Glaze Addiction!

A little peek...

I was pleasantly surprised to find this shelf/table at a local estate sale last week and even more excited about the price. I knew this would need some work beyond sanding and painting: it needed a back, the legs were shot, and something about the middle shelf looked out of place. Still, it had great lines, great potential. First I cut off the legs. I did this for two reasons: The first was because they were beyond repair for my skills and second to make the piece slightly shorter to better accomodate its possible future use behind a sofa. Then I cut a piece of wood (trim) to cover the middle shelf edge for a more finished look.

Then the fun began, and by that I mean the decisions on paint color and the application. I ended up using aqua and tan paint with a small touch of light green as an accent color. Then I glazed the whole piece in a brown color. I love how the glaze transformed this piece by drawing out the character in the architecture and giving it the added antiqued look.

Of course I added some handpainting...how could I resist :)? I am asking for $50 for this piece. Email me at lemonsqueezing@gmail.com if you are interested. Thanks!

SOLD!!!

Now hand painting YOUR furniture!

Do you have an old piece of furniture stashed away that you don't know what to do with? Maybe you were given it by a neighbor, or found it cheap at a yard sale and just never have gotten around to fixing it up. Maybe you aren't really a DIYer? As most of you already know I have been transforming my own furniture finds for some time now but just recently have begun taking on others' old projects and customizing them with my handpainting to suit their space. For instance, the shelves you see below belong to a friend of mine. The drawers belong to a chest that has been sitting in her garage for a very long time. When I was recently consulting with her concerning her living space she wanted to purchase a piece to go in the corner of the room. I saw this piece in her garage and talked her into using it instead of buying something new and more expensive. Because she has some experience painting she is going to paint the body of the piece black herself (saving herself additional costs) while I do some magic on the drawer faces with some handpainting...notice the photo below. This is what I am working on right now for it and I am loving it. I picked the colors that will best coordinate with her room (right out of the travertine fireplace surround) and chose a design that I feel also suits her style and overall vibe in the space. I can't wait to see this one finished in her space!

I am also excited about the potential business opportunities this type of specialized skill could possibly create for me...so, if you have an old piece that you would like custom painted let me know. I am charging for the freehand time only ($15-$20 per hour) depending on the complicity of the work I am doing. Email me if you have any additional questions at lemonsqueezing@gmail.com. I can estimate the cost for you before you commit if you send me a photo of your furniture piece along with some kind of idea of the design you would like on it. The sky is the limit here. Thanks guys!

P.S. I have been getting some questions regarding the cabinet/chest I recently posted about here with regard to price and I have decided to sell it for $75.00.

Pardon me, do you have any Grey Poupon...

I picked this antique table up at an estate sale a few weeks ago. The owner was an antique dealer and this sale was like being in a candy store...only I couldn't afford any of it :) Anyway, this was in sad shape, but I knew I had to have it. So, like any other project I began prepping it and afterwards decided on a mustard (Bauhaus Gold) color. I just love this color paired with deep browns. So rich.

It has the most gorgeous hardware on it and I love the little glass door/shelf next to the little drawer. I ended up putting a little glaze over the top to mute the color a bit but I just love the texture. I'm pricing it at $65. As always email me if you are interested in purchasing it at lemonsqueezing@gmail.com

(In these pictures I am showing it used as a sofa table but it could be paired with a little chair and make the cutest desk as well.)

SOLD!!!

The Reveal.

Here is a reminder of what this used to look like...sort of bold and in your face like, don't you think? It's amazing how a little bit of lighter paint, ebony stain, and some handpainting can do. Oh and I spray painted and glazed the hardware too.

Now it still makes a big statement but in a more delicate sort of way. I really love how this ended up and appreciate all 6 of your comments sharing your ideas (I meant that sarcasticly of course). I ended up using the Celery spray paint again from Krylon, but I believe the aqua could have been as equally as lovely, if not more...I've just been using alot of it lately and needed a break I guess :)

I hope you like...and hope to read some comments too :) I'm linking up with all of the other furniture lovers out there for Miss Mustards Furniture Feature Friday Party!

SOLD!!!

Opinions Needed!

Okay so I bought this last week at an estate sale for $20. It's got potential, especially after I ripped off the contact paper lining the top of it and took off the hideous hardware. These pics are dark, I know, but they are all I have for now. These are the drawer faces after I sanded, primed and painted them (that tutorial is for another post). I am really liking how they have turned out but can't decide what color to paint the body of the piece. The existing wood color isn't so bad but it is dinged up enough that it would have to be completley refinished. So, to paint or refinish. Honestly, I'm much more comfortable with paint and it's much less time consuming for me, but...what color would you use?

Here's a little closer look at the painted surface. There is a hint of green (kindof a dirty lime), aqua blue, burnt orange and of course brown. I was thinking either the celery color of the lamps I just did, the same aqua that's currently in it, or a nice light tan (all of which would get a coat of brown glaze afterwards). Oh, and there's always black as well. I'm also still playing around with what hardware I am going to replace the old stuff with. Here's one of those options below.

What I want to know is what are your thoughts? Please, please tell me! If I'm going to sell this thing I want it to appeal to the most people as I can :) Thanks for taking a minute and giving your highly valued opinion in the comments below :)

Lamp Revamp

I bought a pair of these a couple weeks ago for a total of $5 at a yard sale. I love the shape but still need to find some shades I like for them. I primed and then painted them with a Krylon paint called Celery.

Then wiped a little glaze all over them for some added character.

I'm a bit torn on whether I want to sell these or not...what else is new? Oh well, have a great week everyone!

A sweet little table...

I was approached today by our local librarian who asked me to put together a "low cost decorating class" for next month. I was flattered that she would think of me and that she trusts my judgement and limited design skills to do this. Just after I graduated from college in design I found myself wondering if I should have studied something more "practical". Let's be honest, I still feel that way some days but being a stay at home mom is the most important thing to me and I feel lucky to be able to have found a niche in design so to speak that still allows me to channel my creative thinking and be at home with my kids while they are young. What can I say, life is good.
Well, onto the next project of the week :) I picked these two up together at a yard sale for $5. Don't you think that wood magazine/book holder would look darling sitting on a porch somewhere? The table is what I finished up with today...It's cute and gave me the cottage vibe even though it has simple lines. So, I painted it (with a brush) in an ever so slightly shade of blue. It's so subtle though that it just looks white to me. Then I took my inspiration from a plate in my cupboard :) I know, I'm weird sometimes. I free handed it with a small brush in brown paint and then added a little green for slight contrast. Then sanded over it to give it a worn look.

After that I glazed the whole thing and voila, there you have it! I just love this little piece. It would be a great piece to fill an empty corner of a room. Email me if you are interested in it. lemonsqueezing@gmail.com

Looking forward to this weekend, I need some R&R, how about you?

SOLD!!!

I changed my mind...

Remember this $2 coffee table I picked up and painted to sit at the foot of my bed? Well, I have been thinking and... I felt that it really would be better suited for a coffee table after all. Mainly because it is a little too large for my rather small bedroom. I pulled it out today, lightly sanded the top surface and decided a damask pattern was in order. I've used this before on another piece (the entry table) and loved how it turned out so I decided to use it again. I traced the pattern (just black cardstock using a cricut design) with a pencil (no way was I freehanding this thing!)

Then I painted them with a light tan/beige color I had on hand and lightly sanded again over the top surface.

After that I used a dark stain and wiped it on all over, then wiped it off. It was a little darker than I wanted still so I sanded over the top very lightly until I got the desired result (it took a while to get it just the right smoky antique I wanted). This picture simply doesn't do it justice because it was taken when the natural light was gone but try clicking on the image to see it closer.

This is a great piece that I believe (and hope, so I won't have to redecorate to accomodate it) will go fast. It has a very heavy/sturdy construction and makes for a great conversation starter :) I am asking $60 for it. Please feel free to email me at http://lemonsqueezing/ if you are interested in purchasing this or have any other questions about it :)

Ericka

This week I am joining these great linky parties: http://www.decormamma.blogspot.com/, http://www.missmustardseed.blogspot.com/, and http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/. Check them out!!!

SOLD!!!

Got Paper Towels?

I picked two of these end tables up for $10 each over the weekend at a yard sale. Doesn't it have great lines to work with? Here's where I am at for the time being. I primed and painted the drawers and then had a little fun painting the faces green and adding a design. No handpainting this time...I used a papertowel and placed it on the wet paint, pressed it down and then pulled it off. Sweet, huh? Then I heavily distressed it for an extra shabby look. I still need to paint the body of both of the end tables but am headed to Utah for a couple of days.

What do you think of my "paper towel" design? I would love to try this with a copper or burnt orange paint...I think it looks alot like the raised designs you find on ceiling tiles these days. Well, that's it for now, have a great week everyone!

SOLD!!!

For the southern ladies...(and those of us who want to be)

I found this small chest at an estate sale and paid $25 for it...a little steep, I know, but the owner wanted $35 so I felt good about it. Then I took it home and let it sit for a few weeks while I thought of its possibilities. Of course it took some sanding... a coat of primer, and an antique aqua coat of paint, then a little distressing...

and of course some handpainting. This time I went with my favorite blossom, the magnolia. If any of you live in the south, or have ever visited and seen these they truly are beautiful and represent all things southern...that's why I LOVE them! So, I googled some magnolia images to use as a reference guide and this is what I came up with.

Cute huh! I'm still trying to decide whether or not to glaze it. Thoughts?

Or for that matter add a cushion...once I do that I'm going to have to raise the purchase price and well...I'm not sure just yet but here's a picture of it with some fabric draped over a pillow to give you a visual idea of the potential a cushion can add :)

If this one doesn't sell soon, I think I just might find a place for it in my own home :) It would be perfect for storing blankets or even shoes near the front entry. What would you do with one of these?

I'm joining these linky parties this weekend: http://www.decormamma.blogspot.com/ and http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/, and http://www.missmustardseed.blogspot.com/

SOLD!!!