Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

Ever So Clever…Ever So Pretty Friday, #2 {Coffee Table Makeover}

March 15, 2013 By Shirley

Happy Friday everyone!

Today, will be a “Ever So Pretty” post…

…..well at least I hope you think it is pretty!!

I was reading a blog post of Willow Wisp Cottage….

…..and saw a table that Andrea transformed.

So I consulted my paint specialist….and proceeded to transform my table!

She suggested Annie Sloan Old Ochre.

Here it is:

My inspiration piece from Willow Wisp Cottage is this:

It used to look like this:

My table was similar…in that it was dark and heavy in appearance…

…..however, mine does not have the pretty details in the legs and top.

Here is my before:

I really love how the “Old Ochre” fit well in the color scheme of the room…

…..and my paint specialist also recommended that I put dark wax on the drawer fronts…great idea!!

And of course you have to have a different “look” for the tablescape…

…..like getting a new hat with a new dress.

I totally went in a different direction from all my crystal pieces…

…..to more of a casual feel….Do you like it?

I shopped the house and came up with this vignette…

My hubby came up from his office and said that he really liked it!

Whew!..that is great, coming from a guy who is a very symmetrical, “matchy matchy” kind of guy!

So there you have it…I took the plunge and painted the table…thanks to lots of inspiration…

…..and coaxing from the paint specialist that I can do it…

Have a wonderful, wonderful weekend…

…..and Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!

I will be spending that day with the my granddaughter..as it is her birthday as well!!!

Now on to do a St. Patrick’s Day vignette…better late than never!

Thanks for visiting!!

Oh…and my giveaway is still going on…See my posts on the HGTV Dream Home Part 1 and 2..

Post Script:

After an email from “Candice and Sarah”…

I changed the vignette around, losing the magazine (thought I would add some color)…

When bringing the basket forward, the topiary was in the way of TV viewing…can’t have that!!…

I am joining:

A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday

Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday

DIY by Design Swing Into Spring

Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, Coffee Table, demi john, topirary, wicker basket

43 Comments

New Additions to the Sunroom

February 9, 2013 By Shirley

When I replaced the furniture that was in the craft area with my new Martha Stewart Craft Furniture…

….I had to find a place for the oak desk that we have had for years (and years).

The attic is full!

So I decided to paint it….

And it landed here!!

I used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint/Country Grey with both clear and dark wax.

How do you like my “leg lifts”…?

The dark wax was applied on top of the clear…just wanted a bit of a “wash”

I bought a bird cage at the Winterthur Museum store in Alexandria, Virginia a long time ago…

I had it on a high ledge in the living room…unless you looked up..no one really noticed it.

It was on clearance!..a great deal and had to have it.

So as we were walking through the streets of Old Town Alexandria…

…..my hubby was carrying this beauty…and it was a long walk to the car! What a guy!

I wish I had another “mini urn” to flank the other side of the bird house door…

As you can see, I kept the desk top the original oak stain, along with the drawer.

I added a McCoy flower pot and filled it with my vintage garden tools, a topiary and PB candle and stand…

…..to complete the vignette.

I collected these garden tools over the years…

…..I love the one with the 79 cent marking

While on a shopping trip with Amy, Kristen (and her mom and daughter too), and Suzy….

…..I came upon these great bird plates…I love a bird motif!!

These plates are part of an Audubon Series by Alfred Meakin/England.

They were a bargain at $9.00 each.

The other side of the potting bench/cabinet proudly displays my watering can and seed packets from Mary..

…..just waiting for Spring to be planted. Hurry Spring!!

On the other side of the room has a table that is also a victim of the “domino effect”…

…..it was in one of the guest bathrooms. Had to place a bookshelf in that bathroom..

……….to accommodate the craft furniture.

I had a small lamp on the previous table in that spot…really needed a larger lamp…so off to HomeGoods I went.

And..I scored!!

After wheeling my cart through the several aisles in the lighting section…I turned the corner to the last aisle..

….the clearance aisle..and the angels sang…score!

Isn’t she lovely..for $22.00!!!

So with that savings, I can buy more stuff!!…but then again I am saving for my France trip with Kim and Kim…

And there’s a new pillow in town…bought this beauty at the Pottery Barn Outlet in Georgia…

This table used to be in-between the loveseat and chair…now it is beside the chair…

…..a convenient spot for my reading material and a great cup of tea.

The tea cup is Spode Rose Chintz…the napkin was a souvenir from my friend Linda…

…..she goes to France and I get napkins!…I will bring her back one this year!!

I love silver spoons and try to gather ones with my initial.

A few things added to the table to give it another look…

Thank you so much for visiting and seeing the changes in my sunroom…

I am working on many projects around the house…here is a sneak peek of one of them…

…..just doing some tweaking in the kitchen.

Adding a few things…shopping the house…like this tole tray that I bought at our neighborhood yard sale…

…..for $5.00 !!

Have a wonderful weekend!!

I am joining the following:

Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday

A Stroll Thru Life for A Cloche Party

Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesday

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, HomeGoods, Martha Steward Craft Furniture, sunroom, tole tray, vintage garden tools, vintage watering cans

34 Comments

Enhancing a Kitchen Island

November 19, 2012 By Shirley

Recently, my neighborhood held its Annual Craft/Artisan Show…

I showcased and sold my Christmas Wreaths..

And my friend Kristen, of Sophia’s Decor showcased her gorgeous furniture transformations…

…..along with her beautiful jewelry, pillows, wreaths, table runners, and many other items.

She and her mom are the cutest…and so talented!!

They staged the front entrance with their beautiful items….

…..one of which I snagged quickly…it was marked sold before anyone else could get to it!!!

The cute table Kristen painted in ASCP Old White….

…..and used Miss Mustard Seed’s lovely wax..

I had the perfect place for that table…here’s the before…

And here is the after….

I really wanted a larger island when designing the kitchen…

…..however, the builder and the cabinet maker thought it was best that I have more room…

……….between the island and the other bank of cabinetry.

But, I still felt I could have “squeezed” another foot or so for a larger island.

So thanks Kristen…for providing me with the opportunity…

…..to enhance my kitchen island.

I love the contrast of the white and cherry finish…

It adds great surface space and storage….

I so love this beautiful table that Kristen re-furbished…

…..it is just the “extra something” that my kitchen island needed!!….

And soon there will be a “Kitchen Christmas Tree” on the table!

I will be joining:

Judy from DIY Designs for Fall Into Fall Party

Katherine from Katherine’s Corner for Thursday Blog Hop

Kim from Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays

Susan from Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday

Yvonne from the Stone Gable for Tutorials, Tips and Tidbits Thursday

This post has been featured at:

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, Christmas Wreath, Kitchen Island, Miss Mustard Seed Wax

39 Comments

Who doesn't love a chippy chair?….

June 5, 2012 By Shirley

When I removed the vanity table out of one of the guest room baths (which is across the hall from my hubby’s office)…

I heard him exclaim….”where am I going to sit and tie my shoes?”

For he uses this bathroom after he gets really dirty working in the yard….

…..he can enter this room without going thru the house….

……….leaving trails of leaves and dirt….

So I set out to find the perfect chair…

I found it….

…..while at my new favorite antique mall…(Melville Trading Company in Mebane, NC)

……….where they also sell Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.

I was going to get paint supplies….

……….and came home with a chair..

I have lots of chairs in the attic….

…..but none of them worked…

I needed one that I did not care if the fabric (or wood) would get ruined….

The antique mall owner came to the rescue…he had something that may fit the bill in his warehouse….

…..it was perfect….an old metal chair that most likely came out of an old schoolhouse….

…………and the price was right…$25.00

I took my pics against (“a coming attraction”)…took the cue from Amy at The Salvage Collection.

……….to place your finds and projects in front of a great backdrop.

I do not have great old doors like she does…so I chose my “upcoming attraction project”…..

The perfect size for that space…

Now I definitely need a new pillow for that chair….

…..one with no ruffles or flowers… one that is appropriate when tying your Nike’s….

I think it looks great with the table I just finished in ASCP with the help of a “budding decorator”

Thank you for visiting me…hope you enjoyed my “chippy chair” against the backdrop of my upcoming attraction!

I am joining:

Mrs. Hines Show and Tell

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, bathroom, vintage school chair

24 Comments

Who doesn’t love a chippy chair?….

June 5, 2012 By Shirley

When I removed the vanity table out of one of the guest room baths (which is across the hall from my hubby’s office)…

I heard him exclaim….”where am I going to sit and tie my shoes?”

For he uses this bathroom after he gets really dirty working in the yard….

…..he can enter this room without going thru the house….

……….leaving trails of leaves and dirt….

So I set out to find the perfect chair…

I found it….

…..while at my new favorite antique mall…(Melville Trading Company in Mebane, NC)

……….where they also sell Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.

I was going to get paint supplies….

……….and came home with a chair..

I have lots of chairs in the attic….

…..but none of them worked…

I needed one that I did not care if the fabric (or wood) would get ruined….

The antique mall owner came to the rescue…he had something that may fit the bill in his warehouse….

…..it was perfect….an old metal chair that most likely came out of an old schoolhouse….

…………and the price was right…$25.00

I took my pics against (“a coming attraction”)…took the cue from Amy at The Salvage Collection.

……….to place your finds and projects in front of a great backdrop.

I do not have great old doors like she does…so I chose my “upcoming attraction project”…..

The perfect size for that space…

Now I definitely need a new pillow for that chair….

…..one with no ruffles or flowers… one that is appropriate when tying your Nike’s….

I think it looks great with the table I just finished in ASCP with the help of a “budding decorator”

Thank you for visiting me…hope you enjoyed my “chippy chair” against the backdrop of my upcoming attraction!

I am joining:

Mrs. Hines Show and Tell

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, bathroom, vintage school chair

24 Comments

A Foyer Makeover

April 23, 2012 By Shirley

I did it!!…I finally did it..

….Another major milestone for me….not much for most bloggers out there…

………but for me, I finally completed my first painted furniture project.

I must say, it was fun…and scary at the same time….

….For I was painting a piece that I have had for a very long time…a piece that was about 100 years old….

From the pic, it looks in pretty good shape…but the top was truly not great…lots of deep scratches and burn marks
from the previous owner…this piece was purchased from an elderly woman who said it has been in her family for a long
time…this person was 85 at the time I purchased it 20 years ago for $50, along with 2 side chairs..such a bargain!

It is a Wisconsin Slider…a table that slides out to seat 12….

All these years I kept a dresser scarf over it to hide the scratches and burn marks…could not be refinished as the
top is veneer….

The table has beautiful carved legs…

So here I go…painting away…

and away….

and then distressed…

and distressed…A totally different look..

This is the foyer before….

And this is after…

Replaced the secretary and added the table, mirror and one more chair…
The mirror I painted a while ago…it is a mirror that I had since childhood…

Come on in….

I found this lamp at HomeGoods a couple of months ago…waiting to place it on the “new table”….

From across the room…

Some carving detail…The foyer rug from Pottery Barn on clearance

Caught a little rainbow…my room is a multitude of rainbows in the morning…reflections from the swarovski crystals
hanging in the windows….

and another “magical rainbow”…

Next project…to paint that darn a/c return!!…You can see where the secretary landed in the background…the linen chest was relocated to our bedroom…(that’s another future post)….