Multi color writing desk- "Fionnuala"

  This lovely little writing desk, is one that I purchased from a friend who was selling off a few pieces after moving into her new house. I almost didn't purchase this piece....even though I absolutely loved it....because of all of those little cubbies inside and the slide out writing surface. I am getting lazy in my old age {wink!}....and it seems like the painting never ends sometimes.....those little hidden parts sneak up on me every time I look at the piece......but eventually the light at the end of the tunnel appears and I am always glad I put in the work.I had a client come into the studio looking for a desk, and when I took her in the back... where all the goodies are waiting to be painted......she spotted this piece and decided it was the perfect desk for her. So, we set about coming up with a design plan and off I went!The salmon and black milk paints work perfectly together, and the floral Rifle paper in the drawers almost seems like it was made for the anemone knobs that I had purchased at Anthro over 6 months ago. I knew these knobs would be perfect for something....and this was definitely their purpose, and piece.I named her "Fionnuala"......well, because....that's what I do....and that's who she is.xo,Barb

Bahamas Collection #3 - Althea

I am still working on my Bahamas collection....and this is piece number three out of six! I have a few more to go...but am so excited about this collection and the playful color involved in it all!I discovered this paint color while I was in New York a few weeks ago...and it is a color I have been searching for, for a long time. I very much love any shade of peacock green, and this color nailed it on the head. It is hard to capture it in the photographs....it looks too blue here....and there is so much more green involved....but you'll just have to take my word for it I guess! {wink!}The paper on the drawers is by Rifle Paper Co., and I picked up this roll of paper at my favorite shop, Pink Olive. {also while in NYC} The little orange glass knobs are from long ago and always remind me of pulled taffy candies.The gold and pink paper lining the drawers is vintage....that I picked up at my local thrift.I named this wonderful girl...Althea.....after the sweet and beautiful librarian at the little library on the island of Eleuthera. This library now owns a copy of my book, Furniture Makeovers! How cool is that?!Hope you all enjoy, and if you would like to purchase Althea....pop in the shop, visit the online shop, or get her on etsy here!xo,Barb

3 Dressers + HGTV magazine

I am really excited to introduce you all to three pieces that I did for the current October issue of HGTV magazine! I worked on this project a few months back, but could not show any pictures until the issue went live....so here we go!I had mucho grande fun creating three different looks that could be accomplished in either a few hours, a day, or a weekend. I was given ample creative liberties and enjoyed coming up with design ideas for these furniture gems.Unlike most of my work...these three pieces of furniture were all new, identical, unfinished wood dressers that were purchased from Wood You furniture of Anderson. I can't say enough about the owners of Wood You Furniture. These guys know good customer service and I highly recommend doing business with them. I will most certainly be headed back! {wink}It was both challenging and invigorating for me to push myself outside my comfort zone and actually design pieces from the ground up.....and yes, the decoupage project is a piece ENTIRELY covered in paper! It is because of these projects, that I have all kinds of new things in the works..... and as they come to fruition I will be sharing more with you.I want to highlight one product that I especially loved. For the decal project {on pg 113}, I used one of  Frida Barlow's decal designs from Spoonflower....{I am a huge Spoonflower fan}...and you guys.... you will not believe how cool this product is! Think of contact paper but so much better! It is fabric like, comes in a zillion designs....or better yet,  you can create your own designs! How cool is that!? It is user friendly and very easy to apply. The kicker? You can remove it whenever you wish and it leaves no residue or "craziness" behind. I highly, highly recommend you try some.....the possibilities are endless, and this product will allow you to create some really beautiful and unique designs.All of the project details, including step by step tutorials for each one, are located online here.Hope you all enjoy, and be sure to pick up a copy of HGTV magazine today!Special thanks to Aaron Greene of J Aaron Greene Photography for the beautiful images that he captured for this project.xo,BarbP.S. My little kitty....Bleeker Olive....really wanted to be included in this post, and was so curious about the camera! I figured you all would not mind a little kitty love.

Meet Amicus + Curiae

I just finished these two lovely dressers for a client.....who just happens to be a lawyer.....thus their fabulous names. The phrase Amicus Curiae is derived from a Latin term meaning "friend of the court".These two are most definitely friendly....and above reproach. {wink!} Both pieces are painted with milk paint, the drawers are lined with burnt orange toile, and one piece got new knobs... tall Amicus....while the other....sweet Curiae, kept her original hardware. The reason we kept the original hardware on Curiae is because she belonged to the grandmother of my client...and she wanted to keep the original memories associated with this particular hardware.I concur.xo,Barb

Mint Green + Gold = "Zephy"

This lovely little desk is the second piece in my brand new Bahamas collection! I am recently loving this new mint color and I always love a bit of gold for some shine and jazz. The off center "rays" and dipped legs are my way of describing the beautiful golden sunlight and how it highlights the colors of the Bahamas.The name "Zephy" comes from one of the sweet teenagers that I met in the school day camps that we did. A teenager so full of hope and desire..... with great plans of all the things he wanted to do...and who he wanted to be. He told me he does not like to smile......but I did get him to smile...and I know if he could see this piece it would make him smile again....and that would be cool.Measurements: 42" wide 18 1/4" deep 30 1/4" tallPrice: $625xo,Barb

Sweet Beulah

Here she is....in all her glory! Beulah is the first piece in my brand new Bahamas collection.....and I am so excited to bring to life the beautiful people and places that I experienced while in the Bahamas.Beulah is named after one of the wonderful ladies in charge of the school camp for children that I worked at for two days. Beulah always had a beautiful smile when we arrived, and loved being with the children and playing.After our time at the school was up....I will never forget her tears...mixed with mine....her tight hug as we said "goodbye".....and her plea to "please come back". I hope I get to see her again one day.....But for now....this is the impression that she made on me.....and I am blessed to have crossed paths with sweet Beulah.xo,Barb

Beulah.... Just a peek!

I was not able to get her completely finished and photographed by the end of the day on Friday.....SO, here is a peek until I do!I'll be back later with more!Xo,Barb

I'm baaaaack!

World War II plane. Best flying experience I have ever had. There is just something about not having to go through an airport, or airport security, the plane being full of people you know, and the pilot standing in the cockpit and praying with you before take off....that just takes all of the fear and anxiety away. Did I mention that you can only fly these planes at 11,000 ft due to the cabins not being pressurized, all of our luggage was hanging in cargo nets to the right of us, and the pilot had his window open and arm hanging out while he flew the plane.....no joke! Hah! This kickin bus was our method of transport for the week....and yes....she broke down a couple times....but most of the time she was a champ! The first place we stopped on the way back from the airport called Glass Window Bridge......the Pacific blue waters on the right, and the jade green waters of the Caribbean on the left. Nothing but beautiful everywhere we looked. JB and I were assigned to helping run day camps for the Bahamian and Haitian children, and we cried like babies when camp was over and we had to say goodbye to these precious little ones. They said things like "please don't go", "come back!", "I love you", and "I wish you were my daddy".......things that tore at our heart strings and made us sad.....but we will go back...and I hope to see these little ones again. Typical home life in the neighborhoods and streets of Eleuthera. ...And then there were places like this

and this....

this.....

and then...

This trip was such a great experience, and I am so thankful for every lesson I learned, for new and deeper friendships, and for a new sense of appreciation for life.

I hope you all enjoyed these few glimpses into our trip.....if you would like to see more....and keep up with me on Instagram please go here.

xo,

Barb