Before I show you the newest addition to the family.............I wanted to take a minute and share why I love to paint furniture.
I come from a pretty basic decorating background (all of which I promptly relinquished upon my moving out of my mother's house!) We had what we could afford, bought from the local chain retailer, possibly with a tax return......did I just write that? Yep! And tons of knickknacks. China mostly. And if you had a green thumb there may be a plant tacked to the wall somewhere near a window. Dusting was a bitch and well, it wasn't embarrassing when we had guests but I wouldn't call it inspiring either. Frankly, just thinking of something inspiring was reaching too far. All of my friends had very similar things bought in very similar places and that's just how it was.
Years, and a bit more disposable income later, I go for quality pieces and I use my furniture. If there is something you shouldn't sit on it shouldn't be in my house. I love my big ticket items, but......it still seems to be a pain to get it all right at the same time. It's just too expensive. Even a "freshen up" of a few pillows and a seasonal item can cost a buck fifty ($150) and that's at friggin Target! Ugh.
So I started looking at a few blogs of perfect looking people in perfect looking spaces and I was so envious. How do they do it? They must be loaded I told myself. Unlimited funds, to be sure. I made up perfect stories about them. And then one day I read the details box.......holy frigging sugar honey iced tea! She MADE that? She PAINTED that? Then there was the kicker......the really, and I mean really perfect girl with the AH MAZE ZING house....yeah, her husband was in JAIL and a recovering addict! And they live on one small income. I know. I know!! Shut your mouth though, because you are gonna need to breath to see my big reveal!!
So then I started thinking about why I buy furniture or anything else for that matter in the 1st place.......it's for me! For us! The folks that live here. It doesn't have to be perfect! Look close........you may see a little trick or two.....but that's what makes it great! That buffet, the one that is identical to the one on OneKingsLane for $1000.....yup....snagged that as a left over from my neighbor's yard sale. Fa Ree!! The bottom right drawer sticks a bit but.....FA Ree! Yep Yep.
Anyhoo.......that is the spirit in which I began searching for a new kitchen table. I knew what I wanted: classic with a sexy leg, 6 chairs, a leaf, and no more than $100! Heehee! I am replacing the Bernhardt set I purchased 9 years ago and well.....it has seen some wear. And, uuum, she wasn't $100. (You live and learn...lol) I checked Craigslist regularly, then not so regularly, and then I spotted her! She had to be mine. I texted a pic to my co-worker for back up! She piped me on! BUY HER!! (yes, after a while, everyone in my circle uses people pronouns when referring to furniture that may become mine)
So....I waited a week. The lady at the storage unit (I cannot make this up) wants $250. No thanks! A buck twenty and I will take it right now...I say over my shoulder walking away. 5, 4, 3, 2................"Wait! Let me call the owner." (Nicole, get yourself together.....doing the running man now will be a dead give away!) "She will take it!" Woop, there it is......shakalaka shakalaka......yeah, I did. Right there in the parking lot of the storage unit with at least 40 people milling around. I broke our my game dance. It was not pretty. Alas,
ladies and gentleman..................Meet Kate, the Kitchen table. I will give all the details on how to make something you find in the concrete jungle (better known as the storage unit sale) this beautiful in another post but for now.......feast your eyes on her! Love you Kate!!! Welcome home! And that is some real talk!!
And.....because I can't resist....here is a tease of the process.......one more before and after because, well....I can't friggin believe the difference. Let me know what you think..........N.
I come from a pretty basic decorating background (all of which I promptly relinquished upon my moving out of my mother's house!) We had what we could afford, bought from the local chain retailer, possibly with a tax return......did I just write that? Yep! And tons of knickknacks. China mostly. And if you had a green thumb there may be a plant tacked to the wall somewhere near a window. Dusting was a bitch and well, it wasn't embarrassing when we had guests but I wouldn't call it inspiring either. Frankly, just thinking of something inspiring was reaching too far. All of my friends had very similar things bought in very similar places and that's just how it was.
Years, and a bit more disposable income later, I go for quality pieces and I use my furniture. If there is something you shouldn't sit on it shouldn't be in my house. I love my big ticket items, but......it still seems to be a pain to get it all right at the same time. It's just too expensive. Even a "freshen up" of a few pillows and a seasonal item can cost a buck fifty ($150) and that's at friggin Target! Ugh.
So I started looking at a few blogs of perfect looking people in perfect looking spaces and I was so envious. How do they do it? They must be loaded I told myself. Unlimited funds, to be sure. I made up perfect stories about them. And then one day I read the details box.......holy frigging sugar honey iced tea! She MADE that? She PAINTED that? Then there was the kicker......the really, and I mean really perfect girl with the AH MAZE ZING house....yeah, her husband was in JAIL and a recovering addict! And they live on one small income. I know. I know!! Shut your mouth though, because you are gonna need to breath to see my big reveal!!
So then I started thinking about why I buy furniture or anything else for that matter in the 1st place.......it's for me! For us! The folks that live here. It doesn't have to be perfect! Look close........you may see a little trick or two.....but that's what makes it great! That buffet, the one that is identical to the one on OneKingsLane for $1000.....yup....snagged that as a left over from my neighbor's yard sale. Fa Ree!! The bottom right drawer sticks a bit but.....FA Ree! Yep Yep.
Anyhoo.......that is the spirit in which I began searching for a new kitchen table. I knew what I wanted: classic with a sexy leg, 6 chairs, a leaf, and no more than $100! Heehee! I am replacing the Bernhardt set I purchased 9 years ago and well.....it has seen some wear. And, uuum, she wasn't $100. (You live and learn...lol) I checked Craigslist regularly, then not so regularly, and then I spotted her! She had to be mine. I texted a pic to my co-worker for back up! She piped me on! BUY HER!! (yes, after a while, everyone in my circle uses people pronouns when referring to furniture that may become mine)
So....I waited a week. The lady at the storage unit (I cannot make this up) wants $250. No thanks! A buck twenty and I will take it right now...I say over my shoulder walking away. 5, 4, 3, 2................"Wait! Let me call the owner." (Nicole, get yourself together.....doing the running man now will be a dead give away!) "She will take it!" Woop, there it is......shakalaka shakalaka......yeah, I did. Right there in the parking lot of the storage unit with at least 40 people milling around. I broke our my game dance. It was not pretty. Alas,
ladies and gentleman..................Meet Kate, the Kitchen table. I will give all the details on how to make something you find in the concrete jungle (better known as the storage unit sale) this beautiful in another post but for now.......feast your eyes on her! Love you Kate!!! Welcome home! And that is some real talk!!
 |
| Kate the Kitchen Table! She is enjoying my favorite room for her 20 day curing period. Can't wait til she is in her permanent spot! |
 |
| Stop playing! Love it! |
 |
| This is gonna be a problem! |
Amazing work Nicole!! Decorative pieces that we put our special touch to have way more character and meaning. Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDelete