January 2018 – Second Chance Charms

Goodbye January, Hello February

Published on January 31, 2018January 30, 2018 by Second Chance CharmsLeave a comment

I am not too sure where this month went. As I sip on my choice of drink, late at night, writing my blog post, I sigh as I see the Christmas boxes are still in my family room. No, not even packed. I still have my decor up! I have been busy with life. As we all are I am sure. Between the school run-a-rounds, homework, refinishing and This Is Us (among some other shows that are on my must watch list) a girl can fall behind. Perhaps a little too behind. Hello February, already!?!?! OOPS.

Starting off the 2018 year I had the pleasure to work on five amazing pieces! The number may seem low but each one was intense. From stripping the old, making repairs and researching inspirational ideas, I was busy! Let’s take a peek:

One of these gorgeous antique beauty’s is available for purchase. Click over to Shop Selections to view details.

The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.

– H. Jackson Brown

I love this quote. You can apply it to anything in your life, at anytime. Prepping my furniture so it withstands another life time, being a mother and teaching my children right from wrong, finding friendship and showing loyalty, kindness and lending a helping hand when needed. I give my best in all I do. I may not be perfect, but it is my best, and for that I know tomorrow will be good. As for those Christmas boxes… tomorrow is a new day!

I have many projects scheduled in the books for February. Mostly custom, and I am grateful. I will have a few items that will be available for purchase. If you would like to receive what Second Chance Charms has to offer before it goes public, please fill out your email address here: First Dibs Email List.

Thanks for being a part of my journey!

xoxo

Rebecca

French Provincial End Table

Published on January 30, 2018January 30, 2018 by Second Chance CharmsLeave a comment

A returning client brought me a French Provincial End Table that needed to go bold and beautiful. She is in the moving process and wanted to go bright in her new home! The before pictures may look familiar, its a piece I had refinished a long time ago. During his move, the handlers got a little careless. I had to fix the darwer, as it was cracked from something heavy falling on him.

Refinished in Sherwin-Williams Tangerine and lightly glazed in Turkish Coffee brown. Hardware revamped in bronze.

Before:

Recent Highlights January

Published on January 27, 2018January 27, 2018 by Second Chance CharmsLeave a comment

I am just head over heals for these pieces! So much character and color! The best part, one of them is for sale, click over to Shop Selections to view details!

KidKraft Retro Kitchen

Published on January 25, 2018January 25, 2018 by Second Chance CharmsLeave a comment

Oh my goodness. I love when client’s want to give their littles a Second Chance. This KidKraft Retro Kitchen is super adorable. Remember the Playhouse I refinished last year? Check out the debut here: Playhouse Flip.

This KidKraft Kitchen will go with its little house. Refinished in Sherwin-Williams Tidewater and all hardware and extras revamped in Nickel and White.

Before:

Antique China Cabinet

Published on January 24, 2018January 24, 2018 by Second Chance Charms9 Comments

I was so excited to find this antique china cabinet. I love unique pieces and want to be able to refinish more of them. I have a hard time finding them on the west side of Arizona.

I went to Pinterest to find inspirational photos to give me an idea of what I wanted to do. At one point I was toying with the idea to go bright and bold, but caved when I thought of a two toned look for this gal.

This gorgeous curio cabinet has curved glass and a backsplash beveled mirror. Carved lion claw feet with original casters. Refinished in Sherwin-Williams Amazing Grey and glazed in a dark grey glaze to pop out all those fantastic details. Inside has three removable display shelves that are refinished in Sherwin-Williams Greek Villa. All original casters and knob are revamped in Nickel.

She is available for purchase please click over to Shop Selections to view details.

Before and after photos. This poor gal came to me with a broken foot and a missing glass door. Looking at the final photos, would you never be able to guess that. Love how she turned out!

1920’s Library Card Catalog

Published on January 12, 2018February 21, 2018 by Second Chance Charms3 Comments

Worth the wait, wouldn’t you agree!? My first piece to the new year! Meeep!!! I want to start off by saying, I believe that every furniture refinisher out there wants to be able to say they refinished or restored an antique library card catalog storage cabinet, at least once. Secondly, I think it’s safe to assume that everybody wishes they owned one! I can check off one of those things! I completely swooned when I got my hands on this old fellow. He belonged to my great-grandfather and it was used to store his nick knacks and small tools in his garage. I am not sure how he encountered such a piece but let me just say- he used it for all its possibilities. After his passing in 2011 my mother held on to this lovely old gem, stored away in her garage, waiting for a Second Chance.

Before pictures:

The first thing I do when receiving a piece underway in the makeover process is take all the hardware off. Of course, this piece was an emotional experience for me. All the tags had my great grandfather’s hand writing on them. A little part of him was still here.

I giggled at my self a few times when I was stripping the paint away that he applied by hand and I would bet with some old paint he had stashed somewhere wanting a change, thinking to myself, I bet if he were here he would have said to me “Geez great grand-daughter, if I knew you would be knee-deep in toxic liquid, breathing in fumes, and scrubbing until your fingers were numb I wouldn’t have painted that darn thing”. But I know now that he would be so proud of how this piece looks today.

Stripping away all the old paint, my mother and I agreed to restore the base. The wood grain was in beautiful shape, apart from some cracks and missing pieces. I didn’t want to fill in certain flaws as it’s part of his charm and character. I stained the body and drawer faces using Minwax Early American.

Using four colors we enhanced only 20 of the 45 drawers for an artistic pop of color touch. My mom chose to use Sherwin-Williams Butternut, Rookwood Terra Cotta, Haven and Riverway.

I distressed the drawers that had color on them for the final vintage worn look. I am so proud of how this 1920’s Yawman & Erbe MFG. CO. Rochester N.Y. 45 drawer Library, Apothecary, Antique Industrial Card File turned out!! The card file has four sections: Top section with a brass plate identifying the manufacture (hidden behind paint in the before photo). Three sections with 15 card files each. Three boxes were built to replace the missing ones, two broken faces were repaired and four new catalog hardware was added to complete this restoration project!