Muslin Curtains and Architectural Salvage Lamps

That's what's on my mind right now. Well- lighting in general is on my mind at the moment, to degree that last night I dreamt that I was searching high and low for crystals to make a crystal chandelier. When I finally found some at a local consignment store the lady in my dream wanted $400 per crystal, and I was certain that wasn't a fair price for them, so I left in a huff. Yes- my dreams are that dorky.
Anyway. My upstairs is in need of some lighting. I have a pretty nice pair of lamps from TJMaxx that live on the nightstands in our master bedroom, and all the overhead light fixtures are now installed. I need to fill in the following spaces now:
1. Small reading lamp for next to the settee in the reading nook in the master bedroom
2. Bedside lamps for the guest room
3. A task lamp or desk lamp for my newly installed desk (wait till you see this desk- I'm going to post about it soon I promise. You're gonna love it...I hope)

Project #2 is that I want to put in some curtains in the upstairs, and in the dining room and family room downstairs. I want something simple, natural, and unfussy feeling, and I'm really really leaning towards unbleached muslin. An added bonus- it's very affordable per yard.
So here are some pictures of lamps I'm adoring, and muslin curtains. Now I'll need some curtain rods...

Love both the antique work table and the wonderful task lamp. You can find both here.

I'm really digging these Edison style lamps at the moment. They'd be perfect for the guest room.

What a great task lamp with an awesome telescoping arm.

A tabletop spotlight would be perfect for my desk.

I've loved these architectural salvage style lamps for a while now.

Beautiful with a delicate chippy gray paint surface. This lamp is a star.

Adore this one with the wire mesh shade.

Green being my favorite color, I find this lamp basically irresistible.

These curtains are almost precisely what I have in mind. Simple and lovely.

A wonderful room made all the more dreamy with some wonderful muslin curtains around the antique bed.

I love how much muslin curtains let the light in. It makes the windows almost glow during the daytime.

Solid Maple Dining Set

I thought the music studio would make a little more attractive backdrop for photographing this lovely dining set than my chaotic basement workshop. I got the table a few weeks ago, and had been saving the chairs for just the right project. It's all solid maple, sturdy as a rock, and one of those sets that needed no work, just the cosmetics. The table was a bear to sand, and I did it on one of the coldest days yet, so I had to keep jogging inside to warm up every half hour or so. Well worth the effort though! Look at that stunning wood grain on the top! I stained the top with a mix of english chestnut and cherry to really make the warmth of the wood come through. The table base and six matching Windsor style chairs are all painted with a black semigloss. I have a before shot on the table, but not the chairs. I should also mention that my flash was throwing off the color of the black paint a bit. As you can see in some of the pictures with no flash, it is a true black.
Enjoy!

look at that top! So shiny and flawless that you can see your reflection in it!

A Classic Oak Sideboard

It's a sideboard themed day today! This is the third sideboard that I just finished. It's gorgeous solid oak, and is one of those insanely versatile pieces that will work just about anywhere and with just about any decor. I painted the case a creamy white semi gloss, and painted the interior as well, so it's nice and fresh. I swapped out the boring drawer pulls for some burnished copper cove pulls. I sanded and refinished the top in a medium oak wood tone. It's so smooth. Oak is so great to work with.
Before and Afters below!

A Traditional Federal Sideboard

Another project that I completed yesterday- this beautiful antique mahogany sideboard. I originally got the piece from Sarah, who I also got my nice little display hutch from.
The sideboard was in wonderful condition, but needed a little rev-up to make it exciting again. I sanded and refinished the fabulous mahogany top, and painted the case a high gloss black for a traditional meets modern vibe. I kept the original oval drawer pulls because they're just so pretty.
Pretty handsome huh?
Before and afters below!

Just look at that mahogany!!

Beautiful Distressed Barn Board Sideboard

Good Morning! I was busy all day yesterday completing some projects to show you. This is a great antique oak bowfront sideboard c.1900-1920. I picked it up when I bought my lovely little settee for our master bedroom. The sideboard was sturdy as a rock but definitely needed some cosmetic work. Someone had tried to strip the top at some point, and not done a very good job. That was fine with me though, because I knew this piece was just begging for a barn board top. Luckily, I had two perfect early 19th century boards left from a cache that I bought a long time ago and had been saving for just the right piece. I sanded them, attached them, stained and sealed. The top is so lovely now. I shaped the front corners with my jig saw to give the top even more interest.
I painted the case of the piece a soft antique cream, over an earlier white, then distressed the piece to give it a cool vibe. I waxed and buffed the whole thing to give the paint surface durability. The copper drawer pulls compliment the multi layer paint surface. Even better- the entire bottom drawer is 100% cedar lined. Perfect for storing whatever you treasure.
Before and afters below- this one is available, so shoot me an email if you're interested!