Category: furniture repurposing ideas

  • A beautiful and romantic loft in white

    A beautiful and romantic loft in white

    I had gotten off white for a while, but this gorgeous NYC loft reminds me why interiors in white will always be a favorite.

    The bookcase is the first thing you see when walking in to the loft. It’s 12 ft. long and constructed of solid reclaimed wood.

    Adore that large table.

    What great windows! I’m so jealous!

     

    dreamy. That rug must feel so good under foot when you wake up int the morning.

     

    Could you live here?

    All images via Rue Mag. Read and see more in the Oct. Rue Issue

  • White interiors: A beautiful and romantic loft

    White interiors: A beautiful and romantic loft

    White Interiors: A loft tour

    I had gotten off white for a while, but this gorgeous NYC loft reminds me why interiors in white will always be a favorite.

    The bookcase is the first thing you see when walking in to the loft. It’s 12 ft. long and constructed of solid reclaimed wood.

    Adore that large table.

    What great windows! I’m so jealous!

     

    dreamy. That rug must feel so good under foot when you wake up int the morning.

     

    Could you live here?

    All images via Rue Mag. Read and see more in the Oct. Rue Issue

  • Gorgeous farmhouse tour from Ohio…

    Gorgeous farmhouse tour from Ohio…

    A gorgeous farmhouse 2012 throw back!  This house’s style as stood the test of time.  Well, 5 years at least.

    This Ohio farmhouse is chock full of second hand, vintage, and antique furnishings and accessories, which simply make it really fun to tour. More than the house though, I love the grounds…

    I love this shot…so peaceful

     

    I adore this birdcage as decor, but I’m not really a fan of caging birds…

    They scored the four poster bed on ebay.

    This chicken coup used to be a cupola.

    A shed is used as guest quarters.  I would probably use this as a painting studio though….

     

     

     

     

    The sink is an old soapstone basin.

    what do you think of the house and grounds?

    via Country Living

  • Using bold, bright furniture

    Using bold, bright furniture

    Usually there’s that one piece that stand out in a room. A lot of us, myself included, use bright pops of color only on accessories – lamps, pillows, etc. If you’re feeling brave though, a bold piece of furniture can really make a room – here are a few examples I wish I was brave enough to try!

    How gorgeous is that turquoise china cabinet (check out the ceiling too)!

    A craft or kids room is a great place to try furnishings in bold, bright colors.
    There are many brands lately that are making great show stopping furniture pieces but if you have trouble finding the right piece you can always find a great DIY tutorial to change it up to your exact style.

    If you have doubts or are nervous, try a colorful piece in a smaller room, hall, or entryway.

    Have you ever or do you have a bold and colorful piece of furniture in your home?

    This post is in partnership with cultfurniture.com

  • Give your furniture a makeover, easily and cheaply! And signed “Furniture Makeover” book giveaway!

    Give your furniture a makeover, easily and cheaply! And signed “Furniture Makeover” book giveaway!

    I love DIY books – especially when they’re filled with advice and projects that I would actually do AND will save me big bucks.  That’s why I was so excited to receive “Furniture Makeovers” by Barb Blair.

    Here’s a description:

    Furniture Makeovers: Simple Techniques for Transforming Furniture with Paint, Stains, Paper, Stencils, and More shows how to transform tired furniture into stunning showpieces. You’ll never look at a hand-me-down dresser the same way again! The book offers 26 easy-to-follow techniques that can be applied to all different types of pieces, from bookshelves to desks: painting, applying gold leaf, wallpapering, distressing, dip dyeing, and more. In addition to the core techniques, author and Knack Studios founder Barb Blair shares 30 beautiful before-and-after makeovers from her studio and outlines how to achieve each look. With helpful step-by-step photographs, a visual glossary explaining all the tools and materials needed, and a lovely contemporary aesthetic, Furniture Makeovers is a treasure trove of ideas and instruction for the home decorator.

    What I loved about this book is how accessible it was.  Blair never expects you to have access to a welder, industrial belt sander, or 50″ table saw.  She shows you how to complete each project in an easy to understand fashion with materials anyone can get their hands on and use – with pretty pictures to boot!

    Since I would never steer you wrong, I decided to try out a project on my own using only Furniture Makeovers as a teacher.  See my results below.

    Since I was a newbie, I wanted to start on something relatively small and uncomplicated, so I chose this nightstand boyfriend has had since his bachelor days.  In fact, it has lived in a few bachelor pads over the years, so it was in need of a thorough cleaning to say the least!

    My subject.  Nothing fancy, but solid wood construction.

    After!

    I wanted to create a finish similar to Blair’s “Emmaline” piece, a gorgeous chest of drawers that she painted and then stained to create an authentic worn look.  I didn’t want my project to come out looking too distressed or shabby,  just like a piece that’s been around for a few decades.

    Here’s is the project that inspired me.

    “Emmaline”  before – a lady with great bones!

    “Emmaline”  after -now with the surface beauty to match!

    Here’s how I transformed our bachelor pad nightstand into a sophisticated looker..

    I carefully reviewed Blair’s instructions on painting a piece of furniture – from prep to completion…

    Gathered my essential supplies.  All supplies are thoroughly covered in the beginning of the book, and then each project lists the supplies needed.

    Did the necessary sanding and cleaning (I like to use old vinyl shower curtains as my drop cloths).

    Then I started painting.  I’m in love with navy recently, so I went with a navy color.  When painting, remember that loading your brush or roller properly is imperative to getting a smooth, even finish.  Make sure you use a paint tray to get the paint evenly applied to your roller before putting it on your project!

    Cut in smaller nooks and corners with a paint brush.  Blair shares her favorite brands and materials in the beginning of the book.

    Now I reviewed the instructions on staining over a painted piece.

    Next came the really fun part! After applying two coats of paint, allowing to dry, sanding, and cleaning again, I moved on to staining!  Working in small sections, I applied paint to the nightstand.  After about 2-3 minutes, I wiped it off (in the direction of the grain).  Start off with a light hand – you can always take off more if you want a lighter look.

    The stain stays workable for a long time, so remove it thoughtfully, leaving more stain in areas where patina would naturally occur – in corners, edges, etc.

    Voila!  I wanted my aged look to be subtle.  Keep in mind that stain takes a few days to be totally dry.  Mine was still sticky two days later.

    The new nightstand.  Quite a transformation, wouldn’t you say! (My mother grows the most beautiful zinnias, doesn’t she?)

     Adding a new knob was also one of the most fun parts…it is the little details that count, after all!

    Don’t forget the insides of drawers or cabinets.  I treated mine the same way I did the exterior, but you can also line them with pretty paper.

    Here are a few more projects from Furniture Makeovers that I loved:

    Are you inspired yet to makeover some of your furniture?!?  If you must have Furniture Makeovers now, it is available at these locations – AmazonBarnes & NobleIndieBound, or Chronicle Books

    Or, you can enter to win a copy signed by Blair AND a Knack tote (Blair’s studio).  To enter, just leave a comment below telling me if you have a piece of furniture you’d like to make over and what it is. The winner will be announced Friday, August 2nd.  Good luck!

    PS – To comment on this post (scroll to the bottom of this post and right above “Labels” you will see a number followed by the word “comments.” Click on the word “Comments.” Or, you will see a link, “Post a Comment,” which you click on to comment. If you receive posts in your email feel free to respond to the email noting that you’d like to be entered in the drawing. 

    Check out all of the fabulous Furniture Makeovers by these bloggers

    Monday, July 15 – A Beautiful Mess
    Tuesday, July 16 – The City Sage and Cranny + Me
    Wednesday, July 17 – Urban Comfort
    Thursday, July 18 – Indie Craft Parade
    Friday, July 19 – Simply Grove
    Monday, July 22 – Poppytalk
    Tuesday, July 23 – The Curated House and Ambrosia Creative
    Wednesday, July 24 – The Bedlam of Beefy
    Thursday, July 25 – Decorology
    Friday, July 25r – Bloesem
    Good luck!

    I received “Furniture Makeovers” as a sample

  • A beautiful and romantic loft in white

    A beautiful and romantic loft in white

    I had gotten off white for a while, but this gorgeous NYC loft reminds me why interiors in white will always be a favorite.

    The bookcase is the first thing you see when walking in to the loft. It’s 12 ft. long and constructed of solid reclaimed wood.

    Adore that large table.

    What great windows! I’m so jealous!

    dreamy. That rug must feel so good under foot when you wake up int the morning.

    Could you live here?

    All images via Rue Mag. Read and see more in the Oct. Rue Issue

  • A new store that made me heart skip a beat…

    A new store that made me heart skip a beat…

    I wish more often I would come across stores like Mockingbird Domestics.  There are lots of online stores, but I get tired of seeing the same thing over and over.  Mockingbird domestics is also a bricks and mortar store, as founders Jeff and Laura are launching a location in Austin, TX.  Any readers living in Austin?  If so, you are really lucky, because I would LOVE to see some of these pieces in person.

    Here are some of my favorites –

    I NEED this table.  Right now, I need any table, as ours isn’t fit for a barn.  This cafe style table would make me one happy girl.

    How great is this walnut standing table.  They custom made this for a client and then decided they should offer it regularly.  I try to stand at my desk and I have to put my keyboard and mouse on a box on my desk to make it slightly comfortable.

    This very cool rocker is made from Texas wine barrels.

    How cool is this handtruck ottoman?!?

    They also have a lot of lovely accoutrements.  They take pride that many of their products are from local artists and artisans, as well as having some vintage and international products peppered in.

    I find this silver pedestal bowl really striking.

    My mother would LOVE these barnyard skewers.

    Even though I work as a freelance web designer, I am an illustrator by training, and I really admire the work of Chris Celusniak, who painted this whimsical and detailed Texas Capitol.

    What do you think of their products?  You can go to Mockingbird Domestics to learn and see more.

  • A home full of vintage treasures

    A home full of vintage treasures

    Have you ever visited a friend’s home and everything in it catches your attention? You end up perusing bookshelves or admiring a collection of ceramics more than chatting with guests.  I actually love this when it happens because it means I am inspired – and by a REAL LIVED-IN home!  A home decorated over time with objects of meaning or history is almost always a joy to be in, because you get such a strong sense of the owner.  This home below displays how you can bring any home to life when your décor is selected over time and out of a true emotional connection.

    The antique mirror is an instant focal point.

    Flea market finds can keep a home office from looking drab and stuffy.

    Of course, make sure you protect your possessions with Home contents insurance. Also remember to stop and think of how a vintage furnishing you love could be repurposed for some other function… turn an empty frame into a serving tray, etc.

    All images via Heart Home Mag.

  • Another Nordic beauty…a house tour that inspires…

    Another Nordic beauty…a house tour that inspires…

    You know my feelings on Nordic interiors…they can’t really do wrong… This home, which belongs to Nina, founder of Stylizmo, only solidifies my opinion even more. It was featured in the most recent issue of Llamas Valley

    Those butterfly prints are so pretty…

    I love all the little vignettes to be found around this home…

    Now I want an espresso…and that beautiful china…

    Palette repurposed as a headboard… do you like or too rough for you?

    Not to be a hater…but it’s a little refreshing not to see “keep calm…”

    See more and read the story at Llamas Valley

  • A new favorite in my house tour collection…

    A new favorite in my house tour collection…

    This Ohio farmhouse is chock full of second hand, vintage, and antique furnishings and accessories, which simply make it really fun to tour. More than the house though, I love the grounds…

    I love this shot…so peaceful

    I adore this birdcage as decor, but I’m not really a fan of caging birds…

    They scored the four poster bed on ebay.

    This chicken coup used to be a cupola.

    A shed is used as guest quarters.  I would probably use this as a painting studio though….

    The sink is an old soapstone basin.

    what do you think of the house and grounds?

    via Country Living