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!
As for the Thrift Store Upcycle Challenge, it is one of my favorite posts each month. Amanda from Kolb Corner puts it together every month and I am always happy to be posting alongside a very talented and creative group of bloggers. Be sure to check out links to all the Thrift Store Upcycle projects at the end of this post.
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….
And now for more thrifty goodness!
Meet the Participants
Amanda | The Kolb Corner Erlene | My Pinterventures Kim | Made in a Day
Dru | Red Cottage Chronicles Pili | Sweet Things
Debra | Shoppe No. 5 Marie | DIY Adulation Havalah | Sisters, What
Chelsea | Making Manzanita Ann | Duct Tape and Denim
Molly | Just a Little Creativity Ashley | 3 Little Greenwoods Kimm | Reinvented
Kim | Farmhouse Made Victoria | Dazzle While Frazzled Sara | Twelve on Main
Chelc | Inside the Fox Den Michelle | Our Crafty Mom Jeannee | Shepherds and Chadonnay
Jennifer and Vicki | 2 Bees in a Pod Lora | Craftivity Designs
Ali | Home Crafts By Ali Denise | My Thrifty House Kathleen | Our Hopeful Home
Jeanie | Create & Babble Michelle | Michelle James Designs
Make sure you follow our board on Pinterest for more upcycled decor inspiration!
Check out what my fellow upcyclers created below!
Victoria @DazzleWhileFrazzled says
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.
Maureen says
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!
Vicki and Jennifer 2 Bees in a Pod says
Maureen – your farmhouse basket is beautiful! What a great idea and fantastic makeover!
Maureen says
Thank you ladies! I cannot wait until my kitchen is all done and I can pull the whole look together 🙂
Kathleen says
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
Maureen says
Thank you Kathleen! I was surprised how easy it was to pull it off 🙂
Chelsea @ Making Manzanita says
I love the look of the finished basket. Can’t believe you scored it for just $2. I definitely would have grabbed it too.
Maureen says
Thanks Chelsea!
Dru says
It always amazes me at how a little paint can make such a beautiful transformation. Love this.
Maureen says
So very true! I have become a bit of a paint hoarder 🙂
Debrashoppeno5 says
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.
Maureen says
Thank you. I was really happy with how it turned out. It fits right in now!
Jeannee Taylor says
It truly looks French Country! Baskets are so great! Nice job!
Jeannee
Maureen says
Thanks a bunch! There is nothing like a cute little basket to hide things away 🙂
Denise says
Wow…..this turned out perfectly. I love it.
Michelle from Weekend Craft says
Love that you white washed this. Looks so great. Seriously like you just ordered it from William and Sonoma.
Ali B says
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.
kim says
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!
Michelle James says
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!
Lora says
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.
Erlene says
I love the new look that the paint gave it. It’s subtle and perfect for a French country look.
Maureen says
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!
Maureen says
Thanks Erlene! It is amazing what a little paint can do 🙂