Remember all the things I bought at the garage sales a couple weeks ago? I finally got them painted. First is this shelf above. When I bought it I had no idea where I was going to put it but it was only $2 so I bought it anyway. It actually looked really pretty in the dark wood (you won't hear me say that very often!) but it didn't go with anything in my apartment so I painted it white (no surprise there). I found a great spot for it on the wall in my dining area. I'm not thrilled with that carrot mold I have hanging above it but that hides my thermostat. I'm always on the lookout for something better to hide that ugly thing but I haven't found it yet. (you can click on the photo above to enlarge it.) The green spots on the wall and shelf are just reflections from the chandelier crystals.
Below is the before photo but before you wood lovers say I shouldn't have painted it, I just want to mention that it was damaged and there was rubbery looking stuff coming out of the corner.
I also painted the little side table white...
Now it looks much better in my apartment...
Tomorrow I'll show you the big candlesticks I also painted.
55 comments:
Everything looks really pretty. The "haunted" soup tureen makes me laugh!
Your home is just lovely! Everything has come together so well. Your blue and white palette is so inviting. Joanne
Cindy,
As usual fantastic job. They all look great. I went to a garage sale last week end and saw a table similar to yours and they wanted $25.00. Your deal was smokin....
Sandyt
Cindy was beautiful!
I like dark furniture,
But the mobile white of more lightness.
Everything I buy here at home is modified,
the tendency is always to the Provencal.
Thanks for the creative ideas.
Great job once again! I just love how you keep finding more lovely treasures and and there is always a space to put them in. Just goes to show you that even in a small space there is always room for one more thing.
Oh and how about painting your carrot cover white. Then it will look better with your other pretty items. Maybe toss some glitter on it and your good to go.
Hugs,
Joanne
Cindy, I love what you did with your shelf! You made the right decision to paint it. Love the table too! Everything is so pretty. I'd love to go shopping with you sometime!
Blessings,
Sandi
Ooooh, those turned out so pretty! I love it. What a great job!
Oh, Cindy. How I LOVE your make overs!!! You really just make my day. Truly, I could just sit and look at your blog all day.
Great job as usual.
I have some bowls come to think of it from portugal that do the same thing when their washed and after they dry you can't see the cracks it weird.
Ciao
Hi!
Beautiful house and blog. You are so creative. I am sure you put in a lot of long hours and hard work and it shows! It's great!
mary
Hi Cindy, your newly painted shelf looks wonderful. I would take down that carrot mold, spray it with Kilz and paint it white and antique it. I will blend right in then. Add a little ribbon to the top (like a blue and white check) and you'll probably like it better :)
Blessings,
Sher
I agree, everything looks better white. I just got done silver leafing some plaster cherub heads and to tell you the truth, I'm kind of disappointed at the result. I think they would have looked better if I had just used an off white paint and rubbed in some sepia :(
Cindy - love your creative endeavers! You certainly have a keen eye when shopping! I believe you would be a fantastic decorator or even someone who stages homes for resale...of course you would have to work with furnishings that the owners already have...maybe have a budget to select some eye candy focal highlights! I am sure you just get lost within yourself when you go haunting (couldn't help the pun!) Have a great week-end!
In my book, Cindy, you are the queen of paint. I think you should do a book on painting techniques. We all trust you on that one! And I think because of this way you have of blending it all in your apartment always looks so fresh and inviting.
Brenda
Cindy, I just love that you know exactly what you want, how to achieve it, and where to put it. I hope I can be that way someday.
Absolutely gorgeous Cindy! I really enjoyed your blog today, as usual! The silver carrot mold doesn't bother me at all ~ it's pretty there. I love the view into your kitchen!
Karin
I'm a big advocate of painting things white also! It all looks so pretty.
Glad you solved the soup tureen mystery!!
:)
Like your shelf and table Cindy.What is that little cabinet thingy on your kitchen cabinet ?
Hi Cindy,your new treasures look
so pretty. I love the side table...
just the right size placed by your
wicker chair. The shelf also looks
perfect in your dining room. Great
idea to paint the carrot cover
white. Love your blog...Mimi
Cindy, you did a fabulous job. It is all just lovely. Inviting, comfortable and beautiful.
The cracking is the water expanding and contracting in the crackling of the finish which has been compromised.
Done with your usual talent and style. Cindy, have you ever thought of painting the carrot mold? If it's only decorative, that is. "Talk" soon!
OK, I thought I had an original idea, and now I see that LOTS of friends thought of the same thing!
Everything turned out beautifully. You do have an amazing eye for seeing the potential of items. The table really looks great. I'm going to try to practice your technique -- if only my things come out half as nice, I'll be so happy! Love everyone's idea of painting the carrot mold...much lighter than my klutzy birdhouse idea! Or maybe you could decoupage it! In toile?! Whatever you do, I know it will be fabulous!
sheri
Cindy, I went back and read a previous post on how you paint furniture. You said you almost always strip it first....did you do that with the shelf? I've got a shelf I want to try painting and I bought the stripper you suggested, I just need to get over the fear of ruining something and give it a shot. Yours looks great!!!
Ginger
Cindy I think they both turned out just great and why not you did them..its all beautiful girl..Hugs and smiles Gloria
Cindy,Your home is just beautiful. I love the shelf painted white. It would have stuck out like a sore thumb if you would've kept it dark wood. The table is very pretty too.
Hugs,
Lee Laurie
A magazine NEEDS to do a feature on your apartment. Are you listening Romantic Homes/Romantic Country?
~elaine~
Nothing like a touch of white paint to give things a new lease on living a pretty life.
Great job on the painted furniture!
I'm kind of disappointed to hear the soup tureen is not haunted.
Have a Happy Halloween!
These turned out beautiful, of course! Seems like anything you put your hand on turns incredibly lovely! I especially love the little table. The silver set is just gorgeous on there!
Kady
It's all so beautiful!!
I have to say I don't like that carrot mould either, maybe you could put some pretty silk roses there instead??
Just a suggestion, but you have a beautiful style of decorating!!
Martha
your make-overs look lovely. I agree with Joanne...paint your carrots, then even crackle it (with fine cracks) and age it with a hint of off white, Love the shelf and table!! laurie
Cindy,
Your makeovers look great! You have great taste...I love seeing how you use accessories to pull it all together!
Diane
Don't you just love garage sale finds!
Martha
Love those finds! I say "pffffffft" to the wood painting naysayers. I have people already hassling me for painting the trim etc.. white in my home. I have learned to just not mention it to many people. I find it funny that even on a blog where you paint everything people return and whinge about you painting things.
Saturday is final moving day for our family and I am painting away and will be for months! :D
I love the shelf painted! I looked into your kitchen from that photo and admired your cabinets there. Now I want to paint mine white!
Please tell me what shade you white you would use, and any tips on painting kitchen cabinets. My decorating style is similar to yours, except I'm green where you are blue!
Thank you, Cindy. You always brighten my day with your blog.
~B~
I would love to have such a small table here too. Not to mention what I would love to do with the furnitures we now have in our living room LOL.
Hope you have a nice weekend Cindy.
Love Elzie
Cindy...all I can say is... I WANT TO LIVE WITH YOU! LOL
Wonderful finds and so much better with them painted white! Just lovely!!
Blessings!
You are SO creative! Love all your ideas and you ROCK! Thanks for always posting such great ideas. Happy Halloween!
I do love me some garage sale makeovers! Happy Halloween....
They turned out well.
Love that little table.
Everything looks beautiful! I love that you have the carrot mold covering your thermostat, what a great idea. I love the table white, you can see all the detail in the wood perfectly...
Happy weekend~
~ Tara ~
I always love looking at the things you've done. The only thing I thought of when reading your blog this time comes from my "commonsense" husband talking about the sensor in your thermostat that tells the furnace/air conditioner when to "click-on" and if you cover it up, it won't read properly. Now, in California, it may not be such a big deal but here in Kansas (no matter the season) it's a big deal to have an accurate thermostat.
Although I like painted pieces, I am actually the opposite of you, I much prefer the dark wood. I do enjoy a variety of home decor styles though, so its always nice to see different types of decorating. Your home is lovely. :-)
You have a gorgeous home.
You have made a beautifully comfortable home.
I also put a copper mold over an unwanted and never used switch.
I like what someone above said about painting the mold white with glitter. or how about a silver Fleur De Lis Mold like this
http://www.chefdepot.com/cakemolds4.htm
Or this copper Fleur De Lis Oval 6" Mold
http://www.jacobskitchen.com/rufldelisov6.html
I know these are kinda pricey but with your fabulous luck...you might find one at a thrift shop or estate sale.
Good luck!
The shelf turned out lovely, I loved the white table and then I saw it in the wood, I loved it both ways! Your is always so lovely, I just do not know what else you could do, for its so lovely now.
well I don't need to tell you that I love it all painted white, the shelf looks fab, I know what you mean about the wood but white rocks
Sarah
When I think you can't possibly get another thing in your apartment, you manage to find a spot for it. good job LOL
Forgot to add to my comment - about you not liking your mold to much - how about doing a metal primer on it and then painting it white? Also, I stragically hung a vintage handbag (needlepoint) with a chain handle on a wall with the bag portion covering my ugly thermostat. Or a chic smallest vintage hat hung stragicically would be adorable to! Love, Esther
Love the little shelf and table! You need to move soon. You have enough furniture and pretty things for 2 apt. : )
~Liz~
I had an idea for your thermostat: what if you made a shadowbox? You can buy a plain wood cube/frame, and then glue another framed photo on top, so that it looks like a picture, but the frame is deep enough to fit over the thermostat. Hope that makes sense...it's hard to describe things with no picture!
I love your makeovers ! The shelf nd table are so cute, I'd need nice furniture like this for our old victorian house (once it's renovated!). What did you use on the furniture, just regular paint ??It seemsyou aged them..no?
I am new to your blog and love your decor. I really would like to give this style a try and was wondering if you can do a tutorial on how you painted your shelf. Do you prime the wood? Can you take photos and post them next time. It really would help us who are wanting to spread our wings and try this. Also could you share how you shop, what catches your eye and any other helpful tips? Pretty please?
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