Plan B

So sometimes, things just don't go the way you've planned.  Do you know what I mean?  You have this vision and when you try to actualize it...well, it just doesn't look anything like the picture in your head.  That's what happened to me recently with this tray table.  When I saw this piece, with it's simple clean lines and dark brown finish, I had a plan.  Well, long story short, this piece started out as a rough coat of Old White with plenty of the dark wood showing through and a stencil...gone wrong.


Well, what to do?  I know!  That great new color I just bought, Florence! So I was "off to the races," again!

I decided to distress this table.  I just love the juxtaposition of the clean, more modern lines of the table, with the well-worn look that the distressing suggests...as though this table has been around forever.  I think that makes it a very interesting piece.  

Surprise!  Turns out that my little "mistake" added another layer of color and dimension to the finished look.  I love that!  Well, maybe Plan B isn't so bad after all!

 Of course, this table would be great as a sofa table or a foyer table with a couple of lamps and some favorite treasures.  

But I thought the tray- top of this piece, made it perfect as a serving piece.  Here, I have set it up as a 'bar" for serving wine.  This table is simple and lightweight, which also makes it very versatile.  It can be moved around and used for any number of purposes. 

Tip:  When having guests over for an event, consider rearranging your furniture for better seating and conversation.  Repurpose pieces, like this table, to serve a new function.  This could be a wine, an appetizer or a dessert station.  Pull up a couple of chairs and it could even serve as extra table seating, in a pinch. 

That's what creativity is all about.  There is always more than one way to do something.  Think outside of the box!   Use your stuff in new ways!  Move it around! Don't be too stiff!  Be flexible!  That's what I had to do with this design.  This is also true of life in general.  Sometimes you just have to shake things up!  Sometimes Plan B offers something even more interesting, exciting and unexpected! 

The "Write" Way to Repurpose a Drawer!

 Recently I purchased two drawers, that had somehow become separated from their proper home, so that I could use the attached hardware for another project.  One day I was  looking at these old drawers trying to think of another use for them because I absolutely hate to waste things and I really love to repurpose things!  Repurposing is the act of using something in a different way than it was originally designed to be used.  This is one of my favorite ways to decorate, too!  It's always interesting to see functional pieces used in new ways.  Think industrial carts with metal wheels turned into coffee tables.  It adds a dynamic, surprising twist to your decor.  It's so fun to create something that is "one of a kind!"



I decided to turn them into organizational storage trays.  I thought that they could be used to store all those smaller scrapbooking, sewing or craft supplies together.  That way they could be tucked away in a closet or cabinet and then easily pulled out when it's time to work with them.  I added a chalkboard front so that they can be labeled and two handles on the sides for easy carrying.  

 

I thought they were just adorable and I realized that they would be great as serving trays as well.  Imagine bringing your child's cupcakes to school with the message "Happy Birthday!" on the front.  They would be great at those potluck dinners because you could write the name of the dish on the front, rather than answer the question "what is this?" over and over again.  At a buffet style dinner, they add charm and an interesting design element.  They could be incorporated into a beautiful tablescape to showcase the season, for example in the fall you could fill it with gourds, pumpkins, fall leaves and pine cones.  Finish it off with a message like "Happy Thanksgiving" or "I am Grateful."  Imagine all the ways that you could use one!

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Passions Ignite

I just recently discovered my newest passion.  Painting once loved, but now neglected, abandoned or forgotten items to give them a new, fresh beginning.  Some call it "upcycling," but whatever you call it, it's better for the planet to reuse perfectly good items, rather than haul them to the dump.  Not to mention, better for your pocketbook!  Many of us "well meaning" folk bring our outdated and unstylish items to our local charities for donation, hoping they will find a new home.  It's kind of like the "island for misfit decor."  You need vision and a sense of adventure to sort through those cluttered shelves. I've always loved the hunt for that perfect little treasure that will solve some organizational problem, or fill some empty gap or need in my house, but often the finish or the color of an item prevents me from using it as I'd like. 

As the new year dawned, I found myself contemplating all of the unfinished projects that I still hadn't gotten around to doing.  I had several pieces of furniture that I had been putting off painting.  A conversation with my mother, who is a decorative painter, clued me in about a new paint that was perfect for furniture.  It's a European paint and wax system called Annie Sloan Chalk Paint that results in a beautiful finish and is especially perfect for those french country distressed pieces.  It sounded too good to be true, but I had to try it out.  I attended a workshop at a faux finishing studio to learn some finishes to use with these products and came home ready to jump right in.  This new endeavor combined my love of decorating, creative play, restyling, repurposing, and thrifting, and it's good for my home, my budget and the earth!  Imagine that!  I was so excited about the possibilities!

So now all I needed was a project to get me started.  I wanted to start with something small and inexpensive, before I tackled my daughter's furniture.  I found these great little candlesticks at a local thrift store.  I loved the shape, but I was not crazy about the color. 

 A fresh coat of paint, some wax, and a little sanding to distress and voila!

A beautiful vignette to show off my latest creations!