Thursday, September 15, 2011

The first piece...


This is the re-do of the first piece for my new-to-me dining room furniture. I have two of these chairs (purchased several months ago), and am looking now for four more different complementary chairs to go with my new-to-me table.

Here are a couple of "befores." The paint was tired and stained, but I didn't want to change the colour, it just needed some TLC...enter Rustoleum Heirloom White for the legs and ASCP Old White for the rest of it.


These chairs are ROCK SOLID, with nuts and bolts everywhere (lol)...took me an hour to get one of them apart! Don'tchajust LOVE a challenge?

I used this beautiful Tucker Resist Chambray fabric, ordered online from JoAnn's. Now this was a LONG process. I live in Nova Scotia Canada, and JoAnn's won't ship to Canada (siiiigh...) so an online friend ordered it for me, then shipped it to me here...it was worth the eight week wait! THANKS Ms Nancy!)


I didn't want that "dark waxy"look for this chair, just wanted it to look fresh and crisp and clean. After painting it, I sanded very lightly in a few places, for this look:


To be honest, I'm not much attracted to the current phase of dark wax over a piece...have done it several times, but my pieces just look "dirty" to me. Ack! MUCH prefer a lighter look!


Now, I have to share my latest acquisition. I've been searching for a dining room table for several months. Initially, I thought I'd like a French Provincial look...but this week, I found THIS, and immediately fell head over heels in LOVE (ummm...it is possible to truly LOVE an inanimate object??) This beauty is 42" wide by 62" long (closed) and 42" by 80" open. The leaf is actually stored inside the skirted table top, and comes up with a cranking mechanism. I'm told it's over a hundred years old, and it has the original finish, which is in amazingly excellent condition, with just a few minor "love bites" to be repaired.

Isn't it GORGEOUS!?

Now please...most of you furniture upcyclers are far more experienced than I...would LOVE to know what you'd consider doing with this table! The top, I've already decided, will remain stained, but I think I might use Minwax Dark Walnut stain on it after stripping (same stain I used for this little desk). I live in a 1200 sq ft condo; the dining area is combined with the "livingroom," so the little desk will be visible from the table and chairs. I've always thought that, once I found "the" table, I'd paint the skirt and legs some creamy colour, and have a stained top. But I am SO loving this piece just as it is, and apart from gently repairing some "love bites, I'm really torn with whether or not to do anything else to it.

Ideas? PLEEEEASE!! And YES, I'm scouring Pinterest too! ;)

I'm partying again with these fine bloggers this week. Would love to stop by your space in the blogosphere too. I read every single comment you leave, and always visit you back.

I wish you a week filled with the pleasures of creating THINGS you love and being with the PEOPLE you love...THANKS so VERY much for stopping by...and for whatever advice you have for me...OH...and one more thing...stop by Rondell's blog right here, she's hosting a Ramsign giveaway...be still my heart...

Thanks SO MUCH to Ms Christina for featuring my chair over here

66 comments:

  1. Love your chairs. And that table is gorgeous!
    Jennifer
    www.miss-maggiesplace.com

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  2. oh i love the table! i think it is beautiful as is with those chairs. and i LOVE the chairs. i tend to be happier with my minwax golden oak over paint- it is more subtle. i have tried the dark wax and felt the same as you- i was not happy. i may try again, but not yet! :)
    the fabric was worth the wait by the way- beautiful!

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  3. I too live in Canada and find myself wishing/waiting for trips down to the states so that I can get the "best" fabric for a project. Good Luck on the table it is a beauty(you should go to pinterest and get some ideas)and your chair looks great too!!!

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  4. It's a great piece! Have you gone to Pinterest? You will find a lot of inspiration there for sure. Since it's such a heavy and stately piece I would go with a lighter stain and paint but what do I know!! It will look smashing I'm sure.

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  5. I love the fabric you found for the chair...it is gorgeous. What a find on the table...I think it is beautiful as is!

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  6. Great pieces! I think you should do the top of the table a dark stain, like you mentioned, but paint the legs and the bottom of the top (make sense?) the same Heirloom White as the chairs. Then distress it a little. Ah. I'm jealous.

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  7. Terrific job on the little white chair. The blue print fabrick is just great with it. The desk is really beautiful.

    I am so pleased that you linked to Potpourri Friday. Your participation certainly makes the party more successful . I appreciate you and hope you will make this one of your regular stops each week!

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  8. Your chair is beautiful. You are right; the wait was worth it because that fabric is fabulous!!

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  9. Love the blue fabric on the chairs! The chairs look so cool!

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  10. Great looking chair after the redo. Oh that table is just to die for. I wonder what you will do with it....
    Hugs,Ellen

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  11. Such a pretty chair--great lines on the back. Your makeover looks great! thanks for linking up to share the love wednesday!
    Mary

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  12. This chair is awesome!!! Love it!!

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  13. That turned out lovely! I love the colors.

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  14. Another outstanding project that will go so well with your home. Amazing job and thank you so much once again for using Rust-Oleum.

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  15. Trying to decide what to do with the seats to my caned back chairs [linked below]... I love this fabric. Can you smell the smoke of me thinking on this one all the way up in Canada? Thoughts?

    http://solongfarm.blogspot.com/2011/09/chairs-and-tables-and-chairs-oh-my.html

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  16. The fabric is perfect for the lines of the chair!

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  17. I agree with you... that table is gorgeous. I love the fabric you chose for the chair... so pretty... I live in Canada, too, but luckily, it's only 50 min. to the nearest Joann's in Michigan!

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  18. Looks awesome! I used to live in Canada...I grew up in Alberta!
    come link up tomorrow at scrappy saturdays!

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  19. It's BEAUTIFUL! The fabric really does work well with the chair, too. I'd love if you'd link it up to my new weekly party so my readers can check it out too!

    http://makinglemonadeblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/refresh-my-nest-friday-first-linky.html

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  20. I would just clean and polish that beautiful table! Please don't paint it! You will lose its beauty if you do. And, if you ever decide to sell it, it's much better that it be in its original form.

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  21. Fantastic job on the chairs! And, the table is beautiful! Found you via Southern Lovely. Toodles, Kathryn http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/2011/09/voice-studio.html

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  22. If you love the table as it is, leave it that way. I think painting it would take away too much of it's character. The wood grain of the table skirt itself is stunning.

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  23. LEAVE IT THE WAY THAT IT IS PLEASE! FOR GOD SAKE YOU WILL HATE YOURSELF IN THE MORNING! There is too much of the painted furniture right now. If the only thing that will make a piece of furniture look better - then go ahead and paint it, but this piece is so lovely the way that it is. The classic coloring and the style is just stunning. You would be a fool if you painted it. Please - don't touch this piece!

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  24. Thanks Anonymous...I think I agree! ;)

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  25. Deborah,
    I will tell you my rule on thumb on painting furniture vs. leaving it alone. I come from a long line of antiquers. My family has had much experience with antiques and best how to restore and refurbish them. If a piece is 100 years old it is a true antique with value. If you alter the finish you damage the value considerably. My rule of thumb is to only paint junk furniture. Something that's not completely wood, or we have a modern piece of unfinished wood furniture I painted for the nursery. I have striped that nursery piece last year and took the paint back off and I couldn't get the primer out of every crevice so it was sanded and it damage some of the woods original shape but, I didn't care it was just a modern piece that had no value.
    So, with your table I would leave it alone. My family has restored and owned some really true antiques. One of my tables my great-grandfather had made out of the wood on his farm. It is only a vintage piece now but someday it will be 100 years old and my children will have a piece of furniture from their ancestor which will be much more valuable with it's original finish.
    Ultimately do what you feel makes you happy. I know that the decor magazines like Veranda, or House Beautiful show all mixes of wood in a single room. There would be nothing wrong with these classic white chairs with the beautiful fabric you have on them being seated under that table. It would look very chic. Reminds me of Nita's Mod Mix over at Mod Vintage Life. She a great sense of mixing it up.
    Thank you for linking it to Home Sweet Home!
    Sherry

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  26. Love the chair's colour and new fabric. You did a great job, well done! Thanks for sharing at BC Good Life Wednesdays.

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  27. This looks perfect! I love the fabric & paint you chose! :)

    Thanks so much for linking to "20 Below Thursday"! :)

    christinasadventures.com

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  28. I like the chairs - the fabric is yummy!
    Please don't paint the table, I think it's gorgeous :)

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  29. Thoses chairs look great. The blue fabric is fantastic. I am such a fan of blue and white.

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  30. What a beautiful thing you have here!
    I'm loving this blog
    kiss
    Tina (SONHAR E REALIZAR)

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  31. Hmmmmm...as a fellow Canadian and a former antique dealer I will tell you that it is very difficult to find the table that you have in such great condition.

    I have to agree that the current fad for painting everything is going to look very dated within 5 years and you can not *un-ring a bell" by stripping the paint off, the piece will be ruined. I would just use a wood restorer on the top of the table instead of re-finishing it.

    If you are determined to have some white on the table splurge on a really food quality restaurant white linen that will look crisp and clean.

    Best of luck! Ingrid

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  32. First thank you so much for entering and mentioning my giveaway on my blog and for becoming a follower, I'm now a follower of your great blog...you do amazing work! I know I'll learn alot about painting furniture from your blog, I'm not a pro at it so I'm going to add you to my bloglist so I won't miss anything!
    Again thanks!

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  33. I featured this today on my blog!! Come grab the new updated "featured" button!

    http://christinasadventures.com/2011/09/sunday-features-38.html

    I also pinned it!

    http://pinterest.com/christinasadven/20-below-features/

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  34. That chair is so charming and I enjoyed seeing the fabric you picked.
    Kristy @ 4 the love of WOOD

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  35. The chairs look fabulous and I love the fabric! Your new table is beautiful and I would not paint it. I think the white chairs will be a stunning contrast with the wood of the table. Thank you for linking to the Open House party and I hope to see you there again soon.
    Hugs,
    Sherry

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  36. I couldn't agree more with everything Sherry (above)said! The chairs are beautiful and you did a fab redo on them. that fabic is fantastic. I didn't know Joanns wouldn't ship to Canada (I wrked at 4 different JoAnns back in the 1990's). And that new table is perfect the way it is. It is really gorgeous. Before doing anything to it, live with it as is for awhile. I think you will be happy you did. thanks for joining TTF and have a fun week!

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  37. I love how that chair turned out!! I'm not a furniture diyer so sorry no addvice for your fabulous table!!
    Thanks for linking up to Southern Lovely's Show & Share!! Hope to see you again!

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  38. The chair came out so pretty, I love the fabric you chose. I am in agreement on the table, don't paint it!

    ~JamieS@ Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom

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  39. OMG that chair has the most amazing detail I have ever seen! Great job on the makeover! And that table is lovely it would be good enough as is. Maybe a darker stain but that's about it.

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  40. That chair looks terrific! Beautiful job!
    As for the table - I join the side that says leave it as it is - I don't think paint would really add anything and, as another poster said, if it's a true antique painting it will lessen its value in the long-run.
    My two cents
    You do awesome work!
    David

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  41. The chairs looks.... GORGEOUS!! What beautiful lines, and the pattern of that lovely fabric is a nice reflection of the curves...

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  42. love the fabric, can't wait to see what you do to the table!

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  43. I LOVE the chair and the fabric. I always love some classic blue and white. Oh and LEAVE THE TABLE. Only because I think the current look is so classic and it looks beautiful! If it is that old its an antique and it just looks great :)

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  44. I love the chair plus the fabric is beautiful.
    Stephanie

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  45. Love the crisp white on the chair, too! You already know what to do with the table, go with your gut. It know's best!! Thanks for stopping by my blog, I appreciate you!

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  46. Debrah, I dropped you a quick email. MMS gets that fabric at several dollars less per yd at another source, so sent you the links. I love Miss Mustard Seed's dining room curtains, and, yup, it's the same fabric!

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  47. Found you at Crafty, Scrappy, Happy, and I have to be honest: I am simply smitten with that fabric! This chairs looks amazing!
    lifewiththehawleys.blogspot.com

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  48. Wow I don't usually comment when a person has so many but I thought I would add my opinion to the pot (take it or leave it) I think there is a little too much wood on the table, either paint the legs a lighter color or darker, but I think if you go with your gut and change the lower half you will be able to appreciate the top more.

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  49. Hi Deborah!
    Thanks for coming to visit my blog the other day and all your kind comments! I adore your chairs and the fabric is fab!!! Worth the wait! The table is amazing too, but I wouldn't know what to do with painting or not. Good luck with whatever you do!
    Stacey of Embracing Change

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  50. I am so jealous! I love the chairs, they turned out perfect! and that table...it's going to be amazing!!!
    -emily
    nestnestingnested.blogspot

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  51. Deborah,
    I was just flipping through a Traditional Home today and found a handmade wooden table with white chairs very similar to yours. I will take a picture of it this weekend and mail it to you. It is a perfect example of how you could make this work.
    Sherry

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  52. Ms. Sweet Pea, First of all, thanks for coming by my blog, My Old Historic House, and especially thanks for the nice comment. I would like to say that I am usually the first person to say do not paint antique furniture. The table is kinda what we would call simi antique or vintage or collectable. It was never of a high quality furniture, but was pretty nice for that period. I have seen millions of them at estate sales and antique malls. They have been priced from a few dollars to a lot. So is hard to put an exact value on the furniture. I would suggest you paint just the legs, white or off white and antique down just a little with a jell stain. If you do not strip the table before you paint it, the white paint can be removed pretty easy. I think it would add a nice up date to the look and still have that rich wood also. One does not have to have all white furniture to achieve the shabby chic or cottage or French( I use that term loosely as american furniture painted white does not make it French)look that is so popular today. I think you will make the right decision and I just wanted to let you hear my feelings. Good luck and the chair turned out nice. Richard from My Old Historic House.

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  53. Oooohhh Richard, BLESS your kind heart for leaving me this detailed comment!

    I LOVE this old table, and would never sell it...BUT...so many people have said "Don't do ANYTHING to it because it will diminish its value..." not really anything I've ever worried about (except for my heirs lol)

    I am so HAPPY to hear from somebody who says it's "semi antique, or collectable..."because THAT means I CAN refinish the surface AND paint the legs to make the piece fit my space...without guilt!!

    I truly do NOT care about the $ "value," its' non monetary value to ME is more important...ummm...and I REALLY want to paint those LEGS!!! (lol)

    Thank you thank you THANK YOU!!!

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  54. Hi Deborah, I have some good news for you - you have been awarded the Versatile Blogger Award! I so enjoy your blog. YOU deserve it. You can find out more by going to: http://projectqueen.org/category/ramblings/the-versatile-blogger-award. Have a great day!

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  55. Oh Deborah, That chair is so pretty. You did a really great job on it. As for the table I personally would go ahead and paint it the same as the chairs with the top stained of course. It will look amazing painted and distressed. Congrats on the award I just read about above me. :)

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  56. I adore that chair! What a beautiful job! Thanks for visiting and for your sweet comments! Have a great day and thanks for sharing this beauty!

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  57. I love the chair and the fabric you chose to go with it! Gorgeous!

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