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Friday, April 22, 2016

A Quick Dresser Redo & And The New Guest House



I caught this project just barely in time to give you a before picture. It was important because we (my sometime-painter husband and I) so rarely do projects like this and I wanted to be sure to post about it! I usually forget about the "before" until it's too late.




This venerable old piece has a warped and chipping veneer on top, so it was fair game for a paint job. I used it mostly for display in my old shop, although it was also for sale. (You can see the original finish on the bottom drawer.) Nobody wanted it as it was, so it was tucked away in storage for awhile after the shop closed up.




This is not Miss Mustard Seed or anyone else's fancy paint. It's wall paint. I can't even tell you the color. I just said to my willing partner, "I want to see brush strokes and a little of the old finish showing through." He did a great job!





We painted hardware and all.





French furniture seems more French to me with a painted finish. Voila! Anyway I needed this piece to be light for the big dark space it is going into.





I have been gathering stuff that reminds me of an old French farmhouse for a hundred year old home that we are renting as a guest house two doors down in our old historic neighborhood where we live in the quiet river valley of Albuquerque. I have long dreamed of inhabiting old rooms like these, and am in the process of completing my mini vision. 











The salon is enormous, with long dark overhead beams. Part of the old structure was the original neighborhood schoolhouse. It has both brick and hardwood floors, and old adobe walls. The main room has one long wall on the west side with no windows. As both the beams and floor are dark, my job is to make the room as light-filled as possible.




There are a lot of issues to work around. This wall has a long vertical conduit to nowhere behind those shutters. There is also an enormous old wall heater to conceal when not in use. And that is just the beginning.




But I can't begin to describe the beautiful long sighs that old walls like this breathe in and out through its windows and doors. We are utterly infatuated with its aura and charm. 





We have barely begun, and there is a lot to do. Next time I will give you a peek at the built-in cuboards and shelves on the other side of the room.

Enjoy the weekend!

Hope it's a fun one!

Jacqueline








21 comments:

  1. Oh, how beautiful! Love all of your collected items.

    Can't wait to see the rest of the room.

    Judy

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  2. Oh how great. I love old homes and French looking furniture. I think they go so well together.

    This looks like a fun project and I can hardly wait to see all the wonderful things you are going to accomplish.

    Don't work to hard this weekend.

    Mary

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  3. Oh my goodness....this is so exciting. I look forward to seeing the progress. Love your vision and beginning of it. xx

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  4. Jacqueline, how fabulous!!! It looks fantastic already--I know it will all be gorgeous! How exciting--good for you!!! Oh, and how lucky you are to have a painter helper!
    Kay

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  5. I can't wait to see more! Lovely...just lovely..

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  6. So much charm here - love the solitude and softness!

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  7. Handy husband did a wonderful job of painting - creating something special with just a few brush strokes. The reflected beams in the mirror are amazing. What a great project. Have fun.
    Regards Janine

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  8. Oh, it's already beautiful, Jacqueline! I can't wait to see your magic touch! How exciting! xx Karen

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  9. That 3 piece arched window is great!

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  10. just lovely... I'd say you nailed the 'paint strokes with some of the finish showing thru' look :)

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  11. What a haven for your guests! It'll be four-star! And your husband aced the re-do! You are a dynamic duo and it shows!

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  12. Jacqueline, I love how you painted the old dresser just with wall paint. And how fun to be setting up a guest house near you to rent out. It looks like a fantastic old building and I'm sure you will make it look like a beautiful old French home when you're done with all your touches. You do have a wonderful flair for decorating! Have fun with it. Enjoy the weekend.
    Pam

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  13. You work magic with paint and your knack for styling vignettes!

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  14. Jacqueline, what fun you must be having. I can only imagine being a guest and staying in this beautiful space that you are creating. It looks like you are off to a good start with the wonderful pieces that are shown so far. It looks like it will be a dream come true. Can't wait to see more..Happy Weekend..Judy

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  15. most of us labor for hours and hours trying to get a unique finish on a dresser and you knock it right off with just a few brush strokes! I have believed for some time that some people have "the gift" and the rest of us don't. That dresser is truly lovely.

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  16. Jacquline,

    this room is going to be so beautiful. I love the things you have collected there already. We are redoing our entire house from 80's ranch to Country French, so I will be watching your posts closely! Dianne

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  17. Love your 'cottage'. Oh my, what a find. I love the comment about a house breathing---yes I think old places do. Looking forward to your journey and bringing the property back to life.
    Sandi

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  18. Hi J,
    The dresser looks great... but oooh and ahhs for the guest house!! How exciting to have a house to play with... it's looking great! Big room! The shot in the mirror is fabulous...
    hugs...

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  19. Just gorgeous. I can't wait to see more.

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  20. Stunning! This place is dreamy and full of old world charm. I love what you've done to the shelves too. The image you captured of the room through the mirror is fantastic... I'm loving the sparse feel, though probably not super practical. :) Looking forward to seeing more. Love the direction you're heading. ~julie

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  21. Jacqueline,
    C~est Magnifique!
    What an adorable place for a Bed & Breakfast, dear friend!
    Enjoy your time styling this adorable spot of heaven on earth!
    Fondly,
    Pat

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