Hairpin Table ~ Revamp

As I mentioned in my previous post, I traveled to Austin last week to work on a Mid-Century Modern apartment design.  It belongs to none other than Reagan, my oldest.  In pulling the space together, I've been seeking out authentic vintage finds to help capture the Mid-Century Modern era.  I found this awesome hairpin table at Lula B's in Dallas.

It was a little rough and rusty, when I spotted it ~ but the price was right.

Nothing a little elbow grease, some scraping and steel wool couldn't cure.  I used #0000 steel wool for the clean-up.  

Then I sprayed it with a couple of light coats of Rust-oleum's metallic silver spray paint ~ it was all the table needed to take it back to its original lustre. 



A great accessory for the hairpin table ~ this Standard stamp holder ~ it came from M'Antiques in the Bishop Arts District.   See another way I used one of these stamp holders here.

After allowing time for the paint to dry, I repositioned the glass table top and it was ready for use.  The time and effort was well spent on this demure little table.  It fits the spot perfectly.  Stay tuned for more photos of the MCM install.  Hope you have a great week!

A Chair Makeover

Sometimes I think I'm just plain weird.  It would be so much easier to just go buy a chair from a retail store like most people.  Instead, I find myself traipsing around antique stores, flea markets, junk stores or thrift stores in search of a lost and lonely soul that needs a home.  Something about the genetics I guess...it's in my blood.

This find is of the thrift store variety ~ it set me back 4 bucks.  I just thought it had charm ~ and I love the barrel style.

I sprayed it black...

Recovered the cushion in a fine Belgian linen (a remnant I had)...

I love the end result....


Something about projects like this are quite therapeutic ~ any more weirdos out there like me? :)

Off to Austin to work on a mid century modern apartment ~ a diversion from the norm...but EXCITING.  Pics will soon follow.  Have a great week!

House Tour ~ Breakfast Nook

I thought I might share a few pics of the breakfast nook today.  My favorite French cafe chairs surround the table.  It's nice that this pretty scene greets me each morning since, I'm sorry to say, I am not a morning person.  It kind of helps ease me into the day.

 

It's a simple spot ~ but so comfy and inviting.  The light comes pouring in during the day.  The farm style table is a flea market find. 

The handwritten recipes, worn with age, were given to me by Nana and are a real treasure.  I framed them up in simple black frames and attached ribbon to them to add a little more presence.  Read more about this project here.

 

When we first moved here all of the cabinets were stained ~ but over time the stain had yellowed badly.  They really dated the house, so I decided instead of going with typical white cabinets, to do something a little different and paint them black.  The built-in originally had glass covered doors on it, but during the paint process we took them down.  I liked the open shelving so much, I opted to leave the doors off which makes for easier access to the dishes.

*Note ~ always keep your eyes peeled for others castoffs on garbage day.  The floor lamp was a freebie ~ found curbside on trash day.  A couple of coats of spray paint covered over the dingy brass lamp and now here it rests in the nook's corner.  The stool at the end of the cabinet - was something my neighbor, Pam, no longer wanted and I was happy to find.  The vintage rug is courtesy of my friend Barb :) ~ something she chose to part with when she moved to her current home.  Thanks to my friend, Amanda, for all the great photos.  See more of Amanda's beautiful photography here.  And thank you for stopping by ~ I hope your week is filled with good things.  

House Tour ~ Living Room

After sharing photos of the dining room the other day, I thought I might as well go ahead and make it through some of the other rooms in the house.  This space is where all the room flip-flopping began.  Originally the formal living space (meaning rarely did anyone step foot in here), this room is now the main gathering space in our home.  Although it's not grand in size, its soaring ceilings give it such a grand feeling to me.  I attribute it to all the wonderful light that comes pouring through the windows.  

This wasn't always the case for this room.  When we moved into this house eleven years ago, it was dark, dated and a little depressing.  The stained paneling had yellowed badly over time ~ and the dark fireplace was just plain creepy.  I vacillated back and forth for awhile ~ "to paint or not to paint?"  I'm sure the room was quite beautiful in its heyday ~ but time had taken its toll.  Against numerous people's opinions, I finally decided to proceed forward.  I did the unpardonable and whitewashed everything!  And ya know what?  I've never looked back ~ painting that dark and dingy room was like a breath of fresh air.

You might wonder why I opted to share this pic of the ceiling.  Well, if you've ever spent hours on end scraping popcorn off ceilings, I bet you have great appreciation for this nice, smooth one.  Scraping was an arduous task and undertaking but the benefits far outweigh the pains of taking it down.  And just for clarification, I think cottage cheese and popcorn are nice to eat ~ I just don't like them on my ceilings. :)  If you like, read more about the vintage bus roll sign that hangs above the mantle here. 

After all the priming and painting (thanks to the hubby who is a meticulous painter) and sanding and scraping ~ the room was finally given a new lease on life.  Oh, and I'm crazy about the old cafeteria cart turned TV stand ~ read more about its transformation here. 

I think this space went from drab to fab ~ from rarely being occupied to a prime piece of real estate  we gather in it most everyday. 

Besides a great place for TV watching, the room also provides an opportune place for chatting, reading or one of my faves (on golf watching days) snoozing.

I love that no matter where you decide to plop down, there's a comfy spot waiting for you.  Read more about the revamped floor lamp here.

Just a thought, if you've been toying with the idea of painting that wood paneling in your home for awhile ~ I would encourage you to go ahead and take the plunge ~ I'm so glad we did. :)

Prior to lightening and brightening this room ~ and before we rethought the purpose of the space, this room went virtually unused.  Once again, I think it's completely okay to flip-flop rooms in your house and just maybe some of that rethinking will give you space you never knew you had before. :)  I hope your day is filled with good things.  XO

Bathroom Makeover ~ Before and After

Hall Bath ~ After

This bathroom was sorely in need of updating when we first purchased our present home.  I couldn't bear to share the "before" photo first ~ but if you dare, scroll down and you can see for yourself how dated, dark and dingy this bath was when we took ownership.  The proof is in the pudding ~ it was enough to frighten any potential buyer away.

The makeover list for the hall bath was long.  It began with removal of carpet (seriously ~ in a bathroom ~ never a good idea ~ especially with three boys in the house).  We scraped popcorn ceilings, stripped wallpaper and then retextured the ceiling and the walls.  We sanded down cabinets. then primed and painted everything with fresh coats of paint.  New tile flooring was laid as well as new tile for the bath surround.  Most recently, a new marble counter was installed along with a rectangular undermount sink (I think I'm in love with this sink).

Then on to the fun stuff ~ goodbye plastic antique brass fixtures ~ hello shiny chrome ~ always a classic!

Hardware is like jewelry to me ~ it's the crowning touch to any bath.

I added inexpensive towel bars purchased from Home Depot.  Fluffy new towels, comfy rugs and a waffle weave shower curtain all came from Homegoods.

And the final addition ~ a new beveled mirror deeply discounted (due to a hairline crack) in place of the glue-on builder's basic.  The overall bath is quite simple in design, but really what more do you need?  Clean surfaces, new hardware and fixtures along with some indulgent linens complete this bathroom makeover.

Hall Bath ~ Before (EEK!)

It was a painstaking process to transform this ugly hall bathroom ~ but the end result was well worth the effort.  I can honestly say I didn't always enjoy going into this room ~ but now it is an inviting spa-like space.

South Dakota Scavenging

Well, I'm back from a trip to South Dakota, where we visited our oldest son, Reagan.  He's finishing up a two-year term for Teach for America, where he teaches 10th grade English on the Rosebud Indian Reservation.

It was a whirlwind trip where we enjoyed hanging out with Reagan's friends and consuming a delicious meal they made for us. We were also able to sit in on his classes and meet all of his students. Our last day there we traveled to the Badlands and then over to see Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse.

You may be wondering how and where Tattered Style comes into play ~ I’m happy to tell you as soon as you step into Reagan’s house! Although he may be almost a thousand miles from home, Texas still holds a mighty big place in his heart. Reagan, a Texas State graduate, and his roommate, Keith, a University of Texas graduate, took an old screen door they had kicking around in their garage and repurposed it into a Texas flag. They have created a clever work of art for their living room and it sure makes Texas and this mama proud!

The outside trim on the door was already the perfect shade of red; they removed the old screening, added a couple of plywood panels and painted them out red and blue. They chose not to panel one part of the screen door, as they knew the white wall would show through from behind and act as the white stripe of the flag.

Reagan purchased a tin star Christmas tree topper; spray painted it white and hung it atop the blue panel on the door. Then they attached the screen door to the wall with eyehooks and wire. I think the end result is super cool!

All too quickly, our visit ended. As we were leaving, Reagan gave me a present ~ not just any present, but one he knew I would be crazy about.

He brought out this wonderful relic from an old house he happened by one day. I love this metal and glass hinged piece!

I’m not certain how it was originally used, but can’t wait to repurpose this into something wonderful. Keep an eye out for its upcoming transformation. Thank you Reagan!!

And finally, on our return trip back to Texas, we passed by an old junk store in Kansas and honestly, what would any trip be without stopping at a perfectly good junk store? Take a look at the goodies I landed!

I love all things industrial, especially if there are casters involved, so this was the first thing to catch my eye. I wonder where this piece will end up? Be watching for before and after photos to find out!

These wonderful old porcelain and metal doorknobs were a steal ~ I purchased the whole lot for $10.00. I’ll either add them to a collection or reinvent them as knobs on a coat rack.

Maybe it's just me or it could be it's that time of year, but don't these knobs resemble Easter eggs (especially the pink speckled one)!

On a different note, I’ve created a Facebook page to post additional Tattered Style information. Be sure to look Tattered Style up on FB and "Like". This will ensure that you receive any new updates, like my trip next week to the Round Top Antiques Fair, where I'll be posting photos of some of the cool things I come across!


P.S.  I'm not sure what is going on technically with this post, it's doing some funky spacing and won't let me edit it. :)

Dresser Makeover

Design Challenge: An extremely conservative budget for a conference room redo. No worries ~ my friend Rachael and I love a challenge and are up for tackling this decorating assignment (it doesn't hurt that this is one of our favorite things to do). So, we have been on the hunt for unique items to repurpose and outfit the room with. We have unearthed all sorts of wonderful discoveries and I'm anxious to share them with you. Future posts will unveil the progress of this space.

One of the furniture requirements for the space is for a buffet/credenza that will serve as a food/drink station for lengthy staff meetings.

We spotted this old bow front chest of drawers at a garage sale for $20.00 (a steal!). It is solid wood, structurally sound and in decent condition. With a little elbow grease and some paint this piece will fit the bill perfectly.

The first step in the process was to remove the hardware and give the entire piece a good scrub with soap and water.

Next, it was given a light sanding with an orbital sander using 120 grit sandpaper to rough up the old finish. Hand sanding was required for some of the more detailed areas. Prep work is essential and will give you a finished product you will be pleased with.

Then, a coat of primer was painted on (we used Kilz water based primer) allowing adequate time to dry thoroughly.

A light sanding between coats will provide a nice smooth finish as well (remember to wipe down with a tack cloth to remove any loose particles).

Lastly, two coats of creamy white paint were applied.

After allowing the paint to dry overnight, the original hardware was screwed back on to the drawers. I love the detail of the drawer pulls and the way the dark hardware really pops against the fresh white paint.

A sneak peak at the finished product...

I love giving cast-offs a second chance and this old chest of drawers will certainly add a unique flavor to our room makeover. It's amazing how a little TLC and some paint completely transformed this garage sale find. I can't wait for you to see this piece when it is installed in the finished room. Be watching for future updates and be sure to keep an eye out as this wonderful dresser makeover finds its new home in our conference room redo.