Something a little different...

{A Lovely Commission} 

A few weeks ago Tracie contacted me about this adorable little cabinet she had recently scored on Kijiji. After I got over my jealousy, I was very excited to have a chance to make this little piece over. Tracie wanted it a dark grey and felt it needed a little glamour. This was the tired little cupboard a few weeks ago:

Very nice lines with lots of potential....

Obviously well-loved by a previous owner.

It needed few small repairs and a good sanding, but easily turned into something really special. Tracie's plan is to use it to stash her two dogs' unglamorous necessities. What a camoflague ~ I love the idea so much ~ now I need to find my own cabinet to with which to do something similar. 

I had some beautiful grey from Ralph Lauren's metallic collection that I thought would be a nice finish. It has a very slight metallic quality to it that helps to catch the light and gives it some sparkle without being glossy or shiny. The intention is that you use it with one of RL's special brushes/rollers, but I tried it out with my regular sponge style for a smoother finish and it worked out quite nicely.

I still had some pretty wallpaper left that matched the paint perfectly so I used that to line the inside back for a little fun when the cabinet is opened. We used some pretty glass knobs that Tracie had chosen to finish the new look.

I hope that Tracie and her pups will make long and good use of this sweet little cupboard. I was so happy to have met her ~ we discovered a mutual love of a local bakery ~The Avenue Cakery and Bakeshoppe ~ particularly the amazing cupcakes! Look at what she brought for me!

It is sitting quietly in my fridge right now waiting for the kids to go to bed so that I can eat it without sharing... Don't tell them!

In our area of Alberta we are on Spring Break (it is barely spring anymore ~ the very outside idea of spring break) so I haven't listed anything for a week or so. We are in and out with activities so it can be difficult to coordinate a pick up. I do have some small pieces ready to list next week though, so stay tuned!

{Take a (Night) Stand}

*SOLD*

This is a really functional piece that happens to look great too. 

Once I took the pictures, I noticed the hardware makes him look like he is smiling. No wonder after being discovered looking like this:

An eighties' bad boy refreshed into a contemporary beauty. He needed a few small repairs to the drawers as they did not want to slide properly. Definitely a candidate for rehab.

I gave the surface a serious sanding to smooth things out and primed everything. I decided to paint it the Cloud White again from Benjamin Moore. It is just the perfect white to go with any decor and looks great distressed with the darker wood showing through as well. I had hoped to be able to reuse the hardware, but decided to replace it instead with updated black drawer pulls. I lined the drawers with a black and white paper to complete the make over.

He seems to be a pretty standard size for a night stand and measures 23.75"H x 26.5"W x 17.5"D.

If you would like to purchase this reformed table, you can do so RIGHT HERE.

A Very Full Week!

{A Distressing Cabinet}

SOLD

Okay, the cabinet is not distressing, but I have been distressed seeing it here looking so cute for a few days with no energy to get this post up. A few weeks ago things were a little slow so I accepted a very short term position working the phones for Elections Canada. Since then, things have really picked up and I am so excited by the projects I am getting ready right now! I have also discovered that I have a capacity to really enjoy working outside of my house and interacting with the general public. This has been a bit of surprise as I normally like to be alone when I have the chance. Anyway, no one is reading this to hear about my personality problems...

So here is my new little beauty:

I am still in my beachy blue phase ~ I am loving the feel it gives peeking through the white. I have switched whites to Benjamin Moore's  Cloud White and really like the way it works with the stain I like to layer with sometimes.

This cabinet was a fun find at a local thrift store. It needed a some imagination and work to go from this:

To this:

I think it would be great on a large mantle or display area to add some height and interest while displaying some smalls. I also like the idea of hanging it in a small powder room or bedroom to store small toiletry items....

I have been debating getting an air stapler and my dad kindly offered to lend me his for a while. It has MADE. MY. LIFE. Honestly, it makes putting in the poultry netting look so pro and it goes together so much better than the crippling staple gun. This is one of my first projects using it and it makes me want to staple everything I see. So much fun!

It measures 25.5"H x 13"W x 12.25"D.

If you are interested in acquiring this, please click RIGHT HERE.  

I have also just been commissioned to work on the sweetest little cabinet ~ I look forward to getting started on that this weekend!

A Frame Up

{Jewelry Frame}

*SOLD*

This piece was inspired by the creative Aleisha who bought this frame from me a few weeks ago:

She sent me a picture of what she was doing with it and I thought she was brilliant. To be honest, I was disgusted with myself that I hadn't thought of it too! Isn't this cute?

I love this cute way of organizing large jewelry pieces in a way that is both decorative and purposeful. I was inspired to try it on another piece and this is what I came up with:

The idea is the same but I used an old oak picture frame that I found at a thrift store in Calgary that looked like this:

It was a nice shape and very sturdy so I painted it with some of the Ben Moore Tropicana Cabana that I have and topped it with the decorator favourite from Ben Moore Cloud White. I then aggressively distressed it and rubbed it lightly with a walnut stain to pick up some of the wood and tone down the vibrant colours. I gave it a coat of clear polyurethane for extra protection and backed it with poultry netting. On the back I added two hangers so it can be hung in either direction (portrait or landscape).

I would love to hear how you find way to organize your jewelry. All the long necklaces and earrings are so great right now, but a challenge to keep in order! (at least for me...)

It measures 19"H x 15"W.

If you are interested in buying this, it is available simply by clicking right here.

Carrying the Mantle

{Painted Mantle}
 *SOLD*

I have had such a crazy day, I am getting to this post a few hours later than I had hoped. I listed it on Kijiji earlier and I have had some interest already....

I was really excited to find this little gem. It was an empty mantle for an electric fireplace and looked like this when I found it:

It wasn't too bad, but the stain was a little dated and the finish was pretty scratched. When I took it home with me I felt like I had really scored with this treasure! I love the idea of being able to add architectural interest in a smaller space that doesn't really have any. I think this would be so great in an apartment or condo ~ part of me is hoping to be able to keep it for our bedroom as it would be perfect in there.... 

I primed and painted it with my favourite new product from Benjamin Moore that I have raved about here earlier. The colour is a beautiful pale and creamy grey ~ Balboa Grey and will easily complement any decor.

The edges are very lightly distressed, but for the most part, I just let the nice clean lines do their work.

It is not too big ~ a manageable size at 

40"H x 33 1/2"W x 12 1/4D.

It is available right here for purchase.

If you have a piece of furniture that needs a makeover, I would love to talk to you about that. Please feel free to email me at lisabaron70@gmail.com for more information. I am also on Facebook and Twitter and one day I will add the buttons on the side to link you there.... Not today, but one day.