An overdue re-do

I bought this ugly shelf at a huge yard sale last year (remember this dresser?  same sale)  .. I really debated about taking it because it’s one of those more open-grain woods that I really don’t like.  I got it with a ton of other stuff for $5.. so technically it cost around 50 cents or less… so I just threw it in the mix!

Last night I finally started making it over.  After removing that ugly wooden knob and sanding off that varnish, I painted it barn red, and sanded it back a bit for wear.  I then took some Tudor Brown Briwax to it.  Oh.. I found Briwax in an unfinished furniture store in my city a week ago.. took me a bit to figure out how it works.. lol..  but I think I like it now!  I’ve been searching everywhere online to find a retailer and didn’t have much luck.  The only place in Canada where I could find it was Western Canada and I live in Southwestern Ontario.  Imagine my shock when I went into that store to look around and found it, in every colour!!  After using it on a piece and not liking it, I decided to read the instructions.. LOL..  and found out that it liquifies in warm weather so I had to bring it back to a solid.  Once I did that I really enjoyed the finish.. I think Briwax will be my new bff now!

Back to the shelf :D  ..

I put it on a section of kitchen wall that has an ugly phone jack on it.. since I don’t have a landline this is just an eyesore.  The shelf is straighter on the wall than it looks.. lol.  It might be hard to see but I added a little piece of wire at the bottom.  I also replaced the wooden knob with a crystal-look one.

Here it is, all loaded up!  I added my wooden potato mashers, wooden paddle and a hand chopper (I think that’s what it is!), got them all at a yard sale a few weeks ago (see this post).  I also added a couple of painted wooden spoons sticking out of the drawer and my little Raggedy Ann doll that was a gift from my friend Lex of Northwindstar Primitives (check her Etsy shop for awesome handmade prims!).  I hung a handmade Raggedy towel (purchased from a coworker) from the wire.   I love how it turned out!