Furniture Makeovers Archives | Page 103 of 110

Furniture Makeovers

A Happy Marriage?

Can a chair from the 1900’s and a quilt from the 1800’s come together in a happy union? This chair was almost naked when it was purchased for almost nothing from an auction. No finish and stripped down to it’s springs. This quilt fit under an unfortunate label…a cutter quilt. Although they were from different centuries, they seemed to want to be together. So, I did what only seemed right. I married them. Happily ever after? I also made two more Gasthaus signs and sent them off to new homes. I sold the one right off my wall, so I need to make a third for myself! Anyone else “need” one? I found some awesome things for Lucketts while I was out at yard sales today, but I have not had the chance to have a photo session with them. I’ll share them soon.

August 7, 2010 23 Comments

Zinc Frame…or is it?

Zinc is a hot “thing” right now. You’re seeing zinc furniture, zinc letters, and all things zinc in home decor. It looks so cool, but it’s expensive. Now, I’m going to say that as much as I love paint, I am not a fan of faux. Mainly, because it looks….well, faux. My friend, Jami from Freckled Laundry, recently painted a “zinc” dresser and did a great job, I might add. When we were e-mailing about her technique, she mentioned the possibility of using tin foil to achieve the look of zinc. I had no plans to test it out, but then, I started working on this frame. It was part particle board, part metal…it was ugly and paint just wasn’t going to fix it. I needed to decoupage something over the frame to hide the imperfections. I was a little tired of craft paper and sheet music, so I went

August 6, 2010 43 Comments

Furniture Feature Friday – Link Party & Favorites!

I’ll tell you, it was a very tough week to pick a few favorites. There were a lot of projects in the running, but these were the three that stuck with me. Our Southern Nest painted this already beautiful Bombay chest and made it a one-of-a-kind stunner. I love the color and finish she achieved and there are some wonderful glaze tips in this post. Erin from Welcome Home turned a “rustic potting bench” into a perfect vanity. I love the warmth and age of the table against the white sink, walls, and floor. Kim from Savvy Southern Style transformed this custom made family piece from a dated dresser for a boy to an adorable changing table for a baby girl. This is the ultimate in recycling and the result is lovely. I have to give one last nod to my girl, Katie, from On the Banks of Squaw Creek.

August 5, 2010 15 Comments

More on Drop Cloths

First of all, can you believe how cheap the contestants made drop cloths look on HGTV Design Star! I kid of course. Well, sort of. Drop cloths are cheap, but they don’t have to look like it. If you slap a drop cloth from the package directly to the window (especially with some pieces of a taxi cab bag tied to it, a la Design Star), it’s going to look cheap. If you reuse them in creative ways, they can look fantastic! This French chair was upholstered in a bleached drop cloth. Slipcovers were made out of drop cloths for all of my dining room chairs… …the pair of wing chairs in my family room and the sofa in my living room (yet to be revealed.) I used a little leftover fabric to make a slipcover for an ottoman in my guest roomas well.I wrote a post about working with

July 28, 2010 45 Comments

My Reupholstery Crash Course

I bought this pair of French chairs at an auction almost a year ago. I had fallen in love with them and they had to be mine. I was willing to pay about $100 for the pair, but ended up walking away with them for $20. Of course, they were orange. I guess other people just couldn’t see beyond that. I originally made slipcovers for them, but they looked so sloppy after someone sat on them. After slipcovering my sofa in the living room this week, I had a “bee in my bonnet” to do something with these chairs. So, I browsed through my upholstery books, took a deep breath, and started ripping away the orange fabric. I didn’t want to take this chair totally down to the frame, so I worked section by section to make sure I didn’t get overwhelmed. I bet most of you can guess what

July 27, 2010 56 Comments

Before and Afters

Oil & Vinegar | homemade cleaner for wood furniture

A few weeks ago, I found a wonderful tip about using oil and vinegar to revive and clean old wood. This is one of those tips that sound really cool, but I was pretty skeptical. It may be the kind of thing that makes a piece look good long enough to snap a picture and then, when it dries, it looks like crap again. Well, this oil and vinegar solution to clean wood furniture is the real deal…and I used it on just about every piece of wood within walking distance to test it out. Check out the before and after on these croquet mallets. I purchased them at an auction and used ONLY oil and vinegar on them to clean them up and bring out the patina of the wood. Obviously, the one on the left is the before, right is the after. I purchased this gorgeous dresser at

June 16, 2010 106 Comments

Furniture Feature Friday – A Favorite & A Link Party

Well, after weeks of trying to convince myself otherwise, I have come to the conclusion that I just don’t have the time to leave comments on every link shared. I have always done that, but the last few weeks have been a struggle. I don’t want to give the party up all together and in order to keep it going, I have to drop that standard I set for myself. I just want you all to know that am looking at each project and gleaning inspiration from all of your posts. So, for a favorite… I featured a few projects earlier this week, so in addition to those, these two links really stood out to me. They happen to be by the same person. The Lamp Tramp. She made two of the most detailed and beautiful slipcovers I think I have ever seen. She finished these white linen slipcovers with

June 3, 2010 14 Comments

Furniture Feature Friday – A Favorite & A Link Party

Ok. Confession time. I did not get to look at every single link last week and I didn’t leave comments for everyone. I am still recovering from Lucketts and getting on the computer for a few hours to look and comment on all of the links was just not a priority this week. I appreciate the time and energy you put into your posts and love that you share them here. Just cut me a break this week. 🙂 I did manage to find a favorite, though. I am a sucker for a French Settee and this one’s a beauty. Ann Marie from La Maison LaFortune flexed her upholstery muscles on this piece and transformed a fussy and formal settee into something current, flirty and sophisticated. I love the white frame and fabric combination. It is a lovely piece and you should be very proud of yourself, Ann Marie. Thanks so much

May 27, 2010 13 Comments

I’m Marian, a painter, writer, and lover of all things creative. From art and antiques to home projects and everyday life, I share my journey in hopes of inspiring you to embrace your own creativity and make beauty in the spaces you live.

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