Sweet Little Hutch

Take a look at this tired piece I recently picked up.  It is a sweet little maple hutch with lots of curves and shutter doors.  Another piece screaming "make me pretty".

Annie Sloan's Paris Grey is one of my favorite colors to use - it is so versatile.  The wooden knobs were replaced with vintage looking hardware.  I love the plate rack too. The top was stained in Dark Walnut with a clear coat of poly for durability. Not only is this one pretty but her curves stand out.

PS - The chalk painter/blogger that inspired me, Kristen with blueeggbrownnest had just painted a similar hutch in the same color titled Laurie's hutch.. Take a peek.

PSS - Today is Halloween, look at two of my favorite little pumpkins - my grandsons Brayden & Maddox.

                     HAPPY HALLOWEEN - Toodles,  KAREN

The UPDATED Tired Hutch

About two weeks ago I posted photo's of the Ethan Allen hutch I refreshed with Annie Sloan's chalk paint.  I love the piece but the more I looked at it the more I thought it needed just a little smidgen of color.  So I refreshed the inside of the glass hutch with none other than my favorite color - blue.  I used Greek Blue mixed with Bright White and now I just love how some of my favorite ironstone pieces pop against the blue.  So if you feel a piece is missing something, stand back and let it speak to you, it will speak back.  Take a look at the updated version.  Happy Saturday!

 

                                                              Toodles ~ Karen

A little of the BLUES today

Have you felt the blues yet?  I have been going through the blues lately, big time!  Not the Monday morning blues, not the wedding blues, not the motherhood blues, or even the holiday blues.  I'm talking about my favorite color in the whole wide world.  I've been Internet shopping for fabric for my living room drapes & I think I found the perfect fabric - Darjeerling Blue Stone (get it at OnlineFabricStore).  It's traditional and has all the colors that go with my furniture pieces, including a yummy subtle blue.  Can't wait to sew the drapes but before that I need to make slipcovers for my wing back chairs- one project after another. I will post as soon as they are completed - stay tuned.

         
                                                        Here's the fabric -  Love it!!


Speaking of the blues - I just had to paint my little rocker I had been wanting to paint for eons. It sat in the garage neglected since last October when my grandson, Brayden took last years Christmas photo in it.  Well now he has a brother, Maddox (they are 1 year apart - 20 months & 10 months now) and that little rocker needed a companion to the other one I have.  So since they are little boys I felt it should be painted non other than blue - one is painted in Greek Blue by Annie Sloan and Shoreline by American Paint Co.  I thought they came out so sweet, just like them. Take a peek .

                        Have a great weekend - toodles!        KAREN ~

The Tired Hutch

About a month ago I came across this tired hutch made by Ethan Allen.  The gentleman selling it just wanted it gone as it was taking too much room in his garage.  Guys don't like furniture clutter in their garages like us gals do, they like to clutter them with cars, tools, mowers and other guy things. This piece was solid,  2 separate pieces (buffet & top hutch) with good bones, just screaming to be made pretty. Well here's the before and after - what a little paint and distressing can do.  She's pretty once again and ready for the holidays - hmm how about some red Christmas dishes?

                                                  Just a plain, run of the mill hutch - the base

                                                                   the top hutch    
                                                   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                          
                   

                     
                                                 all dressed up and ready for fall & beyond
                                   also has 2 glass shelves in the top hutch & 1 shelf in the buffet
                                       one of the buffet drawers is lined in felt for silverware

first coat painted in American Paint Company "Plymouth Rock" with second layer in Annie Sloan "Pure White" - distressed, then clear waxed  

                         
                                                               before distressing
         

                                                               she's lighted too!
     

                      This baby glass pumpkin was picked up at the pumpkin patch and given to me  by                                      my granddaughter -  she is such a thoughtful little girlie.  Thanks Layla!

                                If you are interested - this piece is available for purchase -  contact me at                                                                                whitehousebluegarden@aim.com

                                                                             toodles!

Monday Chair #7

Wow how time flies  - it has been over two months since my last post on "The Monday Chair". Well I'm writing this for tomorrow Monday and wanted to share my all time favorite outside chair, or should I say pew.  I have had this bench/pew that I absolutely love - it's old, worn and very chippy.  It has been home to a few bottoms, many naps, good reads, star gazing at night and just a place to sit a spell and spend some quiet time.  It is very primitive in its original state and I decided to part with it due to space but it went to a good home in San Diego county, thanks Eyvette.  She's going to use it around her farmhouse table. Trust you enjoy it ( & love it) as much as I did.  But I decided to also have the replica for sale patterned after that same primitive bench/pew.  It will be available in various Milk Paint finishes; just contact me at whitehousebluegarden@aim.com.  PS - there is a little history to that bench, it came from a an old time plantation church in South Carolina.  Love the simplicity of it.  Grab a seat and take 5, you deserve it!    Toodles!  

My Primitive Pew/Bench - 6 feet long

Great in various chippy Milk Paint finishes!

Contact me at whitehousebluegarden@aim.com

Where do you rest?

There comes a time in everyone's life when you need to take time to rest.  If that means cat napping in the afternoon, then do it.  If it means taking a longer than usual nap, then do it.  If it means sleeping more than 8 hours, then do it.  If it means sleeping in, then do it.  If it means napping on your couch, then do it.  God created these bodies with rest in mind, we are not machines and we will eventually breakdown, one way or another (physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually). This past week I was that machine trying to be everywhere, do everything & be that ear to some of my friends that needed me.  I said no to someone wanting to take me to pick out flowers for my blue garden (I should have said yes), I was that comforter to a friend going through a difficult time with her dad & another who needed guidance to purchase a car.  One of my favorite local places is Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden where I can go and sit in my favorite bench sitting under the Majestic Oak's. This is where its just me & God; my quiet time & space. So if you are at place today where the world is closing in and time is speeding up, jump off the merry go round and find your place of rest.  You'll refill your tank and be ready for another round of life!  Toodles!

A little inspiration 

                                     This is my resting spot - I love my four poster
                                        which I painted with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint
                                             in Old White.  I have no problem
                                                 catching a few zzzz's here!                                                                

   
                                                     KAREN

Happy Fourth of July 2014

Have a festive, fun & safe 4th of July - Happy Birthday USA. Enjoy the day wherever you are in the world, remember we have the freedom in this great country that many others around the world do not. I just want to share of few of my patriotic touches around my house. Toodles! 

                                    Even the bathroom gets a little festive touch

                                           
                           I have two of these lighted hats I love, one in blue & one in red

                                                             ~ Karen

Ugly Duckling Bureau

I'm always on the lookout for vintage pieces that I can refresh.  I know when local thrift store's offer the Tuesday discounts, Thursday discounts or even the senior discounts. Yes, yes I'm in that 55 & younger crowd.; so now you know.  On one of Fats and my weekend jaunts to the beach, specifically Ventura - I came across a dresser bureau that I couldn't resist. It was in the back room of a favorite thrift store in the one main drag town of Santa Paula.  It was that piece I saw with potential, screaming make me pretty again.

                                                       
                                               THE UGLY DUCKLING

What I love about this piece is how large the bottom drawers are; she was a beauty in her day.  The detail around the top drawers and the great hardware.  I'm always on the lookout for the hardware.  The veneer was well worn on the top back and on the sides & a part of the scalloping on the top drawer was missing - those are easy fixes. But the best part of all, the price.  It was marked $79.00 but with it being Sunday and with the discount, I picked it up for $39.00.  I painted her with Annie Sloan chalk paint in Old White & French Linen.  So take a look at the beautiful swan & remember not pass up those ugly ducklings.  Toodles!

                                            THE BEAUTIFUL SWAN

 
                                                               ~Karen

Monday Chair #6

So it's Monday & I missed my early morning post; so I decided to do an early evening post on the Monday chair.  There is nothing better than a good read in your Monday chair. If you have been reading my Monday chair post you will know what this is all about.  Now that summer is officially here take time out to sit a spell in your favorite chair - be thankful for Monday as much as we are on Friday.  Since I work outside my home today is my Friday, off for three straight days and I plan on getting a  gorgeous piece waxed tomorrow.  I will post the ugly duckling that was screaming "make me pretty again" tomorrow.  So grab that glass of ice tea, mint water or whatever your choice of beverage is, take 5 & sit a spell - YOU deserve it!.  Take a look at a little inspiration.  Toodles!

                                                                       ~Karen

The Blue Garden

What's your favorite flower?  What's your favorite color for a flower? Are there really blue flower's? Well as you can gather I don't have a favorite flower - now that I think about it, yes I do. It's a peony, such beautiful, elegant flowers that make you happy (remember Mr. Happy from my May 5, 2014 blog). If you check out my Blue Garden on Pinterest you can tell what is my favorite color of flowers - it's blue. But are they really blue, or are they purple or lavender?  To me they are blue and they make me happy.  Check out some of my favorites below or go view all 74 of my pins on Pinterest. Toodles!

~ KAREN

Chippy Library Table

Life since my last post has been a little hectic around here I must say - ever have days or weeks like that? Anyhow after much trial and error with Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint, my decision is I LOVE IT! I ended up mixing 3 colors since I mentioned in my last blog that for this particular piece I didn't care for the coastal look.  First coat went on well but when I put on my second coat that's where I was able to see the "chippy" effect.  Just love the look.  So here's my after look - and as Marian says (aka Miss Mustard Seed)  get ready to move mountain's in your home.  Toodles!

The chipping in process

Further chipping

                                                         Finished piece

~KAREN