Thursday, November 3, 2011

Inspire Me

After wanting to tackle an armoire for several months, I ended up with TWO in the course of about a week! The first one, a television armoire, I turned into a sewing cabinet here. The second one started out like this:

chairs 008

chairs 007

Yep, it’s in two pieces, and the top one looks funny because it was upside down when I took the picture of it!

This piece had really beautiful trim work, but the cloth-and-wire treatment in the front of the doors was just…weird. And grungy. Eww.

I decided that I wanted to try gray again on this piece. Remember the gray buffet? Well, I really did take in my “custom” mixed color and had Home Depot color-match a quart for me!

With some gray paint, black glaze (and oil-rubbed bronze paint for the pulls), the bottom turned out like this…

gray armoire 003

…and the top turned out like THIS!

gray armoire 004

Yep. Mirrors. This piece needed them. But let me warn you…mirrors are expensive. The two mirrors for the doors cost MORE than I paid for the whole piece to begin with!

mirrored armoire refinish

See the reflection of the new stairs and the suitcase wall? Not to mention my legs!

But I can’t really bring myself to regret it. My friend MJ and I had a brief—and sad—experiment with cutting Walmart-purchased mirrors…and we ended up with mirror shards all over the kitchen table! (Note to self: even if you have scored the mirror…DON’T try to use a hammer to make the break.)

I had a little fun with the interior of the armoire:

gray armoire 006

gray armoire 007

You know how I love to put numbers or words on everything! I decided this piece needed to be “inspirational.” Maybe words like “dream, create, imagine” will inspire the new owner to make the most of each day’s opportunities!

gray armoire 009

Well, it can’t hurt!

inspirational armoire

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This project was featured at Redoux and Stylish Once Again.

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Linking up to these great parties:

Coastal Charm’s Nifty Thrifty Tuesday Topsy Turvy Tuesdays
Domestically Speaking’s Power of Paint Thrifty Décor Chick’s Before & After
Hookin’ Up with House of Hepworths No Minimalist Here’s Open House Thursday
Friday Remodelaholic 2805
My Simple Home Life’s Simple Creations Friday Miss Mustard Seed’s Furniture Feature Friday
Funky Junk’s Saturday Night Special The DIY Show Off
Primitive & Proper I Heart Naptime
Beyond the Picket Fence’s Under $100 Party My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Perfectly Imperfect {Primp}
Mod Vintage Life Redoux
Thrifty Décor Chick Stylish Once Again

57 comments:

Cassie Bustamante said...

ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh!!!!! aaaaah!!!! LOOOOVE!!!!

Peggy said...

Korrie - you really do amazing work! Your furniture inspires the rest of us to get at it!!

Chris at Red Gate Farm said...

Love how this turned out... and the mirrors are a fantastic idea!

~Chris

Unknown said...

The new owner??!!! What about YOU?!! I see where you have this sitting....In that room you have been wanting to furnish. Why not make this the beginning?? It's lovely and reflects that awesome new staircase area!

Gail said...

What an amazing make-over Korrie! I think I would have passed on that piece of furniture but look at it now....gorgeous!!!!!

eleven-o-one said...

You are so creative. Love it.
Fran

Sandi @ The Primitive Skate said...

Oh, so, Beautiful, Korrie! What an awesome transformation. I Love the mirrors and the words add the perfect touch.

Tina@WhatWeKeep said...

I'd keep it, too! It's wonderful!

Reenie said...

Very nice. I was wondering about the price of mirrors....I was going to put them in a small buffet.

Katie @ sweetgirlexpressions said...

Gorgeous!!! I love the color!

Karyn said...

Beautiful and I love the words inside...the unexpected is so wonderful.

Heavens2Betsy said...

Beautiful transformations. Your work is exquisite! penny

Laura at Ms. Smartie Pants said...

Boy you gave that piece new life, simply gorgeous! And the mirror is just what it needed. I don't know how you are gonna let it go tho!

Single Stone Studios said...

I love the words on the drawers when you open the doors! That was stunning. The mirrors offer a lottothe piece as well. Gorgeous work.

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

Great piece, Korrie! Here I'm thinking "great, there is already wire and fabric on the doors", but the mirror looks fantastic. Yes, I would think that using the words hammer and mirror in the same sentence would not be good. : ) Love the words you used on the drawers, too.

Kelli said...

It's gorgeous Korrie. I have three armoire's that need restoring, but I am a little nervous to tackle the job. Love the mirrors, they totally gave it that little extra umph!

Kelli:)

Decor & Harmony said...

Get out of town! Girl this FABULOUS! I don't believe my eyes stand up and take a bow( don't you hear thr roar of the crowd) Simply amazing. You are going to be featured all over blogland. I can't write or say enough about this restyle. I'm glad taht I checked my google reader today.

Unknown said...

WOW -- what a difference! I love what you did to that old piece and I can just imagine using a hammer on mirrors didn't turn out well, lol. Part of what I enjoy about refinishing work is the adventure each new piece brings :)

Blessings!
Gail

Twice Nice said...

Love this, and in a crazy twist I just ended up using some of those same words on drawer fronts for a custom piece I'm wrapping up today. May I say "great minds..."!
Deb

pasqueflower said...

Beautiful redo! Glad no one was hurt in the glass cutting process!! You are a fearless renovator!!

Honey at 2805 said...

It's fantastic! You have done a gorgeous job on the armoire and the words are like icing on the cake!

Again you creativity inspires. Thanks for linking this lovely project to Potpourri Friday!

Homeroad said...

Korrie I love this armoire! I love the mirrors.... perfect! and I especially love the words you put on the inside! I would love this in my house! Great job my friend!
Susan

KimMalk said...

I love the gray, Korrie. It was the perfect choice. Have you ever scoped out CL for mirrors people are removing for remodeling? My neighbor just PAID someone to dispose of them.

Jen@TheOldBlueChair said...

I am in looooove with the mirrored fronts! Oh my wow, it's just beautiful!

Jaime Costiglio said...

Korrie she is a beauty, runway ready. Those mirrors make it so big, bold, tall and sexy - like 'that's right, I'm looking at you'. And then the inside to boot - honestly a complete package. I'd love to know how much she goes for.

Beth said...

LOVE the words on the drawers on the inside and the mirrors just make it seem larger. What a great storage cabinet!! You sure do make record time on larger furniture pieces too - wow, I need your coffee. LOL!!

Christina at I Gotta Create! said...

With those inspiring words on the drawers, I'm thinking that would be a great piece in an art studio to hold fabrics and other supplies!

Allison@FabRehab said...

I have to ditto Vicky on this. AMAZING work. This will be featured everywhere...and for good reason. It is perfection!

Kim@todayismysome-day said...

Beautiful piece! I'm so inspired by all of your wonderful and unique transformations!!

Perfect Imperfections by Jeanne said...

The mirrors were a great idea. The piece is beautiful. And I love the inspirational words. Beautiful job!

Ali Richardson said...

WOW!!!! This turned out So great Korrie! Beautiful!!!

Anonymous said...

AMAZING- This turned out beautifully! I love the interior. The words were so clever, it really added so much to the piece!

Unknown said...

I can't say anything that hasn't already been said. I just love this piece so much, that I had to leave some comment love. UH-MAZ-ING! Thanks for sharing.

SImple and Serene Living said...

This is so beautiful, Korrie. I love your anecdote about the mirrors. Sounds like something I would do.

bj said...

Girl, I'm tellin' ya...you just continue to blow my skirt up over my head. This is just flat AWESOME..I love the gray...beautiful...and the mirrors just took it over the top.
And, just when I thought I'd seen it all, there was that awesome inside.
Sooo cute.
I am trying to figure out how to pin it all in one photo...
xo bj

I Play Outside The Box said...

Awesome piece. Found your blog through the linky at My Repurposed Life!

Rachel said...

Wow..... I am speechless and for me..... that is truly amazing.

Amy said...

Wow! This is really beautiful! I love it.

Kathryn Ferguson Griffin said...

Wow! Double Wow! That turned out amazing! Simply divine! Thank you for the visit and the sweet comment @TheDedicatedHouse. It means the world. Hope you're having a grand evening! Toodles, Kathryn

Unknown said...

Wonderful job...and a big one it was! Aren't you going to keep it for your home? Sure looks good there.

Thanks for stopping by my blog.

bj said...

Thanks to your sweetness, it is PINNED. :)
I thank you for doing that, Korrie.
♥♥ bj

Megan Gunyan said...

It's just lovely, Korrie! We should name that shade of gray after you... :) I love the inspirational words. They work really well with the piece! Great job.

Unknown said...

You are so talented! I just love how this turned out...especially the words on the drawers. Great Job!!

Erin {Lavender and Lemon Drops} said...

AMAZING! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the mirrors! It really "made" the whole armoire! Great Job :)

Roeshel said...

Wow, Korrie! It's gorgeous! I wish I was the new owner! I love every detail - that paint technique, the mirrors, the drawers with inspiring words. You really did a beautiful job! Thanks for sharing your hard work and creativity in the DIY party!

Mel said...

Truly beautiful and well worth your effort. The mirrors are perfect.

Good Time Charlie said...

This is just stunning! I would never think to take out that ugly front wire stuff and put mirrors in there, then the writing on the drawers! Oh, be still my heart!!

I have a linky party every Friday-Sunday, it is open until midnight. I would love if you see this and stop by to link up. If not, it is every weekend. Thanks for sharing!

Suzanne@Meridian Road said...

Korrie, that is SO pretty! You're right, it just needed mirrors. Nothing else would have looked nearly as good. I'll bet it's hard to let this one go!

Miss Charming said...

You are truly talented. This armoire looks amazing! (I absolutely love it!) The mirrors really were a perfect choice as well as the words inside.

Valley Primitives Gift Shoppe said...

Oh My Goodness!!! That is absolutely BEAUTIFUL!! You are sooooooooo talented!!
Kim

Sherryd said...

Oh my goodness shut the front door! Simply fabulous! You've got some skillz....

Joy@aVintageGreen said...

Love the switch to mirrors - and the color - and the great shelves/words. Visiting you from Primitive and Proper.
- Joy

Karah @ thespacebetweenblog said...

Beautiful!!

Good Time Charlie said...

Thank you so much for linking up! I love this project so much, I am featuring it tomorrow at my party. Have a great weekend. -K

Holly Lefevre said...

This is amazing inside and out! I love it.

samaa said...

Wow just beautiful! You're so talented :) I love those little surprise words on the inside!

Jann said...

LOVE how you repurposed this piece....it looks fabulous...;o)