The Pantry Joins In

One of my co-workers asked me today if I ever rest on the weekend... this was a question I asked myself this past weekend when I was ripping up the tile floor as part of my bathroom reno, painting the mudroom & laundry room, and spending 2 1/2 hours in Home Depot picking out plumbing supplies and the new floor for my bathroom.  Why? I ask myself.  Why can't I stop working on this house???

The first reason is that I am so inspired by all the blog posts and pictures on Pinterest that I can't wait to jump in with both feet.  The second reason is that during the months when the weather is cool (April & May are still cool-ish here), I can work like gangbusters on projects.  Once the temperature starts getting warm to hot, I lose all my energy and things progress at a snail's pace.   In addition to those reasons, I offer a quote from Pearl Buck "To find joy in work is to discover the fountain of youth."  With the amount of joy I feel working on and finishing these projects, I will be youthful forever!!!

So, what else have I been up to?  I painted my pantry cabinet!! AGAIN!

                                                                                            

Here is the original cabinet (a Leksvik children's wardrobe) which I first painted with Ben Moore Snow White.

OK, the white was just way too stark for me, so I embellished it with a little chalkboard paint.

I loved the way this cabinet turned out, but with my hallway about to be painted in off-white paint, I wanted a punch of colour.  Naturally, I went back to my now tried-and-true home made chippy paint that leaves a rough, chalky finish on the furniture.

The little square knobs had never looked all that good to me, so I changed them to old fashioned round wood knobs and then I painted the whole cabinet in turquoise.  It was a new mix of white paint and Behr's Agave that turned out way too dark, so I mixed in more white paint and rollered the lighter colour over the top.  After that dried, I added streaks of creamy white paint here and there and just kept layering the colours until I got a look that I loved.

Here is the darkest colour of turquoise (the one I didn't like as much):

and here is the final cabinet:

I wiped some paint on the basket to dress it up a little.  The shutter was unfinished maple that I painted a mix of white and turquoise, distressed and wiped Minwax dark paste wax over.  It turned out so great!

I haven't waxed this cabinet and I'm not going to.  I love the extra chalkiness of the streaks of white paint.  All I did to achieve that look was take the little sponge roller still covered with turquoise paint, dipped it in a little off-white paint and roller'd it on here and there.  It worked like a charm!  

This cabinet now makes me feel very happy (and YOUTHFUL)!

Have a happy and creative week!

Linking to all these lovely parties:
Jennifer Rizzo
the Shabby Creek Cottage
Beyond the Picket Fence
Thrifty Decorating
Power of Paint Party     DIY by Design
Saavy Southern Style
Thrifty Decor Chick     Creatively Living
Cedar Hill Ranch
Not Just a Housewife     A bowl full of Lemons
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Coastal Charm     Primitive and Proper
Between Naps on the Porch
The House in the Roses     Delectable Home
Mod Vintage Life
Homemaker on a Dime
Serendipity and Spice     You're Talking Too Much
DIY Showoff

Homespun Happenings     It's Overflowing
I heart Nap Time
Classy Clutter     Funky Junk Interiors
Petites Passions
the Grant Life     Chic on a Shoestring
Days of Chalk and Chocolate
Finding Fabulous     the Shabby Nest
Serenity Now
My Romantic Home   Miss Mustard Seed
My Repurposed Life
French Country Cottage     A Little Knick Knack
the Charm of Home
Stuff and Nonsense     the Vintage Farmhouse
Common Ground
Simple Home Life
From My Front Porch to Yours

Rooted in Thyme

Embracing Change     The Artsy Girl Connection

the Brambleberry Cottage