Refinishing furniture has given way to a greater appreciation for natural wood. Perhaps I inherited this appreciation from my grandfather who was a talented carpenter. He made furniture out of his garage workshop and I can still remember the piles of wood shavings and the woodsy smell of the sawdust that covered his workshop floor.
When I first started refinishing furniture, I primarily worked with paint. I now use a mix of paints and stains. While paint and ...
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Blog
Choosing a Finish & Color for a Long Dresser
In just three days, my workshop went from nearly-empty to so-stocked-I-can-barely-move-around. I was determined to work on just one or two projects at a time this year so I could have the space and the mindset to focus; but sometimes the best laid plans are wiped out when the furniture Gods rain down.
Some weeks it just pays to shop. In just one week, I found two solid wood dressers, an Ethan Allen sideboard and glass door hutch, a square coffee table, and a set of six chairs. And they all ...
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Thrift Store Shopping | A Tuscan Tray Table
When I was young, I never liked the idea of buying second-hand items from people I didn't know. That's not to say I didn't get hand-me-downs from family. When you come from a family of five kids, clothes were passed down every year. Boy have things changed! I'm now obsessed with saving old furniture and bringing it back to life.
Forty years ago, clothing donations were all I knew. People didn't donate furniture the way they do today; or, at least my family didn't. When something was ...
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White Washed Maple Table
Refinishing furniture for yourself is very different from refinishing furniture for clients; but even more rewarding when you can see someone else's vision come to life through your work. After years of refinishing furniture for my own home and to sell, I've decided to refinish furniture for others.
I absolutely love what I do. It's relaxing, rewarding, and I get a chance to meet so many amazing people. Suzanne was a new client of mine. She's from my town and knows alot of the people ...
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Editing Photos For Your Blog In Open Office
You're a MOM! You know... Master Of Many things. You're a homemaker, decorator, educator, and businesswoman. You do it all, including starting that side business that often includes editing photos for your blog. While there are some great photo editing sites available, did you know you can do some basic editing of photos with OpenOffice?
So you've taken this photo and uploaded it to your computer. It's pretty dark right? Easy fix.
From the Finder on your Mac (file ...
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Navy Blue Keegan Curtain Panel, Natural Wood Curtain Rods, and Less Chaos
Has your home ever felt chaotic? Not the people, but the furnishings? We've lived with pretty much the same furnishings and curtains since we moved into our home almost fifteen years ago. While I've added some pieces of furniture over the years, once something is set in place, it pretty much stays there. But lately I've been feeling like our home is a little chaotic.
It started this past winter when I decided to paint our kitchen walls in preparation for my daughter's high school ...
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Black Stained Antique Buffet
All of the stars seemed to align with this antique buffet. Solid wood. Dove-tailed drawers all in perfect condition and all that slide smoothly. All brass hardware present and accounted for. And the price was one I couldn't turn down. Aaaaah... yes, all of the stars aligned just perfectly.
Here's a peek at the buffet when I found it at the local thrift store.
You can see the top was really scratched.
You can also see that those scratches were no match for my DeWalt ...
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General Finishes Flat Out Flat Topcoat on Natural Wood
Not every piece of refinished furniture needs paint or stain. As a matter of fact, some pieces are better in their natural state. Restoration Hardware has even built a brand based on stained finishes that resemble naturally-aged wood. Let me tell you though, there's an easier way with General Finishes Flat Out Flat Topcoat.
My best friend from college actually found this brown-stained dresser on the curb. She had intended on bringing it home and painting it to place in her daughter's ...
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