Vintage Map Side Table

Half way through September already... crikey this month is flying by! We've had some lovely Indian Summer-like weather the past couple of weeks, but I can't help feel excited with the prospect of autumnal weather, crisp mornings and snuggley winter boots and jumpers just around the corner! Love this time of year. I'm even spending a considerable amount of time looking and Chrismassy things on pinterest already... or perhaps I shouldn't admit that!

Anyway, I wanted to share a recent up-cycle project with you today...
Buried in a pile of bits waiting to go on the bonfire, I rescued this little side table from my brother's allotment. The veneer was completely scratched and flaking off, and it really had seen better days, but it was still a solid piece. I wasn't quite sure what to do with it at the time but i really liked the shape so it came home with me.

I took the sander to it, to see what I was dealing with, and it came up lovely! The scratches were only really in the veneer so it didn't take too much elbow grease to sand. The dark colour of the veneer blended in the sanded wood did give charming sort of a shabby chic finish, so I did debate leaving it unpainted. But instead, I painted the legs and around the top, and kept the top bare to showcase the lovely rustic wood.

I used Rustoleum Chalk Paint, in Butterscotch - I really like this paint. I goes on very well and is much easier to use than a couple of other more budget friendly chalk paints I've tried. Also the clear wax in the same range is great. I used a layer of this to finish to protect the paint and give it a slight sheen.

I found some cute little brass knobs with vintage maps on Ebay which then gave me the idea to line the draw with vintage maps too. I actually printed some vintage maps from the internet to line the draw. They went in nice and easily, with no tantrums! Then with a few layers of PVC glue, its very durable and just gives it a nice little finishing touch.

And there she is!.. Ta-da! I'm so please with how this has turned out. 

I will be selling this, so have a look on my Facebook page Dovecote Decor. If you're local to Northampton and interested in buying it, please message or comment for details.

Thanks for reading, and I'll be back soon for more project stories :)

Claire xx

A Year on..

A year on since my first and only post...

I could be annoyed with myself that I didn't carry it on after starting like I had planned or that I didn't achieve what I had hope in the past year. However,  I have had a pretty amazing past year!
I had the trip of a lifetime to New Zealand and the Cook Islands on my honeymoon with the Mr at the end of 2015, and have spent this year so far working on small furniture projects in between making the most of a pretty good British summer.

Here are just a handful of some of my favourite honeymoon pics..

I really had the most amazing time. We travelled around for just a few weeks, but I have never seen anywhere as beautiful and natural as New Zealand. Oh and the cook Islands - total picture postcard paradise!.. I would go back in a heart beat.

Now that I have taken a year or so to enjoy our first year as a wife, I've had the time out I think I needed to think about what I actually want to do.

Thats about it for today but check back soon as I have lots of recent furniture projects to share!..

In the mean time, check out @dovecotedreamer on Instagram - there will soon be a Facebook page too :)



Claire xx