The Jury Is Still Out

So I found the deal-to-end-all deals almost six months ago.  Whilst perusing one of my favorite local antiqueries, I came upon two super industrial (yet oddly romantic) folding chairs.  I just counted at least three things wrong with the last sentence, including that I just called two folding metal chairs “romantic.”
But they are! And it helps that they came in a pair.  A pair that cost me a total of $20 beans.

Here they are, all soul-matey and smooching in the backyard:

See the lace-y detail?  Pretty romantic, no?

Well, this lovely rusting duo has been sitting around gathering cobwebs (which I basically just spray painted over because, oy, do not like the spiders) until I finally decided that I would try to incorporate them into the kitchen plan as a playful pop of color.

I dug through my paint samples, compared them to the lime green Fiesta bowls I got last Christmas (umm, and the dog dish), took the right sample to Home Depot and came back with a new shade of Key Lime.  I used the gray primer I already had on hand and gave the chairs a light sanding before I got to getting.



The metal was pretty rough already -- not ow-my-tushie-will-never-be-the-same rough-- just rough enough to hold paint without a whole lot of prep work.  And I really did spray right over the cobwebs.  They were more fun (crispy!) to break off after the priming was complete. 

Then I applied really light, thin coats to each chair.  It took about four coats per chair to complete, and I had to run back to Home Depot for a second can.  I left them out in the sun for a couple days to cure up, and then brought them under the carport for a few more to really let them air out—VOCs are not good for the Petey and me.

Blimey! Limey!

And they are now super-duper lime.  I like it in the Mood Board, but once the whole thing is together I may go back to the drawing board with these.  At least I know they can hold their paint!

Let me know your thoughts!  Anyone else spray paint something a wacky green? Or yellow? Who else is in a Spring-y color mood?  Or likes to make up words?

The jury is definitely still out and they may refuse to ever come back at this point.

Making Tabletops from Lemons

Have I mentioned how much I love reclaimed wood? A lot. And I happened to find some in my house! The previous owners had jimmy-rigged a “storage system” over the toilet in the master bathroom – yes, open storage over the toilet – that left these purty little shapes on my wall when I immediately ripped them down:

I see it; the off-center toilet bugs me too.

I mean, it was like the first thing I did in the house, right after closing.  Sups hid. (“super hideous” if you don’t happen to speak Princess) Face it, this idea of storage was a dud and part of me really wishes they hadn’t painted over the yellow walls; so sunny!

I was able to salvage the shelves by removing the supports and sanding everything down. You may remember this post where I stripped down the longest one (that was over the closet door) and we last left everything looking like this:

Well I finally got my hands on a jig saw and quartered the six footer into submission. When laid together, it was all starting to look like a 3x3.08’ tabletop. Yay!

I even found use for part of the old supports by using them as the connecting pieces.  I laid everything out the way I wanted it and started gluing.

Since each support had two holes predrilled from where it attached to the wall, I used some washers to secure the screws. After those were in, I just screwed directly into the wood in a bunch of other spots. The wood is super soft so I didn't need a drill bit, but I did have to make sure I didn’t get to close to the ends for fear of it splitting.

 

Here it is with everything screwed in:

And here it is all done!

I am storing it indoors and laid flat so that there isn't any warp-age between now and when I actually get the table base and banquette seating together during Phase 2. I will probably need to seal the wood since it will be used for dining, but it feels so good to cross something off of the list!  The stripe-y natural wood is going to be a warm, welcome contrast to all of the stainless steel in the room and the cool blue walls.

Did anyone else get to cross something off their list this weekend? Or rip something apart and put it back together? Do tell!

~Easty

Mid-Century Madness

I woke up this morning to the sound of someone running around on my roof. Happy Printemps everybody! Welcome back little furry critters!

I've been so busy around the house that I have neglected my precious baby blog over the last couple of weeks.  Luckily, I am motivated enough to keep improving my space- the blog is a preemptive strike against those days when I am not motivated what-so-ever (which totally happens when I get the blues.)

Like most DIYers, I am addicted to consignment shops, antique malls and thrift stores.  My favorite spot right now is Skyland Antique Mall because of the mid-century retro booth they have in the basement. Mmmmm... mid-century. I am obsessed. They might as well put a big, flashing marquee over it that reads : DON'T BOTHER. THIS HAS ALL BEEN CLAIMED BY EASTY.

If I were my dog, I would have already peed all over the wares in that section. Graphic, I know, but that is basically what I did when I saw this:

Just look at those classic '50s leggies! 

It doesn't look like much from the picture, but this little baby is just oozing with potential.  It's a record stand! Complete with slots to hold my non-existent vinyl...oh I have plans for you my precious. PRECIOUS [insert maniacal hissing and hand-wringing here]

I am picturing a black-and-white chevron motif, but more on that later.  Let's just call this the 'Before' post on this one.

Here is another Before of another faboobulous find:

Okay, I got a little excited (impulsive) and took the seat off the frame before taking the actual 'Before' shot, so let's call this pic a Before 1.25. Note the scuzziness on the sides from years of sitting in a smoking household. I also found a lollypop stick stuck between the seat and the frame.  Part of me was all, "Eeeeewwww," and another part (the inner-anthropologist) was all, "Hmm, I wonder how old this is? I wonder if the child who left this here is my age now, or older?" And then I promptly threw it away. Moving on.

Oh yeah, I'm gonna reupholster this bad boy.  Oh no, I have no idea what I am doing.  I'm just doing it! 

Good-bye weird, sticky blue vinyl! Hello blind ambition! Exclamation! Exclamation!

My New Passion for Stripping

If you decided to read this because you thought there might be human nudity, I suggest you stop reading now before you get disappointed.  I'm talking about paint stripping and naked wood.  I love it, I love it, I love it!

About a month ago I ripped down the weird, country-kitchen-type shelving that came in my master-bath because it was, well, weird.  That room is going to be so funky-awesome ("badical" as my friend Yazzie says) and the country shelving was ruining my vision.  I took it down, removed the brackets and boom! Suddenly reclaimed wood!

Reclaimed wood I can use to build the banquette table for the kitchen...yay!  I have four aux natural three-foot pieces, and one six-foot piece.  One problem: the six-footer had been painted white and used to house red candles.  Time to break out the serious chemicals and goggles!

Before shot and materials

Glob it on, baby! 

Just look at those wrinkles!

Ohhhhhh yeah....

Whoooo! Take it all off!

Whew!  It took a lot of elbow grease to strip it all the way down, but it was totally worth it.  It is a much lighter patina than the other pieces, but I am going to saw it in quarters and mix the pieces together to create visual interest on the table top.  I found a restaurant-style, cast iron table base for about $27.00 online from Atlanta Fixture that should work perfectly.

Here it is, all alone and naked.

 And here it is with it's darker counter-parts, or should I say, table-parts?

Say Cheese!

Speaking of the banquette seating, have I shown you the kitchen plans? I haven't?? Here you go:

Note the apron sink. I got it this past weekend at Ikea!!

So this thing is really going down.  I am jazzed, really and truly.  More madness to come!

~Easty