French Grey Metamorphosis

Today I would like to post this redo for Metamorphosis Monday on Between Naps on the Porch and Today's Thrifty Treasures on Southern Hospitality. (Thanks to both for hosting--everyone, please be sure to visit them!) I found this small French buffet at a thrift store that was solid wood, but had been abused. I decided that French grey would be pretty with the lines and would look good in my dining room. As I do quite often, I mixed the paint myself to come up with the color I wanted and added some white accents.

P.S. Rory from Tools are for Women Too asked me to link up for Modern Craftswomen Monday, so I'm doing it...thanks, Rory!

This is before (I almost forgot to take a before photo):

And this is after:

And this is in place in the dining room:

What about adding a contemporary painting?

That's the way the bus rolls.....

Being a fan of graphic black and white, I love the bus rolls, tram rolls, destination rolls or whatever they may be called. I know the vintage ones can be really expensive, $300, $400, $500 give or take, but I was surprised that the replicas were so pricey as well. Restoration Hardware carries a replica subway sign that is similar for $800. Of course, me being me, just like many of you, I decided I could paint my own. So I did just that. I chose my own cities in England because I have always felt somewhat of a kinship with England, don't know why (could it possibly be my name?) and I have always wanted to visit that region. I painted a 22" x 50" piece of watercolor canvas black and then used white paint for the letters. It's not perfect. I may even distress it a little to make it look a little more vintagey. I have not decided if I want to frame it or not. But I will probably attach the top and bottom to some dowels or something similar.

I hung it (with my favorite little temporary trick---needles, so that they leave no noticeable holes in the wall) as you go out my back door into the garage. That way I am reminded that the way to these places is just through that door. Maybe I'll paint one for another region I would like to visit. Or maybe I'll make the names up. But one thing I do know is that this was a monster to paint! Hmmm, maybe that is why they are so pricey!

Today I am linking up with Funky Junk Interiors and Tools are for Women Too, so please go check out all the wonderful ideas there.

Address Number Play

Since our house was the only one on our block that did not have an address plate on our mailbox, I decided to make one. It is a brick mailbox, so I used an antique square of ceiling tin. I wanted to keep most of its rusted, rustic patina. I painted the center of the square creamy white and then painted the address in black and polyurethaned it. Of course, the address 111 was sort of boring so I decided to play with it and this is what I came up with.

Someone liked it so much they had me paint a ceiling tin just to hang on their wall. They liked the play on the number 1.

And you're right, some people still don't get it!

But get this, go on over to Kathleen's Faded Charm and have fun looking at all the White Wednesday posts. Thanks again, Kathleen, for hosting! And get this too, go on over to Rory's Tools are for Women Too and look at all the projects on her Modern Craftswoman Monday!

Prior Lives Party - Soap Dish Sweetness

Today I'm linking up to Lezlee's Prior Lives Party for something that I use that had a prior life as something else. I must say I just love the name of her blog, Prior. I could do posts on this subject every day. It is pretty much the story of my life...reuse, reinvent, repurpose. But here is a simple one and it didn't even have to be redone. RARE for me. This is an old soap holder, I guess made out of copper, that my hubby bought for me at a garage sale. Yes, I have taught him well. I love the way it looks-almost like it has little crosses all around it. I just hung it up above my kitchen sink near the coffee pot and put my Splenda, Sweet N Low and Equal packets in it. Keeps 'em handy and gets them off the countertop!

Thanks to Lezlee for hosting this party-go see what other prior lives exist on her blog and then let us see what you have that lived as something else before!

Before and After - Frenchy Stuff Meets Restoration Hardware

I really like French furniture, even the 60's French Provincial furniture. When I was a little girl, it seemed everybody had it in their bedrooms except me. Well, I have painted and sold quite a bit of it the last few years. I've painted many dressers and chests, but I recently found this secretary and I don't remember ever seeing one quite like this.

I decided to try something a little different rather than painting it white or my recent favorite, french grey. Have you seen the new Restoration Hardware catalog? I have just been drooling over the soft neutrals. I recently bought some Restoration Hardware paint called Cappucino. I decided to give it a try on the secretary and a little antique French bed. I painted the trim in a soft white for a subtle accent. Then I distressed a little and glazed them both creating a "patine". Are you ready to see the result?

I would have loved to have had these in my bedroom when I was little. Heck, I would have loved to fill my daughter's bedroom with these when she was little. Granddaughter Sweet Caroline is only 9 months old...her bedroom is already full. So these have made like Elvis and left the building. Now they are on display at the shop!

I am linking up to Thrifty Decor Chick, Faded Charm and Tools are for Women Too.

Thanks to all our wonderful hosts!

Lovin' That Butler.............'s Pantry!

Meet Hopson. This is probably as close as I'll ever get to having a butler. But I do have a butler's pantry and it is, as you guessed, mostly in shades of white.

Looking from the dining room. Interesting how the glass fronts show up on film.

They don't look like this in person.

They look more like this (just an iphone photo a little closer-up).

You can see the vintage Wedgewood dishes behind the glass somewhat better.

My collection of vintage Easimix Gresley mixing bowls.

I just love the little bitty one.

Of course, I've made a chalkboard in a vintage frame for every nook and cranny.

Needs a menu written on it, doesn't it? For this setting, it would be a breakfast menu.

I've been collecting apothecary jars for about 25 years, before it was cool.

Right now, these hold breakfast cereals and packets of instant oatmeal.

And there is a toast holder and a Heisy syrup pitcher.

Part of my collection of individual creamers.

I've also been collecting cloches before it was cool.

I actually at one time used them in the garden.

Of course, that was way back when I had a garden.

Starting the day with a little inspiration:

vintage religious print.

Not too far from the butler's pantry:

an apothecary jar holding espresso cups (to get you started)

an apothecary beverage dispenser for orange juice or mimosas (to really get you started)

and a vintage master sugar bowl.

Also not too far from the butler's pantry:

an antique tea cabinet that holds different teas and coffees,

a tray holding shot glasses (I love to serve little juices in these or

gazpacho....someday they might even hold shots!)

And a little chair holding small leaf dishes that I use

as butter pats or teabag holders or jam servers.

By the way, I guess you could say this little chair is my own version of Mary Engelbreit's

"chair of bowlies".

Well, I hope you enjoyed a visit to my butler's pantry. Next time, let me know and maybe I'll have actual food!

In the meantime, "Hopson" on over to Kathleen's blog, Faded Charm, and visit the other entries for White Wednesday!