10.29.2009

What I've been doing....

Of course, when in the midst of a room makeover, the vision changes as you go along.  I made a detour on Craigslist last week (been trying to avoid reading over there because time and funds are short until my youngest graduates....in 10 years.)  Anyway, I happened upon some ladderback chairs that would do a great job in my dining room even though I had already decided to use some other chairs I already had.  I'm going for an ecclectic mix in there....a cottagey, shabby, rustic, but elegant feel. I thought the rusticness would look cool juxtaposed with the more elegant shabbiness of the boo-fay.  So I picked 'em up and went to work.

Removed the seats.....



so I could use some of this (Heirloom White, 'cause, well, you know)


Laid out the seats...

so I could add some of this...




My spraypaint was giving me fits...don't know if it was just too cold or what, but it kept coming out in bursts of foamy splatters.  I'm sorry to say it made me cuss.  A lot.  I sanded them down again, thinking I'd just use a brush, but I ended up really liking the look of them all shabby-fied after I finished with the sanding (used 220 grit...it took FOREVAH)

The seats were a challenge too....the gel stain was too gloppy and hard to get into the zillion crevices.  But it's what I had on hand, and I wasn't driving 20 minutes to get something different.  It took 3 coats and 3 days.  The first coat I obeyed the rules and wiped the extra off after a few minutes.  The second and third coats I said another bad word, threw caution to the wind and laid it on thick, letting it dry as is.  Much nicer effect....but took a full 24 hours to dry between the coats.

They're cozied up to my table in the dining room now....will prolly need to use some wipe-on poly for the chairs and some spray on for the seats, but I was impatient and wanted to see them in the room.  You, my dear readers will see them in the room VERRRY soon.

The next project I undertook for the room was a rolltop oak desk that I got for helping my friend sell off her mom's estate. (the brass badboys I did were also from her mom's)  Here's the before:

Here it is opened up....the surface slides out to make a desk.  Very cool.  Very dirty.
Very covered in years of nicotine.  But her lines are VERY similar to the boo-fay....yippee!



I basically wiped 'er down a couple times with liquid sander, then painted on 3 coats of Heirloom White (it comes in a quart near the spraypaint), doing a light sanding inbetween.  After the last coat I used 80 grit sandpaper to distress her edges.

Here's an after closeup:



Help me out here....I'm tempted to add some glaze to her, but she matches the boo-fay's treatment as is.  Should I just let her be?  I still need to paint her scrolly things on top too.  They're brass and just not very nice.  If I can figure out how to spraypaint them with ORB, that's my plan.

So....that's what's been cookin' round these parts.  I have one big-ish project left, but I may not wait to complete that before going ahead with the reveal.  I'm terribly happy with how it's coming along, and trying to ignore the perfectionist in me when it comes to accessorizing and such. Also, having it so near completion makes me HATE the ceilings (popcorn/cottage cheese/nastiness) and floor (berber blah carpet).  Ah well. 

Can't wait to show y'all...thanks for being (somewhat) patient!

Linkin' up to:

31 comments:

blushing rose said...

Absolutely AWESOME! Have a BOO-tea-FUL weekend.!
TTFN ~ Marydon

Debra@CommonGround said...

Hi Cindy, Girl, you've been BUSY. You did a great job on the little secretary. love the distressing, and the chairs look great. I had one of those sprayers and it just caused a big mess, then got clogged, then I felt like you with the bad word agenda! Yikes, it really tried my patience. Everything turned out wonderfully. I love hearing what people use for their projects! Have a fun weekend!
Debra

Kate said...

cindy,
everything looks great I soooo can't wait to see your dining room! I am impatient as well so I love your stories I can totally relate.

Have a wonderful weekend

Hugs
Kate

Lori S. said...

Stop TEASING us already! I'm going to come be a "Peeping Lori" and snoop around your windows!

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

Love that desk with its new coat of Heirloom White!

Sarah @ Hennessey House said...

wow! the rolltop is amazing in its newest incarnation. i've never used liquid sander before, hmm.... i'm intrigued!

Anonymous said...

I like the roll top just like it is. Wouldn't change/add a thing! Looks great!
pk @ Room Remix

Lou Cinda @ Tattered Hydrangeas said...

This is fabulous!! Can't wait to see the chairs done!!! I have been looking for some chairs to use with my dining room table too. So far, Craig has let me down. But I'll keep looking!

Lou Cinda :)

jen said...

gorgeous! i love your photodocumentation of your projects - it brings me back to your blog again and again! wish i was your neighbor for a few lessons!

michelle@somedaycrafts said...

That desk is breathtaking!!!1 I'm in love!

Cami @ Creating Myself said...

That roll top looks FABULOUS! I don't think it needs to be glazed...I like it as is!

Julie said...

Like the desk as it is! What an outstanding job. love the chairs. Thanks for sharing with us.

Anonymous said...

Everything turned out wonderful! I love that desk.

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous makeovers. You have that keen ability to look at something and see it in a new light - and then make it happen!

I'm joining as a "Follower" - you have a great blog!

Zuzu

Ashley @ AshleysBusy said...

Ohhh, the desk is so pretty!

Pine Tree Home said...

Keep the desk the way it is...looks so pretty.

Laurel @ Ducks in a Row said...

Nice, cute, and so much better.

Michelle Hughes said...

love the makeover!
Smiles!
Michelle

Kammy said...

Wow, so cool !Sorry , I am so late - I just joined this morning and then I had to go to WORK - ugh ! Great pieces !
Kammy

Miss Mustard Seed said...

I am so glad you painted that little desk white. It really elevated the piece and made it look fresh and feminine. Great job. And you are such a tease to show us glimpses of your chair makeovers and not the finished product! I love how they are looking so far and you've made me want more...can't wait!

fitty's pinky rose cottage said...

you did great with the furnitures! i love the secretary table!

thanks for sharing

have a good weekend

The Old Parsonage said...

Ohh Cindy

Great ideas as always. Where did you get your trigger for the paint?

Leann

Twice Remembered said...

Ohhh! I'm anxious to see how your chairs turned out - they look great in the pictures already! I have practically the same chairs that I want to paint, but I wasn't sure how to tackle the rush seats. They are very heavily polyeurothaned now {factory finish} so I'm trying to figure out how to make them over. I anticipate my chairs giving me fits, too!

Twice Remembered said...

Also, your rolltop desk turned out beautifully! I'm gonna have to get me some of that Heirloom White!

rebekahweckerly@gmail.com said...

Oh wow, Cindy!! These look great! Love the idea os staining the seate to the chairs! And that desk...!!! the fininsh is beautiful!!

Recaptured Charm said...

WOW.. That's just gorgeous! I don't think I would glaze it. It's honestly beautiful without it. Terrific job!

PS Thanks for visiting. Love your comments!
Lisa

Unknown said...

I love the chairs and desk you did a wonderful job.
Sandy

Janis@ White Alder [Home] said...

WOW great job, and the desk is beautiful!!

Jane B. said...

Oh wow, those chairs and desk look fabulous!! Ya know I have got to try that heirloom white...I'm probably the only blogger left who hasn't tried it! Really great job, and thanks for linkin' up to Frugalicious Friday!

Jane @ Finding Fabulous

Cindy said...

Wow! you have been busy! The chairs and the desk look so much better painted! Great job!!!

Holly said...

The desk is fabulous...really beautiful! BTW, I appreciate seeing you in my comments section :)

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