A Spool of Beauty

Out on a morning jog I found 2 old wooden spools. I looked them over, connected loosely with an old metal rod, and continued on my run. I played them over and over in my mind, "could I do anything with it?" And this is somewhat the image that came to mind. I knew my in-laws were needing a new coffee table for their downstairs to better match the media center I had built them 2 years ago. So I put to work before Thanksgiving (I know this is quite a belated post) to have it down prior to the holiday so that we could transport it down to them. I am in love with how it turned out that,.....I may just make the other for us!

Milo's little Bookshelf

Our dearly beloved little neighbors had an old bookshelf that they wanted refinished with a little childlike charm.  I hauled it home and began contemplating what possibilities I actually wanted to endeavor with this one.  It would be going in little Miles' room which needed a little bit of color help. There were lots of muted greys and blues with a really fun painting above his changing table. The painting had a variety of bright colors so I shot for a turquoise pop. I wasn't about to paint the whole thing turquoise as I wanted to maintain a little masculine class with the wood, so I landed on an internal color external neutral wood.  Plus they ended up getting an orange chevron rug that tied in some of the other hues in that painting. All in all I found it to be really dear and timeless. Harper was helping me get a few toys in order and good book seemed to catch her eye- my kinda girl.

Cafe Table of Reclaimed Wood

Drove out to Sedalia to pick up some wood one Friday afternoon. Little did I know most of the pieces in the pictured pile were all nailed to each other.  I fit what I could in the back of my car and dismantled upon my return. I tend to favor pieces with nail wounds.  Scars always are adorned with a story.  So I think with wood, but with endless possibilities of new chapters.
Found these caster wheels at a yard sale and you would have thought I found a pearl in an oyster.  They are sincere heavy duty metal through and through. The stain on this piece gave me 2 rounds of trouble. Couldn't seem to get the hue I was hoping for and ended up creating an amalgam of color.
In the end, she turned out just as necessary and with a new story to be found.

Stately Vintage Desk

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After:

 

This was an old lawyers desk that someone had tried to spruce up with a little can of spray paint.  I was happy to envision a new face that begs for a philosopher to pull up a chair, breathe in the scent of an old library book, and muse upon explorations yet to be discovered. 

One of the many perks of this piece is the spacious drawer storage.  On the left is a hidden double drawer that can function as a file cabinet.  The back is finished as well so as to offer the option of pulling that desk out from against a wall.  The three paneled leather top is still in tact, with a little of the silver paint residue, which I quite like to give it a well loved look.  All wood, the trim on the top gives it a little extra pizazz.  I painted it a two toned grey and washed it with a dark walnut stain wax.  Completed with original brass pulls this is a unique timeless desk.

Creme and Grey Dresser

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After:

New dresser with glass knobs has already found a home!  I wanted to shoot for a 2 toned dresser that would somehow make the drawers pop! The cream and grey is a favorite color choice these days.  It maintains a subtle shabby chic look, but the stained grey drawers bring out the rusticity of the wood.

Vintage Chic Dresser

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 After:

This dresser sat on my porch for months longer than necessary.  Made of real wood, all her parts were heavier than they ever appeared to be.  I spent months avoiding her because of a good deal of structural issues she posed.  Finally, it became time to man up and do something.  Either I get rid of her as is or I do something with her.  It is not often that I would simply give up on a project, not that easily at least.  So I did a bit of surgery and gave her a few coats of a face lift, added some flare of sassy glass knobs, and rescrewed those little ivory-esque key holes back on her and she was ready to head back into the world, a confident (abeit heavy) lady.
I'm thrilled to have given her that second chance. Go get em'.

Chic Cedar Chest

I happened along this trunk from a sweet guy moving west. He mentioned that his great-grandfather built it for his dad years ago.  Apparently he built one for each of his children.  She wasn't in the best of shape and I nearly begged the guy to hang on to her for family heirloom's sake.  But without too much convincing she became mine.  I was hoping to maintain some of the rustic elements to her and beat it up a teeny bit more (always with love). I love the copper edging and appreciate that you can efficiently store your winter woolies in there right under a spot to kick your feet up and relax all cozy on your couch.