Cedar Hill Farmhouse

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Meet Camille, my Frenchy Vanity

By 67 Comments

thrift store vanity
Some of you I know are drop dead gorgeous all of the time, but if you are like me, maybe you can relate to Camille, my vanity, who needed a little help, but in the end, turned out beautiful.

Here’s the photo I took of Camille, with my phone, when I first found her at the thrift store around the corner from our new house.
I’ve been looking for a new vanity for the new house, and just wasn’t finding what I was looking for, then I saw… her.  I took a picture, so I could think about if she was, you know, the one.  I knew pretty legs like Camille’s, don’t come along every day, but I also knew we weren’t ready to move yet, and my house was (is) beginning to look like a junk shop.
I might have mentioned previously that I have been buying for the new house. I’ve got a pair of antique 8 foot doors for the study, 5 mirrors for the bathrooms, 3 chandeliers, 2 wall sconces, 2 antique corbels for a shelf, an antique desk, 4 antique French chairs, a French settee, an old iron post that we’re going to use as a newel post, and a partridge in a pear tree. (Okay the partridge part isn’t true.)
I went back to the thrift shop, this time with my friend, Caroline. Caroline, too, was looking for a vanity or desk.  As I looked Camille over, I heard Caroline over my shoulder, exclaim that if I didn’t want her, she, Caroline, would take her.  Well, of course, that was that. Caroline was just oohing and ahhing. Good grief, I couldn’t take it any more,  I told the folks there to ‘load ‘er up.’  (Don’t worry about Caroline, she found another one.)

I used my homemade chalky paint for Camille.

I quart of SW Earl Gray, 
adding 
3 T Calcium Carbonate/cup of paint.

After the paint dried, I sanded down the corners and a few areas to distress the piece, then applied a coat of

Fiddes Rugger brown wax.

For the bench, I used a French ticking gray linen fabric with blue stripes.  BTW, you don’t need to use 100 staples when upholstering a small piece like this. I think I removed at least that many, and in the end, just left some, because it was becoming so tedious to remove all of the old staples.  The worst part was that they were brittle and broke when I pried them up with my screwdriver. Each piece had to be extracted with pliers.

The old bench was tufted, so I had a decision to make. Was I going to tuft the new cover or not?  I decided not, I just wasn’t “feeling it.” That meant I needed new foam for the seat, since the old foam, had little holes where the buttons were.

I hope you are reading this and not just skimming, because here’s an important note: The above photo shows What Not to Do!!.  I added a new piece of foam then wrapped it in batting, stapling the batting in place. I had too much bulk on the botton of the seat and it wouldn’t sit flat on the base. I had to cut away a lot of the batting on the bottom.

Here is the bottom after I cut away much of the batting. Then I started over. Sorry not so pretty, but you need to know.  Remember I removed a gazillion staples, and I was ready to be done with this bench, so it isn’t so neat looking here on the bottom.  I left quite a few staples since I was tired of pulling them out.

As I stretched the fabric over the foam, I made sure the stripes were straight and that the pattern was centered.  I started with a staple on the north side, one on the south side, one on the east side, then one on the west side. I tightened and straightened as I moved toward the corners, doing them last.

I don’t strive for perfection, but a finished product that looks good. I have too much to do, so I can’t spend a week on this project.

Did you notice I put one of my favorite things, this French clock on my new desk?

I also used a lamp from Mr. CH’s grandparents. It’s 100 years old, and when they first bought it, it was a kerosene lamp.  Only much later, did they covert it to an electric lamp.

I think Camille will be very happy with her new look.

Comments

  2. Anne says

    Beautiful transformation Anita! LOVE the color LOVE that fabric.Oh I wish I had jumped on that fabric when decor steals had that.Hope they do that one again!

    Anne

    Reply

  9. lynn cockrell says

    Positively love your new vanity/desk! The color palette you chose is perfect and the French clock and desk look like a marriage made in heaven. That perfect piece is sometimes work the wait.

    Reply

  11. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    Camille is gorgeous…I have a vanity in the attic just waiting for a “new dress”….you did a gorgeous job…Now, do you prefer the Fiddes Rugger Brown Wax over the Annie Sloan Dark Wax?….love the fabric on the bench and great tips…thanks…and have a great day!

    Reply

  13. Anita @ Cedar Hill Ranch says

    I use Fiddes antique brown mixed with clear for light colored paints, antique brown on medium toned paints, and the rugger brown on dark toned paints. The Annie Sloan dark wax seems too dark for most colors. I think you need a very rich deep color to use that wax.

    Reply

  15. Lorraine Finkbeiner says

    I stole a jelly cabinet from my own SIL last year so we’re on the same page there. Fastest credit card whipped out wins. Who looks at the bottom of a bench anyway? Of course, if I ever come to your house NOW, I’m looking under EVERYTHING…
    Camille est tres belle!

    Reply

  20. Alycia Nichols says

    Oh, how I wish I could muster the courage and the patience to do something like this to my vanity!!! My timidity is borne of the fear of complete and utter failure. That vanity is of such great sentimental value to me, and I would hate to destroy it because I’m not very good at these kinds of projects. I LOVE the look, though. So now I’m all hopped up and wanting to do it! 🙂 I will definitely take your advice re: the seat batting stuff since I intend to re-cover the seat, too. That’s something I might not have considered and would end up doing much more work than necessary. GREAT tip! I also like the way you have her all dressed with the trophy cup and clock. Very pretty!

    Reply

  22. Gee Singh Newbanks says

    OOOhhh la la!! Camille is a stunner . Such a wonderful transformation Anita.
    I too just redid the seat of my vanity’s bench and was telling the Mr about the 101 staples that were in it all old and rusted and I too had to remove the majority with pliers. What a chore!!
    Hugs, Gee

    Reply

  23. Cynthia says

    Anita,

    This piece is just gorgeous. I love the lines and the color and the fabric on the bench is gorgeous. Job well done.

    Cynthia

    Reply

  24. thefarmfiles says

    I love the transformation! You did such a great job…with both the painting and the reupholstering. A talended gal you are!

    Thanks for sharing the how-to!

    E

    Reply

  32. On Crooked Creek says

    Anita,
    After reading ALL of your staple removal woes…I’m not sure I’m ready to tackle the one upholstery piece I have! Whew…looks as if the UN~doing is harder than the RE~doing!!!
    Your bit about “a partridge in a pear tree” cracked me up!!! Too, too funny!!!
    Happy Spring, dear friend!!!
    Fondly,
    Pat

    Reply

  33. NanaDiana says

    Anita- That turned out really great. I think it is just beautiful and if you hadn’t taken it AND yor friend, Caroline, hadn’t taken it I would have!;>) She’s a beauty! xo Diana

    Reply

  39. Debi Willhoite says

    What a gorgeous transformation! New follower here! Love your blog! You have inspired me to get at several pieces I have to get them done. I think I am going to try your homemade chalk paint too! I am really lovin Camille!

    Have a wonderful day!

    Debi

    Reply

  41. Yvonne @ StoneGable says

    Anita, Camille is just stunning. I love the way you described her! What a good eye you have for making things beautiful!!!!
    I have an antique vanity that I use as a vanity and after seeing your vanity turned desk, I am thinking I should paint it. Thanks for the tip about using too much batting.
    I think your bench is just about the prettiest one I’ve seen!
    You must be having so much fun collecting for your new home!!!
    xo

    Reply

  42. Sarah says

    Anita, nothing like a little nudge from a caring friend. I think Camille is exquisite. And that French clock…….it’s the first thing I noticed. Is that a find or a family piece? I know this would be in my favorite things category if she were mine. ‘-)

    Reply

  51. Susan Jackson says

    I love this dressing table redo. You did such a good job. Thank you for sharing your chalk paint recipe also. I’ve been wanting to do a piece with chalk paint. Love the clock also. susan @ throughmyporchwindow.blogspot.com

    Reply

  52. Pieced Pastimes says

    Hi Anita,
    You did a fabulous job on this vanity. I love the color, the distressing and the fabric you used on the bench. It turned out just beautiful.
    Thanks for the inspiration,
    Suzanne
    Pieced Pastimes

    Reply

  54. Sumaya at Evocative Vintage says

    Camille is a stunner. Beautiful finish and thanks for the tutorial on how to upholser a stool. I am a new follower over from Angie. Congrats with the feature. Would love you to follow back if you can:)

    xo
    Sumaya

    Reply

  55. Jill says

    I love this! I have been sanding away the walls in my new house – this project is about to drive me crazy and I feel like I will never finish! The color started out very similar to your vanity’s original color – but more orange in some spots. I wish I had seen this earlier, maybe I would have opted out of all the sanding! LOL – I will definitely use this paint trick in the future!!!

    Reply

  57. Carolyns funky Furniture says

    Anita, this is the most beeeeeeeautiful piece! i love it, and it has to be one of my favorite pieces I have seen with the chalk paint. I do funky painted furniture most of the time, but am starting to use more and more of the chalk paint. Thank you for sharing this. LOVE IT!

    Reply

  58. Carolyn says

    Love this! Do you buy flat paint to mix with the calcium carbonate and where do you get your Fiddes wax?

    Reply

  59. debbie says

    Gorgeous!!!! Thanks for sharing. I just discovered this on pinterest – so happy to have discovered you.

    Reply

  60. Sharon says

    The whole thing is Gorgeous!!! The desk make-over, the clock, the lamp, everything! *Sigh* Maybe one day my home will have that polished look. Where did you get that neat floor mat?

    Reply

  61. Celeste says

    Camille is a classic beauty! And her legs! I have a vanity that needs attention and this is exactly what I am going to do! Thank you! Thank you! Merci!

    Reply

  62. Katie says

    Camille is STUNNING! Timeless and elegant without looking gaudy or like a piece you’d be far too nervous to use! Very, very well done. I’m both impressed and envious of your talent!

    Reply

  64. Carol says

    Never thought I needed a vanity, but after seeing this beauty, I know I do!! Will have sm bath in new place, and this would look wonderful in bedroom, AND corral cosmetics!! Great job!!

    Reply

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