LIFE AT THE COTTAGE

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Time Travel Thursday #21 - Praising the Power of Paint


CHECK OUT ALL THE DETAILS FOR THE LINKY PARTY HERE!



Welcome to the 21st Time Travel Thursday linky party at the Brambleberry Cottage.

Are you ready for our next trip back in time and into the future?

Well, climb aboard!


This beauty was a piece I won at auctionfor a mere pittanceseveral years ago. 

Okay, so maybe it's not much of a beauty as you see it here.  But stay with me, and you'll see how it became one.

Actually, I didn't have a "before" picture, so I did a bit of photo editing to give you some idea of what it looked like when I first got it.

It dated to the late 50s or early 60s, and it had the traditional stained finish from that period to prove it.

You know the one—maple wood with a stain turned ORANGE with the patina of years! 

Yuck!

This was another purchase of mine that gave the Yankee cause to roll his eyes and shake his head in disbelief.

But, I had a plan.  ; )


I felt sure it had been a planter of some sort—because of the metal insert in the top.

The Yankee thought it looked like funeral-home décor 
...hence his distaste for it!


The first course of action was to sand the less-than-appealing old finish off and spray paint the whole thing a soft, cottage white.


Those steps alone were a grave improvement and...

 enough to encourage the Yankee that there might be hope for this piece after all.


A pretty floral swag appliqué, for the top panel...


and an ever-so-light sandingin a few key areaswere the only embellishments needed to bring out the hidden beauty.


The resurrection of this dated dame now makes her worthy to bear a bevy of books at bedside, a tumble of towels in the powder room,
or even...

a flourish of flowers (or pine branches and holly) in the family room.

Here's to the power of paint!

Linking to Maryann's for the Power of Paint Party, Leigh's for Thrifty Thursday, Suzanne's for Vintage Thingie Thursday, Gina's for Transformation Thursday, Becky's for 100 Ideas Under $100.00Cindy's for Show and Tell Friday,  Betty Bee's Buzz for Buzz, Brag, and Bee Happy Friday, Marian's for Furniture Feature Friday, A little Lovely's for Saturday Soiree, Stephanie Lynn's for Sunday Showcase Party, Susan's for Metamorphosis Monday and Sarah's for the Before and After Party

 

28 comments:

  1. Oh I love that piece. I can really picture it filled with fluffy white towels! Or some pretty pink geraniums!

    ReplyDelete
  2. That is a remarkable job you did on the vintage piece. With the right know how and mind you can do anything. I never had that talent.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for hosting! Wow, that came out great. Amazing what new paint will do.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Loving what you did with your auction piece...I have to admit thought that I am loving that original color too.....

    Thanks for hosting...

    Take care,
    Lisa

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a wonderful piece! I love it. SO many ways to use it!! Bravo for you!

    Big TX Hugs,
    Stephanie
    Angelic Accents

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love how this turned out! Of course anything with good bones looks good painted white but it really is dreamy.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Lucky, lucky you...this piece is georgous!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Beautiful makeover!!!
    Have a nice weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Amazing, looks absolutely beautiful, bravo:))
    Thanks for hosting, hugs Biljana

    ReplyDelete
  10. That is beautiful!!! Love that detail you added to the front. Paint certainly covers a multitude of sins!

    Thanks for hosting :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. I would have totally snagged that piece too. ;)

    I love what you did with it!!! The detail in the front is beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Wonderful redo, such a gorgeous planter!

    Happy VTT,
    Sally

    ReplyDelete
  13. Lovely transformation!!! Would love to have a piece like that at our entry for my son and hubby to toss their gloves and beanies into as they walk in (instead of on the piano!) Also thanks for hosting TTT.

    ReplyDelete
  14. It turned out great...I would definitely use it for books!! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Great and detailed presentation of transformation - nice to see how things became "golden" in your hands ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  16. What a beautiful transformation. Your description of the "before" made me think of those planters that were permanently placed in the entry way of some older homes...they would divide the entry from the living room. Anyway, it looks gorgeous and fit for any room.
    Thank you so much for hosting. I'm going to take a look around.

    ReplyDelete
  17. What a wonderful transformation! I love the addition of the swag :) This is a great project, and so glad the Yankee was impressed! Thanks for sharing at http://BettyBeesBuzz.blogspot.com Please come visit often!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Wow, this is absolutely fabulous! I knew I liked this piece from the first pic but your transformation is stunning! What a neat find!

    Thanks for hosting,

    Nancy

    ReplyDelete
  19. This is great and I love the transformation. How unique!

    ReplyDelete
  20. What a great and versatile piece. Thanks for linking up to Beyond the Picket Fence's Under $100 Party.

    ReplyDelete
  21. You did a stunning job! I bet everyone who reads your blog is out hunting everywhere for wood plant stands :-)

    Maggie

    ReplyDelete
  22. Well done, a little paint and lots of creative imagination saved that darling treasure from a life in shades of orange.

    ReplyDelete
  23. What a fantastic piece! And great transformation! Happy to have found you via Between Naps on the Porch.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hi there! This sure turned out beautifully! I just LOVE appliques, they just add the perfect touch don't they? I look forward to browsing your old posts.
    Have a blessed week!
    Missy

    ReplyDelete
  25. As pretty as can be! I love it. Great ideas too.

    Warm blessings,
    Spencer

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to comment.