I had planned to follow up that project by making a Pride flag. But, I never got back to the barn metal. Today is the day!

Well, if we are upcyling some old barn metal into something fabulous, must be that it is…

Be sure to check out the team posts at the end of this one!

Using Antique Barn Metal

This antique metal came from my friend, Gina’s old barn that she and her husband tore down. Gina’s grandad had built this barn. When she tore it down, she asked if anyone wanted some of the barn metal for projects. You know I jumped in my van and drove to Tennessee.

Here is the previous tutorial on how I cleaned, prepped, cut and painted the barn metal. As always, use the proper tools for the projects.

Safety gloves are a must to protect your skin from the sharp metal.

I followed the same process with this barn metal pride flag. I did have to trim the one edge to square up the metal.

Don’t worry. I did take my own advise and stopped at this point to grab my gloves. You can’t be too careful when handling sharp metal.

After the trim, I sanded the edges just to make sure I would not cut myself. I used a high grit (low number) sandpaper that was very coarse. This worked perfectly. After sanding, I cleaned the barn metal to remove all of the dust. TSP is my go to for prepping pieces for paint.

Design your Pride Flag

If Pride isn’t your thing, you can use these same techniques to make any other flag…family colors, school pride, etc.

Once I wiped down the metal with some TSP, she was ready for paint. I selected some vivid colors and grabbed the Frog Tape. And started to design and measure.

Next step was to mask off the lined for the flag pattern. I needed 6 broad stripes.

The tops of the stripes would be covered by a “V” comprised of a series of 4 other colors. So, I measured and used Frog Tape to mask off the six wide stripes.

Burnish the edges of your painter’s tape to ensure a good seal that prevents the paint from seeping under the tape resulting in non-crisp painted lines.

I taped off every other stripe. Then I painted those and allowed them to dry. I reset the tape to complete the last 3 stripes.

Be sure to allow the paint to dry somewhat before moving your tape.

I am an impatient creator. So while the bottom of the pride flag was drying, I was taping off the top.

I alternated between stripes. While one section was drying, I was starting another section.

Of course, I did have some paint seep under the tape edges so I did have to allow those areas to dry.

To minimize seepage, don’t overload your brush. And, dab the paint along the tape edges instead of brushing. This adds the paint more slowly. Thicker applications of paint tend to seep under the tape lines. Thinner applications tend to stay where they are applies. I went back and touched up those leaked lines once the paint was completely dry. If you use a thin flat brush, it is super easy to touch up. Here is the brush I used for touch up. Like applying the paint to the tape lines, I dabbed in from the side instead of using a brushing stroke. Use the flat tip of the brush to tap the line into place.

I just went from color to color making any necessary touch ups. And, before I knew it, she was ready!

I sealed her with my go to sealer Crab Coat by Black Dog Salvage Furniture Paint. This fabulous sealer ensures that the metal will be protected from the harsh Alabama sun and heat.

Here is an antique metal ice box that I keep outside. She is well protected with Crab Coat!

I’m not sure where to put my beautifully colored Pride flag. Right now, we are in the process of re-staining our deck. So excuse the clutter behind the flag.

But I really do like her beneath that fern for now.

Are you doing anything special for Pride month? Birmingham always has a great variety of activities and events. What’s going on in your neighborhood?

My Repurposed Life – Little Girl Statue Makeover

Petticoat Junktion – Repurpose A Mirrored Vanity Tray

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia – DIY Macrame Propagation Station

Shop at Blu – Barn Metal Pride Flag

The post Barn Metal Pride Flag 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!

The post Upcycled MCM China Cabinet appeared first on Shop at Blu.

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!

The post Vintage Trash Can Upcycle appeared first on Shop at Blu.

Today’s Thrift Store Decor Project

Several years ago, I refreshed our guest bathroom as part of the $100 Room Challenge.  I had $100 to spend per the challenge rules so I was limited to a few projects. 

As I look at this picture now, 4 years into my “DIY my home journey,” here are my thoughts:

• I laugh at the thought that leaving this gold was acceptable. 
• How horrible is that before photo??!!!  I had the lights on!  Lol.  This makes me realize that my photography skills have actually improved despite my frustrations.
• I did have enough sense not to show that gold light in the after photo.  You can just see the corner.  I’ll give myself a point for that.

Apparently I was so astonished by my other DIY skills that I thought this was simply ok.  More likely is this explanation…I was just starting to DIY my way through our home.  This bathroom was the first project and remained the only completed project until last year.  I really wanted to replace the vanity lights but I was, like many DIY’ers, very intimidated by this simple electrical fixture.  After working my way through the kitchen, dining room, entryway, and master bathroom, I had much more confidence in the fact that most DIY processes can be broken down into simple steps.  No, I won’t ever be able to rewire the house or replace the roof, but these smaller projects are definitely doable.  Life, indeed, is but a process!

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

If you own a home, you know how expensive it is to make every nook and cranny your own.  The only way to accomplish this without breaking the bank is to proceed with small affordable projects.  Eventually, if you tackle one area at a time, you reach the finish line.  Occasionally,  you can throw a few big budget projects into the mix like we did with our Tuscan Inspired Kitchen.  But in the race to claim your home, slow and steady wins the race.

DIY Does Not Have to be Expensive

With many DIY projects, the biggest obstacle is simply getting started.  When I first started the bathroom refresh and upcycle projects, my budget was super small.  Consequently, I found ways to brighten and personalize these spaces inexpensively.  This upcycle and refresh of my bathroom vanity lights cost $4.67…the cost of a can of Rustoleum spray paint.  

Fast forward to last September and another $100 Room Challenge where I did the Master Bathroom.  I updated our outdated vanity lights.

Same Project, Another Room

It’s time to use those skills again.  This time I will show you, step by step, how easy it is to upcycle and refresh your bathroom vanity lights!  Let’s get this poor neglected and outdated gold light fixture upcycled!

Here is the vanity light fixture in all of its golden glory:

I’m sharing the process of my upcycle and refreshed bathroom vanity lights now.  Here is the process from start to finish!

Step One:  Dis-assembly

• Remove the bulbs.
• Remove the gold cylindrical covers for each light.
• Gently pry the gold rectangular cover from the unit.

Step Two:  Prep Surface for Paint

If your bathrooms are as busy as mine, these bulbs and fittings will be dusty.  Use a soft cloth to remove the dust.  Use a fine grit sandpaper to gently sand all surfaces (in my case the gold pieces) to be sanded.  Use a cloth or damp rag to remove all dust from the surfaces.  Now you are ready to paint!

If you know me at all in real life, you know that what you see is what you get.  I am honest to a fault and always trying to improve.  So, when I did these videos (tackling a fear of a new skill) I figured they would be long and boring so I selected the Time Lapse option.  Wrong…and I didn’t feel like redoing the videos so I will just apologize for the super fast and hard to follow video.  I promise the next will be better.  Sometimes you just have to admit defeat and chalk that up to learning.  Done!

Step Three: Paint

Spray paint all of the old (gold) parts.  I sprayed several light coats allowing each coat to dry completely before applying the next.  Be sure to keep your arm moving so the paint does not puddle.  It’s no fun to have to scrape off globs or drips of wet paint.  Be patient and apply several light coats.  I used Rustoleum, my go to spray paint, with paint and primer in the same can.  Coverage is always excellent.  I used a satin finish.  

I am lucky to have a several fan decks for use when trying to match paint colors.  This one is Sherwin Williams.  Look at the wear on the edges.  Do you think I use this alot??  I was able to find the closest color to the General Finishes java gel stain that I used on the vanity base and the mirror frame FOUR YEARS AGO!  I carried this color to Home Depot and was able to find the closest Rustoleum spray paint.  Perfect match!!!  Tools are indeed your friend…whether power or design…USE YOUR TOOLS!

A customer from my antique store, The Blue Building Antiques gifted it to me many years ago when my store was till open.  I also have a Behr fan deck as Behr has quickly become a favorite wall paint supplier.  This comes in handy when trying to match colors to fixed items in your home, like the bathroom vanity that is stained!

Step Four:  Reassemble.

Reverse the disassembly steps and put that baby back together!  Sit back and enjoy the newly updated look!

When I disassembled the first vanity light back in November, I was very cautious.  The second was much easier.  And this one was super quick.  I never touched an electrical wire.  With all electrical projects, it is always a good idea to turn off the breaker or main power source to the room just in case.  And if you are completely removing the unit, it’s always a good idea to hire or consult an electrician.

Do you have any of these outdated Hollywood style vanity lights in your bathroom?  This $5 upgrade will buy us some time and allow us to use money on other projects. 

I am happy with this simple and budget friendly upgrade.  It will make me smile until I find the perfect replacement lights.

I completed this project as part of a monthly challenge with some incredible blogger friends.  This is my first time joining my talented friends at the Thrift Store Decor Team!  I’ve know a few of these creative geniuses for a few years and some are brand new friends.  I simply cannot wait to introduce you to each one of them!  You will find their contributions to this month’s tour below.  So without further ado…here they are!

These are the before photos!  Click through to see the final reveals!

 
Large Farmhouse Metal Basket – Domestically Speaking

Boys Rocking Chair – My Repurposed Life

Sand And Seashells Beach Jar Idea – Petticoat Junktion

Outdoor Coffee Table Makeover – Our Southern Home

Boho Chic Jewelry Tray – My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Coastal Coasters – Sadie Seasongoods

Upcycled Shutter Angel – House Of Hawthornes

Thrifted Child’s Wall Easel To Wall Decor – Organized Clutter

Easy Cake Stand – Reinvented Delaware

Refresh Bathroom Vanity Light – Shop At Blu

 
                           

Thanks for stopping by!  Can’t wait to get started on next month’s project!

Shop the Look!

               
 

The post How to Upcycle and Refresh Bathroom Vanity Lights appeared first on Shop at Blu.

I have been moving this old piece of wood from place to place in my garage for many years…13 to be exact.  It’s an old piece of wood with a beautiful story.  If you know me at all, you know I like a good story.  You also know I like stuff.  What’s better than a great piece of stuff with an even greater story?  Let’s call this one Upcycled Vintage Wood…and Memories.

The House That Built Me

I grew up in a working class section of Philadelphia known as Roxborough.  My parents bought their first home when they got married in 1961 and sold it 45 years later to move to Alabama to be closer to me, their only child, and their 5 grandchildren.  The memories made in that home molded me into the person that I am today and have been passed on to my children.  This piece of wood was the cutting board that was built into their kitchen cabinets. 

Mom and Dad were the second owners of this boxy little twin home built around 1940.  But it was the only home I knew as a child.  When my parents finally decided to update their kitchen around 1998, they replaced the kitchen cabinets.  I grabbed this cutting board from the trash pile thinking, like my Dad, “that’s a half decent piece of wood”.  It must have been the still evident lines in the woodgrain that caught my eye.  Because it certainly is not a pretty piece of wood.  But isn’t that the beauty of restoration and repurposing?  You see something beyond to immediate condition of an item.  I was most likely desperate for a piece of that childhood home that I loved so much.  So I toted it back to Alabama and it’s been in my garage ever since.

History and Convenience Via Wood

The cabinets in the original kitchen were white.  At some point in my childhood, Mom decided she wanted the cabinets painted.  So Pop, aka Mr. “I fix everything in my own home with my own two hands”, and I painted the white cabinets a lovely beige.  This paint, still clinging to this now antique cutting board, made me smile.  This cutting board was actually inserted into the cabinets above a drawer but just under the counter.  So, if you had to cut some bread or chop some vegetable, you simply pulled it out, completed your chopping, wiped it down, and slid it back into place.  When in its resting place, it simply looked like a piece of molding sitting over the drawer.  You can see the long groove on the painted edge under which you would slip your fingers to pull the board out from the cabinet for use.  Pretty smart and very convenient.

Yet Another Collection

I started collecting a few unique cutting boards after we renovated our kitchen in March 2020.  When we got our new countertops, I stumbled upon his old cutting board and brought it to the kitchen to use to protect my new Corian counters.  As I moved it from counter to counter to place under crockpots and coffee pots, I realized that the size was desirable but the condition quite sad.  And that lingering paint made me smile.  I realized that I needed this happy reminder in my kitchen.  I also realized this happy reminder needed a serious face lift.

Simple is Better

Because it will be inevitably be used for food prep, I decided against using any harsh stains.  Instead, I would give both sides of the cutting board a good sanding and treat it with a natural hemp oil.  Hemp oil is a natural protectant for wood and contains no harsh chemicals.  It is safe for use around food and is all natural.  My favorite hemp oil is my friend Marian’s brand, Miss Mustardseed Hemp oil.  I think it is now sold under the Fusion Brand by Homestead House. 

                                                                               

The cabinet maker had done a lovely job of creating this cutting board as evident in the dovetail edges that finish the piece.  Time and wear have taken their toll as the dovetails were loose and splitting. 

I wiggled the loose edges and most of the grooved pieces came off easily. 

I took a jig saw and carefully cut the tongued edges off of both sides of the cutting board.  I was left with a square piece of wood.  A gave the edges a nice sanding to even the appearance.  Next, both flat sides received a heavy sanding to remove many of the surface cuts. 

It was impossible to remove all of the mars and slices in the wood.  Quite frankly, knowing that Mom and Dad, my grandmother, great grandmother, countless aunts, uncles and friends had carved some character into this little slab of wood, I was quite happy with the remaining memory marks.  

I wiped dust from the board and applied a thick coat of hemp oil.  The wood was very hungry and absorbed several coats. 

Look at the revived wood!

She is a lovely addition to my little cutting board collection.  And even more importantly, she makes me smile and triggers happy memories of a beautiful home!

The sweet little project has been on my mind for some time.  I’m happy to share it as part of my friend Sydney’s belated heart celebration!  Sydney blogs at Sydney and Co!  

Stop by the following blogs to see a little piece of their hearts!

The post Upcycled Vintage Wood and Memories appeared first on Shop at Blu.

If you’ve followed me for a while, you know I recently closed my antiques store. For many years, this vintage bicycle greeted our Blu customers as they climbed the steps to enter our little store of treasures.

But what you might not know is that for two years from 2013-2014 I had a second store in McCalla Alabama called The Yellow Building.   And yes, it was a yellow building. Sometimes you just have to go with logic.

Vintage Bicycle Acquisition circa 2013

I bought this vintage bicycle from a Yellow customer. This is what she looked like originally:

I envisioned her at the entry to the store…her basket overflowing with beautiful flowers.  She was blue. But she needed a refresh.  So I gave her a quick coat of teal, attached some baskets and set her outside.

When I decided to close Yellow, it was only natural that she assumed the welcome position at the entry to Blu.  And that is where she sat until we closed in 2019.

Since then, she has been sitting at the bottom of our deck stairs at the rear of the house looking sad and in desperate need of a makeover.

Just look at this gorgeous patina! This was the result of standing guard outside in the Alabama weather for 6 years.

Commence the Makeover

Today is the day! Although I love her patina, I wanted a fresh new look. So I checked out the paint color selections at Home Depot. Rustoleum has a tremendous selection of spray paint colors.

I narrowed it down to these.

And I decided on the grape. I also bought white for the tire walls and seat, black for the tires, and silver for the spokes.

I started with the lavender since it was the color covering the most surface area and the most intricate areas.   Since I didn’t have any painter’s tape on hand, I used cardboard to mask off the areas that did not need to be grape.  Pop taught me long ago to do what you can with what you have.  No need to rush out and spend money if you can make do with what is on hand.  I gave her two coats.

Once the second coat was dry, I used my cardboard to block off the area around the tires and sprayed them black.  I continued with my cardboard barrier for all white areas, and for the spokes.  

Secrets of the Trade

The handlebars were quite rusty from exposure to the sun and rain.  I gave them a quite light sanding with my 3M sanding block.  Then I used an old trick to restore the chrome.  I took normal aluminum foil from the kitchen, wet it, and rubbed it all over the chrome.  The result was shiny chrome.  It wasn’t restored 100% but it sure looked much better.

And here she is with her new paint:

Adding Bling

All that was left was to add some gorgeous flowers to the baskets.  I replaced the front bicycle basket with a vintage straw basket.  I imagine it once had some sort of handle that over the years was removed.  It was the perfect shape for ol’ Blu!  Hmm…I suppose she needs a new name now!

I am an avid gardener with never enough time to garden.  Consequently, there are many many varieties of lovely plants in my yard that always need dividing. 

And indeed, I had a ton of succulents on hand to use for my newly upcycled vintage bicycle.  I did buy one plant at that was quite full in the hopes that it would cascade over the baskets. 

But, it is July in Alabama so I decided that succulents would be the most logical choice.

The Big Reveal!

I even had a few giant succulents tucked out of the hot sun.  They were perfect.

I mean, can you ever REALY have enough succulents?  You never know what you might need them for…like a vintage bicycle upcycle!  Right??!!

   

OTHER GARDEN POSTS

The post Vintage Bicycle Upcycle appeared first on Shop at Blu.

The Amazing One Room Challenge

This is Week 2 of my very first One Room Challenge! You can read about this fabulous decorating event HERE. Be sure to follow each week and see the incredible progress on these amazing room rennovations!

The Appliance Package

Mr. Blu has always selected our appliances. As a former store manager for Lowe’s, he was always able to secure nice appliances at a good price. So this was very exciting for me to actually shop the appliance section. We knew we would be entitled to a package discount since we were buying 4 major appliances. Back in January we saw this package:

We selected this package primarily for the color option of Tuscan Stainless, which is available at additional cost.

But this deal was active back in February. When we started getting serious in April, the listed prices were high and we couldn’t find anything on sale! The refrigerator alone was $4200.

I shopped Lowes, Home Depot, Wayfair, and several local appliance stores. Finally, we spoke with the appliance expert at our local Home Depot. We were able to apply several package discounts to our purchase and ended up getting the appliance package for 55% off of the listed online price! I have to give a shout out to Rebecca, the appliance specialist at Home Depot in Pelham, AL. Rebecca was able to track down the appliances in the desired Tuscan Stainless Steel finish, and we had delivery the following week!

As I write this post, I have just cooked my first dinner in my new convection oven. Mr. Blu, who is not a big fan of pork, said these were the best pork chops he’s ever had!

I have run my first full cycle on the dishwasher! More to follow on this appliance.

And #V has cooked several batches of both corn dogs and ramen noodles in our roomy microwave.

There was a small mix up with the refrigerator so unfortunately, we are still waiting on that.

I will include updated pictures once it arrives. But I am glad to say that we are beyond happy with our appliance selections for this Tuscan Inspired Kitchen!

So far we are thrilled with the sleek upgraded look of our appliances. The microwave is very large. We’ve never had a stainless interior on a microwave. Same with the oven. And it is convection so the last few home cooked meals have been phenomenal!

I will say that upgrading this dishwasher was quite the emotional ordeal! My children and parents, spearheaded by my oldest Daughter (II), presented us with this dishwasher as an anniversary gift back in 2012. Times were a little rough back then and our dishwasher had been non functional for many months. I will never forget the feeling of pride and how happy my heart was when I opened the card that was signed with the message…”one less thing to worry about!” TWO had even arranged for the dishwasher to be installed! We were so very surprised and so happy! Somewhere I have that card!! When I find it, I will post it!

I was tempted to build a flower bed in the garden using this old dishwasher…stranger things have been the foundations of wonderful garden displays. But, I think a picture will suffice. What’s the point of upgrading the inside of the house if the outside looks like an episode of Sanford and Son, right?

Guess what!! Next week’s post will have pictures of my new floors!

And hopefully the new refrigerator!

See you then!

The post ORC: My Tuscan Inspired Kitchen, Week 2 appeared first on Shop at Blu.

By simply switching out the hardware, you can completely dress up a piece or just simply it.  This is a quick and inexpensive way to transform furniture.

Before

Here is a piece I recently restored.  This is the before photo.  It is a  waterfall chest.  I’m not really sure why someone would use this color scheme but perhaps Caesar needed a new dresser to place beside his chariot.  Or maybe it was a gag project. 

The Process

I sanded and stripped the wood, painted the edges, and stained the top, sides and the drawers.  This waterfall dresser was in amazing condition.  The wood beneath the paint was absolutely beautiful.  There were no major or even minor mars or imperfections.  The before hardware consisted of 4 drawer pulls and 2 knobs that I believe were all original.  Waterfall pieces are not very popular these days.  They are usually the last ones to sell in my store The Blue Building Antiques and Consignment.  I frequently paint old pieces to freshen them up and make them more contemporary.  With the current farmhouse trend, waterfall pieces just aren’t that desirable, at least not in their original state.  However, a little paint and stain can go a long way.  Add some beautiful hardware and embellishments, and you have a stunning contemporary piece.

New hardware for this waterfall dresser was provided by D.Lawless Hardware as part of this month’s Fab Furniture Flipping Contest.   D. Lawless Hardware has been in business for 30 years providing a myriad of cabinet hardware to businesses, home builders, crafters, DIY blogs, corporations and online customers.  D.Lawless provided hardware to all of the contestants for free in exchange for writing a blog post about the projects.  I’ve used their hardware in the past and am always super satisfied with the quality and assortment of products.  Here is another project in which I used D.Lawless Hardware.

I selected the following items from D. Lawless Hardware, which were provided to me for free, as a FFFC participant, in exchange for this post about my furniture flip.  

I thought the shiny gold would stand out against the dark stain.  To dress up the piece, I selected the applique pair.  I painted them white and installed them on the drawer fronts with glue.  

I painted the appliques white, glued them to the drawer fronts  and installed the beautiful knobs.  I had to drill new holes for the gold knobs.  Usually you will need to fill the old holes, sand and restain or paint.  In this case, however, the applique embellishments covered the original holes so I didn’t need to make these repairs.

After

And here is the finished piece.  

I think the appliques and the beautiful gold knobs help add and air of elegance and beauty to the piece.  What do you think?

There is something about the rich color in a newly stained piece of furniture…so deep and rich!

And a view of the sides.  I love the contrast of the dark stain with the vivid white.

The Fab Furniture Flipping Contest is a monthly contest in which bloggers flip a piece of furniture in conjunction with the monthly theme.  This month’s theme is Make It Pretty. 

We have 5 wonderfully talented hosts in this group:  Evey (Evey’s Creations), Scottie (Saved by Scottie), Christie (Ritzy Parties Inc.), Jodi (Glittered Barn Designs), and Jes (My DIY Envy).

You can check out Jen’s project using the fabulous D. Lawless Hardware here!  At the end of her post you will see all of the projects entered into this contest!  What a variety!

If you are an active blogger and are interested in participating in future contests, contact info@eveyscreations.com.

The post Waterfall Dresser Upcycle appeared first on Shop at Blu.

I am sharing this post along with some friends for a Spring Time Celebrations Blog Hop. A very special shout out to Carol from Bluesky At Home who is hosting our hop today. Carol is so gracious in organizing these events so that we can all share our holiday love. If you are hopping over from Annemarie’s blog, Make Every Day An Event, welcome! I know you enjoyed all of the fabulous inspiration before you arrived here.

Let’s Get to the Succulents

One of the best things about succulents is that they propagate quickly.  Mine have even doubled in number over one season.  In most cases, you just break of a piece and tuck it into some dirt.  Shortly you will see new growth.  Grab those new babies and expand your collection of succulent planters!

Our succulent shoes were hands down the most commented upon displays at our store!  Who doesn’t love shoes and who doesn’t love succulents??!!!

Creative Planters for Succulents

I love to plant in all sorts of odd containers…the rustier, the better!  Here is a collection of my favorite succulent planters from years past at The Blue Building!

Years later, I’m still using that same vintage bicycle to hold my succulents. But she does look a little different now!

Succulents are the perfect plant for beginning gardeners because, well quite frankly, they are difficult to kill.  Water them sparingly and they will thrive.  Here in Alabama, they multiply quickly as well.

Tips for Planting Succulents

EASY STEPS TO PLANTING SUCCULENTS:

• Select a vessel or container (or pot or shoe or can or vase).
• Make a hole for proper drainage (it’s critical that the water does not pool)
• Put some soil in your container.
• Fill the container with succulents.
• Water and allow to dry between watering.
• Enjoy your succulents!

Here is a link to a post where I give you step by step instructions in detail.

You can buy succulents online if your local garden center does not have them in stock.  I am including affiliate links below.  However, most garden centers, including Lowe’s and Walmart will stock up on these in spring.

Check your Walmart now! I found these last weekend and they do not replenish once this spring supply is gone…

Grab some succulents and get going!  Spring is just around the corner!

As promised, here are all of the spring projects from my talented friends. Be sure to comment on which is your favorite! I’m having trouble selecting just one!

The post Spring succulent planters appeared first on Shop at Blu.