Lucketts find No. 2

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~All pieces available for sale can be found here~


The other day I sold this teal buffet that previously graced our living room...

...for something a little different.

This old church pew is my second find from the Lucketts Spring Market last weekend! I measured the height of those toy bins, (from Target), and wanted something they could still slide under.


While very sturdy, it's not in perfect condition - as old, used things rarely are. But it's fun to embrace imperfections; who knows the history they tell! 


Grateful for these signs of approval...



Have a lovely weekend! Happy Memorial Day!

~Chelsea



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Lucketts find No. 1

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~All pieces available for sale can be found here~


A few days ago I talked about shopping the Lucketts Spring Market last weekend with a list of specific items I wanted to look for. I couldn't believe I drove home with each item checked off the list! I'm excited to finish each piece and share its journey from Lucketts to our home!

The first one to make it in is the tall wooden door you see behind the bench.

I wanted a little height in a particular corner of our bedroom, and had envisioned something tall and rustic propped up near or behind the chair. My thoughts were either a latter or a door. I was hesitant about using a door because I didn't want anything too wide. But, when my Mom and I spotted this one at the LSM, it was perfect! Tall and narrow. Scooped it up. 


I painted it the same color as our wall, (Marilyn's Dress by Benjamin Moore), played a whole lot with the placement in that corner, and finally liked it this way. Placement does not come naturally for me. I have to try every which way before finding a set up that appeals. Play, play, play! It's a good way to learn if you're ever unsure.


The sketch on top was a thrift store score when we first moved in our home a few years ago. The painting on the bottom was a gift from my grandma - she painted it herself! She's been a talented artist for many years and it's a pleasure to display her work.

Taking a cue from some of the earthy greens used in the art on the wall, I pulled out a can of French Linen, a warm greenish-grey by Annie Sloan chalk paint, and covered a low bench that now sits at the foot of our bed, (and holds all my extra pieces of linen and burlap)


Last week I brought in that refinished chair in the corner, (the one found at the auto shop), and at the beginning of this week I added the antlers, which I showed a few days ago. 


I feel like we have made a smooth transition from a once delicate and frilly looking bedroom to something with more edge and personality. It's still soft and airy, which I love, but the addition of a few rustic pieces gives it a touch of masculinity, which is important to me since this is my husbands sanctuary from the crazy, too.

So, that's Lucketts find No. 1. Stay tuned for where the other two turn up! 

Thanks for reading!

~Chelsea
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Buffet for sale - profit going to Oklahoma relief!

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~All pieces available for sale can be found here~


What affects a few, may it affect many

In light of the tornado that has affected thousands of people in Oklahoma, ripping homes and schools apart, taking lives, I would love to raise some money to donate to the American Red Cross disaster relief. Upwards of 10,000 people were affected by this tornado, 2,400 homes torn to pieces. Any little bit can help the many who have lost everything. 


I am moving on from our beloved teal buffet that has been the focal piece of our living room for the past few years. I painted it several years ago in a saturated teal and the more we've loved it, the more distressed and chippy it's become. This piece is in excellent condition, completely sturdy, and all wood. Lots of space for storage, (plus adjustable shelves)!




If you are interested in this piece please email me and I'd be happy to coordinate a time for you to see it, (chelseasgarage@gmail.com). Will accept any reasonable offers. First person to pay may have it, (please arrange the transportation). Dimensions are 74L x 35.5H x 16.5D

100% of the payment for this piece will be donated to the American Red Cross disaster relief fund.

Thanks for reading and please pass this along to any locals in the Northern Virginia area who might be interested! This piece will also be posted on Craigslist so if you're interested don't wait too long!

~Chelsea





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Refinished antlers

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~All pieces available for sale can be found here~


A couple weeks ago I posted this picture of some antlers that I snagged at a flea market for $7, (despite my husband's efforts to leave them behind). 

I don't think there are many hard rules with decorating. We don't have an obvious home decor style for antlers...but why not throw them in the mix? What caught my eye with these was that the horns had been sitting outside for what seemed like a while and were nicely weathered. I painted the plaque Old White by Annie Sloan Chalk paint, and recovered the red velvet fabric with antique linen.

Here they are on display in our bedroom!





More additions to our bedroom coming soon.:)

~Chelsea
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Lucky at Lucketts

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~All pieces available for sale can be found here~



This weekend I pulled on my wellies and shopped the Lucketts Spring Market

There is certainly something to be said about finding gems in the midst of rubble. I do much of my hunting at thrift stores and the like. However, the Lucketts Spring Market this past weekend was no pile of rubble! There were beautiful things at every turn, (thanks to the many hours the vendors there spent finding and creating their lovely pieces). I had the most fantastic time popping in and out of tents with my Mom, chatting with the talented vendors, and waiting out the worst of the rain on a beautiful linen covered camelback sofa inside the Old Lucketts Store. If I had come home empty handed it still would have been a wonderful time! 

But, I came home with a car full. Naturally.

Our adventure began with a list of items that I wanted to look for specifically for our home, space measurements, and a budget. This week will be about getting these pieces in tip-top shape for our home and moving some old things out for these replacements. I can't wait to see how they all turn out! Pictures to come.

Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to check my updated list of pieces available for sale, (link at the top of the page).

~Chelsea


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Paint on, Wipe off - How to get a weathered finish

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~All pieces available for sale can be found here~


If there is one kind of literature that I just completely soak in, it's information regarding refinishing techniques. There is so much out there in the world of refinishing furniture. So many ways to make an old piece come back to life. I learned a new way recently from the talented Christen at Blue Egg Brown Nest as she tried out a new technique from Annie Sloan, creator of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and Waxes and author of her new book, Color Recipes for Painted Furniture.
Weathered. 


It's probably one of my favorite techniques as it creates a rich, weathered, time-worn finish. The steps are simple. 
1. You need a piece that has good texture and grain - nothing smooth! 
2. Using Old White chalk paint, brush the paint on in a small-ish section, wait about 30-ish seconds, and use a soft cloth,  like an old t-shirt, to wipe it off. 
3a. Touch up areas that you feel need more paint with a fairly dry brush - dipping in just the tip of the brush and wiping off any excess.
3b. Touch up any areas that you feel have too much paint and it's too late to wipe off with a fine sanding sponge. You can soften any thick areas of paint this way.  


Christen demonstrates this technique on her blog using an oak pedestal table. Coincidentally a very, very, kind client recently asked me if I had any use for a lone oak pedestal table that was taking up space in her garage. She and her husband were anxious to just get it out. Lucky me, indeed!!!

Now, this table was almost perfect for trying this weathered technique. The only issue was that the top surface was sealed fairly smooth. The sealer was coming off in areas, but I didn't have as much texture up top as I would have liked. I ended up favoring a really chippy, time-worn finish on the top rather than a soft, whitewashed look, (which I was able to achieve on the pedestal base as there was plenty of texture down there). I did a lot of sanding to the top to remove paint. Now it looks as if it's seen years of love and family gatherings! As you can see in the pictures, the top has a gorgeous sunburst design, so I followed the direction of the wood with my painting, wiping, and sanding.



With the leaf. Seats 6-8.






Weathered Oak Pedestal Table
62 x 30 with the leaf, 38 x 30 without the leaf
Available for $425

Alright, enough about my newfound refinishing technique. Here are some real highlights of our week.:)
I don't blame you one bit if you move on at this point. I get it.

Doctor date with my under-the-weather daughter. Doesn't she look ill? ;)
(we were both happy to be out of the house together without the boys!)

Silly mirrors in the waiting room

I don't just have one, but TWO superhero sons. Though, Superman won't do much good with that paci and his finger in his bellybutton...
 

Won't be long until they're joining the kids they watch board the bus every morning with their "pack-packs"

If this is a foreshadow of what's to come, I am totally okay with that!

First sunglasses and they couldn't be prouder of themselves. 93 cents at Walmart for a few priceless smiles and giggles.

Kids not available for sale. Not today ;)

Last thing; if you happen to have an open weekend coming up and are somewhat local to Northern Virginia, check out the Luckett's Spring Market! Saturday and Sunday, 10-5, shop hundreds of home decor vendors outdoors and in. Admission is $7, (worth every penny), and there will be something for everyone - not might be, but will be! 

~Chelsea
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My cozy auto-shop chair

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~All pieces available for sale can be found here~

Ok, here's the thing. If you are passionate about refinishing furniture then you probably notice furniture everywhere. Sometimes it's not even a conscious effort to find furniture; it's just there.

This is basically how I came about a battered, bug crawling chair a few weeks ago. I, (and my 3 toddlers), had to go get our van inspected and while we were waiting outside, (picking a bazillion dandelions), I noticed this tattered chair up against the concrete wall of the building. I noticed it because of the wood. It was perfection. Gray and textured from spending who knows how long outside. The seat was a mess, as you can see, and the entire thing was covered in cobwebs. But it was solid as a rock. When I inquired about this chair upon check-out I'm pretty sure the guy had no idea what I was talking about, so we took it for free!

I didn't get a before before picture. This was after a good scrub and hose down. But the seat speaks for itself. You can't see the colony of stinkbugs that were occupying that tattered cushion at the time of this picture. Grossness. 
Before

After

I replaced the seat and cushion completely. Not only was the original in pretty hopeless shape, I didn't want to risk bringing any stinkbugs inside!

The fabric is so soft. Not sure what it is, but when I touched it I grabbed it and checked out, (JoAnns).


This little reading chair is just the first of a few changes I'm making in our room. It'll be a bit of a process as I swap a few things around and get a few pieces painted, (not the bedroom suite, Grandma Livi, not to worry!). I'll share pictures once it's done but until then just know that it's really coming together beautifully in my head ;) 

Tomorrow is a new painting technique reveal, (if I can get decent pictures in time!), and an exciting event happening this coming weekend for local friends!

Thank you for reading!

~Chelsea

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