I’ve gotten better about loading my cart at the thrift store. I’m trying to be more deliberate. Can I use this somewhere? Will I learn something new with this project? I still bring home my fair share of… er… excess, but not NEARLY as much as I used to in the early days of blogging. Today’s thrift store makeover is SO simple, but it takes something that was just off the mark and with a few simple little steps, it’s now right in my wheel house as an antique dough bowl!
DIY Antique Dough Bowl
Do you know about antique dough bowls? They’re rustic and textured and useful and amazing. Carved by hand, these bowls were prized possessions for many cooks and sat with flour at-the-ready. They come in all shapes and sizes and I love them. More recently, you’re just as likely to see these dough bowls in home decor. Images like this:
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Imagine my happy dance when I saw this one at Goodwill for… $5. I’m no Antiques Roadshow expert (although trust me… I wish I were!!), but this was no antique. It’s probably Hobby Lobby for all I know, but I had plans for it, so I didn’t care!
The first step of my devilish antique-ify mission was to sand, sand and sand some more. As hoped, the stain came right off. I used a low grit sandpaper because I wanted a fairly rough/ rustic texture. Also? I was lazy and just wanted that stain GONE.
After 20 minutes with my sander, I was down to this. (Better already.)
I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to 1. stain, 2. wax. or 3. use my favorite concoction (vinegar + steel wool) to age my dough bowl baby. I did a little test patch on the bottom with the wax I had on hand and didn’t notice much of a difference. Aaaaand, technically I didn’t have the right stain in my stash. So… ding ding ding… door #3: vinegar and steel wool!
It IMMEDIATELY grayed up and is the perfect antiqued color. It’s mottled a bit where I didn’t sand as much and it’s darker in one patch where I must have painted on a little more. I like the flat finish, but might go back and add some wax to give it a *hint* of sheen. What do you think?
Better, right? Fingers crossed, I can get some spring bulbs for it in the next few days… might make up for our polar temperatures here in the Northeast!
Update: Remember a little while ago when I mentioned a visit from Better Homes and Gardens to photograph the ombre dresser? Well… My issue is ON THE STANDS! March 2015. Head over to your local newsstand and flip to the last page… HI!
Perfectly executed : )~ love it!
Thanks! I’m so pleased with how it came out! Just what I was hoping for… just a little more rustic than the spit polished one I bought. 🙂
it looks old now, perfecto! My mom gave me sister her grandma’s old dough bowl, but i got the old dough spoon. They go for a fortune at flea markets so even a knock off for 5 bucks is a steal!
I know! They can be SO expensive! I’ll never use this for cooking and just like the look, so I agree…. $5 was the perfect price!
Such an improvement! Will keep my eyes open for a dough bowl now.
Also, CONGRATS on being featured!
Thanks so much! I couldn’t believe it when I saw this one at the thrift store. And the BHG was a real high light for me!
Love! It looks perfectly aged 🙂 I’ve never heard of this vinegar & steel wool concoction, but I like the effect it gives!
Oh my goodness, I’m so cheap it’s the only ‘stain’ I typically use. 🙂 Just fill a mason jar with white vinegar and let a thing of steel wool sit in it. I just have one on my tool bench!
LOVE. have a similar bowl that DMIL brought back from Ecudaor years ago. Has folk painting on it which I don’t love…stripping seems better than donating.
Or even sanding! I agree… I like the simplicity! And don’t donate. 🙂 (You can always send it over to me!!)
Awesome! I love how it turned out. And I love the contrast of the rustic wood bowl on top of the metal cabinet. Thumbs up! I just found your blog thanks to my March issue of BHG. I thoroughly enjoyed your home tour. It’s totally the look I’m going for in my nondescript 1989 home. Ahem. Anyway …. you have a loyal new reader!
Yay!! Welcome!! Who says 1989 wasn’t a great year for architecture… 😉 Good luck with it all! I was SO impatient at first, and now- 3 years later- I realize how long the whole thing has taken to fall into place a bit more.
Gosh it turned out so beautifully!
Thanks! I think it looks MUCH more rustic/ antique to… victory!!
Found your blog today in BHG. Can’t wait to read through all your previous posts! Love dough bowls, and love your style!!!! Cheers from Tennessee!
Yay!! Thanks, Carlie! (You’ll have to take the early posts with a grain of salt… ha!) SO glad you stopped by! xx
I too just got my March BH&G – this is my first visit and am looking forward to more ingenious stuff.
Aw, Thanks so much, Tina! 🙂 I can’t promise ‘all ingenious, all the time’ but… I can try! SO glad you left a comment!
Might this be a monkey pod bowl? Yours is just the right shape as a dough bowl substitute and I love the finish.
Hi Teddee! Mine was pretty light weight… I feel like monkey pod bowls are usually pretty heavy, right? Long after I grabbed mine at the thrift store, I saw something similar the one time I ventured into a Hobby Lobby so I’m wondering if mine was just a plain ol’ craft store knock off! Regardless… sanding and refinishing made a big difference! 🙂