Haddon Hall Dresser ( French Provincial Makeover )

You have no idea what I went through to get these pics.................
Last week I casually mentioned to John that a lot of people take photographs of their pieces outside - and that I'd wished I could do that since our spaces are small and dark ( ish )

John says - Well why don't we do that then?
John says - It makes perfect sense
Suzan says - Oh - I never wanted to ask you because I figured you'd flip out
John says - Why do you always make me out to look that way?
John says - Just ask - I'll help you - no problem

Phew...................

So I scurried around yesterday to try to have it done before sundown

Trying to beat the clock so quickly that I didn't finish waxing the skirting or one side - it was now or never

Suzan says - John do you think you could help me bring the dresser outside to take photos?
John says WHAT ARE YOU?  CRAZY?
Suzan says - We talked about this last week - you said to just ask  you !
John says - Well I'm in the middle of a show
Suzan says - It's going to get too dark soon
John says - I'M FED UP OF THIS FURNITURE NONSENSE - NOW WE HAVE TO DRAG IT OUTSIDE AND THEN DRAG IT BACK IN???????
Suzan says - You said it made sense to do it !
John says - You always pick the worst moment possible !

But every moment is the worst moment possible - I can't win.

He wouldn't help me carry it to the back - so most of the pics have an ugly asphalt street behind them

John says - You're going to play with your monkey anyway
W.T.H. ???
It takes a moment before I realize he's talking about Pic Monkey

( the blanket is on the top of the dresser because I'm picturing this as a changing table for a nursery )

Suzan says - Do you think you could help me move it away from the street ?
John says - You're kidding me?  Just take your photos and lets get it back in already

But I insisted and he caved.

I ran around frantically while he stood there with his arms folded and tapping his foot..............
S.T.R.E.S.S.
Add that to the fact that I can't take a decent photo to save my life and there you have it - I won't be
" dancing with dressers outdoors " anytime soon.

My favorite part of this makeover is the knobs

I just gave them a quick coat of a metallic paint that I had on hand (with a brush - usually I spray paint them) I love them - I want to do it to every knob and handle I have in the house LOL
Don't they look a little patina ( ish ) ?

I used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint ™ - Paris Grey & Old White................and clear wax
I did a teeny bit more distressing then I normally do

because she just looked like the perfect shabby canadidate

This piece is a Haddon Hall ..........which means it comes from the iconic Canadian EATON'S - a little research told me that they were produced in the mid 50's - and were part of their high end or " Prestigious" line  - a dresser like this would have went for approximately 395.00 in it's day.................big money when you consider that you could buy a house for under 10,000 - but 60 years later it's in incredible shape and will be around another 60 ( and longer ) without a doubt.

I'm pretty certain there's a before pic floating around somewhere in the archives - but I can't find it - and only remembered to take a photo of the last drawer before I painted it as well

Actually it was almost identical to these end tables I made over last year

Just in case you're interested - here's the makeover over of those pieces ( HERE ) these were keepers and are in my bedroom

And that's it - I'm thinking the rest of my furniture makeover photos will be taken indoors............

Except maybe for the next one up !

Which I can't wait to get started !

Have a wonderful Monday everyone
Hugs,
Me


LOOKING FOR INSPIRATION?
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BETWEEN NAPS ON THE PORCH                          SAND & SISAL
A STROLL THRU LIFE                                              CONFESSIONS OF A PLATE ADDICT
AN EXTRAORDINARY DAY                                    MEMORIES BY THE MILE
HOMESTORIES A TO Z                                            FLUSTER BUSTER
SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE                                     MY SALVAGED TREASURES
LAMBERTS LATELY                                                 I GOTTA CREATE
HAVE A DAILY CUP OF MRS OLSON                   NO MINIMALIST HERE
GRACE & GOOD EATS                                     WONDER MOM WANNABE
ANDERSON & GRANT                                      THE CHARM OF HOME
FRENCH COUNTRY COTTAGE                               THE SHABBY ART BOUTIQUE
A GLIMPSE INSIDE                                                   CRAFTBERRY BUSH
MY TURN FOR USl                                                    PATINA PARADISE
THE PIN JUNKIE                                                        THE SHABBY NEST
MISS TOODY GOO SHOES                                      FUNKY JUNK INTERIORS
THE 36TH AVENUE                                                   LIFE ON LAKESHORE DRIVE
IT'S OVERFLOWING                                                 REDHEAD CAN DECORATE
A PINCH OF JOY                                                       WAIT TILL YOUR FATHER GETS HOME
KEEPING IT SIMPLE                                                 CARRIE THIS HOME
ELIZABETH & CO.

A FRIDAY CHAT ( about this & that )

Hey Guys !

It's Friday ! Come in Come in !
I'm bursting at the seams to talk !

Grab a coffee and meet me in the living room

That's NOT the living room - that's the den - did you get lost ?

It isn't normal how often we get lost EVEN USING A GPS !
Does this happen to everyone ?
We put our complete faith in her and she fails us.  Often.
John refuses to ask for directions.............it's a man thing that I will never understand.
Once when we were driving around in circles a couple of years ago - I flung my head out the window at a red light and begged the driver next to us for help - but before he could answer the light turned green and John sped off - yelling at me that he knew where he was.............................
That wasn't what I was worried about - it was where we were going that he had no idea about.
_________________________________________________________________________________

Which reminds me of an incident many many years ago.................teenage years to be precise.
I REALLY shouldn't be sharing this story because you're all going to think I was some kind of hoodlum but the truth of the matter is I DID have a couple of hoodlum moments. ( and a couple of hoodlum friends - nothing huge - just silly teenage pranks really )

Like breaking and entering.

I remember one winter night - there was a gang of us out - probably 9 or 10 of us - and it was freezing.
Montreal kind of freezing which is the worst kind in North America I think.
Anyway - one of the guys in the group decided to jimmy the lock on a garage door of a high rise building and we all scurried inside to get warm - like a pack of rats actually.
No sooner had we " busted in the joint " then the janitor appeared - I swear we were in there for no more than 3 minutes.
Everybody took off - except for yours truly - I stood there frozen in terror ( you wouldn't want me as your getaway driver I can tell you that )  He marched me upstairs to his office where he promptly called the police - who promptly sent a PADDY WAGON - talk about overkill.
I had a couple of Shawshank Redemption moments - frantically wondering how I was going to escape - but ultimately gave in to the men in blue..............I sat looking out the back window as my friends threw snowballs at the vehicle slowly bringing me to the police station - snowflakes gently falling from the sky ( where else would they be falling from ? )  & teardrops not so gently falling from my cheeks in anticipation of my impending incarceration.

They made me empty my pockets upon entering the police station - and brought me into a room where I was certain the torture was going to begin ( I quickly gave them my rank and number )

Who's idea was this - they asked
Mine - I replied
( as much as you wouldn't want me as your getaway driver - I'm fiercely loyal )
We don't believe you - they said
I shrugged my shoulders - ( sort of like - do what you want with me - I'm not talking )
Anyway after 30 minutes or so of this - I heard my Mother walking into the station.

HORRORS !
This terrified me more than the police - I still don't get that to this day - but remember I was ( am ) an overly dramatic actress person.

We got in the car and she decided to take me for a drive ( I suppose for a talk - except she wasn't talking ) along the LAKESHORE !!!
And for some reason I was convinced she was going to throw me in the river.
That's it - she was done with me - when we stopped at a red light - I slowly turned my head over to face the driver beside us - and mouthed HELP ME - PLEASE ............

My Mother caught me and burst out laughing -

Mom says - You're acting like I'm going to throw you in the river !!!

Personally? I think she changed her mind because that man would have been a witness after all ( once they plastered my pics all over the paper in my apparent " accidental " drowning )

So wherever he is today - he saved my life.
And I'm eternally grateful.
If he hadn't pulled up at that exact moment - oh I just shudder to think of it all.
Like Blanche DuBois - I've always relied on the kindness of strangers.....................
________________________________________________________________________________

Since Ashley's ready to deliver at any moment - and the call display is broken on my phone - I've taken to answering it like this

HELLO !!!!!???????!!!!!!!!!!??????????

John says - Why the hell are you screaming?
Suzan says - I keep thinking it might be Ashley
John says - And if it is?  You're going to scare the hell out of her
Suzan says - Well I'm terrified of the call myself to be honest with you
Suzan says - I have everything ready
John says - What on earth do you need to have ready?????
Suzan says - Well I've got clothes on the chair to slip into in case it's the middle of the night - a toothbrush - a sweater too - hospitals are cold
John says - YOU'RE NOT GIVING BIRTH !!!!!!!!!
John says - Where are you going ?
Suzan says - I need to put deodorant in there too !
_________________________________________________________________________________

The Duggars :

From PEOPLE MAGAZINE

In their own 2014 advice book, Growing Up Duggar, four of the Duggar daughters – including Jill, 24, and Jessa, 22 – shared that the family has a code word, "Nike," to help the men avoid lustful thoughts if an attractive woman crosses their path. 

"That's a signal to the boys, and even to Dad, that they should nonchalantly drop their eyes and look down at their shoes as we walk past her," they wrote. 

Says the Duggar family source: "They say it, and all the boys look straight down to the floor every time. It's like an automatic military thing. Things like that blow my mind." 

WELL..........................

Either Josh didn't have the word NIKE ! screamed at him enough...............or they should have switched brands - maybe Reebok or Adidas would have had more of an impact?

If John started screaming out Manolo or Jimmy Choo - every time we went out walking - I'd simply run past him to the nearest shoe store and buy a pair.
It wouldn't stop me from anything that's for sure.

And it most certainly does not stop a sexual deviant.
Obviously.
_________________________________________________________________________________

Someone ( hi Cathy ) asked why I didn't show my home on my I WANNA live there series -
Well the answer is it's nowhere near ready.
And the thought crossed my mind -
THAT corner's kind of nice
THOSE ornaments are sweet
THIS section looks amazing
But when you put them all together you wonder when on earth it's ever going to be finished.

Suzan says - It's like we're living in a cluster of vignettes !
Johns ays - A cluster of what- what's?
Suzan says - Vignettes - they're all over the place but nothing's finished  ( phew that was a close one - I almost typed THERE instead of THEY'RE - and then what on earth would you think of me? )
John says - What the hell is a vignette ?
Suzan says - I KEEP telling you what it is
John says - I don't remember - and I don't know if I like living in a cluster of them
John says - Is it shoes ?

I wanted to scream out NIKE just to see if he'd put his head down.............but I bit my tongue - because there ARE clusters of shoes everywhere.
_________________________________________________________________________________

I'm trying really hard to cut back on meat...............( thanks to my Vegan daughter ) so we've been eating it only 2 days a week ( give or take 4 days )
It's been surprisingly effortless.
One of our " meat " nights last week was chicken .
I HATE cleaning chicken or turkey.  I always end up queasy doing it - ( since forever )

Suzan says - I hate preparing poultry
John says - Well you're very good at it
Suzan says - At what?  Preparing it or cooking it?
John says - Huh?
Suzan says - Well you said I'm good at it - doesn't make any sense
John says - I DON'T MAKE SENSE?  YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT POETRY OR NOT?

Rose are Red - Violets are Blue
I could throw poultry ( or maybe a shoe ? )
Right where he's sitting ( or in that direction )
( but it would be done with the greatest affection )
_________________________________________________________________________________

Once we were in Paris at one of the trade shows................and one of our New York clients asked me what I thought about George Bush.

I'm going to call the client Michael - ( not his name )
A Big Wig buyer ...................

Suzan says - No way Michael - I'm not getting into politics with you
Michael says - Why not?  I'm curious what others - outside the States -  think of him
Suzan says - You'd better ask someone else - I'm not going there.
Michael says - You're being a little paranoid, don't you think?
Suzan says - I'm NOT mixing business and politics Michael - no way - you may as well stop asking me

We sat - me showing him fabric - him glancing up between looking and asking over and over again

Michael says - How fragile do you think I am for God's Sakes?  I'm very liberal minded - I'm not going to fall apart here.
Suzan says - OK !  I'LL TELL YOU - I DON'T LIKE HIM !

We never got another order from the company again.
Ever.

Fragile?
Nah - no way was he fragile.
Spiteful - maybe.

Can't people be of 2 different minds and be friends anymore?
Why is everything so divisive now?

Anyway - I'm at the point where I hate them all equally today.  I don't know what's left or right - can't we all meet somewhere in the middle ?  Because that's where I stand - somewhere down the middle of the line
( now that I'm middle aged )  At the end of the day isn't it ok that I like him and you like her?  The " twain " doesn't have to meet on every single topic, does it?
_________________________________________________________________________________

There was another time ( the show after the one where Michael dropped us ) when one of the mills we represented took clients out on a boat cruise on the Sienne..................again these were big NYC clients - even bigger than Michael's - one of them took a liking to me.  Very casual flirting but it was making me uncomfortable.
He followed me around for 2 hours. - he showed up at the booth the next day and hung around - dropping little tidbits of information - like how much his family was worth.

Well isn't that nice for you - I said
It could be very nice for you too Suzan - he replied.

I was beside myself - kept telling him to go hang around someone else -

John says - Well don't lose this customer on us too for God's sakes !
Suzan says - WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU WANT ME TO DO - SPEND A WEEKEND WITH HIM???

( Now keep in mind at the time we were in Manhattan on a monthly basis ............so a weekend jaunt wasn't as appealing as - let's say - oh I don't know - a client in Barcelona perhaps?
This story may have had a complete different outcome LOL )

That man called me every week for 6 months -
Without fail.
Every single week.

When the calls stopped so did the orders.

There's a lot of game playing in business..................and if you're a player I suppose you could really reap the rewards.
We had 2 choices - either cut back on business - or I become a floozy.
I know, I know - we should have cut back on business .................

Had you going for a sec didn't I ?

My virtue stayed in tact - our finances didn't LOL

But it's ok - I'll stay at home and play scrabble with my Man any day of the week.
Sometimes I even give him a hundred point advantage.
And if that's not loving him.........................

There's not a man today who could take me away ( except for Anthony Bourdain but that's a whole other post ) .....................
_________________________________________________________________________________

You all have the most wonderful of weekend's
Love to you all
Me

A HUTCH MAKEOVER !

Good morning everyone !

Today I'm going to be a woman of few words..............because my brain is so tired I can't think of anything to say ( sometimes that's a good thing )

So here's the " story " of a hutch - or china cabinet - makeover - in pictures.

Meet Mrs. Calabash.

I was asked if I could switch out the mirrored back for bead board - so I decided to weather it to go with all the sanded edges on the piece - an old worn look

First I painted a quick coat of graphite in all the grooves and along the perimeters of the grooves

next I applied a coat of Paris Grey - making sure to leave some of the Graphite showing through

A " wash " of Old White ( half paint half water ) was then applied over the grey 

Then quickly wiped into the paint ( I only do 2 sections of the bead board at a time because this dries very quickly ) 

Here it is in place

I also bought an applique because although the doors have pretty picture molding - the drawer was plain

Painted the lower interior with Paris Grey

Then I sanded all the edges -

Another small change I made was putting the fretwork on the inside of the glass - it was on the outside and I can't imagine how annoying that must have been to clean !  The interior would stay cleaner than the exterior so it makes more sense, right?

The handles were " sprainted " in a pewter grey - and she's done !

The shelves are glass - so Robbie ( the owner ) kept them at her house - which is a shame because I wanted to stage this piece :)

Now I'll tell you...........this piece gave me a couple of nightmares with bleed through.- shellac - shellac and more shellac.  And the beadboard on the back?  Well first I bought beadboard wallpaper - and did a crappy job so had to scrape it all off.  OMG - it was the type where you have to apply paste and that paste? N.I.G.H.T.M.A.R.E. to get off !

Then John measured the back and went off to buy beadboard.

EXCEPT HE DIDN'T BOTHER TO WRITE DOWN THE DIMENSIONS OF EACH SIDE.

So when he came home

John says - The guy who cuts at Home Depot made a mistake

Suzan says - What do you mean?

John says - It's too short in height and too wide in width..............

You know where this is going right?

John says - What an idiot - I gave him the exact measurements !

Suzan says - Did you have it marked as the cuts going the right way?

John says - WHAT DOES THAT MATTER?

Suzan says - Well if you didn't - then the height would be too short and the width would be too wide.............

He stormed out the door to buy another piece - and this time gave the cutter the right measurements.

So wallpaper - and 2 sheets of beadboard were purchased to get this piece done :)

But baby, look at her now !

( doesn't she look like a " flasher " with her doors open ? ) 

Here she is lit up

Here she is with a wreath hanging on her ( hey - I took approximately 100 pics - you have to let me post more than is necessary !) 

And the most important pic of all?

Here she is when she walked into my " office " for a facelift !

You've got to scrape a little ♪
Paint a little  ♫
Work until you faint ( a little )   ♫ ♪
That's the story of - that's the glory of love  ♫

You've got to plotz a little  ♪
Weep a little ♫
And lose a whole lotta sleep ( a little ) ♫ ♪
That's the story of - that's the glory of love ♫

As long as there's a tin or two ♫
I've got a brush and my two hands ♫
So when the world is through with them ♫ ♪
I can give them one more chance ♪

You've got to sand a little ♪
Up the stakes a little ♫
Wax 'til your hand breaks (a little ) ♫ ♪
That's the story of - that's the glory of love. ♪

You've got to stage a little ♫
Rage a little ♫ ♪
Watch each piece make you age ( a little ) ♪
That's the story of - that's the glory of love ♫

I LOVE what I do

AND I LOVE THIS PIECE !

( you've got to nag a little - sag a little - and every now and then brag a little ...............)

For someone who didn't have a lot to say - I never shut up once during this post
Don't come by on a day when I actually have something to say - you'll be sorry !

Have a wonderful day everyone ♥
I'm working on another piece as soon as I get off this computer :)

In the meantime you can listen to this version.................
Take it away Mr. Durante !



Goodnight Mrs Calabash..............wherever you are.
Hugs
Me


LOOKING FOR INSPIRATION?
JOIN ME AT THESE FOLLOWING PARTIES!

THE CHARM OF HOME                                    FRENCH COUNTRY COTTAGE
THE SHABBY ART BOUTIQUE                        TOO MUCH TIME ON MY HANDS
DESIGN DINING & DIAPERS                   MY TURN FOR US
THE PIN JUNKIE                                               PATINA PARADISE
THE SHABBY NEST                                          THE CRAFTED SPARROW
LITTLE MISS CELEBRATION                          THE 36TH AVENUE
VINTAGE PAINT & MORE                       LIFE ON LAKESHORE DRIVE
REDHEAD CAN DECORATE                           DWELLINGS THE HEART OF YOUR HOME
BECOMING MARTHA                                      KEEPING IT SIMPLE
BETWEEN NAPS ON THE PORCH                 SAND & SISAL
A STROLL THRU LIFE                                     CONFESSIONS OF A PLATE ADDICT
AN EXTRAORDINARY DAY                           MEMORIES BY THE MILE
HOMESTORIES A TO Z                                    FLUSTER BUSTER
SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE                             MY SALVAGED TREASURES
HAVE A DAILY CUP OF MRS. OLSON         I GOTTA CREATE
NO MINIMALIST HERE                                   LAMBERTS LATELY
THE DEDICATED HOUSE                                GRACE & GOOD EATS
WONDER MOM WANNABE                           ANDERSON & GRANT
TIP JUNKIE                                                        REMODELAHOLIC

I WANNA live there Wednesday # 135

Good morning all !

I found a site - oh wow - did I find a site !

These houses are not for sale - they're used for films !

( how many sentences can I end with an exclamation point? Probably a full post's worth ! )

All images are from JJ LOCATIONS and may just be my new favorite site to visit - you have to check them out .........

There are too many to count - and they're all gorgeous - but here's one I particularly loved !

They're a little mixed up in order ( this is not a real estate listing after all ) just serious house candy !

There's another one I'm drooling over but it'll have to be another time :)

You all have a wonderful Wednesday everyone !
Hugs,
Me


LOOKING FOR INSPIRATION?
JOIN ME AT THESE FABULOUS PARTIES !

HAVE A DAILY CUP OF MRS. OLSON                        NO MINIMALIST HERE
LIVE LAUGH ROWE                                                       THE CHARM OF HOME
FRENCH COUNTRY COTTAGE                                    THE SHABBY ART BOUTIQUE
TOO MUCH TIME ON MY HANDS                              DESIGN DINING & DIAPERS
MY TURN FOR US                                                         LITTLE MISS CELEBRATOIN
VINTAGE PAINT & MORE                                     LIFE ON LAKESHORE DRIVE
DWELLINGS THE HEART OF YOUR HOME               BECOMING MARTHA
BETWEEN NAPS ON THE PORCH                               SAND & SISAL
CONFESSIONS OF A PLATE ADDICT                        A STROLL THRU LIFE
MEMORIES BY THE MILE                                            AN EXTRAORDINARY DAY
FLUSTER BUSTER                                                         SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE