Friday Guest: Sarah from The Thriftress (And a Big Announcement!!!)

Happy Friday!  I have had quite an insane week... sending both kids off to full time school for the first time ever, winning some awesome pillows from Amber Interiors, cutting my leg open and getting it stapled back together, and finding out I am a finalist in the Country Living Blue Ribbon Blogger awards!!!!!!   Yes, I received an email about that last one Tuesday night and I did not say a word because I felt like it wasn't real.  I had to know it was true before I told you all!  I am just so excited that someone even nominated me in the first place, and then to become a finalist!  Well, that is exciting stuff!  UPDATE: PAGE IS UP- just use the link provided!  There will be a page up later where you can vote for a reader's choice award, and I will be begging asking you nicely pretty please with a cherry on top to head over and vote for me.  You can vote every day!  And I have to tell you, I really appreciate your vote as a reader's choice, because when I saw that I am up against my friend, Karianne at Thistlewood Farms, I knew I did not stand a chance to actually win in the decorating category.  That girl is amazing!  ( I actually emailed my family to beg for votes and my dad said he checked out Thistlewood, and had to vote for her.  Thanks, Dad).  I still can't believe it's real, just like I can't believe there are a bunch of staples in my leg.  After such an eventful week, I am thinking that a relatively stress free weekend is in order.

Anyhow, to wrap up this crazy week, I have a fabulous guest poster who happens to be a fabulous friend of mine as well as an awesome business partner in our venture, persephone.  Sarah, aka The Thriftress,  is one talented and creative lady and I am so lucky to have her in my life!  It's so fun to do something you love with someone you love who makes it even more fun!  Sarah is going to share with you an awesome makeover today (you are going to L-O-V-E it!).  Before we get to that I am going to show you a couple of my favorite images from Sarah's blog....
How cute is her daughter's room?  The bright green Jenny Lind bed is amazing!




And an all time favorite is her Christmas mantle from last year.... How awesome is that deer?


Sarah has a great style and mixes traditional with edgy vintage.... I think you are going to love her if you don't already!  Here she is...


Hello Primitive and Proper readers!  I'm Sarah from the blog The Thriftress and I am beyond thrilled to be here today.  This week I've been doing a series of furniture before and after projects at my blog.  What better way to end this week-long extravaganza than with a furniture transformation guest post for my pal Cassie?

I found this little guy via Craigslist.  I loved the petite size and campaign style - perfect for the small space where I needed a desk in our family room.

When I picked up the desk I discovered that it was actually handmade and not a manufactured vintage piece as I had believed.  Luckily the desk was solidly built and only $10 bucks.  But the before is pretty brown and blah.  We can do something about that right?

I started the makeover by removing the hardware and drawers.  I gave the body of the desk a good cleaning and quick sanding to smooth out a few scratches and dings.  Then I applied two coats of homemade chalk paint using Glidden paint plus primer in Deepest Aqua.   (I love to make my own chalk paint with paint plus primer.  The coverage is perfect if you want a minimally distressed or sleek, solid finish for your piece.)

At first, I considered painting a herringbone pattern on the drawer fronts.  But after the desk body was dry I put the drawers back in and loved the contrast between the dark wood and aqua paint.  This look totally works in our warm, rustic family room and my brown chevron curtains!
For the finishing touches the hardware was rub n buffed with antique gold and I scored the fabulous barrel back rolling chair at my local Salvation Army for $20. I think they make quite the pair.

I've been blogging from this spot for a few days and find that I am way more productive here than lounging on the couch.  The kids went back to school this week and I've found a way to capture a little bit of that scholarly excitement for myself!

I even perched my business card on the corner of the desk in an antique frog as a little reminder to stay focused.

I love my new desk so much it inspired a mantel project you can check out here. Thanks for joining me for this campaign desk makeover and thanks to Cassie for having me!

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