Hey guys, Kelly again.
If you follow me on instagram you know I’m all about the projects … and while I’d classify most of them in the last two years as maintenance or building oriented as we get properties up to #kellyapproved snuff, I’ve found time to get a little more creative and wanted to share my new thing. You see I’m become quite the dumpster diver … or as my good friend Chrissy termed it something that sounded a lot more eloquent which I wish I could remember. I haven’t actually had to dive though … 
I spend as much time at what those in the US would call a lake house, summer home or cabin and in the Canadian east we call a cottage. My husband and I work remotely so have the luxury of extending “the season” on both ends, spring and fall, and do a lot of long weekends when I’m not permanently parked at my family cottage, Club F, on the island. The point in telling you this is that we go in/out of a marina with two HUGE dumpsters where the islanders ditch their garbage and it’s common courtesy, and good measure, to leave things you don’t want but others may outside those bins. And I’ve gotten SO good at it, its entirely predictable to when I’m going to get a good score. My first real score was when we took household waste over for a break while building the bar for our wedding and nabbed 3 perfectly fine swivel barstools that had this retro vibe but were comfortable. The plan of course was to repaint and recover their white croc-esqued vinyl seats and we actually came to fall in love with them so just replaced the feet so they’d be sturdy.
Now i’ve got my eyes peeled every which way I go and am that chic riffling through other people’s junk but MAN are there scores to be had. Just because you don’t want it anymore doesn’t mean something else does — and probably me lol. Of course, I have no room for any of this (so need to move to a bigger place) but I’m accumulating just in case. I’m so addicted it’s become like m favorite sport. Case in point – a house under renovation in a nearby town; I originally scored these two awesome lamps which I still can’t make up my mind about repainting/shading and have time because I literally have no place to hang them! It’s a town en route into the cottage, and my husband kills himself laughing every time I don’t intentionally do a drive-by this big old stately home under construction; it’s gotten to be such an issue I don’t even know I’m doing it ..the car just literally makes the turn!
Anyhow low and behold one of my favorite new sports is the score at the Restore aka the Habitat for Humanity Restore. Not only am I stacking them up next to each other, purposely visiting new towns to see if theirs is any good (and I have yet to find one that BEATS the Muskoka one FYI -must be the 100 year old + cottage supply) but also to see just what a bargain I could get (feels so much better that it’s for charity too!). Earlier this year I happened to be in there on a Friday (lord knows why) and my iPhone battery literally went from 95% to out of juice in 20 minutes thanks to the pictures I was trying to send my mom for a second opinion. News to me that the next day was their annual fall blowout where its 50% off day (yes of course it’s in my calendar for next year!) … I couldn’t believe the selection but thankfully the finishing touches were in place on a brand new garage that was intended for boats not random furniture that had no future home! I don’t have to tell you how the rest of the story went or the eye rolls I got from my husband and his father when I backed the truck up to bay 2 lol. So full I just barely fit my mom in the front seat but she loved riding like this for 45 mins 🙂
In the lot was a dresser and mirror, an oddly colored green vintage mirror and a yellow sided dresser with blue wallpaper striped top that “go together” despite me begging the staff at the Restore to just sell me the dresser! The vintage green mirror magically found the perfect home already (must have been Benjamin Moore paint color of 1936 because it matches grandma’s dresser in one of the cottage bedrooms which I always think is such a random color perfectly!). Today I’m embarking on transforming the dresser …or at least getting it started! Hit play to see exactly what I’m dealing with here
Despite being called “ambitious” by the 80+ year old bird in the restore upon checkout I’m so excited about this makeover, particularly because I hooked up with the Chalk Paint expert, yes the legend that is Annie Sloan, and am taking cues from the world’s leading expert in decorative painting!
I’ve seen chalk paint but never used it; for those not familiar eco-friendly paint formula that sticks to ANYTHING without the need for priming or sanding. I should tell you I just learned how to properly paint and get rid of popcorn ceilings this summer (that was a whole other island makeover story!) so expanding my repertoire to furniture excites me greatly, especially without “proper prep”. While I will be giving the dresser a light sand to get rid of any evidence of the past lives and the super weird sticky paper top, knowing that its going to be short and sweet is all the better.
Annie sent over this stunning color card and let me tell you the decisions weren’t that easy but white never fails and teal is my favorite so I got to two quickly. That being said when the paint and wax arrived there was a pic of this amazing grey/white dresser and now i’m re-thinking the colors/design but! The plan is to put this in one of the guest rooms on the island cottage … and i’m already worried that i’m going to fall in love and that will go by the wayside when we re-open it in the spring; you’ll have to stay tuned to see what transpires on final destination.
Annie also sent these brushes that are unlike anything I’ve ever seen. I mean this young lady has been at it since I was born so obviously knows whats best, but check them out – wondering how on earth these fat, thick brushes will even get in the paint can in the first place but I trust the guru. As I just eluded to she sent a GORGEOUS book alongside and I feel as though I seriously need to study it rather than my winging-it mindset. November in the Northeast is always an iffy weather month and we close the cottage mid month so if I can’t find a sunny day I’ll pick it up in the spring giving me plenty of time to study the technique (and maybe check back on The Complete Book of Decorative Paint Techniques i.e. the painted furniture bible, which she wrote back in ’87 too!). If all else fails I’ll be looking for a workshop around me which you can do too!
Earlier this month Annie launched her 25th book to commemorate her tenure in this field which we’re also DYING to read … more of a journal or workbook it even comes with pocketed dividers and plenty of blank space for notes, experiments, samples, and swatches! If this drags out over the winter this might be my godsend (I can barely remember what I was thinking yesterday you see!)
As she says “I use a workbook to sketch ideas for a new piece of furniture, for pattern making and color combinations with paint, and to note down thoughts, as well as to have a book to feel interested in. I carry it around with me so that I’m always ready to draw something or jot down ideas.” Now you can too!
I’ll be periscoping live tomorrow afternoon (EST) as I segway from spray paint to the real deal, decorative paint, dresser makeover. Be sure to follow Remote Stylist and set your scope notification to join in on the fun. If left on my own it could be one very scary Halloween day indeed 🙂
Cheers,
Kelly
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