Duncan Phyfe Chair Makeover

I have a problem.  I am obsessed with Duncan Phyfe and pressed back chairs.  I'm drawn to them like a moth to a flame.  I don't know if it is those great curvy legs, the lovely design carved into the seat backs, or the endless fabric options for the seat cushions.  I just know that I LOVE them!

I recently finished a Duncan Phyfe chair for a very special cause.  A local family recently lost 4 of their children, their home, and all of their belongings in a tragic fire.  The community has really rallied around this family and they are having a huge fundraising benefit for them this weekend.

I refinished this chair to donate to the silent auction.  I'm hoping the trendy chevron and the yellow and grey combo will attract many bidders.  This chair was painted in Chalk Paint® by Annie Sloan in Paris Grey.

I just love all of the detail in this piece.  From the fun swirls in the back to the channels down the fronts of the legs.

A light distressing and a fun yellow chevron print fabric make this piece new again without forgetting where she came from.

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Our thoughts and prayers go to the Owen family during this very difficult time.

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Waterfall Dressing Table/Vanity

I wanted to take a moment and share more pictures of the waterfall dressing table that I had completed.  The pictures in the original blog post were taken in my office/painting room and the lighting was very poor.

Have another look at this beautiful piece!

This piece was painted in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in the colors Paris Grey, Old White, and Arles.

Blue's Spring Gathering 2013

Phew! I can finally breathe again!

I have been super busy preparing for my first big show.  It was Saturday, April 27th, in Creal Springs, Illinois.  I can guarantee that you all have never heard of Creal Springs, but the Blue family puts on one heck of an outdoor vintage/antique/primitive market twice a year...right on their front lawn!

There was more than 85 vendors and over 2,000 shoppers despite the chilly, rainy weather.  A great time was had by all!  The Gathering even made the local evening news.

Sale in Creal Springs bring in Big Crowd

I met many wonderful people and I'd like to welcome you all to my blog and to my Facebook page.  For those who were unable to attend, I thought I would share some pictures of my booth.  Forgive my cell phone pictures.

The crowds were lined up early to get in the gate.

And pictures of my booth.

I had a great first show!  Nearly all of my pieces sold and I received many compliments on my work.  It was just the ego boost I needed to feel like I'm doing the right thing by starting this little business.

Be sure to stop by and show a little love to Blue's Junk & Primitives and tell Gail I sent you!

Antique Highboy Dresser Before and After

Last summer, I was out thrifting and going to yard sales with a friend.  As we made our way down the main street through town, we saw that a little junk store was bringing furniture pieces out along the street.  I saw a piece that caught my eye and I made a quick turn to stop and see it.

It was love at first sight!

After a little haggling on price, I loaded her up and brought her straight home.  She had great details and look at those sexy legs on her!  Sure her finish had seen better days and there were hearts carved into the top of her from one of her previous owners, but I saw her potential.

I was inspired by a couple of vintages pieces that Beth from Home Stories from A to Z had recently refinished for her boys.  I loved the two-toned look she created.

(Image Source)

Here is my version of the inspiration piece.  I didn't want a bright white, so I chose Annie Sloan's Country Grey.  Unlike the name would lead you to believe, Country Grey is more of a creamy almost Almond color.  I thought it was perfect for this piece.

I did a light sanding on the top and the drawer fronts and stained them in Minwax Special Walnut.  The wood was very dry and really soaked up both the paint and the stain so several coats were needed.

The following two pictures were after two coats of stain.  I believe I have at least four coats on the finished piece.

I decided to use the original drawer pulls because they were just so neat!  I gave them a good scrub with Bar Keeper's Friend, but I was left with a splotchy mess.  I  brightened them up again with a little Antique Gold Rub n' Buff.  Then I went over them with a dark glaze to age them again.

One of the original pulls was missing, so I opted to go with porcelain knobs on the top drawer.  I think it gives the highboy a little bling.  And for that extra touch, I painted the insides of the drawers in Annie Sloan's Duck Egg blue.  

I really loved this antique highboy and there was a part of me that really wanted to keep it.  But, I can't keep every piece that I paint.  This one is now part of a little girl's nursery.  It will be a piece the family can always treasure!

And another before and after.

So what do you think?  Are you a fan of two-toned furniture or would you have finished it in a solid color?

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Linking up to:

Waterfall dressing table & Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

I have many irons in the fire right now.  However, I wanted to take a minute and show you a piece I recently completed.

I purchased this waterfall dressing table from one of my favorite pickers, Gail, of Blue's Junk & Primitives.  She finds the best "rusty junk".  

This piece was in great shape structurally, but the finish left little to be desired.  A light sanding to knock off the flaking finish and some Annie Sloan Chalk Paint to the rescue!  

 I chose Paris Grey and Old White for the dressing table.

The handles are some type of metal that had a brass-type overlay.  They also had a little surface rust to them.  I gave them a good cleaning and they just weren't very pretty.  So I decided to paint them in Paris Grey and give them a white-washed look with Old White.  I finished them in Soft Wax and a very light coat of Dark Wax.

I gave it some light distressing to give it that well-loved and worn feel.

 I used a stencil on each end just to give it a little extra "bling".

And here she is in all her lovely chalk paint glory!  

She's come a long way from her old neglected self.  I think she would be great as a table behind someone's sofa, a great little laptop desk, or as a dressing table in a little girl's room.

So what do you think of this piece?  Would you have chosen these colors?

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