Making your house your home doesn’t have to break the bank. Today, it’s all about this sweet little footstool I scored while thrifting. It’s in excellent shape, but seriously needing an update, right?
At least those faux brass Queen Anne style legs are something to admire.
I’d like to show you how to makeover this vintage piece in 30 minutes with basic upholstery skills, so that it matches your decor, and adds style and function to your room.
Do you love the look of grain sack like I do? Seriously, I could put it on anything and never tire of it. In a minute I am going to share how to make a grain sack table. But first, in times past, I’ve created my own faux grain sack fabric for this antique rocking chair see below.
this sweet little ottoman…
…and my own pillows, decor…you get the idea. I love it!
For this post, I’m going to introduce you to my oldest son, Mr. I, so he can show you how easy this method is – that even a teenager can do it. He is one of my six budding apprentices, and has been working alongside me for quite some time. Mr. I enjoys creating his own masterpieces, and selling them in my shop and locally to create a nice savings for himself.
It’s fun to help him find pieces that are deemed worthy of a makeover, and assist here and there, but for the most part, he does all the work. Here’s his latest vintage garage sale find…a solid wood Queen Anne coffee table.
American made and quality cherry wood, but has some water damage and wear to the surface that makes it a good candidate for his project. I do believe this is his largest project so far.
I think there should be sweet music playing when I write for our Themed Furniture Makeover Day because it is my favorite time each month. Do you blame me? I don’t have local friends and neighbors, even family, who enjoy doing what I do, so having some peeps to share in the goodness is fantastic! Not only that, but they challenge me as well. Be sure to stop by the linkup at the bottom and check out all their hard work. This month’s project was all about RUSTIC furniture. tsk. Now you know that got me excited. Yay! Love me some rustic chic. ♥
A few weeks ago I was on Craigslist (like I’m never on there – right.), and was relisting some of my items. I make a habit of always checking the free section because you just never know. Here is what I saw when I clicked…
Seriously, my jaw hit my desk and I grabbed my phone lightning-fast. (You know, I seriously wish I could see what my face looks like when this stuff happens. I’d laugh my rear off!) Missing a few drawers, casters, and mirrors, but it’s already stripped!!
Story goes like this: Lady tries to strip this set herself and finds out she took on more than she could handle. She damages it beyond repair (in her mind) and lets it sit in a friends’ barn (Man) for over a year. Man asks her what she’d like done with it because he’d like it gone, to which she replies, burn it. {{gasp}}
There’s no mistaking that I am drawn to dressing tables and vanities. They’re so unique and full of elegance. At some point they have fallen to the wayside as far as being a piece of furniture on demand, but they are quickly making a come-back as a much desired addition to the bedroom decor. I can see why. They’re functional as a desk, mirror for morning makeovers, and a fun place for a lady to call her own.
It wasn’t too long ago that I acquired this vintage dressing table off of Craigslist, and it actually ended up being sold by a friend and neighbor from just around the block. Although it may look like an antique, it’s really a Mid Century Modern piece made to look as if it is has been around for ages. Quality made with dove-tailed drawers and gorgeous veneer, this dark beauty was in great shape for the most part, but did have some wear and missing parts.
The overall finish had held up well on top, but what really struck me was that the pulls were plastic. Really? Did they have to go there on this beautiful piece? Some were busted, of course, and I knew that this girl needed some new jewelry (aka. hardware)
Wahoo!! I’ve made to my 2nd year blogiversary and I want to thank YOU readers for all your love and support. Without you I wouldn’t be here! Just wait until you see the gift I have for you!
Let me take a minute to reflect on my beginnings. It all began on Mother’s Day two years ago when I signed up for my blog, though didn’t actually start posting anything until the early part of the following June. I took most of May to learn, set things up, and create graphics. I was bleary eyed from all the code, but having a blast learning. As of last May I was new to being a mom of 6, had to run in high gear because I had medical bills to pay from being in the NICU with our babe, so off I went like a mad-woman painting and selling furniture in my shop. There were times we needed the money the next day and I was scrambling around trying to figure out how we were going to make the payment, and my latest piece would be listed and sell within a half hour. BAM! God is so good. He knew what we needed and when. Like when I finished this feed sack chair. It sold lightning fast and was a hit on the internet. 
I like to highlight some of my favorite pieces over the last year. One was an antique table makeover with my favorite color: Aqua 
Today I thought it would be fun to take a stroll down memory lane…or table lane. So many pieces of furniture run through my shop and I never get the chance to tell you about each one. I thought it would be fun to focus on tables and show you how my photography and skills have changed in the last two years because we’re always learning and growing, right? Check out my table transformations.
I’ve put together 20 of some of the tables that have come through my shop for a whirl through the past. Ready? Let’s go! *consider yourself warned this is photo heavy!!
I’m going to start with a library table I happened upon while looking for furniture for the home we had just moved into back in 2003. (I told you I was going waaaay back)
They were having half off on some of the items that had been there too long and I spied this antique pine table. I needed something to occupy our long walls, and though I thought this one was too long, I just had to have it because the price tag was right – $20.
We made it fit in our living room for several years, but eventually it was hid behind our upright grand piano standing on end. Sad, I know, but we needed the space for other things. It wasn’t until two years ago I decided to give it a makeover because the top was so badly marked up and it needed to go to a new home where it would be loved.
Sometimes a break is needed and it’s good to step away for a while from things that tend to consume us. After finally putting our hospital bills behind us, I needed a break from churning out furniture after furniture. After about 3 weeks of not really doing a major makeover, I found it was time. Do you ever take a break like that? A friend of mine was in the process of moving and had a few pieces that belonged to her mother that she thought I might be interested in. She had a desk and this curio cabinet. I see a tissue paper makeover coming on.
Although it wasn’t much to look at, I thought it had potential. It’s not an antique and is actually a more modern piece made to look old, but still a piece of furniture nonetheless.
It originally had a glass back, but at some point the glass got broken and I decided it was not going back in. I wanted to take this sad-looking cabinet and give it a feminine makeover.
It’s makeover time! I am so excited to have had the opportunity to work with Hickory Hardware to recreate an Ikea Rast Dresser utilizing their wide assortment of pulls. Let me introduce you to my Ikea Rast Hack.
*project provided by Hickory Hardware and includes affiliate links so you can find the products I love to use too. (see full disclosure)
This is my first time ever laying hands on any Ikea furniture since the closest store is over an hour away. If you know me, then you know I typically deal with vintage/antique furniture. This was a new avenue and working with a new piece was fun. When I first laid eyes on the Rast dresser (retail $34.99) this is what I saw:
It’s a total blank slate, just ready for creativity. Fun! My mind instantly saw a vintage box camera. The dresser is boxy and perfect for some hand-painted goodness.
Like most, pickers, I have rounds I like to make to various places, like the flea markets, thrift stores, estate sales, etc. This one particular day, I was on the hunt for a chair to pair with a desk. I had absolutely NO intention of bringing home more furniture. My house has been stashed to the brim for too long, and I was on my last couple of pieces to finish before I could do some major makeovers in my shop.
I promised you this year I would share more of how God is working in my life, and I can’t help but share this providential story with you!
My kids and I went into Goodwill this time, and headed straight for the furniture section because I needed to get back home. I stopped dead in my tracks and whispered to myself, “Oh no.”
Here is what I saw. (I make no apologies for the fuzzy photos because it’s ridiculously hard to take a photo while holding on to a squirmy baby in winter clothes – ha!)
I walked by and pretended not to be interested while my inner picker voice said, “You can’t just leave them here!!” I mean, just look… here is a set of Bassett furniture that is just screaming for a makeover.