Thrift Store Upcycle French Country Style
Today is the day I participate in the Thriftstore Upcycle Challenge with some of my blogger friends, I was on the hunt for things I could put to use in the kitchen when it was all done. I am renovating my kitchen as part the One Room Challenge (TM) as a guest participant. We are now in the home stretch and you can check out our progress here!
The Rules for our monthly Thriftstore Upcycle Challenge are:
- Upcycle an item(s) from a thrift store, resale store, or garage sale into a new piece of decor.
- There’s no monthly theme.
- There’s no budget to stick to.
Since I am leaning towards a farmhouse/cottage feel for out kitchen, I have been gleaning inspiration from Pinterest and french country kitchens have been catching my attention. I love the use of wood and wicker and the overall romantic, rustic look of the french country style.
I found this little wicker box, which looks like a miniature picnic basket. I just didn’t like the dark brown color. While I knew I could put it to use in the kitchen, it didn’t fit with my vision. But at just $2 I knew I could make it work.
Using chalk paint and liming wax I gave it a brand new french country cottage look!
I painted on a light coat of Linen colored Chalky Paint and quickly wiped it off with a barely damp paper towel, working one section at a time. Leaving behind almost a whitewash of color.
After it was completely dry I used my Amy Howard at Home Liming Wax to give it a protective wax finish. I have used this liming wax for countless projects including this lamp.
Now it will look perfect in the kitchen, and is a stylish place to store my many linen napkins!
No more hunting for matching napkins! It actually holds 3 sets of four easily and I could probably squish in one more set.
For now I have it sitting on the one tiny piece of countertop that is not cluttered with tools, dishes and cleaning supplies!
Until next time….
Great picnic storage basket. I have an empty wicker basket sitting in my laundry without a purpose. This is a great way to make it a little more shabby chic! Visiting from Thrift Store Challenge.
Thanks Victoria! I was always ending up with napkins missing, depending on who put the laundry away, and now I have one specific place to keep them all!
Maureen – your farmhouse basket is beautiful! What a great idea and fantastic makeover!
Thank you ladies! I cannot wait until my kitchen is all done and I can pull the whole look together 🙂
What a great idea! I’ve passed up some older baskets due to their color but this would definitely work. Love that French country look! xo Kathleen | Our Hopeful Home
Thank you Kathleen! I was surprised how easy it was to pull it off 🙂
I love the look of the finished basket. Can’t believe you scored it for just $2. I definitely would have grabbed it too.
Thanks Chelsea!
It always amazes me at how a little paint can make such a beautiful transformation. Love this.
So very true! I have become a bit of a paint hoarder 🙂
I couldn’t wait to see what you did with this because I have a similar basket. I love the idea because it helps to organize and whatever you put in the basket is hidden. It looks wonderful.
Thank you. I was really happy with how it turned out. It fits right in now!
It truly looks French Country! Baskets are so great! Nice job!
Jeannee
Thanks a bunch! There is nothing like a cute little basket to hide things away 🙂
Wow…..this turned out perfectly. I love it.
Love that you white washed this. Looks so great. Seriously like you just ordered it from William and Sonoma.
I have a soft spot in my heart for wicker, it’s hard to pass by without buying. Your transformation looks really nice. I have some linen napkins I would love to keep track of, so I might make one of my own if I can find the right size.
Oooooh, I love this!!! I would love one of these too keep my linens in, it’s perfect! I’ve also never tried liming wax, but I must now!
I have a basket very similar to this that I keep yarn in. I should get it out and paint it cute like yours! It looks fantastic!
This is a really smart project — I will totally be stealing your idea 😉 Baskets are my FAVE thing to buy secondhand, and I can never get enough of them.
I love the new look that the paint gave it. It’s subtle and perfect for a French country look.
Thanks so much Susie! Charlie is such a sweetie! He still has his puppy brain and has no idea that he weighs 100 pounds, which can be a challenge since he loves to snuggle!
Thanks Erlene! It is amazing what a little paint can do 🙂