Night Stand Makeover

A friend gave this little night stand to my son but it was in need of some TLC. (Please ignore my badly worn mahogany floors. They are in need of some TLC as well, but that's a project for another day.)

After a good sanding to repair it's tattered finish, I brushed on a couple coats of some nice creamy white paint.

I decided it needed some 'character' - so, I gave it some gentle distressing with sandpaper.

For the areas that were just too hard to reach with sheets of sandpaper, I used my trusty emery board. It works like a charm.

The old tired night stand now has a new lease on life.

Until next time ~ Suzanne.

Linked to: Tatertots and Jello

Chair Makeover

Our laptop is set up on a sofa table in the family room with a wooden bench for a seat. My kids have never liked the bench and tell me their bottom side hurts when they sit on it for any length of time.
Along comes this 'well loved' chair that I found at a local antique shop. The 'gilding' really wasn't working for me and the padded seat had been badly neglected, but I figured with a little TLC it could be 'loved' once more.

Here she is now after a fresh coat of paint and a newly upholstered seat. I knew from the moment I saw her that the printed linen from my throw pillow would be perfect for the seat.

I gave it a coat of 'Mopboard Black' followed by a coat of 'Anamite'. To give it some character, I added some 'gentle distressing' with some sandpaper - just enough to let the black show through. I finished it with a couple coats of 'Minwax Polycrylic Clear Satin'.

We saw this cute little guy the other day feasting on some ferns. We watched each other for 10 minutes before he went along his merry way. I have seen more deer this year than any other - not sure why, but it's always such a nice surprise.

Linked to Someday Crafts and Tatertots and Jello and Its So Very Cheri and Funky Junk Interiors and Thrifty Decor Chick

Until next time ~ Suzanne.

Factory Cart Coffee Table

I found this lovely old gal at a local antique shop.


Time had taken its toll and yet, she weathered the storm.

I saw so many possibilities the moment I saw her. My husband thought that I had finally gone off the deep end.

I saw character and charm and knew that she would make a wonderful statement piece. She would have a new purpose as a coffee table.

The top of the cart was weathered beyond hope, so we had to remove all the old boards. We were able to find some similar old boards to replace them with.

After some love and revamping (wheel adjustments to level the table, sanding, staining, painting and stenciling) - this is how she looks today.

Think how many times these wheels have turned over the years.

The antique dealer told us the cart came from the 'Harry Stoller Company' (one of the old shoe factories in Haverhill, Mass).  I stenciled the name on both sides to add a bit of history.

It just so happens, that my husband had been in that old mill building 5 years prior and probably passed right by her.  It seems she was meant to be ours.

We now have this lovely 'new/old' coffee table and my husband sees what I saw when we first met.

Until next time ~ Suzanne.

Linked to: Funky Junk Interiors