So when I reclaimed this one from my daughter, I knew she needed a refresh and a special place in my garden to invoke those sweet Wildwood memories and brighten a corner in our yard.

She is in great shape for her age. Very little rust. And most of it is just surface rust.

I’ve heard that you can repair more serious damage with auto repair body filler. Good to note that for the future. But my project will just consist of sanding and painting, fortunately.

Let’s Get Started

As always, we start with a good cleaning followed by a good sanding to remove loose paint and smooth the surface for better paint adhesion.

After sanding, she got another wipedown to remove the dust.

Time for paint color selection. I just received a lovely yellow paint from Black Dog Salvage Furniture Paint. This paint was designed for use on salvaged, antique, and vintage items marked for restoration. So, BDSFP is perfect for this vintage metal yard or patio chair. Let me introduce you to Star City Sunshine!

I expected 3 coats would be needed since this yellow is covering the pinky mauve which covered the red.

Here is the chair after one coat.

As expected, I moved onto a second coat. The trick to better coverage is to ensure the first coat has completely dried before moving onto the next coat. This keeps the paint from streaking. Here is Sunshine during application of the second coat.

And finally, voila!

It’s that time of month where the Thrift Store Decor Team publishes new posts! On the second Wednesday of every month, the team shares new projects featuring upcycled, recycled, renewed or newly created items that you can use in your decor. Accompanying the transformation pieces are always new tips, skills and products to help you in your DIY and upcycling journey!

You will find all of this month’s projects at the end of this post. Be sure to visit everyone!

Now, to decide where this beauty should live.

For now, she is residing on the deck by the entryway. She is quite welcoming.

And she looks even better in the bright sun!

Ah! I just love vintage everywhere!

Here is another vintage garden post:

And apparently I do like vintage seating!

My Repurposed Life DIY Outdoor Fairy Light Lampshade

Shop At Blu Refreshed Vintage Metal Patio Chair

Our Crafty Mom Thrift Store Lampshade Makeover

Funky Junk Interiors DIY Upcycled Globe Light, Cloche, Pedestal Bowl and Paper Towel Stand

Redhead Can Decorate  Glass Rainbow Garden Tower 

Exquisitely Unremarkable Thrifted Botanical Print Makeover

The post A Timely Refresh for a Vintage Metal Yard Chair appeared first on Shop at Blu.

Once you find a great piece of curbside gold, your eye will forever scour the curb on trash day. This beauty was just sitting atop a pile of branches. I heard a very faint “SAVE ME” as I passed. So, I hit the brakes and loaded her into the van. A metal outdoor side table can last many many years. And when the base is constructed of wrought iron, she may just last a lifetime or two.

If I am upcycling, recycling, repurposing, or restyling dated decor, you know it it time for the Thrift Store Decor Team monthly posts. Join us here every second Wednesday of the month to see what we have restored/repurposed this month! You will find direct links to all TEN projects at the end of this post.

Each spring I upcycle some planters or table on our deck. I remain pretty consistent with the colors. Of course, my base color is almost always blue, usually a teal. And I will add a variety of accent colors depending on what flowers I have found so far at local nurseries.

I really wanted some fabulous color in this table so I decided to try the paint pour technique. This is my first time trying paint pour. I was quite surprised to discover that there are many different techniques, products, and styles. I started, appropriately, with simple. My plan was to add the paint, tilt the table and see what this created. Just the basics.

Prep Your Piece

As always, I started by cleaning my table. I gave the wrought iron base a good wiping to remove any dust and surface dirt. I just wiped with a work glove. It worked pretty well.

The base was in great shape with minimal surface rust so Rustoleum was a good choice.

The base has really great features.

Then I sprayed the base with my go to spray paint, Rustoleum. Their hammered metal comes in a nice variety of colors. I chose brown to blend with our deck furniture. I have a little wire shelf that I use for all of my spray paint projects. I just set the project piece on top and apply a coat of spray paint. I let it dry, rotate the piece, and repeat until the entire surface is painted.

I allowed this to dry overnight. I wanted to make sure that the paint had cured because I would be taping off the base to ensure that the table top paint would not pour onto the newly painted base.

Rustoleum does not disappoint.

The next day I used brown craft paper and frogtape to mask off the entire base and the rim of the table top.

I made certain that the FrogTape was secure and left no spaces through which paint could seep.

It was not pretty but it was efficient.

Next, I prepped the wooden surface of the table top with a base coat. I used Black Dog Salvage Furniture Paint in Clean Canvas.

After this dried, it was time to pour on the white acrylic.

Commence the Paint Pour

I ordered the acrylic paint from Amazon. I decided on a background coat of white and found this larger 32 oz. volume white for the background color.

I grabbed this variety pack of 18 great colors. Bonus as it was from one of my favorite suppliers, DecoArt. If you need paint for any craft project…DecoArt is your source.

Aren’t these bold colors fabulous?

It was so difficult to narrow down the colors but I decided on:

• Ultra Blue Deep
• Ocean Blue
• Bahama Blue
• Purple Pizzazz
• Royal Fuschia
• Coral Blush
• Cadmium Yellow

I watched a few tutorials but tried to stay with the basic beginner projects. Some of the instructions recommended using Floetrol to keep the paint fluid and extend the drying time to manipulate the color across the surface. While I did have Floetrol on hand, I really wanted to start with the basics and try a simple approach on this first project. Yes, I was fairly certain going in that this would be the first of many paint pour projects.

So I did not use the Floetrol and I did not have a problem in applying the white.

Once I had all of the white added, I lifted the edge of the table closest to me and tilted it at a steep angle. The paint immediately began to run toward the opposite edge.

Once the paint ran over the edge, I set my side of the table down and grabbed the adjacent edge. I followed the same process until the top was covered with paint.

I did add a bit more white at one point to cover one of the edges. But the process was easy.

The paint did seem to be drying quickly so I was a little worried about adding the bright colors.

What I did not do, was photograph the process of adding the colors. I was a bit nervous that the paint would dry and I would be stuck with a bunch of wonky circles. It was also difficult to stop the process to grab the phone for phots since it was a quite messy. Next time I will try to set up video because even using the remote shutter gadget would entail messy fingers on my equipment and I was not going there.

My design was basically as follows:

• I put a large circle of blue in the center.
• Added smaller light blue around the large blue circle.
• Added more teal circles.
• Made a few squiggly lines randomly in
• Added some random small dots of purple, pink and yellow.

I used a skewer and pulled it through the circles to add dimension and disperse the colors across the table top. Then I started the tilt process.

I repeated the table tilt process until the color had dispersed to my liking.

I was careful to make sure the sides were covered completely as the paint ran over the edge of the table top.

There were six sides on this table so I checked them all.

I turned on the ceiling fan and left her in the room to dry overnight.

The Frogtape came off easily and there was minimal paint seepage.

And she looks great on the deck.

Another Mia approved project.

This technique has peaked my interest:

• I am interested to learn how to make different designs.
• One tutorial said to add rubbing alcohol to some of the colors to create a more dramatic effect (the paint would separate creating a different visual).
• Small projects would be really fun.
• I can see a resin finish for indoor projects.
• So many possibilities.

Cheers!

Shop at Blu Metal Outdoor Side Table Upcycle

Exquisitely Unremarkable DIY Decal Pitcher Makeover

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia Easy Decorative Moss Balls for Spring

Redhead Can Decorate How I Transformed Our Foyer with a Thrift Store Room Divider

Sadie Seasongoods Geometric Abstract Art from a Collage Frame

Our Southern Home Piano Bench Makeover with New Color and Fabric

My Repurposed Life Can This Become a Lamp?

Funky Junk Interiors Rustic TV Stand Dresser Makeover with Easy Wood Strip Drawers

Our Crafty Mom DIY Rope Vase Pottery Barn Dupe

Songbird Vintage Tool Decor Idea

The post Metal Outdoor Side Table Upcycle appeared first on Shop at Blu.

I am an only child so my parents entertained me quite a bit. When we weren’t playing games or in Dad’s workshop, I was seeking creative fun in all of the corners of our sweet Philadelphia home. I dug through closets, under beds, through sewing kits and cupboards. But my favorite quiet time was spent in Mom and Dad’s bedroom, perched on the end of their full sized bed sorting through Mom’s vintage jewelry box. Inside, I found the stories of Mom’s past. There were trinkets and memories. Each one had a history.

Years ago, in the ’80’s, Dad bought Mom a new jewelry box for Christmas. You know, one of those fancy wooden 1980’s taller jewelry boxes with the swivel carousel hook for necklaces and a fancy place to put your rings. Of course, I grabbed Mom’s old vintage jewelry box. Because I was documenting stories of my own.

Like those once gleaming pieces of jewelry, Mom’s vintage jewelry box has seen better days. Today is the day she gets her makeover. And, if we are talking renew, upcycle, and refresh, that means it’s time for this month’s Thrift Store Decor Team projects.

If you are new to Blu or the TSDT, we are a group of 9 creative bloggers who focus on the upcycle, repurpose, and reuse of older or previously used items. At the end of this post, you will find all of the other team projects. We share our posts on the second Wednesday of the month. This is our first post of the NEW YEAR! And we have some bloggers joining our fabulous group! What new skills will we share this year?? Tools, products, DIY skills and fabulous tips are our favorite. Hope to see you as a regular visitor. You can sign up for an email reminder at the top right side of this page! Let’s get to our project!

You see these vintage jewelry boxes at estate sales, yard sales, and flea markets. They are roomy and still the best way to store your jewelry. Mine will sit on a shelf filled with treasures when she has been restored.

Selecting a Finish

The Francophile in me loves loves loves marble. I didn’t want to paint this jewelry box so I decided to cover it. Dollar Tree had these removeable peel and stick wallpaper strips so I bought a few. Cheap, easy, and I think they will work.

The instructions are conveniently on the back and are very simple.

There is some damage to mom‘s old jewelry box. Somehow over the years, a corner of the top padding was actually ripped away. That is the part that is sticking up on the top.

The inside shelf is a bit wonky so I’ll need to repair that.

The interior is still lovely, for the most part. The beautiful Asian print on satin is just darling.

The velour is still a pretty aqua thought there are a few discolorations and some divots where weighty pearls and baubles have rested over the years. Other than that, I think she’s in great shape.

The length of this wallpaper sheet was just a bit shy of the total width of the jewelry box.

I will use one whole piece of wallpaper for the top and piece it underneath, hoping to match the pattern. When piecing I will want to minimize the seams. So I will add those smaller pieces first. We will see if I have enough product to match the patterns perfectly. Cross your fingers! Here we go.

I took a piece of the wallpaper and basically laid it over each drawer, each side, the back and the top of the jewelry box. The plan was to apply each carefully measured piece onto the surface and fold over behind the door fronts, the back, and the entire the jewelry box.

I folded the paper along each edge essentially making a creating a new panel for each surface on the jewelry box. Since the wallpaper was just a little short in length, I started with the section that would go under the longest sides. I measured and cut carefully. I began to lay the pieces into shape.

I made my way around the Jewelry box peeling, sticking, wrapping, folding, and tucking the wallpaper into place.

I took special care to wrap the corners smoothly.

And I was careful to try to match the pattern when the wallpaper had to be pieced.

I did have to cut around the knobs and handles. But the process went pretty smoothly.

The beautiful decorative panel slipped off easily giving me access to the inside edges of the lid.

I used my handy dandy vintage Pampered Chef scraper to burnish the entire surface ensuring a secure bond of the wallpaper to the jewelry box.

And the decorative panel slipped right back into place once the wallpaper was installed.

And here she is with her new look!

I have to say I am quite pleased!

In this jewelry box, amidst the odds and ends, I found this little bracelet. When I was about 7 years old, my dad brought this home for me one day when he came home from work. My favorite color was purple. My heart is happy.

I also found a bit of my grandmother’s brooches.

And my great-grandmother’s watch bands. I had forgotten I had these!

Now to decide what she will hold long term. For now, she is in my jewelry vault, so to speak.

You can read about my vintage china cabinet turned giant jewelry box HERE.

My Repurposed Life Quilted Casserole Carrier Ideas Using Salvaged Fabrics

Our Southern Home Thrift Store Lamp Refresh with DIY Pleated Shade

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia Stool Dupe that Looks Authentically Aged

Shop At Blu Mom’s Vintage Jewelry Box Makeover

Our Crafty Mom Heart Shape Paper Craft From Wrapping Paper Roll

Songbird Rubber Stamp Storage Idea

Funky Junk Interiors Upcycled Ceiling Fan Blade Wall Mounted Coat Hooks

Exquisitely Unremarkable Adorable DIY Pin Cushions

Redhead Can Decorate My 91 Year Old Dad’s Thrift Store Living Room

The post Mom’s Vintage Jewelry Box Makeover appeared first on Shop at Blu.

You know I am passionate about antiques. But that passion doesn’t hold a candle to my passion for cherished family heirlooms. It’s no secret that I like stuff. Couple antiques with family mementos and my heart explodes! So, when my work pal, Andrea, told me that her sister wanted to restore their mother’s cedar hope chest, my heart skipped a beat.

While I made a nice living out of furniture painting, furniture refinishing is a whole other beast. It is time consuming and laborious and oh so difficult to recoup any sort of commensurate compensation for your time and labor. It honestly is more of a labor of love. But, Pop passed his love of furniture and the skills for refinishing to me so…here we go. Say hello to Helen and Andrea’s mother’s cedar hope chest…my star for this month’s Thrift Store Decor Team project.

Helen wanted to restore this beauty for functional use in her home. Helen’s bedroom furniture is a cherry or red mahogany so she wanted this hope chest refinished to fit into her bedroom. She doesn’t look so bad, right? So, Mr. Blu and I hopped in his new truck and drove out to the country to pick up Mama’s cedar chest. And a new project began!

She actually looks pretty good considering that she was probably manufactured during the Depression Era. She’s a waterfall chest. But, she does have some wear from what appears to be a water stain.

We won’t really know if this is a problem until we try to remove the stain. We don’t know how long the stain has been there and it only follows that the older the stain, the more difficult the removal. Let’s hope we can remove this stain. At the very least, I hope to be able to minimize or mask it. I’m hopeful since Helen has picked a darker stain which just might cover the water mark.

SUPPLIES

• Kleen Strip
• paint brushes
• rags
• sandpaper
• steel wool, both coarse and fine
• Oxalic Acid, for stain removal
• rubber gloves
• safety glasses, always protect your eyes.
• trash can
• newspaper to cover the floor of your work area

My Safety Speech

Always wear safety glasses to protect your eyes. Splashes occur when you lease expect them

Always wear thick rubber gloves to protect your skin when handling chemicals. Chemical burns are not fun.

Always work in a well ventilated area. I strip my furniture in my driveway.

Place newspaper on the floor under and around your furniture piece. Floors and work spaces need protection too.

The Process

As always when working on furniture, the first step in prepping a furniture piece is cleaning. So I used some warm soapy water to five this girl a bath. My go to is Murphy’s Oil Soap because it feeds the wood.

I follow up with a wipe down with TSP which removes residual dirt and oils.

Once dry, she was ready for stripping the stain. My product of choice has always Strip-Ease. But I could not find it for this project so I grabbed Klean Strip and it worked well.

It is a gel stripper that stays where you put it…no run off. I pour some into a metal can for ease of access. I use a good quality paint brush to brush on solution onto the wood.

So, over the course of a weekend, I applied some stripper and waited.

I used a scraper and some steel wool to remove the probably pre-1930’s stain. Then I applied some more stripper. And I waited. And I used the steel wool to wipe off the stain. Here is a great post on how to strip furniture. I included many great tips and a tutorial so I won’t repeat my self here. And here is part two of that project.

The golden rule of stripping…be generous when applying the stripper. When you strip furniture, you wait…alot! You have to let the chemicals be absorbed into the thick top coat and then the stain beneath the top coat. So apply the stripper and wait. Keep the surface wet by continually applying stripper. And wait.

Apply some more stripper. And wait. Make sure you keep the surface loaded with stripper. Don’t let it dry out.

You will see signs that the chemicals are working. But wait some more.

Once you can see the bubbling continue to advance, then you can use a scraper to scrape off the topcoat and the stain. The older the furniture piece, the longer it will take to remove the stain.

Add some more stripper, wait and scrape some more. Eventually, the stain will stop bubbling up an you will not be able to scrape off any more stain. Grab your steel wool. Brush on some more stripper and wipe it down with the steel wool. You will be amazed at how much stain is till left in the wood. You will see it on your steel wool.

I start with a coarse steel wool and progress to a fine steel wool. In steel wool lingo, a bigger number means a coarser steel wool. So 200 is finer than 60.

At this point, brush on some more stripper and use some steel wool to gently rub the wood ALWAYS IN THE DIRECTION OF THE GRAIN. This labor of love is very very repetitious.

The steel wool will gently remove more of the stain. Keep applying the stripper and rubbing with the steel wool. Eventually, you will get down to the raw or bare wood.

If you are enjoying this restoration, here is another cedar chest transformation.

Be very careful as many older pieces are made of veneer, which are very thinly applied sheets of wood grain. If you damage the veneer, you’re in trouble. There may be some stubborn spots where you can still see more stain. Treat these areas again with stripper and steel wool.

Once the stripping is completed, give the piece a wipe down with warm soapy water and repeat with tsp to prep the wood to receive the new stain.

Removing a Stubborn Water Mark

This piece had a very pronounced stain on the top of the cedar chest. There isn’t really any way to know how long the stain was in the wood. This particular mark was concerning because it was deep into the wood. I researched how to remove a stain. Again, I had to be very careful because the top of this chest is comprised of wood veneer.

Remember what she looked like before I started the restoration?

And, yes, this was a problem. The water stain did not seem to be affected by the stripper. It was still stubbornly viewable. I saturated sections of the stain with stripper and gently rubbed with the finest grade steel wool. While it seemed to slightly fade, it was till prominent.

I guess it is not surprising that the stain did not dissipate since it has probably been there for tens of years!

So hopeful but I did some research and decided to try another method. I ordered some oxalic acid, sort of a bleach for wood. I followed the manufacturer’s recommendations and applied to the top of the cedar trunk.

I mixed the oxalic acid into some water and brushed it onto the wood. And I waited. After about 15 minutes, I applied another coat. I waited 15 minutes and applied another coat. I used some fine steel wool to rub the stain. The stain seemed to be slowly fading.

After about an hour, I was concerned with over applying so I stopped the process and allowed the top to dry. Once dry, I gave the entire chest a gentle sanding.

While this process didn’t seem to remove the stain, it did seem to fade the stain.

And I was very hopeful that the darker stain that Helen wanted would mask the stain. As I said, the stain that Helen selected is on the dark side so I hoped it would cover the stain. Here we go.

Slowly, each section of the cedar chest came back to life.

The sides of the cedar hope chest were the most beautiful.

I worked my way around the chest applying the stain with a brush and wiping away the excess.

The kickplate, or the bottom lip, on the cedar chest was another tricky area. Turns out, it was not solid wood. It’s like the manufacturer used cheaper grade of almost wood here since it would not be seen. It was actually more of a laminate. So I used a technique for faux painting and applied the stain in a pouncing motion.

I’m please with this finish!

After one coat, I knew it needed to be a bit darker.

And look at that kickplate!! Who would ever know she’s not real wood??!!

I saved the top for last and as luck would have it, the water stain was undetectable after several coats. I was thrilled.

I let her dry allowed her to dry overnight. I finished her off with two light coats of General Finishes Top Coat.

Just look at that top!

I’m always amazed at how beautiful the raw wood is underneath all of the old stain. This is why I love wood so much! With a little TLC, it is so easy to restore.

Well, maybe not easy but definitely worth it!

Our Crafty Mom Upcycled Wooden Bowls with Pressed Flowers

Petticoat Junktion DIY Mercury Glass

My Repurposed Life Refresh Plastic Chairs with Colorful Spray Paint

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia How to get the look of amber glass

Shop At Blu Cedar Chest Hope Chest Upcycle

The post Depression Era Cedar Hope Chest Upcycle appeared first on Shop at Blu.

And how about that price!

Am I wrong or is this not the reason we keep returning to the thrift store?

If I am transforming a Thrift Store find, you can pretty much bet that it is the second Wednesday of the month. We call that day Thrift Store Decor Team Wednesday! Each of my fabulously creative friends on the Thrift Store Decor Team shares a new post once a month as part of our Thrift Store Decor Team collaboration. Each post had an upcycle or repurpose theme. Check out this month’s projects at the end of the post!

What’s the Plan?

I had so many ideas with this little unit. At first look, I thought I would paint her in a rainbow of bright colors. How fun!

But then, I thought I would refine her with a Mod Podge of floral papers or fabrics covering each drawer front.

But, alas, I decided to go with the easiest solution that would actually best fit my work area where she will be used…a vintage industrial theme!

I actually made this big cubby unit as part of a challenge a few years back. Click the photo below to read about this fun project.

And so, I grabbed my favorite stain, General Finished Java Gel, some sandpaper, and an old cotton rag. Let’s stain this baby and give her a vintage industrial look.

Supplies:

• cotton rags (one for dusting, one to apply stain
• sandpaper
• gloves
• small paint brush or sponge (for corners and tight spots)
• General Finishes Gel Stain in Java (or your choice of colors)

Prep for Stain

Anytime you are going to use a stain on a wooden surface, you should prep the piece as follows:

Clean the piece of any dirt or debris with a cotton rag or wipe with TSP.

• Lightly sand the surface that will be stained.
• Clean the piece again of any residual dust or dirt and follow up with a TSP bath if necessary

Apply the Stain

There are many many types of stains available. When I first started working on furniture back in the 90’s, I used MixWax stains. My favorite color was Special Walnut. It is a very dark brown.

MinWax is still a great brand. But I now prefer General Finishes Gel Stain because it is a thicker stain in gel form that is easier to apply. The classic stains are very watery thus harder to control the application. Gel stain is much thicker so it stays where you put it and does not run all over the surface of your piece. My go to is now General Finishes Gel Stain in the color Java.

Applying Stain

You can apply stain with a brush, a sponge, or a rag. I prefer to use a rag for the same reasons that I prefer gel stain. With a rag, the stain only goes where I want it to go and I have control over where it lands. Make sure you wear gloves! Stain loves to settle into your skin and it can take days to get the stain off!

I removed all of the drawers before starting. This gave me a chance to inspect the unit a little bit better.

Use a lint free cotton rag. Dip it into the stain. In a firm straight wiping motion, apply the stain in the direction of the grain of the wood. This motion helps the wood absorb the stain in a natural way. If you apply stain across the grain of the wood, it can appear blotchy, streaky, and unnatural. Applying your stain with the grain helps the wood better absorb the stain.

I continued around the entire unit until the whole outer surface was stained. Be careful to get into the corners and under the legs. In these areas, a small brush may come in handy.

I start with a heavier application on uneven surfaces. In this case, I started where the dovetail is at the corners of my piece. Then I pulled the stain across the smooth grain. It is always easier to apply the stain into the cracks and crevices initially rather than go back and fill spots that you missed. Whenever you reapply stain to an area a second time, you run the risk of that spot being darker than the single application areas. That said, the beauty of gel stain (being thicker) is that it takes a little longer to be absorbed into the wood. Consequently, if you apply too much gel stain, usually you can wipe it off thus correcting the over application.

I apply the stain section by section, ensure complete coverage, and then wipe away the excess. The final step is to buff with a fresh rag. This ensures that the stain has been absorbed into the wood and that there is not any residual stain sitting on the surface, which can be messy.

I didn’t stain the complete outsides of the drawers as the drawers will normally be closed. I only applied stain to the fronts of the drawers.

I didn’t think it was necessary but you most certainly can stain the entire drawer unit. This is totally your preference.

This little unit will be a convenient place in which to keep my most used craft and DIY tools like my favorite brushes, some sandpaper, screwdrivers, glue, gloves, etc. She is the perfect size to move onto a bookshelf or into the closet as needed. Who doesn’t love a mobile storage option?

Here are some of the items that are normally scattered around my workspace:

I use this little wire basket to carry supplies from the workspace out into the yard or driveway or wherever I am working on a project. I think my new desktop storage unit will be a visual upgrade to this area.

There are several drawers so I can keep my supplies segregated.

This was a quick little project. I’m thinking I might take it a step further and flip the drawers around, apply some of that beautiful blue floral paper, and add some copper industrial handles. We always have to improve right? And a girl must have options! Stay tuned!

DIY Pedestal Stand Petticoat Junktion

Goodwill Antique Coat Rack My Repurposed Life

Desktop Storage Vintage Upcycle Shop At Blu -That’s me! You’re HERE!

Eucalyptus Grapevine Wreath My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Milk Glass Vases as Halloween Ghosts Sadie Seasongoods

The post Add a Vintage Touch To A Desktop Storage Unit appeared first on Shop at Blu.

If I am upcycling, recycling, renewing, or refreshing….it must be time for this month’s THRIFT STORE DECOR TEAM projects!

At the end of this post are the links to every team member’s projects for this month. What new skills do you think we will see today?

Now, let’s get into our upcycled MCM china cabinet!

Where We Started

I’ve had this china cabinet in the garage for some time. I am drawn to the wooden design in the glass doors as well as the Queen Anne-like curves on the top of this classic beauty. Those wooden designs have a name. From Google:

Mullions / Muntins are moldings that divide the opening of a Cabinet Door Frame and either hold individual panes of glass (true divided lites) or more commonly serve as decorative accents over a single pane of glass.

While my love for mahogany is growing, this piece has some veneer damage…

and other issues…

And I can’t help wonder how beautiful she would be upcycled with a more contemporary flair. She’s been waiting for a fabulous makeover. Until today, I didn’t know how or where she would be used. But, I finally have a plan for this beauty. This will be fun.

Prep Your Furniture

I always start a furniture project by cleaning the piece, sanding (the whole piece or selective area, depending on the amount of damage and the condition of the wood), cleaning again, and wiping down with TSP to remove residual dirt and oils. Sometimes, like in this case, some repairs are necessary too.

In this case, part of the base had fallen off when the piece was exposed to a flood. I had the damaged parts so I just glued them back into place and secured with a few nails. I made the basic repairs so that I could continue but I will most likely return to this piece and reinforce the repairs.

I’m often torn between getting on with the project and completing a restorative repair that takes more time. Usually, my excitement gets the best of me and I do a quick but effective patch. What would you do? Sand, patch, restore? Or glue, paint, move on? Although I’m excited to have this piece in my home, I don’t know how long I will keep her as she is quite large. I suppose if I was going to keep her forever or if she was a family heirloom then I would spend the time for a flawless repair. This time, my impatience got the best of me and I did the basics. I’ll keep you posted on whether I polish her up.

You know I love me some blue. I mean, look at the dresser that’s already in the room. I’m trying to create a vibrant yet moody broody blue bordering on indigo. A rich velvety blue. Ah!

Creating Color with Black Dog Salvage Furniture Paint

I consulted my friend Swooz, aka the paint recipe genius at Black Dog Salvage Furniture Paint. Swooz is the genius behind the BDSFP recipes and fabulous color combinations you will see on their website.

At Swooz’s recommendation, I went with Cadet Blue followed by a coat of black glaze. Swooz recommended General Finishes glaze in Pitch Black. So that’s what I used.

The recipe for Cadet Blue is a 1:1 ration of Blue Ridge to Appalachian Sunset.

Introducing a New Product

Before we begin with the Cadet Blue, let me to introduce you to a new product! This is Mask and Peel.

It cuts down on the time and effort and elbow grease needed to paint things like window panes and dividers and mullions or muntins. Congratulations to me on using our new terms in a complete sentence.

In theory, you paint on the mask and peel, allow it to dry, paint your mullions, allow to dry, score the straight edges, and peel the mask off of the glass.

I am sure that this product works. I just has beginner’s bad luck. I think I painted the mask on in too thin of a coat. Most of it did not peel very well. But some did.

I used a razor blade to scrape the portions that would not peel This took some time, but was till easier than painting each mullion and scraping the paint off of the glass. I would definitely use it again. It really made the paint come off of the glass quite easily.

Slap on that Color

After prepping, I applied 1 coat of Cadet Blue allowing at least 4 hours of dry time before the second coat.

These days, sometimes it’s a week between coats. At any rate, the paint is dry and ready for the next layer.

Time to Glaze

I painted on the black glaze and wiped it off. I wanted a dark and broody look so I left the glaze rather thick. For a lighter appearance, you can cut the glaze or remove more during the wipe off process.

Here are some photos of the process…

I painted the inside with two coats and opted not to apply glaze to the inside so the interior would be brighter.

Here she is after paint but before the finishing touches. Don’t mind the lighting. This is such a difficult spot to photograph with that window causing the light in the room to constantly change.

My choice of wallpaper did not arrive in time for this project.

So I made a trip to a local store that was having a clearance sale and grabbed a shower curtain for $5.00.

I suspected that the shower curtain would be too bright of a back ground for my jewelry so I wanted the option to easily switch it out for the wallpaper or a lighter background at some point.

My first thought was to paint the interior white and mod podge colorful paper. But that seems like alot of work. After a quick inspection of the china cabinet, I determined that the back panel of the china cabinet was easily removeable.

I decided to simply wrap the panel with the material. Later, I can apply the wallpaper to the backside of the panel. Thus I will have two options that easily switch out by flipping the panel. We will see how that works after the wallpaper finally arrives. So for now, we have the floral shower curtain fabric.

I laid the fabric onto the panel and hot glued the edges. Then I simply took a razor blade and trimmed the excess fabric.

Once all of the paint dried, I simply tacked the panel into place on the back of the upcycled china cabinet.

I did a few minor repairs to the bottom front of china cabinet where a piece of the molding had fallen off. I glued the pieces together and nailed them back into place. I toyed with the thought of using wood putty to fill in the mars but decided against that as dings and knicks over time will reveal the light putty under the dark paint. I also don’t think the bottom mars will be noticeable as the focal point will be the interior of the piece. It’s a little rough, I will admit. This is before the glaze.

And here is a close up of the final project…

Although it is not super noticeable, I should have filled it with wood putty, sanded, and painted. I guess I will go back and do that. Slow down!! Do it right!

My ultimate plan is to move all of my jewelry into this updated MCM china cabinet. I think I will store our family photos in the bottom! You know, keep all of my treasures together. However, I have ALOT of jewelry so sorting and moving it all is a project for another day.

But, I couldn’t resist adding a few…

Maybe I can start to fill her up one day at a time.

I’m already enjoying walking past my most sentimental pieces.

This might take a while!

Fondue Forks as Plant Labels or Herb Markers

Restoring an Outdoor Lantern

Candle for Mothers Day

Vintage Metal Lunchbox Planter

Thrift Store Lamp Refresh With Paint and Rub-on Transfer

Spray Paint Faux Succulents

Succulent Letter Planter Arrangement

Upcycled MCM China Cabinet That’s me! You are HERE!

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History of the Cedar Chest

Aromatic cedar wood was highly prized for its natural insect-repelling properties and was used to store clothing, linens, and other fabric items. Such chests were commonly used for storing prized fabrics, the cedar protecting precious fabrics from insects and larvae. Throughout history, cedar chests were commonly gifted to young women. The chests were used to store items that they made or gathered for their future lives as wives. Commonly called hope chests, generations of young women lovingly stored gifts and heirlooms away for safekeeping. I have my great grandmother’s cedar chest. 

Nana was born in 1888. I’m not sure how old she was when she married, but I imagine this was a gift from her parents when she was a young girl. It seems this was a Christmas gift from the date written on the inside. My nana would have been 15 that Christmas, the perfect age to prepare for marriage. 

I have suspicion that my mother wrote over the original date that was probably written very lightly in pencil. Sharpies weren’t invented until 1964. And this is definitely mom’s handprinting. 

And here is my mom’s hope chest that sits at the foot of my bed.

Hope chests always had a makers mark or symbol inside. They were “guaranteed” again moth damage. And they always had a lock so your treasures were safe.

I have great memories at a young age of browsing through mom’s jewelry box in search of her hope chest key. I would carefully unlock the chest and lovingly inspect all of the items she kept locked away. It was like a treasure hunt. 

Mom’s hope chest matches the first bedroom suite my parents bought when they were first married in 1961. Here is photo of the suite today. My daughters and I gave it a refresh two years ago when my oldest daughter bought her first house. It’s in their guest bedroom so I get to enjoy it when I visit. 

Somehow that bugger ended up with the heirloom trunk and I have the one that matches the BRS. Things that make you go hmmm….

Here is the inside of my Nana’s hope chest still holding the items that my Mom deemed fit for safekeeping including several afghans lovingly made by friends, favorite linens, mementos and the original wooden wheels. She is loaded with precious memoirs as she should be. 

What better time to share a creative project than on Thrift Store Decor Team Wednesday! That’s right! It’s the second Wednesday of the month so the team has new thrifty decor projects for you. You will find them all at the end of this post.

SUPPLIES

• Murphy’s Oil Soap
• Sandpaper
• rags and a bucket of water
• Electric sander or Ryobi cordless sander
• tsp
• screwdriver
• General Finishes Halcyon Blue
• Homeright Paint Sprayer
• MinWax Polycrylic sealer Satin finish

What We Started With

The inside is pristine. The cedar still somewhat fragrant. This can be renewed by lightly sanding the wood. Notice the Maker’s mark for Lane, probably the most common cedar chest brand. The Lane factory closed in 2001. 

The loose piece of wood is actually a small shelf that is attached with hardware. Ladies used this shelf for small items like handkerchiefs, veils, etc. The hardware on the left side was missing a screw and would hang up when opening the lid. So I removed it to prevent damage and will easily reinstall when the trunk is finished.

Let’s get started with redressing this beauty with a more contemporary look. The finish, as you saw above, was scratched and marred. I will be quite easy to remove the paint and restore the original finish sometime in the future if desired.

First Step – Always Prep

The first step to working on furniture is always clean your project piece. I used a bath with Murphy’s Oil Soap to remove any grime and dirt that accumulated from years in storage. Her surface had seen better days.

I decided to paint the cedar chest one solid color because my plan was to paint some sort of landscape on the front. I needed to ensure that the front surface was flat. I removed the decorative studs and hardware. I removed the lid so that I wouldn’t have to worry about opening and closing it. Next, I sanded the entire exterior to prep the surface and wiped off the excess dust.

To ensure the surface was suitable for a hand painted design, I filled the vertical lines and stud holes with wood putty. Once dry, I sanded the surface smooth. 

The next step was to prime the cedar chest. I used my Homeright Finish Max spray gun. One coat was plenty.

It’s a good idea to lightly sand the primer once it dries. Then apply two light coats of your desired final color. Though I love a contrasting top to furniture, I didn’t want it to detract from the artwork so I decided to paint the lid of the cedar chest as well. Of course, I selected blue. I decided on General Finished Halcyon Blue. My European French loving soul decided for me. And I brushed it on. There is something uniquely satisfying about old fashioned painting with a brush. 

Here she is after two coats. I love the color. It was very beachy and fresh. And so, I decided to paint a beach scene!

Alternative to Painting a Design

I realize that not everyone feels comfortable in creating artwork. So other options are embellishing the front or top of your cedar chest with stencils, mod podge, or abstract designs. There are so many ways to decorate a flat surface. Stripes, polka dots, verses and script, even fabric…so many possibilities. But I wanted to try my hand at being super creative (not to mention bold) and create an original sea scape. I haven’t ever taken an art class but I’ve always had a slight ability to draw fairly well. And as I began this project, I realized that I could progress through this like any other project…in stages. This sea scape really was a series of creating small focal points and blending the paints to create the end product.

Preparing to Paint a Sea Scape

Of course I’ve drawn the beach and the sea before. But the results were very elementary and rather simple. For this project, I wanted to capture the waves. So, I googled wave tutorials. Here are a few that I watched and that seemed to demonstrate the skills I needed. I took tips and tricks from each video. They made it look so easy so I forged ahead.

How to Paint Waves – Acrylics    

PAINTING TUTORIAL Acrylic Ocean for Beginners

Easy Ocean Wave Painting Tutorial

How to Paint a Wave in Acrylics Windy Crashing Wave

I placed my “canvas” at eye level. grabbed some acrylic paints, and got to work.

NOTE: I actually videoed the process of painting the sea scape in stages. Stages 1, 2, 3.5, and 4 are fabulous. Stage 3 completely disappeared. Somehow, I must have deleted that video. So, I am sharing the other videos and I promise to recreate the process at some point in the future and post the update here. 

I started by taping off my “canvas” so I would stay within this area. I added some paint to a makeshift palette. And I started to paint.

I started with the sky, horizon and the water. I added the beach at the water’s edge.

And then I worked on those waves. Video Part 1 shows the beginning of the sea scape. Part 2, which is show how I added color blocks for the sky, horizon, water and sand. Then these colors were blended creating a smooth transition. Then waves are added and the paint is further blended. 

Though you can’t see the specific steps of Part 3, Part 3.5 shows all of the same techniques that I used. It was a literally series of adding color and blending the brush strokes. 

Practice makes it easier. You will learn how the paint flows when wet, over dried paint, and how your brush moves. It’s learning through repetition just like sports, music, etc. Practice makes it easier and practice makes it better. Find a great tutorial or 6, and just start!!

And this is the photo before I added those curling waves. I thought the waves were a little too wild so I just kept adding the curves of the white caps until I was happy. 

I literally added white “c’s” to create the rolling wave. Again, and again, and again I added “c’s” and lightly blended the “c’s” as I moved across the front of the cedar chest. Then I dabbled white paint here and there to make the sea spray and highlight the waves. It was so much easier than I had thought. My waves actually came to life! I promise to do a full tutorial again since this project was so satisfying.

Remember to add a coat of Polycrylic SEALER over the entire cedar chest to protect the paint and you art work.

I’m quite happy with this fun cedar chest. I think I will try some florals next!

As promised, here are the projects from the Thrift Store Decor Team for this month. We are off to a creative start this year. Thanks for visiting. We are looking forward to a fabulous year of incredibly thrifty and creative projects!

Eleven Washboard Upcycled Decor Projects Organized Clutter

Vintage Headboard Makeover My Repurposed Life 

Upcycled Boho Bamboo Decor  House of Hawthornes

DIY Vintage Aged Pottery Vessel My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

DIY Love Sign Petticoat Junktion 

Thrift Store Box Makeover Our Southern Home

Upcycled Cedar Chest Trunk Shop At Blu

Family Tradition

Here is my Great Grandmother, Bessie Mill. She’s on the far right in the front row. My Grandmother (Mom Mom) in the back row on the left. Center back row is Pop. Aunt Marion (Mom Mom’s sister) is on the right in the back row.

In Loving Memory of Aunt Mary

Front and center is my dear Aunt Mary. That’s me on her lap. I was 4. I can tell by the hair cut. It was 1969. Front row left is Uncle George. I call him Uncle. He’s the only uncle on that side of the family, my mom’s only sibling. He’s an incredibly loving person and so funny. I obviously had him wrapped around my finger as I’m sure you can tell. Uncle and Aunt Mary have left immeasurable impressions on our family. 

Thanks to all of you wonderful prayer warriors who prayed for Aunt Mary over the past 4 months. She fought long and hard and stayed with us a bit longer than she probably should have. Uncle and the entire family are all grateful for the power of your prayers. I just returned from a beautiful celebration of her life. I am inspired by her love for her family and her servant nature. 

I sure do miss you already, Aunt Mary. I am so honored to have been the recipient of your love for 58+ years. I am a better person because of you. And I will strive to make you proud. Love you!

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I found this Duncan Fyffe table at a local thrift store a few years ago. 

It was $5.  There was some damage to the top including chipped veneer and some surface knicks and scratches.  The brass caps from the tips of the legs were missing.  The entire edge from one leg tip was completely missing.  But for $5, I was confident that I could get some use out of this once pristine beauty.  So I paid the $5, cleaned her up, and gave her a polish with Old English.  She actually sat in my living room for several years with that damaged leg positioned in the back so no one could see it. 

Eventually, I upgraded to another side table so she has been sitting in the garage waiting for some attention. I always have a hard time parting with things that have brought me joy.  It’s time to give her a new look and a new home.

Today is Thrift Store Décor Team Wednesday! 

Nine of my creative and thrifty friends share a new project on the second Wednesday of every month!  At the end of this post, you will find the other 9 fabulous and thrifty projects for this month.

Step One -Thrift Store Painted Side Table

Since this thrift store side table was parked in my garage for a few years, I started by giving her a good bath with my go to Murphy’s Oil Soap.  As with all of my paint projects, I the wiped the entire table down with TSP to remove any residual dirt, grime, and oils.

My paint of choice is Black Dog Salvage Furniture Paint.  I love this paint primarily for its coverage. The fantastic color options are a huge bonus.  BDFSP is unique because it comes pre-mixed in 16 pre-mixed colors.  From these colors, you can create so many different incredible variations of color.  So, in essence, your investment is minimal and your color choices pretty much unlimited.  For this project, I am using I Need A Bandage (red) and Clean Canvas (pure white) to create the fabulous springy color of Watermelon.

At the end of this post, I am including my affiliate link for 20% off of the website prices.

Here is the process:

• Clean the project piece with warm soapy water.  My cleaning product of choice is Murphy’s Oil Soap.
• Wipe the project piece down with TSP to remove residual dirt and oils.
• Sand, if desired.
• Note: Sanding is not necessary with BDSFP unless you want to remove any imperfections in the wood. On many drawers for older furniture pieces, there are mars or spin marks from loose hardware, knobs and handles.  A light sanding can often remove these marks.
• Wipe again with TSP solution.
• Apply one coat of paint.  Allow to dry.
• Apply a second coat.  Allow to dry.
• Distress, if desired. Note: For a distressed look, sand edges or normal location of wear marks. Follow up with another wipe down with TSP.
• Dust with a brush or wipe with a tack cloth to remove sanding dust and debris.
• Apply one coat of sealer. I used BDSFP Top Dog in your choice of finishes.  Allow to dry.
• Spply a second coat of sealer and allow to dry overnight.
• Install hardware.
• Enjoy you newly refurbished furniture.

For the missing brass tips on the ends of the table legs, I simply used gold paint the area where the tips would be placed. 

Several coats of gold will make the tips appear more authentic like the brass covers are in place.  This wasn’t a big concern for me so I simply applied 2 coats of gold.

Perfect Paint for a Thrift Store Vintage Side Table

I have to sing the praise of BDSFP.  Their paints are designed for antique and vintage pieces so the paint coverage is excellent.  The paint is designed to apply without sanding the surface of your work piece. Additionally, there is no need to prime before painting and the vibrant colors really pop.  Usually, two coats suffice to cover the previous finish.

Here is the finish after one coat:

Since my plan was to distress the table after painting, a second coat was fine. For a more matte and solid appearance, depending on the base color of your piece, you may need a third coat. But, BDSFP is quite thick and covers exceptionally well.

To distress, I simply hand sanded the edges and a few other spots around the drum of the table and on the pedestal and legs.

To add some interest to the table top and to help disguise its age and the wear, I created a rustic finish after sanding by dragging some of the Clear Canvas across surface of the table top. I dipped a rag in some java gel stain and ran it around the edge of the table top to fill in any scratches. I wiped of the excess. Once I achieved the look I was happy with, I sealed the table top and the entire table with Show Dog.

I am quite happy with the new look of this classic old table.

The watermelon color is just what we need around our home to help hurry spring along.

I will enjoy it for a few weeks and help her find a new home. This painted side table would be great at the beach, don’t you think?

Here is my affiliate link should you want to try Black Dog Salvage Furniture Paint for your self. Use THIS LINK to shop for paint. And use code SHOPATBLU for 20% off.

I am quite excited about being able to use the recipes to create variations of the 16 primary colors.  Equally exciting it that I don’t need to purchase new cans of exact colors.  Instead, I can use the paints I have on hand to create fabulous colors using their tried and true recipes. And the best part of this recipe process is that it is super easy! Most recipes are a 2:1 or 1:1:1 recipes, Just measure and mix. It’s that easy!

Doesn’t this make you want to go out an paint a side table?

My first BDSFP project was this garden shelf unit.

My second project was Pop’s desk.

I can’t wait to use all of the paint colors utilized in these 3 projects to create upcycled decor in a beautiful rainbow of spring colors. I counted 9 recipes that I can use with the 5 colors that I have on hand.

As promised, here are the projects for this month from the fabulous Thrift Store Decor Team! Enjoy!

Upcycled Glass Chandelier  My Repurposed Life

Pallet Herb Garden My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Old Coffee Pot Upcycled As A Flower Pot  Organized Clutter

Chicken Wall Decor Idea Petticoat Junktion

How to Update an Old Mirror Domestically Speaking

St. Patrick’s Day Wreath  Sadie Seasongoods

Thrift Store Upcycle Idea for Spring  Reinvented Deleware

Whitewashing Bookends Our Southern Home

Thrift Store Painted Side Table Shop At Blu (That’s me! You are here!)

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It is hard for me to believe that I am posting my second yearly compilation of my favorite Thrift Store Decor Team projects! I’m so grateful to be part of this creative team. These ladies are truly talented and amazing! I’ve learned so many new skills over the past year and if you have been following along, I know you have as well! I’m looking forward to another amazing year filled with inspiration and learning and the Thrift Store Decor Team will not disappoint. I’ve selected my favorite post from each member for you to enjoy. At the end you will find 100 projects from this year. Let us know what you would like to see in 2023!

I’m gonna start with my own favorite projects. I’m a sucker for a good vintage make over. And these little beauties make me smile. Every one came from the local thrift store.

Sadie Seasongoods

Sarah sees potential in used items. Her an incomparable vision coupled with her flair for Mid Century combine to transform the discarded into useful and fabulous creations. I’m convinced that if more people repurposed perfectly good items like Sarah, climate change would be tucked away into the annuls of history. Keep teaching Sarah. We are listening!

Our Southern Home

You know I love all DIY but my journey started with furniture. And Christy along with her daughter Ashlyn really brought out the beauty in this traditional style dresser. I love a solid piece of furniture and when you can update it with a new finish, well…that’s the best thing ever. Christy details the steps and gives you the tutorial on how to bleach furniture yourself.

Organized Clutter

Carlene has a rustic primitive loving heart just like me. She is a wiz with paint and stencils. And she uses them to decorate and revive everything! From furniture to boxes and signs, Carlene give you countless ways to upcycle the blahs into beautiful decor. These upcycled boxes are a great answer to clutter and storage problems. Get busy!

With one foot in the Thrift Store and one foot in the mid century, Sarah’s passion is revitalizing previously used items. Her skill set is unparalleled and her appreciation for color shines. I wish the entire world had vision and appreciation for repurposing like Sarah. I’m convinced that Climate Change would be banished to the annals of history. Keep teaching Sarah! We are listening.

House of Hawthornes

There is just something about a whimsical display that gets me every time. And Pam has nailed it with this fun little snowman. He’s easy to assemble and so stinking cute! What a great addition to your entryway once the Christmas decor has been retired until next year. While her projects are always laid out in detail, you’ve gotta love Pam’s banter as she narrates her projects.

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

A roundup would not be complete without a fabric project and this one is on my to do list! I’m so glad that Kristen showed us how to make these darling fabric flags. These are such an easy way to dress up a corner for any occasion! I can see these poking out of plants in my kitchen and even on my deck.

My Domesticated Life

All right friends. Look closely at this mirror. The frame is made from…wait for it…wooden snakes from the Dollar Store. That’s the beauty of this group…finding the fabulous beauty is something totally unexpected and underrated. And Maryann really took her vision and created a winner. Imagine the impact we can have on landfills by repurposing all of those builder grade mirrors, cabinets and fixtures. Great suggestion Maryann!

Petticoat Junktion

I am probably the biggest paint nerd that ever walked. So when Kathy posted this picture, my paint senses went crazy! Couple the paint addiction with an attraction to bling and toss in some Hollywood Glam. This finish is AMAZING!

My Repurposed Life

Forgive me if I go heavy on the furniture projects but you know that’s where my roots lie. And there is something timeless about clocks and compasses. So when Gail upcycled this gorgeous table with a compass motif my heart was happy. Gail is wiz with the power tools when it comes to altering and repurposing great quality wooden pieces. Her design is always simple but absolutely awesome!

Reinvented Delaware

Cindy joined the team the at the same time as I. This is the place if you are a rustic vintage furniture lover. Cindy demonstrates the skills to transform old into loved. She is the queen of tutorials and her photography is spectacular. You should check out her posts for great tips on how to get that perfect shot!

2022’s Best Projects from the Thrift Store Decor Team

Here are the links to each team member’s post for today. Below those you will find the Inlinkz collection of 100 projects from 2022.

Shop At Blu

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Domestically Speaking

My Repurposed Life

Petticoat Junktion

Our Southern Home

Sadie Seasongoods

House of Hawthornes

Organized Clutter

Reinvented Deleware

Enjoy this collection of projects from 2022 and remember to check back on the second Wednesday of each month! What new skills and techniques would you like to learn or see in 2023? This is the team to introduce you! Comment below with your list of what you’d like to see-learn-do in 2023!

[fresh_inlinkz_code id=”545103df7ece43dbbaeb34689d05368c”]

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I’m sharing this upcycle for Thrift Store Decor Team Wednesday. Yes! It’s already the second Wednesday of the month and time for the team to share our thrifty upcycles for the month. I’m linking all of the team’s projects at the end of this post. As usual, the girls have prepared some incredible projects for you.

The Thrill of the Thrift Store Find

My favorite thrift store finds are hands down the things that I simply can’t find anymore. Take this trash can for example. You can find new trash cans, of course. But they aren’t sturdy. They aren’t going to last for years and years. And the certainly don’t have the details and character of a vintage trash can. Today most trash cans are made from cheap plastic. If you can find one that is made of sturdy plastic or metal, you need to take out a mortgage on your home to pay for it. But this vintage beauty is heavy, solid, and full of character. She sports faux bamboo and rattan. She is made of molded brown plastic. and she cost $1.49. Years ago, I spray painted her black and parked her in a corner in my bedroom. But I failed to record the transformation to black with a quality photo.

Last year, I updated our Master Bedroom for the ORC. In the process, I primed her white. It’s finally time to make her shine.

Here is the bedroom.

Of course the primary color is blue. And many of the secondary colors are, well, blue, many shades of blue. Here is the post on the ORC Master Bedroom Refresh.

And there are vibrant accents. So I followed the same trend with this little vintage trash can.

I grabbed my favorite blues, some metallic copper, basic black and white, and a punch of vibrant coral. In the back of my mind I have a chinoiserie vision of white with splotches of blues…but then again, don’t all of my visions have some version of blue? I’m predictable that way.

This is the Klein blue that I used on the dresser in the MBR.

Creating a Vision

I gave the entire piece a fresh coat of white.

I wanted to do something fun with the rattan area so I played with my favorite blue, General Finishes Klein blue, white, and the drybrush technique. But the colors were too much of a contrast. I just couldn’t get the perfect application.

Sometimes, you just have to play with your colors. Which is what I did. Remember when you are experimenting with color, it can get worse before it gets better. And you just need to keep on moving forward. I won’t lie. I had a back up projects.

waverly chalk acrylic paint ink

So, I painted the rattan area all blue and decided I would try a whitewash over the blue.

Fill in the Blanks…Like a Coloring Book Page

Then I filled in the main areas with the colors of the room. Black would anchor the piece so I painted the top and bottom black. I colored in all of the bamboo areas with the metallic copper.

I used more black to outline the box. Coral was inserted and the lighter blue added to the edges. Klein blue became the focal point and filled in the center rattan area.

I quickly realized that this palette was right, but a little to bold for this room.

That’s when I decided that all of my colors, not just the bright Klein blue, needed to be muted with a whitewash. After all, this little accessory will brighten up a corner and not take over the room. Subtle is better in this case.

Practice Makes Perfect

Before I got too far with the colors, I finished one side completely so I could practice the whitewash. And actually see if this vision was lucid. It was.

I loved it. I put the back up project back in the closet. And I finished the other sides.

Whitewashing and Destressing – Love or Hate

I will admit that a good healthy whitewash is not for everyone. It’s like distressing. You either love it or you don’t. This unique finish fits my room perfectly. You could even give the vintage trash can another coat of the whitewash so that the colors are even more muted and the whitewash is more uniform. But again, I’m an uber distressor and lover of the imperfect so this fits me.

I think she turned out well! The whitewash definitely toned down the colors, especially the Klein blue. And I really like the powdered effect.

Paint Colors Used

• General Finishes Klein Blue
• General Finishes Halycyon blue
• Folkart Metallic Acrylic Paint Antique Copper
• Waverly Black Chalky Paint
• DecoArt Americana Acrylic Paint Scarlet

In looking at this last photo, I’m thinking I might need to white wash the light blue trim on that trunk.

This vintage trash can upcycle will do for quite some time. I’m imagining this vintage beauty, though, at some point painted in a high gloss fuchsia. Only the future will tell!

As promised, here are this month’s thrifty upcycle projects from the Thrift Store Decor Team.

Organized Clutter Large Thrifted Wooden Tray Makeover

House Of Hawthornes Window Art With Glass Plates

Sadie Seasongoods Modern Fall Decor for the Fireplace

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia Transfer a recipe to a cutting board

Our Southern Home Framed Wedding Seating Chart

Domestically Speaking Desktop Hanging Clock Makeover

My Repurposed Life Rose Back Chair Makeover

Petticoat Junktion DIY Recycled Sweater Pumpkins

Shop at Blu Vintage Trash Can Upcycle That’s ME! You are HERE!

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