show.  I wrapped them up, and gave them to my mom and let her tell me how much distressing she wanted on them.


Later that week, I distressed them and went over them with clear and dark wax.  I sprayed the hardware with oil rubbed bronze spray paint, and sanded them lightly to bring the brass through a bit.  Finally, I added the much-needed hanger bar.  They were finished and it was time to move them.  Three of my brothers came over and we loaded them up to go to their new home.  After a bit of moving, her new pieces were where she liked.  She loved them, and moved her clothes right in to the armoire, and kicked her old nightstand right out.

Without further adieu...

Beauty



and The Beast




They work perfectly in my moms room.  While I was there, I distressed and glazed an old mirror of hers that we had previously sprayed white.  It's now hanging above her mom and dad's old dresser that's adorned with pictures of her mom in her youth, and a family portrait of my aunts and uncles.



Mom's room is pretty close to finished now, and I have to say, it looks great.  Aside from some new curtains, the only big furniture piece to still be replaced is the headboard, and we'll get to that someday.



And finally- for a little blurb of exciting news-- I'm moving!  Yes, it's not been long since I moved into the antique shop, but wouldn't you know that opportunity knocked, and I answered.  I'm moving into a specialty shop in town for furniture and re-purposed goods called Flea Market to Fabulous this weekend.  I couldn't be more excited, and can't wait to share more with you about this exciting new step!


Until next time,



Sharing at:
Coastal Charm
Restore Interiors
Domestically Speaking
Savvy Southern Style
Primitive & Proper
The Shabby Creek Cottage
52 Mantels
Beyond the Picket Fence
Blue Cricket Design
Home Stories A to Z
A Bowl Full of Lemons
A Stroll Thru Life
House of Hepworths
Miss Mustard Seed

16 comments:

  1. Did you also add that mirror inside the armoire?
    It all came out fabulous, and good luck in your new space!

    A
    Solongfarm.blogspost.com

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  2. Thanks for your sweet slcomment! It actually came with the mirror and the little hanger bar. I just taped it off and painted around it. I wish I had a before of the inside too, but those doors were so heavy once it was on it's back that there was no way! It had shelves, an outlet, and the backer board totally cut out. It was almost as big of a job as painting the outside!

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  3. FABULOUS!! I just love these and you did great work! I am your newest follower!

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  4. WOW! that looks AMAZING! and your mom is one very loved and lucky lady!

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  5. OMG! French love! I'm going to have to do one of those!! Thanks for sharing. I hope you'll check out my new blog. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  6. They both look beautiful! Great job!

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  7. A-mazing job!! So inspiring. I love love love the room reveal (I have that same lamp in my bedroom!) :)

    I can't wait to hear about your homemade chalk paint!!

    Thanks for linking up at 52 Mantels! ~Emily

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  8. Your furniture makeovers are gorgeous! What a wonderful gift for your mom.

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  9. That is just the armoire I am looking for here in St. Louis! You beat me to it!

    You did an awesome job on it and I just love the color. Her room really looks pretty.

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  10. Hey Kayla! Love the transformation! I did a wardrobe very similar, would love for you to see:

    http://slipcoveredgrey.blogspot.com/2011/12/craigslist.html

    Also, I am a new follower! I cannot WAIT to hear how all about your chalk paint...

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  11. What a wonderful transformation of both pieces - I am sure your mother loves them! How blessed she is to have you (and your brothers' muscles)!

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  12. These are both gorgeous. That blue/gray is perfect. Soft and pretty! I have a link party on Fridays and I would love if you linked up!

    http://daysofchalkandchocolate.blogspot.com/2012/01/latest-and-greatest-friday-14.html

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  13. WOW---beautiful! I can't wait to hear your review on the homemade chalk paint....please send me a link when you finish posting! Your mom must have been so happy to have all that new storage.

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  14. These pieces are beautiful-amazing-following you from MMS-stop by for a visit!

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  15. wow, awesome! I just love these and you did great work.online bed sale UK

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  16. I read your blog it very useful for me please keep it continue to provide. I have also drapes products you can recommend it.

    Window Treatment

    ReplyDelete

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