I left the babes and hubby at home for few hours last weekend to go thrifting since I am really in need of pieces for my booth. It was such a disappointing day, only finding this mirror, which actually ended turning out really cute. At the time though it was my only find after several stops until I came across an estate sale sign. I love estate sales! What’s even better is when I walked in the front door, the lady who greeted me announced that everything was now 75%off! What’s even better than that?
I won’t ask you what’s EVEN BETTER than that, but it was only $40!!!
This totally made deserting my boys worth it! It needed quite a few minor repairs first. Several pieces of veneer had popped off and several more areas of veneer were coming loose, but I fixed it right up!
It was totally worth the effort.
The original finish was pretty beat up. I knew a fresh light paint job would make this stunning again.
I sprayed it with two thin coats of Zinsser Bullseye Spray Shellac before I even started to think about painting, knowing with those red undertones that this would need a stain blocker. Cherry and mahogany have a terrible tendency to bleed through, but the shellac takes care of that.
I found a nearly full can of Annie Sloan chalk paint in Old White in the garage, so that’s what I used for this update. (Two coats, followed by a coat of clear soft wax to seal.)
The lines on this lovely dressing table are so beautiful and I think the paint really accentuates that…
I don’t usually do really heavy distressing on my pieces, just enough to give them a little bit of a time-worn feel.
I spray painted the original hardware with Rustoleum Heirloom White in satin and sanded them a bit:
How about some beautiful fresh flowers to add romance to this beautiful piece?
Ok so they’re not fresh, they’re totally fake, but I had to bring some color into my house and my hydrangeas won’t be in bloom for another four months!
I found that tray in the booth next to mine, and the pitcher was a $1 at an estate sale.
Looks perfect beneath my PB knock-off Summer House sign!
Even if we are in my dining room. 🙂
It makes me want to ditch my china hutch and find a beautiful sideboard with those same gorgeous curves.
More phony flowers on my dining room table. That happened yesterday when I was at Hobby Lobby minding my own business on the hunt for hardware for another project, and the next thing I knew I was in the floral aisle! I was out the door $74 later and I never even bought what I went in for! I don’t care if they’re fake either…they look like Spring! That silver urn was a $5 estate sale find. See why I love estate sales? I always come out with something.
I love how this turned out. I really wish I could keep it!
I’m cooking up something fun for March. I’ll be back later this week to tell you all about it!
And thank you so much for taking the time to visit. I truly appreciate each and every one of you!!
XO,
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Vivien says
What a difference you made to that dressing table! I don’t think it will last very long in your booth, I would buy it in a heartbeat, it’s beautiful
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Vivien! I sure wish I had a place for it. 🙂
Sue says
Looks awesome……I haven’t tried chalk paint, but love the look. You have inspired me!
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Sue! I love chalk paint for painting furniture. 🙂
Robin Stephens says
I’m always so tired after reading about your makeovers. LOL Not really…. I’m inspired!! Please, please, please move next door to me. =)
Christy K. James says
Ha ha Robin! Some of these pieces are a lot of work but well worth it in the end. If you lived next door, I might put you to work. 🙂
Heather @ Viral Upcycle says
Great find and great redo! Thats going to dale quick. Your shopping trips sound a lot like mine. Any craft store I always seem to end up with a cart full of stuff I didn’t even know I wanted. 😉
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Heather! We were just in your neck of the woods…we spent a few days at Great Wolf Lodge! My kids love that place. And my cart always seems to pull me in directions unintended also! 🙂
Mary says
I love the dressing table! I would love to come visit your booth, but you would probably have to totally restock after I did.
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Mary! It’s funny…I’m always so excited when things sell, but it quickly turns to, “Oh no! I better get painting!!” XO
Celia says
Another beautiful find Christy!! Lucky girl!! Awesome work:)
Celia
Christy K. James says
Thanks so much, Celia! I definitely felt luck was on my side when I found this beauty! 🙂
Terry says
I have almost the same vanity in my master bedroom that I redid. Mine is ‘bleeding’ though the white chalkpaint and is turning pink. I will have to redo it soon. I didn’t have a mirror for it and this one came into my life, so I put it with it only to see that yours has the same type mirror. Funny how life works. Your work on this piece is beautiful.
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Terry! Funny that the mirror you chose for yours looks similar to what it should have been! You’ve got a good eye! XO
Mary says
Beautiful! I have to ask… How long from the time you purchase to actually starting on a piece? I find pieces but they ay sit for a while before I’m motivated to get started. Suggestions?
Christy K. James says
Hi Mary, It really depends. If I have an idea for a piece right away, I might get started on it right away. If I have a hard time visualizing what I want to do with a piece it might sit there a bit longer. I’ve had some sit in my to-do pile for over a year! Sometimes I might start on a larger one just because I need the space. 🙂
Marie@The Interior Frugalista says
Thanks for the laugh this morning Christy – makes me feel so much better about the “fakes” Ii used in an upcoming post. LOL Seriously $40.00! You blow me away by the amazing prices you’re paying for pieces. Stunning makeover that I’m sure will barely touch the floor in your booth before being sold!
Christy K. James says
I am loving my fake flowers! I feel like it’s a big faux-pas to many, but I just don’t care lol. They are making my spaces feel like Spring! I couldn’t believe the price I got this for either! I think I’m going to start hitting the estate sales around here on the last day from now on! XO
Joanne Boulter says
Christy you magic as always. The dresser is gorgeous! You really inspire me. $5 pitcher and urn unheard of! Congrats! Thanx for solving a problem for me, I have two pieces that are very old, like walking across the planes old, and they show signs of red seeping through the white paint on put on them. I guess I better get some of that spray. My son said the pieces are just mad at me for painting them. LOL
~hugs Jo
Christy K. James says
Ha ha! Your son is funny. Those reddish toned wood pieces can be a pain sometimes. The shellac works great. I gave this piece two light coats about ten minutes apart and waited an hour to paint. That silver urn came from an estate sale that a family was running and everything was super cheap like that! Unfortunately I came upon it a bit late. I’m sure I missed some real bargains!
Maggie M says
If I lived any where near your booth, I’d grab this up in a heart beat! Great find and terrific makeover! Do you ship to Central Oregon??
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Maggie! Ha ha unfortunately I’m on the wrong coast! I’m in Virginia. My grandparents used to live along the coast in Oregon in Brookings. I spent a couple of Summers there and absolutely loved it! 🙂
Paula@SweetPea says
You did a great job on this piece. I like the color you use and your distressing technique. I agree with Vivian, I also don’t think this will last long in your booth.
I’m now on the waiting list for a booth at a shop near my school! I’m six on the list and hope I get asked soon.
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Paula! That’s so exciting about getting a booth! Mine has been wonderful for feeding my blog with content. Hopefully you won’t have to wait too long. 🙂
Lara says
What a Stunner! Great color, just the right amount of distressing- beautiful!!
Christy K. James says
Thanks so much, Lara! 🙂
Barbara Ann says
Love the out come. And Heirloom White is my go to, failsafe color. Is it the closest color to AS Old White?
And how did you repair the veneer damage? I have a piece I’m holding out on because I’ve seen different theories.
Thanks
Barbara Ann
etsy.com/shop/barbaraannscreations
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Barbara! The Old White has a hint more yellow to it. My favorite is cottage white by Behr. I usually make it into chalk paint, and it’s less yellow than old white. The veneer in this case was in excellent condition, just some of the pieces popped off entirely, on which I used wood glue to repair. If the veneer is badly damaged, and it is in an obvious place, I will usually pop it off and sand the surface underneath smooth. I have also used wood putty to fill in areas where veneer is missing, and then sanded smooth. All of these pieces received paint too, so those fixes were hardly noticeable in the end. 🙂
Krista @ the happy housie says
Gorgeous Christy! She turned out so well!! Great find. I think I need to get my fake flowers out now… I need a little more spring these days!
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Krista! Glad I’m not alone in the fake flower area! These are perfect for adding a little Spring. 🙂
Andi says
Congrats on your awesome score and lovely makeover.
And I love your phony flowers. 😀
xoxo
-andi
Christy K. James says
Thanks! I want to add them to every surface of my home, but then it might start to look like a funeral home. 🙂
Elyse says
What a transformation! Looks terrific!
http://www.lee-lee-land.com
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Elyse! I wish I could keep in my dining room. 🙂
JP says
She’s a beauty alright and I love that you have her in your dining room!
Christy K. James says
Thanks, JP! She was taken to my booth last Saturday, sniff sniff. It was hard to say good-bye. I did love it in my dining room though! I think I’m going to keep my eye out for a buffet with the same pretty lines. 🙂
Donna Wilkes says
I thought faux florals from HL were mandatory this time of year. Love this transformation. Great photography – the piece glows with patina in the light.
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Donna! From now on faux florals are absolutely mandatory! Why I have resisted them for so long, I’ll never know. It feels like Spring in my house now. 🙂
Julie @ Restyle Relove says
Wow Christy, this is absolutely stunning. I would love this piece in my home! Thank you for sharing at Shabbilicious Friday! 🙂 Julie
Christy K. James says
Thanks so much, Julie! XO
Julie @ Restyle Relove says
Thank you for sharing at Shabbilicious Friday! We are excited to be featuring you this week! 🙂 Julie
Christy K. James says
Thanks you so much, Julie!!! That made my day! XO
Michelle James says
This is beautiful. You did such a great job. I am getting a free dresser that has similar tones of wood, I love the idea of the spray shellac before painting. I had never thought of that. Thanks for the great tip.
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Michelle! The spray shellac works wonders. Mahogany has a tendency to bleed through so this takes care of that. Two coats of spray shellac, which goes on super easy and dries fast. Then wait at least one hour before painting! Good luck with your awesome freebie! XO