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Adding French Flair to Thrifted Items

As many of you know, one of my regular stops in a thrift store or garage sale or at Curb le Chic is to check out what’s available in wood. Wood is one of the most versatile, natural mediums there are. So, when I spy this plain wall pocket, I decide to bring it home with me to take it to another level. Adding French flair to finds like this makes it fun and also an easy way to update your decor.

Thrifted Wall Tote Before Adding French Flair | prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces

Let’s get this DIY mini makeover started!

DRESS IT UP

First, as you can imagine, this is completely blank slate perfectly ready for a new look. While the wood is unstained, it’s not totally raw which makes staining it patchy or just plain hard. I find this to be the case at times when possibly someone used a dusting spray or similar. In turn, that makes the wood resist the stain, as in this case. You can feel the wood has a bit of slick to it but is unfinished.

However, that doesn’t mean we can’t paint it, right? Before I do that, I want to add dimension to this wall pocket. In order to do that, I use my paper clay and these mold to make embossed trim.

Air Clay Mold for Adding French Flair to Thrifted Decor | prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces

IOD Molds with Paper Clay | prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces

Also, you can use the molds with any other medium like I demonstrate with hot glue in this tutorial or video.

DIY Farmhouse Pediment Tutorial Video by Larissa of Prodigal Pieces | prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces

Then, after using wood glue and applying the dried forms, I have this.

Thrifted Wall Pocket with DIY Molds for Adding French Flair | prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces

While it’s not so fun in this state, just hang with me. Once I have the wall pocket cured, I can then apply my layers of paint. With all those slats, spray paint in my best friend.

White Painted Pocket | prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces

Not only do I apply two coats of a flat white as a base (letting cure between), but also two coats of this Serenity Blue I’ve used in these past posts.

Serenity Blue Spray Paint for Adding French Flair | prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces

It’s a lovely, light color in a matte finish that really aids in adding French flair to this wall pocket. However, before I call this finished, I use my stencil with a Sharpie to add a base layer followed by a gilded touch.

Painting French Typography for Adding French Flair | prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces

OOH LA LA

Last, I apply dark wax to add extra texture and more to the story.

Wooden Flower Box Dressed Up by Adding French Flair by Larissa of Prodigal Pieces | prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces

Hand-Painted French Design on Wall Pocket by Larissa of Prodigal Pieces | prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces

eep! I love it. The added details take it to a whole new level, and the gilding a bit of bling.

DIY French Blue Wall Pocket with Adding French Flair by Larissa of Prodigal Pieces | prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces

Gilded Blue Wall Pocket by Larissa of Prodigal Pieces | prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces

Oh, and my peonies are heaven scent! I’m a happy gal this time of year.

Thrifted Wall Pocket by Adding French Flair by Larissa of Prodigal Pieces | prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces

Hot Pink Peonies in Wall Pocket by Larissa of Prodigal Pieces | prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces

If you’d like to make this a part of your home story, you can find it and more in my online store.

Shop Prodigal Pieces | shop.prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces

SHARE

Now it’s time to hear from you. First, would you have purchased the pocket in the “before” state? If so, what would you have done with it? Leave me some comment love below and pin and share to inspire others to give DIY a try too.

Take that boring thrifted decor and amp it up by adding French flair | Tutorial by Larissa of Prodigal Pieces | prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces

Before you go, be sure to sign up for my FREE newsletter to see how my backyard firepit gets a much-needed refresh HERE.

Firepit Update Before Refresh | prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces

. Until next time!
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While you’re at it, here are other projects on adding French flair to found items:

A vintage Queen Anne bench makeover from drab to fab by Larissa of Prodigal Pieces | prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces #furniture #diy

Create upcycled checkerboard art with French flair with this tutorial by Larissa of Prodigal Pieces | prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces #upcycled #diy #art

Comments

  1. Kaleria S says

    I am eager to see your firepit refresh, Larissa! I saw the photo from the last post and thought it was a picture of the original firepit, and that you were just showing a repost – but upon looking closer, I can see that it IS your updated firepit area! I am curious to see how you are going to manage the growth through the rocks. We updated our firepit area two years ago and love it. I had to put some landscape fabric under the rocks, and it’s holding up alright. But now I need to continue to landscape around the outer edges bc the grass is creeping into my border mulched landscape!! The grass!!! I’m also looking for some more sturdy adirondack chairs; we bought the $30 plastic ones from Lowe’s for company, but I’d like more solid wood ones for myself)) Keep on keeping on! You are doing the right stuff!

    • Larissa says

      Me too! haha. Headed out now with my pressure washer to tackle many things, including that. I don’t blame you for wanting wood. I just love ours.

  2. Rebecca - NC says

    So cute!!! You are soooo creative!!! I’m excited to get new ideas from your next makeover project!!! Especially the fire pit area! 😊🥰

    • Larissa says

      Thanks! This was a fun project for a pick-me-up. I’ve been chomping at the bit to get that fire pit done.

  3. Caye Cooper says

    Just too darn cute, Larissa!! Love what you did. Good job!

    • Larissa says

      Merci! It’s such a joy to create with random things. 😉

  4. Jill says

    Tres chic, indeed! I’ve always been hesitant about using molds, apparently I never looked in to them enough to know you can use different mediums with them! I believe I will have to give that technique a try. Thanks for sharing your Sun Street wall pocket!!😉

    • Larissa says

      You will love them, Jill! 😉 Would it be lovely to live on a street or country road named that?

  5. Joanne H. says

    Your molds and the bling made all the difference. I might have bought it to paint it but wouldn’t have thought to add the moldings. SO much better than the before. Thanks for always bringing creative ideas.

    • Larissa says

      Yahoo! This was just the fun I needed, Joanne. It makes it fun to hear from my readers. Thank you!

  6. Gayle Stewart says

    What a sweet piece! You outdid yourself on this one. And kudos for the vision to see what it could be. I probably would have left it in the store!

    And your peonies are absolutely gorgeous!

    • Larissa says

      I get a little skip-happy when I spy plain-Jane pieces like this. Thank you for the smile, Gayle.

  7. Julie Squillante says

    I definitely would have bought it. I learned from you to always buy the wood items for makeovers.

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2020-03-21T21:34:13-04:00

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