Filing Cabinet Desk

Happy Monday!  I hope everyone had a great weekend.  Some of you might even have today off, too.  Blittle does so we are finally going to see Unbroken and get a few chores done around the house.

Over the weekend, I used my new office several times!  It is so nice to have an organized, beautiful space to work in.  Something about it makes me want to work harder.  Silly, I know, but true.  I posted this picture on Instagram yesterday of me using the desk for the first time writing tomorrow's blog post and you got a small sneak peek of the room.

Now to tell you about the filing cabinets and desk.

I have been using the plastic crates filing system for our important papers but I have never loved it.  It is nice that it is portable, especially during hurricane season, and that's about it.  Having a filing cabinet in the office was a must so I decided to go with a filing cabinet desk.


I shopped around on Craigslist and a few local forums for some cheap used filing cabinets but could not find any.  This project was on some what of a time crunch so I bought new.  I found this filing cabinet at Office Depot for $25.  At that price, I didn't mind putting holes in it and painting it.  :)  I bought two and got to work.

Several things needed to happen for this cabinet to be functional for us.  First thing, I needed to add height.  I am tall with long legs and I like to cross my legs when I sit.  I know that's a bad habit...I am working on it.  Anyway, tables and desks are sometimes my enemy.  I hit my legs on them all the time and often they are too short for me to cross my legs under them.  To create height, I added 2x1's to the top and bottom of the cabinet.  I forgot to take a picture of this.  FAIL.  I was in a hurry.  I used the Kreg Jig to create pocket screw holes and made two rectangles.  One sits on top of the filing cabinet.  The other on the bottom.  I glued and screwed them into the filing cabinet.

To cover the added wood, I framed the top and bottom with moulding then caulked and filled the seams.  The paint what was left over from the dresser that is also in the office.   The generic plastic pulls were replaced with some pretty chrome ones.

To protect my floors and help keep things level, I added some adjustable feet.

The top of the desk is made of poplar 1x6's glued and screwed together.  I decided on an aged, driftwood treatment.  I love the dark stains but I wanted something a little lighter and beachy for this room.  I love it!

Yes, that is me in my wedding dress on a boat.  :)

The desk chair has dark legs so I am thinking about sanding them down and doing the same driftwood treatment on them.  I'll let you know what I decide.

The desk is a perfect place for me to blog, do paper work, sew, meal plan, etc.  I am so excited to have a designated work space.

That is all I am showing you today because tomorrow, I am revealing the entire office!

Monday - Inspire Me Monday (Sand & Sisal,  My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Domestically Speaking, Sweet C’s Designs)  Made by you Monday (Skip To My Lou)

Tuesday - The Makers (Tiny Sidekick, Persia Lou, Upcycled Treasures) Show and Share (Coastal Charm)

Wednesday:Wow Us Wednesday (Savvy Southern Style), Inspire Me Wednesday (Seven Thirty Three, Happiness is Homemade) Be You tiful (Art is Beauty)

Thursday: What To Do Weekends (Crafts ala Mode ), Friday Favorites Link Party  (I’m Not a Trophy Wife),  The Best DIY Party at the Handmade Hangout (A Glimpse Inside, Christina’s Adventures, From Gardners to Bergers, Redoux Interiors, Too Much Time on My Hands), Inspire Me Please, (Liz Marie Blog) Catch as Catch Can (My Repurposed Life), Creativity Unleashed (Practically Functional, Shaken Together, One Project Closer, The Bold Abode, and The DIY Village)

Friday:  The Party Bunch (The Idea Room, 30 Handmade Days, Whipperberry, The 36th Avenue),  Anything Goes (Bacon Time),  Be. You. Tiful Link Party (Chic California), Creativity Unleashed (Practically Functional, Shaken Together, One Project Closer, The Bold Abode)  Fabulously Creative Friday (Jennifer Rizzo Blog)  Anonymous Weekend Party (Remodelaholic) Little Friday Link Up (The Grits Blog,  Living Lavender, Fleurty and Fit), Anything Blue Friday (The Dedicated House)

Destinations & Directions Sign

Hi all.  Long time, no post.  I know.  Annoying.  I have consistently been waking up an 1 1/2 later than I usual.  This is not a bad thing because I do need the sleep and I am now waking up at an acceptable time.  Having said that, the 1 1/2 hours I am sleeping through used to be when I would blog and edit photos.  Normally, I wake up between 5 & 5:30, make my coffee, then sit on the couch with the dogs and edit photos and type blog posts.  Now, I don't have that much time in the morning so blogging, once again, has been neglected and put on the back burner.  One day I will figure out how to do it all...or at least that's what I tell myself to stay hopeful.  :)

We have had several home projects going on the past few weeks plus tons of furniture I haven't shared.  Today, I want to show you the destinations and directions signs we made for our yard.

In 2012, Blittle and I went to the Exumas in the out islands of The Bahamas.  (If you have never been to an out island....go.)  We stayed on Great Exuma but there was an island across the bay that had a restaurant/hang out place.  Chat n' Chill is the place to meet your friends for volleyball, cards, or lunch on Stocking Island.  This is where we saw our first destinations and directions sign and knew that we wanted to make one for our home.

We were living in New Orleans at the time, which we knew was temporary, so we wanted to wait to make the sign when we were in a more permanent place.  I originally thought I would place the post in a planter, concrete around it to make it heavy so it won't blog over, and put the sign on the dock.  That way everyone can see it that passes by or is at the house, and it can be moved if it is in the way or we decide we don't want it anymore.  Well, Blittle had another vision.  We ended up putting it in the corner of the yard on top of the fence.  I am not going to lie, I was nervous.  Before, I thought it was going to be an understated conversation piece for the dock and now it is going to tower over the yard and be an attention getter.

This project did not cost much.  The post was $4 and the signs I made from left over wood and paint.  I used a paint pen to right the destinations and sprayed them with a spar varathane to try to protect the color from the sun and rain.  We used bolts to secure the sign to the fence so it can be removed if a hurricane comes or we want to move it.

The places we chose all have special meaning to us and are places we have been to together.  We did not put every destination we have been to.  As you can see, we travel to the east a lot!  That's where the Caribbean and Florida is.  So we felt it was a little monotonous to have more arrows pointing in the same direction.  So these are the places we did choose:

Ludwigshafen, Germany - This is where my parents currently live.  It is the only destination on the sign we have not been to but we are going in the Spring.

New Orleans, LA - We lived in New Orleans for 2 years.  It will always have a special place in our hearts and we love to go back and visit.



Turks & Caicos Islands - BLittle and I did not go on a honeymoon.  Long story short we moved our wedding date and planned a wedding in 3 weeks.  He had started a new job and there was no time to worry about a trip.  We decided to go on an amazing 1 year anniversary trip and  Provodenciales, TCI had been suggested to us.  At the time, very few people we talked to knew what the Turks & Caicos islands were and where they were located.  It was our first time to the Caribbean and at the time, I was treating it as the only time I might see the Caribbean.  You never know what is going to happen and traveling is not cheap so our attitude was to do it all while we are there and enjoy what could be our only trip like this.  We snorkeled, ate amazing food, went to some crazy places that felt like the end of the earth to fish.  It was unbelievable.  Such an adventure.   Grace Bay is hands down one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen...EVER.  I just thought I loved the beach and Caribbean, then we went there and I became obsessed.  :)

Shimeck, TX - This is where Blittle's parents live.  It is no longer called Shimeck but years ago, the land that they live on now, was called that.


Long Island, The Bahamas - Every trip we go on we love.  Every island we have been to, we have enjoyed.  Every time we go to the Caribbean our vacations are a little different.  One time we rented a boat and island hopped on our own.  We stayed in a nice resort.  We have stayed in a house on the bay side and could fly fish behind the house.  We have stayed in a elevated, camp house with no air or tv right on the beach.  They have all been so different so we love them each for different reasons but Long Island was special.  Something about it.  This was one of those trips were you have to get on a small, chartered prop plane to get to it....don't even get me started on the duck taped windows....thought I was going to die.  Anyway, Long Island was gorgeous like all the islands and the place we stayed was great and it was the first time I fly fished on a trip.  Blittle always brings his fly rod and we either fish on our own or get a guide.  On this trip, we got a guide and it was an amazing day.  He was patient with me and waded with me all day constantly giving pointers and helping me improve.  I hooked my first bonefish but a shark got him before I could reel him in all the way.  The water was so calm and flat that you could barely see where the water stopped and the sky began.  We saw a 6-prong and 5-prong star fish.  It is a place I would definitely visit again...scary plane included.

Sabine Lake - This area is where I grew up, where BLittle and I met, and where we lived the first years of our marriage.  Obviously, it means something to us since we named one of our dogs after it.  :)   Most of my family still lives there and where my parents have their home.  Although, I never plan to live there again, it will always be special to us.

Charleston, SC - I know this sign isn't up yet but will be soon...and it to will be pointed to the east.  We loved Charleston.  It really is a great city and I was pleasantly surprised how much we enjoyed it.  To be honest, BLittle and I have not traveled in the USA much.  I have been LA, NYC, DC and other random spots but we didn't do any of those places together.  We have been to Destin and have visited family all over Texas but Charleston was the big USA trip where neither of us had been there before.  BLittle kept saying, "I want to do something America", so that's what we did.  It was so much fun to see and hear about all the history that city has and the food was just....there are no words.  The food was unbelievable.  And lets not forget the fishing.  We fish every where we go.  Learning about the flood tides and to witness it was so interesting.  Thanks again to our guide for that day.  We had an amazing time and the sunset was gorgeous.  I can't wait to go back and see more of the city.

We have a long travel to do list so there will be many more islands and cities added to this sign over time.

Sharing at:

Sunday - That DIY Party (DIY Show Off)

Monday - Inspire Me Monday (Sand & Sisal,  My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Domestically Speaking, Sweet C’s Designs)  Made by you Monday (Skip To My Lou)

Tuesday - Twirl and Take a Bow (House on the Way, Déjà Vue Designs, All Things Heart and Home,

Designed by BH, Art is Beauty and A Few Miner Adjustments) The Makers (Tiny Sidekick, Persia Lou, Upcycled Treasures) Show and Share (Coastal Charm)

Wednesday:Wow Us Wednesday (Savvy Southern Style), Inspire Me Wednesday (Seven Thirty Three, Happiness is Homemade)

Thursday: What To Do Weekends (Crafts ala Mode ), Friday Favorites Link Party  (I’m Not a Trophy Wife),  The Best DIY Party at the Handmade Hangout (A Glimpse Inside, Christina’s Adventures, From Gardners to Bergers, Redoux Interiors, Too Much Time on My Hands), Inspire Me Please, (Liz Marie Blog) Catch as Catch Can (My Repurposed Life)

Friday:  Best DIY Projects and Recipes Party (The Idea Room, 30 Handmade Days, Whipperberry, The 36th Avenue),  Anything Goes (Bacon Time),  Be. You. Tiful Link Party (Chic California), Creativity Unleashed (Practically Functional, Shaken Together, One Project Closer, The Bold Abode)  Fabulously Creative Friday (Jennifer Rizzo Blog)  Anonymous Weekend Party (Remodelaholic) Little Friday Link Up (The Grits Blog,  Living Lavender, Fleurty and Fit), Anything Blue Friday (The Dedicated House)

Driftwood Finish End Tables

And its Friday already.  Again.  When I was a teacher, Friday meant I had survived another week and summer vacation was that much closer.  Now, Friday means another week has flown by and somehow vanished before I knew it.

Here is what I have been working on this week.



I am finishing up a duck boat dog bed for friends and their new puppy.  It is looking great and I can't wait to share the finished look.  All that is left to do is sew the sheet and pillow cover which I am doing this weekend.

Also, I painted two end tables a custom color for a client.  That reveal will be on Monday but here is the before picture.

There is a pretty end table and dresser in the paint booth now.  The client has chosen a lovely paint design that I haven't done before.  Doing something new and different is always exciting.  I like the challenge.  :)

And speaking of new and different, the end tables I am featuring today were a new finish for me.  The clients:  My brother and sister-in-law.


In December, I refinished a vanity for my brother to give to his girlfriend.  He used it as part of his proposal!  Click here to read about the vanity and the proposal.

They also have a chifferobe that I refinished years ago.  Way before Fisherman's Wife Furniture.  So I don't have any pictures.  Sorry.  The piece wasn't working in our home and I wanted it to stay in the family.  Whitney said she could use it so it now lives in their guest room with the vanity.  Now they are going to have two more Fisherman's Wife Furniture pieces!


They were married in March in a beautiful ceremony.

The Ceremony

Photo Credit:  Flair Photography

Jarrod, Whitney, Me, & Blittle

Photo Credit:  Flair Photography

Aren't they cute?!  Two of my favorite people.  Well, three including Blittle.  ;)

 Anyway, for a gift, I told them I would refinish a piece of furniture.  Whatever they wanted with their choice of finish.  They are updating their living room and decided they wanted to get their two dark and dated end tables made over with a driftwood finish to go with their coastal theme.

I'm not going to lie....I was a nervous about this project.  I have painted worn, gray, driftwood finishes but I have never stained a driftwood finish.  And Whitney didn't want the gray driftwood.  She wanted the more neutral, tan look.  Here is the inspiration picture she sent me.

The end tables were the popular dark, heavy grain pieces with a red tint to them.

She said she wanted to keep a clean look and I tried my best to create her vision.  Here is the final look.

I love the way they turned out.  This is a finish I know I will be using again.  Love it.  I texted her some pictures the other day and here is a small part of the conversation.

BAHAHAHA.  It really could have been a small disaster.   Thank goodness she really likes them....or she is a really good liar.  I kid.  I am pretty sure she really likes them.


I am taking the end tables to them next weekend.  Hopefully I can get a few pictures of them in their new home and will share on Facebook and Instagram!


I hope everyone has a great weekend.  Check back Monday to see a fun and bright makeover!






Sunday - That DIY Party (DIY Show Off)

Monday - Inspire Me Monday (Sand & Sisal,  My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Domestically Speaking, Sweet C’s Designs)  Made by you Monday (Skip To My Lou)

Tuesday - Twirl and Take a Bow (House on the Way, Déjà Vue Designs, All Things Heart and Home,

Designed by BH, Art is Beauty and A Few Miner Adjustments) The Makers (Tiny Sidekick, Persia Lou, Upcycled Treasures) Show and Share (Coastal Charm)

Wednesday:Wow Us Wednesday (Savvy Southern Style), Inspire Me Wednesday (Seven Thirty Three, Happiness is Homemade)

Thursday: What To Do Weekends (Crafts ala Mode ), Friday Favorites Link Party  (I’m Not a Trophy Wife),  Thursday S.T.Y.L.E. Linky Party (A Prudent Life, Life in Velvet, Well-Groomed Home, Addicted 2 DIY),  The Best DIY Party at the Handmade Hangout (A Glimpse Inside, Christina’s Adventures, From Gardners to Bergers, Redoux Interiors, Too Much Time on My Hands), Inspire Me Please, (Liz Marie Blog) Catch as Catch Can (My Repurposed Life)

Friday:  Best DIY Projects and Recipes Party (The Idea Room, 30 Handmade Days, Whipperberry, The 36th Avenue), Furniture Feature Friday (Miss Mustard Seed),  Anything Goes (Bacon Time),  Be. You. Tiful Link Party (Chic California), Creativity Unleashed (Practically Functional, Shaken Together, One Project Closer, The Bold Abode)  Fabulously Creative Friday (Jennifer Rizzo Blog)  Anonymous Weekend Party (Remodelaholic) Little Friday Link Up (The Grits Blog,  Living Lavender, Fleurty and Fit)