Wardrobe given a fresh start!

A few days ago I mentioned a wardrobe that caught my eye - ironic since I've seen so many beautifully refinished wardrobes yet haven't had the slightest interest in giving one a try myself. I really can't tell you why this piece stood out to me. I just liked it. It's clearly seen lots of love over the years but I could tell it's got some life in it yet.

It's a miracle; I took a before picture.

After

I painted this piece in a thick coat of Paris Grey by Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. Then I used dark wax to bring out its age. Painting antiques seems to be a point of controversy, (trust me, I have grandparents. It's controversial). But paint doesn't necessarily mean disguising or devaluing an antique. It can bring one back to life so it can continue to be loved and functional. Better to give those old pieces a fresh look so you can actually enjoy them rather than....not. With true antique pieces I prefer a timeless look - neutral colors and lots of distressing. 

When I bought this piece there was a keyhole and lock - but no key. Sad! So, I removed the lock and used this key lookin' knob, (that I saved from a previously refinished piece), in it's place! I really wanted to maintain the integrity and history of this piece so it seemed like a good fit.:)

Love the panels on the sides and door!

Surprise! Super functional and adorable inside; what could be better? 

I had a fantastic plan to paint the inside white, but after I finished cleaning the piece, I just loved the inside as is. Not only is the grain of the wood beautiful, but it tells a story. There are markings and carvings all over and I just didn't want to erase all that history.

SOLD

Thank you for stopping by!

~Chelsea

This post was originally featured under Chelsea's Garage, now affectionately known as StyleMutt.

My kind of white and some tables for sale!

White paint. We have a love-hate relationship. Before we moved into our home I had admired dozens of pictures of bleached white interiors with crisp white linens, bright white walls, and white painted pieces. These photos all looked fresh, crisp, clean, and peaceful. A big bonus in my mind since at the time we had 11mo old twins and one on the way; I was all about creating as tranquil a home as possible!

First, we painted our walls Ultra Bright White by Behr. - loved. Then, we brought in the white slip-covered furniture - loved. Then we acquired some pieces which I began to paint in the same white paint as our walls - oh no! Wrong, wrong, wrong! Too fresh, too crisp, too clean. Instead of looking tranquil I thought it looked sterile, cold and boring!

I lost my style in trying to replicate the same all white rooms I had admired from pictures. I didn't realize it wasn't me until we were living in it and it just felt all wrong! Since that time several years ago I have learned how I like to do white.

White + distressed + grainy natural woods = my kind of white.

Here are a couple tables I recently refinished following my ingeniously mathematical formula... ;)(photographs from our living room, all tables done in Old White by Annie Sloan Chalk Paint)

Harp table with stained wood top

Weathered indoor/outdoor table

Drop-leaf table

All tables have SOLD

Thank you for reading! This week I am working on refinishing my very first wardrobe. Never really been interested in doing wardrobes, but this piece pulled me in the moment I saw it. Pictures at the end of the week, (I hope)!

~Chelsea

This post was originally featured under Chelsea's Garage, now affectionately known as StyleMutt.

Life happening: Our week in pictures

I can't wait to start the Early Stages of Decorating series with you on Monday! I've been working on the entire series throughout the past week, putting the whole thing together as my train of thought was on a roll. I sincerely hope you enjoy it and that it's a helpful resource for you!

It was somewhat of a week off from painting as I just worked on one custom order containing two small pieces for a sweet client. Other than that, our week looked a little like this...

This one started with a fever...

...but it didn't last long.

This one met the boy-girl twins that I was given when I was five years old. (They actually have all their anatomy...)

Foreshadowing her life as well perhaps?

Finding my boys' matchbox cars slipped under their door during "nap time".

And catching their fingers reaching out trying to get them back.

Breakfasts outside!

And a couple fun opportunities to go meet friends, sans kids!

Anyone else keeping their hair in a permanent messy-bun from now until October? Virginia humidity is killer!

Happy weekend :)

~Chelsea

This post was originally featured under Chelsea's Garage, now affectionately known as StyleMutt.

P.S. I want to clarify something really quick, (not because anyone brought it up...I just want to) - when I mentioned yesterday at the beginning of the post that I felt like our space looked like an arts and crafts project with lots of painted pieces and DIY projects, I did not mean that I purged of all those things or that DIY projects = poor style or taste. We still have four large pieces that I painted just for our home on our main level, not including all the frames I painted for our gallery wall, (dining room), and the lamps I painted black for a more industrial feel. I also refinished the wooden bakers rack between our living room windows, made the coat rack of recycled silver spoons, updated hardware on a few unpainted pieces, dyed the curtains in our kitchen, made a book page wreath that hangs by our front door, and other smaller touches. I am all for DIY home accents. I just think some of my particular projects weren't reflecting our style, (a decoupaged vase, wallpaper on our chandelier, hanging light fixtures that were improperly hung - stuff like that). I hope my remark didn't give any wrong impressions, but if it did, now you know; I love working with my own two hands on things for our home and if I had all the money in the world, I don't think I'd be doing any different. :)