Chairs For Charity

This past Sunday I dropped of my chair for donation for the Chairs for Charity Event in Langley at the Passionate Home.  Here is the flyer with all the details.  Check it out!

If you are looking for a new chair, a night out and would like to help support the Langley Christmas Bureau  then you should come out to this event!  

Here is what my chair looked like before....

And this is the after:)

"VINTAGE" Dresser

SOLD

I just finished setting up my very first window display this morning at https://www.facebook.com/brickandmortarliving!!! And in all the chaos of this week and getting various projects and pieces completed, I completely forgot to take some decent photos of this dresser before I stuck it in the window! lol.  So most of these photos are courtesy of Brick & Mortar Living:)

Definition reads "Vintage (vin-tij) adj 1. characterized by excellence, maturity & enduring appeal; classic

If you would like to take a closer look at it, then please visit the store!  This shop is fantastic:)  It's filled with everything from tons of local designers products, handmade items, unique home decor, vintage finds and one of a kind jewelry.  

I am thrilled to have this opportunity and love what this store is about.  Supporting others and their "crafts." 

THANK YOU 

BRICK And MORTAR LIVING!!!

and

THANK YOU KRISTY FROM
http://4theloveofwood.blogspot.ca/
FOR HOOKIN ME UP:)

Vintage highboy dresser measures 29" w x 18" d x 43" h.

The Shabby Chic'er

SOLD

This piece was in some rough shape when I picked it up.  The hardware was covered in paint and unusable without some soaking, scrubbing and stripping.  A task I will take on another day:)

As I began to sand away the thick messy layer of paint, the dresser took on a new look, and the inspiration began once again.

I decided to work with the dresser and it's elements and aim for a more natural shabby chic look.

I sanded away the drippy paint on the drawer sides and added new hardware.  It was a small fortune for 20 dresser knobs but definitely worth it.  I love the final transformation!  What do you think?

This piece measures 34"h x 16" d x 51" w.

Farmhouse Sophistication

There is no question that these tables are fantastic.  They were before I even started with them.  (Sorry no before picture - I forgot!)  

They were a natural honey color which had a rustic farmhouse feel.  

The owner wanted them painted white and is going to use them as night tables in her master bedroom.  

The room has a sleek clean sophisticated feel to it. The only other piece of furniture in it, is a large matte black dresser with crystal knobs.  

We were unsure of what hardware to use but I remembered I had these lovely knobs I purchased months ago.  

Once I put them on, they seemed to be a perfect fit.

Farmhouse Sophistication. 

:)

Custom Work - Waterfall Revamp

This past week I was working on refinishing some pieces for a neighbor of mine.

BEFORE

I get quite a few requests to do custom work for people but I try to steer away from those projects.  Why?  Well for various reasons.  I have a love for thrift shopping and my garage is a good example of that.  It is constantly full and I am constantly trying to make it less full.:)  I'm not sure why I think it's ever going to be empty but I am constantly striving for that although I know that will never happen as long as I continue to shop.

BEFORE

Another reason is the stress.  I love what I do and as I continue to complete more pieces, I gain more confidence, learn and get better with my techniques.  But for some reason when I am working on a piece for someone I lose my confidence and start to over analyze, which becomes stressful.  This is something I need to work on and hope that someday it doesn't bother me quite as much:)

Refinishing furniture is work.  I love the end result but it is sometimes finicky and labor intensive.  Things go wrong that you don't expect.  (Like bleeding from the wood with this project.)  It is also a bit of an art.  You experiment with different techniques, paints, brushes and rollers and you figure out after you have done it enough what works best for you and with the piece.  Although sometimes, something that worked once, doesn't work again.

It's also personal taste.  What one person sees as beautiful patina, might look like a bad paint job to someone else.  lol.  My envision can also change as I go along.  So when I am refinishing for someone else, I have to try and make sure I completely understand their envision and meeting it sometimes becomes a bit tricky due to things you encounter along the way.

But.... despite these factors, when my neighbor asked me to come look at some pieces she was interested in having refinished, I still went.  Of course when I saw them, I fell hook line and sinker.  Yep, I couldn't resist.  I knew they would look great once they were freshened up and I couldn't say no.  Another thing I am working on:)

She had a highboy, one side table and a matching vanity.  She wanted the dresser and side table for her master bedroom and didn't really have a need for the vanity.  I suggested she convert the vanity into two side tables as this was a great way to re-purpose this piece and make it useful again.

BEFORE

AFTER

AFTER

No, this was not my own bright idea.  I had seen Kristy from http://4theloveofwood.blogspot.ca/ do it many times before:)  If you have not seen her work before, be sure to check out her fantastic stuff.  She is super duper talented.

AFTER

When it was all said and done, I'm quite happy with the end result and I think my neighbor is too:)

AFTER

AFTER

AFTER

AFTER

AFTER

White French Provincial Long Dresser

SOLD

Painted with ASCP Pure White and sealed with a clear wax.  Measures 17" d x 58" w x 30.5" h.  New hardware and 9 beautiful lined drawers.

Beauty & The Beast

SOLD

I've been working like crazy for the last few weeks but haven't posted much because I'm saving a lot of the pieces for markets, so I'm only posting some of them as I go along.  You will have to come see me in November at the markets to see what else I've been up too!  Chairs, side tables, sofa tables and sideboards are all some of my latest projects.

So today, I finally had a moment to do some pics and posting and of course my photo editing program for some reason won't open!  Sorry for the even crappier pictures than my usual:)  I have stated this before "I am no photographer and my camera sucks."  So, these will have to do for now!

This large beast of a piece has been painted with ASCP Pure White and slightly distressed.

I added new hardware and iron detailing above the door.  I like the mix of rustic and glamorous together.

It has great shaker detailing on the side panels and door.

A rod for hanging all your lovelies or coats etc.

I also freshened up the inside with some new drawer liner but chose to leave the walls inside "oh natural."  This piece is large, purposeful, fantastic for storage, rustic, pretty and unique!

Measures 32" w x 69" h x 20 1/4" d.