New Acquisitions

Well today was the big day. First Flea Market of the Season! Which, by the way, should really be a national holiday. All week the weather had been pointing to rain, but the Gods took pity on me, and it stayed dry. There were only about a quarter of the usual vendors there, but I didn't walk away empty handed! I got this amazing solid cherry antique dining table (look at those lines!) SWOON. Judging by the label I think it dates to c. 1910-1930. It didn't come cheap, but I simply could not leave without it. So much potential. And this set of bone white dinner ware. We currently have a terrible mishmash of various colored plates and I decided I wanted everything to be white. I love stacks of white dishes, so fresh and pretty. So this is the start of that collection. I want at least 10 more plates and six more bowls. But getting there. I'm going to refinish the table. I've actually already started sanding it and the top is stunning. This table's gonna be a showstopper when I'm through with it!

Erin Go Bragh

First off, I'm very irish, at least 70% or something like that. Second, as you may know, green is my favorite FAVORITE color. Third, I love St. Patrick's as it is just at the cusp of spring, with the grass getting green, and the daffodils and forsythia blossoming, So without further ado, here are some green rooms. Enjoy and Happy St. Patrick's Day!

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A kitchen Island before and after

Well you all know what a sucker I am for a kitchen Island. Like all the best islands, this one started life with a different purpose. I found this great vintage pantry cabinet at an estate sale a little over a month ago. I was immediately drawn to its original enamel handles and its great proportions. With the right changes, it could be a magnificent island. I started by adding feet, as it needed more height (the standard island is 36 inches tall). The feet are actually a mid section from table legs on a base for a table I couldn't salvage. I then added a barn board top directly onto the old formica one. This gave me a bit more height and helped to stabilize the top. It's bracketed from the inside so the top can be removed by taking out four screw (it need to get through the doorway into it's new home!). I painted the whole thing white and sanded, stained, and polyurethaned the top. It was one of the hardest biggest projects I've taken on, but totally worth it. Pretty amazing transformation huh?

A vintage maple dresser

About a month ago I scored a fabulous rock maple dresser off craigslist. The price was right and it had great lines, but just needed a new twist. The best part was that it was in perfect like the day it was made condition. Since I didn't have to spend a whole lot of time fixing broken drawers and the like, I got to really concentrate on the finish. I painted the case my favorite white (cotton whisper) and sanded the top. The maple grain was breathtaking. I had originally wanted to put a dark stain on top to contrast with the white case, but after seeing the beautiful wood, I tried a new color that would allow it to really shine through (a mix of mini wax red chestnut and ipswich pine). I used the drawer pulls that came with the dresser since they have a great patina and add character. Befores and afters below!

Before- with all the drawers out. I always forget to take a 'before' picture until the last minute.

Look at that gorgeous wood top! I was really happy with how the color turned out.

Nightstand hunt

The tag sale and flea market season is just a couple weeks away now, and in preparation, I've started to think about what new items I will need for our upstairs, once complete. Though I'm considering keeping the current pair of nightstands I have in our bedroom, and painting them white, the guest bedroom will need one, or possibly two new (vintage) stands. I love the idea of a small antique work table as a stand, and if I find I only have room for one nightstand, I may go with that. I definitely want something with an old paint surface that compliments the mint greens/aquas that will be the scheme in the room.

Gorgeous old farm table looks fresh and interesting here

I love the paint surface, and of course the fact this it's a step ladder on this one

The crossed iron base is stunning and graceful- I would snatch this up in a heart beat. 

This one is the perfect color and so interesting and unexpected

A great amount of storage and a nice worn surface here

Love love love this one- a nice 19th century petite chest of drawers with a great surface. So fun!

Ok the faux aged paint surface is dreadful- but if it were white or mint green, it would be stunning.
Such great, elegant lines!

I love everything about this picture, from the nightstand to the ironstone pitcher of wild carnations. So pretty!

New Acquisitions part 2

I follow up to last week's post- here are the items I purchased at the tagsale on Saturday. I hope to have some "after" shots of some of the projects soon. Taking the final photos is often a bigger ordeal than even refinishing the furniture as it requires hauling it all upstairs (very carefully so as not to scratch or dent) and then staging, and then very carefully hauling the furniture back down again. It's so much more fun in the summer months when I can work on the items outside and then photograph them before I bring them back downstairs. I can't wait til the weather warms up!

A lovely black dining set

I picked this set up off craigslist a few weeks ago. It had great lines and everything was as solid as a rock...rock maple in fact. I loved the dining chairs- those brace back windsors are so handsome. The set dates from the 1940s or 50s and is in perfect condition even after all these years. I've been admiring solid black dining sets on various blogs for a while, and thought that would be just the ticket for this set. Black high gloss paint (three coats) and then a wax finish.
Here's my before and after- and some other ones that inspired me.

I thought about sanding and staining the top but I wanted to try something new. Look at how much less faded the two leaves in the center are compared to the rest of the table top!

Before- the chairs are a little blah- no excitement

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And here's the finished set- So fresh and bright and beautiful! I think it would look gorgeous in an antique home- white walls and a bright vase of orange tulips on top!