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Furniture Makeovers

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

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Furniture Feature Friday – Favorites & A Link Party

Oh my.  I found some amazing inspiration in the party last week. You girls (and occasional guy) are so good!  I’m loving all of the chalk paint, Frenchiness and fabulous finds.  Thanks so much to everyone for participating in this party and turning it into the hot place to be for furniture lovers.  I hope this week will be just as inspiring. Here are some of my favorites from last week… Shannon of AKA Designs made a really cute, rustic headboard for only $36!  It provides a great focal point on a budget.  I also love the “love” banner.  So sweet.  Ritajoy of Harbour Breeze transformed her kitchen for less than $200!  I am about to paint my kitchen in a soft blue, so her choices really caught my eye.  You did an amazing job on a shoestring, girl. Good for you! The last piece that caught my fancy was

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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

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Furniture Feature Friday – Just A Link Party

As this posts, I am sitting in a theatre seat watching the Broadway tour of Beauty and the Beast.  I’m probably softly humming along to “A Change in Me” or “Home” right now…enjoying it immensely.  Anyway, I was so excited about going to the theatre tonight that I forgot about Furniture Feature Friday!!  Can you believe it?  If you know how busy I’ve been, you probably can.  Anyway, I don’t have the time to feature any amazing projects from last week (There were over 250 entries!!!), but here’s the link, so everyone can participate.  I’ll get some favorites up tomorrow. Here are the rules for the furniture party… 1.) Your post has to be about furniture.  Please, please, please…just furniture.  If you find your link has been deleted, it’s not because I’m mean, it’s because your post was not about furniture.  You can share makeovers, awesome finds, favorite pieces, furniture arrangements, or

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Furniture Feature Friday – Favorites & A Link Party

We had a wicked storm roll in this evening and it made me think of all of the places in the country that have been devastated by tornadoes and flooding. I hope this post finds you and your family well. Here are my favorites from Furniture Feature Friday two weeks ago.  Karryann from Gracefully Vintage reupholstered this tired and stuffy sofa and now it’s chic and oh so yummy.  I love it, Karryann! As a second ode to upholstery, I wanted to highlight this sweet French bench by Lori from Wool and Flax.  The curvy legs are lovely and the textured fabric is fab.  The last person I want to feature is Rachel from Gilly Grey.  While I was getting busy for Lucketts, she was getting ready for the grand opening of Laissez Faire in Baltimore. (Maryland?)  I know you worked so hard and your space looks fabulous!  I feel such

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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

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Furniture Feature Friday – Chalk Paint Giveaway & A Link Party

As most of you know, Blogger has been freaking out and unusable the last couple of days, so my post schedule is all thrown off.  I was going to post FFF at the usual time last night and then post the Annie Sloan’s Chalk Paint giveaway today.  Well, given the recent events, it’s all going to be rolled into one.  Ok?  Can you handle that?  I have been so busy that I have not had a chance to look through all of the links from last week and pick my favorites.  So sorry!  I know you work hard on those pieces and I want to see them all.  It just wasn’t possible this week.  So, instead, I am going to highlight some of the furniture I have completed with Annie Sloan’s Chalk Paint.  This will whet your appetite for the giveaway and hopefully give you some inspiration. (Old White and Louis

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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

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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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