Before and Afters Archives | Page 43 of 51

Before and Afters

Another French Chair

I can’t help myself. I spent years searching for a French chair and now they seem to find me. A sweet local reader, Allie, sent me a picture of four chairs to see if I wanted them. They were gorgeous antique wood-framed French chairs. Yes please. They were upholstered in cream canvas, but it was dingy and they needed to be reupholstered. Today, I worked on two of them to take to Lucketts tomorrow. I left the beautiful wood frames alone (see, I don’t paint everything) and I upholstered the back and seat with antique European grain sacks. Gorgeous, huh? I’m selling two and I’ll probably keep two for myself. Today, I also finished a dining set, a beautiful buffet, an oversized chalk board, a gold leaf mirror and a dresser. I painted the dresser with a new-to-me ASCP color, Greek Blue. It’s shocking when it goes on, but it is yummy

August 17, 2011 35 Comments

Curio Makeover

For the past few months, pieces of furniture have been coming and going at such a rapid pace that it is difficult for me to get before and after shots of every piece. You may have noticed this curio cabinet in the corner of my room at Lucketts. When I shared the pictures a couple of weeks ago, some may have thought, “Hmm. I don’t remember her ever showing the before and after on that.” Well, if you thought that, you’re super observant and deserve some kind of prize. Tell your hubby that I said he needs to wash the dishes for you tonight or something. Here’s what this piece looked like when I first got it. Great lines…everything else was a mess. It was filthy, broken and looked depressing. I could envision this cabinet stuffed to the gills and buried under a pile of possessions in an episode of Hoarders.

July 28, 2011 35 Comments

yet another French chair

If you are not fond of French chairs, you have unfortunately found yourself at a blog that is not for you at all. If you are a Francophile and enjoy armchairs…well, you are a kindred spirit and you will want to read on. If you don’t have a strong opinion about French chairs (How could one not?), you can probably handle it, too. I found this chair at a yard sale a few weeks ago. The details, shape and frame were great, but the avocado burlap was the “fly in the ointment”, so to speak, and it was a little hard to overlook. I painted the frame in ASCP’s Old White and upholstered it in a nubby canvas drop cloth with bright white gimp trim. A slight distressing of the paint brings out the details on the arms and legs…which are yummy. I’m definitely into furniture appendages. Some chicks like shoes,

July 13, 2011 55 Comments

French Daybed Makeover

I mentioned in passing a few months ago that a family from our church gave me a French daybed for free. It was in their basement playroom and I spotted it when we were over at their house one day. I have a habit (and I’m not sure if it’s good or bad) of commenting on the decor and furniture in people’s homes. So, in classic Marian fashion, I just spewed out, “This is a really, really great piece.” A few weeks later, my friend called with a “proposition for me”, as she put it. She gives me the French daybed for free and I get a free French daybed. That’s the kind of trade I cannot refuse. It’s been sitting in my family room since then, waiting for a makeover, and the lure became too strong to resist this weekend. This is sort of how it looked when I got it. It had different pillows

June 28, 2011 64 Comments

grain sack chair – before & almost after

I’m stingy with a few of my finds…ironstone, grain sacks and French chairs mainly. I do part with them, but it’s always tough. If you ever buy a piece of ironstone or a French chair or something made out of a European grain sack from me, you can know I really, really loved it and it was very tough for me to put a tag on it. Today, I took two of my favorite things and made something for myself. Two European grain sacks… …one French chair… …and voila! (Well, almost. I ran out of trim and I need to touch up the paint in some places, but I was too excited to save this reveal.) I painted the frame of the chair in one sloppy coat of Annie Sloan’s Old White and distressed it. I wanted a soft, worn look, so I didn’t wax it. I then upholstered the chair

June 7, 2011 110 Comments

Frenchy Chair Makeover

When I spot French chairs that have never been rescued from their 1970’s splattered wood and harvest gold or burnt orange velvety upholstery, I get giddy. Most people won’t give them a second look and most people don’t see the potential. Seeing potential in furniture is one of the things I do best. When I spotted a pair of these old girls on Craig’s List… …I knew I could give them the attention they needed. I took off those tufted cushions the minute they came in the door. Behind them was a great caned back. One was intact, but unfortunately, the other wasn’t. I stripped the chairs down, painted the frames and then reupholstered them…making the detached tufted cushions one attached cushion. It’s still cushy, but has a more refined look. I upholstered the back of the chair with the broken caning and left the intact one painted. The frames are

May 15, 2011 53 Comments

Delicious Chippy Goodness

Here’s my latest dresser… Here’s how it started. Sorry for the stinky picture. Do you see my boy’s shoes on the lower right? He was ducking into his “fort” as I took the picture. It was a standard Empire dresser and had some nice details. The legs are a little chunkier than I usually go for, but I love the curve and the brass wheels. I painted it to look ultra chippy and distressed, so the buyer can get that delicious chippy goodness without the lead paint concern. Despite all of the texture, it has a smooth finish, thanks to some wax. I know this amount of distressing isn’t for everyone, but I love it! I’m off to do some more painting, but first…an announcement. I’ve decided I am going to sell my dining set. I think. I reserve the right to change my mind, but I think I’m at

May 10, 2011 72 Comments

Dining Room Set Reveal

Well, I’m going to warn you. I’m revealing this dining set, but it’s not going to be a post full of staged, beautiful photographs. It’s just not possible right now. The prettiest shot you’re going to get is of one chair. Here’s the full set. In my basement workshop. Such as it is. Embarassing. The fluorescent lighting and band saw in the background really add to the look, don’t they? I can hardly stand it! I’m ready to clear out my entire dining room and move this all upstairs just to get some proper beauty shots. So sorry! The set is pretty, though, isn’t it? I was so tempted to swap it out with my dining room set and sell the one I have. I think I’m at peace with selling this one, though. Here’s how it looked before…this is the Craig’s List picture. So sorry again! I painted the entire set

May 9, 2011 75 Comments

I’m Marian, a painter, writer, and lover of all things creative. From art and antiques to home projects and everyday life, I share my journey in hopes of inspiring you to embrace your own creativity and make beauty in the spaces you live.

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