The lust and the lure of Anthropologie and a little mystery

You had me at Anthropologie. I'm easily sucked in and swept away by the view or atmosphere. This makes me a very dangerous shopper. Unlike most of my savvy shopping buddies who look for the best deal or things they really need and can afford, I am an emotional shopper becoming hooked, more like attached to anything and everything that makes my heart skip a beat or promises to make cool or beautiful. I fall hard for good marketing and stores that have a certain dreamy or extremely cool atmosphere. I know my weaknesses but still I can't help myself. It's an addiction or what I like to call passion. I'm sure my husband calls it something else.

    Anthropologie is such a place that sucks me in the door and takes over my soul. I wander the store in lust for hours only to exit the store with a cool purchase that I love but don't need. My latest such purchase was a book titled "Gypsy a world of colour and interiors. I pour over the pages and devour images like this one...

 

I love the rawness and organic vibe of this room. From the chippy paint on the block wall to the pond sailor on the wall, I'm hooked. I can envision myself spending time sitting on that lovely blue settee or gazing out the window with the fabulous fishing net window treatment, love that!

     I am drawn to a design or piece by the emotion or memory evoked in me. I haunt swanky little decorator shops and juicy antique stores. One of my latest obsessions is vintage photos, not the posed portraits just the candid shots that make you wonder about the story behind the image. I recently designed an art piece "Lost at Sea" using some really extrodinary photos of children by the sea. I can't help but wonder who were these children, where did they live and what was their story. 

The untold story and the mystery behind the photos are intertwined with the awesomeness of each and every tiny shell and piece of garbage that gets lost and washes up on the beaches I wander. I love the mystery and the wonder of it all. I'm a curious girl who can't get enough of the romance of the sea and the lure of ambient interiors and love at first sight. Yes, you had me at Anthropologie!

Altered junk with chalk paint DIY

I have become addicted to repurposing with chalk paint. I first started transforming out-dated pieces of furniture with name brand chalk paints, like Annie Sloan, only found in specialty stores or on the internet. They were great and came in several colors but very pricey about 40 dollars a quart.  I was limited by a small color palate and had to make a 35 mile trip to find it. I should probably clarify that chalk paint and chalk board paint are different. Chalk paint is used on furniture to leave an old world appearance similar to milk paint. It is quite often aged to give a beautifully worn patina. It's often used in shabby chic decor. Chalk board paint is used to make chalk boards.

Chalk paint allows me to take a piece that needs a little love or a major face lift and transform it into something fabulous. In the beginning I was spending a small fortune on paint and wax. Eventually I decided to take a leap of faith and start making my own paint. There are several recipes posted on- line. I have listed a couple inexpensive recipes to try. My go to mix is the plaster of Paris recipe below found on Inmyownstyle.com.

It's easy and all you need to get stated is a little paint (color and brand of your choice) plaster of Paris and a soft wax like Johnson's or Minwax paste finishing wax. There are many techniques to try depending on the finish you want in the end. Pinterest is a great resource for ideas and wonderful pics of the end result. I usually go for the more distressed look with a little sand paper at varying grits. 

The best thing about chalk painting is that you can cover almost anything and you don't have to sand or strip the piece first. I love that!

The chest above was a sad piece buried under frames and chairs in the garage of an estate sale. It was dirty (including mouse droppings) and broken but I could see the potential. After a little wood glue was applied to the drawers and trim pieces and the broken door was removed, we ( my dad) cut a piece of wood for a new top. I loved the chippy paint and aged look of the chest already so I applied only a thin layer of oatmeal colored paint. I wanted to preserve the original patina as much as possible but you can create your own with a little aging wax that's readily available at your better paint or hardware store. After achieving the color I wanted I waxed and buffed to a satin finish. I painted inside the drawers and open shelf (created by removing the door) with a pop of sunny color. Then I stacked several colorful boxes in the open space. You could also use a cute little basket for storage or stack of old books. I love how this piece turned out it was a total transformation. I wish I would have taken before and after pics. I always forget to do that. It's because I get so excited and anxious to get started and just dive right in without capturing the original piece. 

The entire project cost me less than 50 dollars. That's right I got this sexy little chest for less than fifty bucks and a couple hours of DIY.  I would love to see some of your transformations with chalk paint, hint, hint!