We could also subtitle this “A Failed DIY Redeemed” or even “The World’s Longest Project” or possibly “When Things Finally Go Right” but let’s back way up first….
My grandmother was a “collector” of just about everything. We’ll leave it at that for today but when she passed away there was a lot of her “collection” that needed a new home. You also need to know that my grandfather was the biggest giver of all time so if you voiced anything positively about something he would immediately say “take it with you!” no matter how big or small it was. A jar of pickles? “Take it with you!” A tractor? “Take it with you!” He was happier for you to have anything than to hold onto it for himself.
So this is how I came to have this secretary. I loved this secretary in every way. It was exactly what I needed in our old house for the guest room and I treasured it and still do. But when we moved, even though we gained a whole extra room, it didn’t quite fit. I put it in my office but as that space evolved, it worked less. It was a beautiful piece as is but just not right for me.
Let me just get this out there. In case any of you are new here, I have no issue in painting a piece of furniture, even a legit antique, to make it work in your home. Some things I would never touch (I.e. my kitchen table) but most are fair game. The furniture you use and enjoy are the best pieces, period. So I got overly ambitious one day when Tripp was in preschool (please note how long ago this was!) and “experimented” with a revolutionary milk paint that required no sanding, prep, etc. I’m sure it’s a lovely product but it did not work for me that day. I think I didn’t get the consistency right but everything was wrong… not to mention I ran out and didn’t want to order more so I left it for years. (I did clean things up a bit from what this picture indicates, but. i can't find a picture so you'll just have to take my word for it)
As my office evolved, I needed the floor space more that the half painted secretary and we moved it out to the garage “temporarily.” I think I even said “We’ll give it a few months then I’ll find a home.” Oops that was years ago.
But recently I saw a few old pictures with the piece in the background that proved it wasn’t just something she grabbed and stuck back (see above COLLECTOR), it was something she used and had in a place of honor in the middle of all the family times. And I made the decision that it is something I really want to keep. And if I’m going to keep it it needs to be in a place I can use it.
But this presented two major problems:
- Where would it go? Open floor plan and plenty of furniture already mean there wasn’t a great spot
- How would I fix my terrible half paint job?
So it sat for a bit longer, as I tend to do. But as I started seeing our home differently, I wanted a little more color sprinkled in and our bedroom needed just that. And the second I saw this new Dixie Belle Paint Color (available at the Eagleville Mercantile!) it was a done deal in my mind. As soon as the paint was in stock, I purchased it and started to think about how would erase my previous paint mistakes.
I would like to tell you that this finish is perfect and I made no mistakes but that’s not me. I had a few hours without something do to one Saturday after a busy week and decided to just “test” how it would cover. I know this paint is good and can cover a multitude of sins, but I was shocked at how smoothly it went over my exceptionally bad mistakes. So I kept painting. Painting, and falling more deeply in love with a piece of furniture while listening to Dale Jr. That was my Saturday.
The next week I searched if just maybe there was a coordinating wallpaper to our William Morris bedding pattern and it was on sale for Prime Days and the rest is history.
I love the original, handmade antique piece we had in our bedroom. Robb surprised me with her years ago and she’s lived in many rooms of our home. But because the secretary fits the scale of the ceilings better and really gives us more good closed storage, the other piece is going up the the bonus room and we’ll get rid of a cheaper metal shelf. Every space is getting an upgrade!
I know, there are some of you who are so mad at me for painting it. I’m sorry. I promise to never come in your home and paint your furniture that you love. If this would have been a different wood, I would have left it. But it doesn’t work for me and Oxford Fog does work perfectly. It’s a piece that now has a new life and new look and I’m treasuring it all the more.
