Small Hutch Makeover

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This is another piece that I have had for many years, Johnny brought it home for me.  He obviously used to support my addiction to old furniture, not anymore!  

I decided it is finally time for me to do something with it.

I always knew there should have been legs on this, there is a strange bracket on the bottom.  We had to set it on a couple of foam puzzle pieces otherwise the bolts would have dug into the floor.  I saw a similar piece on Kijiji last winter and it had 60's type legs on it.

I had to pop the top off of the cabinet to remove the glass doors.

I originally was going to paint this black, but instead decided to go with gray.  I used wall paint that I bought to paint the livingroom, that project is still waiting. 

I adhered fabric to the back of the hutch with Mod Podge.  I also coated the fabric with Mod Podge.   

I put a coat of varathane on the hutch so that the stain wouldn't soak into the paint.  I antiqued the whole piece, including the fabric, with ebony stain.  The bottom to panels of fabric took the stain okay, but the top soaked up the stain in a couple of spots. 

I was just going to replace the top panel, but then decided to tear out all three and put new pieces in, I like it better clean white.

  I sprayed the hardware white. 

I added legs to the bottom, the type I had seen on the other cabinet I was telling you about.

Here it is set up with a few props. 

 

After all these years, it has finally been MacGIRLverized!

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Cedar Chest Makeover

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I'm not sure what this is, maybe a hope chest, it is a piece that I have owned for many years.  The lid was split in two and the trim was off, but still there.  It was lined with cedar.

It had a top with a hinge, but I wanted it to open in the front so I had to knock it apart even more.  Eventually I had taken apart almost the whole box.

So besides the repairs that originally had to be done, I had to repair what I knocked apart myself :)

I knew that I wanted to add some sort of legs to this piece, but nothing was working for me.  I just couldn't find what I wanted.  I built a piece out of reclaimed wood but it just didn't go with the chest.  I looked through my "junk" pile, and through my son's "junk" pile, finally I found these balusters in my brother's "junk" pile.  I cut them down to size, cut holes in the bottom of the chest and attached them to the chest.  FINALLY!!! Something that worked.

I cut the front to size and attached it with a piano hinge.  I wanted a little more decoration on the front so I attached some wooden appliques that I had.

I cut a piece of laminated pine for a lower shelf, then painted the whole thing in Smoked Turquoise, and antiqued it with ebony stain.

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Better After

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Pink Lady, Oh How I Love You; floor lamp makeover

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I was so happy with the green lamp, that I immediately dug out these two beauties that I have had stashed away for at least 15 years, probably 20.

First, I will tackle the lamp on the left.  Although I was quite loving the oxidization on the bottom of this lamp, I decided to go ahead and paint it because the whole idea is to update the thing, not to keep it looking old.  This lamp was oxidized when I got it, I did not abuse it this way.

I headed to Manuel's workbench for a wire brush and this is what I found.  Huh!  Really?  This is what my eyebrows look like after getting a little too close to the bonfire the other day.

 So back I went for another try.  Seriously!  This is what my eyelashes look after same close encounter with bonfire.

Okay, I know Manuel has a real wire brush because I used it last month ... Oh, yeah, ha ha, I think I know where it is, yup, still in my car!  Good thing he didn't need it this past month, he gets a little ornery when I don't put his tools away.  Anyway, this is a wire brush I can work with, but seriously, if we are so busy "downsizing" why do we (he) own two wire brushes that look like that? 

The lamps didn't look much different when I was done, but I felt better knowing I scraped off the loose dust and dirt.

Now, I am a frugal woman, and I hate to pay large sums of money for things that I (or possibly my friends, right
Wendy) have lying around.  I had to think long and hard before I remembered this beauty.  I hauled it out and took it apart for the cord and plug.  I saved most of the rest of it for future use.  Two pieces did go in the garbage (I have until tomorrow to grab them off the back of the truck, hey, I might need them for something!).

I painted this with Krylon Ballet Slipper in satin finish.  Here is a look at my lady all painted up.  It doesn't show that well in these pics but it is a nice soft blush pink.  So pretty!

A few close ups.

The colour is a little better on this one.

I moved on to the shade.  This shade did not come with the lamp base, I have no idea where I picked up this beauty.  This lamp should have a glass shade that points upward.  I do have one (or two), but I want a different look for this lamp.

 I stripped off the old silk, not too hard considering it practically disintegrated at my touch.  The top and bottom ring were wrapped with fabric so that slowed me down a little.  When I was done taking the fabric off I got out the handy dandy wire brush again and gave it a good going over.

 I painted it pink to match the body of the lamp, and wrapped it with tulle, like I did on the green one.  This one was a little harder because of the shape of the shade.

Here she is!

Hey, wait a minute, back that up, I almost forgot to add the bling!  Can't have that can we Kristen?  There, that's better, oh my, don't know what happened to me there for a minute, too excited to get this blogged I guess.

 I made the flower especially for her, I'm thinking of adding some smaller ones, what do you think?

I think I may add a little more bling too.  Is it overdone yet?  ;)

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