Transforming Curb Side Junk

Once a year our city offers residents large item 'JUNK' pick up.

Most of the time it is old toilets, mattresses, out-dated TVs,

broken down furniture, etc.

Fun or curiosity, we count yearly the more unusual

items that are 'junked' in excess.  

This year it was 12 baby cribs and 3 pink toilets.

Throughout the years I have found many great items.

However, the past few years 'good junk' has been minimal. 

That changed this year!

We found antiques, vintage, furniture

and garden items. 

Here is my best SCORE...

This center walnut-stained shelf.

I thought it would fit my mantel and it did!

I love the original wood of this piece, but the 

wood had some issues, besides it was too dark for my room.

So, I chose to repaint it with Annie Sloan white chalk paint.

It took me 32 hours to paint this piece with three coats of chalk paint 

mainly using a 3/4" brush on the scrolls/details and columns.

To finish it, I hand-waxed it.

 First coat of chalk paint.

Now finished, it sits as a cabinet shelf on my mantel.

Love my 'JUNK' find!

Buffet Redo Complete

Last Saturday my vintage-junk-pickin' buddy Julie joined me in dabbling with

Annie Sloan chalk paints. 

Julie is a long time furniture restorer and does awesome redos.  Neither of us had tried Annie Sloan paints till now.  Like so many, we were skeptical of the Annie Sloan claim that no prep work is necessary with her chalk paints... no sanding... no stripping...

get real Annie!  

Well, her claim to fame chalk paint did not fail us.  I washed the originally-varnished wood with mild soapy water, rinsed and let it dry.  We did not strip or sand any of the original finish.  We simply painted it on and were amazed how quickly it dried.

Later after Julie left I applied the 2nd coat of paint.  I let the 2nd coat of paint cure overnight.  The next morning I used a little bit of 180 sandpaper for distressing and then hand-rubbed a layered of clear wax.  My sweet hubby helped with the wax - that hand rubbing gets tiresome.

Originally I wanted to retain the original wood top, but ended up painting it due to a damaged corner.  The corner was repaired & painted - you can't tell it was ever damaged. 

Buffet before photos showing veneer repairs

Julie & me

Painted & drying

My finished buffet redo!

I gave myself a pat on the back as I think my first big piece of furniture redo turn out beautifully!

Thanks to Julie & Larry for their help and inspiration!