Q & A ~ Can you identify this piece?

An anonymous inquiry came via email: “I came across a cool mid-century coffee table. Glass oval top. Wooden boomerang/antler like legs. Any insight to name/age? Thank you in advance…[It] was found in my fathers attic during a move and posted on Craigslist.” He added that people have offered more than 4x what he listed it at and, “I wanted to make sure I wasn’t selling a Van Gogh.” Here goes…

"Boomerang" table (1)

"Boomerang" table (2)

"Boomerang" table (3)

With a hunch but not 100% sure, Gadora deferred to a dear friend with mad online search skills.

Continue reading

(Dresser) going green…

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

Mid-Century Modern in Tulsa.

Recently Gadora traveled to Tulsa to see about her Mom. I like Tulsa (and love my Mama!). T-town is quiet, though Frank Lloyd Wright left an indelible mark with his “Westhope” home. Moments after touch down my Mama beamed, “we’ve got something to show you,” and whisked Gadora off to Mod50s Modern, a busy warehouse shop on East 15th.

50sMod on E. 15th, Tulsa

Mod50s on E. 15th, Tulsa

Continue reading

it’s in the details…

Last week, Gadora happily adopted out the Kindel vanity and Lane side-table to a delightful couple who responded to two separate Craigslist posts. It was so nice to meet them. As new homeowners, R. and T. promised their fresh furnishings would be perfect for their space.

As we conversed about the pieces (and moved them out into the sunlight for a brighter look), it was evident they had been reading Gadora’s musings. They mentioned they’d also responded to a request, and were chosen, for HGTV’s Property Virgins. Filmed earlier this year, this is their new home…

Kindel's new home

Kindel's new home

T. was kind enough to send a picture. And R. was thoughtful enough to send the following, “[We] were gushing about the whole experience and our beautiful new pieces all the way home! We’re getting the word out about you, ms. wilderS*– you’ve got fans :) Thanks again for the pieces and your wonderful craftsmanship! You brightened some engineers’ day!”

And with that email they completely brightened mine, too. While Gadora adored both pieces, as they were truly a labor of love, I am elated they’ve found such good people to live with!

* The “S” references the BlogLuxe nomination for “BEST EYE CANDY” whereby “gadorawilders” was nominated with an “S.” We chatted about that too. Now, there are 2 nominations for this here blog, and while more votes weighed in for gadora with an “S”, both have been pushing traffic Gadora’s way…

Life in the slow Lane…

Yesterday was the 3-month anniversary of carting home the Lane Acclaim series side-table. In need of work, ours has been a love-hate relationship ever since. Well, at least until today! Below: the car ride home…

Lane - BEFORE

Lane - BEFORE

What Gadora imagined might be a brilliant and expeditious reno, was actually a laborious lesson in patience and how to best overcome over-simplified project expectations. The original oven-baked lacquer finish had at some point been coated with a shiny lacquer.

Mr. Kemp and Lucky checkin her out.

Mr. Kemp and Lucky sniff it out.

More than 11 hours after beginning, picking up and applying the first container of stripper… we have success!

Continue reading

Take. it. off!

The modest Lane table is giving Gadora fits. She simply will. not. strip. Whoever thought it a good idea to irresponsibly shellac this table, then to ignore the drips underneath its surface… well, they simply need a schooling in the art of being good to furniture.

Lane Side Table

Lane Side Table

Gadora has gone through a WHOLE bottle of “green” stripper, begging the question, “If I have to use excessive amounts of green stripper, am I really being green?” Well, no. I am not. Gadora has now procured a proper can of serious stripper and even after three applications is still finding the table won’t entirely strip.

Close up.

Close up.

See? This has been a lesson in patience, my dear. A little sweat equity can pay off. I will see. No, I will see.

On a run last week to discover Austin’s most fab furniture stores, I slipped into the now famous “HomeGirls.” Met with Mom Kathryn, who was delightful, and chatted a bit about my new city. “You will love it here,” she smiles. I tell her about Gadora, and the Lane table I’m still working on, and she points me to hers. Right there, sitting quietly on display is mines match. Shy to take a picture, it gives me some gumption to push for a weekend completion.

Big Deal ~ Sunday Estate Sales

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.