Sometimes Things Need a Change... Table Transformation for the Second Time

Sometimes now matter how much you fight it things need to change. For me that was the case with this antigue 1950's end table.  Many people have a hard time admitting when things need to change or do not sell because of it's look. Therefore, I decided to share my story with you, because after all I can't the only one facing this dilemma.

I originally picked up this table at an estate sale in New Jersey.  After refurbishing it, it quickly became a popular item. It was a big favorite in my Etsy Store/Refurbished with Love and a favorite at all my festivals. But for some reason it was not SELLING! After all that is my goal, to refurbish furniture and sell the pieces to new happy home.

Here is what the table looked like when I bought it. It was in need of a furniture facelift and I knew exactly what I wanted to do. Or at least so I thought I did.

end table before

Here is the table after my first attempt refurbishing it.

end table after the first attempt of refurbishing

I wanted to give it an antique look keeping with the design of the table and wanted to add a pull to the draw.

close up on the table top

Well after a year of siting in my home, I decided it was time for a change! I was very reluctant to change it because, one, I worked hard on it the first time and two because that would require more time in my already busy schedule. But lets face it, it wasn't selling and even though I was being stubborn I knew what I needed to do.

I decided to paint it my favorite color Annie Sloan Paris Grey. I also envisioned adding an old French wine typography to the top and finally finishing the whole thing with dark wax. It took me a while to decide on a label, mainly because Graphics Fairy has so many great ones to chose from. In the end I chose this one:

You can find a link to her stuff here, she also has some good tutorials for first timers. Once I got two coats of paint on the table, I added the typography.

transferring the image

table paint in paris grey 

After I transferred the image I loved it even more! I instantly knew this baby would sell!

table after with dark wax and french label added

close up on table top

Thankfully as I suspected this table was a huge hit and sold with an hour of opening. Two woman were actually trying to take it from each other! Needless to say it went to a happy home and I was happy it sold.

So moral of the story... change is good!

A Dull Buffet Table Transformed into an Eye Catching Table

This beautiful table was a major score for my client. She inherited the table when she moved into her college apartment. The old renters didn't want it and left it behind. Talk about one man's trash is another woman's treasure!

Like most of us who live in small spaces all furniture most be functional as well as beautiful. For my client this table was absolutely functional, but it did not fit her decor.  Here was the table before.

table before

The table had some watermarks and scratches I needed to remove. That's when she contacted me. Together we decided on this beautiful Greek blue from Annie Sloan with dark wax. One thing I love about Annie Sloan paint is by adding dark wax you can completely change the color. 

table after

table leaf after

table top

Here is the table painted with Greek blue before the dark wax.

table before dark wax is added

She also admired furniture with lace and doily detail. I found this beautiful lace and stenciled it randomly on the top.

here is how i put the stencil on

after all stencils added

table before dark wax

For the lace stencil I used Martha Stewart's silver metallic paint. I love how it has a simmer to it. I have used this paint before on a barstool and it is beautiful with or with dark wax.

RWL Phone Number Has Changed

Hello Y'all,

Just wanted to let you know our number has changed:

(201) 683.8317

Leave a message, but email is still the best way to reach me,

refurbishedwithlove@gmail.com

Different Ways to Showcase Favorite Quotes

I love inspirational quotes and phrases. In fact, I have two Pinterest boards dedicated to them, Makes Me Smile and Things I should have Said.  Eventually when I have more time, I want to make a few posters/signs for my study.  Here are some of my favorites quotes:

Another favorite is a quote by Albert Einstein "Creativity is contagious pass it on".  This will definitely be on a sign in my studio. But for now I knew it would be a great way to spice up this old big bird yellow tray I found. 

tray before

First, I started by painting the tray with Annie Sloan Original color chalk paint.  (Please ignore the coors light box, it is holding cut pieces of wood.)  

tray with one coat of paint

Then, I sketched out a chevron pattern and painted it with a color mixture I came up with. Once the design was set I painted over my vinyl stencil quote I made using my Silhouette Cameo. After everything was painted and touched up I brushed with tray with Annie Sloan clear wax to give it a protective coat. 

tray after

I absolutely love the way it came out and the tray sold very quickly at the festival last Sunday. To see more items from the festival check out my facebook page.

Another way I showcase quotes are with my refurbished wood pallet signs. Here is second look at one of my favorite signs I have made.

I had more signs at the festival, but as usual I forgot to take pictures. I need to put someone in charge of getting pictures for me because I always forget. Where is my photographer best friend, Jessica when I need her! To see Jessica's work visit her site here.

Remember friends BE CREATIVE!

A Dish Towel with a Special Meaning and a ReStyled ReUsed Crate

Since Earth Day was Monday, I wanted to share ways in which I ReUse old materials or find new ways to use everyday items.  Last September, I visited New Hope, PA for the first time and while shopping around in Peddlers Village I found this adorable dish towel.

dish towel before

You can buy your own here.

The phrase "Love You More" has a special place in my heart which made me love this dish towel.  Instantly I knew I had to buy it, but also knew it would not stay a dish towel for long. I was going to turn it into a pillow for my couch.

After some easy sewing I made this!

dish towel turned pillow

Not your average dish towel anymore!

Also on Earth Day, here at RWL I did my part to recycle. I love old wood. I am that crazy lady stalking  construction workers asking if I can take their old wood (that they are throwing away). I also like the distressed wood on shipping pallet/crates. So many times you can find me taking old crates right from the trash. Why do I like this things you may ask? I like them because the wood is aged just right for making vintage signs or building coat racks.

So I did just that on Monday. Along with my fur baby and my trusty orbital jigsaw (by the way I love this thing). I sat outside in the beautiful New Jersey weather and started cutting away at the old pallet.

crate before

 (Don't worry my fur baby was out of the way for the cutting.)

The wood I cut on Monday will be used to make new signs for my upcoming festival, but here you can see an example of how I use this type of wood.

I ReStyled and ReUsed a different pallet for my "Nothing Makes Sense But Us" sign.

wooden pallet after

Who would have guessed this wood was covered in dirt and on the side of the road.

I will have more signs like this at the Hoboken Spring Art & Music Festival May 5th.

Happy Earth Day!

linking to:

The Shabby Creek Cottage

Big Day for Refurbished with Love!

February was a busy month for Refurbished with Love! Lots of reupholstering and a DIY article, "Vase Into Lamp" in Hoboken Digest Magazine.  Doing the article was lots of fun and it turned out beautiful!!

I originally found this candle hurricane at HomeGoods. It had a leather scrap secured around the top which was easy to remove. Also, I love the Mercury Glass.

Here are my step my step directions on how to make your own DIY Vase Into a Lamp.

lamp article

DIY, transform a vase into a lamp, step by step instructions:

Step 1: Picking out your vase

I suggest purchasing a vase from your local discount home furnishing store.  A few tips to remember when selecting your vase; make sure the bottom of the vase is not too thick (the thicker the bottom the longer it will take to drill your hole). Also, turn the vase upside down and make sure it is sturdy enough to hold a lampshade. Finally, try to select a vase that is the same thickness from top to bottom. These types of vases tend to be sturdier when flipped upside down.  

Step 2: Set Up    

Before you begin, it is best to prep your workspace. Here are the materials you will need: (Left to Right)

-Ruler

-Measuring cup (1 cup) filled with cold water and one ice cube

-Emery cloth sand paper

-A vase or candle hurricane (used here) to act as the base of your lamp.

-Small hand towel

-Permanent marker

-Cutting board (sturdy surface)

-Lamp rewiring kit (you can find one at your local hardware store): On/Off socket, cord

-Cork adhesive backing

-Electric Drill with a ½ diamond drill bit

-Wire strippers

-Screw driver

-Pliers

On my workspace, I use my wooden cutting board and a dishtowel to keep my vase from slipping off. Keep in mind, little pieces of glass will break off and the towel underneath keeps your workspace neat.

Step 3: Getting Started

Once your area is setup, use your ruler to mark the center of the vase bottom.  Using a permanent marker draw a large circle, this will be the area where you drill your hole.

Before you begin drilling, pour water on the underside of the vase, this will help keep your drill bit cool. You do not want it to overheat, because this can wear out the bit. If the surface cannot hold water pour it over your drill bit as you are drilling, keeping the surface wet.

Step 4: Scoring the Glass

Start with your drill as parallel as possible to the vase.  Drill slowly and do not use too much pressure or you may break the vase.  Hold the drill in place, it will move around a lot, but you are trying to break through the hardened glaze surface.  Once you have started drilling you want to create a mark similar to this one. Think of this as scoring your glass. 

Step 5: Drilling 

Move your drill into a perpendicular position with your surface. Drill slowly and with a firm grip. Soon you will feel the glass break as you break through to the other side. This step will take about 15 minutes depending on the thickness of your vase.   

You will also need to drill an additional hole towards the bottom of the vase for the cord to run through. 

  

Step 6: Sanding

Now using a piece of emery cloth sand paper, sand the inside of each hole which will dull the edges. Be very careful, the glass is very sharp!   

Step 7: Wiring Your Lamp

Now that the hard part is done, you can now wire your lamp. Using the cord included in your lamp kit, feed the cord through the bottom hole into the candle stick/pipe included in the kit. You will need about 6 inches of cord at the top of your vase.

Before you push the stick through the top hole, screw on the washer and a nut to the pipe. (double check that both are larger than the top hole).  Pull your pipe and cord through the top and screw on an additional washer and nut larger than the hole (these will help secure the pipe to the vase).

Next, pull the two strands of cord through the socket base and screw the base onto the pipe. Using the two strands of cord, tie an ‘underwriters’ knot. You will need to determine which wire is the ‘hot’/positive wire (this wire is smooth and has no ridges.) Loosen the brass screw on the lamp socket. Using the positive wire, wrap it around the brass screw firmly securing it against the socket without leaving any wires sticking out. Tighten the screw to hold the wire in place.  You will need to do the same to the ribbed wire and the stainless steel screw.  

Resemble the socket by pinching the socket shell back onto the socket base. Screw on the power knob and test your lamp. 

Step 8: Finish

Once your lamp is working properly, apply the adhesive cork backing to the bottom of the vase to protect your furniture’s surface (you can also use felt fabric.)

Finally find an amazing place for your new lamp!

Please let me know if you make and a lamp and how it turns out!

Check back for pictures of the chairs.

I made my own chalk paint!

Recently, I have wanted to explore using chalk paint on furniture. Fortunately for me I had a client send me their desk and stool which was the perfect candiate to test out this paint. For those of you who are not familiar with chalk paint, it is a fast drying paint mixture that creates a 'chalk-like' matte finish. It is a popular paint and said to be easy to use when creating a shabby chic look or when distressing furniture.

In theory, I like the idea of chalk paint but on the hand, it is very expensive. Since I was not comfortable paying $30 for paint, I started researching  recipes on how to make my own.  I found a couple great recipes one on the blog Elizabeth and Co. and the other at I Heart Nap Time blog.

Below is the guinea pig an old Ikea desk. Typically, I steer clear of Ikea furniture but the desk fits perfectly in my clients small Hoboken apartment. They wanted the desk to painted navy with gold highlights and were totally open to me trying chalk paint.

desk before

Chalk paint has a great deal of benefits.  It is the best type of paint to use on furniture that cannot be sanded or furniture you do not intend to strip. Also, it is extremely durable. I ended up using the Elizabeth and Co. recipe.  Overall I was very pleased with the mixture, however, it dries out quickly therefore I suggest making small batches of paint.

desk after

close up on leg detail and upholstered stool

close up on desk top

Next time I want to try I Heart Nap Time's recipe. I wonder if using a smaller amount of plaster of paris will make the paint last longer.

linking up to:

Keeping it Simple Motivate ME Monday
Skip to My Lou
Ladybug Blessings