Saturday, January 5, 2013

A New Addition

Greetings, friends!

While I should be putting our house back together after taking Christmas down last week ... SOMEhow, I found myself with a paint brush in my hand.

You see ... I've wanted to add an antique secretary to our great room for quite some time now, but, have never found one that I liked ... that is, until the other day (thanks to a rainy morning and Craigslist).

Here's what *she* looked like after we brought her inside ... in pretty good condition, despite dings here and there.  Still, I could practically hear her begging me for a makeover ... so, that's exactly what I did.


And, here's how she looks now, thanks to a can of Annie Sloane's "Pure White:"


Of course, I had to distress her a bit to honor peeks of her history (love the ball and claw feet):


I also decided she needed to be a bit fancy, so I replaced her rather nondescript wooden knobs with fun, clear *vintage-y* ones:


Lastly, to add a bit of pizazz, I painted on a simple, French graphic (thank you, again, Graphics Fairy)!


Before:


And, AFTER!


I truly hope she approves of her new look!

Now, back to vacuuming up glitter and finding everything I tucked away for the holidays!

And, come on over and play with us:

Savvy Southern Style/WUW
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia/Tuesday's Treasures
French Country Cottage/Feathered Nest Friday
Jennifer Rizzo/Fabulously Creative Friday Linky Party
From My Front Porch to Yours/Treasure Hunt Thursday

Thanks for stopping by,


post signature

74 comments:

  1. Wow, she turned out so pretty, and yes, I agree, her feet are gorgeous! Nice work with the wording as well, truly, she turned really great!

    ReplyDelete
  2. She is beautiful!! I know she luvs it :-)
    I am all about the feet!

    I too have to find some stuff I stowed away in November.... note to self, write notes . Sigh.
    Cheers, Gee

    ReplyDelete
  3. The truth is out ~ you even sleep with a paint brush in your hand. LOL

    Seriously, great job! Love, love the knobs so much and the graphic is perfect. You are a pro!

    xo
    Pat

    ReplyDelete
  4. That is such a beautiful piece... very impressed with the makeover!

    ReplyDelete
  5. that turned out so Beautiful. Its the kind of piece that makes everyone else go..I NEED one of those!
    Beautiful
    Hugs
    Karin
    www.artisbeauty.net

    ReplyDelete
  6. Becca, you did a sensational job! Your secretary looks stunning in white. I LOVE ASCP in pure white!!!
    And the graphics are perfection. This is the prettiest transformation!

    ReplyDelete
  7. OH my word....it's gorgeous!! I so love it, and I know you do, too! What a grand idea!
    Suzanne

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wow! I absolutely L.O.V.E it, you did a fantastic job!

    ReplyDelete
  9. oh, she's gorgeous in her new white outfit!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. At first I was "no, not over the beautiful wood"
    but when I saw her I knew you were right ! she looks amazing white and a little distressed, love the claw and ball feet like everyone else, and changing the handles -perfection, I can't visualize like you -you must have great instinct.
    Glad I am not the only one who lost new items before christmas -still need to find where i hid them !

    ReplyDelete
  11. What a beautiful piece, Becca! It is stunning in white. It really makes the glass doors stand out, too. Great project to start of the New Year with!

    ReplyDelete
  12. You did a beautiful job! I am so impressed with how everything pops now! Well done!

    Pam

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wow, that is just beautiful, Becca! She should most definitely approve of her new look -- she is just so striking! Great job!

    Carol

    ReplyDelete
  14. Oh, Oh, Oh....she is a beauty! Love her all dressed up in white! Just gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Beautiful, Becca!!! She looks SO much better and perfect in this spot. Love the graphic too! XO, Pinky

    ReplyDelete
  16. This is to funny of you calling this piece of furniture a she. That is what I call all of my pretty furniture. You did a great job of painting it she really does look gorgeous girl. Love the white and, ohhhh the glass knobs takes her from old and tired to WOW. I just found a Duncan Phife table and six chairs on CL...for free that I am picking up tomorrow. I am going to paint it antique white. Love your table and chairs. Humble Abode

    ReplyDelete
  17. I am soooooo jealous Becca! I have wanted an antique secretary like that for our family room for several years. Yours is beautiful...love the transformation!

    ReplyDelete
  18. wow! It turned out beautiful! I wish I knew how to get that distressed look when I paint something. Maybe you could post a how-to someday :) Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  19. you've been a busy girl! i'm still trying to get my blogging groove back...i think part of my problem is hubby's been on vaca for the last 3 weeks and i'm going nuts! so happy he's going back to work on monday (LOL)! i told him he could never retire!!

    love your secretary. i've always loved them but have never bought one (yet)....i'd have to sell something to fit one in my house.

    xoxo!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Love this piece! And you did a wonderful job with the new paint job! :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Becca-It turned out great! I love it...did you have just a moment of "gulp" before you started painting it? I have such a hard time painting good wood pieces sometimes. This one turned out beautiful, though- xo Diana

    ReplyDelete
  22. She is a beauty! Love the transformation!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Beautiful transformation!
    Hope you have a GREAT weekend!
    Blessings,
    Cindy

    ReplyDelete
  24. That is one AMAZING beautiful piece. I love the added graphic, you are fantastic at these furniture transformations! Happy New Year! XO ~Liz

    ReplyDelete
  25. Becca, "she" is gorgeous! Love the crystal knobs...that was a great touch! You always have such great transformations!! And energy!! Lol!

    ReplyDelete
  26. She is a beauty! Tom would die if I ever came near something like that with paint, but I just love it! Is this where your foyer table was? I am trying to place it!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Beautiful Job, I love the transformation.

    ReplyDelete
  28. A beautiful change from the original.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Oooh - I love it, Becca! I've always wanted a piece like this. You did a great job of giving her a makeover and I love the graphic that you added.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Gorgeous. What a fabulous piece. I love the bowed drawers. Stunning. Hugs, Marty

    ReplyDelete
  31. Wow....a beautiful transformation! Great job! I love your site and all that you post. Keep up the good work.
    K

    ReplyDelete
  32. Just gorgeous, you did a fabulous job on her!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Oh Becca she's a beauty!! LOVE the makeover you gave her! The knobs are perfect and the graphic looks great!! I know your going to have fun changing her up for all the different seasons!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Pretty! I'm jealous. Love her new coat of paint. I've been watching Craig's List forever for a secretary. One of these days!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Okay, normally I am a "don't paint it" but this is just beautiful. I especially love the design on the door. Wonderful job!

    Okay, one of my New Years resolutions is taking the time to leave more notes for my blogging friends! I always read posts in a reader and it makes it hard to leave a comment or two. But I do not miss a post! Love seeing the things you share and your lovely home. I wish I had more time to blog, but I work part time at our local library. I wanted to share with you my new blog, just opened this week.... http://www.brookekroeger.blogspot.com.... it will be for my vingage and digital work... including printables you might enjoy. I also have my home and garden site, http://www.creativecountrymom.blogspot.com. This week I am doing a look back to my spring garden.

    Hope to be able to connect more in this new year. I am spending less time on Facebook and gave up twitter and everything else. A girl needs time to create, decorate and GARDEN ya know!

    God bless....Brooke
    creativecountrymom@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  36. i am inlove I love the inscription on the lid. Beautiful
    XO
    Beverly

    ReplyDelete
  37. Becca...the secretary is gorgeous...you certainly transformed it from ordinary to extraordinary!...The graphic is a fantastic addition...So love it!

    ReplyDelete
  38. This is so perfectly you! Good job and I'm sure it wasn't easy with those panes in the glass. Love the knobs too!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Becca, gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! Love the crystal knobs! You are very brave and talented. Looks amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Very nice, Becca...love how paint just rejuvenates old, boring pieces!

    ReplyDelete
  41. You did a beautiful job Becca! Happy New Year, Jen

    ReplyDelete
  42. Oh goodness, Becca! I love it!! I swoon over anything French Vintage.

    ReplyDelete
  43. what a beauty!! i just love how this turned out. I am featuring on my weekly wow's on saturday.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Great find Becca! Love the script and love the paint job. WooHoo for Craig!!
    xoxo,
    Kim

    ReplyDelete
  45. What a gorgeous piece Becca. I have always admired those pieces. LOVE the graphics too. Happy Friday to you!

    ReplyDelete
  46. Love her new and fresh update. Great transformation.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Becca, I have one very similar that I bought at a consignment store because of the fretwork! I also just finished giving it a makeover. I'll have to post pictures soon. Happy New Year! Keep inspiring us on 2013. :)

    ReplyDelete
  48. I can't even begin to tell you how jealous I am. LOVE this piece and have wanted one just like it for our home too. Lucky lucky you and what you did to it made it all the more fabulous. I think you should share it tonight on BeColorful. :D
    xoxo
    p

    ReplyDelete
  49. She looks a lot better now! Love the glass knobs and the graphic. And of course, you can't go wrong with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint! Love the color choice.

    ReplyDelete
  50. I swear my mother in law had that secretary desk and we sold it when she died. Oh, how I could kick myself now. The trouble is we had no space.

    You did a beautiful job on it.

    ReplyDelete
  51. Awesome...too pretty!!! Loved the white color on it...thanks and keep posting more stuff!!


    fuel injection pipe exporter

    ReplyDelete
  52. That is truly gorgeous. Some how I missed this post. Super job!

    ReplyDelete
  53. Oh Becca I am so jealous!;) I am hunting one down myself. Yours is gorgeous lady!!

    ReplyDelete
  54. Beautiful transformation, love the new look!

    ReplyDelete
  55. Great job! The graphic on the front is really neat.

    ReplyDelete
  56. What a fabulous makeover!! This is so gorgeous. I love your style. I am visiting you from Tuesday Treasures and folloing you as well :)I look forward to seeing you at My Dream Canvas.

    ReplyDelete
  57. You a great job. All those little panes of wood, and the graphics, terrific!
    Nancy
    http://wildoakdesigns.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  58. I have almost the same exact piece. Love what you did with it. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  59. I've been debating whether to do this to our family heirloom. LOVE it SO much!!! You've inspired me to take the plunge ... maybe. Not sure what my mother in law with think, though. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  60. what an amazing transformation! I love the writing you added to it - so pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  61. You already know how much I love this piece! Just wanted to say thanx for parting lady!

    ReplyDelete
  62. The secretary looks fabulous. Does it have the hidden pockets inside on each side of the center door? Some have an open slot on each side. My parents had one with the hidden pockets. Love the ball and claw feet, too.

    Helen

    ReplyDelete
  63. Love her all dressed up in white! Just gorgeous!
    Review AC Contractors

    ReplyDelete
  64. That is gorgeous...Im curious to know how you added the graphics ? Please tell

    ReplyDelete
  65. Stunning and shabby...I love it, Becca. I adore and drool over all your designs. I Simply see myself relaxing in your Serenity Room and the one you did for your parents was a work of art...and that ocean view...wowzer
    hugs

    ReplyDelete
  66. lot of designs you have sharing is very nice, it's so pretty. Thanks
    regards
    Ac repair New Orleans

    ReplyDelete
  67. The things you have to sharing is really very amazing.
    regards
    AC Service Ardmore

    ReplyDelete

I appreciate your comments!