10 Most Popular Posts of 2017 - A Year In Review

As another year comes to a close I always enjoy spending December 31st doing A Year In Review. One of the things included in that review is browsing through all of the projects I've shared here on the blog and then going through my stats to see which were the 10 Most Popular Posts of 2017.

But first, before I break down the list, I would like to thank each and every one of you who take time out of your busy day to pop over for a visit here in my corner of the blogosphere. I truly appreciate your support and always enjoy reading your comments and emails that I find in my inbox. Thank You and may 2018 be a healthy, creative, inspiring, and memorable year!

10 Most Popular Posts of 2017

And the countdown begins starting with number 10...

Press the links on the title of each to be taken to the original post.

Number 10:

DIY Wind Chimes From Thrift Store Dishes
I have to say this was a project that had me step outside of my comfort zone because I've never made wind chimes before. In the post, I share a short video of how lovely the silverware sounds when clanging together.

Number 9:

Farmhouse Etagere Bookcase From Repurposed Tables
This is an If they come you will build it story. During the course of a year, three identical tiered tables landed on my doorstep from different sources without my asking. Actually, there were four but I repurposed three of them into this...

Number 8:

Queen Anne Table Cooled With Icicle
This one surprised me that it made the list but I suspect it did because of the original condition of the burled veneer top and the transformation in a pretty light blue. The picture hanging above it has a lot of sentimental value, especially now.

Number 7:

The Vintage Student Desk That Went All Glam
Someone had started a makeover on this vintage wooden student desk using red lacquer paint. My plan was to give it a masculine makeover and then this happened...

Number 6:

Mid-Century Modern Bookcase Turned Funky Bar 
Nope, that isn't a papered back nor a stencil. Crisp white paint and playing with bright colors made such an impact on this MCM laminate bookcase that had seen better days.

Number 5:

Vintage Office Bookcase Turned Rustic Farmhouse Cupboard
This was an office bookcase from circa 1957 that a friend gave me when her company changed locations. It totally lacked personality, albeit wood lovers may disagree.

Number 4:

Jacobean Floral Nesting Tables
I must admit I am rather surprised that these nesting tables made the list and especially at how high on the list they came. Don't get me wrong, I love how the tables turned out, especially the color but this was one of the easiest makeovers of the year and I did it while sick with a lung infection.

Number 3:

Mom's Jewelry Cabinet Got A Makeover
This was the most sentimental makeover of the year, especially now after losing Mom in November. Painting it white completely transformed the dated finish but the Wow factor is on the inside after playing with napkins.

Number 2:

Antique Wash Stand Washed In White
When finishing this makeover I was concerned how well it would be received because I used one of those you either love it or hate it kind of paint techniques. I acquired the washstand from a friend and it has an interesting history.

Drum roll, please...

Number 1: Most Popular Post of 2017

Mid-Century Modern Flower Power Armchairs 
I did a happy dance when I found this retro-inspired fabric at our local Fabricland store. It was perfect for these danish office chairs from the 60's. There is a serendipitous story behind these chairs too.

I decided to include a bonus post because this was MY favorite furniture makeover of the year that didn't make the list.

My Favorite Post of 2017

The Mid-Century Modern Cabinet That Had No Legs
When Mr. Frugalista brought home a dilapidated cabinet with no legs I thought what the heck am I suppose to do with this? You truly have to see the before picture to appreciate the Wow factor of the transformation.

I hope you enjoyed this collection of the 10 Most Popular Posts of 2017 here at The Interior Frugalista. My biggest hope is that you were inspired, motivated, or learned a new tip or two on how to RE-love thrift store items and old furniture back into your home...on a budget.

Wishing you a Healthy, Happy & Creative New Year

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Today I'm sharing one of my favorite and most viewed furniture makeovers. I think what makes this Farmhouse Side Table so popular is because of the hidden gem that awaits underneath layers of ugly reddish brown paint. The transformation is night and day and my intention was to sell it at a local market.

I invited a dear friend over to get messy with some chalk paint in the workshop. While she was busy giving her wooden candlesticks a wash of white paint her eye caught a glimpse of this table from the next room. So much for taking it to the market because she bought it on the spot.

This is what the table looked like before...

Farmhouse Side Table Makeover

Before we get into the details of the makeover, today is the last furniture makeover from our Furniture Fixer Uppers group of 2017. 

It's one of my favorite days each month where six talented and creative bloggers come together to breathe new life into six furniture pieces that had seen better days. You will find links to my friend's new or favorite furniture makeovers at the bottom of this post.

Last time I shared a Farmhouse Etagere Bookcase made from three identical tiered tables that showed up on my doorstep one-by-one from different sources throughout the span of a year.

I've included a Materials List towards the bottom of this post for your convenience.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links so you can see what products I used or recommend to complete this project. What that means is that if you click on one of the product links, I may receive a small portion of any sales at no additional cost to you to support the costs of running this site. See my disclosure policy page. Materials list included at the bottom of this post.

Makeover details

I kept my finger's crossed that underneath all that brown paint there was a gorgeous wood slat top waiting to be loved. I didn't mind that the legs and skirt were painted brown because it would make a perfect base for distressing.

The first thing I did was an attempt to strip the paint off the top and it wasn't an easy task. It took two afternoons with paint stripper and a putty knife to remove the layers and layers of paint. An orbital sander took off the final bits to get it back to the original wood, which to my delight was happy dance worthy.

And once I applied a single coat of Dark Walnut stain, my hard work paid off - look at that lovely wood.

The base was painted with chalk paint in the color Vanilla Frosting by Country Chic Paint. It's a soft creamy white that paired so beautifully with the dark top.

I was singing when I noticed that the white paint brought out the wormholes in the wood.

See some of the old brown paint peeking out from underneath?

Rather than my usual clear wax method of protecting furniture, I applied Hemp Oil by Miss Mustard Seed over the chalk paint and the stained top.

This lovely Farmhouse Side Table went on a journey in the back of a moving van to its new home on Vancouver Island.  It's owners, our dear friends, will be sorely missed.

...and now I'm on the hunt for another table just like it.

Materials List

• Paint Stripper
• Putty Knife
• Orbital Sander
• Creamy White Chalk Paint
• Dark Walnut Stain
• Hemp Oil

If you found this Farmhouse Side Table makeover inspiring, please save it on Pinterest and/or share it with a friend. You never know what could be lying underneath all those layers of paint.

I've done similar Farmhouse Side Table Makeovers but painted a mustard yellow. Both the Dark Walnut Table Makeover and Painted Oak Side Table Makeover were quick sellers but I have to admit, after doing this makeover, I prefer the white. For more Farmhouse Inspiration press HERE.

I'm so excited to see what my talented Furniture Fixer Upper friends did with these furniture pieces.

PRESS THE LINKS BELOW TO SEE THE AFTER PHOTOS

Girl In The Garage

Confessions Of A Serial DIYer

Petticoat Junktion

Prodigal Pieces

Just The Woods

The Interior Frugalista (that's me)

You will find this project linked to these fabulous Linky Parties.

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Mom's Traditional Shortbread Cookies With A Lavender Twist

I finally started my holiday baking but everything I made didn't turn out except for these tried and true traditional shortbread cookies. The recipe has been in my Mother's family for many generations and I don't remember there ever being a Christmas where a plate of these was not served at family gatherings.

When Mom got sick and could no longer bake my aunt would bring her a tin every Christmas. If she couldn't, I did. I wonder what Mom would think about me breaking tradition this year by dipping them in lavender sugar (affiliate link).

Mom loved the scent of lavender and so did her Mother. The week we held bedside vigil before Mom's passing her bedding was sprinkled with lavender oil. When you opened the door to her room you were greeted with the most lovely scent that was immediately calming.

And so to honor both my Mom, Grandmother, and Great-Grandmother, I altered the old family shortbread recipe this year with a dusting of their favorite flower.



The ingredients are first mixed with my Kitchen Aid and then kneaded by hand onto a floured board until the dough starts to crack. The dough is cut in two and rolled into two round or rectangular logs (as pictured below).

I found the sugar from a local company here in Canada and have included a link here to their lavender and vanilla sugar. An alternative would be this lavender sugar (affiliate link). The dusting of lavender adds such a lovely subtle flavor to the shortbread cookies that isn't over-powering.

I've used lavender sugar before when making handmade Lavender Infused Suckers for my daughter's wedding. I may make my own lavender sugar next year from my harvested plants. I shared a post here on How To Harvest And Dry Lavender.

As I baked these cookies I was flooded with memories of last Christmas and how much fun she had at what would be her last Christmas dinner with her family. Recently I turned the jacket she wore to that party into Embroidery Hoop Memorial Ornaments for my family.

Last year my gift to Mom was this handmade Alzheimer's Busy Blanket. I so wish I had made it for her several years ago when first diagnosed as it was a great way to keep her fidgeting hands busy.

May your hearth be warm, your cookies abundant, and your every wish granted.

Merry Christmas

If you'd like to try these Traditional Shortbread Cookies with a lavender twist, please save it on Pinterest and/or share it with a friend.

Homemade Traditional Shortbread Cookies With Lavender
By The Interior Frugalista

A traditional shortbread cookie recipe with an untraditional twist. This recipe has been in my Mom's family for generations.

Prep time: 00:15
Cook time: 00:12 - 00:14
Total time: 00:45

Yield: 3-5 dozen

Ingredients:
1 lb Butter Softened (do not use margarine)
1 cup Icing Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla
4 cups Flour
Lavender Sugar


Instructions:

Butter should be softened.

Cut the butter into small pieces and add to mixing bowl.

Cream butter, icing sugar, and vanilla in a mixer.

Add flour one cup at a time, mixing well until no dry flour remains.

Knead dough to incorporate flour until consistency just ready to crack.

Divide dough into 2 equal portions

Shape each portion into long rectangular or round logs.

Wrap each log with waxed paper.

Freeze until easy to cut (approximately 30 minutes).

Remove wax paper.

Cut into 1/4 inch slices.

Pour Lavender Vanilla Sugar into a bowl and dip the tops of the cookies.

Arrange about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake in 325°F oven for 12 to 14 minutes until edges are light golden brown.

Let cool on cookie sheets for 5 minutes before removing.

Calories per serving: 59 Calories
Fat per serving: 3.9 g Total Fat

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Talk Of The Town Party #103

Can you believe a week from now it'll all be over? The panic button just went off in my head because I haven't finished my Christmas shopping or baking yet.

We will not be hosting a party next week while we take a little Christmas break but the party will be back in full swing on January 2nd. Thank you so much for sharing your amazing talent and creativity with us in 2017.

Wishing you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Welcome back to Talk of the Town!

First, let's take a look at what you may have missed from your party hosts!

  

Vintage Style Christmas Gift Jar
Farmhouse Galvanized Bucket Ornaments
Mrs. Claus Christmas Printable

100 Thrift Store Decor Ideas
Wooden Spindle Sign For Christmas
Repurposed Clock Project

Embroidery Hoop Memorial Ornament

DIY Snowflake Christmas Throw Pillows

Coffee Bean Sack Pillow Covers
Upcycled Christmas Card Display
7 Ways To Clean Silver And Remove Tarnish

Here's what we're talking about from last week's party!

DIY "Rust"ic Ornaments - Artsy VaVa

Oreo Wreath Cookies - Premeditated Leftovers

How To Create A Holiday Vase By Recycling A Bottle - Shoppe No. 5

Wacky Cake - Simply Stacie

How To Make A Christmas Craft With Dollar Store Items - The Boondocks Blog

Cute & Yummy Snowman Cheeseball - Crafts A La Mode

Shortbread 3-Ways - Turtles & Tails

How To Create Vintage Tart Mold Wall Art - Lora B.

Now, it's your turn!

PLEASE NOTE – There are now *2* separate link ups;

the first is for DIY/Vintage/Repurposed links and the second for Recipes.

Thank you!

By linking up at Talk of the Town, you agree that your photos may be used to promote the party, or in other round-ups.

***Please keep in mind that linking up with stock photography or using photos without express permission by the photo owner is not allowed. Links of stock photography or photos that are not owned by you will be removed without notification.***

DIY, Vintage & Repurposed Links

An InLinkz Link-up

Recipe Links

An InLinkz Link-up

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