New Old Dresser
This old house has plenty of character, but really lacks storage. I get by because no one is using the spare bedroom currently, so outgrown baby items, my vacuum, and luggage all live in there. The bathroom, however, is still in desperate need of storage. I still use my old quilt rack to hang towels. I love this, but not so much when towels have to be stacked 7 high because there is no cupboard for the extras. So, I set out to buy a large old dresser to refinish, in hopes that it could serve as storage in the bathroom.
I started with this guy for $40 on a garage sale:
Great vintage bones, ugly paint job. So I sanded, patched one spot, and painted him gray.
He was already looking gorgeous. Then I added some charcoal tinted furniture paste wax.
I was loving it. The hardest part was picking hardware. I didn’t want the hardware to pull too much attention, so I ended up choosing twisted iron pulls that reminded me of the Threshers, and little black knobs for the top. Now he’s finished and gorgeous. Oh, and one more dilemma. Do I really put it in the barhroom, or do I give it to Brantley as he transitions to his big boy furniture? OR, do I sell it? 😉
What do you think?! ♡
Birthday and Decor!
My birthday was last week!Â
I got so many awesome gifts, so here is just a sneak peek:
My brother also got me the book, “The Magoc of Writing: How to Write and Publish the Book that is Inside You,” by Linda J. Falkner. So, now I have another project I’m working on 😉
Among many great gifts from family and friends, I also got a few decor related things to keep my occupied in the house for a while. Check out this funky antique alligator trunk:
Is that not totally rad?!Â
I had drooled over this trunk earlier this fall while browsing antiques. Sweet, eh?Â
Thanks everybody! Now I have some fun projects to play with!
Mason Chair
Tony knows me well.  The other day he sent me a message and said he had a surprise for me that I was really going to love. Aw. Yup, he was right. He pulled in the driveway with a chair in the back of his truck! Tony is in the Masonic Lodge and they are updating and selling off some of their old chairs. So, he nabbed one. He picked the oldest (see, he does know me well!). It even has straps underneath holding old straw stuffing in!Â
The leather seat is in bad shape, so we plan to refurbish it. I would love to find some old, worn looking leather for the replacement (if you know where I can accomplish this please let me know!). We would really like to keep the nostalgia of the chair, so are trying to keep it similar to its original look. Currently Tony has set up camp for the new chair at the head of the table 🙂
Now, where to find pre-worn leather pieces!??
Wabi Sabi
Wikipedia defines wabi sabi as the Japanese world view centered on the acceptance of transience. Sometimes it is also described as beauty that is imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete. I think a good description of this is finding the prefect ion in imperfection. I love the concept of wabi sabi and try to incorporate it into my home all the time. I truly do believe that things can grow more beautiful over time. Maybe its the fact that a well worn item looks well loved. I love how these items have a past, a history. New furnishings from some big box store are often not very well made and are also mass-produced. Meaning that too many of these items in your home and things might look exactly like some one else’s home. This to me is boring. Age and imperfections add interest. So, although we do mix modern items in with our antiques and used finds, we do have some wabi sabi pieces in our home. I thought I would show you a few of our currently well-loved pieces.
This is our little dining table. It is very old and imperfect, but, it has so much character and personality. Even the chairs are worn-in, and mismatched!
A close-up of our perfectly imperfect table.
This is an old table with an antique frame used for the top. We use it as our living room coffee table. It has its dings and scratches, but I think that's what makes it so unique.
The mirror top of our coffee table.
Here are a few more imperfect yet gorgeous items currently in our house:
A vanity bench in our guest room.
One of two old plant stands used as bedside tables in our guest room.
A worn coke crate is hung up in our bedroom.
Make Mine Eclectic 