Dancing on White

I've been hiding something from you.

I don't think I ever shared the incredibly ugly "desk" in my kitchen with you.

*snort*

Probably for good reason.

Take a look at it....

but don't linger too long.

It's reeeeally ugly.

Lovely boring, beige, swirly patterned, 1980's laminate.

Yeah, I know.  I know.
That television is now considered an antique, I'm sure....
We want to buy one of those under-the-shelf type ~
soon.
 It's just not top priority right now, unfortunately. 


See that ugly, bumpy tile on the wall?
It's the same thing that's on our counters.
We hate it.
It was tan when we moved here.
I painted it white immediately.
It will be replaced....someday...
with white bead board backsplash
and a soapstone-type counter.



Anyway, in an attempt to "pretty up" that desk space,
I made an under-the-counter skirt from leftover drop cloth fabric.
I didn't even pull out a sewing machine.
I don't have one.

I used that seam binding heat tape stuff to create the rod pocket,
slipped in a tension rod
and ta-da!
Instant French country!

(Just one more way to bring more white into the kitchen
without painting the cabinets.)

I had originally considered painting that laminate top with

Annie Sloan chalk paint.

In fact, I checked with a distributor who said it would work 

if I put three or four coats of poly on top for protection.

But while whitewashing my wicker baskets recently,

I had an "ah-ha" moment.

After some scrounging around in our barn for a while,
sorting through all the scrap, trim, and barn wood, 

I hauled out a 2"x28' board.

(Should have seen me maneuver THAT monster down the loft stairs...
Pulled a muscle in my shoulder doing it....
but by George...
I did it myself!)

It had a lovely, weathered gray patina.

I hoisted it over my shoulder, made like a lumberjack, 

and walked into hubby's tool room in the garage.

He looked up from what he was doing,

and I was met with the usual 

"Uh-oh....." 

and the ever infamous

eye-roll.

After I explained the vision bouncing around in my head,

he actually agreed 

(reeeallly.....??)

it would be a great idea

AND

 went to work on my vision immediately!

Will wonders never cease....???

Out came the measuring tape, pencil, square, and saw.

Hubby: "Do NOT do that happy dance right now!

    I'm trying to cut this straight!!!"

Me: (bouncing up and down) "Okay!  Okaaaayyy!!! 

But this is going to look soooo gooooood!"

Hubby:  "Stop your dancing!!!!"

Me:  "Not even a liiiiitle.....??"

Hubby:  (now bellowing) "NO!"

Me:  (mumbling)....."Party pooper....."

When he threw me the hairy eyeball

I knew I needed to stand still.

We cut and we he wood glued.

We used some cool vintage wooden clamps to hold the boards together while they dried overnight.

See that jaw dropping gray patina...?

The following day

I hauled that beautiful but h-e-a-v-y future desk top to the backyard

for a wash.

A whitewash.

I used the same technique that I did on my wicker baskets.

Watered down a little Annie Sloan "Old White" chalk paint,

and had a bucket of water and a clean brush ready.

I worked in sections.

Paint - then water,

letting the milky white watered down paint run down the boards, 

catching in the crevices and knot holes.

I gave it two coats of whitewash.

Yum.....

After a couple hours drying time, I used my little palm sander to distress it.

I lugged it inside to the kitchen
(another monumental task)

and laid in on top of the bottom cabinets.

I painted on light coat of AS clear wax,

let it dry for a couple hours,

then buffed and buffed and buffed.

BEFORE

AFTER

I couldn't wait to show hubby.

When he walked in the door that evening,

I could have sworn that I saw a weeee bit of happy dance touch his toes

as he said,

"Ya know.....THAT was the best idea you've come up with yet!"

We both stood there smiling stupidly

and petted the table for a while ~

oohhing and aahhing.

We loved it.

It was a good thing.

Hubby:  "You can happy dance on your table now....."

Me:  "I am....."

{ Hugs }

PS  Please keep sweet Anne in your prayers.
Her momma passed away this week.
She is hurting..

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