G’day sweeties. How you going?
Well we are back from Northern NSW…for those of you who asked we stayed in Salt…we had a great time and particularly enjoyed the last couple of days on the beach…the water and temps up there were just right for me…I like the water pretty warm and spent hours in there with the kiddos…
Yesterday before heading to the airport we went over the border to Queensland and were on the beach for most of the morning and into the afternoon…Mr Teenage BC spent all of that time in the surf…when he came out he was exhausted and had a very long face…head down etc…we all asked him what on earth was wrong and in true teenage fashion he shrugged and said not much…so we left it. We gathered up our stuff and started walking up the beach to the car where he lagged behind. I asked him if he was ok? Well not really he replied. I asked if he had been dumped and had hurt himself in the surf. No. Well what then?
Oh you know I just *wished *wished we lived up here. Why can’t the surf be like this where we live?
Ahhhh. That was a funny moment for me…a girl from Blighty re-located to the sunnier climes of Australia…and here we have my Honeymoon baby be-moaning the waves on one of the most famous beaches in the world…I never thought I’d hear that ;-)
Anyhooo. Let’s get back to BC coastal decorating business huh?
This is that box that I showed you the other week that I found on the side of the road (more on that here)…the one that I pleaded with my kids to jump out of the car and get for me while we were on the school run and not one of the little dahlings would do…this is how it looked before (and find more transformations at Gina’s here)
and now
This came out better than I had hoped…all along really it was going to be a veggie planter as I am right into growing my own salads and stuff and am having much success in the little patch that I have done, but the garden is very sandy and so I thought filling this with quality soil and planting it up would be great.
But then once it was cleaned up, repaired and painted with a wash of white I thought it would be nice on the deck or in the hall for shoes as many of you advised.
I did buy some castors for it too, taking the recommendation of a couple of the comments but to be quite honest, I didn’t like that look at all…so it has stayed wheel-less.
I wanted to put some kinda stencil/letters on it and initially I marked out the word ‘beach’. Nup.
Then ‘beach days’. Double nup.
That all looked a bit, you know, coochy-coo.
So I just went for random numbers and ‘bc’ ….I tried to do them unevenly, influenced by the lettering on the old sea trunk that came over from Hungary, that lives in my Sitting Room, that I found at a garage sale.
I didn’t want these to be really dark and thought about using some craft paint that I have in my stash that is a metallic silver…but when I traced the outline with the pencil the silvery muted grey of the lead grey was just what I was after anyway so I just coloured in the stencils with that…next I was going to rub over the stencilling with some sandpaper to scruff it up a bit….thankfully I tried this out first underneath on a test letter…and of course all it did was blur the pencil and look a complete mess…so I just left it as it is…
To get the white ‘wash’ on this rather than a full white paint job (I wanted the wood feel to still be there) I just simply sloshed some white water-based/emulsion paint into a paint tray and then added enough water until there was a milk-like consistency…then it is just a case of slapping it on until you get the ‘wash’ you like…
as you can see I wanted just a hint of paint here…I was trying to get it so that it seemed a driftwoody/sunbleached colour
and that I think, is it from me
stop by tomorrow for Good Life Wednesdays with your pics and posts…and there is a BC Giveaway coming up
I’d LOVE to hear what you think of my box if you’ve got time…I’m thinkin’ not bad for free huh? …collected on a mad dash from the side of the road, washed with paint I already had and stencilled with a pencil…can’t get much more beachy on a budget than that in my book….I was wondering how much this might cost me in one of those stores…you know the ones….whaddya think?
BC Good Life Wednesdays tomorrow …join the party ;-)
ladder : thrifted lantern : made from jam jar adirondacks : BC Store soon
wellies : Hunter box : side of road rug : IKEA
…Well that looks GREAT!…I like the random #!
that looks perfect! you have such a knack for staging- the boots next to it… love that! my husband gets annoyed with me because i keep my blue and white star wellies out in my bedroom because i think thye look great and make me happy. he thinks they should go int he closet. silly boy! :)
Oh it is just gorgeous! Love how it turned out. Beautiful!
I love the way it turned out. Look like the numbers were there all the time. Did you just water down the white paint and wash it on?
Hmmm, why don’t we have those amazing roadside finds in the states? You find amazing things on the side of the road! Love the makeover!
love it!
That truly is one expensive looking makeover!!! You were so lucky to find that fantastic box, and so clever to make it look so chic. Did you go over the pencil with anything to keep it from smudging or washing away? I am ever so slightly jealous of your fabulous deck with said fabulous box, BTW…
I think it turned out great. Love the letters instead of the words. Like the BC too, glad you dropped the words…I don’t think it would have looked as great. The numbers (and wash) add a more vintage feel. Color and lettering are perfect. The only thing I would have done is for the numbers, I might have picked numbers that had some meaning for you and Mr. BC or the family. So let’s say you met on March 14, 1991, the numbers might be 31491 or something like that-only you would know the meaning but it would make it more personal. Looks great on the deck.
I can also see a future post, with a glass pitcher of lemonade, staged with lemons, etc. on top of the chest, in true Sarah style, lol.
Love it! Beautiful color. Might just have to make one for my beach house.
What a cute makeover! I love all things beach too! I’d love if you’d stop over for a visit.
Barb
loving that embelished box you have & i love it that your threw in those rubber boots!
Well done!! I love the random letters/numbers – looks really great. The photograph with the Wellies is adorable. ;o)
Very cool…great job on the lettering!
Cheers,
Tanya
Absolutely gorgeous!
I love that you went with the random numbers. It definitely retains the vintage vibe more than actual words (unless those words had been original to the box. I have a quality milk crate with dairy’s name on it.)
Awesome!
I found you through The Shabby Chic Cottage. I love your style and I’m your newest follower.
-Aaron {the girl with the boys name}
http://www.mudpiesandmarigolds.blogspot.com
I was waiting to hear that Mr. Teenager was moody because he was leaving a girl. I guess that happens in the movies instead. Maybe that’s a hint you need to take another vacation there though.
Hard to believe you got such a nice looking design with a pencil. I wouldn’t have thought to do that, but the designs on your box look great!
Just found your site from My Repurposed Life. Beautiful. I love your design, your photos, everything is so fresh and pretty. Oh, and this post too! Great find, great transformation.
Jen
Scissors & Spatulas
thanks too kind!
Sarah! this is gorgeous! you did a great job, and I’m glad you left the casters off!
“catching” you this week @ ccc (thursday night)
gail
I love how simple and darling this is! It was the perfect choice to give it a light white wash. Lovely job :)
Fantastic!
Joyfully,
Elizabeth Ann
Gorgeous. I need to find a trunk like this and white wash it.
Hi Sarah – I need your help! I just found a box like yours at a garage sale except mine has a hinged lid on it. I want to use it in the house but it’s filthy and full of moths right now. How do you clean your “treasures” up?? I love the whitewash treatment you gave yours, I want to do the same!!!
Thanks!
Cheers,
Hi Sarah. Love this project, it’s just beautiful! I’ll be featuring it on Craft Gossip tomorrow morning. Thanks for inspiration!
If you would like a “featured by” button, you can grab one here!
http://homeandgarden.craftgossip.com/grab-a-craft-gossip-button/
I also love the white-wash you did on this old crate, and it is such a nice addition to your deck. Congratulations on such a “find” by the wayside!
I love your box!!!! And I’m right there with you. If I see something on the side of the road, none of my kids will hop out and get it either. If I want it, I have to jump out myself! Grrrr!
Love it!….I have an old trunk myself and would love to see the one you said you had in your sitting room :)
Wow, I just found your blog via kidspot and I LOVE it!! Great inspirations thank you! Simple items given a new life, and stenciling! Of course!