As many of you know, I have been moving slowly toward neutrals and away from the red in my house. That was so small task considering the amount of red I had.
My friend Caroline has been doing the same thing in her house. You might remember seeing her home here. So when she offered to sell me her hand-painted red box that she was no longer using I said, “Sure!” At the time my house was still red, but I knew I could paint this darling box, if I ever changed my color scheme.
When I bought the box from Caroline, she said, “You’re probably going to do something cute to it, and I’m going to want it back.” I smiled thinking it was a lovely compliment, but I was not planning on getting rid of that red at that time, because my whole house was red. Fast forward a year and a half, and with lots of sewing and painting, I now no longer have a red house.
So I got out my Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, Paris Gray, and started painting. I had a fleur de lis stamp that I used with white paint. It was a sloppy mess, but I figured I wanted it to look rustic any way.
Then I waxed and sanded the piece. See how the red is showing through?
Here it is on table. Caroline was at my house recently and I showed her the box. She said, “I want it back!!” I LOVE you Caroline, but it’s not for sale!! BTW, I can’t wait to show you the lamp you sold me, hee, hee, I painted it too!!
Love the new look, they grey fits right in:)
So pretty Anita. Luv the peeks of red coming through. Rustic simplicity.
Cheers, Gee
So beautiful change !I liked this grey colour that look old !
Happy New Year full of creations !
Olympia
I have that SAME box! It is the only red thing left in my living room as I have been getting the red out as well. I’ve thought of painting it, but now that I’ve seen your inspiration, I think I will! Thanks. Linda
Anita,
I adore how you transformed that red box to go with your current decor!!! You are always inspiring me to try new inventive ideas here on the Prairie!!! For the present time, I’m just “chillin'” and enjoing the SNOW!!! After all I have 362 days left, right???
Fondly,
Pat
I love it! And I really really like how the fleu de lis turned out. I thought maybe you painted it on by hand to get it to look like that – it’s perfect!
A couple years ago I bought a chair from a friend at her garage sale. I slip covered it and used it for awhile. It wasn’t really working in my house anymore so when i had my open house sale before Christmas I put a price tag on the chair – and my friend bought it back! LOL!!!
Anita!
It’s my first chance to wish you a Happy New Year!
You have given me some great inspiration! I have been wanting to re-do a very old wood-trimmed metal trunk. I am going to pin this for reference. When I complete the project I can link back to you!
Thank you!
~Lynne
w/L.
Anita! Love the box! I’m slowly moving away from red and a more neutral palette too but I still love little pops of red since it’s one of my favorite colors. Love the Annie Sloan paint. I’m thinking about buying one of her kits. I used her paint for the first time a couple weeks ago and painted 3 chairs and a stool. Love it!
Love it! and I so needed to see this right now. I just finished painting a table and the colour does.not.work!!! I’m going to try this idea next.
Have a happy day!!
ps
Happy new year!!!!!!!!
Loved it before and love the after!! Love the whole look of that table Anita!
Love the makeover. Can’t wait to see the lamp.
Love the makeover on the box it came out great. Can’t wait to see the rest.
Cynthia
now that is a darling little box…love the bit of red peeking through!
My sis and I have the rule, that if she is giving something away, I get first dibs. She always says what your friend says about the things I take too. Great transformation, I love the neutrals too. Do you still do any red at Christmastime? I still enjoy the red at that time of the year in small doses.
Love the new color of the decorative box!!!…beautiful…so wonderful that we can easily change things up with a bit of paint!…
What a great looking box!
Incidently, do you lock your doors at night and which room exactly is the box in?
LOL
i have a large red box i brought out of storage with the intention of painting it too…just waiting for inspiration to hit me what color to choose…yours looks great!
hope you had a wonderful holiday season!
It is amazing what some paint will do! The box looks awesome and I would want it back too:) Now we want to see the lamp!!! XO, Pinky
It is funny how our tastes can so radically change! Like fashion! I shudder to think I used to decorate for Christmas with a Victorian style! I love that you just put white over the red and let a little peak through!
Looks wonderful,
Jenna
Looks fantastic! Can’t wait to see the lamp! Happy New Year!
Karen
Anita, Thanks for sharing your project at the Open House party. Great transformation!
xx, Sherry
Wow. How pretty it turned out. I’m of the small group that just can’t live without red so I’m happy to see the small peeks of color shining through.
Anita, I want to comment on your “On a personal note” regarding your trip to Paris. That Cute Guy I Married and I will celebrate our 50th in December this year. Apparently, he has been secretly planning a River Cruise from (Amsterdam to Budapest ( fully booked for this year) and showed me the plan he had for 2015. I looked at him and said, “So I am going to Europe but not to Paris?” He asked, “Paris, why Paris?” I said, “Because I am female and I have been dreaming about Paris since I was 5!” “And, if you take me to Europe and not to Paris, I’ll be staying in Europe, and will go to Paris, alone!” He called the travel agent and told him that “he” also wanted to tag Paris on the beginning of our trip next year. I also loved you story about being one thing and taking a look at what you wanted to really do and getting it done. At 40 I took horse riding lessons and by 42 had two horses and was showing in dressage and jumping every weekend – won tons of ribbons, boosted my self esteem to the roof of the barn and had the time of my life. Lovely to change the corners of our homes but even better to change how we see ourselves. Hugs from you friend on the west coast of Canada – hope all is well with you and your family. xxx …barby