BEFORE & AFTER


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. (more…)

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?

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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…

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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 chairGadora 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

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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

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