Kitchen remodel from Retro Cafe to Cottage Chic!

A week or so ago we decided to sell our 1950's dining room table and chairs. Due to my kitchen nook being too small for it. And it actually sold...;-)

As we brainstomed what size and type of table we wanted, we came to the decision to change the whole kitchen from retro to totally cottage chic. With a $500 budget and 4 days available here is the transformation.

Thanks to the Vineyard's Antique mall (buffet $200), Lowe's (paint $80 and chandelier $96) and some friends (pedestal table $75, chairs $40) we found everything we needed inside our budget.

  

 The old chandelier.       The new chandelier.

The 1950's table and do you see all the red, purple and green? Yeah, that was the reason for the primer we had to use on all the walls.

 Pedestal table was a white with pine color on the top and now grey, aqua and light grey.

 This cabinet was bleach white and thanks to my husband it has this adorable shade of grey.

 The door is aqua with shades of grey and chalkboard paint.

 We painted the bottom kitchen cabinets from white to shades of grey. Oh, did I mention we had to repaint the kitchen cabinets because the first color of grey looked dark and gloomy.

We woke up the next morning after painting them and we both looked into the kitchen and to each other and we said that color got to go! My hubby said ;"they looked like the Army barracks green"

Even the chairs got painted from a brown chenille to a light beige. The only thing I need to add is a skirt made from painter's drop cloth.

We completed the job just in the nick of time!

Let's rest from all the painting, sanding, cleaning,..

Love,
Mia

Visions of Grey- finished pieces of furniture in grey

Finally I have some muscles, Eric, join me in creating some unique pieces of furniture. We started this week and we have been brainstorming, painting, sanding, cutting, stapling, upholstering...name it and we have done it.
I had visions of furniture in different shades of grey. So, we made enough to put in one of the showrooms at our store, Simply Paris.

Here are some of the creations....

 This was a 1920's headboard.

 Vintage cabinet door turned accent table.

 Vintage Desk got a new life.

Shadow box with 1960's Sherman, Texas newspaper ad ladies and much more.

 Vintage cabinet given some color.

 Old, old, old cedar chest went from 'yikes' to 'wow'.

Tomorrow we are building a hall tree with a vintage door...I can't wait to start painting it.
You are welcome to come see the grey room at Simply Paris, 4701 Colleyville Blvd., Colleyville, Texas.
Everyone have a happy time creating. And Yes...Have a blessed Father's Day weekend!

Love,

Mia

The Journey of Before and After Restoration of Furniture

Since I am having this big energy surge to finish some of the furniture projects, let me take the time and show some of the accomplished ones. Hopefully it will encourage you to tackle some of your old projects as it has me.

This 1920's vanity had great bones but the paint job was not exactly what I had in mind. I had more like dreams of soft white with a bit of distress.

The minute my eyes laid hold on this sofa, I was in love. At its previous state it was sagging, sad and droopy with great bones. However with new inerts and outers it came to life again. Now it is the most comfortable piece of furniture in the shop. ;-)

Nothing is more beautiful than the carvings on 1920's mahogany. I know some will think that this is comitting sacrilege however I see it as bringing new life to a beautiful display. I love painting on mahogany because it is smooth as butter.

No one wanted to look at this chair until the tranformation. I don't think it lasted a day in the shop.

This side table has classic French lines and I had to try out a new paint on it. Benjamin Moore primer and paint in one.

Great bones and wrong fabric...my newest endeavor to paint on fabric. Mission accomplished. Now from floral nightmare to white chenille dreams.

The garage is calling me, I must run.

Love,

Mia