Something painted just for us

(You've all heard the shoemaker's story about his kids having the worst shoes? It's like that for everything in life: we get so busy with our work that when it comes to doing the same type of work for ourselves, we don't have the time, the energy or the desire.

I bought a bench at a charity auction last year. We needed something to sit on to put our shoes or boots on in the entrance way. This one was just right for the space. I couldn't wait to paint it, and I knew just how I wanted it to look.

But there it sat for months. Every time I saw it, I would cringe, because it was a reminder of one more thing that needed to be done, when there just isn't enough time in a day, when I was putting all my energy in painting pieces to sell.

I finally said enough was enough and tackled it a few weeks ago.

The White Pear Tree

(Sorry, I don't have a before. I thought I did, but I have so much furniture I lose track, lol!)

I wanted the French cottage look, so I did two coats of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, followed by a wash of watered down Old White, which gives the piece a more greige feel overall. Love it! 

The White Pear Tree

The White Pear Tree

 The bench was just a little too plain for me, so I added these lovely wood appliques:

The White Pear Tree

 I painted them Old White for contrast, with clear and dark waxes.

The White Pear Tree

The White Pear Tree

The pillow is from RuPiper Designs on Etsy. I absolutely love their stuff!

The White Pear Tree

The White Pear Tree

The White Pear Tree

The White Pear Tree

The White Pear Tree

I'm so happy with the outcome! And proud that I finally painted something just for us.

Wishing you all a Happy Easter!



Nicole
xx

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Still Inspired by Paris

You see the beautiful blue door in the bigger picture in the following collage?

That was the first picture I took in Paris. I love doors and boy, was I in for a treat in Paris. This was "just a regular" apartment door near where we stayed. Beautiful door, beautiful colour. 

The piece of furniture on the top right was at the Little Palace museum. I thought the blue was so beautiful that I told myself I would definitely paint something in that colour.

There are a couple more blue doors in the collage, one of which is a door to an apartment where Van Gogh lived (the one with the number 54). 

The tapestry on the bottom left is from Versailles. The ceiling and chandelier on the right is at the Garnier Opera House. The ceiling, which also contain that blue, was painted by Marc Chagall.

So when I found this gorgeous antique server at the curb side (yes, someone was throwing it out! We have pretty good garbage around here!), it was one of those moments, you know, when you turn the corner and the heavens open up with beams of light point to it and the angels going "Haaaaaaaa"! And I thought, there's my blue piece!

It was in perfect shape.

It has all its original, gorgeous brass hardware.

Ian Watson was here, lol! (This was in one of the drawers.)

The only flaw was a piece missing in one of the drawers. I patched it up with wood filler.

I used Aubusson Blue from Annie Sloan, which is a perfect match to the blue in my collage.

There she is all done.

My formal china matches perfectly!

I used the dark wax all over, which really gave the blue a rich, deep tone.

The brass hardware looks even better against the blue.

Ian Watson and the hole got covered with some lovely wallpaper I found at the 

Reuse Centre in our city.

You can really see the dark wax at work here.

Love!

The lighting was not ideal, even though it was daytime. I used a flash here, not ideal in this instance, but it really shows the colour and the dark undertones well.

The server is now at Refined and Rustic Interiors awaiting its new home.

I'm so glad I took so many pictures in Paris (almost a thousand, thank God for digital cameras!!). These will inspire me for years to come, not only for the colours, but also for the beautiful styles. Paris has so many treasures, you can't help return home with your head full of beautiful images and decorating ideas. And if I happen to run out of inspiration? Gosh, I'll have to go back, won't I?

Nicole

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Antoinette shelf and some sad news

First off, I'd like to take a moment to mention my blogging friend Suzan's latest post over at Simply Vintageous. In the blogging world, you get to "meet" virtual kindred spirits with whom you connect over similar passions, in this case, refinishing and painting furniture. Suzan had discovered such a friend at http://www.laurenlanedecor.ca/. Tara, the young woman who authored the website and blog, recently died tragically. She was 31. She had left an accounting job to pursue her passion of painting furniture. She had just posted about how excited she was to introduce Miss Mustard Seed's new line of milk paint. Planning for the future. 


Her life might have been short, but she lived it right: plan for the future, but live like there's no tomorrow by pursuing your passion. I did not get a chance to discover Tara or her blog, but learning of her passing is inspiring me to turn things up a notch and just bite into life with even more intensity. May she rest in peace.

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When I think of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Antoinette colour, I infallibly think of Marie Antoinette. It's such a soft, feminine colour, a beautiful pink, a not in your face kind of pink. It's a Grande Dame colour. Very ladylike, very proper. Fit for a Queen.

I picked up this little shelf for a whole dollar at a garage sale. It's only plastic but it's so very well detailed, it looks like carved wood. 

It was originally gold and had been spray painted brown. The brown had to go. Had to. 

Since it's such a feminine motif, I thought of Antoinette right away. 

The dark wax was very appropriate for this piece and it enhanced the flowery details in the most wonderful way.

Could you see this in a little girl's room, accentuated with pretty "objets"?

Or it could be a sweet "ciel de lit" over a baby girl's crib. Something like this:

That's what a whole dollar can get you these days, folks. You just have to see the potential.

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