When you have college students, knowing how to properly refinish furniture comes in very handy. It's college move-in week here in Boston and if you've had any kids headed to college, you'll completely understand the totally confusing emotional ups-and-downs we go through as parents. But in an effort to keep busy and be part of the excitement, I helped my daughter furnish her new off-campus apartment - something that's totally fun and right up my ally as a furniture flipper!
Her very ...
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Painting Over a Clear Poly Results in a Smoother Finish
Did you know that painting over a clear poly finish can result in a smoother finish? As a furniture refinisher and painter, I'm always experimenting to improve my craft and to learn new things. It may be as simple as trying a different brush or layering different products. This week I learned that applying paint over a clear coat of poly results in a smoother finish. It was a light-bulb moment! Here are all the details as I refinished this Dior Gray dresser and bed.
In yesterday's post, ...
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Dior Gray Bed
Do you have a brown stained bed from your childhood? Or, did you inherit one from your parents or grandparents? If you do, you may be wondering how you'll possibly fit the honey-colored brown into your modern home - a home with light colors or dramatic accent pieces. Well, if that bed frame is made of solid wood, then it's absolutely worth keeping and transforming into a Dior Gray bed.
This bed belonged to my best friend from college. I'm pretty sure it was her bed from her childhood. ...
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How to Preserve Basil for the Winter
Yesterday I posted his photo on my Facebook page of the basil we harvested from our garden. This was actually the fourth large batch we picked in addition to more than 80 cucumbers, 10 summer squash, 20 tomatoes, and a few peppers. I jokingly commented about how I should now have enough basil to last this Italian through the winter. Ha Ha! I really love basil. But the most asked question I received was "How do you preserve basil for the winter?"
Italian basil is a flavorful herb that ...
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How to Paint Antique Beds White
Have you ever picked up a pair of antique beds from a yard or CraigsList with the intention of painting them a shade of white. The good news is that antique beds are solid wood. The problem, however, is how do you clean, prep and paint those antique beds white so they'll last another 60 years. Here's how...
This pair of twin beds belongs to a friend of mine. She purchased them from CraigsList for her daughter's bedroom. The beds are believed to be more than 60 years old and had the ...
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Re-Creating a Naturally-Aged Finish
Do you love the old world, naturally-aged wood finishes from Restoration Hardware and Pottery Barn? You know the pieces they've re-created with layers of stains and made them look like a perfectly worn table that's lasted centuries. Re-creating a naturally-aged finish is one of my specialities. Would you like to learn how?
Before I begin and since I'm worried I may be jumping 10 steps ahead, let me show you a few samples of the result I'm planning to achieve. First, two ...
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Recipe: Spinach Broccoli Quiche
Going gluten-free involves planning out your food so that when it's time to eat, you have something readily available. In a house full of gluten-eaters this is especially important because you're surrounded by their food - which means you're surrounded by temptation. Today, I'm sharing one of my favorite breakfast recipes - spinach broccoli quiche.
Besides being easy to prepare, there are so many things to love about quiche:
Gluten-free and grain-free.Prepare it one day and have ...
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The Search for a Modern Leather Recliner
Every time I go to the dentist I get the urge to buy a recliner. Am I the only one who sits in the dental chair and falls asleep? As soon as it reclines all the way back and my feet are elevated, it's instant relaxation. Needless to say, I was getting my teeth cleaned last week and this week I've been searching for a modern leather recliner.
A recliner is something I never really thought I'd want. Let's face it, most of them are pretty ugly. Comfortable yes. But definitely ...
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Recipe: Eggplant Caponata
Do you eat gluten-free or would you like to and need new, delicious recipes? During my own journey to ward off an autoimmune disease, I'll share with you some of my favorite gluten-free recipes, like this eggplant caponata.
You may find that most of my recipes are one-pot creations. You see, I'm a pretty lazy cook. I prefer tasty meals that are quick to prepare and easy to clean up. This one is all that.
Earlier this year our entire family got together to celebrate my sister's ...
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Fundraising Gift Basket Ideas
Themed gift baskets make great raffle and auction items for fundraisers. Following is an extensive list of themed gift basket ideas. The combinations are endless and will help make your next fundraiser profitable.
BACKYARD FUN: Yard games, badminton net & rackets, volleyball net & ball, horseshoe, crochet, bocci, frisbee, parachute, butterfly net, sidewalk chalk, sandbox, trucks, buckets & shovels for sandbox, archery set, swing set
WATER FUN: Slip & Slide water slide, ...
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Color Trend & Discovering Your Natural Element
Is your home ready for an update? Have you been looking at light gray walls long enough and decided it's time for a change? You may still love the clean, sleek look of gray and all of those HGTV modern makeovers, but it seems so does everyone else in the modern world. But... you like to do things a little different than everyone else perhaps you haven't quite figured out how to make that neutral backdrop work for you. I understand exactly how you feel. So let's talk about about color trends ...
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Royal Blue Dresser Makeover
Do you love the Blue Camp collection furniture from Pottery Barn Kids? The Camp collection of bedroom furniture comes in a few different finishes - blue, red, white, and natural - but it's their blue that's my favorite. My boys have had three pieces from the Camp collection for the past 15 years. Not only has it held up extremely well, we've never tired of the color. So when it came time to refinish my old dresser, I decided a similar royal blue was perfect for this dresser ...
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