Project - Wooden armchair

One day I was walking home in the rain and came across a pile of wooden chairs abandoned on the street curb, all in various forms of distress. Carrying groceries, no umbrella and wet I paused, but continued walking. After five steps, I walked back, put down my bags and started picking through the variety of chairs to find the one most intact. They were all gorgeous and I couldn't believe they had been tossed, but you know what they say, "One man's trash ..." One wooden chair caught my eye and luckily for me it only had a twisted, detached arm that could be mended back into place and shameful vinyl, that could be easily reupholstered. After lugging the heavy chair home, I immediately screwed the arm back into place, reinforcing the joints with "liquid nails" all-purpose glue and clamped it in place to make sure it adhered. Since the chair was soaked I let it dry for a couple of days. Once dry, and the arm solidly back in place, I then on my patio sanded down the entire chair removing its old layers of polyurethane. In the pics below, you can see it back to its natural matte unstained wood. I then stripped the vinyl, old nailheads and batting. Next I painted it high-gloss, oil-based Benjamin Moore "White Dove" for a rich durable finish - no primer needed. I knew in my head what I was going for - updating it to a stylish "Ralph Lauren Home" look - white finish with contrasting dark-navy velvet and nautical brass nailhead trim. Once the three coats of paint dried, I reupholstered the front, filling it with new batting, upholstering the back flat and finishing it off by hammering a border of shiny brass nailheads. Having found the chair for free, the cost of a quart of paint, one yard of velvet fabric and nail heads, the total cost was just around $75!

Project - DIY end tables to coffee tables

So my re-design continues! Last week I happened upon an antique store and found these two fabulous rattan end tables with glass-tops, 22.5" in height. I loved the symmetrical geometric pattern of the bent rattan from the top view, but was in no need of end tables, rather a new coffee table. Well this is where you think outside of the box. I immediately saw the potential of sawing down the legs and creating a pair of coffee tables. I purchased them together for $160 and with a $15 saw I picked up at Home Depot, I had the 18.5" standard coffee table height I wanted. Measuring 4 inches from the bottom of the legs, I wrapped painters tape as a guide and started sawing - now you'd bet they were originally coffee tables! :)

Project - DIY Coffee table book art

Months ago I blogged about a gorgeous coffee table book called, Chinoiseries which gives the history of Asian Pagodas, accompanied by to-die-for illustrations. So when it came time to create more art for my re-designed home this summer, I knew I wanted to feature some of my faves. Instead of cutting up my book, I simply went to Kinkos and made color photo copies. Along with $10, 8x10 gold frames, I now have a hi-end looking art display!

Project - DIY Spray painted Regency mirror

I bought this classic faux bamboo mirror on EBay for $97, but it was in need of a serious face lift. I wanted a look that was a bit more modern and dramatic. I considered a modern light-blue, but ultimately decided on a neutral chocolate-brown that would match any future decor change. Step one was taping and covering the glass mirror and priming the frame white. I then used Montana matte brown spray paint. Last was Montana glossy lacquer which sprays on very wet, but eventually dries into a nice glossy shell and voila! Jonathan Adler - watch out!







NOTE: Always spray paint outdoors in a well ventilated area and use a mask or cover your mouth and nose with a cloth. The odor is VERY toxic and children should NOT be in the vicinity.

Project - DIY Hermes Art

Are original paintings too expensive for you? Are you perplexed when trying to pick out art? Well think outside the box and try something different. Just remember, art is anything you want it to be - any medium, any price point. So I love horses and was looking for an eye-catching art piece. I searched for paintings and prints of horses, but none that made the statement I was looking for, or afford for that matter. Then it hit me - HERMES! Originally an equestrian equipment store decades ago, it is now a luxury accessories brand, but still remain true to their equestrian roots. Often using horse motifs and patterns, especially on their signature silk scarfs. I knew I couldn't afford a new one, so I searched eBay until I found the perfect vintage Hermes scarf and won it for $100. I then bought a simple 30"x30" painter's canvas and wrapped the 35"x35" scarf around it, using packing tape to secure it in the back. I went to a custom frame shop and chose a Jonathan Adler, green faux-bamboo lacquered sample. A week later I had the custom sized frame to slip over my canvas, no glass. For a total cost under $300, I now have the art piece I dreamed of!

Project - DIY spray painted cane table

So I bought this cute antique bent-wood and cane side table for $20, but wanted to update it. While it looked great in its original state, I wanted to give it a modern pop of color. So I spray painted the base with Montana spray paint (color- Mango) and then taped off the cane top and used Krylon (color- White gloss) If it was cute before, how cute is it now?!

Project - DIY spray painted lantern

So this is my first DIY project I'm sharing with you all. It started when I found these great metal pagoda candle lanterns, 20" tall. Luckily I got the last two, except I wasn't crazy about the existing color - a bit too traditional. I immediately imagined what they would look like if spray painted a bold color. Originally I was going to do yellow, but decided on a vibrant "Asian Red". So the first step was covering all of the glass panels with blue painting tape. Next was priming the entire lantern with white priming spray. Once that dried over night, I then spray painted the entire lantern red - 3 coats. After letting it dry completely, I then peeled off the blue tape covering the glass. The last step was using rubbing alcohol and Windex to clean the glass of any accidental paint mist. And there's the final product, sitting on my deck - what a difference a little spray paint can make!






Note: Whenever using spray paint, always work outdoors. The smell is very toxic and you should cover your nose and mouth as well. I used a large rag over my face to reduce inhalation. Children should never be in the vicinity.