Happy Friday!

Just as we plant a seed and walk away from it, nature takes it up

and the law of its own evolves it,

so let us believe the same ting about our word--

something takes it up, something evolves it,

and something will make it manifest in our experience.

--Ernest Holmes

Before and After: Campaign Desk (finally!)

Today's the day I post it.

The desk.

Completed.

Finally.

This process ended up taking a bit longer than I expected, but I couldn't be happier with the results.  One benefit to the extra time is that the desk has been allowed to fully cure, so I know it's now ready for the furious scribbling of all my ideas and late night typing sessions.  Here's where it started.

I wrote more about it here.


The transformation for this piece required some cleaning, wood putty, and a few layers of primer, paint, and urethane.  This, of course, is in addition to the Brasso for the hardware.  

It wasn't as bright as I would've liked this afternoon, so I had to use the flash on my camera which cast some funky shadows.  Don't worry--the walls in my office are not baby blue. In reality, they're more of a blueish-grey, and it makes for a great place to read and study.  I have another project I've been working on for above the desk, so hopefully I'll be able to get it done and blog about it next week.  My office makeover is far from finished, but I'm on my way!

Trash Day: Side Table

I've been receiving so many good submissions lately!  Some have been of great pieces that are readily available at thrift stores and on Craigslist, and other's have been unique submissions like today's feature.

Dagny from Scandinavian Chic  sent in this fabulous table looking for refinishing ideas to go with her living room pictured here. 

Isn't this great?!  I love how much energy the turquoise and magenta bring to the room, and that rug and coffee table make the perfect statement pieces!  If the side table were mine, I would actually leave it its current color, since it already ties in so well with the turquoise pillow and accent glassware.  I actually love that the table has a vintage look, but I know that look's not for everyone.  If she's open to keeping it turquoise (as a means of rounding out the color palette) but doesn't care for the finish,  a fresh coat of paint will always do the trick.  And because lacquer is my friend, my bet is (almost always) to go glossy.   Here are some visuals . . . 

 These plates are a great color inspiration, and the finish reminds me of the table's current look.  

With this kids table from French garden furniture company Fermob, it's easy to see that any table this color would look in her space, especially with a fresh coat of paint.  Dagny mentioned that the straw on the table top isn't in great condition, but because I love the texture it adds,  I would recommend replacing it with a piece of jute or grasscloth wallpaper.  Using a textured paper will not only extend the life of the current look, but the area is so small that ordering a sample would easily cover the space. 

                                                          designerwallcoverings.com

                                                                   designerwallcoverings.com

If natural wallcoverings aren't your thing, the top could also be covered with a patterned wallpaper . . .

                                                                        Ballard Designs

 . . . or piece of fabric similar to what Tammy used on her drawers.  Whichever covering is selected for the top, I definitely recommend that a piece of glass or acrylic is used to protect the tabletop.

You can usually have glass and/or acrylic cut at Ace Hardware, but if you don't have one in your area, I would suggest calling a smaller, local store to find out if this is a service that they provide (call ahead--don't say I didn't warn you!).  It should be relatively inexpensive (under $30), and is certainly worth it to protect your investment.


And if turquoise is not her first choice, my vote would be for steel grey with a lighter wallpaper or fabric on top.  I chose grey because while I think a darker piece would look great next to the sofa, charcoal black would be a bit too hard.  For me, steel grey is the perfect in-between.  I love this inspiration photo, too.

 Thanks Dagny for sending in your fabulous table!

Have you found a great piece that you'd like to share? Email me so I can feature it here!  Trash Day is all about highlighting your previously unwanted piece of second (or third or fourth) hand furniture, so send in your fabulous unfinished find.  One person's trash can always be another person's treasure--click the "Contact Me" link above to email me!

SCAD Style & Thom Filicia

Exciting news!
For those of you here in Atlanta (or close by), SCAD Style is quickly approaching, and this year, one of the guest speakers will be none other than Thom Filicia!!!   

I once talked about my love for Thom here, so to say that I'm super excited would be an understatement.  He'll be appearing here on May 6th at 7pm speaking about Growing A Household Name and the events are free and open to the public!  Please believe that yours truly will be in the house, and of course I'll share the details because I wouldn't be a good blog friend if I didn't.  :)


For those of you who aren't familiar with SCAD, let me back up a bit.  SCAD actually stands for the Savannah College of Art and Design, which is one of the best design schools in the country.  

Commonly known as SCAD (and pronounced "skaad"), the school's main location is Savannah, GA with campus' in Atlanta, Hong Kong, and Lacoste.  Every year the school presents SCAD Style,  an event that brings together style and design  professionals for a series of design and fashion-oriented lectures, panels, exhibitions, and workshops at the Atlanta and Savannah locations.  Each event features cutting-edge artists, designers, and industry professionals, and this year's lineup does not disappoint!  The event, which takes place from April 26-May 6, features 59 speakers over 9 days.  In addition to Thom, here are a few of the other design pros that will be here in the A:

Kelly Cutrone, People's Revolution

Christiane Lemieux, Dwell Studio

Robert Rufino, House Beautiful

Eddie Ross, Eddie Ross, Inc.

Nick Olsen, Nick Olsen Inc.

Mychael Knight, Mychael Knight

Rita Konig, NT Times

There are so many events packed into the schedule I wouldn't dare show them all, but the events promise to be informative, entertaining, and engaging.  If you're in the area, don't miss it!

I Spy . . .

 And just what do I spy?

These tables (that I haven't seen before!) at Target.

They look awfully similar to the one Betsy Burnham used in this living room design.

See it over there on the right?  It looks like the top on this one might be mirrored, but for about $300 cheaper (probably) the Target find will work.  I wasn't able to find the price, but I figure it's no more than $80 at most.  Better go snatch one up if you're in the market. 

Also, I picked this little do-dad up yesterday for my desk.  

                                      (Sorry about the . . . complicated table.  I've still super busy.  More details to come . . . )

I'll be using it for my cards (if they ever come!), but I'm dying to  know what it's actually for.  Any ideas??

**Also, thank to everyone who's emailed me over the past few days for fresh furniture ideas--I'm flattered!**

Know When To Hold 'Em, Know When To Fold 'Em

Kenny Rogers was right, you need to know when to stay and when to run.


As I'm coming into the tail end of my latest project (this Campaign desk), 


                                                   it looks dark and dingy here, but the hardware really wasn't that bad!
I've run into two separate issues, both of which I'll be blogging about this week.


The first is polishing brass.  The hard lesson I've learned is knowing when to polish, and when to leave good enough alone.  The first disclaimer I should mention is that I'm a visual person.  Often times it's very hard for me to imagine something unless I can see it in it's entirety (think paint, wallpaper, etc.), which, as you can imagine, can sometimes create difficult situations.  I noticed that some of the hardware was dark in spots, and I decided to try my hand at cleaning it up--the only problem is, there really is not in-between.  Either it's super shiny and clean (which has absolutely no "aged" appeal), or it's tarnished and uneven, which isn't always aesthetically pleasing to the eye.  I took a chance on cleaning it up and pulled out my Brasso.

And now a note on this.  I know people swear by it, but it's not something I would swear by.  It works (often times in varying degrees), but stinks and requires a bit of effort.  I found that a good combination of elbow grease and alternating between applying the product directly on the brass and applying it on a cloth (as the directions state) works best for me.  I need to let you know that applying Brasso to a cloth and then to your item is what's recommended by the manufacturer, so please use your own discretion if you'd like to try my method. So I used this method, tried it, and it worked . . . but now I think it's a bit too clean and shiny--I wanted a clean, aged look, but that's not exactly what I got.  I got this.

And since I started, I had to go ahead and finish it. 

It's a bit too brand new, which is definitely not what I was going for.  Don't let the pictures fool you--it is shiny.  I found that it really is hard to achieve that in between look, so I went on ahead and cleaned the rest of the hardware.  


Don't worry, there's no need to pull out the violin for me.




It will still be fabulous and beautiful in the end, but I just thought I'd share my observations & experiences.  


How do you feel about brass?  If you're a person who likes it clean, what's your go-to method for getting down and dirty???

**I know Jenny from Little Green Notebook uses salt & vinegar--any other reviews on that method?

Before and After: Update!

Remember a few weeks ago when I featured Tammy from In Stitches on my weekly Trash Day post?  She emailed me a photo of a Henredon buffet she found for only $65 and wanted my opinion about what to do for refinishing.  Here was the before . . .



 I used a yellow scheme for the plan because I knew that was the color that Tammy had been considering.  In addition to paint shade, I also gave her recommendations for the interior drawers and hardware, which you can read more about here.   


Well, Tammy has finished the piece and it is truly AMAZING.  See for yourself . . .  
WOW.


I know, I know, pick your jaw up!  
The detail on the drawers is absolutely STUNNING!  I don't want to give away all of her secrets, so you'll have to go here to see more of this transformation and learn about her process.   She even followed my recommendation of knobs from Anthropologie (though hers are very slightly different), and I must say, they are the perfect compliment!


I love to talk transformation, so if you have a piece you've been struggling with or one that needs some inspiration, send me an email because I'd help!   Thanks for sharing your transformation, Tammy.

Have you found a great piece that you'd like to share? Email me so I can feature it here!  Trash Day is all about highlighting your previously unwanted piece of second (or third or fourth) hand furniture, so send in your fabulous unfinished find.  One person's trash can always be another person's treasure--click the "Contact Me" link above to email me!

**I know that pesky blank box is back in the corner.  I reposted the original Trash Day post and there still seems to be a glitch with one of the photos, so the post will only be available temporarily.  Thanks for your understanding!**   

Happy Friday (Night)!

It's never too late to wish you a good weekend, right????

                                                               Jeannie Balsam


When you KNOW rather than BELIEVE, you will discover the necessary abilities to carry out your purpose.  Beliefs are handed to you, hence they are received with some doubt.  Knowing comes from within.
                                                                                       ~ Wayne Dyer

Ergo Candles--The Best!

Do you love a good, quality candle??  If so, you have to try this one . . .


If Mango's not your thing (although I happen to love this one), there's such a wide array of scents so there's sure to be something that tickles your fancy.  These candles are 100% soy, inexpensive ($24) and just one can permeate your entire home!  They're sold at many boutiques including Market here in Atlanta.  If you're not in the A, you can also find them here.


If you've used Ergo before, let me know what you think. Do you know of another one in this price range that's better? If so, let me know!

Trash Day: Office Chair

Elisa from What The Vita? sent in this chair she scored for $5.  To some of you it might not look like much, but to me, it's just what I need in my office!  The first thought that came to mind was this . . .

and this.

Old Hickory Tannery Turquoise Chair, Neiman Marcus

 So if this was my chair, I would pony up the cash and go for one of these.

Wild Faux Leather, Camel $279.80

 

Wild Faux Leather, Ash $279.80

 

Wild Faux Leather, Oyster $279.80

Call me crazy, but I love this chair and think it's totally worth the extra cost of the fabric and professional upholstering.  I love its vintage lines, chrome legs & feet, and the fact that it has arms is a huge bonus. The casters don't hurt either.   It's definitely not something you'll see in someone else's space (especially with one of these fabrics), and the price was too good to be true.   I'm actually looking for the perfect office chair now, and if I ever find one like this, rest assured that it's coming home with me.

Alisa also has some great makeover ideas for featuring this chair in her space, so check her out. Thanks again for sharing!

 Have you found a great piece that you'd like to share? Email me so I can feature it here!  Trash Day is all about highlighting your previously unwanted piece of second (or third or fourth) hand furniture, so send in your fabulous unfinished find.  One person's trash can always be another person's treasure--click the "Contact Me" link above to email me!

Fabrics via FabricDirect.com