This project was a monster, and also one of the most gratifying projects I’ve ever done. Bo was given these pieces while helping an older couple move. It was either the salvation army, or our front yard. I chose the latter ;) After more than 60+ hours of stripping, sanding, sweating, staining, I am very pleased with the results. While the piece isn’t totally perfect (the left dresser door sticks a bit and the pop-up center mirror needs a new hinge) the wood turned out better than i could have imagined. Many-a-nights I went out.. had my work-woman’s beer and just looked at the wood (and well, maybe petted it too). The real mahogany under the lacquer is just beautiful - so silky and rich.

The Details:

Completely refinished Landstrom Bedroom Set. Made in the early 50's, when Landstrom gave mid-century modern design a go. The original set was finished in a lime yellow lacquer, giving the set a somewhat dated look. 

First I stripped the lacquer, bringing the pieces down to their original mahogany wood while also taking out any wear and tear. I then sanded, sanded and sanded, going from an 80 to a 320 grit. I stained and sealed all pieces with an oil-based polyurethane, using just 1 coat of stain and 2-3 coats of polyurethane. I bought new nobs, to better align with the mid-century modern design aesthetic. I do, however, have ALL original hardware cleaned and ready to go. In the pictures you are able to see the original knobs.

Dimensions:

Dresser:
60”w x 48.25”h x 21”d

Side Tables:
22”w x 25.75”h x 16”d

Bed:
57”w x 36”h x 5.5” (under bed)

I love this little guy… Bo brought home a few side tables, someone was going to toss them. This one sat around for a good 2-3 months before I got to it. I wanted to modernize the table, but add a little hint of elegance… hence the golden dipped legs. I think it turned out great. A little observation: chartreuse is a great color with this table.

Details:

I took the top off the bottom. I then sanded the piece down to the original wood. I painted the top, and once the paint was dry the bottom laminate really started to peel away. I then (with a lot of patience) scraped and scrapped the laminate off. I then repainted, sanded and painted again. I taped off the bottom of the legs and used gold spray paint to get the golden dip look. I love the name of the dark gray paint: black chiffon.

I drove past these chairs for over a week. They were sitting on the side of the road, on Butterfield in Sleepy Hollow. I thought - it’s fabric, I can’t do fabric… but alas, after a week I pulled over and stuck these guys in the back of my car. What did I have to lose?

Well, it ends up that not only is recovering cushions (not professionally) easier that I thought, it ends up these chairs were in great shape and they were from Ethan Allen!

In all transparency these chairs sat outside for a good 3 weeks before I did anything. I wasn’t quite sure how to refinish them - the original style was dated, and I don’t know many people that use formal dining rooms anymore. After some time it came to me, these chairs needed to be more practical. Chairs that were made for the kitchen or eating area, not for formal dining. They needed to be easy to clean, and able to take a little beating.

The Details:

Three coats of bright white paint, and finished with a high-gloss/easy to clean sealer. The cushions are recovered in a Nate Berkus pattern. The fabric is sturdy (denim-like), and is then sprayed with Scotchguard for more protection. The cushions screw into the chairs, therefore fixed and unable to fall off.

There are 5 chairs in all, 2 of the chairs have arms. On one chair the back wicker panel is sticking out just a little bit, but other than that these chairs are in great shape.

This beautiful, all wood dresser was found at an estate sale. It was a jem, but at the time it was hard to see how it could shine. The dresser was in one of the many bedrooms, covered in dust and filled with stuff - papers, life’s tidbits, you name it. I decided to pick this guy up, and with a little sanding and paint bring it back to life.

The Details:

The outside is painted in a mid-light gray and then finished with a gloss sealer. The inside drawers are painted with a seafoam green, a nice contrast to the outside gray.

After painting, but before sealing, I distressed the edges and knobs to give the dresser a more cottage-chic feel.

This is where it all started.

I had just left Habit and was in that cleaning, get all the stuff done that you haven’t been able to get done for years mode. We had a lot of leftover wood, and I was ready to throw it all away. The collected wood sat against the railing for a few days, and one day while taking a look I was stuck with a self-challenge. Bo and I wanted to start growing our own veggies, so could I take this leftover wood and make a planter? And better yet, could this planter be movable? The sun in our front-yard varies quite a bit as the year passes, and soil is HEAVY… so can this planter also be on wheels? The answer(s): Yes and yes.

The jury is still out on this one. My wonderful work-out PIC, Jenna, gave me this old writing desk. Jenna had lost the drive, she had already made it through 3 coats of sanding and it was sitting in her garage. She asked me if I wanted to take it on, and I said yes.

The Details:

I love the look of old meeting new, and I thought with a pop-color, and also a duotone color palette, I could modernize this antique writing desk. The outside is a chartreuse, and the inside of the drawers as well as the back wall of the upper shelves is a darker green. The color inspiration came from a beautiful Heath Ceramics bowl my old co-worker, Jae, gave us for our wedding.

When I reassembled the piece I tried to use as much of the original hardware as I could. I had to buy an interior magnetic latch for the upper shelves, otherwise the door would not shut. I (tried) to buy an antique key for the desk door, but I ended up buying a necklace charm, It’s so very charming (yes, bad pun). With the hardware upgrades the upper door is still a bit sticky.

I feel this one turned out just OK. The process was very fulfilling, and I definitely got a good work-out with all the sanding. I’m not sure, however, if the final outcome really works. I’d be open to any ideas.

I love rocking chairs, and for a few days I saw this one on the side of the road. My issue, I find that wicker is often discarded because it’s usually in really bad shape - there may be a hole in the seat, or parts of the piece are totally unwound. This chair, however, was in really great shape. It wasn’t perfect, but no huge holes, and just a bit of unraveling. Could I learn to wicker, is that what it’s called? What do you even call the stuff that you wrap around the legs, etc? I found out, and I have to be honest, I already forgot.. BUT i did learn that Berkeley has a great canning store, and that you go to a canning store for all things wicker.

The Details:

I power-washed, scrubbed and cleaned the chair. I then snipped off all the bits that were sticking out, or unraveling. I then rewrapped the arms, and parts of the underside of the chair.

Because this project was such a learning project, I decided to have a lot of fun with the color. I had passed by this dark/french blue many times at the hardware store and I always wanted to use it on something. It took a while to paint the chair, and quite a lot of paint. It’s a bit challenging to get into all the nooks and crannies. In some ways spray paint could have been easier, but I didn’t want to use spray paint - for a few reasons. First, even with a mask on spray paint still just really smells. Also, spray paint can run, causing drip marks. Most importantly, I loved this color and it didn’t come in a spray.

I love how it turned out. It’s like grannies old wicker rocking chair got a hip new makeover. Also, it’s a hit with the kids.

We live right down the street from some really good friends, The Andrews. I have become a bit of a fixture at their house, I’m there probably 4-5 times a week. Aya has converted her garage into a gym, and she hold classes 6 days a week. I love the classes! I can’t say enough about marin.fit - check it out!

Because I’m at the Andrews house so much, I know what they are trying to grow in the backyard, what issues they have, etc. Their biggest issue reminded me of Caddyshack. A family of gophers were ripping up (and eating) their backyard, maddening for sure. Aya thought a custom planter, with gopher wire, would be a great way to grow strawberries and not risk having them all eaten. I told her I’d build her a planter, all she’d have to do is buy the wood.

The Details:

9 15’ wooden slats, heavy A.S. The ninth piece was cut down to 8 pieces to create the sides and support. Other than the size, the planter was an easy build. I was able to put it all together in under 3 hours.

Overall cost of wood: $300.