More Stuff and a Decision

Sometimes there is a little story that goes along with my finding a piece.  In the summer I wrote of a house that had many, many puppies, goats walking through and a horse in the side yard.  This new story is not as sweet as the animal house story.  Actually, not sweet at all.  The picture below is of a cabinet with two doors on the top and two drawers on the bottom.  It is painted two tone green.  Not a bad looking piece at all.  I saw it on trash day in my community on the curb with trash bags around it.  I turned around, parked in front of it and determined it would fit in the back of my car.  I have a PT Cruiser - the back seats fold down for extra space.  Despite the fact that I look strong as bull, I am not.  I have arthritis all over the place which reduces the strength.  So, I wiggled it over to the back of the car and thought that I could lift it from the bottom and just slide it in.  No, no, no.  It had to make it over the hump created by the back of the seats and I couldn't get enough leverage to do it.  I went into the back of the car from the side door and tried to pull it from there.  I broke two nails, said nasty words under my breath and finally got it over the hump.  Back to the outside of the car to push it in.  No, no, no!!  A nail on the back of the piece was sticking out and got caught on a loop in the carpet.   More nasty words under my breath and the biggest heave ho I could manage and in it went. 

Now, this all took some time.  Only one car drove by so I thought
I was relatively free from humiliation.  No, no, no!!!!  I was just about to drive away when a man opened the door of the house I was taking from and gave me a big smile and wave!!!   He was probably watching the whole time and never offered to help.  Jerk!!

When I arrived home I asked Chris to take it out of the car but did not tell him my story.  He did it, came in the house and told me it was "trash".  Nasty words NOT under my breath!!  End of story - we will be restoring this piece.

Not bad looking, right?

We have decided to sell our furniture at the Renningers Antique Extravaganza in January and February.  People come from all over the country for this shopping experience.  It is about 30 miles from us.  There is an indoor flea market, an indoor antique market, little outside antique shops and a place outdoors for vendors such as us.  It takes two days to go through this sale.  It is unbelievable!  I will post pics of what we will be selling as they are completed.  I cannot wait!

Painted - and waiting

Another day and more progress.  Since the terrible weight of the aneurysm is off our shoulders we seem to be almost skipping through the day ("skipping" is an exaggeration, of course).

Below are pics of the furniture with the final coat of paint (Sherwin Williams - Pro Classic - Samovar Silver).  It went on like "butta" ("butter" for those of you who do not speak like a Bostonian).

Now a pic of the hardware with the first base coat.  They will be a nickel color when finished.

If it stays dry today we will be able to finish it all off and deliver tomorrow.  We are pleased with the results and hope that Mary will be also.

Painted - $4

'Tis the wee hours of the morning and I cannot sleep and thought that writing this post now would serve to pass the time and save some time later.  I came across a blog named "No Minimalist Here" which is probably well known to some of you but is new to me.  The info she had was wonderful for Chris and I.  She has come up with the "recipe" for chalk paint and it only costs about $4!!     The type of chalk paint we use is $38/qt.   Quite a substantial cost savings especially since we do resale.

This "recipe" involves mixing either Calcium Carbonate or whiting powder to latex paint.  Besides saving on cost it opens up the realm of color choice to the moon!  The paint we use now is limited in color choices and does not always hit the mark.  I am thrilled.

nominimalisthere.blogspot.com  is the link to her site.  Below is a pic of a vanity she did with the formula.  Aside from the piece being gorgeous, the whole effect is grand.

Is that not beautiful?

I am going to go hit the pillow now.

Painted Swedish 3

Hello again!   I am here to give you a very brief history lesson of Gustavian Furniture.  It seems that this furniture is the Swedish interpretation of French, Italian and English designs in the 17th and 18th centuries.  King Gustav reigned during that time and thus the title.  This design is said to be a cleaner, more refined interpretation of the Louis XV and Louis XVI (of which you are all familiar, right?).  The design maintains a "humbler yet still royal character".

Ok - enough of the formal stuff.  I did come across a company in Connecticut that makes this style furniture and had a color chart of the various finishes associated with the period.
For some unknown reason I cannot download that page to here.  It can be found at www.countryswedish.com 

Take a look at the samples and let me know which you like best and why.  For those of you not familiar with commenting on a blog please look at the end of each post where it states "0 COMMENTS"  Click there and the comment page appears.

I hope to hear from you.

Painted Swedish 2

I have come back to post pics of pieces of Swedish design furniture that have caught my eye.   These are Gustavian reproductions of the 19th century.  So there is the background research and history lesson.  That's all I know.   I will be researching further to get colors and techniques used in the 19th century and come back with the info. 

For now I will present the pics and ask for your opinions.  Any and all comments are appreciated. 

The pic below is not of Reproduction Gustavian 19th century furniture.  This pic presents modern design.  I threw it in for contrast.

What do you think?   Would it be good to interpret these into a refurb of vintage pieces? 

Chris and I are going out for an early supper.  I will bring the pics for review.  Retired married couples need something to talk about at a meal and this will be just right.

Later.  Jeanne

Painted - Swedish

The websites and blogs that I have come across lately are about Swedish design and style.  Because of Google translate I actually know what is written.  I am inspired by the clean, fresh, simple statements the rooms make both in decorative accenting and furnishing.  Today Chris is painting the ceiling in our kitchen.  Even though I would be able to speak with him about this style, he wouldn't really look at the pics.  This will have to wait until tonight or tomorrow.  We have a dining room set that is waiting to be refurbed and refinished.  I would like to do it in this style and start searching for just the right fabric for the chair seats.  We haven't yet sat down to discuss this project since we rec'd the pieces so I don't know what he is thinking - or, if he did tell me I have forgotten (most likely this is the case). 


I will post some pics with the swedish style later today.

Later.  Jeanne

Painted - Enchanting

I am never going to figure out this blog.   These were supposed to appear at the end of the post.  Please, have patience.

Along the way I have mentioned that we sell our furniture through a few stores.  It is now time to show you another store that has our furniture.  The name of the store is Better Than New Furniture and the name says it all.  When I walk into the store I want to redecorate my whole house with a different style in each room.  Jenni and Ed are the owners and could not be more congenial, informative and helpful if they tried.  They stay on top of current trends and handle only quality pieces.  The store is located in Longwood, Florida.  Their website is www.BetterThanNewFurniture.com


Here are a couple of pics of their place.  Chris took them.

Painted White Part 4

Finally!! I am disappointed with my pics but since the piece of furniture has gone to the shop I can't fix them.


To recap - the piece was painted old white chalk paint - allowed to dry - a layer of gray chalk paint was applied with a dry brush technique.  Dry brushing is applying a small amount of paint to the brush and then brushing that off on a paper towel - very little paint on the brush.  After the dry brushing was completed the piece was distressed - sanding down in different areas to make the piece have a warm, used look.  Then the Annie Sloan wax was applied.  The clear wax was used and not a heavy layer. 


That should be it but it isn't.  About two weeks ago I read the blog of a woman whose name I cannot remember but when I do I will credit her for the info on 1005 Design Aluminum Designer Backsplash Panels.  This company is about to launch their product and it seems to me to be fantastic.  Chris said he wanted to use it in our kitchen and he does not volunteer to do things like that very often so you know he likes it.  I called the company to get info on where I could purchase the panels.  I spoke to Jana Moses who told me that it was not yet available in stores.  I was so disappointed because I really wanted to try it out on this piece.  Jana, the sweetheart, offered to send me a piece to try.  It arrived and wow!  Thank you, Jana.


There are several designs shown on their website that are gorgeous.  I have a close up of the panel we received.

I wish it was brighter but the panel is on the inside of the table - to give it some updated bling.   Chris installed this and he said he had no trouble cutting and adhering (using construction adhesive).  The next pic shows the whole piece with a bit of the panel inlaid in the door.  I love it! 

We can't wait to use it again on a bigger piece of furniture (and do the kitchen).  Jana at 1005 Design will be so tired of my asking when it is hitting the stores.      Click here to link to their  website.  www.1005design.com 
This product will have many more uses than just backsplash and I can't wait to get my hands on it.  BTW - I am not being paid to say any of this - I really mean it.


I hope you like the finished product after all this time.  I think it was worth waiting for.       Be well. 


P.S.  I just took a good look at the pics again and they stink.  They looked o.k. to me when I took them but I did have my eye patch on.  From now on Chris will take the pics.   Sorry.

Painted - Without Cord Trim

I thought that by this time today I would be posting the pic of the completed chair.  While gluing the cord on I somehow twisted the cord and did not notice it until the back of the chair was done.  Ripped off the cord and left a whole line of fuzzy threads stuck to the glue.  After picking off the fuzzy threads - not as easy as you might think - I realized that the mess left on the chair with hardened glue would now have to be covered with two rows of cord.  Do I have enough?  No!  Am I off to the store?  Yes!  Talk later.....