Custom match

When owning/working a creative business I don't think there is anything more flattering than repeat business. At least that's how I feel. It means a lot to me when someone is so pleased with a piece I have finished that they come back for more. I remember the first time someone wanted another piece from me - I was so thrilled I would have given it away! 

I recently had such a request from a very kind client who drives a solid 45 minutes from her home to mine. Last fall she bought this china cabinet which I had finished in Paris Grey and Old White - both by Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.

A couple weeks ago she dropped off a coffee table which she wanted to have finished to match her china cabinet.

The finished product

The entire piece is covered in a thick layer of Paris Grey, with a thinner layer of Old white on top. I gently distressed the top layer of Old White using a fine sanding sponge to show peeks of the pretty grey. The insides of the drawers, however, I left in just Paris Grey, same as I did with the inside of the hutch.

Both pieces will bask in her sunroom; so dreamy! 

Do you have any beloved pieces which you'd like to give a fresh look so you can truly enjoy them? Email me at chelseasgarage@gmail.com! I'd love to hear your ideas and turn them into reality.:)

~Chelsea

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

For my doubting husband: Decorating with antlers

So, a few weekends ago my husband, Matt, and I spent a beautifulperfectwonderful weekend away in Harpers Ferry, WV. We had perfect weather, a beautiful place to stay, (the Anglers Inn B&B), hiked the Appalachian Trail to a breathtaking overlook, played Yahtzee, and spent time being lazy and enjoying each other's uninterrupted company.

Our reward after a good climb: the Maryland Heights cliff overlooks the quaint town of Harper's Ferry.

When one of our afternoons slowed down and we had already taken a little nap on the porch swing, we ventured over to the Pickers Paradise flea market. Since we arrived near closing time there wasn't much left.

Then I found antlers. Could. Not. Contain my excitement. Matt couldn't contain his disbelief that I would want antlers.

So around and around we went. I couldn't make him picture how they could look in our home. And for all of his amazing gifts and talents, seeing potential in certain objects isn't a particular strong suite of his. Sorry, love, but you know it's not.:) After I bargained the price of my antlers from $10 to $7, I won him over. Well, won might be a strong word. He still wasn't thrilled. But he (halfheartedly) agreed to take a picture of me with my prize.

Meet my 8-point buck for less than 8 bucks

So, I am still working on bringing my antlers up to par with the decor in our home. In the mean time, I thought I would share some inspiring photos of how others have accented their homes with antlers. I like these pictures because the spaces are not overly rustic or even remotely themed around hunting and game. Yet, the antlers work. They're architectural and interesting.

Sally Wheat Interiors

Allikas

Angie Helm Interiors

Domino

Domino

In the Fun Lane

Pink Wallpaper

Pinterest 

Not into the real thing? :)

Eye for Design

So, what do YOU think about antlers? Decorating-do or decorating-don't, (all opinions are welcome)? More importantly, what do you think, Matt? :)

I'll be sure to show you how we, (I), fit the antlers into our home as soon as they're done!

Have a wonderful weekend!

~Chelsea

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

Back to what I love

What a week it's been, guys! After the sale last week I've been drowning in a sea of inquiries about the pieces remaining. I have every available piece posted on Craigslist, Etsy, and here on the blog. After trying my best to answer around 70 emails between Monday and Tuesday, I decided to close my computer on Wednesday and treat myself to some paint therapy.

Sweet French country accent table - so much storage!

 Everything changed. All my anxiety about responding to the magnitude of emails. My frustration about what didn't sell. My discouragement. It all got swept away, brush stroke, by brush stroke. That's love, guys.:)

SOLD

My first and foremost day, (and night), job is being the best Momma I can possibly be to our three little ones. And that doesn't leave a whole lot of extra time! (And I still fall short of what my kids deserve every day - so grateful for Jesus' generous grace and my children's forgiving hearts). So, when I do have open time, (when the kids are napping), I prefer to use that part of my day to paint rather than work on business related matters. But, the truth is - that isn't reality. My beloved pieces won't sell themselves, at least not literally. This line of work needs to be a balance of business and creativity. And since I am the only person running this business, I have to work just as hard at selling my pieces as creating them. Selling is hard. It's time consuming. It can be discouraging. But, as a wise gal who also does this line of work recently reminded me, you gotta have faith. I'm currently harboring 9 amazing pieces in our garage until the right people come along to claim them, one by one. I have faith that this will happen. Maybe not this week, maybe not next week, but I have faith that they will sell. They always do at some point in time. I will continue advertising my pieces, responding to inquiries and setting appointments, but there will be no more worrying about it. It's too heavy a load for me to bear and I don't need that. Who does?! In the mean time, I've got some projects lined up for our own home that excite me beyond measure. What's new? :)

"Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not yet seen" Hebrews 11:1

I try to be pretty open and honest about my business, (for better or worse), and myself. So far I've received nothing but support and encouragement and for that I am so grateful. 

And thanks to you for reading!

~Chelsea

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