Teal is everywhere these days. From fashion to furniture, it’s the must have color this season. So I decided to take the plunge and try CeCe Caldwell’s Thomasville Teal and see what the rage is all about. My test subject for this project is this “roadside rescue” my husband found. It’s a plain Jane dresser with good bones. For me, “good bones” means its solid construction, it’s functional and has lots of potential!
Say hello to “Plain Jane”
Dresser Before
CeCe Caldwell has a great blue/green paint called Thomasville Teal.
Thomas meet Jane!
After a few coats of Thomasville Teal, “Jane” is still looking plain. It’s like she has on a pretty dress but no accessories to complement her dress.
So, I added some accessories. The numbers add character (like a scarf ) but the black is to subdued. She needs some bling!
You can always count on gold for some bling. And, it really pops against the teal.
After a little bit of distressing and some gold knobs (earrings), Jane goes from plain to Pretty In Teal!
I could see this in a nursery with sweet little baby clothes, or for a toddler just learning to count, or as a lingerie chest in the master bedroom. The possibilities are endless!
Sometimes you get a piece of furniture and you can see the natural beauty of the piece just below the surface. That was the case with this pine dresser that my friend Meghan’s father handmade.
The top stain had worn off so the top looked really dull.
By sanding and staining the top, you can now see the beauty of the wood. It is gorgeous!
For the body of the dresser, I layered on several colors to create a worn weathered look. The first color I used was CeCe Caldwell’s Omaha Orche,
Followed by a Pittsburgh Gray color wash. To create the wash, I mixed 1/2 cup of water to 2 tablespoons of paint. I love that you can still see some of the graining and it looks like the paint has worn off over time!
I am really happy with the final look. My goal was to maintain the history and integrity of the piece while making it fresh and current for a 21st century home. It’s now available at Maggie Jane’s, located at 913 King Street in Old Town, Alexandria, VA (703.706.0411). This versatile piece would fit in any room in the house. Nice small scale for a foyer; an awesome wine bar; side table or bedside dresser.
Here is a collage of before, during and after. Enjoy!
After months of planning, demo day finally arrived. Our kitchen contractor (Enrique Bonilla of Bonilla Home Service in Alexandria, VA) arrived bright and early to start renovations and after a few hours…..
Two rooms became one,
cabinets came out,
and walls were taken down to the studs.
And after a few weeks, new drywall went up,
new flooring went down and a dark jacobean stain was applied.
My next post will feature the finished kitchen but here is a sneak peak…..
Cabinets, lighting, back splash and storage, oh my!
Some designs never go out of style. These cane barrel chairs from the 60’s are just as fashionable today as they were over 50 years ago. Yes, these chairs are over 50 years old! The quality and craftsmanship of the chairs are undeniable. The caning is still intact and the velvet seat cushions are in decent condition.
But, I believe they can look ever better.
So, here is one chair after a coat of CeCe Caldwell’s Vintage White paint and some distressing. I love the paisley ikat fabric but not with this chair. Maybe I should try a different fabric?
Maybe a jacobean pattern?
But, in the end………
I repainted the chairs and and chose a completely different fabric for the cushions. Two coats of CeCe Caldwell’s Vintage White for a fresh look and a classic blue/green toile pattern fabric.
I am really happy with the final outcome. These chairs are ready for a new home!
In February of 2014 our kitchen renovation began. After months of planning, the start day was finally here! Our small galley kitchen of 15 year was about to get a make over.
We are going to take down the wall on the left and in the process will lose a lot of cabinet/storage space. Our contractor suggested we add cabinets on the back wall. Great idea! But I still need to find other creative storage options. Behind the wall is a very small sitting room. See the next pic.
This room was once the dining room. It was too small, so I converted it to a sitting room. The wall to the right adjoins the kitchen and is coming down and a banquette is going under the window.
The window is the only nice feature on this wall. As you can see, the cabinets are very short so we plan to remove the bulkhead and take the cabinets up to the ceiling. Our contractor suggested we move the stove to the far right (near the back door) so we can maximize cabinets. Another great idea!
The door allows light to come into the kitchen. The pantry cabinets (on the right) will be removed and I will bring in a furniture piece for open storage.
But before our renovation began, we did our A, B, C’s and D.
A is for Ask: We asked our friends, family and neighbors about their kitchen reno experiences and we took notes. We asked…how would you rate your contractor, would you use him/her again, what’s your favorite thing about your new kitchen, least favorite about your kitchen, one thing you wished you had done differently, what was your budget.
B is for Budget: Know your true budget and what that budget can buy. For example: Don’t design your kitchen around carrara marble counter tops when you can only afford laminate!
Your friends/family won’t mind you asking for a general price point for their project. Once you determine your budget, you can begin researching your dream kitchen.
C is for Contractor: If you do A, you will have several great options for contractors. We interviewed three contractors and visited kitchens they renovated to see their workmanship.
D is for Decisions: Now you can start making decisions based on sound advice, accurate budget, and professional expertise. We did our ABC’s & D–so now let the renovation begin!
Stay tuned for my next post… Kitchen Reno- (Pt. 2) The Wall Came Tumbling Down!
