Distressed Mint Buffet, {the detailed transformation}

Hi friends! Today I've got an awesome transformation of a really dull piece with lots of potential into something extraordinary. I took lots of pics along the way so you could really see what goes into a makeover and take notes for yourself if this is an interest of yours as well. To start, you need a piece of furniture.:) I look for things that are structurally sound, heavy, sturdy, but also just really interesting. Chunky pieces typically catch my eye and unique details that set a piece apart from others I've seen. (Things that don't matter to me: type of wood, color, hardware, scratches/nicks/chips)

This large buffet I found at Goodwill hit everything on my checklist for a piece to transform

Though seasonally appropriate at the moment, the iron leaf knobs were not lining up with my vision for this piece. 

So I easily removed them with a screwdriver.

The new hardware I got required smaller holes, which meant I needed to fill in the existing holes.

I plugged the old holes up with Elmers Wood Filler.

While I waited for the wood filler to dry and harden I got to work sanding the edges of my piece just to smooth over all the rough spots. I used 120 grit sandpaper.

Once my wood filler hardened I could sand it down smooth. Sand in all directions; circular motion, left to right, up and down - you want to make sure it is a completely smooth surface.

After all the sanding was done I brushed on my first coat of paint. In this case my first coat was Duck Egg by Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. First coats of paint do not have to look good. You can paint like you did in third grade.:)

After my first coat dried I began my second coat - for this piece I layered two colors, so my second coat was Spring Mint by Behr. On large surfaces like the top, I like to brush in circular motion followed by an even back and forth motion.

Once the paint dried completely I distressed along the edges, corners, and areas of the larger surfaces using a medium grit sanding block. After wiping the dust off I used a clean rag to wipe on an even coat of Minwax Polyurethane clear semi-gloss.

After the sealer dried all that was left to do was replace the drawers and doors, attach the new hardware, (after careful measuring), and bring the finished piece inside for it's glamour photos!

{66"L x 29"H x 19"D}
Piece has sold. Please contact me if interested in something similar!

Thank you for stopping by!

~Chelsea

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

Pretty Painted Pumpkins

I brought home this lot of fake pumpkins from Michaels last week...

small ones got rubber banded...

blue taped some stems...

pulled out my favorite chalk paints by Annie Sloan...

and started painting!

Hello, Fall. Nice to see you again.

Thank you for stopping by!

~Chelsea

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

One of a kind kitchen details

We are at our final day of the kitchen makeover, and really, this is my favorite post. The before and after photos are fun and dramatic, but it's the smaller details that have made this transformation my all time favorite in our home.

Our kitchen makeover was not about demolishing the entire room and starting from scratch, making every little decision on counter tops, cabinet placement, appliance style/brand/color, etc, etc. It was about using what we've got and making it work. And, small as our kitchen is, I realized how many opportunities there were to make the space truly personal and unique to us, as well as increasing its function. So here we go - a list of some of the ideas I had along the way of how to personalize our kitchen without big spending.

Detail 1: Our pantry! This quote from one of our favorite shows, (Seinfeld), seemed appropriate on our food stash. No dramatic, weighty quotes for us; we wanna laugh! I refinished our Walmart-made pantry in Old White Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, same as our cabinets, and stenciled the quote in a taupe-y grey called French Linen, also by ASCP.

Detail 2: Blown up organization! Like most families, we've got weekly appointments to keep track of, a monthly calendar, a grocery list that gets added to daily, and some sort of meal plan for the week, (I truly am trying in that department). So to make use of the large pantry doors, I painted the insides in flat black paint, (which works exactly the same as chalkboard paint but is cheaper), and created a spot of organization for us to refer to. I keep track of everything in chalk and erase it when it's done or passed.

Detail 3: Painting under our cabinets! Our kitchen has no kickboard under the cabinets, so the space between the lower cabinets and the floor was super gross

See? And that stuff would. not. scrub. off. So, I sanded it smooth as best as I could and painted it the same light aqua that is on the kitchen walls, Spring Mint by Behr. I absolutely love having a snap of color down there. This is definitely something I'd do in another kitchen someday. So sweet.

Detail 4: Lighting! We replaced the previous kitchen light with an $8 brass chandelier I found at a yard sale. We are so amazed at how this simple switch-out has made such a major difference in our kitchen! The lights from the chandelier dance on the walls and just make the whole room feel warm and cozy. A chandelier above the kitchen sink is a little unusual, but this one is really the perfect size for it. I wouldn't do anything bigger, and a chandelier this small wouldn't look quite right in a dining room. Plus, I can finally see! That old light was so dim it was a joke trying to follow a recipe or check the progress of a cooking dish.

Detail 5: Decorating with fruit and flowers! We go through a lot of fruit in this house and when I started running out of room in my fruit bowl I had to get creative! And Shire, my personal florist, keeps fresh blooms from our yard in the kitchen at all times :)

Detail 6: Hand towels! There can never be enough. These are some of my favorites, most of which were gifts, and I enjoy switching them out every few days.

The big picture:

This room sure came a long way! About as far as my muscles and patience would allow...

Thank you all so much for reading and for the kind compliments you've sent regarding this makeover! It was a very satisfying job; one that I am so grateful to have behind me! If you have any questions at all about my experience with painting our kitchen that I haven't answered, please don't hesitate to either contact me via email or leave a comment. I'll do my best to respond quickly!

~Chelsea

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