Before & After: Painted Cookbook Stand

Remember this past weekend when I picked up this book stand at a rummage sale? This piece was so well made, and in such good condition, I considered leaving it as is. But I wanted to use it in my kitchen as a cookbook stand, and I feared that its sandy shade would blend into the background.

You see, my kitchen suffers from peach-itis. Peachy pink tile floors. Peachy pink tile backsplash. Beautiful granite counter tops...in chima pink. Since we moved in almost one year ago, I've been on a mission to tone down the peach and update the room, which otherwise is beautiful. I've switched out the cabinet hardware, exchanging streamlined oil rubbed bronze knobs for the oversize shiny brass ones that we inherited. We've also converted three of the can ceiling lights into vintage style pendants, and changed the wall color from a yellow sponge finish to a lovely neutral grey. All of these changes have helped dramatically, but I confess I still battle the counter top on a daily basis. I can live with the floors and even the backsplash (for awhile anyway), but the counter top always looks so dirty and cluttered to me. A fairly substantial hunk of light stained wood sitting on top of it would only make matters worse.

So I knew I had to paint the stand, but what color? I considered black, and that would have been a good choice too, but I settled on my favorite heirloom white, which matches my antique white cabinets. Two coats and some paste wax later, it looked pretty good. Especially with one of my mother's vintage cookbooks on it.

But it wasn't quite right. It looked too blah. I could have distressed it up a bit, giving it a little rustic character, but that wasn't the look I was going for here. It needed something to fancy it up. I was thinking a word. To make a ridiculously long story shorter, I settled on free-handing the word "EAT" across the stand. Of course, it's not perfect, and I probably should have tried to fashion a stencil first but my impatience always gets the best of me.

Anyway, I have to admit that I love it, flaws and all. What do you think? Did I make the most of my find or should I have left well enough alone?

Linking up this cute little project at Elizabeth & Co., one of my faves!