Thursday, February 19, 2009

Almost Anthro

Way back in December I found myself coveting this pepper mill from Anthropologie. It's just so cheerful.

Picture from Anthro

I remembered that when I saw these guys in a thrift store for $2. They aren't quite as statuesque as the original, but they cleaned up nice.

IMGP0973

The trickiest part was figuring out how to tape off the various parts I didn't want painted. I ended up putting pins inside the salt shaker, shoving cotton in there to keep them close to the surface and then taping off the opening, so as to keep any paint from getting inside.

IMGP0976

Primer + teal spray paint (I used the Painter's Touch brand in Jade) and I have a sweet new set.

DSC_3350

Psst...the Anthro pepper mill is on sale for $12.95, if you don't feel like mucking around with spray paint.

45 comments:

  1. Oh, all the more reason to come back daily for you sure know how to spice up my life. I adore the color -it is so you!
    pve

    ReplyDelete
  2. These are gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Very cool. I love the bright color!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Holy heckamoly! You did a fabulous job with these. I love them even more than the Anthro ones. Kudos!

    ReplyDelete
  5. how do you always have the best paint colors?!
    i always look forward to your photos against walls in your home because they are unfailingly swiped with a fun color.

    these are amazing, by the way.
    such a great idea!
    i'm jealous.

    ReplyDelete
  6. these are way cuter than the anthro ones! plus, they'll look great in your place.

    ReplyDelete
  7. These are so cute!! I was just coveting a mint green version myself!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. So clever - love the color you chose!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Love your cheery teal color! Great job.

    ReplyDelete
  10. This looks great! We have a big red pepper mill in our kitchen, but I love that color. I don't think my husband would let me change the red though.

    ReplyDelete
  11. *GASP!*

    those! are! so! nice!

    great paint job. i'm a big fan of re-painting things - my boyfriend always laughs at me and says that i'll paint anything that's not nailed down... but it makes things so much better!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Don't you love spraypaint? That color is so pretty.

    ReplyDelete
  13. $2 is still way more appealing than $12.95, and I think yours have more character. i'm enjoying your blog :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love these!!! What kind of spray paint did you use?

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love these!!! What kind of spray paint did you use?

    ReplyDelete
  16. Sorry, guys! I've added the spray paint info to the post. I used Painter's Touch (high gloss) in Jade. It was less than $3 and they carry it at Home Depot and Osh.

    I wanted a glossy finish, so I was a bit limited in the shades I could get. The American Accents brand had some really beautiful shades in a matte finish (including one that looks just like the mint color on the other Anthro mill).

    ReplyDelete
  17. Psh! Yours are way prettier. And can I say, I am a little creeped out by all the ceramic kitchen tools at Anthro. I want to be the sort of person and live in the sort of house that can have ceramic pepper mills and measuring spoons and stuff, but they seriously would not make it through one meal. How do people avoid chipping and breaking them?

    So I like that yours are wooden.

    ReplyDelete
  18. WOW! I love what you have done --- and better yet, no one will have the same set and shade as you :) Plus, it matches your fantastic wall.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Rachel these are great. I recenty did something similar with some Sugar, Flour and Coffee canisters. You can check it out on my blog...

    http://stephers-thechipperchicken.blogspot.com/

    I was so excited about doing the project, I remembered half way I didn't take any before pictures. Oh well!

    Now I'll be on the look out for some thirft store S&P shakers!

    ReplyDelete
  20. the teal colour is even more amazing than the yellow, you did a great job, it looks so fabulous! :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Ahhh, I love it, and it is so much cooler b/c you made it yourself! Way to go girl!

    ReplyDelete
  22. They look great. Another brilliant project - maybe you should start doing little videos and posting them on You Tube....

    ReplyDelete
  23. Wow! Nice work Rachel. You always impress me with your craftiness. I love that color too!

    ReplyDelete
  24. oh wow - I'm so impressed with your version. you are so much better than I am at that stuff.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Um, way cooler than the anthro one by FAR! I love the perfectly shiny teal color you chose.

    Oh and by the way---you one the fancy pants muffin papers on my cookbook giveaway! Drop me an email and let me know how I can get them to you!
    anne@annesage.com

    ReplyDelete
  26. What a clever thing you are! It looks gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Rachel, these are phenomenal! The perfect aqua.

    ReplyDelete
  28. fricking amazing! super lovely. though, i must say, i wish i could find halfway decent pepper mills at thrift stores.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Wow! How do peppermills evoke so much emotion?! :-D Those are so great! The high gloss finish is what makes it so perfect to me. Well done and thanks for sharing!!

    ReplyDelete
  30. The color is fun! I can't wait for the weather to warm up- I want to paint a couple of pieces.

    ReplyDelete
  31. This is a great idea! And really, it could be done with anything found. You have inspired me- now I want to go thrift shopping ASAP this weekend!

    Thanks for a great post :)

    ReplyDelete
  32. Super sweet idea! I featured those back in my gift guides in december and have been wanting a set too. I never even thought of doing it myself. Great job.

    ReplyDelete
  33. They definitely look better painted. Great job! I love DIY projects.

    ReplyDelete
  34. really lovely work, rachel, and good call on pinning and taping the salt shaker! i'm such an instant gratification painter that i'd have plunged ahead without even thinking of that and then wondered why my food didn't taste any zestier.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Wow you are awesome! And totally inspiring! Now I want to go thrifting and find some cool old things and refurbish them!

    ReplyDelete
  36. What a gorgeous color! These are amazing...and I must say I love them even more than the ones from Anthropologie.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Much better than Anthro...Great color!

    ReplyDelete
  38. GORGEOUS! Thanks so much for sharing, I'll be linking to this post.

    ReplyDelete
  39. I've been coveting the anthro pepper mill as well. Thanks for the great tip! Love your blog...I found it via Red Otter.

    ReplyDelete
  40. absolutely CA-ute!

    ReplyDelete

Trying captchas this time - better or worse than having to log in to comment? Let me know! Sorry for all the hoops but the spam has been terrible lately!