Mustard Yellow Console Table

I picked up this solid oak console table at the local consignment store about a month ago. Unlike most of my furniture projects lately, this one was for me to keep :).
Living in a 1920s bungalow, the rooms in my downstairs are relatively small. The dining room is really pretty tiny. It makes me crazy, and is my least favorite thing about our little cottage. I decided we just needed more space in the room, as it serves as dining room, and hallway between the kitchen and family room. I had been hunting for quite some time for a fairly narrow console table, to swap out for the bulky antique dresser that had been along the dining room wall. When I saw this console at the consignment store, it was love at first sight. The clean, chunky lines compliment my early 20th century library table turned dining table perfectly. I really like that it has a lower shelf. The dimensions are just perfect for the space.
I painted the body of the table Benjamin Moore's maple sugar- which reads as a mustard yellow with just a hair more brown undertone. I sanded the top and stained it a deep dark walnut.
The fall decor - Vintage School House Chic - is up, so here's you're first sneak peak. I'll photograph the rest once I get some gourds and pumpkins to scatter about artfully. My local nursery STILL doesn't have their gourds or pumpkins out yet (the nerve!).
Before and Afters below!

Tables as Kitchen Islands

So it's been about a month- it must be time to post about kitchen islands again. I just can't get enough of kitchen islands. I love them, but only creative ones. No one should be going out and buying a new kitchen island when there are so so many amazing pieces out there, ready and waiting to be a phenomenal island! I posted a few days ago a lovely antique butcher block turned kitchen island. It got me thinking. It's such a great form, with the large work surface on top, a convenient shelf below. It doesn't take up a lot of space visually because the base isn't enclosed, but it packs a punch.
Enjoy some beautiful images below. Do you have a kitchen island? Did it start life as something else?

That butcher block one is still available. Would be so pretty piled high with pumpkins and apple pie for Autumn entertaining.

Made from antique barn boards, and that towel bar is so handy!

This island is terrific. I love the marble top and the boldly turned legs! 

Even in a modern kitchen, a rustic island adds charm and character!

No frills kitchen is still stunning with a  collection of vintage accessories and a sweet simple island on casters.

An antique farm table is gets a new life as a center island in this luxurious kitchen

The perfect size for a petite kitchen, this island looks just as stunning in a massive old world kitchen.
Look at that fireplace!

A rustic work bench adds texture to a modern, dark kitchen. The storage space below is being fully utilized. 

Sleek and clean, a new coat of gray paint and casters take this antique farm table to all new levels as an island and work station. What a gorgeous kitchen!

Bright and cheerful and folky. The island/ kitchen nook table looks like an antique sideboard.

A beautiful antique bakers table fully compliments the rustic interior of this home. The industrial barstools and modern pendants all blend together so well. 

Fantastic Farm House Dining Set

Here it is, the dining set for the home owner who wants the very very best. This dining is the best in construction, best in material (all six chairs and the table are solid gorgeous oak), and the very best in character. The chairs are authentic mission oak dining chairs. They're heavy, sturdy, in perfect condition, and painted a new gloss black, surprisingly modern. The chairs are about 100 years old, and under their freshly upholstered seats is the original leather. The dining table has amazing lines, huge chunky turned legs, and a great rich wood grain. I love this set. LOOOOOOOVE it!!!!!
Before and after pictures below. Oh, and here's a tissue, cause I know you're drooling ;)

Sneak Peak

Oooooooo - I have the coolest thing to show you guys tomorrow. Just finished it. I'm literally smeared with black paint. Had to finish and photograph before I lost the light (stupid sun is setting so much earlier now!). Here is just a little sneak peak. Full post tomorrow, and yes, it's for sale ;)

Industrial Antique Kitchen Island

I love kitchen islands. I love industrial antique furniture. I love butcher block. This island, it has it all. This island is the coolest island EVER. It even has a wonderful history. How cool is that. It's a solid oak butcher block island, it's about 100 years old. It was used by the Navy in New London, Connecticut to prepare meals for many years. Eventually it was given to one of the cooks, who flipped the butcher block, as it was becoming quite coved from years of use, and used it himself for many years to prepare breads for his family and friends. I purchased it from that gentleman's son. I added a bottom shelf, made of antique barn board, to hold all the necessary elements a kitchen needs. I sanded, stained, and sealed the work surface, to preserve and protect it, and to make it more useful for the modern family. I painted the legs white, but kept the huge industrial brackets that hold the legs in their original wrought iron state, just to add a bit more character. This would be a stunner in any kitchen. It's a great size, 48" long, not too bit, not too small, and at 34" in height, it's great for standing food prep, or to sit at with bar stools. This one's available on craigslist as well!
Before, during, and after pics below!

Stunning Antique Empire Dining Set

I came across this gorgeous antique flame mahogany dining table in a barn in Cheshire a few weeks ago. It was in remarkably good condition, the top needed to be redone, but otherwise, it was perfect. I love the lines. So sleek and smooth and elegant. I had to hang on to it for a few weeks because I was waiting for the right chairs. I knew as soon as I saw the set of five solid mahogany dining chairs that it was a match made in heaven. The period and style are perfect for each other. I love how the graceful angle of the shield back on the chairs mimics the round scrolls of the table base. You can't find quality furniture like this anymore. The reproductions are all made of cheap materials, and that flame mahogany is drop dead beautiful! I sanded and stained the table top, kept the color pretty close to the original to really let the wood grain shine. I painted the table base and the chairs a soft antique white. The chairs were reupholstered in a cream sack cloth. This could be a showpiece in any home, modern or antique! Before and afters below, and this one's on craigslist, so feel free to let me know if you're interested!