An Antique China Hutch in Wedgwood Blue

         I picked up this stunning antique mahogany china hutch thanks to a tip from a blog reader last week. She had spotted it at the Bloomfield, CT ReStore and thought it would be right up my alley. She was very much correct. I wanted the piece as soon as I saw the picture she sent me, and drove up that very day in a rain storm to get it. Though I was in a bit of a rush to get home, as I had another appointment later in the day, I couldn't help but wander around the ReStore and admire all the other fantastic pieces of furniture they had for sale. So many potential candidates for refinishing!! You can find your local ReStore here.

         One of the first things to catch my eye upon unloading the china hutch was the magnificent antique drawer pulls, which remind me heavily of wedgwood pottery. Inspired by them, and fully intending to keep them on the piece, I painted the hutch in a custom mixed wedgwood blue and cream, distressed, and finished with a dark wax. It feels quite springy out today (thank goodness) and so I staged the hutch with bold hues of spring and flowers. I saw crocuses blooming last week, and I've got a daffodil coming up next to my house that's certain to blossom soon as well!

Cross Posted With: 

A Mahogany Dresser in Rose and Stripes

I won't mince words, I am head over heels for this antique dresser. I mixed the pale shade of rose a week or so ago and have been dying to use it on the right piece. I picked up this dresser on Friday and knew it would look beyond glorious in the soft hue. The dresser is early 20th century, maybe about 1920 with bandy cabriole legs and straight molded drawer lips. I wanted to give the piece a bit more sass, so I also added three cream stripes in varying widths. The turned wood knobs are stained to match the spectacular top. The entire piece is 100% solid mahogany, so finely made. I sanded, stained, and sealed the top. It's one of those tops I can't help but run my hand across every time I walk by it in my workshop. It felt so good to breath new life into this piece. It had been a bit neglected, with old chippendale drawer pulls hanging by one post for so long that they had compass etched the drawer fronts. I filled all the scratches and mars before painting, of course. There's something deliciously preppy and springy about this piece, like it's about to put on white sneakers and go play a round of tennis at the country club. :-)

Cross Posted With:

A Vintage Dresser in the Palest Green

Ooooh I love this color. This color is my happy place. I paint with so many different shades and love them all, but when I get to use a pale pale springy green, it always makes me happiest. This is the color the trees get that first week in May when they're juuuuuust starting to have leaves.

The dresser is a wonderful piece, built so well. It's solid pine and solid tulip poplar with side hung drawers, which you rarely see. I refinished the top in a warm honey tone and distressed and waxed the case.

From Side of the Road to Server

I've had this piece hidden away for a long long long time. I snatched it off the side of the road last July and had not yet gotten around to refinishing it. It's solid rock maple, and dated on the inside of the case '1950'. I imagine it ended up cast away because two of the drawers were damaged. I didn't need or want the drawers, so that suited me just fine. I added a solid pine top and two pine shelves that contrast nicely with the pale blue and distressed paint. The drawer pulls are 19th century, for a little more character. I'm calling this a server but really it would be nice in a multitude of settings- as a spare kitchen counter, as a tv stand, in a hallway, or as a server in a dining room.

G. Fox and Solid Maple

         For those of you who are local to Connecticut, G. Fox means something. It means quality, and just a hint of sophistication. For those of you not from around here, G.Fox was THE department store in downtown Hartford for decades. This solid maple dresser and matching mirror are the first pieces I've ever handled with a G. Fox provenance. They both have their original labels still on the back. I'd guess they're from about 1950.

        I painted both pieces in a custom mixed shade of blue/almost lilac. I asked Facebook fans to name the color and my favorite response was 'Love Child', because as my friend Becca put it "Indigo and slate grey are my two favorite colors... and this is their love child "

       I distressed the edges and finished the case with a dark wax. I sanded stained, and sealed the solid maple top and my is it lovely.

*Before*

accidentally caught myself in this one!

          

An Antique Dresser in Blue

I picked this piece up on Wednesday from the local indoor flea market. I'd been eyeing it for a week or so and finally made up my mind to snap it up. It's a beautiful early 20th century dresser with fluted legs and flame mahogany drawer fronts. I decided to play up the drawer fronts by refinishing them and painting the rest of the case in a bold deep blue, distressed, and of course finished with wax. Finally I added some antique gold pulls to really up the drama ante. I love it, don't you? It's all set for a new home!