Welcome To Our Little Big House On The Prairie


Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Reveal: Washstand

Back in November, Scott bought me this beautiful washstand from our local thrift for $125.00.  You can read about that HERE.  Although I swore I would never paint her, I did.  I gave in.  I am on a mission to purge the house of any its dark depressing-ness.  And she needed a paint job.


Yesterday, I decided to stop procrastinating and just do it already.  I fixed a few spots where her top was chipped on the edges with some wood filler and lightly sanded her down before I got to work with some homemade chalk paint...



I hemmed and hawed forever over whether to do a color or stick with white.  I usually decide to play it safe with white or some other neutral and then drool over blogger peeps that throw caution to wind and go with bright, vivid color.  Take Amy for example, from The Salvage Collection.  She's always doing awesome furniture makeovers with vibrant color, like this:

Droolin' on the "kuh-nobs".
(Ya gotta read Amy to get that.)

So, I decided to go out on a limb.  

And jump.

There's one thing about it, you're either going to love it or hate it.  I love it.  And the knobs...  Yeah.  I {heart} Hobby Lobby.  And better yet, 50% off.  I am so glad I drove 45 minutes into W'loo yesterday on a whim.  The knobs make it.


And the detailing that I love totally "pops" now.



I'm actually surprised how much I like it.  


Adore it, actually.


Super bright.  Super cheerful.

And get this...

This morning as I was groggily sitting up in bed trying to shake off the last dregs of sleep, I looked over at the rocking chair that I bought off Craigslist last summer for $30.00.  Amazingly enought, I think it was built by Square Brand too.  The detailing is almost exact.


What are the odds of that?

Pretty slim, I betcha. 


Now, some of you are probably ranting at your computer right now because I painted an antique.  You probably liked the dark heaviness of the original:


But I think she's gorgeous.


And totally me.

And when you throw in some perky spring goodness...


Does it get any better?

I don't think so.

What about you?

XO,

51 comments:

Susan said...

Laura, I love it!! Love the color you chose also. I think color over dark stain always brings out the personality of the owner. Keep taking that leap of faith and brighten up those older pieces - you can always have it stripped back to the original.

Anonymous said...

YOU know we have been stripping antiques for years with all sorts of green color so why is it different now? It protects the wood. In my booths I will put a piece in it's natural wood color for 2 months or so and as soon as I paint it, its gone in 3 days. So what's a girl to do?

Nelly@DGInnovations said...

Gorgeous! I am "de-brownifying" my home as well! Its time for some light and bright beauty!

Great Job!

the decorating chica said...

Love it. I recently redid my washstand. An antique but not originally as beautiful as yours. I LOVE the color! I am going to go bold next redo for sure.

http://decoratingchica.blogspot.com/2012/03/houston-we-have-problem.html

Cassie Bustamante said...

So fun! love the color and knobs! i hopped over from shannon's as she was showing it off for ya! :)

Shari @ turnstylevogue.com said...

I think it is perfect. Great choice!!

Shannon Fox said...

I love your guts and how you went for it with that zingy green. It is so full of life and will fit in beautifully with the room! Can't wait to see it all, but loving the little peeks =)

Unknown said...

Yep! Definitely bright and cheery! Just in time for spring too. ♥ it.

Tanya said...

It looks super cute! I love the color you chose :)

The Cottage Market {Andrea} ♥ said...

this is sooooooooooooooooooooooawesome! LOVE the POP of Green!!!! soooooo cool! i have a piece pretty much like this one waiting to be refinished -- it think it is going to be colbalt blue -- oh Grandma is in the heavens cringing i am sure since this was hers -- but seeing this piece gives me the nerve to do it because it is FABULOUS!!!! : ) (hugs!) going over to join your blog now! see ya later!!!
you have a very wonderful friend with such a great feature on you and your blog!

Bliss said...

For the folks with issues regarding painting antiques.... that's why they make paint stripper. They can have at it when you are done enjoying the bright color.

~Bliss~

Linda @ it all started with paint said...

Shannon sent me over and I'm so glad she did! Love how it turned out.

I have a similar piece (it's the chest of drawers that would be a perfect match to your dresser) and just can't figure out what color to paint it ... and now you've thrown a whole other idea into the mash up in my head!

:)

Linda

Unknown said...

It's gorgeous!! Love love love!

-Bonnie @ Revolutionaries
www.revolutionariesblog.com

Unknown said...

It is gorgeous...and I have a very similar dresser that was my Aunt Irene's. My mom threatened to disown me if I ever painted it, and I may just do it anyway! Beyond beautiful!

Jessica @ Mom 4 Real

Something Nice and Pretty said...

Love it! The color is fantastic and it's homemade chalkpaint? really turned out so pretty! I painted a washstand a French blue and love it, I also love HL knobs, every time I'm there I pick up a few.
I'm visiting from Fox Hollow:)

Rondell

Kelly @ Eclectically Vintage said...

Shannon sent me and so glad she did!

What a fabulously fun color - I love vintage and antiques but with a modern twist and this fits the bill!

And I adore Amy at The Salvage Collection too - her furniture and her wit!
Kelly

Good Time Charlie said...

I so love the color. That just shouts "SPRING"!! You have a very sweet friend who sent me over here. You will have to come visit my linky party with this fantastic piece! It opens Thursday afternoon. Going to check out your other goodies now!

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

Love the new bright color. I don't blame you one bit for wanting to paint over that dark wood. I have a thing for painting furniture, too. Have a piece that hubby does not want painted, but I think it would look so much better if it was. Will have to work on him till he breaks. Found you through Fox Hollow Cottage.

Deanna Cheriese said...

Oh Laura, it is GORGEOUS! I love, love, love the color. I am also "de-brownifying" my house like Nelly. My husband laughs, because he never knows what is going to be painted when he comes home from business trips - LOL! Can't wait to see more of your work :)

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson said...

Doesn't bother me a bit that you painted that antique. In fact, like I told your friend, Shannon; it knocked my socks off. I absolutely LOVE it! My daughter has a similar piece that was hers growing up. I let her take it when she got married. We painted it cream, but this is too cute! I have a new linky party that opens today at 4. I would love for you to share this! I am now a new follower. Any friend of Shannons HAS to be a friend of mine!
Hugs,
Jann

Debbiedoos said...

Hi there Laura! Nice to meet you. My friend Shannon sent me over...glad she did. I LOVE that piece and the color is fantastic. I love color. I wish my hubby would let me paint a bit more than he does. A guy likes his wood I guess LOL!~ FYI, on Monday's I host a newbie party and I would love for you to join and and makes some new friends along this fabulous blogging journey.

Sharon @ mrshinesclass said...

The risk paid off! I absolutely love the color and the accessories you added work so well...making the green even more gorgeous. That is so cool that the chair coordinates so well with the dresser.
Your friend at Fox Hollow Cottage bragged about this makeover and sent us over to check out the makeover. I'm so glad I did. It's very stunning.

sharon @ mrs. hines class

reFresh reStyle said...

I love it! You picked the perfect green!
Debbie

Kimberly T. said...

Beautiful! Great color!

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

It's GORGEOUS! The color brightens the room! ♥

Little Bit said...

What a wonderful, fresh improvement! I love it, great job. I'm now following you on LF...hope you'll visit me too. Little Bit

Stacey said...

Beautiful redo and a great spring color!
So pretty!
I would love for you to come by and link this up to my Creative Inspirations party happening now!
I would love to have you there!
Stacey of Embracing Change
http://staceyembracingchange.blogspot.com

Pamela said...

Now that is a show stopper and i agree the knobs are what make it! I heart HobLob as well!:) Thanx for coming to party at my place!

Beth said...

I love it, but my hubby would be screaming. The general consensus is that men love wood and women love paint. This looks so pretty, especially with how you have it decorated and how cool that you have a coordinating rocker!!

Unknown said...

She came out fantastic. Would you link her to my furniture party?
http://www.decoratinginsanity.com/2012/04/furniture-friday-12-features-and-par.html
xo...mONICa

Loribeth said...

Honestly, it's such a beautiful piece, I love it both ways. And the color of green you painted it is gorgeous!!! LOVE!

Loribeth @ small-moments-blog.blogspot.com

LifeLessOrdinary said...

The chair and washstand turned out beautiful. I can understand your hesitation with painting the hutch but you did an outstanding job! It's just lovely :) I saw you at Too Much Time's party.

Shannon said...

She's beautiful!! I love the color. I painted an antique vanity bright pink for my daughter's room and I think it makes the piece alive again:)
http://sewsweetcottage.blogspot.com/2012/03/antique-vanity-redo.html

Your newest follower,
Shannon@SewSweetCottage

Lyndsay said...

I love the green! Found you via the Days of Chalk and Chocolate link party. I'm looking forward to trying something similar in the Spring. :)

Lyndsay

Shabby Marilyn said...

Love the green! Newest Linky follower, glad to of found you on Chalk and Chocolate, great redo, hope to see you visit!

Kammy's Korner said...

Wow, look at all these comments, girl! Obviously it's a hit and WOWZERS I love it!!!! Okay. Next time I'm in Iowa, I'm going to be knocking on your door!!!! I gotta see this stuff in person, it's so pretty. And you made me laugh about the kuh-nobs. That lady is hilarious!

Stacey said...

What a delicious piece! Awesome!
Thanks for linking up - would love for you to come back this week as well!
Stacey of Embracing Change

Susan @ Oh My! Creative said...

Oh wow! I own two dressers that match yours. I believe they were my grandmother's and have been painted many colors over the years! Blue, lavender, white and now cream as I use them in my guest room! They look beautiful as does yours does! What a great treasure you have!

I love the rocker too!

Susan @ Oh My! Creative

Cap Creations said...

Super beautiful and I love it!!!

Debbiedoos said...

So glad you joined me...this piece just blows me away!

Kathy @ Pearls In Paradise said...

It was nice before you painted it, but even better after you did! I love the new look and also love your blog! xoxo Kathy

Emily said...

I just picked up some green paint like this a few days ago. I haven't decided what to use it on, but I definitely have some inspiration now from your gorgeous makeover! I love it - you did an amazing job!

Michelle said...

So pretty! I love the green color...very cheerful! The knobs are a perfect fit, too! :)

Sherry said...

You did an excellent job with that...I would have never thought that color would work, but it did and I love it! I'm your newest follower, would love if you could follow me back.

Roxanne Reinhart said...

I love it. The color is perfect, so happy and lighthearted. The rocker is a perfect match!! Has to be the same maker. Great job you've done.

6th Grade said...

HOLY SMOKIN' HOT! i absolutely love love love it ... and with the blue/green bottles, too!

you do some fine work, missy! impressed across the country...

Tina said...

WOW!! You can't help but smile, it is just so cheerful! I love it.

Crystelle said...

Love LOVE love LOVE love the green!!!
So happy and cheerful! So spring!

Crystelle said...

Love LOVE love LOVE love the green!!!
So happy and cheerful! So spring!

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