French Provincial China/cabinet Hutch

The first time I laid eyes on this baby I snatched her up! I love that the size was not too big. The piece is versatile enough to go in a dining room, breakfast room, or even put books in. It doesn't say "I'm only for china and a dining room." Know what I mean?

Three French Hens from University Pickers is now selling La Craie furniture paint from Maison Blanche. I have been dying to get my hands on this paint! I bought the Silver Mink, which is a silvery white color. I will be doing a more in-depth blog post on La Craie. I really love this color. It looks so pretty with dark gray. Of course, I had to use the Silver Mink on the French Provincial Hutch. It was screaming out for Silver Mink.

Here is the before

And here she is all made-up.

I replaced the glass with chicken wire because I just couldn't help myself. I think it gives it more character.

After painting a base coat of Silver Mink I did a Paris Grey Chalk Paint wash over the entire cabinet. I painted the molding edge French Linen and the interior as well. I want to paint everything this color now! Here are some close-ups.

 Have you tried La Craie furniture paint? If so, what do you think?

Linking to Savvy Southern Style

Miss Mustard Seed

Buffet converted to media console

I love to do hutches. I found one on Craiglist and called the guy and said I WANT THIS! It was being sold with a dining room table and six chairs. It took me a couple of trips to get it all home. I didn't pay attention to how ENORMOUS the hutch was when I read the ad. I barely crammed it into my vehicle. It was so big when I got it home in two pieces that I took one part to the curb to let someone else deal with. I kept the bottom part which was the buffet. I liked it better by itself anyway. The entire thing together was way over 6 ft. tall. I did not feel like tackling a project that big.

This is the top part that got kicked to the curb. Some people will think I'm nuts but it was just too big. I forgot to take a pic of the before of the buffet but it looked like this as well.

Only problem with the piece I kept, it was a little too short to stand on its' own as a buffet. It just looked weird and it bothered me. So here I was with this piece of furniture I just bought trying to figure out what to do with it! Every time I looked at it I could see a TV/Media console, something I have been looking for for my house.

I took the top drawer out and cut off the front of it. I attached hinges to the drawer front and placed a shelf on the inside of the cabinet. Now the drawer flips open to house cable components. When you aren't watching TV you can close it up with all of that other electronic clutter that I can't stand to look at. Seeing the TV doesn't bother me. It's the cable box, DVR,Wii, remote controls, cords and on and on that I can't stand.

My husband, being a man, didn't think the drawer thing was a good idea. He doesn't get opening the drawer front and then closing it when you aren't watching TV.  He told me not to cut the drawer front off. Too late!

The bottom is painted in Country Grey Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and distressed. The top and inside is Graphite Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, which was my first time to use that color.  My pictures don't do it justice. I took two pics and my battery died on my camera. I think it turned out great!  What do you think? Would you use something like this for your TV? I was nervous it wouldn't sell. Fortunately, someone else liked it besides me and bought it soon after I put it in my booth. Yay!  Hopefully, I can find something else like this for my own home.

Before and After Vintage Chair

If you follow me on Facebook you may have read a post several months ago about my husband going picking for me. I sent him on a mission to bring back a French Provincial table from a lady. He ended up with a chair and a mirror. The mirror I actually turned into a chalkboard and sold it on grand opening day of University Pickers. This poor ole' chair stay buried in my garage waiting for me to do something with it. It was covered in a groovy gold velvet fabric.

I knew it had potential but y'all I don't really know how to upholster. I just make it up as I go along. Every time I take a chair apart I'm always surprised at what I find. The seat in this chair had been changed over the years and it was breaking. I had to completely redo the seat and reinforce it so it wouldn't fall apart when someone sits on it.

It also took me a while to decide on fabric. I bought a modern print at Hancock fabrics and decided not to use it. I was walking around Hobby Lobby and this fabric caught my eye. I don't usually do anything that has this much color and pattern. But I decided to walk on the wild side and bought a couple of yards. Since it was a patterned fabric I didn't do the tufting.

Of course, I thought I could throw the fabric on in a couple of hours and be done with it. It ALWAYS takes way longer to do a project than I anticipate. I had some Annie Sloan Aubusson Blue chalk paint that I have been dying to do something with. I painted the chair Aubusson Blue and I tried so hard to stick with it. I ended up repainting it! I wish I would have taken a picture of it painted in blue. I then tried Old White, Country Grey, and Old Ochre. I ended up using Old Ochre and it was perfect!

So what do you think? Do you like bold prints and colors or more neutral? I think this fabric is a good mix.

This chair is available for purchase at University Pickers, a new fun vintage and antique store, located at 3024C University Dr. Huntsville, AL

Linking to Savvy Southern Style

Paris Grey Vanity

The moment I saw this vanity I knew I had to have it! It came from a gentleman in his 50's who said it was his grandmother's. I have been wanting to do a vanity and just never can find one and when I do it is too high. This one was in perfect condition and the right price. I couldn't decide what color to paint it. At first, I  painted the top duck egg blue. I just wasn't feeling it. Then, I decided it needed Paris Grey.

Here is a before pic

And after many many hours of work and TLC

I used a wash of Paris Grey and Old White mix on some of the details and the drawer hardware. 

The seat was upholstered in a cream small script fabric and the drawers were lined in this fabric as well.

I added a burlap bow for that special touch. I think the chair with the bow is my favorite part. I took this set to University Pickers on Friday afternoon and the next day it sold!

Next on my to do list...upholstering a chair.  You won't believe the fabric and the color I am painting it. Let's just say it is unlike anything I have done before. It is very bold but it's going to look amazing! I will be posting on it very soon!


Sharing my project at Savvy Southern Style