2010 project update

[annielinz]

So heres an update of the table project.

So when you last saw the table I had put on a coat of black paint/primer. After living with that for a day I wasn't happy with the old brush marks showing thru. I figured I needed to do it right. So I had some stripper on hand and went to town. I started as my DD left to drive back to school. It was a great distractor and kept me from worrying about her. 3 1/2 hours later she called and had arrived safe and sound and I was done with the stripping of the table top. I was exhausted and the smell from the stripper was getting to me. Luckily it was a beautiful day and I was able to open all the doors and windows.
After washing the top of all residue I stood back and loved the grain in the oak wood top! I had some Howards Feed-N-Wax on hand and rubbed in two coats. It has a lovely matte finish. It fits in with the more simpler look I was going for. So I think I'll be living with the wood top and not painting it for now. The hutch, chairs and base of the table will remain black.

Heres the pic of the before, during and finished project.

[CohenCottage]

That looks fantastic! I really like the wood top in your final photo.

[shabbychick]

Wow, that must have been a lot of work! It looks great now, though.

[Heather]

Looks great - having some contrast does suit the entire look, doesn't it? Also, the part about "I was able to open all the doors and windows" made me jealous!

[vintage girl]

It looks fantastic!:)

[yarborough house]

Yeah you opened all the doors and windows.? Not fair we'd then have an indoor -whole house- freezer.
The table looks amazing. Love it.
Great job.

[cheapdiva]

Can you tell which of us live someplace frigid? Open the doors and windows?!?! That would make the inside of a freezer warm - we've been in the teens for highs for over a week, lows in single digit or 0. 6 - 9" of snow predicted starting tonight into tomorrow. I'd be thrilled to open a door and windows (though our bedroom window stays open year round - about 4" - just can't stand to have everything closed up tight).

Table top is beautiful! And I love the candleholders also!

[annielinz]

Thanks my chilly friends.
There was no way I was going to get the table out to the garage to strip so I did it in the kitchen and thankfully we've had some very pleasant weather. Truthfully tho, we really did have some very cold days and the frost just about knocked out all my outdoor plants...it looks like a mush pot out there. Nothing like you guys experience but still..... :o
I don't know how you all cope with the frigid weather! I would no doubt pull the covers over my head and hibernate the winter away.
Stay warm.

[vintage girl]

I could not handle the cold that most of you have either. We are going to be 77 degrees today. Perfect temp for me. I think it is freezing if it goes below 60 degrees:D

[Hillary Black]

Annielinz -- Nice job on the table! I love Howard's Feed N Wax. Thanks for sharing the project with us.

I actually did a small side table over the holidays and forgot to take before pics. Grrr...

To all -- my apologies if I don't respond to everyone's cool projects/makeovers. I want to but don't always have the time. I love seeing what creative things you are doing.

I'd like to feature some in the magazine, too. If you ever want to pursue that and I haven't contacted you, please contact me. Thanks!

Hillary

[mac78]

I love that table top. It is beautiful. My mom would be so proud of you.....as she is a stripper.......furniture stipper that is. lol It has a very pretty grain.

[memmey]

It is so gorgeous, the wood grain is beautiful. Is that table really old? It looks like it could be very old because of the grain. I agree with everyone about the Howards Feed and Wax. I think any furniture could use a good polishing with that. It doesn't hurt that it smells good.

About the cold...we are about to have really really cold weather here. Our humidity is very high and the temps are dropping tonight and tomorrow. This wonderful old house on piers under the live oaks is gonna be a a cold Momma tonight. Whu whooo my feet are freezing. I can't believe I am saying this but I miss the broiling hot sun.:o

[Lisa S]

Beautiful! You've made that table look great in three different ways, but this incarnation is my favorite.

[annielinz]

Hillary my pleasure to share. Now you need to share an after pic of your table, would love to see it.
Marie, I laughed when you said your mom was a stripper. I can see why she enjoys doing it. It is so cool to strip off old paint or varnish and see beautiful wood underneath.
Memmy, thank you also. No the table isn't old. We got it early in our marriage-probably 28 years ago- and it wasn't an expensive set. It had a dark stain on it and lots of varnish.
Lisa, I appreciate your words. It was hard to get rid of the decorative top, but I had grown tired of it and I'm going in a simpler decorating direction.

[ChapterTwo]

This wasn't much of a "project"...it only took about 10 minutes!
I had purchased the lamp you see in the first photo (complete with glass globes) at a flea market for $4...it is brass and had seen better days.

Before winter (note the autumn leaves), I managed to take the lamp outside and give it a spray with white satin finish Rustoleum. The "After" photo shows how it turned out! I have it in my living room, although things are not organized or in the right place yet. I find I have too much furniture for this little house. :confused: To be continued...

[annielinz]

Chapter Two, those are the best kind of projects quick, easy, cheap AND they look like a million bucks after! Loving the lamp!

[ChapterTwo]

Chapter Two, those are the best kind of projects quick, easy, cheap AND they look like a million bucks after! Loving the lamp!

Thanks, Mary Ann - And you're so right...it's great to have "almost" instant gratification! Spray paint is one of my favorite items when it comes to revamping things. I have two more lamps that need that treatment but I have to wait 'til the weather gets warmer. (Darn...)

[Heather]

Oh, good job on the lamp C2 - much better!

[chyna]

I used so much spray paint this summer that the neighbors were getting lightheaded. :D No seriously I'm addicted to spray paint almost as much as regular latex paint. I had this great idea the other night for floor/table lamp the other night and now I can't remember what it was!!! :( Not that I can spray paint now anyhow.

We've been in the negatives for the past week. I believe it was Tuesday that we were a balmy -23 at my house and Billings was -16. We have warmed up to 20-30's and that is nice. I miss summer, swear we got ripped off last year. Long chilly spring, unseasonable cooler temps for the summer and then wham it is winter. We completely skipped fall.:eek:

[chyna]

Oh, what kind of stripper did you use? I've been thinking of buying some citristrip since it doesn't reek and is reasonably safe. My dd seems to think that having her door back up is a good idea. Silly child. :p

Also , where do you get this wax you speak of? Can you wax floors with it? Memmey I finally saw your Bona the other day at bed,bath and beyond. Thought of you. :)

[annielinz]

Chyna, I used Safest Stripper by 3M. The container said its great for indoors-still stinky in my book-could be because it was an old bottle I had and wanted to finish it up.
I found the Howards Feed-n-Wax at my local hardware store, they probably have it at Home Depot. Not sure about using it on floors but it may work.

Onto some new projects.....

Chapter Two, your lamp redo got me looking around the house for a project. Found an old cheapo candlestick lamp I had. Hit it with some black spray paint, so for Zero $$ I got a new lamp.:D

Also painted the bottom half of this round table to match the other tables I had already done. Didn't take a before pic but the legs blended into the walls, now they have more visual weight.

Last but not least, since I'm going for a paired down look, I put up some linen curtains in the kitchen and took down the black fruity ones. Was going to use a drop cloth but found these at Target. Love the texture, color and how they hang. However they didn't have any valances so I bought another panel and made a new valance for over the sink and a new sink skirt.

[shabbychick]

Mary Ann, your projects are beautiful! I love the look of your kitchen window, too. It could be in a magazine! I've got a lamp I want to repaint as well, but I'm waiting until I find the right fabric for the shade before I decide on a color. I was looking through the new Country Living magazine today and saw some projects I'd like to try, too, but they're probably going to have to wait until I'm a little less busy with work (and, uh, finally taking down my xmas tree!!). I really like the look of your tables. It's amazing what you can do all by yourself when you put your mind to it, isn't it?

Did you happen to feel the earthquake yesterday?

[annielinz]

Shabby, thank you so much!

No I didn't feel the earthquakes yesterday but my DD who lives in Chico did! We had three little ones earlier this week centered near Milpitas (about 30 min. away) on Wed, Thurs. and Friday so I was was thrilled not to feel the earth move yesterday. Was so surprised to hear about the one up North. I guess I better go get some of that sticky stuff to hold down some of my displays I have on my shelves-LOL :D

[shabbychick]

Mary Ann,

I'm a big believer in the sticky stuff! I grew up in LA and was in the big 1971 earthquake when I was 16 years old. I've never been the same since...biggest trauma of my life! When I grew up and got my first teaching job out in the Riverside area, one of the first things I did was take earthquake preparedness classes from the Red Cross. I even became an instructor for them. I was so afraid that I'd panic and run out of the classroom, leaving my kids behind (which I'm sometimes tempted to do even when there isn't an earthquake, lol) that I knew I had to do something to help me prepare myself for another big one. I felt the big Whittier quake over in Riverside, though it wasn't nearly as strong as the Sylmar quake where I was, and because Riverside is ringed by faults, we had quite a few small (and unsettling) quake. I started using that Quake Hold stuff then. Up here in Seattle, of couse, we still have plenty of earthquakes are are waiting for our own 'big one.' I use the Quake Hold on anything I really value or couldn't replace. It can be a nuisance when you need to dust under something, so I don't use it on everything, but there are a few things I really don't want to lose. It really does work like a charm, and it's great if you have dogs with active tails or cats who like to jump.

[yarborough house]

Mary Ann - nice job. Keep going and keep posting pictures please.
I am redoing a bunch of furniture for my sisters living room. You know get a cohesive look to a bunch of hand me downs and thrift store finds..

post when all done..

[annielinz]

Tammy, checked out your blog and the chair you redid---Bea-u-ti-ful!
Can't wait to see the others you are working on.

[yarborough house]

Thanks I just finished a table and a tray for her coffee table. Have a pillow to do then more chairs...guess cold weather is good as it keeps me inside and busy.:)

[vintage girl]

OOhhh I just checked out the chair. Oh my gosh you are so talented. It looks fantastic!!! I also love your new name for your blog:)

[yarborough house]

Thanks all- today I am doing a couple of pillows and then some clothing transformations. I found ladies on blogs that cut up grown-up clothes to reuse them for their daughters. So, yesterday while at the thrift shops I picked up a couple jumpers that were small and some bigger sweaters and we are chopping those babies up to make a couple skirts, legwarmers, and a dress. We shall see.

[Lynzee]

Beautiful projects! Looks like y'all have been super busy!

I wish I could get motivated, but my little one has had the flu and it seems to have taken as much out of me as it did her. :(

Speaking of paint strippers, do you suppose there's anything--short of a sandblaster--that would remove tub and tile paint?

[bungalogan]

Tub and tile epoxy, what bath tub refinishers apply by spray, is impervious to conventional heavy duty chemical strippers. I believe that aircraft grade chemical strippers may do the job but you won't want to touch those with a ten foot pole. See if you can hire a bath tub refinisher to do the job and vacate the premises while having it done. Bear in mind that there may be a good reason why someone paid for that stuff to be applied and you may not like what removing it will reveal.

[Lynzee]

Thanks, Bungalogan. I applied the tub and tile paint in a moment--well, actually, a few days--of sheer insanity. The tub is fine underneath. I just didn't like the color. The paint is already peeling--I was just hoping to hurry the process along.