~Before/After~French Country Farm Table

Hi everyone! Well, I've been working morning through night, (around taking care of my 3 youngsters), to finish this gorgeous farm table to show you!

Here it is before any work:

I painted 1 coat plus some touch ups of Annie Sloan 'French Linen' Chalk Paint:

Then I clear waxed, distressed the legs and around the edge and clear waxed again, (which REALLY made the distressed areas pop out - so cool!)

The table sat like this for a little while as I needed some time to figure out what to do next. I really liked it this way but  was so curious to see what the dark wax would do. So I dark waxed just the legs:

This poor table was a victim of my indecisiveness several times through it's trasnformation! It sat like this for 2 days while I went back and forth on whether to dark wax the top or not. Finally, with Husbands input, I went for it and started dark waxing the top. Look at this contrast!

This table was a learning experience in it's truest form! After dark waxing the top, I went to work using clear wax to remove some of the dark wax where I thought it was too much. I really wanted the top to look aged and used, but not so rough.

Here's the top after just some evening out of the dark wax:

And finally....after a few days of looking at it, stepping back, and touching up, it's exactly what it was meant to be!

I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of working on this piece. Truly. Seeing it transform just a little bit more each day was such a pleasure. I hope it finds just the pefect dining room to complete.:)

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you have a fabulous Friday!

~Chelsea

Living Room Tango

Hello there! So, our living room is in constant motion. It's not so much a result of indecisiveness as much as patience, (at least that's how I try to play it to Husband). Seriously, though. When we moved to our home, we had to get very creative with our living room as we were pretty short on cash. A lot of early decorating was rather temporary until I either made or found exactly what I wanted. I can tell you this; every single thing in our living room with the exception of the slipcovers and throw pillows were either made by us, bought used, or passed down from other family members, (and between 7 Bed Bath and Beyond coupons and a gift card, I practically used pocket change to buy 7 new throw pillows).

In the beginning...

And now...

Opposite wall take 1...

Take 2...

Take 3...

A sideboard dressed for Spring....

And dressed for Winter.

That's our Living Room for now. I hope you enjoyed popping in!

So long, Fair Desk

Hello! I hope you have had a wonderful weekend. My weekend started bittersweet as I had to say goodbye to one of my favorite pieces. I'm learning that furniture refinishing is a tough business!! It's a daily practice to put a lot of myself into each piece - I pick the color, distress it where I want...each piece is a reflection of my personal taste and style, (unless someone drops a piece off with a specific color and finish in mind). Then, as if I'm not attached enough I bring each piece inside and stage it to make it look like part of our decor for a little photo shoot. I'll admit, sometimes I let pieces stay in our home for a little while if I really like it. This just makes it that much harder to sell! Luckilly, old furniture will ALWAYS be available for refinishing. There are few guarantees in life, but this thing I know to be true.

For the most part I really, REALLY enjoy distressing and bringing some age out of a piece. This desk and chair, however, I just couldn't bring myself within 10 feet of with sandpaper! I couldn't do it. As soon as I finished the final coat of thick, creamy, almond colored paint, I coulnd't do another thing to them! They looked so pretty. I find a lot of beauty out of distressing most pieces, but once in a blue moon there will be one that just looks so perfect with clean, smooth lines; so polished and pristine. This matching desk and chair were among those rare pieces.

Knobs from Anthropologie

Seat cushion refinished in a soft burlap. When people ask if I reuhpolster, I tell them I'm quite handy with my staple gun...but that's about it. There are some jobs that require little more than a good staple gun and pretty fabric.

It was a sad farewell as I really enjoyed working on this pair and quite love how they turned out. But, they are going in a sweet little 8yr old girls room. I couldn't think of a better place. :)

Ongoing job this week: finishing the farm table I started last week. I have painted 2 coats of chalk paint, 1 coat clear wax, distressed, second coat of clear wax, and tomorrow I will apply dark wax. This transformation is above and beyond my favorite thus far so I can't wait to show you very soon!!