Tag Archives: Estate Sales

(Dresser) going green…

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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.

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Slipper chairs for the boudoir…

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My BFF recently added a simply lovely four-poster bed from Four Hands in her master suite. There’s ample space for a seating area in her expansive room, Gadora proposes, and inquired, “How do you feel about slipper chairs?” She likes. Scoured the internets yesterday looking for both inspiration, and an affordable option, so I might present several for The BFF to consider…

Suzie Page on Apartment Therapy

Suzie Page on Apartment Therapy

Late yesterday Apartment Therapy posted a house tour by Austin’s own Adrienne Breaux and it is LOVELY. While the wall color is stunning, it is the pairing of the room’s two feminine chairs that caught my eye. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a slipper chair as “an armless upholstered chair with short legs. Originally used in the bedroom, slipper chairs are now used as accent seating in living rooms, family rooms and even offices.”

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Gadora’s TO-DO list…

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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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A framed dresser and one nightstand…

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Gadora fell in love with this dresser and one nightstand early this summer. I immediately loved the clean facade, devoid of fussy handles. The carved wooden frame around the dresser becomes its drawer pulls.

Vertical dresser - BEFORE

Vertical dresser - BEFORE

The perfect height, I found myself petting along the lines of the dresser as I removed each shiny layer from years of wear. I would apply the Methyl Ethyl, removing it carefully, belt sand their surfaces (with a lil help from Dad) and hand sand them too.

The pair stripped...

The pair stripped...

Gadora shuffled the two about the garage, away from other more-pressing projects, and finally applied the top coat of Oak-enhancing stain. It would be nine months before I would  have the pair complete.

StripeThe vertical dresser holds surprises: a shallow top drawer, a deeply divided second drawer and a pristine concealed bottom-drawer cedar chest.

Dressing for success

Dressing for success

• • •

Dresser - AFTER

Dresser - AFTER

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Dresser - AFTER

Dresser - AFTER

The final finish is deep matte and oak in color. I envision the two sitting in an eclectic-modern and sparsely decorated space. The dresser would be paired with a round mirror, free from frame. Like an exclamation point, of sorts, resting just above on the wall. The one nightstand would be at arms reach from the bed.

• • •

* Gadora has yet to discover their maker. Neither the dresser nor the one nightstand have a name between them.

Nightstand - AFTER

Nightstand - AFTER

Sold

Snap. Crackle. Now they Pop!

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Gadora was asked to find three tables for a living room. A sofa table, side table and a coffee table, nothing too dainty. They would need an old world feel of gold and brown when finished. After 4 days of scouring Craigslist, hitting garage sales and resale shops looking for items I could mix together, Gadora happily settled on these three…

Three Pine Tables

Three Pine Tables

I gave myself 5 hours to finish all three pieces…

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Kindel vanity with mirror…

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Gadora found a vanity with a mirror in a lady’s garage (let’s henceforth call her “Crazy Cakes”). CC posted her stuff on Craigslist and I responded. We agreed to meet. “We’re off Keller-Hicks road, just past the Extreme Dream House Make-Over TV show home” she rattles in one breath, “you caaaain’t miss us.” I’d remembered that Ty Pennington’s “Extreme Home Makeover” had indeed come quite close to our Lil Keller hood. And Gadora was happy to see it.

Extreme Home Makeover ~ Keller, TX

Extreme Home Makeover ~ Keller, TX

Well, I did miss Crazy Cakes’ house. Her erroneous directions were long-winded, and didn’t include a drive by the Extreme Home. Gadora finally arrived to find  CC had a whole mess of stuff in her garage. I specifically wanted this dresser but “Crazy Cakes” insisted I look at ALL her stuff. It took me a day to think about it (she was a pushy, pushy ‘garage’ sales girl). She’d quoted me a price, and that’s all she would do.

Kindel vanity

Kindel vanity

By the following day, CC had called and texted (both more than once) to see if I was interested in ALL of her pieces. I agreed to come back by, and through some wheeling-n-dealing got my Kindel vanity with mirrored top. Love it! Planning to decoupage some vintage National Geographic maps I scored at Sunday’s Estate Sales, I think it’s new skin will fit right in.

Kindel

Doing some preliminary research, I’ve found “Kindel” online. But not having luck identifying this particular piece. *Gadora needs the help of your savvy friend who surfs ebay with the greatest of ease.

Kindel vanity - BEFORE

Kindel vanity - BEFORE

** Gadora’s take on the Extreme Home… it’s ghastly over-sized. Plopped down on an ugly, ugly street West of Keller (tall browning prairie grass, horse pastures kicking up sandy dirt, and  bare Mesquite trees) it is a spectacle. People craning their necks to gawk at it and parked in the middle of the road, months after it was revealed (both live and then on TV), it draws a crowd. Nestled closely to the moderately sized dwellings it shares a street with, it’s a far cry from the low-slung ’70s roofs of its neighbors. It’s indeed true. You cain’t miss it.

Big Deal ~ Sunday Estate Sales

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Traci called a few weeks ago beaming about her new hobby. “Estate Sales,” she chirped, “I map them out and off we go.” Gadora invited herself out to see their loot and hoped in earnest to join their next run. Bright and early Sunday morning, we coffeed up and began our journey from Decatur, headed to Weatherford, then eventually towards Ft. Worth and finished in Arlington (And thanks Tim for driving).

My Own Sunday Loot

My Own Sunday Loot

Gadora was most successful at the first and crappiest Estate Sale. The only ones there, we had space to pilfer. A wall of coffee mugs and glassware could only mesmerize so long. I spied 4 dusty shell lamp bases, then another, then another. Somehow a dank hallway beckoned me, and led me straight to a cluttered side table. I coolly and casually made my offer and the estate company accepted without incident. Here is Gadora’s table.

Lane table

A gorgeous Lane side piece that had recently been abused by shellac, the dovetails exposed just enough. A website I found said to read the serial number backwards and so it is that 01.06.66 was when my table was produced.

Lane specifics

JetsetModern identified my table as part of the “Acclaim” series. “In addition to its physical virtues, the Acclaim line was uncommonly broad and deep.” Another site offered: “LANE ACCLAIM SERIES MODERN END TABLES (PAIR) Designed by Andre Bus,” but this I’ll have to confirm. The only thing I can find on ebay is for a console table with drawers for the “buy it now” price of $599. We’re not close, but we’re pretty darn.

Lane Acclaim

Lane Acclaim

We spent the rest of the afternoon shuffling around town with mostly the same people.  Traci and Tim had been to most on Saturday and had scoped out their half-priced Sunday treasures. Narrowly missing a pristine wheat-colored velvet sofa with mid-century lines, I sulked into another part of the house and took a moment to remember each home  was a preserved, but now-disheveled history of the lives that unfolded there. We three,  ready to pick up their pieces.

Tonight’s posting, and new category listing “On Becoming,” is an ode to Carl R. Rogers, “On Becoming A Person.” The good life is indeed a process… and Gadora is in the process of becoming, too.