I love this time of the year. Here in Missouri, we have garage sales on Wednesday mornings (which often run later in the afternoon), sometimes on Fridays and always, always on Saturdays. I have such fond memories of finding good deals at garage sales when I was a child. Well, not much has changed in 20+ years. I still get giddy with excitement when I find a good deal at garage sales! I LOVE it! Just the anticipation of the potential out there… and the whole atmosphere! I can think of nothing I’d rather do on a Saturday morning than wake up early to blue skies, grab a donut and head on out, hunting for my next project!
And I love seeing what people find, so I’m going to share with you some finds and a makeover! 🙂
See that big china cabinet in the back? My fav. I just love the legs and the ornate carving and details… *sigh* I picked that up at a garage sale.
The desk I got at an estate sale, as well as 2 of the chairs you see there. I really liked their cane sides and could imagine it really cute with some grain sack-esque reupholstery. We shall see when I can get around to them! My sewing machine needs to be repaired. 🙁
Anyhow, I agonized for 2 weeks about how I was going to finish the cabinet. I saw lots of inspiration online, but so many things just seemed too dark to me. I wanted something with a little color, but not too bold. I wanted it almost white, but not. Something pastel, but with character. I fell in love with this inspiration:
I love the idea of having something minty in the bathroom. And so I created my own minty cabinet for a bathroom.
I think my minty color has a little more blue in it perhaps? But I love it. I was originally going for what Annie Sloan calls “Cricket” (a mix of Provence and Old White). But when I mixed 8 parts of old white with 1 part of Provence, it looked nothing like that little color swatch.
Turns out, half and half makes a lovely shade of pale aqua that looked more like what Cricket was supposed to look like!
It was a little bright at first (which would be lovely for something!) but for this piece, because the shape was so antique and ornate, I wanted to give it a little texture and tone down the brightness.
I dry brushed it with white, then dark waxed it to bring out the cool lines and details that had gotten lost with the previous coats.
On a side note, I picked up this antique chair on St Vincent de Paul for only $12! Such a cute chair, and I just may keep it as is!
Can we talk for a minute about this awesome door? It originally had glass just inside the door, but I didn’t really like it. I wanted the inside to be able to breathe! Any of you who have bought antiques know how important it is to air those babies out! 😉
Let’s peak inside, shall we? 🙂 Those coral washcloths were begging to be paired with all this mint!
Linens and towels, sea grass baskets, and of course some bathroom essentials like: cotton balls, q-tips, bath salts, imported soaps, hand creams and hand washes.. all in some vintage Ball jars, or in clear canisters.
I placed some old bottles I had collected that had that lovely blue/green tint to them. Not a useful purpose, but pretty! And it visually balances out the wire/burlap basket holding toilet paper.
I really can’t get enough of these flowers! Paired with an old tin pitcher, and you have a juxtaposition of old and new that really never gets old! 🙂
I am in love.
cindy the cottage chick says
That is one of the most gorgeous pieces of furniture with the most gorgeous finish I have ever seen. You nailed it for sure! Pinning.
Rachel with Shades of Blue says
Thank you Cindy!
Susan - Uniquely Yours or Mine says
Just beautiful! I cannot believe you got that at a yard sale! Fabulous finish!
Rachel with Shades of Blue says
Thanks Susan! I know I was shocked too!
Elisha Albretsen @ Pneumatic Addict Furniture says
I liked the china cabinet in the before picture, but I didn’t know what you would use it for besides, well, china. I LOVE the idea of using it for storage in the bathroom! Its so unique and the perfect color. Great job!
Rachel with Shades of Blue says
Thanks Elisha! Of course you could use it for china as well, but with the smaller opening you wouldn’t see what’s inside very well. That is how I thought to use it for a bathroom!
Mimi's Vintage Charm says
Gorgeous! You did a wonderful job and i love it as a bathroom cabinet.
Rachel with Shades of Blue says
Thank you so much!
Lori Lehman says
Wow great piece and great color choice!! Love it! Have a great day, Lori
Rachel with Shades of Blue says
Thank you Lori!
Home and Lifestyle Design says
I absolutely love furniture in the bathroom. I think you did a great job and I love the color. I just did a post on Amy Howard and her new finishing products, you can see it here http://homeandlifestyledesign.blogspot.com/2013/06/amy-howard-home-sneak-peek-dallas.html
I just found your blog through Savvy Southern Style and I am now following you on bloglovin.
Thanks, Patty
Rachel with Shades of Blue says
Thanks Patty! Ill be sure to follow you back!
Carol says
This is so totally beautiful!!! it would look fantastic in my bath…but
I think it’s too wide 🙁 I love a good garage sale ♥
Rachel with Shades of Blue says
Thanks Carol!
Susan D says
Absolutely gorgeous!! You must have a giant bathroom to fit that in.
Rachel with Shades of Blue says
Susan, my bathroom isn’t that giant but I bet if I moved some things around I could fit it in! His would be great for a bathroom that didn’t have a closet or much storage initially. I staged this in my dining room bc it has more light, so it appears to take up a whole wall, but you get the idea! 🙂 thanks for the love!
Ivy and Elephants says
You are amazing. These pieces are simply gorgeous. There is nothing like vintage furniture in a bathroom. I love that feel. This is such an awesome post. I would love it if you would share this post at our WIW linky party. Hope you can join us!
Paula
ivyandelephants.blogspot.com
Rachel with Shades of Blue says
Thank you Paula! I will for sure pop over this weekend!
Stacey says
This is so Beautiful!! I found you through Ms. Mustard Seed LOVE your Site!
Rachel with Shades of Blue says
Thank you Stacey!
Annie says
I love this! And your pictures are so sweet! Thanks for sharing!
Nita Stacy says
Oh…my… this is so so so pretty! What a beautiful paint job you gave it. I’d love to have this in my home. I’d love it if you linked it up at my weekly linky party…on Monday – Mod Mix Monday at Mod Vintage Life.
Rachel with Shades of Blue says
Thank you Nita! I would love to link up! Thanks for the heads up!
Therena Taylor says
I love this piece, and you have it decorated so wonderfully!
Therena @ littlebitofpaint.blogspot.com
Rachel with Shades of Blue says
Thanks Therena! I will for sure be checking out your blog as well!
Beth@Makemeprettyagain says
Absolutely stunning! I can never find an antique like that one. What a score. And I love the color!
Rachel with Shades of Blue says
Thanks Beth!
Amanda says
Fabulous makeover! So fun to see your garage sale finds, too! Now I’m in the mood to go shop! I love the color you came up with here and the white dry brushing is perfection! I will be pinning this one to my “Paint it Annie!” board! Thanks so much for the inspiration! You do lovely work!
Best Wishes and Blessings,
Amanda
Rachel with Shades of Blue says
Awesome! Thank you Amanda!
RPK Interiors says
This is a very beautiful transformation. Provence is a strong color…and cutting it with Old White and then a little dry brushing made for a soft treatment. Beautifully executed. Hope you don’t mind but I pinned it too!
Robin
Rachel with Shades of Blue says
Thank you Robin! Provence is definitely one of my favs because of all the possibilities and I just love blue/greens! 🙂
lauren @ West Furniture Revival says
LOVE THE CABINET, THE COLOR IS BEAUTIFUL AND I WOULD LOVE TO FEATURE IT, IF THATS OK PLEASE LET ME KNOW,
LAUREN
Rachel with Shades of Blue says
Lauren! Absolutely! Thanks!
Kim @ Savvy Southern Style says
I love this and I also have a cabinet in my master bath. Great of storage.
Lisa Marie Wells says
Ok LOVE this. I am very new to the whole ” chalk paint” thing. how much exactly of each color did you use? I have used Anne Sloane chalk paint before but I’m very hesitant to mix colors…. I adore this color and would love to replicate.
Thanks!!
~Lisa
Lauren Davison says
wow, I must say I did not “see the beauty” behind the before beast in this one. it turned out gorgeous!!!!! I would have walked right by it and sadly missed out, good catch!
Reeves @ The Weathered Door says
I love this! So much inspiration on your blog! New follower
Ivy and Elephants says
Your gorgeous cabinet is a feature this week at Ivy and Elephants! Thanks so much for linking with us. Feel free to stop by and grab a featured button.
Happy 4th of July!
Patti
Danielle @ Antique Recreation says
WOW!!! I am in love as well! This is absolutely beautiful! Beautiful photos too! Thanks so much for sharing this inspiring piece!
Danielle @ Antique Recreation
Carla Clark says
I absolutely love this cabinet! The details the wax brought out in the trim is amazing. Nice work.
Danielle says
OMG! Love this. Just catching up blogs after being away. This is stunning. I’d love you to share this on my link party: http://www.findingsilverpennies.com/2013/07/silver-pennies-sundays-link-party-and_14.html
Anonymous says
Hi, this is beautiful! I am new to Annie Sloan chalk Paint and have just painted a pair of bedside cabinets in Provence. I would like to do Old White over the top as they are a bit bright but I’m not sure what dry brushing means?! Could you explain please? Thank you! Harriet x
lauren @ West Furniture Revival says
don’t know if you caught the feature , you can see it here,
lauren
and thanks so much!
http://westfurniturerevival.blogspot.com/2013/07/revival-monday-118.html