Welcome to the workshop series brought to you by Mustard Seed Creations and Funky Junky Interiors! A quick reminder: the voting for the So You Think You Can Decorate competition is open through Friday, so make sure you vote for your two favorite “old” entries this week. We are now going on a journey together to the wonderful world of painting and refinishing furniture. For those of you who are familiar with my blog, you know that I love, love, love furniture makeovers. I’m going to share some of my techniques, tips, tricks, short-cuts, ideas and favorite makeovers with you over the next few weeks. Let me know if you have any questions and I’ll try to address them along the way.
Donna is sharing a how-to on board and baton, so if you’ve been waiting to do this in your home, you’ll want to bookmark her page. I love the architecture interest and character it gives to a space. This treatment is relatively easy and inexpensive, so check it out when you’re done here.
4.) Don’t buy beyond your skill. If you’re in love with a piece, but it’s falling apart or has a wicked wobble, don’t buy it unless you or a hubby/friend/dad knows how to fix it.
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The bottom line of buying furniture is go with your gut, but be realistic. It’s so easy to fall in love with a piece and be blinded to the challenges. It’s always good to shop with someone who can counter your enthusiasm. Be patient and wait for the perfect pieces.
So, Donna, do you have anything to add?
Buying and reworking upholstered pieces is a totally different animal, so I’ll do a separate Workshop Series on that, but here a few tips:
Once you find those diamonds in the rough, there is a lot to do to turn it into a stunner. We’ll cover all aspects of that process, including stripping, sanding, painting, staining, distressing, antiquing, protective coats, equipment…all of that and more! Stay tuned!
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Thanks for the tips! I'm definitely looking forward to this ongoing series…I know that I've probably got in over my head with at least one piece, so hopefully, I'll be able to pull myself out!
Oh, fabulous series!! Can't wait to read more…Janell
I kind of grin and look around before I smell stuff to check for funky odors when I'm treasure hunting. Not everyone gets it…but it is such a must! hee hee. I've finally posted about one of my furniture revamps…but alas, I didn't get it ready in time for your party last Friday.
Have a beautiful St. Patrick's Day!
: )
Julie M.
Great advice. I love your attention to detail and honesty. It is so easy to be fooled and to be way to optomestic about your abilities. That seems to be me. Great post. Hugs, Marty
great tips–i totally agree!
Thanks for the wonderful advice!
Those are all great tips and very helpful, thanks!
Great tips! I have almost succumbed to #4 once or twice…the price was so tempting. I find I can get better made, better quality furniture at thrift shops…of course it takes looking and waiting…but everything new seems to be partially wood or not wood a all these days.
Holly
504 Main
Loved this post! thank you so much for sharing these tips!! I will be thinking of them when I go thrifting tomorrow:) Hope you have a lovely week ~ Tina x
Great tips! I pretty much avoid upholstered furniture {it's just a thing with me}. I like your tip of making sure you love a piece so you give it the proper attention. That's me ~ if I just feel "eh" about it, it will just sit and not get done.
Love this series, I look forward to learning a lot.
Great advice. Love your blog and your sharing of knowledge.
Great post, so true about water damaged furniture. Being a pro at this (KATRINA, we had to let go of som much water damaged beloved furniture.
I can't wait fot your series on upholstered furniture…as I stuggled with my shabby french chair. Ha!
Great post, so true about water damaged furniture. Being a pro at this (KATRINA, we had to let go of som much water damaged beloved furniture.
I can't wait fot your series on upholstered furniture…as I stuggled with my shabby french chair. Ha!
Marian,
I love this series that y'all are doing. I haven't ventured out into the world of buying furniture yet…though I will when hubby and I move into our next home I am sure. We are a bit crowded now, but hope to be able to expand our living space in our next place…so we'll need furniture to help fill it up! I will refer back to your series for sure when I do! Thanks for sharing all your helpful tips!
Blessings, Grace
The sniff test is actually the very first thing on my list. I can't bear icky smells!
great tips on this post. It is good to know all these things from a professional like you, so far I've only done some small pieces of furniture, but I want to try a dresser or hutch or some bigger piece
I am letting everyone know that I have moved my blog to my new site http://www.itssoverycheri.com
I need to ask you, to please go over and RE-SIGN up to follow me over there. Google won't let you take your Followers with you so you are no longer getting my info in your reader, unless you have gone over and signed up. Sorry if you have already done so, I am trying to go back and forth between both blogs as well as my new e-mail and my old e-mail.
I have lots of fun things going on over at the new blog, so I hope you will hop on over and check it all out.
I also have a new give-a-way going on.
Cheri http://www.itssoverycheri.com
Yea!! Can't wait! Great tips!
Excellent points and definitely thank you for the reminder to buy it if you love it. Even if you're going to sell it. I tend to get ahead of myself at times, so I'm writing this down in my notebook. Thank you!
Great tips and some I needed for an upcoming project.
Hope you will stop by…
I have a fun Giveaway going this week.
Teresa
http://teresa-grammygirlfriend.blogspot.com/
What a great post. i also work with painted furniture and i have been lucky that I have had some pieces of my own that I have updated or friends have given me some pieces but now I am starting to venture out and purchase some for makeovers. These tips will be in my head the next time I'm out there searching for my next artistic conversion.
Thanks
Pam @ Becolorful
WOW! I just found you via Maria @Dreamy Whites and am so glad I did. This post is right up my alley – I LOVE this kind of stuff. Thanks for the great tips – can't wait to see what comes next!
There's no one better than you to give tips about furniture to re-invent. Your creations are just. . . amazing. Beautiful. Creative. I think your creations look as if the pieces of furniture are the way they were always meant to be. Thank you for sharing your expertise!
Excellent advice. I recently found your blog & love it! Thanks for the tips – keep 'em coming!
Great tips! I don't know how many things I've brought home to fix only to lose interest cause it was too complicated or energetic for me!
Sherry
Ok holy cow! These all turned out so great! I am so jealous of your handy man hubby!!! Thanks for your sweet comment it made my day!
~Morgan
http://meetvirginiaandroo.blogspot.com/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/MeetVirginiaShop
Thanks for the great tips! That dresser turned out AMAZING! Well worth the expensive hardware.
Advice to live by I am sure!! Too right about how you have to love the piece, I have fallen into that trap a few times now and still have bits of furniture here I dont want.
alicia
I like this set up of your provicial buffet much better. Everyone should have a set of lamps they can spray paint every few days! I am so in the middle of a bunch of decorating that it just makes me laugh. I like the layering of the dishes and empty frames, I did something similar recently. I've really been enjoying your blog the past few weeks! keep up the good work.
I'd love to learn how to rework bad veneer. I have a set of chairs that have veneer backing that is all chipping away and I am desperate to figure out how to fix it. ps I love your blog its one of my new favs
I'd love to learn how to rework bad veneer. I have a set of chairs that have veneer backing that is all chipping away and I am desperate to figure out how to fix it. ps I love your blog its one of my new favs
i without a doubt enjoy your own posting type, very unique,
don't quit and also keep creating for the reason that it simply nicely to read it.
looking forward to look into far more of your own article content, have a good one!
Love all these tips. I recently got a piece of furniture that is made of a plywood, or something similar, and it has a laminate on top. I didn't realize this when I got it, just after I started removing the 100 layers of paint. I have debated finishing it, because it is so cheaply made. What do you think? Is it even worth finishing, or should I just toss it? It was free, so I am in it 0$ so far.
I love that little green nightstand! Gorgeous! You are so talented! It's the perfect shade!
Just found your blog a month ago & have truly enjoyed your helpful and gorgeous posts! Thanks for the tips to narrow down which pieces are worth buying & refinishing… I must keep them in the forefront of my mind when thrifting! Keep up the lovely projects
hi! first of all, i absolutely love your blog. i found it through allthingsthrifty blog. I love to pick up pieces of furniture or anything really that looks like it needs some loving.
my main problem is that my garage is about 1/2 full right now with things that need to be worked on. however, i live in texas and since it's a million degrees outside, i can't do any painting. do you have any suggestions about where I can work that is comfortable yet allows me to use tools, paint, sewing machine etc.?
i would love to hear your opinion! thank so much!
stephanie ([email protected])
Love all the suggestions and tutorials- I have a trick for cigarette smoke smell-It works everytime-Take a bottle of vinegar and pour it into a glass bowl/dish -place it inside the piece or very close to it. Now try to place your small piece of furniture into a very warm confined area for several hours. For example cover your piece with a large tarp and let it sit in the direct sun. After several hours of creating a baking like temperature the smell will be gone.
I wish I had the courage to paint my dining room. I started with my hutch. I changed the dated glass and brass panes to chicken wire and painted the knobs rubbed oil bronze. I just have to commit to a color. With my table, I can’t seem to get the motivation, because I know how much work it is.I just have to keep on following your blg, and maybe I’ll start it. I have noticed that alot of the blgs I follow they live more in the southern states and seem to find the best places to shop. I live more north, and there isn’t the availability that you talented decor gals have.
What is the best way to get that old smell out of old furniture? Do you need to seal everything inside the piece?
I love the first part of your furniture painting and refinishing with Funky Junk Interiors but I can’t find part II. Could you direct me to this post please? Thanks!
-Julie Ann