Sunday, January 3, 2010

French Provincial Cabinet

As soon as I saw this one at the back of the Salvation Army my heart skipped a beat! It had all the right stuff, and I just had to add a little pizazz.


It was cute already, huh? Just not the right color, and the scratches along the bottom cabinet would have been hard to restore.
So I gave it a dose of my usual white treatment, added a little distressing, then once again lightly glazed.

I have gotten a TON of emails about the glaze I use on furniture, and since I am WAYYYY behind on my emails I will tell you right now! I use a brown paint that I chose at the paint store, but instead of having white paint tinted you ask them to tint a clear base. From there you decide how and where you want it. I like to just add a little color to a bit of water and brush it on the cracks and crevices, but you can do the whole thing or just a little too!

Lastly, I added a little whimsy by wallpapering the back of the cabinet with my favorite brocade paper (found at Home Depot of all places!).
I think I will be sad when this one decides to eventually move on...
And finally I wanted to leave a little note for all our new readers and friends! Thank you so much for taking the time to read our blog and email me with your questions and comments~ Lately I have been getting many many emails asking about the paint colors I use on everything from the blue frames to my gray wall, but unfortunately I cannot tell you the colors. Not because they are a top-secret issue of national security, but because I started out by buying mistints, and I have now evolved to mixing my own colors. All the shades of blue, white, cream, and gray are all my own creations so you may have to just guesstimate a similar color from one of your local paint sources. Sorry I am of no service in that department, but thank you for your praises!!!

63 comments:

Unknown said...

This piece is so beautiful, Holly! Love the choice of wallpaper. You are so inspiring!

Amanda said...

Looks amazing! Makes me sad I recently sold a french provincial hutch I just didn't have the time to get around to painting. :(

I cannot wait until the weather warms up around here and I can paint again without the texture being ruined because of sub-zero temps. When the time comes... I'm super excited to custom mix my own paint colors since those little 2 inch swatches always trick me and leave me with a mess on my walls.

Good luck catching up on those emails. ;) I have a list of questions stored away for future use. Lol.

Red Door Home said...

What a lucky find! It looks great with the new coat of white paint - distressed to perfection.

Ivy Lane said...

OMGGGOOSHHH..... This piece is fanTAStic!!

I feel a paint line comin' on... Colours by Holly..... mmmmm......

Have a Great Day! :)

Jennelle said...

Gorgeous! I love the wallpaper in the back!

Anne B. said...

Wow! Wonderful job....don't know how you could part with this one!

Unknown said...

It's hard to believe. This is one of the best re-do's I've ever seen. Wow!

Nancy

Lisa said...

It is beautiful! How did you lighten up the cross-hatch design on the glass?

Melanie@TheOldWhiteCottage said...

Beautiful as usual ... and I can't believe you got that wallpaper at HD!

us said...

This is beautiful Holly. But, I hate to say this but your answer about the glaze was pretty confusing. You say you chose brown paint, and then you say that you ask them to tint up a clear glaze. Are the brown paint and the clear eventually combined? You mention adding water - to which part? Hope you don't mind me asking. I'm thinking that you'll probably get a ton of emails asking this same question. Or maybe I'm just an idiot (it's possible both are true:)

Kelly | Fabulous K said...

I wish it could come live with me! Send it down to Dallas...it's so very lovely.

us said...

I think I get it more - after rereading it a few times. You have a clear base tinted brown - which as far as I know if how all custom glazes are made. Sorry, I'm kinda slow!
Thanks for all the great tips Holly!

Unknown said...

Thank you so much everyone!

US, you want to pick a brown swatch from the paint decks, but when they ask what kind of paint you want (semi-gloss, latex, etc.) you have to request a clear base latex paint. They will tint it to the shade of brown you chose. When you go to apply to the furniture you decide how much or how little color you want so you can water down based on that.

rachele said...

Holly, your amazing!! You've inspired me so much since I discovered your blog. I love everything you spray gun touches!!

:)

Sissie's Shabby Cottage said...

Holly,
Your cabinet turned out so beautiful and I absolutely love the wallpaper. I painted my china cabinet white and the inside white and nothing seems to show up well inside. So, I think I'll try the wallpaper idea, that is, if you don't mind.
Thanks for the tip on the highlighting.

Sissie

A Wedding Story said...

Just wonderful! I think it looks great! I wish there were better descriptive words to use for this one!

~Amy Rose said...

This is exactly what I need for my dining room....have not been able to find just the right one! so PRETTY!!

Mary said...

LOVE the cabinet...there is nothing better than a little wallpaper to add just a touch of elegance. It will be fabulous filled with white dishes! Fantastic piece! ~mary~

suburban housewife said...

absolutely gorgeous! you are fantastic!

Unknown said...

Love the wallpaper! Wishing that I lived in Canada so I could come over and scoop this up! :)

Christina said...

What a beautiful transformation! Love your blog and I'm always thrilled when a new post pops up on my reader.

Angelica said...

Oh my gosh Holly, my very first time commenting on your blog and I think I'm going to cry. I love the hutch you painted for me, but I ADORE this one. They're very similar in shape, but this one has drawers...I'm always sucked in by extra storage. And the wallpaper! Just gorgeous.

*Sigh* Let me know what you'd like to get for it!!! Bret is going to kill me...lol

Happy New Year!

rustic rooster interiors said...

My heart skipped a beat too... Beautiful! You're very talented... Keep on sharing your creations in 2010!
xoxo,
Alexandra

alee said...

This is so beautiful--I have a little boutique here in the States & love your "tips" on painting! My furniture just don't end up as snazzy as yours :)though! Wish you lived closer so I could purchase from you :)!

Lotusphx said...

This is awesome! It looks 100 times different than the original photo and in a fantastic way!! Very inspiring work you do :) Thanks for sharing!!

Vee said...

I LOVE this. Absolutely beautiful. I'm really getting the itch to repurpose some furniture, this definitely inspired me! =]

Jessica @ Simply A Farmer's Wife said...

This piece, like all the others, is absolutely gorgeous, Holly. You are so talented and so inspiring. And Wren... Well she's a doll and I heart her name!

Unknown said...

Thanks for addressing the glaze mystery. I am excited to give it try. Nice work on this piece!

Tammy said...

Once again - amazing. You do wonders with furniture I must say.
I haven't had time to use my sprayer yet. So cold here. I noticed somewhere they you have an area sectioned off in a "garage" that you paint in. How does that work for you?

tammy

Home of a Magnolia said...

Love your blog. I just started painting furniture. So glad to stumble across your site and view the pics of your projects. I'm considering painting my daughter's furniture this summer. Got some time to think about it. I'm considering "pink". The furniture was my hubby's grandmother's. It is the same still as the piece pictured today. I listed your blog on my blog site as one I follow. Can't wait to see more of your projects.

The Berlin Wall said...

Oh my gosh! I wish you lived closer so I could come and get that piece right now! Great job!

Wallpaper said...

love love love it! just gorgeous!!

Anonymous said...

Super cute!!! I love how you kept the same knobs... it makes it look original but just with a new color!!!

THANKS FOR THE INSPIRATION!!!!

-Breeanna
http://simplyelegance.org

L.Duncan@Home23DuncanBoys said...

I. AM. SCREAMING!!! This is BEAUTIFUL Holly! love it, love it, love it!

BTW, I recently started a new blog and I am featuring one of your pieces (the french dresser). Please come by tomorrow.
www.swoonworthyboutique.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

OM! LOVE LOVE LOVE it!

Poindexter said...

wow, this is is lovely. I'm wondering if you did anything to the hardware or left it in its original finish? Looks darker against the white, but that's probably to be expected. It's just beautiful. Great job.

Amber said...

just picked my jaw up off the floor! I wish I had a big house so I could own a piece of yours like this!

Kari --- said...

I always mix my own paint colours too! Drives hubby crazy, but I just find I can actually get what I love that way!

~ Regan said...

This is so beautiful! Great job, and thanks for the tip on the glazing.

Check out my blog
http://mamacancraft.blogspot.com
I'm having my first giveaway!

Casey said...

Love it! Just recently started reading your blog. You have given me the inspiration to finish a few of the pieces i have had for awhile.

Jessika said...

This looks great!

Kendall@ Finesse Your Nest said...

Wow that is BEAUTIFUL! Looks like a VERY expensive piece of furniture. Well done!

Angie said...

That cabinet is beautiful!!!! Great job!!!

Melissa Marie Head said...

You are amazing! How inspiring. I love the piece.

Tracy ~Seeking Refinement~ said...

WOW!! I'm so in love with this! I'm in the market for some wallpaper just like the one you have there, I can't believe it was from Home Depot!

Am off to do some shopping!

Happy New Year~

Erin Southwell said...

I was just looking at the same wallpaper for our nursery but couldn't decide if it was too "girl" for a little boys room! Shoot! Probably! This piece is just absolutely gorgeous.

Laurie Mire Photography said...

Love love love it :) My grandmother passed down the exact same hutch to me and it has been stored in my garage for over a year. You have inspired me to paint and refinish the bottom half of mine. I think I will use it to go underneath the mounted flat panel tv my hubby is buying me next week. Wonderful ideas...your blog is just dreamy :)

Treasia Stepp said...

That is a gorgeous piece of furniture. Even more so now. Wonderful job.

chelsea said...

Ok, I am seriously inspired! You have a great eye for treasures :)

Rachel said...

This is beautiful! I love it. We have a Sal Army store in my town, but I've never visited. I am definitely going to have to check it out.

Jenn said...

You mix your paint colors? They are completely amazing - you should start your own line of paint!

Meg said...

This piece turned out fantastic and is just about exactly what I need for my dining room. Thank you for your lovely blog! I really do enjoy reading it.

Meg

Timeless Style Design said...

Gorgeous -- I LOVE the before and after shots.

Would you be willing to share the name of the wallpaper (pattern/company) as I have an awkward little alcove I've been wanting to wallpaper but haven't found the right paper.

Cindy said...

Wow, this is really beautiful! I love the paper in the back! Just found your blog and it's really nice!

Caitlin @ That House on the Corner said...

Gorgeous, I'm totally inspired.

Krystal Wight Armstrong said...

I see how that would be your fave...almost exactly like your current blog wallpaper! Very pretty choice by the way, I'm still loving the light blues with the fresh, new, white furniture :)

Ooh, wow (I just read the other comments); and Ivy has a great, genius idea. Somehow I really bet you could create, market, and successfully sell your own line of paints. Infact, isn't this how these things get started. I wouldn't be surprised if within the next 5 to 10 years you're your own mini-mogul! (is that the right term?) Especially after reading your next exciting endeavor, come February!

Anonymous said...

Love the wallpaper choice!

Connie @ SogniESorrisi said...

Looks amazing! Great job.

Holly Meade said...

Ok... I was wowed by your buffet make-over! I can say this because I just love, love, love, shabby chic and so do you !! I was really amazed by the fact that there ARE shabby chic lovers! I say that because I had a boutique and somehow that town didn't particularly lean toward what i liked! I was disenheartened until I started Blogging!!!! Love to see how many women all around the world love what we love!!! Plus your name is FAB :) heehee Keep sharing love it!

Lettered Cottage said...

I'm IN LOVE with this piece Holly!!!
It's PERFECTION!

Layla :-)

Dear Lillie said...

OH MY GOODNESS!!!!! This is one of the most gorgeous pieces ever! I just adore your blog!

Anonymous said...

Love it! How did you make the crevices in the glass clear instead of the dark color?

decorating diva {aka deanna} said...

b.e.a.u.t.i.f.u.l.!!!!

 
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