Grey Dey Thursdey. . . Vol. I

Last year, as we updated my creative space Studio One,
I was totally smitten with all the shades of gray for home decor.

I struggled with choosing a hue deep enough to show the gray,
but not too deep, as Studio One is in the unfinished portion 
of our lower level On Crooked Creektt!

I wanted something similar in hue to the concrete walls 
that cover two of the three walls in this space.

Mercury silver decor accessories 
were used in the vignette atop the vintage dresser for updating.
I was craving a more elegant and sophisticated style 
for inspiration within my creative space.

The lighting in Studio One is fluorescent,
so keeping the paneled wall a light shade was essential.

My resources, stored on shelves within arms reach,
camouflage much of the paneled wall that lies behind them.

Regardless of the weather on the Prairie outside,
it's always Springtime inside Studio One!

The gray in the faux mourning doves 
is a near match for the Sherwin~Williams, Popular Gray wall color.

Ambient lighting and classical musical, 
combined with the soothing hue of gray wall color, 
makes for an elegant, creative designing space in Studio One.


Until next time. . .

On Crooked Creektt will be joining

Michelle @ Petite Michelle Louise  for

 Grey Dey Thursdey!

It is my wish that you, too, 

will experience the serene and tranquil inspirations 

that only the hue of gray can bring into your life.

Cowgirl Chic. . .

From the moment I first saw this "cast away",
I knew  e x a c t l y  what color it would be!

I know I'm not a furniture whisperer. . .
but I'm sure I heard this four~drawer dresser shouting,
"Make me pretty!"

And so~o~o. . . 
I began with a vision in my head 
of what this petite scarred and homely dresser could become.

First, 
I began with a coat of bonding primer.
On the dresser itself. . .

and all four drawers!

Then,
"Mr. Ed" attached these cute little "bun" feet.

* * * * * * * Tip * * * * * * *
Of course,
"Mr. Ed" always accompanies me
when I go shopping for furniture accessories.

Far too many times, 
I've purchased the wrong item or forgotten the needed hardware!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Before adding these "bun" feet ,
"Mr. Ed" had to cut and attach a bottom board to the cabinet.

Next,
a complete coat of Lampshade Black of Martha Stewart Collection
from Sherwin~Williams Paint gave this petite "little lady" that perfect
Little Black Dress!

No more scarring,
no more scratches. . .
just sleek and streamlined all dressed in Black!

But w a i t  just one minute. . .
the vision from the beginning 
was that this four~drawer dresser would be Red. . .Cherry Red!

Isn't she l o v e l y?


After her Little Black Dress,
I applied a layer of crackle medium.

The hardest part is the required amount of wait time
before brushing on a coat of Cherry Red and observing
the character building this process brings to the piece of furniture.

Finally,
 two coats of sealer were applied atop the red.

After which, 
"Mr. Ed" fastened the s t a r drawer pulls to each drawer. . .
all tips pointing upwards!


This petite four~drawer dresser 

went from scratched and scarred. . .

to Cowgirl Chic!

The transformation was every thing I had envisioned it would be!

No more shouts. . .
but I do believe I heard her say, "Ah~h~h. . ."


Until next time. . .

On Crooked Creektt will be joining

Debra @ Common Ground for Be Inspired Friday!

And. . .

Susan @ Between Naps On The Porch for Metamorphosis Monday!

And. . .

Marty @ A Stroll Thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday!

And. . .
A New To Me Linky Party. . .

Dawn @ We Call It Junkin  for History and Home Party Tuesdays!

Inspiration bounds at the above linky parties

be sure to visit each for you'll come away

with amazing ideas for your own home decor!

Creamy Winter Whites. . .

Taking a short break 
from Bits 'n Pieces Inventory preparation,
On Crooked Creektt today, 
I added creamy winter whites to the built~in china cabinet.

Winter on the Prairie of Kansas can be quite challenging.
Usually mid~February will find us with mounds of ice and snow.
Today. . .it's 68 degrees!

I took advantage 
of the sun shining through the opened patio doors
by removing the pine cones and faux evergreen boughs
from the interior of the built~in china cabinet.

Once I had removed all the Silvery Shimmer. . .(here),
a quick wiping down of the cabinet shelves and washing of the glass doors, 
I began to challenge myself by only using creamy ivory and white.

First, 
I placed two of my vintage creamy ivory serving platters
centered on the top shelf. The platter on the left has no identifying label.
The platter on the right bears this labeling on the back, 
D. E. McNicol, Vitrified China, Clarksburg, W. Va. 1929.

Since there is no plate rail in the interior of the cabinet,
I decided to place the platters on easels for more stability and height.

Of course,
the smaller serving platter wouldn't stand alone.
Each time I stood it up, down it slid.
Better be safe than sorry, I say.

Next,
came my Avon pear tea pot, sugar and creamer.
This is my all~time favorite tea pot!

The right side of the top shelf showcases my Homer~Laughlin
gravy boat atop a Homer~Laughlin petite oval serving dish.

Always the greatest challenge,
the middle shelf is barely eight inches in height!
I chose to add my creamy ivory serving bowl 
and stock it full of salad/soup bowls. 

* * * * * * * Tip * * * * * * * 
Place the glass lid from one of your jar candles 
inside the bottom of the bowl, then stack the smaller bowls atop the lid.
It makes a "perfect" riser. The plastic rim holds items firmly in place.

Once it is set within your cabinet,
it remains invisible to the unknowing eye.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The right side of the middle shelf took several attempts 
until I was satisfied with the overall outcome.

First,
I placed my Johnson Bros. England 
petite dessert plate on an easel as a backdrop to my stack 
of Syracuse . China 95 . E  U.S.A. desserts
and placed my four unmarked ironstone butter pats beside them.

Not feeling adequate symmetry for my usual Traditional Style Decor,
I tried once again by re~arranging the bottom shelf.

This was getting better, 
but still like a souffle gone flat in "my mind's eye"!

The England white swirl patterned creamer
combined with my Syracuse China U.S.A. bowls keeps the visual direction
of left~to~right flowing gently across to the unmarked stack of dinner plates.

The addition of my McCoy bowl atop the stacked dinner plates
gave a more cohesive appeal, while blending creamy ivory with white.

Once I was pleased with the effect of the bottom shelf,
I realized the "perfect" accessory for the middle shelf.

Sculptural.
A white ceramic single pear.
By removing two of the butter pats and adding the sculptural pear, 
I was able to achieve the needed visual height.

I'm quite pleased with the challenges 
I faced and overcame with creating Creamy Winter Whites
within the built~in china cabinet On Crooked Creektt.

Much like the fresh air from my opened patio doors. . .
this creamy winter white cabinet is a welcome change!


Until next time. . .

 On Crooked Creektt will be joining

Debra @ Common Ground for Be Inspired Friday!

And. . .

Susan @ Between Maps On The Porch for Metamorphosis Monday!

And. . .

Marty @ A Stroll Thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday!

Inspiration bounds at the above linky parties

be sure to visit each for you'll come away

with amazing ideas for your own home decor!