Because we’ve been dabbling in the art of Home-Selling (more on that later this week), we’ve been decluttering like crazy. Like maniacs.
Like people who aren’t really thinking about what things are useful and what aren’t.
There was a wooden tray that had been kicking around the house for a couple of years. In a tornado of cleaning, I chucked it onto the pile of “Donate” boxes by the front door.
Then I grabbed it back.
This tray was a gift from my sister, eons ago. It had seen its fair share of cups and appetizer plates. And as a result, it was scratched and dinged looking just plain tired.
I broke out the primer first.
Yeah, it still looks rough, I know. Primer always makes me nervous, even though I know that it’s covering my butt.
Then, I brought out this! Woot! I’m so excited!
I was in a small gift/decor shop when I saw a Miss Mustard Seed display. The colour I chose was Eulalie Sky. The swatch on the package was quite bright, but the shop owner assured me that it was a much more muted colour.
… and it was.
I put two coats of paint on the tray. Then, I distressed it. Of course I did. You guys know how much I love to wield that sander!
Milk paint goes on like a wash, so it may need a few coats if you’re looking for more of a solid-colour. I put a coat of wax on top of it (for that gorgeously smooth finish), and then brought it inside.
The espresso colour of the previous stain came through with the “artistic sanding” of the piece. I love love LOVE how it turned out!
The tray now has pride-of-place in our living room, atop my other DIY-tastic piece, the recovered ottoman.
I use it to hold cups of tea, to feature a few coffee table books, little knick-knacks…
… or a beautiful bouquet of flowers from a friend.
Which just so happens to match perfectly with my Kate Spade book (sans jacket – I love its brazen colour!). Hello gorgeous!
This tray was almost chucked out the door, and now it’s one of my most favourite living room pieces! It’s just another reminder that by grabbing a paint brush (and maybe a sander, if like “wrecking” your stuff like me), you can quickly and easily transform decor!
What about you guys? Have you ever nearly-chucked something, only to realize that it was a diamond in the rough?
And then maybe your husband sighed, “It’s official. You’re a hoader.”
**This post first appeared on One Artsy Mama
45 comments
Kenz @ Interiors by Kenz
Hot dang! Look at that tray with it’s milk-paint makeover. It looks so good. A true cinderella tale!
Tara
Hot dang, indeed!
You know I have to steal that phrase and use it incessantly now. 🙂
Shauna @ Satori Design for Living
We speak the same language (and our husbands do too)! I did a similar thing with a tray a couple years ago, only mine was much uglier. Some paint and wallpaper, and now it looks fantastic. P.S. Love your book!
Tara
Oooh… thank you. Some awesome gal gave it to me!
I want to see your wallpaper treatment! Is it on your blog?
Bronwyn MayB
Pretty! Good job.
Tara
Thank you so much, Bronwyn! I think it’s a “pretty” piece, too!
Kelly @ A Swell Place to Dwell
oh…don’t you love milk paint? It’s so fun and different. Your tray looks fantastic now….of course! Looking forward to hearing the house updates.
Tara
I had a lot of fun with milk paint (it was my first go ’round with the stuff, so I’m looking forward to trying out new colours). And the house updates??? Oh man… even I’m not really sure what’s happening right now. I’ll keep you posted!
Cynthia @ A Button Tufted Life…
What a lovely piece! It was a diamond in the rough and now… The jewel in the crown!
I have always loved to repurpose things and give them a new life! Infact we repurposed an antique hoop top door from the salvage yard and designed a new home around it!
Tara
Oh, thank you so much, Cynthia! And I totally believe that a door can inspire an entire home (I feel like I’ve read that post… you’ve written about it, right?)
Sheila @sZinteriors
Beautiful and so cheerful too! I shouldn’t be surprised anymore, but it still amazes me what a little paint will do! Great job!!!
Tara
Paint is such an amazing thing… it can completely transform a piece, and with -really – not all that much effort. Thank you so much, Sheila!
Jo-Anna
So funny! Would have kept it too! I love the ‘new’ look…it’s such a great colour!
Tara
Thanks, Jo-Anna! I’ve fallen in love with “Eualalie’s Sky”. I’m looking forward to trying some of the other MMS colours; I’ll have to start scouting out tired old wooden furniture! 🙂
Kim @ thequirkyduck
That tray is so LUSH! And I love that Kate Spade book colour on it. Fabulous darling, fabulous 😉
Tara
Oh, thank you, Kim. The book is a good one. I highly recommend it!
Andrea
Wow it turned out fantastic. I have a long line-up of stuff waiting to be milk painted. Think I need to add a tray too…
Time WIth Thea
love! Love! LOVE this DIY project. Great clear instructions too! ~Thea
Time WIth Thea
I also meant to say I’ve got to get me some of that milk paint! ~Thea
Danni@SiloHillFarm
Looks lovely and I can’t believer you almost tossed it! I have a whole shed full of “almost tossed” stuff just waiting for me to get busy! I hope you enter that over at Miss Mustard Seed’s blog. Any luck on the house sale yet?
Inspire Me Heather
Yay for the little tray that didn’t get chucked! It does look so pretty sitting there on your beautiful ottoman, love the colour!!
Bethany
So glad you didn’t throw it out! It turned out amazing! Great job 🙂
Tara
Thank you so much, Bethany! It makes me wonder what I HAVE thrown out that could have been saved!
Tia
Milk paint is haunting me! “Doooo a prooooject” *ghost voice, obviously* This tray is rocking my socks. Good update & inspiration!!
Tara
Yes, get some milk paint. Paint something. And then tell me all about it and show me pictures! I’m loving it!
Alex
Hoarder? I have no idea what you’re speaking of *cough* basement *cough*.
I don’t know what it is but I think there is some unwritten blogging law that if you paint anything in aqua or turquoise it will almost always look better. And this is coming from a wood purist.
Tara
You’re so right. Turquoise is always right. I don’t know why… but it always is.
And I guess I prefer to call it “collecting”, rather than hoarding. Sound so much more… sane?
Dannyelle @ www.lifeisaparty.ca
That’s a great make-over. Love, love the new colour!
Tara
Thank you so much, Dannyelle! I love the colour, too!
Karen@NourishWithKaren
Gorgeous! I want one….
Tara
Oh, you can have one! Just find a junky tray and slap some paint on it! (Then sand it strategically, of course!)
Marilyn
Tara, this tray is gorgeous! What a beautiful job you’ve done! I also love the pop of color your Jacket-less Kate Spade book adds to your tray display!
Tara
Oh, thank you, Marilyn! It’s one of my favourite pieces in the living room now!
Laurie @ Vin’yet Etc.
I love it, that tray looks adorable! I love all of the pops of colour, so fresh and bright. Your sander made me laugh out loud though… don’t get me wrong, it’s an awesome sander. The size of it compared to your little tray made me laugh, you need to get one of those little Black and Decker mouse sanders, so small, fast AND it won’t vibrate the daylights out of your hand! 😉
Tara
I probably should get a little sander. Trouble is, I just make do with what I have. So… it’s my giant belt sander for all projects! 🙂 You should see me when I just grab the impact driver instead of the cordless screwdriver (because it’s closer). I have a bit of Tim the Tool Man Taylor syndrome! 😉
Dani @ lifeovereasy
I love it Tara! The colour is gorgeous, and the brown showing through really enhances it. Obviously you have a great touch with a sander!
Tara
Oh, thank you, Dani. I think that the sander mostly has a mind of his own. I owe a lot to his artistic flair! 😉
Krista
Lol my husband always calls me a hoarder. Come to think of it, maybe I am. Hmm. Love love your tray! Must try milk paint. I love the way it shines after waxing. So pretty.
Tara
Oh, Krista – you’ll love milk paint! It’s so nice to work with!
Tanya@TakeSix
What a shame it would have been if you had thrown it out! Great job! Love the color!
Tara
Isn’t it funny how a split decision can completely change a project!? I nearly chucked this previously ugly old thing, and now I’m buying other hideous trays at garage sales and thrift stores in hopes of changing them into masterpieces!
Anne@DesignDreams
That is so pretty! I love that colour too. Although your post has convinced me that I am NOT painting my kitchen cabinets with milk paint. Too many coats would be needed, so I’m going to opt for home made chalk paint.
Just kill me now… 😉
Tara
Oh, Anne – I don’t know that I would do cabinets in milk paint either. I’m sure you could… but milk paint likes to distress itself and with the high traffic of kitchen cupboards and non-stop wiping? I don’t know if it would be the best decision.
I’m going to be working with something called Plaster Paint this week (it’s an inexpensive chalk paint) – you should check it out!
Jen @ Go Green
Great transformation! I love the look of it 🙂
Tara
Thank you so much, Jen! I’m quite taken with the colour!