Updating a Curio

I picked up this curio cabinet last Saturday at an estate sale on Cape Cod. 

It was in excellent condition but the golden oak had to go! 

Nothing a little white paint (Chantilly Lace) and toile can’t cure.

The original applique was kind of blah…..so I changed that too.  Something more in keeping with the with toile.

Already installed in the shop.

   Gotta love a quick flip!

A Beastly Piece – The Toile Hutch

Sometimes I wonder what possess me to pick up pieces like this..

It was missing glass, full of worm holes, and lots of nooks and crannies to cover up that black paint.  Translation…a ton of work!

After many hours, this is the end result.

Pretty in Toile

I’m not sure what this was originally meant to be.  It looked like it had been a dresser with the top drawers chopped off and then the dresser top was attached to the bottom drawer.  I’m not sure but I saw it as a coffee table.

A little love and a little paint works wonders!

Added a little toile wallpaper and protective glass top.

Now I just need to decide on the pulls…hmmmm…  It’s a keeper….for now!

A French One

I love these curvy French Provincial pieces.   These were abundant in the 1970’s and still pop up in stores from time to time.

They are so easy to work on because they almost never need any repairs.    Just clean and paint.

They always have fancy pulls.

I decided to do two colors on this one.  White & blue.

I used to tape pieces when working with more than one color but now I prefer to take them apart, paint, then put them back together.  So I took the back off on this one.  I’m a messy painter so that works best for me.

Here it is ready for the shop.   Or so I thought.  My oldest daughter is getting a new place later this month and she has claimed it for her spare bedroom.  There certainly are advantages to having a mom who ‘collects’ furniture!

A Comfy Bench for Your Bum

PREAMBLE
Silly little story.  I kind of don’t like wood benches.  They remind me of the merry-go-rounds that were in the parks in my town when I was growing up. 
Once upon a time…..there was a little girl who wanted to go on the merry-go-round at the park.   The bigger kids were spinning it round ‘n round and the little girl wanted to join in the fun.  So she tried to sit down on it as it was spinning.  Bad move.  The wood was old and dry….and splinter-y.  Nuff said.
BACK TO THE HERE AND NOW
That said, I do love vanity benches.   Mostly because I love vanities I guess.  I’m working on a vanity right now.   I also just finished a bench.
No “before” because this was started a while ago.  Picture this….. dark wood with dirty green brocade upholstery.


In keeping with the French revolution that’s going on.  Now all french-ified.   



Of course since it had been a while since I worked on this, I had misplaced the wood plugs so I compromised.

One down…soooo many more to go.

The French Chair

After a little spa time…….

FOR SALE

 SOLD

@ Bernat Antiques

Here it is all exfoliated, moisturized and wearing new duds.  Oh the powers of paint!   And a little elbow grease!