Category Archives: BEFORE & AFTER

“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.”
~ Michelangelo

(Dresser) going green…

Posted on by

3

Found a handsome 6-drawer wooden dresser on a yard/estate-sale outing with some girlfriends (and thank you both for helping me load it in my wonder wagon!). Set out, over the course of a few trips to the parent’s house, to fix it up…

Dresser ~ BEFORE

Gadora recycled the dresser’s original handles on this 3-table set and—because their “crackle” response was so great—gave this dresser a new “crackle” green face. Not as decipherable as the Lane Acclaim markings, the ‘internets’ claim K. Wee and Co. was established in 1966.  Anyone care to take a stab at the manufacture date? Below (right); entire surface received a solid sanding, both belt sander and by hand, before first paint application.

Tag and side.

Each hole, 16 in all, was filled and sanded allowing a fresh start for new handles. Having had a run-in with a mangled can of latex paint, Gadora re-purposed a plastic coffee can to provide easy access for the remainder.

Drawers and paint can alternative.

Continue reading →

Crackle coffee table.

Posted on by

6

Over the summer Gadora scored a weighty coffee table with burly, turned legs. I stared and glared at it, even made an attempt to refurbish it. Twice*.

Coffee Table ~ BEFORE

Gadora first mixed a supply of glaze and paint to coat the entire surface, having sanded it first. Once dry, I dry-brushed (careful to mimic the grain of the wood underneath) a coat of black/brown.

Glaze mixture ~ halfway

Continue reading →

Piano bench turned chalkboard center…

Posted on by

3

Remember the displaced piano bench from last week? Flickr’s “sickathanathas” piano bench-turned-kids-chalkboard-studio was the winningest inspiration, and Gadora gave hers a gadorable transformation with a can of chalkboard paint and some elbow grease.

BEFORE ~ piano bench

The inside was sanded too, to remove the gook, and make room for the pretty aviary decoupage to be applied later. The seat lifting mechanism locks bench top open.

BEFORE ~ Open

Once the bench received a good sanding, and did I tell you how much I love my mouse sander?, the Fresco red Rust-oleum chalkboard paint was ready for application. Continue reading →

Before & After ~ Ethan Allen side-table

Posted on by

4

Sometimes a piece of furniture has just given all it can. That’s when Gadora moves into action. This piece, a score from Austin decor and design shoppe Susan Lee Interiors, had been propped in the garage for the whole of the long, hot summer. Last week it got its wings.

Side-table ~ BEFORE

Side-table ~ BEFORE

Ethan Allen side-table with carved scroll detail and shell front. What did it hope to be?

Continue reading →

Xray-ted lampshade

Posted on by

7

With October lurking around the corner, Gadora spied an opportunity to redress an already fabulous retro Kron® lamp with discarded X-rays: an MRI of one Camille so-and-so and someone else’s pet. Here, lamp before Gadora got a hold of it.

Lamp ~ BEFORE

Lamp ~ BEFORE

Mostly known for TV Lamps popular in the ’50s, this Kron ceramic base is in perfect condition. The gold leaf is intact, and if it’s the original wiring it works too. I’d seen a snappy pendant lamp using the same series of X-rays and asked if I might have a few sheets…

Continue reading →

No Easy Chair…

Posted on by

15

Gadora‘s original idea for this upcycled chair came last spring with a chance passing in NoLa. A random storefront window held a darling, though not entirely functional, woven men’s tie chair…Gadora was inspired. Then not long after the move to Austin, I’d coordinated a garage sale day with the girls, mapping out possible hot spots promising great adventure. Towards day’s end a discarded pair of chairs were spotted in front of a house, we whipped the car around for a calculated look. Yes! One good one. With all its parts. We’ll take it. Thank you.

This would eventually be a two-part project: 1) refurbish said found chair with new seat and paint treatment, and 2) weave ties and cover the seat.

The chair itself needed work! A power sanding revealed layers of interesting paint choices, but gave the wood a smooth finish to work with.

sanded chair ~ revealed layers

sanded chair ~ revealed layers

• • •

Using a cardboard box, Gadora cut a seat template then begged* her Daddy to donate some scrap wood. *Cool as a cucumber my Dad happily obliged AND helped custom cut and sand the seat bottom to fit. With seat complete, I fired up Dad’s blower, after only a few labored pulls of the starter, to clean our mess. Dad digs I dig his power tools.

sanding seat from particle board

sanding seat from particle board

Continue reading →

Gadora’s TO-DO list…

Posted on by

2

Lest you think the Animal Print business has kept Gadora from scouring the streets of Austin for goodies, think again folks! While I’m happily, superbly, unbelievably busy with the Animal Prints (DAILYCANDY you ARE totally my new BFF), I have one eye on the workshop with its growing reminder of things wanting attention…

• • •

Remember that “tie-one-on” post? Let me refresh you… and as luck would have it, some nice folks placed this chair on their sidewalk just for Gadora!!! I’m gathering my ties, all in a similar color scheme, and plan to pick my seat (teehee), then make it happen.

Seatless Chair

Seatless Chair

Found two killer lamps (not even needing restringing) at an estate sale. Unfortunately, the family of 27 children who hit the sale moments prior to my arrival liked this lamp too, and tore into the shade. No worries people, Gadora and her muse have some CLEAR plans for this one!

Retro Lamp

Retro Lamp

Continue reading →

Shabby Chic table and chairs (2)…

Posted on by

2

From the last post of the shabby table reno, Gadora commissioned a new set. Having served their family for years, the Early’s were eager to have the table and chairs refashioned to move into their new house.

Table and Chairs - BEFORE
Table and Chairs – BEFORE

• • •

After meeting, we chose a blue undertone (Valspar’s Balmy) with a white top coat. The entire set was meticulously sanded. Have I said how much I love my Bosch sheet sander?

S.Bent Bros logo underneath chairs
S.Bent Bros logo underneath chairs

Gadora lightly sanded the S. Bent & Bros Colonial Chairs logo branded into the wood of each chair’s undercarriage, taking care not to paint over. Eventually, a white latex coat was applied after the initial blue paint dried, and after the third sanding.

Chairs - spindles
Chairs – spindles

• • •

Continue reading →

Simple mirror redo.

Posted on by

1

Sometimes when Gadora catches her reflection, it is my dear Grandmother Velma who peers back at me. I’ve claimed her button nose. She’s in my jowls. She appears in my progressively more furrowed, though happy, brow. And while not captured in any mirror, she’s positively reflected in my spirit.

Mirror - BEFORE

Mirror - BEFORE

When searching for a theme for today’s blog, Gadora stumbled across a quote. “I feel that it is healthier to look out at the world through a window than through a mirror. Otherwise, all you see is yourself and whatever is behind you.” ~ Bill Withers

Which led me to a song…

• • •

Continue reading →

Occasional table in the round.

Posted on by

4

Last weekend, Gadora scored a charming round occasional table at a garage sale. This week, she gave it some sass!

Table - with top coat

Table - with top coat

First wood glue was applied to the joints, then allowed to set. The entire piece was sanded and once the red basecoat had dried Gadora applied a mixture of the butterscotch (as seen in video) and a more subdued ivory. Pretty.

Table with prominent red details

Table with prominent red details

Went back in once top coat was applied and gave the table more red detailing. Then sanded, applied top poly-urethane coat… and let it dry.

Continue reading →