side table make over...

Before... not so lovely and the colour is just too dark. Even though she was in really good condition with no scratches I had other plans for her. She also has a 'hidden drawer' that had no handle which is at the top front section, so you just pull it out by grabbing underneath.

I gave it a couple of coats of Louise Blue Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and decided to add an applique to the drawer instead of a handle, so you always know which side the drawer is.

To finish her off I added some gold highlights with Rub 'n Buff to the outer edges of the top and bottom shelf, in the grooves and on the applique.

Then sealed using AS clear and a bit of dark wax.

In my shop.. Shabby French & Vintage.

This was one of the pretties make overs I did and she sold pretty much within a couple of weeks.

I have a new page now above where you can see some of my other finished furniture makeovers.

take care,

Maryann xx

store photos and some furniture makeovers...

Well it's been 10 months since opening Shabby French & Vintage and it's been quite an experience. I'm still in the process of learning. Learning about sales and marketing, learning about my customers, learning to take each day as it comes. Does one ever really stop learning? I don't think so. Always trying to improve and try different things. One thing I know for sure ... I have to stay true to myself and my style.

I purchased these French Provincial wall hangings which are backed in a French linen.. they are 2die4!

I've also been doing up a few pieces of furniture...

The above side table was a reddish timber so I painted it ASCP Louise Blue and then added gold highlights. 

I absolutely love the detail on this half circle console table painted in Old White.

This was just a pine cabinet painted in bright pink and purple.. a lot more country now.

What a difference a bit of paint can make. I'm working on 2 dressing table at the moment.. one will be shabby white and the other not quite sure yet.

So till next time..

take care, Maryann xx

Buffet & Hutch make-over finished

Well I finally finished painting the buffet and hutch I purchased a while ago. I painted it using Annie Sloans' Old White and gave it a light distress and then a coat of clear wax.

I also chose a pretty damask design wallpaper in duck egg blue. Love the statement this wallpaper made!

This was a bigger job than I thought it would be. Mainly because of the 2 side glass panels on the hutch. They do not open making it harder to get in and paint and to remove and reinstall the glass!

Above: in my store ready for sale.

Before.

take care, Maryann xx

A couple of little make overs..

I thought I would show you all a couple of small make overs I did just recently. One of a gorgeous brass cherub bowl and the other of a candelabra.

I did them both with Annie Sloan chalk paint and am very happy with the results.

I'm also in the process of purging and trying to declutter some of my stuff with a bit of rearranging as well in an effort to make life easier once I open my store but it's proving harder than anticipated!

 take care ladies,

Maryann 

Buffet & Hutch make over in progress....

At the moment I am working on making over this lovely buffet & hutch that I picked up not long ago. I absolutely loved the details on the drawers so it came home with me. I am also using using Annie Sloan's chalk paint for the first time and I am happy with the result and the creamy texture of the paint it leaves. I did water it down just a little though as it is very thick.

I still need to wax it and paint the hutch section but I'm thinking of wall paper for the back of the hutch since it's such a large expanse and very plain. Something very subtle and neutral perhaps with a fine design or pattern.

So once it's all done I'll post some more pics.  I am also doing the happy dance at the moment as I finally get the keys to my store today. So I will be very busy getting all that ready as well and hopefully won't be long before I can open my doors.
                                                                So take care ladies...
                                                                   Maryann.

desk make over for Lisa in my favorite colour ...

Gee, can't believe it's been 2 months since my last post!  So today I'll show you what I just finished making over for Lisa. This first picture is AFTER I sanded it back to get all the grime off.

She told me that she needs a desk in her room now as she will be going for her diploma in childcare. She's doing it online (I'm so proud) so she'll need a dedicated space to do it.

 Luckily I remembered that I already had an old one that  I picked up a while ago from a garage sale.

So after a bit of filling, a coat of white paint and a bit of aqua this is what she looked like.

The colour is called shampoo by dulux and it is a bit darker than what we wanted.

I then dry brushed it again with the white, distressed it and gave it a coat of clear wax.

I also recovered an old chair that I had done up a while ago too and the pink paint had all chipped... perfect!

So that's it. I've also been getting back into ebay if anyone is interested in looking. Hopefully I will have lots more old and also new items in stock.

take care girls.. Maryann

another wardrobe for Lisa..

I  have been a little preoccupied lately working on a new wardrobe for Lisa. The one she had was way too small so I managed to pick one up on ebay (that wasn't too far for Fred to fetch for me) not long ago. It's still not finished but here is a peek...

since painting it the doors have sagged a little and now won't shut properly! So I have to wait for Fred to take them off and shave a bit off the bottoms.. 

fabric paneled inside doors .. 

and no these are not cookies.. they're furniture appliques I had been waiting on from the U.S They were 50% off so I went a little overboard and bought enough to embellish a lot of my furniture!!

Here is the before..

and what about Christmas you might say.. well I still have to do my shopping ..yeah I'm a leave it 'till the last minute kinda gal.. and decorations are kept to the minimum this year.. I did put the tree up though which is something. 

and I couldn't resist showing you my Flamingo rose... so if I don't post again  before Christmas I will leave you now with the warmest wishes for the holiday season and please stay safe!

take care, Maryann

farmhouse cabinet redo.. redone ...

Well sometimes, most of the time really, when I'm not 100% happy with something I will keep changing it and changing it around 'till I am. As is the case with this cabinet. I first blogged about it here and was quite happy with it but got sick of looking at my tablecloths through the wire doors as they weren't always this nice and tidy.



So here it is as it sits today and have had it like this for a while 'cause now I'm happy with it. (for now)

I have this lovely cotton lace panel that I tried to attach to the inside of the doors but you think I could get a nail or screw into that wood?? NO WAY.. it's as hard as a rock, hubby couldn't even do it, it took him an hour to get of those teeny tiny screw hooks in and with 7 more to go I told him to forget it!

So for now the lace panel just sits gathered on top of the closed doors...

I added some porcelain floral handles I already had and to the top, vintage salt and pepper shakers and a butter dish along with a metal wire dome I bought a while ago.

Filled the inside with some of my favourite vintage dishes and bowls...

I thought after a few posts of boring you with my garden I'd show you what I've been up to inside!

as always take care,

Maryann