A Win/Win Situation

First, a confession: I left this primitive chest project unfinished for WAAAY too long. Sometimes, I do that. 

I move on to the next thing before finishing something completely. I'm not proud of that character flaw.

And here is my cabinet, just as I bought it at a garage sale. (Well, minus a half a hasp that got bent when it fell out of the back of a truck, but that's another story.)

I love green, and this paint had lots of character - alligatoring, patina, etc. I used it this way for several years.

Then, I decided to lighten things up in my house, and I wanted to use this cabinet in my living room. I painted it white - using flat oil-based Rustoleum. 

While I liked the pristine white look, I didn't feel this piece, with all its character, was quite right in perfect white paint.

It almost seemed like I was trying to hide the character and pretend the scars didn't exist. I was cogitating, trying to figure out what I might do about it, when something happened: 

I dropped a can of black onyx stain, which splashed onto the pristine cabinet. (Yes, I am a klutz as well as a procrastinator.)

As I wiped it off, I sort of liked the way it looked. So I began covering the piece in stain and wiping it off. 

Then the unthinkable happened; I ran out of stain. After all, I had just spilled a considerable amount of my can. 

Simple - just go to the store and buy another can of stain, right? Don't ask me why, but it didn't happen. 

The half-baked cabinet sat there in my living room - a little reminder of my character flaws that greeted me every time I walked in my front door. 

I pretended it was intentional - the splotchy state of this primitive chest. I pretended it was "character."

Finally, I'd had enough. I grabbed the palm sander and went to work on it. After all, I could always slap more paint on if I didn't like the results. 

I liked what was happening beneath the sander!

Hello, alligator. Nice to see you again.

Same for you, Mr. Green.

Good bye, splotches. Hello, hand-hewn character.
Why didn't I take an hour and do this months ago?

I get to keep the alligator paint and character, along with little green reminders of the past. And I get a white piece of furniture. (BONUS - it holds my "waiting for the next season" living room decor.) 

That, my friends, is what I call a win/win situation!

Word for the Day:
2 John 1:8

Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.

Linking With
Sunday
http://www.twiggstudios.com	Sunday Show-off Link Party
http://www.niftythriftythings.com/	Nifty Thrifty Sunday
http://southernhospitalityblog.com	Thrifty Treasures
Monday
http://betweennapsontheporch.net	Metamorphosis Monday
http://modvintagelife.blogspot.com	Mod Mix Monday
http://westfurniturerevival.blogspot.com	Revival Monday
http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/	Masterpiece Monday
http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com	Make it Pretty Monday
Tuesday
http://www.knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com/	Vintage Inspiration Tuesday
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/	Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
http://www.cedarhill-ranch.com/	The Scoop
http://farmhouseporch.blogspot.com/	The Scoop
Wednesday
http://www.timewashed.com	Blissfully White Wednesday
http://micheleravendesigns.blogspot.com/	Primp Your Stuff Wed
http://restoreinteriors.blogspot.com/	Restored it Wednesday
http://savvysouthernstyle.net/	Wow Us Wednesday
http://www.notjustahousewife.net/	Show Me What Ya Got
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/	What’s it Wednesday
http://www.thethriftyhome.com/	Penny Pinching Party
Thursday
http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/	Under $100 Link Party
http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/	Transformation Thursday
http://staceyembracingchange.blogspot.com/	Inspired Creations
http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/	Thursday Open House Party
http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/	Time Travel Thursday
http://www.jannolson.blogspot.com/	Share Your Cup Thursday
Friday
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/	Feathered Nest Friday
http://www.missmustardseed.blogspot.com/	Furniture Feature Friday
http://redoux.blogspot.com/	Friday Redoux Link Party
http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/	Frugal Friday
http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com	Vintage Inspiration Friday
http://homespunhappenings-tammy.blogspot.com	Rustic Restorations Weekend
http://www.decoratinginsanity.com/	Furniture Friday
http://www.remodelaholic.com/	Fridays on Remodelaholic
http://www.jenniferrizzo.com/	Fabulously Creative Friday
http://www.findingfabulousblog.com/	Frugalicious Friday
http://www.delicateconstruction.com/	Delicately Constructed Friday
http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com/	Flaunt it Friday
http://vintageinteriorblogs.blogspot.com/	Weekend
Saturday
http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/	Saturday Nite Special
http://too-much-time.com	Get Schooled Saturday
http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/	Show and Tell Saturday

Modern/Vintage Mantel for Spring/Summer

Mantel-scaping has become one of my favorite ways to change seasons.

I enjoy integrating new objects, and sometimes giving myself guidelines that remind me of old college design projects. This mantel is one of those.

My assignment: Create a minimalized mantel, using shades of white, and incorporate a collection of modern vases into the existing industrial/elegant/cottage themed room.

So far, this was my easiest mantel display to date.

More amazingly, I haven't tweaked it once since Saturday!

I even had time to add another element: the firebox.

Yes, the firebox.

Here's a peek from across the room:

I saw this done somewhere, but I can't remember where. Doing this enabled me to empty the primitive cabinet of books, and fill it with some decorative items I wanted to rest until another season. 

If the hearth is the heart of the home, this is an interesting way to renew it for summer, don't you think? 

Here's Another shot of the whole mantel, before the books.

This mantel is a pretty good example of using asymmetrical symmetry.

Which means balanced, but not exactly the same on both sides when you divide it in the center.

I'm continuing the modern/vintage, new with old theme throughout the room. I still have some tweaking to do on the shelves that flank the mantel. More on that later!

Word for the Day:
Psalm 51:10

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Linking With
Sunday
http://southernhospitalityblog.com	Thrifty Treasures
http://www.twiggstudios.com	Sunday Show-off Link Party
Monday
http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/	Masterpiece Monday
http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com	Make it Pretty Monday
http://modvintagelife.blogspot.com	Mod Mix Monday
Tuesday
http://www.knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com/	Vintage Inspiration Tuesday
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/	Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
http://cedarhill-ranch.com	The Scoop
http://farmhouseporch.blogspot.com/	The Scoop
http://www.astrollthrulife.net/ http://cityfarmhouse.com/	Inspire Me Tuesday Inspiration Exchange Linky Party
Wednesday
http://savvysouthernstyle.net/	Wow Us Wednesday
http://www.timewashed.com	Blissfully White Wednesday
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/	What’s it Wednesday
http://micheleravendesigns.blogspot.com/	Primp Your Stuff Wed
Thursday
http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/	Thursday Open House Party
http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/	Time Travel Thursday
http://frommyfrontporchtoyours.blogspot.com/	Treasure Hunt Thursday
http://www.jannolson.blogspot.com/	Share Your Cup Thursday
Friday
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/	Feathered Nest Friday
http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com/	Potpourri Friday
http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/	Frugal Friday
http://www.jenniferrizzo.com/	Fabulously Creative Friday
http://www.atthepicketfence.com/	Inspiration Friday
http://homespunhappenings-tammy.blogspot.com	Rustic Restorations Weekend
http://vintageinteriorblogs.blogspot.com/	Weekend
Saturday
http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/	Saturday Nite Special
http://too-much-time.com	Get Schooled Saturday