Hello lovely Friends! I hope everyone in the southeast stayed safe during the hurricane. It turned out to sea just before reaching us here on the coast of Virginia, but we still got a ton of rainFall and high winds, resulting in many areas of flooding and a ton of downed trees. Luckily we were spared both!
It’s one of my favorite days of the month, Trash-to-Treasure Tuesday!! (See all of my previous T2T Tuedsay posts HERE.)
Today I’m sharing my neighbor’s trash that I turned into treasure. I spied this island sitting in her driveway near the garage as I was leaving our neighborhood last week:
The next day it was raining and it was still there, so I figured she was getting rid of it. That afternoon at the bus stop, she asked me if I wanted it and of course I said yes. It looks very IKEA-ish. Aside from it needing a good cleaning since it had been stored in her shed, it functioned perfectly.
I decided to give this cookie cutter mini island a little personality with paint:
This was such a quick and easy update and it looks so much prettier now.
I started by sanding the butcher block. It had a ton of knife marks and a big ring on the top. I used 150 grit first with my orbital sander, then switched to 220. I probably would have gone even grittier, like 80-100 if I had it on hand, but what I had did the trick. It didn’t come up perfectly new, but pretty close. This is the worst of it:
Not bad at all. I still need to seal it with mineral oil. This was with only sanding, so the faint marks that are there may even lessen once I add the mineral oil.
Next I painted the base in ultra pure white DIY chalk paint, one coat. Then I topped that off with a mix of 70/30 Behr’s Gray Morning/Ultra Pure White DIY chalk paint, one coat.
A quick sanding and I was done!
I sealed it with Annie Sloan’s Clear Soft Wax. (See my complete how-to for painting with chalk paint HERE.)
This piece actually stores quite a bit!
The shelves and drawer are nice and deep.
They both came up good as new after wiping them down, so I left them as is.
You can tell I added a back to this piece as well. I used interlocking bead board strips for that that I already had, but forgot to get a photo of the back when it was done, so imagine bead board on the back. 🙂
I staged it with a few things from my kitchen. This would be a great extra surface for a party!
And just so you know, that menu never changes ha ha. We will not be having chicken and noodles tonight and I couldn’t tell you that last time we had lasagna!
I bet if my neighbor saw this cart now, she might be sad she gave it away!
This was a quick update…I love those kinds of projects!
Don’t go anywhere, my trash-to-treasure friends are sharing trashy makeovers of their own today! That’s five for the price of one. 🙂
Follow the links below the graphic to see how they transformed their projects:
1. Girl in the Garage 2. Artsy Chicks Rule
3. Prodigal Pieces 4. Bless’er House
Are you on Instagram? Have a favorite makeover you want to share? Add the hashtag #trashtotreasuretransformation and be sure to follow all five of us, and you will be entered to win one of three prize packages from Dixie Belle Paint! How cool is that? Look for me on Instagram HERE this morning for more info!
Hope you enjoyed this visit today…as you know trash-to-treasures are my favorite!
I’ll be back next week sharing how I updated this vintage dresser:
See ya then!
UPDATE: BAM! See it HERE now! 🙂
XO,
Don’t Miss a Thing!
If you like what you see, there are several ways to follow along!
Email * Facebook * Pinterest * Hometalk * Twitter * Instagram
Larissa ~ Prodigal Pieces says
You are right, Christy. Such a cute piece that just needed an update. Love the fresh, new look!
Christy says
Thanks, Larissa! Glad I was able to get it before the next rain did! XO
Kathe says
Gorgeous makeover as usual! Glad you came through the hurricane ok!!
Christy says
Thank you, Kathe! Yes, we were very fortunate! XO
Anne@DesignDreams (@ddreamsbyanne) says
Beautiful job – I love that colour!!
Christy says
Thanks, Anne! This color is one of my favorites! XO
Martha Rekni says
This makes me want to go out and find me a kitchen island now. And lord knows I don’t need one!
Christy says
Ha ha! This would also be great in a corner just for extra storage and counter surface! 🙂
Nancy @ Slightly Coastal says
Great transformation! I love butcher block top pieces. This wold make a great coffee station with room for all the pods in the drawer and space for the cups on the shelf. Great job!
Christy says
Thanks, Nancy! Yes, that would be a great use for this! 🙂
Mari says
Love this piece! I have been using your recioe for chalk paint and I just love it! I was wondering though can I use the sample jars of Behr paint. The quart cans are way too much paint for me to use.
Christy says
Thanks, Mari! Absolutely…the sample jars are perfect! XO
Lori says
If I were your neighbor, I would be clamoring to buy it back from you! Haha! Looks great (as usual)! 🙂
Christy says
Ha ha thanks, Lori! Not sure if I should show her…she really might want it back!
Nancy @ Artsy Chicks Rule says
I love it Christy!! So much better and I’m sure she’d wish she could have it back!! 😉 And I love your menu…haha xo
Christy says
Thanks, Nancy!! I’m almost afraid to show her lol…just need to sneak it to the shop ha ha! XO
Marcie Lovett says
Lovely, as usual and I envision it flying out of the shop. So many fabulous uses, I’m guessing you’re right – the neighbor would be sad, indeed! For some reason, I was envisioning it in navy blue, which is not a color you normally do. Something about those bright metal strips, I think.
Christy says
Thanks, Marcie! Navy would have been gorgeous! XOXO
S G says
This is cute, and I have seen some things here that are adorable, but as with everyone else’s blogs there are far more ads than there is substance or content. I really do like what you do, but I am unsubscribing.
Christy says
Thanks for your honesty. Would you mind telling me if you were viewing on mobile or a desktop computer? I hate to hear anyone had a bad experience while visiting. Thanks!
S G says
Desk top computer.
Christy says
Thank you!
sandi Magle says
This is a very simple fix for a piece with good bones, not too mention utilitarian. Who doesn’t need more storage and an extra space for serving. Really like this, Sandi
Christy says
Thanks, Sandi! Sure…this was a great piece, and offered tons of storage…just needed a little help. 🙂
Mary Kaiser says
LOVE IT. I could use that in my house. Now I just have to find one exactly like it and give it the cute Christy treatment. So I also have a question. The Lavendar that you have in a lot of your pictures, is that real or fake? I would love to know where you purchased it if it is fake, because it sure looks very real. PLEASE let me know as I need one very badly in a spot in my house.
Christy says
Thanks, Mary! That lavender is fakey fake fake. 🙂 I purchased it at Hobby Lobby when they were 50% off. This is about $20 worth. XO
Julie B. says
Ok, Christy, need your thoughts on this. I have read in quite a few places that the wax used for sealing pieces is not durable over the years. That it will need to be re-waxed after multiple times of cleaning. Have you found that to be true? Btw, adorable TTT this today!☺️
Christy says
Thanks, Julie! I can honestly tell you that I have never gone back and rewaxed a piece of furniture. I haven’t found the need. I use pledge furniture polish once a week and my waxed pieces have lasted beautifully. For additional protection on high traffic pieces, add two coats of wax after painting if you like instead of one. For super high traffic like a kitchen table, I would opt for the old fashioned way with sanding, primer, latex, poly. Hope this answers your question. 🙂
rose l. says
Nice! You are so creative!
Christy says
Thanks so much, Rose! 🙂
Jen @ Girl in the Garage says
You really gave this piece new life, Christy! Even the original hardware looks so much better with the new paint color.
Christy says
Thanks, Jen! I agree! 🙂
Marie from The Interior Frugalista says
“Might be sad she gave it away”? How about giving herself a swift kick in the butt! What a difference some paint made to this piece – beautiful and I bet it doesn’t last long in your booth.
Christy says
Ha ha I know, right? Thanks, Marie! Hoping for a quick sale! XO
Tania says
Well I’m sure your neighbor would be regretting her decision, does she read your blog?! lol! It looks so nice now :o)
Tania
Christy says
Thanks, Tania! And I’m pretty sure she doesn’t follow my blog, so she may never see what became of it! 🙂
AFS says
It is amazing how you can see hidden potential in pieces.
I think you missed something when you proofread your post…
I at least don’t understand this:
They both drawer came up good as new after wiping them down, so I left them as is.
The only reason I say anything is I’d want my readers to do the same if they didn’t understand my writing.
Christy says
Thanks AFS! And that was just a typo…thanks for letting me know! 🙂
Patty says
Oh how I love how this turned out, you could use it in the kitchen or bathroom or even the bedroom. If I lived closer I would buy it. great little piece and another great job.
I’m so glad you didn’t have any damage from the hurricane. I have been thru a few and know what it is like.
Christy says
Thanks, Patty! Oh yes, this could function in just about any space. We were very fortunate with this hurricane as it was headed straight for us and made a sharp right just before the brunt of it got to us! XO
Lauren says
This turned out so beautiful, Christy! I love how you styled it.
Christy says
Thanks so much, Lauren! XOXO
Paula@SweetPea says
Great update! It is surprising how much this small piece can hold. I think I might be tempted to use it in a closet for extra storage or perhaps a craft room.
Christy says
Thanks, Paula! I agree…this thing can hold a lot! I love the idea to use it in a craft space! XO
Cathy says
Love your blog ! You have a great imagination! Thank you for sharing!
Christy says
Thank you, Cathy!! XO
Becky says
Oh wow! This went from plain and blah to fabulous! Well done!
Christy says
Thanks, Becky! I’m almost afraid to show it to my neighbor lol. XO
Cheryl says
What a difference in the island and I love the color!
Christy says
Thank you, Cheryl! XO
Karen says
Little kitchen Islands are one of my favorite makeovers. You made it beautiful again!
Christy says
Thanks, Karen! Islands don’t have to be so boring. 🙂
Mari says
Love this piece! I have a question. I use your recioe for chalk oaint and absolutely love it. However, the other day the man at Hime Depot said that all the Behr paints now have primer in them. Originally I thought you said to use flat paint without primer in it?
Christy says
Thanks, Mari! That is just fine…the one with primer built in was more expensive, and I just felt it wasn’t necessary to spend more. It’s no problem to have it built in though. SO glad you like the recipe! 🙂
Donna Childress says
I absolutely love this little stand. I also live in VA and we did get the rain didn’t we? I just had to comment on this re do it turned out great you would never know it sat in a garage and then the rain. Wonderful make over!
Christy says
Thanks, Donna! The rainfall this season has been crazy! I hated to see that little stand sitting in the rain…glad I rescued it. 🙂