chest

As I've mentioned before, I've been trying to accumulate furniture during the job hunt anticipating having a place of our own again..and a definite need for furniture.  This hunt has comprised a lot of thrift shops, consignment stores, garage sales, and even a few ranch supply stores.  While out driving with Mr. F one day, we found an antique mall and it was like the used furniture gods were smiling down on me.  Everywhere I looked there were tables I'd eat at, desks I could paint on, and chairs to throw outfits I'm not sure of on..  Well, tucked in the corner of one vendor's stall was this little cabinet that we so lovingly call "The Chest."  It was a good price, about $50, but really really rough.  I knew it had good bones and brought it home to live in the garage until I could figure out what to do with it.  A few weeks later I finally got the DIY bug and got to work and this is what happened!

My original plan was to sand down the faux wood-inlay and stain the cabinet anew, embracing the wood but breathing new life into it. That plan was completely tossed out the window (or garage door in this case..) .

I am not a patient person when it comes to projects, which is probably why all of my paintings are in miniature and in watercolor nonetheless.  With watercolor, you have to commit and fast.  I wanted to finish off this cabinet and was more than willing to sand it down to get it to the wood, but after four hours of heavy sanding with the palm sander I had barely scratched the surface.  My arms were shaking like I had been using a jackhammer all morning and I had to reevaluate.  While the wood still wasn't coming through, the surface was smooth and in perfect condition for painting.  Something in my mind immediately latched onto the idea of a mint green so I hopped in the car and made my third trip to Lowe's that day.  Twenty minutes later, I had a container of Cucumber Peel paint by Valspar and a determination to get this sucker painted.

I opted to paint the interior shelves to give more continuity and to clean it up a bit.  There is absolutely no sheen to the paint at all, which I am wholly thrilled about, but the tint of the green is soft enough that light just bounces off it making the space around it brighter.  The green is a bit more green than it photographs, but not much.  For a girl who usually paints everything white, even this bashful mint is a bold step.  

I love everything about this little cabinet now.  The storage, the finish, the color, the wooden latch that I still haven't painted.  It's just wonderful!

so, again...before...

and after...

Can I get a whoop whoop!?