Tuesday, September 6, 2011

A little more pizzazz

Once upon a time, there was a cabinet at the top of the stairs.

image

This cabinet served the Very Important Purpose of holding yarn and knitting needles (for the winter months when the furnishing-refinishing business is slow). It was a good cabinet, but it wasn’t well-liked. The fact that it was brown against a brown wall probably had something to do with it.

So one day in the dead of winter, it got painted!

image

…and there was much rejoicing!

Although it looked much better, and it still continued to fulfill its Very Important Purpose most admirably, the fickle owner (yes, that’s me) was not completely satisfied. I envisioned something with a little more style…a little more panache…a little more pizzazz…to fulfill the Very Important Purpose. However, besides being fickle, I also happen to be incredibly cheap <ahem>, I mean frugal. So I settled back to wait until the furniture fates would conspire to give me what I wanted.

fabric 028

When this little chest appeared in the classified ads, and it happened to coincide with a trip to the airport, I knew my day had arrived! The seller told me this chest used to belong to her grandmother. She sold it to me for $48!

I painted this little chest in my favorite off-white…

dresser

…distressed it lightly, and glazed it to “age” the color. There was no changing the hardware on this piece...the knobs are a carved part of the drawer fronts! There were no visible bolts or screws.

antique distressed dresser

Being not only fickle and frugal, but also impatient, I hauled it up to the top of the stairs all by myself to see how it would look!

off-white antique dresser

I think…I like it!

grandma's dresser

It now serves the Very Important Purpose of holding yarn and knitting needles…and looking pretty.

The former cabinet is serving some other Very Important Purpose for some Other Person now. I sold it for $160, and since I use paint and glaze I had on hand, I maintain that I made $112 on this deal!

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Linking up here.

51 comments:

Lori said...

Oooooh, Aaaaahhhh! How lovely! I hope you took the drawers out before lugging it up the stairs!!

SkinnyMeg said...

Love love love it! It so much more.....fabulous! The feet are darling, I love the details on it and what a great deal!

Unknown said...

Wow. Simply charming.

Jessica said...

Lovely! I love the lines and curves on this. I am totally a very impatient person as well and have many a bruise to show for it. ;) Nice Job!

Ronda Liebert said...

You done good, girl! Yep!!

Ronda

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

The other one wasn't bad, Korrie, but I really like this one better. I think it's the legs. Great buy and I think the fates were working in your favor that day!

Cassie Bustamante said...

those are both awesome as usual, but what a difference the hardware makes on that first piece! wow!

JENNY and ASHLEY said...

I love both of them. I am still amazed at what some TLC will do to a piece of furniture. I love the legs on the second piece and the beadboard look on the first. CUTE CUTE and CUTE

Emily said...

I think that is my all time favorite! love love love.

said...

Spectacular! I love the legs on your new piece and can't believe you picked it up for $48!! SCORE! :)

Heaven's Walk said...

Sometimes a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do, Korrie! lol! Beautiful job!

xoxo laurie

Tina said...

The other chest looked great, but yes, this one looks better. I love chests and cabinets with legs. They change the whole look of the piece!

molly susan strong said...

Looks so fresh and so totally different. What a difference paint can make. Plse come share at Market Monday.

http://mollysusanstrong.blogspot.com/2011/09/market-monday-with-linky-creating-from.html

Kim @ A Brush of Whimsy said...

It is adorable! So sweet! I totally remember the other dresser~ I always thought it was so cute, even if it did drive you nuts! :)

Unknown said...

Oh wow! It's so nice!

Karyn said...

Super cute! I loved the first one until I saw the second and then I switched my love.....like that. Good find and an excellent job.

meppybn said...

Definitely more pizazz - especially to look UP the stairs at :) Love your ideas that you show us. May I suggest that the large pictures on the wall be level? By bringing the higher one down so they are side-by-side brings symmetry to the whole and echoes the strong horizontal lines of the now defined drawers - just a suggestion :) :)

SImple and Serene Living said...

Love it, Miss Frugality. You did good. Lugging it up the stairs by yourself sounds like something I would do 8-)

Deborah March said...

Beautiful up-do...MUCH more character...you ROCK that white!!

Beth said...

Yes, I would say you did very good in every aspect of this space improvement! I loved the first piece as much as I love the "new" piece, but I totally "get" fickle! ;^) How fortunate to find a piece with carved knobs and that they weren't broken off either!

Anonymous said...

Yep, you found the perfect cabinet. Patience does pay off!!! It looks great.

Ali Richardson said...

I really love the new one! Gorgeous! Great job Korrie :)

Gypsy Heart said...

Looks beautiful!! It really pops against the brown wall.

xo
Pat

Catie @ Catie's Corner said...

Gorgeous! I love it. : )

~ Catie

Suzy-Q said...

Its absolutely perfect! Great job Korrie! :-)

jennifer768 said...

It is beautiful...love it!Hugs,Jen

refresh reStyle said...

Korrie, I liked the first one, but I love this one! And you made a great profit! You're good!

Debbie

Lindsay said...

you sure have a talent for transforming furniture! There is definitely a skill required to achieve what you have. I love the entire look of it. It's really beautiful! I would love for you to share this at Show & Share--
http://southernlovely.blogspot.com/2011/09/show-share-4.html

bj said...

WOO HOO....WHAT A DEAL.
Don't 'cha love MAKING money instead of SPENDING it!!!!

Hauled it up those stairs all by yourself...you need to learn to wait for help, sister friend. Could hurt your sweet self doing things like that.

Now that new piece...LOVE. IT.
You did a great job on it and it looks right at home at the top of your stairs.
xoxo bj

Tablescapes By Diane said...

Hi lovely lady.
I love it. fabulous! I love the feet so sweet, I also love all the details,and this was a great deal.
Im your newest follower on your blog. I hope you come join my Tablescapes. Have a great week.
XXOO Diane

Kathy Owen, Petticoat Junktion said...

A woman after my own heart! My husband gets so mad at me when I move furniture like that. Hey, what can you do if there isn't any help around. I really love the 48.00 piece. You did a great job. I've never seen a chest where the knob is carved with the drawer.

Jacqueline said...

Love it! I really like the detail around the knobs...thanks for always sharing at my link party!

Faith said...

Love the lines of this piece sooo much...even before. But now it really sings in it's happy new home.

Megan Gunyan said...

Wow! That's a great profit! Think of all the paint you could buy with that...or sweaters...I love this new cabinet! It's definitely unique and PRETTY. Love it!

Anonymous said...

That looks so pretty. I love how it turned out.
http://shabbytochicqueencreek.blogspot.com/

Sue at Serendipity said...

Loved the first one painted but I ADORE the second one-great choice!

KimMalk said...

What a great piece, Korrie. It has a lot of personality, I really like how the knobs look, and of course, the new paint. Hugs,Kim

Rosemary@villabarnes said...

Very nice, Korrie. Love what you did, and the details.

Kathryn Ferguson Griffin said...

As always, fantastic job! Love all of the details and the color! Visiting from Funky Junk Interiors. Toodles, Kathryn
http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/2011/08/little-goodwill-finds.html

Toki said...

The lines on the new piece are perfect. And the distressed off white really stands out against the dark chocolate walls.

Now I want one! Time to craigslist!

Rachel said...

I make Brian go insane because I never wait for him to help me haul stuff around. You're a woman after my own heart. Every gal should have a place to stash their yarns and needles. Mine happened to be stashed in a big pile on the living room floor at the moment.

You did a great job. Lovely. Just loverly.

Dear Sweet Home said...

Love it - I have this thing about pieces with feet or legs - I just prefer them to flat pieces! Very pretty! ~Kim

Erin {Lavender and Lemon Drops} said...

I'm in love with this. The soft lines on the drawers and those knobs....sigh I love it!

Kei said...

Such a gorgeous piece of furniture; I love the work you did on it!

Kristin @ Chi-Chi Studio said...

Lovely, as usual! I nominated you for the versatile blogger award, if you're interested!

http://www.chichistudio.com/blog/2011/9/10/versatile-blogger-award.html

Pamela said...

OMG you just made me laugh so hard!! LOVE your chest! It looks amazing and the fact that you drug it up the stairs on your own sounds just like ME! It drives my hubby isane.

Susan said...

What a wonderful since of humor you have!! Love the chest!

Decor & Harmony said...

Korrie, you aced this project! I love the post and you're a woman after my own heart, don't you know that impatience can be a driving force? It can give you strength to move furniture without any help :)

Tammy@Beatrice Banks said...

Beautiful! Sweet deal!

Leigh-Ann said...

This turned out fabulous!! Thanks for sharing your treasure find!

Kristal said...

It's beautiful!