Antiquing An Antique

Going out to antique shops with my mom is one of my favorite hobbies. Fridays are particularly the best. We will go out for lunch and enjoy antique shops out in some of the small towns in our area. Last week, we went to one of our favorites called The Lamb’s Tail in Armada, Michigan. While we were shopping, I came across this charming little stool. I loved the fabric, I loved the aged look, and I thought it would make a nice antique addition to my collection. The only issue for me was the color. There was nothing wrong with the color itself, it just didn’t harmonize well with the other pieces in my home. I decided to change that. Here is a look at the stool before I started to refinish it:

I thought about painting this black, but decided that wouldn’t look right. Then I thought I would paint it white, but white would feel too “clean” for the very aged feel of the fabric on top. Then I remembered that I had some Annie Sloan dark wax that would make the white look very antiqued. I started painting it in the color Original, which is already a creamy white (and actually my favorite white from Annie’s collection).

The dark wax was the key to getting the look of this stool right. I put on a coat of the clear wax first so that the dark wax didn’t stain the paint itself. Afterward, I lathered on the dark wax, layering it in places the stool would naturally show wear and tear. I wiped off the excess and added a hint more in certain areas to build onto that antique effect. This makeover took no time at all and added even more charm and character to this piece.

I should also note, that antique corner hutch is from The Lamb’s Tail as well. We converted it into an entertainment center for our family room. Character and functionality sure are a great combo. I’m telling you, that store has it all (including adorable goats!).

This was a very easy way to change this stool into something that would work well in my home. Sometimes, a quick paint job might be the ticket to making a piece that you like into something you will love. I see a lot of people who pass up beautiful items because they aren’t sure how to make it their own. If it’s something that you can paint over, it might actually be easier than you think. Now, I know that not everyone has access to chalk paint and wax at the drop of a hat. I don’t always either. But, there are so many ways to transform a piece: spray paint, left over paint from other projects around your home, acrylics, and more. Either way, I like to think a little outside the box when shopping for items because I try to remember that while something may look one way when I buy it, it doesn’t mean it has to stay that way. The magic of paint is powerful.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this simple post today. Not all makeovers have to be staggering and grand. Sometimes they are just foot stools getting a little paint job. I feel like sometimes we think that making our homes beautiful requires all new furniture, torn down walls, and massive “before and afters”. While all those things certainly can contribute, I think we often forget that small changes over time are what really define our homes and what they mean to our families most. I hope this inspires you and leaves you encouraged today. Thank you for stopping by!