I found a vintage mid-century side table on Craigslist a few months ago. It had great bones and a lovely wood grain, but unfortunately the tabletop was worn and deeply scratched. Since the rest of the piece was in good condition, I decided to buy the table and refinish the top. I will take you through the process, which can be applied to any simple refinishing project. Here are some close-ups of the original damage. That middle scratch was about 6 inches long and a few millimeters deep. The top was also several shades lighter than the rest of the table from years of use and wear. The Process The first step is to remove the original finish and sand down any visible scratches. I used an orbital sander to expedite the process, but you can certainly do this by hand. This table has a wood veneer, a thin decorative layer of higher quality wood that surrounds the central structure, …
We all know guys like my recent clients: three bachelors who have been out of college for a number of years, but their apartment is still outfitted with broken Ikea furniture and family hand-me-downs. My clients had a very small budget for decor, but they knew it was time for an upgrade. So I gave them a quick and dirty living room overhaul. When I design on a budget, I like to outline general parameters for the room without setting my heart on anything too specific. In this case, I wanted to create a sophisticated, but unfussy space, filled with natural materials and vintage accents. My first purchase was a vintage leather couch on Craigslist for $400. I love the warm medium tone of the leather. We paired the couch with a grey loveseat, which we found at Target for $430. The tailored look of the loveseat is a nice balance to the informality of the leather couch, but the loveseat’s …
I have always loved the look of ebonized cerused, or limed, oak. The overall finish is a deep black, while the wood grain is filled with white pigment. The sharp contrast accentuates oak’s beautiful grain patterns and creates a high-end, glamorous look. This finish can be achieved in any color combination, but the classic black and white is my personal favorite. This technique was originally developed in the 16th century as a way to protect wood from insects. Its popularity has ebbed and flowed over time, peaking in art deco and midcentury interiors. I followed Lynne Rutter’s wonderful tutorial over at The Ornamentalist. My table had a cerused finish originally, so I had to take a few extra steps to prep the surface. Two pieces of advice on this technique: Firstly, it is essential to create an absolutely clean surface to work with because aniline dye will not absorb through old varnish or residue. Starting with an unfinished piece would …
My sister, Elizabeth, asked for a little help tackling the last undecorated room in her home: a 4’ x 6’ sunroom. Elizabeth, an actress and screenwriter, wanted a comfortable place to read scripts and memorize lines. She requested a mid-century modern style that would complement her adjacent office. The room is not weatherproof, so we chose items that would not be ruined by sun damage or dust. Our maximum budget was $600. We found the armchair and ottoman on craigslist for $100. The chair is a mid-century reproduction from Urban Outfitters, so we aren’t worried about abandoning a valuable vintage piece to the elements. We purchased a 3’ x 5’ grey and white chevron rug for $80 from Potted, a fabulous garden store in Los Feliz. Our big budget splurge was a Modernica Case Study ceramic pot and Brazilian walnut stand, which we found on sale for $120. The Case Study planter is manufactured locally in Los Angeles. Our next …
I had been on the lookout for a campaign dresser for several months when I spotted the perfect piece on craigslist. It had sturdy dovetail construction and solid brass hardware. I was not a big fan of the original wood tone, so I decided to give the dresser a classic kelly green makeover! Here is an overview of the process. First I removed the hardware and gave the whole piece a good sanding. I used ScotchBlue painter’s tape to keep all my edges clean and then painted one coat of Zinsser primer. Primer will prolong the life of the finish. I decided to use Benjamin Moore Advance high gloss paint in jade green. It has a built-in self-leveling property, which helps hide brush strokes and provide a smooth finish. I ended up doing three (long and painful!) coats to get complete coverage. Fortunately this paint does not require a top coat. I also polished the hardware. You can use a …
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