A Painted Desk

I worked incredibly hard today and I am incredibly tired tonight.  The day started at 6:30 am when my sons woke me up.  The entire family got ready and we headed out for a morning of yard sales.  I found some great things, which I'll share in another post, and came home about noon.  After hanging out with the boys for a bit, our babysitter came over and the painting frenzy began.  I have lots to share, but it will all happen in another post.  Tonight, I'm going to share a desk I finished last week. 


This is how it started...


I painted it in Annie Sloan's Louis Blue with Old White on the body.  The top was stripped and refinished in a dark walnut stain and Fiddes Wax. 


I chose to keep the original hardware, since it was in good condition and still worked with the painted piece.


Some light distressing prior to waxing, brought out the detail. 





I brought it to my pavilion at Lucketts on Thursday.


Lots more to come...but now...sleep. 

Home plan and elevation 1950 Sq. Ft

Ground floor area:1550 Sq. ft.
First floor area:400 Sq. ft.
Total plinth area:1950 Sq. ft.

Click on the picture for larger version
South indian house plans

South indian house plans
South indian house plans
South indian house plans

Architect : Koshy Associates
A2, Mahaniam,
9/10, Arunachalapuram Street
Aminjikarai, Chennai - 29
Cell - 9444122276

Cherry Blossom Dresser

Here's the latest dresser...


...and how it started.


For those of you who have "known" me for a while know that my business started out as a decorative painting/mural business.  That eventually evolved into my true passion - antiques and refurbished furniture....well...and my blog and freelance writing and photography and sewing and designing...  Do you know what a nightmare it is to try to classify my business?  Anyway, I wanted to get out of the decorative painting only business, because I felt like everything had to have painted embellishments on it and some things just didn't need that.  I don't know why I felt that way, but I did.  I hardly even think about what extra painted detail I can add to a piece now. 


For some reason...I just decided to do it on this one.  I added some very simple white cherry blossom branches to just the drawers of this dresser.  The pattern is subtle and casual, so the piece is still fairly neutral, but will definitely make a statement in the right room. 


This piece is really old and had awesome original hardware and key hole covers.


I refinished and waxed the top, showing off the pretty oak.




...and here it is in my space at Lucketts.  I'm going to start holding onto pieces for the Antique Market in May, but my space was looking a little sparce, so I brought it in.  Well, it still looks a little sparce, but it will until after the fair.  It's full...just not stuffed.


Also, I had to share that the June issue of Cottages & Bungalows has come out (my parents got their copy yesterday and sent me scans) and look who's named as a contributor.  I knew it was going to happen, but it's thrilling just the same. 


You can read my latest article on how to remove rust in the June issue...well, when you want to remove rust!  I know Donna will have fits over this one. 


In closing, my prayers go out to all of the families devastated by the storms that raged over the last couple of days.  We had high winds, tons of rain and our basement workshop flooded, but I know we only got a small taste of what other endured. 

Home plan and elevation 2670 Sq. Ft

Ground floor area:1756 Sq. ft.
First floor area:914 Sq. ft.
Total plinth area:2670 Sq. ft.

Click on the picture for larger version
New Home Plans

New Home Plans
New Home Plans

suhail
Designer:Er.Suhail Nizam.
Marikkar Designers
First floor,IT Trade Centre
Rajiv Gandhi Bypass, Manjeri
Mob:09895368181
Email:suhailnisam@gmail.com

My Summer in Europe: Pictures from lovely Florence, Italy

Florence is a must-see if you're going to Italy. It's just so beautiful. I went there for a day in the winter after I graduated college, and wished I had had more time. This summer we stayed for two days so I got to see more of this charming city. While the weather was much nicer in the summer, in the winter it was a treat because there were very few tourists about. If you can somehow manage to go in the Fall or early Spring that would probably be your best bet.



The famous Ponte Vecchio. The bridge is pedestrian and lined with jewelers.

The architecture in Florence is stunning and an interesting mix...

Piazza della Signoria

From my winter trip

There is an popular open-air sculpture garden in the famous
Piazza della Signoria

Inside the Palazzo Vecchio - the most prominent building in Piazza della Signoria

The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore is unforgettable



The Baptistery of St. John boasts the famous bronze doors Michelangelo dubbed "The Gates of Paradise"


The beautiful Santa Maria Novella...

Anyone here been to Florence? What did you think?

Here's that list again of all my posts from our travels that I've posted -

Spain

•Introduction to my European backpacking trip and a list of places we visited
Galicia - Baiona and Isle de Cies
Galicia - the coast, some charming vineyards, and Pontevedra
Santiago de Compostela and gorgeous hidden beaches
Gorgeous mountain lakes of Picos de Europa
Stunning mountains - Picos de Europa
Bilbao and San Sebastian
Beautiful Barcelona
The amazing Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona
Art Nouveau dream house by Gaudi in Barcelona

Italy

Not to miss - the gorgeous rocky coast of Italy's Cinque Terre
More from my summer traveling Europe - amazing Rome
From my summer in Europe - amazing Pompeii
Turquoise ocean and vineyards on cliffs - the amazingly stunning Amalfi coast

Furniture Feature Friday - Favorites & A Link Party




Can I tell you how much my heart went pitter-pat every time I saw a piece painted with Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint in last week's party?  We are starting a revolution!!  Well, maybe not, but it's really exciting.  I think next week I'll have a special link party for chalk paint makeovers in addition to our regular party.  Sound good?  Because of all of the gorgeous chalky pieces and Frenchy pieces and just amazing pieces, it was especially tough this week.  I had about ten links bookmarked, so while I had many favorites, I just picked three to highlight. 

Miss Bee from Bee at Home painted this pretty French buffet.  I'm just a sucker for anything Frenchy, curvy with a painted base and a wood top.  I'm pretty predictable, aren't I?

Ginger from Cottage on Rosewood transformed this FREE French beauty with SW Magnetic Gray finished off with distressing and wax.  You did a wonderful job, girl!  Lucky duck on the freebies.  I won't hold that against you. 


Cheryl from Sweet Young Journey showed more passion than any other interested party and bought this chippy beauty off Craig's List.  Great find and I love that passion won it for her!  It's lovely.


If you're curious to see a sneak peek of my most recent furniture makeover, check out my Facebook page
Here are the rules for this get together...
1.) Your post has to be about furniture.  Please, please, please...just furniture.  If you find your link has been deleted, it's not because I'm mean, it's because your post was not about furniture.  You can share makeovers, awesome finds, favorite pieces, furniture arrangements, or even pieces on your wish list!  Built-in furniture like kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities qualify as furniture.  
2.) Post a permalink (the link to the post), not the link to your blog.
3.) Both link parties close Friday at midnight PST and I will choose my favorite(s) and feature their piece on next week's FFF.




Spring bliss

The weather has been so wishy-washy. Teasing us with a 70 degree day, and then bringing us back down by dropping to 50 overnight! But, the leaves are finally on the trees, and the days are longer - so it's safe to say Spring is here.

I love the longer days...so beautiful
via KML Design

Domino Mag

...and fresh flowers. The first image is flowers in tea tins. I do this, but my tea tins aren't water tight so I put a juice glass with water inside the tea tin and just put the flowers in the glass. The second image is a cute idea: use some glass bottles (they don't have to match), wrap some jute or hemp around them - and you get a lovely handpicked, country centerpiece.
via Country Living

....weekends in the country....
via NiKreations

Love the lanterns hanging from the trees!
via Scandinavian Chic

Meals outside..
When I was a kid, we out outside every evening in the summer. We didn't have a patio, so we just set up chairs and a table right out in the yard

2 images above via Rue Magazine

The ultimate---poolside...
via Design Interior

How do you enjoy spring?