a furniture scouting intuition

There's not an exact science when choosing furniture to refinish.  I couldn't even tell you what I look for in the styling of a piece, only that I immediately know when I like it.   It's an intuition of sorts - a sixth sense… a furniture picking intuition.
While perusing Craigslist, I come across many pieces that are very similar to each other, but to me, one has potential, while the other doesn't.   I've tried to explain the difference to my mom many times, but to no avail.  When we're furniture shopping together,  she says, "how bout this one?"  I say, "eh."  She says, "how bout this one?"  I say, "bleh."  Then I find one that, to her, looks exactly the same as the one I just dismissed and I'm excitedly wondering if it'll fit in my van.  Insert eye roll from her.   Of course, something I see potential in, you might think is hopeless.  You could say, the picking process is very personal. :)  Here a few examples I found available in the phoenix market… You all know I love some French Provincial goodness. Yes for this one…(keep hardware)

and a yes for this one…(keep hardware)

No...

and no.  (It's the top drawers and the feet that I don't like on these).

An absolute yes, on this sleek bamboo chest (keep hardware)...

…and pass, on this one.

Yes, to this waterfall dresser (minus the mirror and keep the hardware).

No, on this one.

A yes here (keep the hardware).

And a pass here...

and a maybe here.  I love everything but the side details and wouldn't keep the hardware.

No - the proportions are a little off.

Yes (again, nix the mirror and keep the hardware),

 yes (keep the hardware here too),

and a yes on this one too (and again, keep the hardware).

 A no here (unless refinishing in a distressed way, but still nix the hardware)...

and here.  The details are probably just nailed in and could be removed, but I'm not loving the feet either…or the "line/grove side detail things" for that matter.  So, still a no here, unless planning a distressed finish.

 

Yes and...

super yes.  The size and cupboards together would make this perfect for a tv console!

This is a great french desk or vanity, 

but I'd pass on this one.

This is included because I love it and would have already picked it up if it weren't for the fact that I don't have a king sized mattress.  Darn.

Do any of you disagree with the furniture I would pass up on???  I'd love to hear your opinion!

Modern stools

Before we moved into this house 2 years ago, I was torn between decorating styles.  Do I decorate traditionally or more modern?  I asked myself that time after time as we were picking out fixtures, flooring, cabinets, etc.  I went with the traditional route…until we moved in, and then I decided modern was more me.  At that point, it was too late to change anything existing, so we're stuck with half and half.

Our barstools are very traditional and I often find myself drooling over what I wish I would've picked.  Crate and Barrel has so many great styles to choose from right now.

Turner barstool

Vienna barstool

Felix barstool

Channel side chair

Lyle side chair

Drawers!

This is what my garage looks like today.  16 drawers...count 'em.  I've sanded and filled them all, now I have to tape them off and prime them.  The weather here in sunny Arizona has tipped the scales at 115 degrees the last two days.  By 8 o'clock in the morning it's been over 100 degrees!  You know what that means?  I've had to wake up earlier to beat some of the heat...and I don't like to wake up earlier.

Fortunately for me, this little two year old of mine likes to sit at the garage door and keep me company.  Mostly she just says, "Where Daddy go?  Where Mannie?  Where Coby?  Where Belle?"  I answer and she's content for a moment and then asks me again.  She's also really good with the knock, knock jokes.  Her favorite right now is "knock, knock".  Who's there?  "Doggie"  Doggie who?  "Arf, arf".  And then it starts over again, "knock, knock…"

I finished up this antique bed for a client a couple days ago.  Behr's California Poppy is the perfect pinkish-red.

Rattan Coverup

When I was writing yesterday's post on the faux bamboo dresser, I knew I was forgetting something, but couldn't remember what.  (I have a TERRIBLE memory and lately I'm wondering all the paint fumes are making it worse!)  Then half way through day, it hit me - ahhh, the part about how Zac covered the rattan on the drawers.

The drawers originally had a rattan detail that my client wanted covered up.

Zac headed to the hardware store and picked out a thin, lightweight wood that matched the wood grain on the rest of the piece.  He measured the drawers and cut the wood with his circular saw.  (A table saw would've been the better tool for this job but ours is a pain to set up so Zac opted for the circular saw instead).

He nailed the insert in place and caulked the edges, then he handed them over to me for primer and paint.

And now you'd never know….

New for the Shop

I've been logging a lot of hours since the kids went back to school.  So what do my mom and sister do?  They show up on my doorstep at 8 am this morning to clean my house!  What great family I have!  

While they were busy inside scrubbing my toilets, I started prepping these for paint, so they can go in  my shop.  A kind lady emailed me asking if I wanted her and her husband's first furniture set purchased in 1966.  Uh…yes, please!  They will hopefully be available for purchase next week.

Pair of Pink

Here are the two nightstands from the other night.  This redo was so popular I thought I'd use the leftover paint on these.  I imagine that they'll make a little girl very happy :)  Check for specifics in my shop.

Here they are before.

{to those who emailed and never got a response (a very sheepish sorry) - the wall color is Martha Stewart's Azurite}