Making a sideboard/buffet from a kitchen peninsula

Years ago this was our kitchen. 

Stained cabinets (which my father made) with a peninsula.

Over the years I changed the doors, added wallpaper,

and painted the cabinets.
 This really brighten it up but I still wanted a more opened space so we chopped off the peninsula.
 I even painted my countertops.

 Finally we got granite countertops. Looove them!
Took the doors off the cabinets(which I love also) and
added a garden window which expanded the space out.

Another view without the peninsula.
Want to know what we did with the part we took off? 

I turned it into an island. 

I used it in the kitchen for many years. Of course it was many colors.

But this was the only picture I could find of one of the makeovers. 

It gave us lots of storage. But if you know me you know I like to change things around. 

Finally it has become a sideboard/buffet in our dining room.

 I added a piece across the back with some filigree for interest. 

I added bamboo molding around the doors and drawers and bought new hardware.

 Of course I painted it a different color. I also added stair spindles on the sides at the front.

 It's a great accent piece and still very useful. 

It works great for serving buffet style at family dinners and parties.

It has come to be known as

"The Green Gecko".

For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand and say to you:

Do not fear, I will help you.

Isaiah 41:13

Necklace and earring boards

Need a place for all of your necklaces. I was running out of drawers for all of mine so I decided not to hide them and keep them within easy reach. I just took a board and painted it my color of choice added a small mirror in center then started adding panel nails (they have small heads) about every inch across then around the mirror and across bottom. I made some short spots for bracelets.  As you can see it holds a lot.

Here's a close up of the nails.

For my earrings I made a picture frame then stapled screen wire inside the back. I only use this for my earrings with hooks. It holds a lot also.

Here's the close up of the screen.

When all is finished just find your place on a wall that's convenient for you and hang. 

Recycling an old piano

What do you do with an old piano that you inherited with the purchase of a house that you're going to renovate and sell. Whew! And did I mention that no one wanted. Couldn't sell it or give it away. Then I noticed the beautiful woodwork and the possibility of taking it apart and my brain started thinking overtime. Soooo I'm in the process of removing parts and creating some beautiful things. You'll have to stay turned to see what all this beauty can become.

Before

In process.....

Recycled antique family table

This is the table that my dad grew up with.

 He is sure that it's well over a hundred years old.

 It was used for eating, farming chores, butcher chores (if you know what I mean) and all in between. Notice it's only three wide boards. This pic shows the boards after some cleaning.

 It had been stored in a barn for years so it needed some loving care.

This shows how the table looks after I turned the boards over and cleaned them.
 Underneath seemed to have preserved the wood better.

I decided to put a white wash over the boards to lighten it up a bit

 but still show some of the grain of the old wood.

 Then I topped it with several coats of a clear sealer. It's serving us very well on our back porch. Family meals, crafts and whatever. It's nice to use something that your ancestors used as well.

If you'll notice the legs of the table.
 They are made of an old bed post. Even back then they knew recycling was important.
 Bed posts into repurposed table legs. I guess I get this recycling thing honest! Don't you think?

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,

and I will give you rest."

Matthew 11:28

Visiting Turkeys

Meet Mr. & Mrs. Turkey. Aren't they beautiful. A few years ago in the fall this pair of turkeys would come to our yard every morning. They would walk up from the back of the woods, hang around a while, then return the way they came. They got tame enough that they would let me throw them some feed and not run. They came every day for over a month, rain or shine.

Tilly & Cocoa (the girls) would sit on the bench and watch for them. They thought, what are those things.

This is the view from the window where the girls would sit and watch. One day the turkeys just didn't show up. I have no idea where they came from or where they went, but it was fun to expect them every morning and watch them.

Pictures of my dogs

Here are a few of my favorite things. I call them my furry girls.  This is Cocoa. We got her when she was seven months old. She is half shorthaired chihuahua and half shih-tzu. She is such a sweetheart. She doesn't let me out of her sight. She is nine years old now. She is a ray of sunshine.

This is Tilly. She's the queen of all. She is a long haired chihuahua. She is now twelve years old.  I picked her out of the litter so I've been around her since she was four weeks old. I went to visit her every Sunday until she was old enough for me to bring her home. She is a real homebody. She's beautiful and she knows it but she's as sweet as they come. I love her so much.

And this is Molly.  Talk about sweet, she's one big giant teddy bear.  We rescued her when she was four weeks old. We had to feed her with a bottle every three hours and teach her to eat. She had some muscle problems at first but now seems fine. As you can see she grew into a big healthy dog. She is a mix of lab, chow and ? She's now nine years old. Our life is so much sweeter with her.  So that's our animal brood at the moment.  I love them all so much.   I'd love to have more.

Uses for old bi-fold doors

Ever wonder what to do with bi-fold doors that you no longer use as doors. Well I've found a few uses for them.  My dogs needed a private bedroom of their own.  I once used a crate at night but decided to have something a little more functional and roomy for them.  Making this as a corner unit gives them more room and also a corner to put our tv on top. 

Of course they had to have their own pictures of themselves and their friends.

Here's more of a close up. They went to see santa too!

Here's one of the occupants. Cocoa.  She's so sweet. She loves her condo!

Here's one more use I found for the bi-fold doors.  We had a hanging gas heater on our back porch. To dress it up I made a fireplace surround. I think it looks great. And the old doors were recycled.

You will seek me and find me

when you seek me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:13

Three level table, before and after

Here's an interesting find. I'd never seen a table with three levels.  I think it makes for an interesting conversation piece. Here's the before.

And here's the after. I decided to just paint the tops and leave the rest in the original stain.

I think it's a beautiful piece. And it holds a lot of stuff which is always nice. Hope you like it.

Six sided table before and after

Here's a great little end table that although it's rather ugly it has great storage and possibilities. This is the before.

And here is the after.  It was done in a light blue and dry brushed with white. I also spray painted the wire inserts and added new mercury glass knobs. I bought this piece with the intention to sale it. But decided to use it in my sitting room because of the shape and added storage.  It holds a lot of my little ponies. Sometimes it's hard to let things go.

Small chest before and after

This is a great little chest that needed some love. This is the before.

And this is the after. Great turquoise color with black antiquing.  I also added new knobs that I got at Hobby Lobby. I love that store! On unique pieces like this I like to use a different knob for each spot.

Round coffee table before and after

This is a round coffee table that I picked up at a local thrift store.   The top part and legs are a woven leather. This is the before.

And this is the after.  Once again I used turquoise with black antiquing.  I'm using this as my coffee table now in place of the plant stand. It's great with kids around.  I love it.

Dresser before and after

 I needed a dresser for a bedroom upstairs.  So I found the perfect one at a consignment shop. Just needed a bit of a change. This is before.

And this is the after.  I painted it white and changed all the knobs. Each one is different. I got them at Hobby Lobby. Best place ever to buy cabinet hardware. Great selection and wonderful price.

Plant stand before and after

This is a plant stand I picked up at a Goodwill store. This is the before.

And this is the after.  I decided to use it as a coffee table for a while, but before long I moved it onto the back porch and replaced it with another find.  Things move around a lot in my house.  This piece was also painted turquoise and antiqued in black.  I'll probably use it later as it was intended, a plant stand.

end table before and after

This is an end table that I got at Goodwill. It has a cane bottom and also came with a glass top. It's been removed in this picture to a safer place while I refinished it. This is the before.

And this is the after. I painted this in a bright green and antiqued it in black. I went over the caning with a little stain to refresh the finish. I also added a clear coat to it all. In this picture the glass has been added. This table was also donated and sold at the auction at Rehobeth UMC with the proceeds going to the Family Life Center.

Small table before and after

This is another auction item that was redone from a thrift store. This, of course, is the before.

And this is the after.  The bottom was painted turquoise and antiqued black. The top was done with a crackled effect. The base coat was turquoise, then you apply the crackle medium. After that's dry you apply the desired top coat. In my case it was black. And before you know it you have a crackled table. I did the band around the top in a solid black. And as always top coat with a clear varnish. This was also sold at the Rehobeth UMC auction for the Family Life Center.

small chest before and after

I purchased this small chest at Goodwill.  This is the before.

I painted it using a favorite turquoise color then antiqued it in black. I always seal it several times with a clear top coat. This is the after.

This piece was auctioned off at Rehobeth United Methodist Church.  With the proceeds going towards the Family Life Center.

Repurposed Small Cabinet

This is a small cabinet that I purchased at one of my favorite thrift stores. This is the before look.

I chose this pretty turquoise and antiqued it with black, then applied a clear seal coat.  Notice I also added legs.  This is the result.

Pretty huh?