But...I never been happier to have my 6 kids and now can make some headway in my stash.
Here's the lineup: a chair, a foot stool, and a wash stand.
Check out my first project....a totally unloved chair.
This hand-carved beauty was given to me by one of my best friends who thought I could bring it back to life. It sat for a year waiting for a makeover.
Isn't that carving great!?
When she gave me the chair I knew right away I wanted to have it done it time by her birthday in May so that I could give her a gift from the profit of selling it.
A few days before her birthday, I got to working on it and prayed the whole time that it would sell not only for what I would ask for it, but that it would sell quickly so I could bless her with the gift.
I decided to stick to the chair's original primitive state and just give it a good cleaning. All the gorgeous piece needed was some linseed oil to bring back the rich wood and some upholstery.
To keep the primitive vibe, I used red ticking to upholster the chair, but also decided to do some piecework to the back to give it an extra-special touch.
What do you think?
I love it, and guess what...the chair sold within a couple of hours of listing it!! Praise God for answering my prayer and I was able to give her such a nice gift that she was only to use for herself. *secret* she rarely treats herself to anything, and as a mom of 5, and she needed a treat!
Up next is a footstool that was being used as a vanity seat at one point when I bought this piece for a custom client.
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| (original owners' picture) |
It obviously did NOT match that gorgeous walnut Queen Anne vanity with it's pine wood, chunky legs, and awful upholstery. The synthetic red velour was trimmed with decorative upholstery tacks and was just..well...tacky.
Of course, it was replaced with a suitable replacement. Much better, right? You can read about the full transformation here.
Back to the stool. That red fabric was screaming at me to be ripped off and replaced with something a little more primitive as well. Off it came and I decided to give it a faux grain sack look using a freezer paper stencil.
Upholstery nails were used to give it an even more rustic feel and left as is.
It so fits the stool better, doesn't it?
If you'd like to purchase this stool, it's available in my shop.
Last, but not least is this sad antique oak wash stand.
Falling apart, missing sides and a bottom, doors in pieces, but oh so full of life...just needing some attention.
Since I was pregnant at the time I finally started it, it was slow going for a while. I even injured myself by knocking this horrific drill bit attachment that went 3/4" into the top of my foot. Fun days...yessss.
So it sat partially done because my water broke a couple weeks later, which brings us to May.
My hubby gracefully stepped in and helped me out by cutting a new rail for the side (he is so handy with wood!!), and some side panels out of bead board (wainscoting).
I stained the wainscoting to match the original wash stand, but then wanted to whitewash them to give them a time-worn feel.
To replace the bottom, I found some perfectly chippy barn siding in my stash that would add character. I tell ya, everyone needs a stash of wood!
My hubby came to the rescue again and replace the bottom for me while I stood by holding my newborn and aching to help. Aack! I'm not a someone who is an onlooker...I'm a doer!
The doors were missing a couple things and needed glued, but for the most part were in great shape.
I just cut some piece to match, glued, and then whitewashed them as well to match the rest of the character of the wash stand. The original pulls were added and viola!
This one would be a keeper for me if I had the room. I love it!!
Totally rustic with oodles of character...AND it's available in my shop.
So although antiques may be lacking love and falling apart doesn't mean they should be cast off. They just need love, right!?
I'll be sharing some of the other projects I've been working on soon, so stay tuned and become a follower. Just click on the social media icons to connect.
Don't forget! The Boutique Showcase is live and ready for you to link up if you're an Etsy or online shop owner or the perfect place to shop! See you there!
