Available for purchase! Click over to Shop Selections. This lovely piece is perfect to be used as an entry way piece or small buffet.
Refinished in Sherwin-Williams Porpoise
and glazed in Urbane Bronze. Hardware is brass library card catalog pulls that you can place tabs in or not. The top is stained using Weathered Oak with a grey wash.
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
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!
Before and After:
-Rebecca
I found this amazing piece (also has an end table if interested) from a fellow re-finisher. When I picked up this handsome fellow I knew exactly what I wanted to do. The square design on the drawers is too perfect for the card catalog holder hardware. Something I have been wanting to add to that perfect piece! I will be having a hard time letting this guy go! That’s right!! He is up for sale! Click on over to Shop Selections for details.
Solid and very heavy dresser up cycled his way to a media cabinet. Dovetailed joints. Now 6 Drawers with 3 shelves. Wood stained top. Refinished in Sherwin-Williams Extra White and glazed in Network Gray. The top is stained in a light gray. Added nickle card catalog holder hardware for the extra flair! Be sure to check out his before picture.
Before picture! I took off the middle doors and added shelves. Closed up all preexisting knob holes. Stained the top a light grey. And painted the base white for that farmhouse look.
Second Chance Charms 