Restoration Hardware DIY Hutch

Hello. I have a Restoration Hardware DIY to share with you today.

This hutch came to me from a neighbour, it was a wedding gift from her mother. So precious. My neighbour is doing this insane reno in their house, and she is getting a new office. Since she runs a fabulous little business, she wanted a matching office. Sounds right to me. Here's the hutches humble beginnings.

Now, this was a tricky piece. We had decided on making the back of the hutch Dark Walnut. The wood panelling was not real wood, but kinda like a sticker. So, typical stain wouldn't work. I love using gel stain by Minwax. It covers anything and really changes the tone of any surface. Check out their site, for a ton of info and inspiration. I started by taping off the panel board section, and laid down my first coat of gel stain. The key to using this product is dry time. Depending on the surface, anywhere from 1-3 days. Make sure it is nice a dry before adding the next coat. It took me 4 coats to cover up the yellow pine. Next I mixed up some Miss Mustard Seed Milk paint in Linen, with bonding agent (no chipping). Again, I found the yellow hard to cover, it took me 4 coats to get a solid coverage. Now hindsight, I think I was mixing the paint a little too thin. When using lighter colors, be sure to mix a bit thicker.

I love everything about this piece. The curvature on the top, right down to the flower embellishment. The hardware was picked by my neighbor. A great splurge on the hutch!

Don't forget to link up any of your projects at my chic-by-you-wednesday-linky-party! Hope to see you there.

Party Time!!
thededicatedhouse
pneumaticaddict
commonground
placeofmytaste
posedperfection
staceyembracingchange
rootedinthyme
nancherrow
frenchcountrycottage
thepinjunkie
shabbynest
myrepurposedlife
thepainteddrawer
too-much-time
classyclutter
organizedclutter
funkyjunkinteriors
dwellings-theheartofyourhome
findingsilverpennies
lifeonlakeshoredrive
intelligentdomestications
create-with-joy
diyshowoff
julieslifestyle
coastalcharm
thededicatedhouse
thriftydecorchick

domestically-speaking
astrollthrulife
worthingcourtblog
stonegableblog
kammyskorner
vmg206
vintagezest

Apron String & Shutter Grey

Hello. Happy Sunday! I can't believe the weekend is coming to an end. It has been so cold here the last few days, - 50 C yesterday morning. OMG is right. It is way to cold to go anywhere or do anything. This gal has resorted to painting and cleaning.

I posted a peek at this piece yesterday. I'll mention again how I have a love/hate relationship with milk paint. If anyone has any suggestions, please forward them. I poured at least a 1:1 ratio of bonding agent, and the darn paint just kept falling off! In the end I really love the shabby chic look and this has a truly aged look to it ( minus the chevron stripes).

I'm still learning to work with Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint. Which isn't as fool proof as the Chalk Paint. I guess perfection comes with practice. Thank goodness it's not on a clients piece.

 I chose Shutter Grey and Apron Strings. I'm loving grey and coral still.

Hope you liked my night stand. Thanks for stopping by, and take care.

Don't forget to catch my Chic By You Link Party, launches Monday's.

Party Time!
threemangoseeds
findingsilverpennies
boogieboardcottage
lifeonlakeshoredrive
bedifferentactnormal
vmg206
ishouldbemoppingthefloor
niftythriftythings
bystephanielynn
dwellings-theheartofyourhome
diyshowoff
the-chicken-chick.com
modvintagelife
betweennapsontheporch
keepingitsimplecrafts
craft-o-maniac
astrollthrulife
inda-coastalcharm
stonegableblog
kammyskorner
cozylittlehouse
myuncommonsliceofsuburbia
kathewithane
elizabethandco
thewinthropchronicles
carolynshomework
greenwillowpond
domestically-speaking
vintagezest
savvysouthernstyle
diybydesign
gingersnapcrafts
cityfarmhouse
apeekintomyparadise
thestylesisters
handymancraftywoman
familyhomeandlife
ivyandelephants
thecraftiestallie
thededicatedhouse
glamorousbride
beyondthepicketfence

commonground

myrepurposedlife
mylove2create
frenchcountrycottage
jenniferrizzo
shabbynest
504main
missmustardseed
romantichome

Friday Find

Oh no. Have you ever accidentally deleted a post? I totally did today. Oh darn!
I'm going to repost my pics. I apologize for any link backs that I have lost in the mess.

 My quaint quail. I just love him.

Here are the furniture finds from today.

And this is my dining room. Any one else have a room like this currently?

One important lesson I have leaarnt from this: Do not press update! Instead press close to reveert to original post.

Party Time! (from Monday on)
kammyskorner
cozylittlehouse
myuncommonsliceofsuburbia
kathewithane
greenwillowpond
wecallitjunkin
handymancraftywoman

I {heart} dark wood

After years of moving, I have finally decided to make my home, MY home. I've always avoided decorating. I would even go as far to say, "I don't have an eye for decor". It does NOT come natural for me. Sometimes I search Pinterest for hours, just for a little inspiration. I admire the colors people pick to do their pieces. I always wonder....how did they know those two colors would look so well together? {maybe they used Pinterest too}

SO I bought a curio last week. It was a good price at my local thrift store. I manned the piece into the truck, tied it down with bungees, watched it in the rear view mirror on my way home, and unloaded it into my front entrance. Knowing that when my hubby came home he would take a double look and shake his head. You see, I have a collection of unpainted things in our basement. Instead of working on an item I already own, I go and buy more. I think I enjoy the thrill of finding a good deal. Or am I afraid of missing that one unique item? Regardless. I have one more piece of furniture now.

What to do with it? I've been creeping on a ton of blogs lately, trying to narrow down the look I want for my house. I like rustic, industrial, chic, crisp and dark wood. Sunday when I came back from grocery shopping, I found it tucked in a corner by our entrance. It fit perfect in the corner! Hubby claimed it for our house. Yay!! {good thinking}

This is what I have found for my inspiration from missmustardseed. 

I'm thinking, the dark wood color for the shelves and inside. Then Ironstone for the rest. I {heart} 2 tone pieces, especially when one is wood color.

I have started tonight, and will post the finished product soon.

Take care.

Big Red

Oh the weather outside is frightful

But my furniture's so delightful

And since we've no place to go

I will paint! I will paint! I will paint!

I love the feeling of Christmas with 3 feet of snow to go with it! 

Right now I'm busy finishing up some end tables, which I will post next week. So in the mean time I thought I could follow up on a picture I posted previously.

Found it at my local thrift shop in summer. Beauty, right? It sat in my husbands man cave garage for 2 months. Towards the end of summer it was being threatened with eviction...so I decided to tackle it. I first tried to use MMSP Tricyle Red, with the hopes it would chip. 

Nope. Decided not to chip. {don't you love how that works?} 

Then I tried to wax it. Nope. Looked all blotchy. For some reason  the wax absorbed in some places and some places not at all. If anyone has an answer to this, please share.

SO, then I tried some Annie Sloan Emperor's Silk. Went on great. Perfect finish, etc. Waxed the mammoth and buffed her out. I should include this was still in my husbands man cave garage. Two days later I go out to take pictures and there is a giant scrape the size of a playing card on the top. ARGH! 

Needless to say, I was back at it.

Sand out the scrape, paint, wax and buff! {third time} and get it out of the garage quick. I think it was worth the effort.

This is my favorite angle.

The handles kinda remind me of bamboo shoots.

This piece went to a great home to be used for a tv stand. {crammed and transported in a Rav4}

Till next time, stay warm and take care.

Party time!
my repurposed life
vintage mellie
mylove2create
missmustardseed

Unfinished End Table

This little lady has caught my eye. I'm not one to use yellow... it's just not in my eye of color. But, I am loving her. I feel like there is a burst of sun in my kitchen right now.

Here she is before.

I used TSP to wipe her down good, and remove the oils that may have built up over the years. I chose not to sand this piece. I find once I add the bonding agent to the Milk Paint, it adhere's well. I used my Homestead House Milk Paint in Orchre. It's not quite a bright yellow--- more of a soft yellow. Homestead House is the maker of Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint, and they have a rainbow of colors beyond MMS.

So, that's how easy it was to paint.

1. Clean

2. Paint

{CLOSE UP}

{DAY LIGHT}

{NIGHT SHOT}

The lady I'm Painting this for, would like white drawers. I will update the post tomorrow [with the white]. Is it just me, or does anyone else get excited to share a new piece. I am willing to take a picture in poor lighting and unfinished, because I can not wait till tomorrow. Jeeze... one day I will be granted with patience, just not tonight.

Here's another beautiful mountain picture from our ski trip to Jasper on the weekend.

Parties

betweennapsontheporch

classyclutter

knickoftimeinteriors

notjustahousewife

linda-coastalcharm

carolynshomework

elizabethandco

diybydesign

savvysouthernstyle

gingersnapcrafts

beyondthepicketfence

staceyembracingchange

theshabbycreekcottage

houseofhepworths
mysimplehomelife
homespunhappenings-tammy
504main

Just My Luck'etts Green Table

I love it when the pieces fall into place. I have been using Homestead House Milk Paint, which are the manufacturer of Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint. The last piece I did gave me some trouble with flaking, but not this time.

I started off wiping the tables down with T.S.P, I couldn't believe the years of grime that were washed away. Once dry, I painted a coat of paint. {for mixing, I use the 1:1.5 ratio paint:water} I find on dark colors, this works. But I was painting a vanity white, and the color was soooo see-through. After first coat dried----> which is super speedy, I put the second coat on. Next day after work, I lightly distressed both tables and waxed with Miss Mustard Seed Clear Wax. I LOVE THIS STUFF!!! I smells great and goes on easy. I have tried Minwax, but found it harder to work with. 

For some reason, I always forget to do my handles. In the before picture, do you notice the problem? One handle was broken. "Lucky" for me, I had another similar set. I gave them a good scrub and a fresh coat of Rustoleum Oil Rubbed Bronze. Good as new!

Perfectly aged end tables. Next time, I'll skip the bonding agent, and let her chip away!

I party at

kammys korner
between naps on the porch
boogie board cottage
classyclutter
its so very cheri
a diamond in the stuff
elizabeth and co
knick of time interiors
not just a housewife
linda-coastal charm
diy by design
savvy southern style
gingersnap crafts
handy man crafty woman
my girlish whims
domestically-speaking
the thrifty home
the 36th avenue

First Chalk Paint Hutch

Decisions, decisions. Why do I find choosing colors sooo hard? Is it because I will never come across another hutch of this style? Or because I paid so little, and don't want to waste my saved dollars on multiple coats? DO others take time to ponder the rainbow? I would love to let this beauty sit in my formal room, but unfortunately I'm tight on space. So this is what I have.

I love every detail on this beauty. Now do you see my dilemma? I don't want to waste such a work of art. Some of my ideas include.....Blue, teal, aqua. See the pattern?

This is a great color choice from Marty's Musings.  

I love the 2 tone blue, from Stiltskin Studios.

This could work, from The Shabbiest Chick.

 What do you think?

On a side note....it's almost Friday! Hello.

Saved from the dumpster!

A couple years ago, my husband found a hutch by the dumpster at his job site. We brought it home, cleaned it up and let it collect junk. Fast-forward through a few moves.... I decided to push my skillz to a new level. I ordered some milk paint through Homestead House, which is the supplier for MMSMP. You REALLY need to check out all the colors they have! I bought Upper Canada, similar to Lucketts Green . I didn't take a true before, but here's a few mid-progress pictures.

I lightly sanded the top and sides before applying the first coat. I did not sand in between, but did use MMS Crackle Medium on the areas I wanted chipping. Let the crackle medium tack up, then paint right over.Then I went down stairs, read a few of my fav blogs. When I returned, I found most of the paint of the doors GONE! EEK. So, I added some MMS bonding agent to the remainder paint and applied another coat. A lesson learnt: Sand all finished surfaces, to assure adherence to the wood. Once everything was dry and chipped, I pulled out my vacuum and bristle attachment to suck up the paint chips. I heard a blog one time to vacuum the piece, and it will help remove and clean up the mess at the same time. Worked like a charm for me. This is the finished product.

To finish and seal the paint, I used MMS wax, which to me is bore like whipped butter. I love the product! It's so easy to apply, with a satin finish.

Did you notice the decor above?

I picked up plain drawer front from our local Re-Store, painted them. I found the cover plates at another shop, and Gorilla glued them on! Voila. Super easy decor. Very Vintage.

Shout out to My Simple Home Life for featuring me!

Party Time!

http://itssoverycheri.com/2013/03/03/its-party-time-4/
http://www.redouxinteriors.com/2013/02/link-party-93-and-les-features/
http://betweennapsontheporch.net/a-perfect-lamp-new-update-for-the-porch/
http://www.notjustahousewife.net/
http://athomewithk.blogspot.ca/