furniture redo: the Mermaid Side Table

This side table wasn't something we would normally buy, but we got a good deal, so we brainstormed quite a bit about what we could do to make it less... blech.  The table was that ubiquitous 1970s/80s table that everyone's parents seemed to have in their TV room.  Next to their big recliners... usually covered in various remotes to control the VHS, the TV & the satellite dish.  What I'm saying is, I don't find them to be a beautiful example of furniture design.  

We decided to shabby-chic it up a little bit with a pretty light blue paint.  We thought that the bottom of the table could use a little pizzazz, so we used an image transfer medium from Mod Podge to transfer a vintage mermaid graphic.  (Sidenote: we'll for sure do a DIY Post about that transfer medium later... it's really handy!).   I love how the mermaid graphic makes the blue paint seem very ocean-like... they compliment each other very well, if I do say so myself!

We put it out with some pretty Jadeite Fire King Mugs and I'm pretty in love with it.  

It's for sale in the shop if you're local and would like to check it out! 

Isn't it fun to think about how kind of crappy old furniture can turn into something pretty rad with a few ideas and some elbow grease?  It makes me feel inspired every day to open my mind up a bit and use my imagination as much as I can... as cheesy as that sounds, it's true :)

Cheesily yours,

Jess

furniture redo: The Queen Bee Rocker

I think a lot of people find refinishing furniture to be an arduous, not at all fun process.  I, on the other hand, think it's a super fun adventure!  There's all sorts of opportunity for destruction like tearing off fabric and ripping out staples, and there's the huge satisfaction of seeing such a big project turn out how you want it to.  There's also the chance of things going miserably wrong and it not turning out ANYTHING like you pictured, but I try not to think about that. 

I spent a good part of yesterday working on redoing some chairs, and I'm particularly fond of how this one came out:

The original chair was in pretty good shape... The wood was all in great shape, and the caning on the back was perfect (if you're a junker/thrifter of any sort you'll appreciate how rare that is). 

The upholstery was okay... but it was dirty and drab colored.  At first we were planning on trying out some fabric/upholstery paint, but while shopping for that I fell in love with some printed burlap and decided to go a whole different route

I mean, come on... it's BEES! How can you resist that? I couldn't!  So after some sanding and painting and even more sanding followed by some reupholstering, we have a nice little chair which I've dubbed "The Queen Bee Rocker".

I feel like any time now Caiti should be telling me that's an incorrect name because these clearly aren't queen bees on the fabric... but that's okay.  I still like it anyway.  What do you think?

xoxo,

Jess