A Cottage Desk and Chair in Blue

This lovely Kittinger desk is the last bit of furniture from the big group I got from Carl the Furniture Guy last Monday. It's so handsome and unique, and was in great condition aside from some damage to the top. I went right over the old top with pretty pine boards, sanded stained and sealed, and painted the desk in a rich vibrant blue. I found the perfect chair to match the desk, solid maple by Nichols and Stone, and refinished the seat and painted the frame. It took ages to paint all the little spindles but it was worth it, I love how it turned out!

A Maple Dresser and Desk in Wellfleet Red

This handsome matched pair of slant front desk and tall dresser came from Carl the Furniture Guy on Monday. They're both constructed throughout in solid stunning Vermont rock maple. I couldn't not sand stain and seal the drawer fronts as well as the tops, they're too fantastic to paint. I went with a classic cape cod red inspired by the red washes found on many late 18th and early 19th century New England pieces. I named the color Wellfleet Red, because I'm just making these color names up, and that sounded dandy. The interior of the desk is in another of my recent custom colors, Bennington Buff. The drawer fronts and top of the desk and dresser are stained in English Chestnut and sealed. The construction of these two pieces is especially fine, and the drawers slide like butter. I'd like to sell them together since they've made it sixty or so years together so far and haven't been split, seems a shame to break them up now!

A Vintage Maple Dresser in Goldenrod Yellow

Poor goldenrod. It sprouts up at the very end of summer, giving us one final burst of warm glowing color before the frosts set in, and everyone hates it. Two days ago I was driving by an entire field of it bobbing and dancing in the afternoon breeze, and by God it was spectacular. So here's a newly mixed custom color for goldenrod, the latest summer flower. 

            The first piece to don the new color is this simple vintage solid rock maple dresser from about 1960. I refinished the top in espresso, sanded the case, painted it, and swapped the drawer pulls for antique cut glass knobs.

An Antique Dresser in Spring Green

I'm not sure why I do this to myself, but I often paint my favorite pieces in my favorite colors. It's a test of will power perhaps, or perhaps it's if none of you buy it, I can keep it for myself and it will match. I purchased this darling solid maple late 19th century piece from Carl the Furniture Guy on Monday. There's so much character packed into such a tight handsome little package; it's irresistible.

          The refinish was quite straight forward. First I repaired a drawer bottom, sliding it back into the slot in the drawer front, affixing it with a bit of wood glue, and replacing the nails into the drawer back board. I sanded the chipping, water ringed varnish off the top, revealing two beautifully figured maple boards. I painted the case, lightly distressed, and sealed with dark wax.

          It would be wonderful as a nightstand, or in a hallway. Or in my house, where I have a spot for it... already selected.

A Vintage Maple Cupboard

Isn't this cupboard cute as a button! It's vintage, maple, and probably dates to about 1950. I think it was originally meant as a child's dresser, as the space behind the door had a little rack where one could hang clothes (but they'd have to be tiny clothes). The piece is better suited in a kitchen or as a media cabinet, so I replaced the hanging rack with two shelves, stained to match the spectacular solid maple top. I painted the case in a custom mixed pale blue green called 'Sea Glass', distressed to let the bright green of the color peek through. I replaced the clunky old drawer pulls with handsome turned knobs stained to match the top. I painted the interior of the cupboard in a creamy antique white called 'Washed Linen'.