This project began as an amazing find by my bestie, who just so happens to work at an apartment complex and is in a position to grab see all the 'stuff' people leave behind when they move! She knew that I had been looking for something small to use as a buffet for my back porch transformation and when she saw THIS:
Well, she knew that it was just what I needed!
With her help, I initially sanded it down and painted it white, but I wasn't really happy about how it looked against the brick on the house. It sort of just blended in and the cottage-style table I had refinished for the dining area was also white. Ugh - boring!
Here's the only picture I can find of it in white, but you can get a feel for what I'm talking about. At this point, I was also still trying to figure out what to do with the missing drawer front . . .
And then I spotted THIS beauty in the Pottery Barn catalog last summer and was inspired!
So . . . I stripped off the white on the top and stained it a dark walnut. Then I painted a coat of ochre on the doors and sides before covering everything but the inset panels of the doors with a bright green.
I distressed the whole thing with my sander so that the various colors would show through and rubbed the whole piece down with the leftover stain, to give it a more aged/weathered appearance.
Just like my flag project, I was able to use paint samples (and already had the white), so this project cost me very little to complete. Certainly much less than the $999 price tag on the PB inspiration piece! Here they are side by side. What do you think?!
I solved the drawer problem by removing the drawer altogether, painting the inside and using two wicker baskets on the inside instead! They work great and I didn't lose any functionality of the space! The baskets were about $7 each.
I did change the handles on the piece as well, which were regularly $5 each at Hobby Lobby, but since I waited for a sale - I got them both for $5 instead!
It's turned out to be such a cute and serviceable piece that I just love it! And with 100 degree weather predicted this weekend, we'll be spending all our time out back (in the pool) enjoying it too!
Happy summering y'all!
Sharing this sassy project at some or all of these great parties: Under the Table and Dreaming, Totally Overflowing with Creativity, Three Mango Seeds, Classy Cutter, Serenity You, House of Hepworth, Skip to my Lou, LadyBug Blessings, Nap Time Creations, The Style Sisters, Polkadots on Parade, Rae Gun Ramblings,Costal Charm, Not Just a Housewife, Domestically Speaking, The Shabby Creek Cottage, Sumos Sweet Stuff, The Gunny Sack, Gingersnap Crafts, Southern Lovely, Lil Luna, Someday Crafts, The NY Melrose Family, The DIY Dreamer, The Blackberry Vine, Homeworks, The Rustic Pig, Cornerstone Confessions, Kathe with an E, House on the Way, PJH Desgin, Glued to my Crafts, The Crafty Blog Stalker, Seven Alive, Made in a Day, Live Laugh and Love, A Creative Place, Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson, Home and Gardens, It Happens In a Blink, I Gotta Create, Domestic Super Hero, All Pretty Things, Katie's Nesting Spot, 52 Mantels, Truly Lovely, Twinkle in the Eye, Happy Hour Projects, Six Sisters Stuff, Tutus and Tea Parties, Mop It Up Monday, Saturday Show and Tell, Moonlight and Mason Jars, The Scoop, Wow Us Wednesdays, Take-A-Look Tuesday
What a fabulous piece. I love the colors too and perfect for the patio. I would love for you to link up to my ongoing party Inspire Me Tuesday - - -http://www.astrollthrulife.net/2013/06/170th-inspire-me-tuesday.html Hugs, Marty
ReplyDeleteI just did and thanks so much for the invite! I will be back!
DeleteCheers - Jen
Awesome Job, better than the inspiration. I'm looking into new ideas for the new deck we will be building next spring/summer. This is what I like, something different!!
DeleteThis totally came out way better than the Pottery Barn one. This is such an awesome post. I would love it if you would share this post at our WIW linky party. Hope you can join us!
ReplyDeletePaula
ivyandelephants.blogspot.com
Well, I think I will and thanks so much for the invite! Have a great weekend - love your banner/title on your blog btw, and that tilting pitcher is to die for!
DeleteCheers - Jen
Wow, fabulous job! It looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteTherena @ littlebitofpaint.blogspot.com
EXCUSE ME while I ......FALL. IN. LUV.
ReplyDeleteThis is sooo adorable and you did an AWESOME job....don'tchaknow I am gonna be looking for a drink bar for us, too. I LOVE this.
Over from Mrs Olson
Thanks so much for stopping by and checking me out! It makes a girl feel good ya know ;o)
DeleteI love the color! You did a great job.
ReplyDeletegorgeous!! I love how you re-purposed this cabinet Jen! I'm popping around looking for ideas to do the same!
ReplyDeleteenjoy your weekend!
Good luck!
DeleteYou did such a great job! I love it green and shabby! I can tell it is very functional besides wonderful looking! Thanks for sharing at TTF this week.
ReplyDeleteLinda
I like yours better.
ReplyDeleteOooh I love this! So pretty!
ReplyDeleteSam
cooksandcreates.blogspot.com
(Found you on I Should Be Mopping the Floor)
Gorgeous! You saved so much money! JM
ReplyDeleteI like your copy much better! I will have to start looking for a piece that I can refinish for my deck. Great idea. I stopped by from Inspire Me Monday. Hope you stop for a visit.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, so beautiful! What vision you had to get from "that" to "this"! Perfect. Even the hardware accents.
ReplyDeleteThis piece is amazing! You really nailed it as far as copying the pb piece. Love, the layering of colors! Thanks for sharing thiw with SYC. Happy to be following you.
ReplyDeletehugs,
Jann
What a fantastic job! Love the colors you ended up with and it looks great! Visiting from the diy dreamer today :)
ReplyDeleteOoh! I like the shabby chic style and I'm always a sucker for green. Very nice job!
ReplyDeleteToodles,
Sara
Great job! It looks just like it! Thank you for joining Home Sweet Home!
DeleteSherry
I loved this! I think your piece is even better than the one from Pottery Barn. This post is a Dare to Share Feature of the Day! Thank you so much for linking up.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.pamspartyandpracticaltips.com/2013/07/copycat-buffet-feature-of-day.html
That's so awesome!! Thank you so much!!!
DeleteNearly perfect imitation of the Pottery Barn piece - LOVE it! You did a fantastic job - I do appreciate you sharing with Home and Garden Thursday,
ReplyDeleteKathy
Wow!!! I love this version far more than the original. Thank you so much for sharing at Redoux, sharing today at my party at 2:00 PST. Happy 4th!
ReplyDeleteOh my!! Thank you! I have gotten a lot of great feedback on this piece but feature spots are high compliments indeed! Especially with so many great things to choose from at your party each week!
DeleteI am so excited!
LOVE this! It's absolutely gorgeous and I want one for our balcony. Found you via Redoux :)
ReplyDelete~Katie @ Upcycled Treasures
Jen this is BEAUTIFUL! I am in love with the colors too! Fantastic work! :)
ReplyDeleteThis is just darling better then PB's I love it. I wanted to share it in a roundup but didn't see Craft-O-Maniac linked up. I would love to invite you to re-link it again tomorrow evening, so I can share it. Thanks a bunch, Jen
ReplyDeleteThanks so much - feature spots are such a compliment! And I love partyin' at your place. So many great ideas linked up each week!
ReplyDeleteHope you had a wonderful 4th!
So fun!! What a great copycat project!
ReplyDeleteI featured you this week: http://www.52mantels.com/2013/07/diy-home-decor.html
Featuring this on my Friday Favorites post today :)
ReplyDelete~Katie @ Upcycled Treasures
http://upcycledtreasures.com
I love the PB inspiration piece, but I think your piece is even better! I love the shuttered doors and the green is perfect! And not only is it pretty, but functional and thrifty too! Totally awesome!
ReplyDeleteI like yours better than Pottery Barn's.
ReplyDelete