I am always on the hunt for an old apothecary table, I finally found a totally awesome one this weekend in Newport! Of course as luck would have it I drive a small car and had three other passengers.
It was a really hard to walk away from this unique piece! I know persistence is key and if I keep on searching I will find one that I can actually bring home and love forever! In the mean time I can admire other bloggers functional apothecary finds.
Until next time!
A friend of mine recently asked me if I could restore an old mirror and cabinet she had but wasn’t loving it anymore. I of course jumped at the idea! It was fun working with her to pick out the paint color and overall style for her furniture. She picked Annie Sloan Old White for both pieces which I think is a great first choice.
I loved the shape of the cabinet I knew a little paint would spruce it right up! I painted over the hardware and then took a rag and instantly wiped the paint away leaving a weathered look.
I loved the glass knob she already had, and left that as is.
I painted the inside of the cabinet paris grey one of my favorite colors.
Here is the before and after!
New and fresh! I didn’t forget about the mirror, here is a before and after.
After going back and forth I finally decided to open up an Etsy shop. I am so excited about finally doing this, it’s a big step for me! I wish I could keep all of my furniture restoration projects, but I think if I bring home one more dresser without the intent of selling it my husband might lose it! 
We are slowly becoming over run with furniture.
I get so excited finding a cool piece at an estate sale or thrift store because I can see the potential. I usually am giddy with a find and can’t wait to get home to get started on painting it to see what it will become. I have found it’s just as exciting when that piece finds a new home, and someone else can feel that same way. I am starting small and have listed a few things.
At this time I am not planning on shipping, but if you ever find something you just have to have I can get a quote on shipping so send me an e-mail at lechicelefant@gmail.com. Click here to check out my new shop, and thank you all for your support! 
Until next time!
Sometimes I come across a piece of furniture that I really love but a simple coat of paint won’t be enough to bring it back to life, it will require a little extra love. I found this coffee table at an estate sale and I was instantly drawn in by the square shape and the intricate detailing. At quick glance I could only really see one thing wrong with the table…the bright green leather top. Green is not really in my color wheel and leather top tables to me are really outdated.
I, of course, love a challenge and brought the table home! After much brainstorming we decided the best option was to cover the leather completely. Off to Lowes we went buying a piece of 3/4 inch plywood, trim, and wood blocks. The table was too low so we wanted to add some height. We found these blocks that fit perfectly adding about an inch and a half of height to the table. There was a bit of a gap between the blocks and the bottom of the original feet so we later filled it in with wood putty and then smoothed it out.
Since we were adding a wood top I did not want a blunt edge. The perfect solution was to add trim around the edge to connect the bottom of the table with the new wood top.
Then came liquid nails! It was generously applied to the top of the coffee table and then the plywood was added and screwed on from the underside.
The edges of the plywood were rough so we added a small piece of rounded trim.
Finally it’s time to paint! I mixed one part of old white and two parts french linen to create the coffee table color.
This was a little more work then just slapping on some paint but the end result was worth it. I love the table! The details are shown off even more with the distressing and brightening up of paint.
My favorite part are the little little blue drawers.
The more I get into this furniture painting fad the more I realize there are some really handy tools and products out there that make things little easier. I most recently discover the magic of wood filler. I am such a novice I didn’t even know it existed till recently and it’s a game changer! First it’s not that expensive and a little bit goes a long way! I most recently used it on a little pedestal table that had a few scratches on the surface and the wood detailing around the table’s edge had some holes in it.
I used Elmer’s wood filler, so far it has worked well it dries fast and sands really smooth. (I feel like I am in a commercial, I swear they did not tell me to say that! )
Then two coats of French Linen paint and the table looks brand new! It has already made its way to new home today!
I love chalk paint and I am officially obsessed! There I said it, I have confessed my feelings publicly. I love how it can transform a piece of furniture that has seen better days into something trendy, and adorable again. I found this dresser on Craigslist, I loved its shape and the size. It was relatively in great condition but it had some scratches and needed some TLC. I mean part of the reason I love antiques is that they aren’t perfect, I feel like they all have a little story to tell.
I did a little sanding to smooth out some nicks and then two coats of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Old White. I then covered the dresser with clear wax only. I decided to leave the hardware untouched because I love the little details of the pulls.
I always distress my pieces even if it’s just a little, I think it adds depth and character. 
Who doesn’t love a good before and after?! Here is a side by side shot.
I am sure you are all familiar with the tale of Goldie Locks and the Three Bears. Well in this tale Goldie Locks is my husband minus the blonde ringlets of course . Since we moved he has been using a TV stand as a bedside table, shameful I know!! I have been on the hunt near and far from estate sales to thrift stores for a new nightstand. I find one paint it with my Annie Sloan Chalk Paint but he is so picky! Just like Goldie Locks one is two small, to big, to tall, you get the idea. Finally today we had a break through, I found one just right! Lets go through the rejects first!!
This one was two small: Painted in Annie Sloan Duck Egg Blue with a white wash.
This one had no storage: Painted Annie Sloan Paris Grey.
This one was just right: Painted Annie Sloan French Linen, with Old White for the inside cubby. I guess third times the charm!
I am so excited to share with you all our new bathroom. This transformation has been months in the making but I can finally say with confidence we are 98% complete! Since moving into our house last summer we have only made some minor changes, a little paint here, some new trim there. The bathroom was our first project, it had an old vanity that seemed so small and short! I hate having to bend over just to brush my teeth. The wall color was a purple grey, which I was not crazy about. This was just a basic renovation, we painted and installed a new vanity but it makes a world of difference! Check out the before and after pictures.
BEFORE:
I had a hard time picking a true grey, as you can see from the different samples on the wall. I ended up with Stonington Grey by Benjamin Moore. Remy my cat is supervising the renovation process.
AFTER:
The accent color is teal, I tried to add in hints of the color where I could. These teal mason jars were an excellent thrift store find and perfect for storing bathroom essentials.
Target shower curtain, I mean how could I pass up that pattern!
Some teal prints of Etsy and $1.99 ikea frames make the perfect wall decor.
The vanity is from Lowes and comes in different pieces which is perfect for anyone who wants to customize their cabinets. I love seeing peoples home renovation projects, anyone else in the middle of one?
I can’t believe a month has gone by and I have not posted pictures from our Iceland vacation. We went in February and met my sister and brother-in-law there. It’s an amazing place the landscape is like being on another planet. It’s such a short flight from Boston, a quick 5 hours. I read somewhere that half the country believes in elves and after visiting I can see why. The landscape is magical and makes you feel like you’re in a mythical land. The pictures do not do it justice but here are a few of my favorites.
Seems crazy looking back going to Iceland in the middle of winter!
I decided to take a break from painting and share with you my all time favorite recipe. I found it via Pinterest, (shocking I know!). The recipe is a twist on chicken parmesan an old classic. Instead of frying the chicken making it really fatty Chef John the creator turns the dish into a casserole. Now I am not about to rehash how to make this phenomenal dish, you can find an awesome video tutorial which he created on his foodwishes website. It’s worth watching if only for his humor alone! What I am going to add are the homemade croutons I made for this recipe, it makes a huge difference. I know what you are thinking…chicken parm, croutons what is she talking about…watch the video trust me it makes sense. Either way if you use them for this recipe or even just in a salad it’s worth taking the extra 15 minutes to make your own. I will never buy store made croutons every again.
We had left over foccia bread from a local farm/bakery I hate having bread go to waste but after two days it was starting to get hard. Day old bread is best for crouton making.
Here is what you will need:
Preheat the over to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients except for the bread in a big mixing bowl. Then add the bread and toss until all the pieces are lightly coated. Lay out onto a baking sheet in a single layer.
Bake for about 10 – 12 min or until they get golden brown. I used these for my chicken parm casserole which the top layer is croutons so I let these only cook for 10 min since they were headed right back to the oven. Here is the final chicken parm casserole with homemade croutons, so good!
Let me know if any of you try this!
