To say my Hoosier Cabinet was dirty would be the understatement of the decade. I stand by my contention that it’s been sitting in a shed for years and it had thick layers of dirt to prove it. Simple Green and I scrubbed away at every inch of that thing multiple times and I dirtied every rag I had to my name before it was decently clean. And even then when I began sanding away at the wood I think I was sanding away dirt more than anything else!
But eventually I had it clean enough to satisfy me. After a light, all-over sanding, it was time for the brown bottom coat. I chose a dark, chocolate brown paint in a flat finish. And let me add that here I incurred my first expense in refinishing my Hoosier Cabinet. I paid $7.97 for a gallon of flat brown paint and another $2.97 for a pack of sandpaper. 
The plan was to purchase a whitish paint for my Hoosier cabinet and then use it for the little table as well. (And for a couple of other projects I’ll share details of later.) This time I made the trip into Louisville to Home Depot where I compared oodles of white paint chips. Who knew there could be 1,000,001 shades of white? Finding the perfect shade was a daunting task. Creme Brulee was just a little too yellow. Starry Light was way too pink. Polar bear was too stark. Pot of cream was too, well, creamy.
Now I’m not a fancy decorator. (No froo-froo for me, thanks!) But I love simple arrangements. I pulled out a couple of items that had been sitting on the table before; a $3 lamp and $2 black-faced clock, both from the Hobby Lobby clearance aisle. I added a couple of old books and the vintage telephone that my dad, a Bellsouth retiree, rescued from a house years ago, complete with its Highlands number 1568 still on the front. (I love my telephone!) I added the little wooden chest that belonged to my grandparents and, of course, a vintage alarm clock. (I wouldn’t call myself a collector really, but I do have a thing for vintage alarm clocks. Can’t hardly pass one by at a flea market or yard sale!) I have a box of lovely yellowed letters from great aunts and uncles and I’d love to drop a couple of those on my little table for effect, but as I still have some destructive little hands around, we’ll wait a few more years before pulling those out. Even without them, I love my little table!
Love it! The whole process seems so…therapeutic :).
Therapeutic is probably a good word for it! It's a lot of work…seems like I've been painting and sanding and repainting and sanding like crazy! But I really, really enjoy it, too, and, while it sounds a little corny saying it, the sense of accomplishment when it's all done is pretty incredible.