Paris Gray Keepsake Dresser

Searching online for quality second hand furniture isn't for the faint of heart. It takes a combination of perseverance, patience, and plain shear luck to find a really good deal from the comforts of your living room. My latest 13CCF client, Lori, can certainly attest to this! 

Lori, is a doting grandmother to her three precious grandbabies. Several months ago Lori told me she'd like to give each of her grandchilden a keep sake dresser. She asked if I would customize the pieces if she were able to find something second hand. After a long search and some frustrating second place online finishes, my client finally found this French Provincial style dresser for her granddaughter, Macy.

As a keepsake, it was important to choose a paint color that would allow the piece to grow with her granddaughter throughout the years. We decided Annie Sloan's Paris Gray would be the perfect choice for a French curvy dresser.

Here is the finished product:

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Well, what'cha think?

I LOVE IT!

The Paris Gray chalk paint has such a subtle, feminine hue.

It's like a breath of fresh air!

I love the way it accentuates the ornate qualities of the dresser without dating it.

We opted to keep the existing hardware. 

I simply painted the knobs with chalk paint and 

 then used Gold and Silver leaf Rub'n Buff to draw out some of the detailing. 

Of course the sun popped out right before I took these photos 

so it's kind of hard to see the gold and silver.

I wanted to keep the piece light and airy

with minimal distressing/aging.

Had I gone hog wild with the dark wax

it would have been just as gorgeous with all these curves.

Just imagine the dresser with a

gilded, metal, or sunburst mirror behind it.

Oh...or maybe chevron cork board?  

Honestly, this soft gray color is so neutral the design options are limitless.

Hopefully Miss Macy will enjoy it for years to come.

As always thanks for reading 13CCF. Have a great Labor Day weekend!

~Wendy

Custom Pantry Door

When my latest 13CCF clients built their new home they designed the kitchen with a corner pantry. I'd give my right lung for a pantry. Absolutely love'em! They found an old door with a glass window for $20. Then Heather had her husband rip the sides down to fit the size of the frame and installed it. BAM, a green pantry door!

Ok, maybe green wasn't what she had in mind for her beautiful new kitchen.
Lol!
The home owners decided to have me repaint the pantry door
with Annie Sloan chalk paint and waxes.
I brought some color swatches over to the house and got to take a tour.

Together we decided ASCP Coco would be the best color choice for the space.

I brought the pantry door home and stared at it for awhile.
(Yeah that's when those 'aha' moments come.)
I decided to pitch the home owners a different idea.
What if...

I don't paint it?
What if I strip the green off? What if I just PLAY with it and see what happens?

Several hours, toxins,
 and a moderate case of carpal tunnel
later...

I finally reached the heart of the door.

Here's the final product:

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Well, what'cha think?

I love it...

and all its perfect imperfections!

I think this

 "Old World" finish

is going to look

STUNNING

next to their dark cabinetry and marble counter tops.

It's definitely a far cry from the green.



I stuck with the original plan

of painting the interior side of the pantry door

with ASCP Coco.

I gave it a heavy coat of dark wax 

for an aged patina.

I really like ASCP Coco.

The tone is actually very similar to French Linen.

The Coco seems to have a brown hue
while the French Linen has more of a gray undertone.

As always thanks for reading 13CCF. Let me know if I can ever help you customize any of the spaces in your home!

~Wendy

ASCP Old Violet Chest of Drawers with Galvanized Metal Top

I love decorating with metal accents because they have the potential to completely change the look and feel of a room. For some time time now I've been wanting to fabricate a metal top for a dresser. Lucky for me, I'm married to a man who owns an industrial brake!

To be a candidate for the project though,
the dresser needed to have the right shape and edges.

When I came across this chest of drawers online 

I knew it was the perfect piece for the experiment.

It took me awhile to get "the boss" on board, 

but eventually Don got around to making the top for me. 

Here's the final product:

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 What'cha think?

 I know...I'm so excited!

 I absolutely love it!

Don did a super job!

The polished sheen of the metal looks fabulous

next to the weathered finish of the Old Violet chalk paint.

The dimensions are 27" W x 15" D x 34 H
which make is a very versatile piece of furniture.

I'm sure it was a dresser in its former life,
but now it could easily act as
a night stand, cocktail bar, console, small buffet, entryway chest, etc.

Let me know if you're in the market for
a one of a kind piece of furniture for your home.
This one got SOLD before it even went to press!

As always thanks for reading 13CCF. Enjoy those final days before the new school year begins!
~Wendy