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Reality Daydream

The Dream is Free, The Hustle Sold Separately

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China Cabinet and Server

November 8, 2011 by Bethany Sy

These hefty pieces of furniture have been occupants of our garage for at least a year. We bought this china cabinet and server for dirt cheap on craigslist, and knew we could at least slightly improve their appearance. All pieces are well-built and structurally sound. Just needed a bit of a face-lift… primarily losing that awkward blue-green wash. Below is the BEFORE pic (doesn’t it look like we have a warehouse of china cabinets? The one in the background is the Drexel we did for a client last winter… it was just waiting to be picked up when this photo was taken).

With me being pregnant for the majority of the previous year, this project got put on hold until I bore me some babies. But I jumped right on it as soon as I was physically capable! I wanted these peices to be neutral enough to fit in anyone’s dining room, but with our signature pop of color… because not everyone can pull off a royal blue china cabinet in their dining room.

Knowing that we were going to paint these pieces white with an antique glaze, we hit the backboard (as well as the top surface of the server) with Krylon Ivy Leaf, and used our trusty overhead projector to map out this bold paisley design!

I traced it onto the backboard with a white colored pencil…

And then tediously painted all the tiny details… 4 coats in all. Yowza.

I love the graphic details and visual interest the design provides! Without it, this would be just another boring piece of white furniture with brown glaze.

You can see we did the same hand-painted paisley graphics on the server as well.

We’re relieved to have these pieces DONE! And I’m happy to have them adorn my home until we can sell them! (You can’t tell in the pictures, but we still have an issue with cracked glass to address before we sell these puppies). Hehe… OOPS.

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About Bethany Sy

Nick and Bethany Sy are the creative free-spirits behind DIY/Lifestyle blog, Reality Daydream. They recently purchased a historic mansion and have been documenting the ups and downs of renovation and making this home their own... all while sharing tips and tutorials along the way! When they found themselves in the trenches of infertility, they started a journey that would prove to be their most important DIY project ever, and have 3 beautiful girls to show for it. <3

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Comments

  1. 19

    ~Maria~ says

    January 22, 2014 at 11:42 am

    I love that you carried on the design from the backboard to the fold out server section of the buffet. It’s a nice pop of unexpected color!

    Reply
  2. 20

    Deb says

    April 28, 2013 at 4:36 pm

    If you don’t mind my asking…WHERE did you get that paisley pattern? I absolutely LOVE it!

    Reply
    • 21

      Beth @ Sawdust and Embryos says

      April 29, 2013 at 4:32 am

      It was just a stock photo that I found online and tweaked a little. If you’ll email me, I can send it to you as an attachment! sawdustandembryos@gmail.com

      Reply
  3. 22

    Bethany says

    December 7, 2011 at 1:43 pm

    we used Krylon glossy white, and a black/brown glaze mix.

    Reply
  4. 23

    Anonymous says

    December 7, 2011 at 3:31 am

    If you don’t mind me asking, what color paint and glaze did you use on the outside? Beautiful!!

    Reply
  5. 24

    Bethany says

    November 10, 2011 at 1:20 pm

    To those in Iowa interested in purchasing… send us an email! sawdustandembryos@gmail.com

    Reply
  6. 25

    Grete Tiemeier says

    November 10, 2011 at 9:14 am

    How much are you asking for them?

    Reply
  7. 26

    Alyssa says

    November 10, 2011 at 5:16 am

    Sell them? Sell them!! Gah! I wish we lived closer, I would buy them in a heartbeat! They are beautiful! Where do you come up with the ideas fofpr these things??

    Reply
  8. 27

    LisaW says

    November 9, 2011 at 11:30 pm

    WOW! They look amazing!! That pop of bright green is exactly what those pieces needed.

    Reply
  9. 28

    Mary C. says

    November 8, 2011 at 11:46 pm

    omg, cannot express how much I LOVE what you did with those pieces! color and pattern! and simplicity!

    Reply
  10. 29

    Caryline says

    November 8, 2011 at 8:27 pm

    Beautiful =) I’d LOVE to have the server in my house!

    Reply
  11. 30

    Renee' says

    November 8, 2011 at 5:23 pm

    OMG they are gorgeous! Do not let them leave your home. They belong there!

    Reply
  12. 31

    Anonymous says

    November 8, 2011 at 4:57 pm

    Keep them! They are gorgeous! 🙂

    Reply
  13. 32

    Megan says

    November 8, 2011 at 4:37 pm

    They are SO gorgeous!

    Reply
  14. 33

    Anonymous says

    November 8, 2011 at 3:41 pm

    They are beautiful and look great in your house with that wall color! How will you ever sell them?!

    Reply
  15. 34

    Maren Layne says

    November 8, 2011 at 3:11 pm

    Beautiful!

    Reply
  16. 35

    Kerri HollyMuffin says

    November 8, 2011 at 3:11 pm

    This is absolutely gorgeous. I can’t believe how wonderful it looks, the green is amazing. I’m so jealous!!!
    xoxo
    kerri at HollyMuffin

    Reply
  17. 36

    Anonymous says

    November 8, 2011 at 2:31 pm

    I love these! Will you be selling them online?

    Reply
  18. 37

    .Amelia.Bedelia. says

    November 8, 2011 at 2:05 pm

    Oh my goodness! This is phenominial! I love the design & green! GREAT JOB!! -Amy

    Reply

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We are Nick and Bethany! Welcome to our blog, Reality Daydream where we share our DIY adventures!
Click here for lots of art projects using only wood stain on furniture!!
Please feel free to share or pin my posts! You're welcome to use ONE of my images (no collages or pinnables) with a link back to the corresponding post. Please do not edit or crop that single image in any way. Improper use of my photos, ideas or words is a violation of copyright. Thank you!

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Attention: Almost any do-it-yourself project involves risk of some sort. Your tools, materials, and skills will vary, as will the conditions at your project site. Reality Daydream has made every effort to be complete and accurate in the instructions of the plans on this website. Reality Daydream will not assume any responsibility or liability for damages or losses sustained or incurred in the course of your project or in the use of the item you create. Always follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions in the use of tools, check and follow your local building codes, and observe all commonly accepted safety precautions.

 

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