Hello gorgeous friends!! I can’t tell y’all how nice it is to have our house back! I’m referring to last week when we had a four-man tiling crew here each day laying new floor tile in our kitchen, pantry, laundry room, hall, and guest bath. It is officially complete though and it looks amazing! Hiring professionals was such a treat!
Here is how it looks grouted:
That is tile, y’all, and it matches Lyla ha ha!
They really did a phenomenal job! I’ll share the whole space when I get a chance.
First, I need to start working through this pile of treasures that has been patiently awaiting me in the garage!
Today’s Project
Today, I’m back at it with this cute box I picked up for $4.25 at the thrift store:
It was looking a bit forlorn in the state I found it in, but no more! I’ve included a few affiliate links so you can find the products I love.
Prep
I began this makeover with a couple of fixes.
The bottom was coming apart, so I secured it with wood glue and small nails that I hammered in place:
The handles were missing from both sides, so I removed what was left of them, as well as the closure on the front. There were also a couple of nail heads missing on top, so I stole the ones from where the decorative edge along the bottom came to a peak in the middle on both the front and both sides to replace those that were missing.
Then I filled in all the tiny holes with Dixie Mud in brown:
After lightly sanding the filled holes and washing it down with White Lightning, this cutie was ready for paint!
Paint
I knew I wanted to use Cotton for this box to match the fabric I planned to use on it, but instead of doing three coats of Cotton, I did the base coat in Fluff:
Fluff has more pigment in it so the coverage is better and usually covers in just two coats.
Using it as a base coat under the Cotton allowed me to only have to add one coat of the Cotton for solid coverage instead of the three coats it usually takes!
Solid coverage! Yay!
I sanded lightly all over and then sealed the parts that weren’t getting fabric, with Best Dang Wax in clear.
People often ask what to seal with and I have three sealers I use:
Best Dang Wax: Can be used on anything, but it’s a bit more labor intensive to apply. I use it mostly on these smaller pieces. (I don’t have to dirty a sponge to apply it!)
Clear Coat: Clear Coat can also be used on anything. I love the Clear Coat in the Satin finish (comes in satin, flat, and gloss), and that’s what I use on most furniture pieces as it is very easy to apply with the blue sponge.
Gator Hide: Can also be used on anything, but I save it for pieces that will get heavy use as it is Dixie Belle’s most durable topcoat.
Fabric
For the fabric I chose this print that I love:
What you see here is all that I have left of it. It came from a set of curtain panels that I used on a couple of other upholstery projects. I just couldn’t throw this scrap away.
I’m glad I kept it because it is just enough to pretty up this box!
As you can see above, I used my rotary cutting set (this is the one I have…it is light gray on the reverse side) to cut it to the size I needed since it cuts perfectly straight with minimal fraying.
Then I attached it by using Matte Mod Podge, brushing it on like a glue with a cheap chip brush:
I did not go over the fabric with more Mod Podge. I left it as is.
The after
And here is how this pretty box looks now!
It’s a long way from where it started!
You can see that I centered the pattern on my fabric also.
And I replaced the original metal closure with this glass knob:
It’s oversized and I love it for this box. It came in a pack of six from HomeGoods.
How about the insides??
Surprise! This gorgeous vibrant color is Flamingo.
It took three coats for solid coverage, but next time, I’ll use Fluff as a base coat on this one too.
I sealed the inside with Gator Hide since it might get heavy use like for remotes. I used a brush instead of the sponge I usually use to apply it to reach those inside corners more easily.
And that is another piece from my new haul complete!
See the first two pieces from my new haul if you missed them HERE and HERE. They were fun ones!
Other pieces with this fabric
And here is one of the other pieces I used this gorgeous fabric on:
You can see more of that HERE!
And here is another!
See that one HERE!
I’ll see y’all back here on Thursday with this secretary desk!
UPDATE: You have to check out how Becky’s secretary turned out! See it HERE now!
XOXO,
Don’t Miss a Thing!
If you like what you see, there are several ways to follow along!
Mary Kaiser says
Oh my gosh it is so beautiful now! Love the fabric you used and hot dang, Love the color inside. It matches your flowers perfect. I think I have seen a million little boxes like yours over the years at the thrift store. I am sure that I won’t see one now that I have your inspiration to re-do one for myself. Lol that’s the way it goes! Great job on making that little box beautiful! Looking forward to seeing your new flooring!
Christy says
Thank you, Mary! That Flamingo is really fun!! I found this box early in my search as pickins were slim, or else I might have passed it by also…sure glad I didn’t! XOXO
Amelia Lopez Saltarelli says
Love your projects and now that I’m retired I’d like to get a group of ladies together to make some projects which you post. Maybe use as a fundraiser for our senior center.
Thank you for sharing
Christy says
Thank you, Amelia! Congratulations on retirement! That would be so fun! XOXO
Pat says
Oh I absolutely LOVE the surprise color inside! And what a great tip to use fluff as a base coat for cotton! Thanks for teaching and sharing with us!
Christy says
Thank you, Pat! My pleasure!! XOXO
Christina says
Christy your new tile floors look beautiful! So glad you chose something that matches Lyla’s beautiful fur, she clearly approves! 🙂
This little box looks so lovely! You gave it a new life! The fabric looks perfect! I love seeing the fabric on the chair and ottoman you recreated! The flamingo interior is so vibrant, I love it!!
Have a great rest of the week!
Christy says
Thank you, Christina! I am in love with our new tile for sure, and I thought it was funny that it matched Lyla! I’m so glad this little scrap of fabric was enough for this box…if I ever come across these curtain panels again, I’m scooping them up! Have a great week, too! XOXO
Sue Mellette says
Christy, I just love what you did with this box. You turned an ugly duckling into a beautiful “swan.” I really like the fabric you used. What a great way to add dimension and a touch of class!. I especially love the pop of orange on the inside. It is just a delightful touch when you open the box and see that color! Love your flooring as well. Can’t wait to see the final views! As always, thank you for sharing your wonderful artistic gifts!. Have a great week.
Christy says
Thank you, Sue! This little lady deserved an elegant new look, and I agree the color inside makes you happy when you open the box! Enjoy your week too! XOXO
Stacey says
Wow!! What a lovely makeover!!! And, the inside color next to those beautiful roses….soooo lovely!!! I can just feel that little box grinning from ear to ear. 🥰 You do such great work!!
Christy says
Thank you, Stacey! She is definitely happier now! XOXO
Cheryl Atkinson says
Hi Christy! The box looks so pretty. I really love the color on the inside. What a great pop of color. Well, my daughter lost her battle to cancer on Sunday so my world has gone dark. I think I’m going to do some painting so I don’t go crazy. Thank you for all of your inspirations and sharing your creations..
Christy says
Oh Cheryl, I am so sorry to hear of your daughter’s passing. She fought for a long time. May she rest in peace with the angels now. I wish I could hug you, and yes, I thinking painting will be a light in this difficult time! Keeping you in my thoughts, my friend. XOXO
Jackie C says
Prayers for you and your family. I can’t imagine what you’re going though. May God bless and comfort you.
Jackie C says
Wow! Flamingo really made that cute little box something special! I love it! Your floors look beautiful btw! Can’t wait to see it all. I had to laugh at how fat your sweet kitty is!
Christy says
Thank you, Jackie! It’s like a ray of happy when you open the box! And yes, Lyla was put on a diet at her last check up!! XOXO
Cecilia says
How pretty! I do love the fabric. It really dresses the box up.
😍Cecilia
Christy says
Thank you, Cecilia!! XOXO
Toby Peplow says
Stunning!! and so much better! And what a lovely surprise as always on the inside! 🙂
Christy says
Thank you so much, Toby! It is a super fun and unexpected pop of color! XOXO
Meg says
Good morning Christy!!! Love this little box! I read all the older posts on this fabric and again you have more creativity and no-how in your littlest fingernail that I can ever imagine having.
Christy says
Aww you are the sweetest, Meg, thank you so much!!
Diane says
You have such vision. That’s part of my fear to start anything because I’d look at a color, fabric or paper napkin and immediately say ‘no, not worth starting something I won’t like!’ I lack confidence.
I like what you do and the ease of most small projects.
Thank you for making me think ‘maybe’.
Diane
Christy says
Thank you, Diane! That right there is why I paint so many things white to start. It’s hard for me sometimes to envision where I want to go with a project, but painting it white is like a blank canvas, and the ideas usually flow from there. So just start painting! You can do it! XOXO
Sandra says
Oh Flamingo – I love the color and name! Thank you for sharing all your how-to-dos! This box is officially gorgeous!
Christy says
Thank you, Sandra! I love this color too, and you know I love to share!! XOXO
Cecilia from Georgia says
Lila loves her new floor! It is beautiful! The box is amazing and the inside is so fun. I had to look back to how you did the stool and it is also great. Did you do something to the fabric when you cut it where you made the tufts so it wouldn’t ravel? Fun post!!
Christy says
Yes, she sure does lol! Thank you, Cecilia! I still have the stool and it still looks great. I did not do anything to the fabric where I made the tufts and it has done fine. XOXO
Sharon L Austin says
Oh that turned out so cute! The flamingo paint was an unexpected surprise and it really gives it some spunk! Another masterpiece!!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Sharon…like a burst of happy when you open the box! XOXO
Rebecca Payne says
Great job! I love that color of Flamingo.
Christy says
Thank you, Rebecca! Flamingo is a pretty one for sure! XOXO
Denise - Salvaged Inspirations says
That pop of color on the inside is amazing. Such a perfect makeover my friend! XOXO
Christy says
Thank you so much, Denise! I just love that color…I wish I was bold enough to use it on a piece of furniture! XOXO
Karen Moore says
Wow! Unexpected redo with fabric and that vibrant color inside. Love it! Also, love the tile and the model. She is darling and I’m pretty sure she doesn’t miss to many meals. LOL
Christy says
Thank you, Karen! And ha ha…she is living large in more ways than one! XOXO
Ashley says
Christy, “Flamingo” is stunning! This box is such an inspiration! Gorgeous all the way around! 👏🏻
Christy says
Thank you, Ashley!! XOXO
Robin says
So spring-like – love that coral color!
Christy says
Thank you, Robin! It’s a fun one for these warmer days for sure! XOXO
Denise Cox says
I know my comments are redundant, but “Dang gone!!” It’s gorgeous!! Everything you put your hands on becomes a “Michelangelo”… 😉 😘. And that Flamingo… what a PUNCH 👊!! Wasn’t expecting that.. 😝. But it works!! Question… I’ve never understood the difference b/w a ‘satin’ and ‘flat’ finish…?
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Denise! I always appreciate your very kind words! The satin has a slight sheen to it, while the flat has no sheen at all. Hope that helps! XOXO
Jean says
Along with admiring the box reincarnation, I am wondering about the gray cutting mat with squares you were using. Would you mind sharing the brand and source, please. Thank you.
Christy says
Hi Jean! I bought the whole set on Amazon. This is the one I have: https://amzn.to/3wCyDzV. It’s great for cutting fabric and paper! XO
Addie says
Night and day…that “before” was giving me a headache!!! LOVE now!!!
Love that you save scraps and use them up….me too!!!…ya never know!!! What is REALLY impressive is that chair redo!!!! What a beauty!!!! I didn’t remember it…
it came out GREAT!!!!! Are you going to keep the box on one of those shelves ???? …..on the opposite side???
Christy says
Thank you, Addie! I save everything lol! That chair ended up in our dining room, and I put that box in my china hutch, but it is a bit big in there. I do want to keep it though! XOXO
Lori says
What an awesome POP of color – flamingo is not your usual go-to, but it’s perfect for this piece! Well done
Christy says
Thank you, Lori! I don’t usually go bold, but it is fun to hide it inside pieces for a nice surprise! XOXO
Constance Colvin says
Oh Christy this box is so beautifully done! What is your technique for getting such exact measurements for cutting the fabric? Just awesome!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Connie!! I just measured with a small ruler and then used my rotary cutting set (here: https://amzn.to/3wCyDzV) to get perfectly straight lines! 🙂 XOXO
lisa anderson says
I have yet to get my staple gun to work. What am I doing wrong ? The staples will not go completely in. Is there a special trick 😊.
Thanks for sharing your make over
Lisa
Christy says
Hi Lisa! Every once in a while, I get a really hard wood that resists the staples, but I don’t usually have an issue. You want to put a little muscle into it to hold the gun as firmly as possible. I use a cheapie staple gun, but an electric one may work better for you? XOXO
Marian says
Christy, that was so thoughtful of you to get floors to match your precious baby. She is beautiful all grown up. I really like the fabric you chose for the box. It is perfect!
Christy says
Yes, aren’t I a good cat mama? Ha ha! Thank you, Marian! XOXO
Michele M. says
WOW!! That is stunning. I looooooove that fabric!
Well done, Christy!
And your new tile with matching kitty = perfection!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Michele!!! XOXO
Petra says
Only you can make a hideous piece into something incredibly beautiful and a “must have” 🙂 Oh, and your tiled floors look amazing, especially with Lyla lying on them 😀
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Petra! I only bought this sad box because it was at the beginning of my search and the selection of items was very slim, but I’m so glad now that I bought it! And Lyla certainly approves of the new tile lol! XOXO
Marcie Lovett says
Tattered and tired – I couldn’t see any future with that box but you always do, Christy! The fabric and the bright interior jazz it up, almost impossible to believe how it began. I am sure this one’s going to fly out of the booth. Always a good idea to hold onto those fabric scraps (and you know I had to revisit the chair just to see more of it 😉)
Christy says
Aww thank you, Marcie! It was in a sad state for sure! That chair is now in our dining room, so I have the box in our China cabinet. We’ll see if it stays LOL! XOXO
Debra Hubbs says
So pretty! Can you please post a link of your new tile flooring?
Christy says
Hi Debra! Thank you! We purchased our tile locally from Floor & Decor here in Virginia Beach. This is the link to ours on their: https://www.flooranddecor.com/porcelain-tile/gunnison-gray-wood-plank-porcelain-tile-100242098.html It’s not the prettiest tile in a standard pattern, but in a herringbone, it is really pretty. I believe it might be discontinued also.
Phyllis says
MASSIVE improvement!
Christy says
Thank you, Phyllis! XOXO
Debra Hubbs says
Thank you for the flooring link.
Christy says
My pleasure! XO
Marietta says
I have just run out of words to tell you how beautiful everything you do turns out. Let’s see-WOW, just WOW!
Christy says
Ha ha you are the sweetest, Marietta!! Thank you so much! XOXO