WELCOME to CAROLINA PANACHE! I believe our homes should be a haven, a place of beauty and peace that reflect who we are and what's important to us. I'm on a journey to add personality and panache to every corner of my house. For me, good design evolves, grows and changes with the needs of one's lifestyle. I want my home to be creative, to be stylish, to be entertaining, to be real. I hope you will join me on my journey. It's always more fun to travel together.
This blog is all about bringing style and elegance to the home. The art of dressing your home goes beyond hanging a few items on the wall and arranging furniture. Much like a fabulous set of earrings or a new stylish handbag may take your little black dress from fine to fabulous, home accesories and key furnishings can take your rooms from ho-hum to singing the Halleluiah Chorus! Join with me as we discover new ways to add panache to every room of the house.

"Junk to Gems" - A thoughtful gift from a true love!

Hello everyone! I wanted to post this for Met Monday but I am a little late. I talked my Parents into staying one more day so Monday was all about visiting, shopping and spending time together but I am finally posting the promised "Junk to Gems" featuring a thoughtful gift from my hubby. We try to give gifts to each other that are meaningful or practical and carry sentimental value. This past Valentine's Day, Mr. Right came through with shining colors! In the photo below you see a black 4-drawer chest. This chest was actually inherited from my Great Grandmother, Sarah on my Mom's side of the family. It began its life as a small bedside chest where she would keep lingerie. It is made of cedar but over the many years it has lost a lot of it's aroma. When it first came to me, I used it for odds and ends but the color never really suited me so eventually it was placed in a closet. A couple of years ago we moved to NC and it was placed in storage, unforgotten and sadly unloved. Well, Mr. Right decided to breath new life in to this little chest and present it to me as my Valentine's gift. Needless to say I was so excited to have it "re-invented". It has now found a new home front and center in the entry. Let's take a look. The black glossy paint that my hubby used to paint the chest suited me perfectly. It looks fabulous against my newly painted red entry hall. Of course my much loved animal-print, Cheetah French Memo board, was the perfect accent. A gold, antique pedestal clock, gold letter "A" and a couple of heavy leather-bound volumes completed the tabletop display.

This is the original color of the chest. It was badly scarred, scratched and stained.

A little Handi-Strip was applied to dissolve the finish and prep the surface for sanding.

A coat of primer was added to the chest and fronts of the drawers.

Once the primer was completely dry, Mr. Right applied two coats of glossy black paint.

Once the paint was set, he came back and lined each drawer with a pretty light green and white print paper.


He considered painting the original hardware but opted to leave the old antiqued pewter drawer-pulls. I was happy about that because the original pulls reminds me that this was my Great Grandmother's chest.

A small vase of white peonies add a fresh touch of the approaching spring season and an urn filled with white cherry blossoms add great contrast against the red walls and black chest.

I added two red, gold and black tassels made of silky threads to the top drawer pulls. That, too, reminded me of my GGM and played off the fact that this little chest was once used to keep dainty garments made of luxurious materials.

I hope you have enjoyed this "Junk to Gems" post. It was very special to me for several reasons. I love having things around me that were once part of the lives of my ancestors. I also love it when we can re-purpose something old and tired and once again create a cherished keepsake that can one day be past on to the next generation.
This week is going to be a fun-filled week as I hunt down accessories to add a breath of spring-fresh air to my NC home. We are officially 1 month away from Spring and it is time to lighten up and make way for the warmer days ahead. By this weekend we should see temperatures in the upper 60's here in my corner of NC. Tomorrow is Outdoor Wednesday, I still have a Mexican flavored Simple Supper to share and Thursday is our Tablescape party. I have found an old wooden plate rack that is going to get a make over for use in my breakfast room and a Shabby Chic "ready to assemble" towel tower purchased on clearance is going to find a different purpose. I hope you will "tune-in" this week. Until then,
Happy Decorating!
~Alisa











21 comments:

Lynda said...

Alisa, the chest transformation is beautiful! We have some old family pieces that we painted black as well, and it's amazing how it turns a few 'vintage' pieces into something we're very pleased to display in our home. Your hubby did such a nice job!

Terri Steffes said...

This gives me hope for a little chifferobe I have. It is an ugly oak but I think it would be beautiful in black. Thanks for the idea!

Melissa Miller said...

Hi Alisa, :)

~WOWEE~ !!!
It is absolutely beautiful!

I always love black painted furniture.
It looks stunning against the Red wall.
The way you have it accessorized is pure perfection as well.

I'm going to have to check out Ballards and order a nicer initial. Yours looks like it came from them right?

I haven't received anything from FedX yet.
I hope today is the day!
I am excited and I will let you know right away.

Have a wonderful day.
~Melissa :)

~CC Catherine said...

Alisa, Thanks for stopping by today to say hi! I always love checking your posts out, everytime I see you've posted one on my blog roll! ;) This is a cool transformation with your junks to gems! Love it! What a nice classy look! I also love the large "A" that sits on top of it! Very nice! ~CC Catherine (Have a blessed Tuesday) ;)

cherry said...

Can I borrow Mr. Right for just a bit? He lined the drawers ..ahhhh
that makes my heart skip a beat.. lol

The chest is beautiful and the man is a keeper.. Lucky girl !!

enjoy, Cherry

Sandy said...

Alisa, you and Rhoda (my guest today) have a similar decorating flare! :)
Happy Day!

Darlene - Our Creative Life said...

What a great transformation!! Did you be chance email me those bedroom inspiration pics...if so...I didn't receive them :(

CMB said...

What a sweet and thoughtful Valentine gift...it looks fabulous, amazing how some black paint can totally revive almost anything.

Jewel Sauls said...

Beautiful! The black paint really set the piece off and you had accessorized it perfectly. :D Jewel

Karen at Nittany Inspirations said...

I like your new look. Your husband did a good job on the chest. It's great that not only he would do it, but that he could do it. BTW, sanding the inside should bring back the cedar smell, if that's what you want. Sometimes the cedar smell can be a bit strong.

Tardevil said...

It looks so much better! Mr. R did a great job!

Scribbler said...

Great transformation! I have a chest that I did just the opposite: I found tiger maple under the goop! I'll put up a pic maybe next Met Monday.

Scribbler

Laura said...

Came over for Met Monday.

Gorgeous chest - your hubs did a great job! If you ever decide that you want the cedar scent back, try sanding the insides of the drawers a little bit. LOVE the cheetah message board and giant initial!

Melanie said...

This is beautiful! I've got a wicker piece I'm thinking about painting black. I mean I'm thinking about having OFM paint it black. Yeah...that's it.
Melanie@Bella~Mella

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Hi, Alisa! thanks for your very sweet words on my DR. I just love this little piece that your hubby transformed for you. That is a treasure for sure & what a nice little spot to put it in your entryway. Hope you're doing well!

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

This is just a fantastic transformation! It doesn't look like the same chest! So elegant in that black paint. What a wonderful thing for your husband to do for you. (I'm going to have to show my husband this post!!) laurie

Kathy said...

What a fabulous transformation!
Kathy

LaurenFaythe said...

The chest looks beautiful! What a great husband to do that for you!

Chandy said...

I love that dresser! Great job with the transformation!

Carolyn of What Now? Tablescapes
http://whatnowtablescapes.blogspot.com

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Alisa, please send Mr. Right over to my house to help me finish painting my study! LOL! ;-)

I love that chest in your foyer. That looks great. Nice makeover, and your hubby gets big kudos! Mr. Magpie has been known to swing a mean paintbrush, too. I, however, am painting the study while he's out of town. LOL!

XO,

Sheila :-)

Ldy ~~ Dy said...

Alisa, it is amazing what a little sanding and paint can do to an old piece. I too love to bring life back to old family pieces. Makes them even more special when they are renewed again! Nice hubby to do that for you! Lovely post! Huggy Hugs!

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