Our Dining Room Transformation!

AFTER

AFTER

~ ~ ~ ~ AFTER ~ ~ ~ ~

As promised last week,  here are some pictures of my dining room makeover.  It is truly a transformation from a hodgepodge of color and styles to a soothing and calming color palette.

Here are a few before pictures: 

BEFORE

Dark, scratched, chipped and miserable furniture with nice lines.  "Old English" just wasn't doing it anymore and a total refinishing of a dining room table, buffet, china closet and 6 chairs was definitely out of the question!  

BEFORE

I have had this furniture for 35 years.  It was in the first house we purchased and the owners told us we could have it (minus the chairs) for $100.00.  There were no chairs with the set so we used folding chairs until we could find some that would be compatible.  Not thinking that we would ever find 6 chairs in the same style, I set out on a search.  It was years later that I saw an add in the newspaper for a solid mahogany dining room set.  I wondered what the odds would be that the owner would be willing to break the set up and only sell the chairs.  Hmm...it never hurts to ask!  

BEFORE

 BEFORE....(and some after in the background)

 When we went to see the set, it was the exact style as ours!  The lady was desperate to sell and immediately said that we could have all 6 chairs for $60.00!  

 

FIRST CHAIR WITH PRIMER

THIS POOR OLD PIANO WAS LOOKING PRETTY SHABBY...AND NOT IN A GOOD WAY!!! IT IS ENTERING IT'S FIRST PHASE OF A FACE LIFT...PRIMER.

BEFORE

HERE YOU CAN SEE HOW THE DINING ROOM WALL AND TRIM COLOR CLASH WITH THE KITCHEN! IT WAS TIME TO BRING IT ALL TOGETHER IN SIMILAR TONES.

oh yes....

And one more BEFORE picture ~ ~ ~ ~

 BEFORE

Bye bye old chandelier!  I hope someone was excited to find this at Goodwill!  It hung in our home for many years and I was MORE than happy to pass it along.

Oh!  I forgot about the mirror...an old mirror that I had in the attic for years.  I always loved the etched glass but couldn't quite embrace the frame.  I decided that I didn't want to get rid of it and would never use it if I didn't do something with it to suit my taste.

BEFORE

.....................................and two more mirrors that were hanging around in the workshop...................................

 BEFORE

BEFORE

~ * ~ * ~ * Okay ~ * ~ * ~ *

ARE YOU READY ?  ? ?

Now for the reveal

REMEMBER THE CHANDELIER FROM GOODWILL FOR $6.97?

THE FRAME ABOVE THE BUFFET IS ACTUALLY THE FRAME FOR A SMALL DOOR.  THIS WAS IN OUR BARN WHEN WE MOVED HERE.  I REMOVED THE DOOR (to be used in a future project) AND PLACED AN OLD EMBELLISHMENT ON TOP.  I PLACED AN OLD MIRROR INSIDE THAT I FOUND AT A FLEA MARKET.

  I MADE NATURAL LINEN CHAIR COVERS WITH ANTIQUE TWILL BALLERINA SLIPPER TIES. 

 I MADE THE DRAPES FROM PAINT DROP CLOTHS AND TRIMMED THEM WITH VINTAGE ICE BLUE SATIN RIBBON.

I LOVE WHEN THE SUN SHINES ON THEM AND MAKES THEM SHIMMER ALONG THE EDGES!

 

                                                                          A TAFFETA SHOWER CURTAIN THAT I PURCHASED AT A FLEA MARKET AND SOME OLD CHEMICAL BOTTLES WITH CRYSTAL TOPPERS CULLED FROM MY "STASH".  SO MANY THINGS THAT ARE MEANT FOR MY ETSY SHOP NEVER QUITE GET LISTED!  I CAN'T RESIST!!!

DINNERWARE AND IRONSTONE PITCHERS, (once again pulled from my Etsy Store), AND STERLING FLATWARE THAT I INHERITED FROM MY AUNT.

I LOVE THIS DINNERWARE AFTER USING OUR BRIGHTLY COLORED HARLEQUIN DISHES FOR SO LONG!  I PACKED THEM AWAY FOR NOW.  (You never know when the color mood might return!  I don't want to burn any bridges here.  My taste is far too fickle.)    

OLD SHUTTER FROM THE BARN FOR RADIATOR SHELF.  I AM GOING TO BUILD A SURROUND FOR IT, (eventually)...but for now---it's good 'nuf fer me.

A VINTAGE CEMETERY BASKET ON TOP OF AN OLD CAST IRON WATER TANK HOLDER, (glass insert), ALL YARD SALE AND FLEA MARKET FINDS!

RANDOM OLD BOTTLES culled FROM YARD SALES.

I LOVE THIS DETAIL ON THE PIANO AND I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT IT.  I PAINTED THE INSERTS WITH A MIXTURE OF THE WALL COLOR, MIXED WITH A TINY BIT OF GREEN.  THEN I UNIFIED THE BACKGROUND COLOR WITH THE ORNAMENTATION BY MIXING A BIT OF UMBER INTO A GLAZE AND APPLYING IT OVER THE ENTIRE PIECE. 

I HOPE YOU ENJOYED LOOKING AT MY REDECORATING PROJECT AND STOP BACK LATER FOR SOME MORE PHOTOS OF THE DETAILS.  THANKS SO MUCH FOR LOOKING!

HAPPY JUNKING, THRIFTING AND DECORATING!

SINCERE THANKS TO MY SISTER, VICKIE,  FOR GIVING UP ALMOST A WEEK OF HER LIFE TO HELP ME PAINT THE WALLS AND TRIM!  I DON'T KNOW HOW I COULD HAVE DONE IT BY MYSELF, OR GOTTEN THE WALL COLOR "JUST RIGHT".

Following is a list of paints that I used on the walls, trim and furniture as well as the technique I used on the furniture.  I did a separate tutorial for the piano which is listed below.  

• Primed all furniture with Latex Kilz 
• Base-coated all furniture with Brown Bread satin enamel by Behr  
• Dry brushed Ultra Pure White Premium Plus interior semi gloss by Behr over the base-coat  
• Coated all furniture with 2 coats of polycrylic.  (3 coats for buffet and table tops)

         
       Note*  I used leftover paint from previous projects to keep costs down and not waste what I had. 

I don't have a name for the wall paint color.  It is a very light aqua that I had custom mixed at Benjamin Moore and used on my dining room walls.  My sister and I experimented with mixing small amounts of baby blue,  yellow/gold and white that I had on hand and took it to Benjamin Moore to have them custom mix enough for the room.

Below is a picture of the label.  If you are interested in getting this paint color, you could jot the formula down and take it to them to have it mixed. They will keep the formula on file for you and you can call it anything you like.  I named mine "Cindy's Dining Room 2010".

    

All wood trim was painted with Calming Cream semi-gloss by Benjamin Moore

 I posted a Piano Painting Tutorial   for anyone that is interested.






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Feeling Vintage

If acting my age means never sledding with my granddaughter then I guess I will never act my age.  However, I know that sometimes there are consequences and I had better not complain when it comes time to pay.  Three weeks later, I am still moving about gingerly with an "ouch" here and an "oh man!" there!  I'm not one to run to the doctor every time I feel a pain or sniffle so I usually try to self-diagnose.  My diagnosis is a pinched nerve in my lower back  and wounded pride.


I was so anxious after Christmas to get back to listing on Etsy, to re-cover the couch cushions, make a lampshade and on and on and on.  So what do you do with your time when you keep finding yourself back on the couch instead?  Visit all of the amazing blogs out there and marvel over the astounding amount of talent and creativity!


I will share a couple of my favorite blogs, both brimming with vintage style, re-purposed objects, thrifty storage solutions, gardening ideas, delicious recipes, etc.

Visit Heather Bullard at:   http://heatherbullard.typepad.com

and...

Flea Market Style at:  http://www.fleamarketstylemag.blogspot.com

I could list so many more but if you have never visited these sites, you will want to spend lots of time poking around, soaking up lots of inspiration for ideas in your own home.

I was able to list a few vintage items in my Etsy store:  www.vintageculler.etsy.com  this week so be sure to take a look.  I am still working away at getting my store inventory at least up to 100 items  Then I will re-set my goal to 200!

I am so anxious to get my inventory listed.  I have boxes of vintage hankies, aprons, jewelry, linens, books, pictures, dinnerware, flatware, silverplate, collectibles, door handles,  trinkets and so much more!  There is a self-imposed ban on buying more vintage goods until I have made serious progress in listing what I already have.  What a happy husband I will have if I can stick to this resolve!

Here is a sampling of items that I listed this week:

                                 a charming vintage glass beaded pin or brooch.....

                                          a darling 1960s 0r 1970s baby book......

                         a rare and oh-so-cool 1920s 1930s barkcloth reading bolster pillow, and finally~~~

a Johnson Brothers JB348 vegetable dish, just one of many other pieces in this pattern that I have listed and have yet to list.

******** I am hoping to post some before and after pictures next week of my recent dining room transformation.  If you love natural linen, white, robins egg blue, chippy paint, crystals and repurposed salvage...be sure to stop back and take a peek!  I had a blast trying to decorate on a budget...yes, budgets can be 

FUN!   Budgets, cause you to be resourceful and creative, kind of like when you were a little girl (or boy) and you "played house" with whatever you could get your hands on.  You transformed it with a little ingenuity and couldn't have been happier with the result.

  Here is a little sneak peek- beginning with the first piece of inspiration that really got the decorating ball rolling:   a crystal chandelier for $6.97 at Goodwill!  Immediately after bringing it home, I took it apart and cleaned it up from top to bottom with a toothbrush, put it back together, taped it off and gave it a paint treatment  

  BEFORE

It went from gaudy gold to toned down champagne, a color that I used throughout the project. 

I can't wait to show you the finished chandelier (and tell you the story that led me to it), plus the ~almost~ completed dining room.  I will leave you with one little finished detail hanging in the corner.  I hope you will come back next week and  thanks for visiting!   Be sure to "Follow" me so that you can easily find my blog.

Oh! and~one~more~thing~~~~~~

My granddaughter and I had as much fun sledding as these two dogs, so no regrets here.  Nothing but fun memories!
http://www.wimp.com/dogsledding

Vintage Enamel Pans & Bowls

I have listed a few items on Etsy this week that I want to share with you.

Today I listed a vintage 2 strand, large pearl necklace and it was purchased within an hour! Either it was priced too low or it was just plain fabulous...maybe both.  Ha!

I listed this rose quartz necklace but it has yet to be discovered.  It is so pretty with its translucent sheen and an ever-so faint hint of pink undertones.  It is artfully wrapped in gold twisted wire.  I listed both of these necklaces for my mother-in-law.  She inherited them from an elderly lady that she used to take care of.  Now that my mother-in-law is in poor health, she  doesn't get all dolled up anymore so it is time for her to pare down and sell some of her treasures.

I found these very cool tin spice drawers several years ago and finally have decided to part with them.   They have been in the workshop waiting to be upcycled into a little cabinet.  I have decided that I have too many projects and I am feeling overwhelmed.  I know that some creative person will transform these into something fabulous!  They are full of character and need to be lovingly restored to a useful life.

I love old enamel dinnerware and I scored this collection of 7 various sized bowls.  One is marked Sweden.  The rest are unmarked.

I love the color that these enamel pans infuse into a room!  Lively, cheerful and whimsical.  They are made in Yugoslavia.  They share a handle which latches onto each pan and can be removed for easy storage.  Great for stove to table convenience without sacrificing an ounce of style!

I was excited this morning to find that these pans have been featured in an Etsy Treasury named "Great Enamels Around Etsy" by Amanda Thon of GoodSenseVintage.  Thanks so much Amanda!  The treasury can be seen here at: http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d2e36d799178eef77c3cb97/great-enamels-around-etsy

Here is a fabulous old ceiling shade that weighs in at 4 lbs.! 

 Oops!  I'm not quite sure how to delete this extra photo of the shade.  I haven't quite mastered this whole blog thing yet. 

And finally....a darling vintage napkin holder made in Yugoslavia.

Thanks for coming to my blog!  Come on over to my Etsy store and take a peek around.  Please leave a comment.  It gets lonely around here!

The Vintage Bug Bit Hard!

I am still feeling less than perky with this cold and didn’t accomplish much of anything today.  I had hoped to list some items on Etsy but I fizzled out.  Maybe tomorrow?  There is always usually tomorrow. 

During times of relative inactivity I often find my mind wandering back in time, recalling fond memories and events that shaped my interests.  Maybe since I was in Etsy mode today, thinking about what to list, it evoked the following fond memories.  (I am not really sure how my mind gets to where it goes…scary!) 

 I was born on a small farm in Indiana.  My parents grew tomatoes for Stokely Van Camp and had a small oil distributorship with a fleet of mmm...one truck! 

While my mom was a Hoosier, Dad was a Yankee and his family lived in Vermont.   One day when I was two years old, my parents, three siblings and I   packed up our Volkswagen van and made the long trip to visit Grandma and Grandpa in Northern Vermont.

While visiting, my mother picked up a newspaper and glanced over the real estate section.  Something about driving past bucolic settings with red barns, babbling brooks and quaint villages captured her heart.  A rambling red inn for sale in a small village caught her attention and she told Dad that she would like to “just go look at it”.  Thinking that it would be a curious adventure, we piled into the van and made the two hour trek to Southern Vermont to take a peek. 

We took a tour of the inn, made an offer- which was accepted and the rest was history!  We drove back to Indiana and put the farm and the truck up for sale.  Dad stayed behind for almost a year, wrapping up business, while Mom and four children moved to Vermont to become instant innkeepers!  Such a brave mother!

Although the inn was mostly furnished with antiques, Mom and Dad loved to go to auctions looking to fill in the gaps.  I trace my love for antiques and vintage items back to this time in my life as I LOVED going to the auctions with them! 

I was captivated by the atmosphere of excitement stirred up by the fast talking auctioneer and fascinated by his unique talent to create a frenzied bidding war over something as humble as an old chair or lamp!

I remember the first time that Mom said that I could bid on an item.  A large brown leather book bag with leather straps and buckles had caught my attention so I shyly held my hand up and won the bid!  I was so excited to take ownership of that book bag.  How I wish I still had it.  I believe this experience was around the time the vintage bug bit me!  I have felt the effects of that bite throughout my life.  

If given the choice, I would rather spend a day at a flea market or auction than at a mall!

Goodbye Christmas Decorations

 Somehow when I went back into my first posting to add a title, the post was wiped away!  Thanks to saving it in WORD, I was able to recover it through a little copying and pasting.  :)  So-yesterday, January 2nd was actually my first post. 

Do you like to prolong the Christmas season by leaving the tree and decorations up well after the New Year or do you chomp at the bit like me to take things down?  

At the beginning of the new year, I get anxious to hunker down and pursue the projects that have had to sit on the back burner since the carefree days of summer, the busy days of the Fall and the all consuming month of December- when everything revolves around preparation for Christmas.  Once the decorations are put away I feel FREE to take on a decorating project, make a hardback lampshade from my wonderful vintage embroidered remnants or organize disheveled  closets and drawers.  Oh yes- and get back to listing in my Etsy store.  www.vintageculler.etsy.com

Today I couldn't hold back any longer!  Although I am in the middle of taking the decorations down, I couldn't wait to jump into my first project!  

I have been wanting to make couch cushion slipcovers for months.  The reason being that when I redecorated our living room a few years ago, the dark couches needed to be covered to make way for a lighter, brighter room.  At that time I purchase two ready made white/natural couch covers.  The problem is that they need to be tucked and re-tucked every time anyone sits on them because they go over the cushions!  My solution is to cover just the cushions in a natural pebble cloth which coordinates nicely with the covers.  This should prevent the covers from shifting so much by placing the cushions on TOP of the cover.

Today, in between removing ornaments from the tree and pine needles from the cracks in the floorboards, I started pre-shrinking the fabric so I can begin to sew.  The first step is always to pre-shrink your fabric so that you don't end up at the end of all of your hard work with slipcovers that fit like your jeans after the holidays!

I will post pictures of the project as it progresses.

For now, this is what my dining room and living room tables look like.  I can just hear my mother saying "Cindy- you need to finish your chores before playing"!  I often remember thinking, "I can't wait to grow up so I can be my own boss".  I should have taken heed.   
    

My daughter, Abby,  will forever be a part of our Christmases.  We will cherish the sweet memories of her and her loving, generous spirit.  She always found such joy in giving to her family and friends!  We miss her so much!  January 14, 1981 - May 30, 2009

Learning Curve!

This is my first blog posting!   I have wanted to start a blog for about a year but for whatever reason, (fear, I believe), I just haven’t…until now.  Being sick and having to lie on the couch today, I am seizing the opportunity to go for it! 

Although many blogs that I have visited have inspired me to start, I give the final credit to Rolling Hills Vintage.  I have admired her Etsy store and read her “About Me” on her brand new blog.  The trials of her life, which she says have made her a stronger woman, are what resonate with me.  I have experienced a great deal of loss in my life as well, the most traumatic being the sudden death of my husband when our two girls were 7 and 10 years old and more recently, the sudden death of my youngest daughter at age 28.  Strength indeed comes through hardship.  I thank God that He has helped me and given me the hope to go on and find enjoyment in life once again…to enjoy Etsy once again!  Etsy is a wonderful distraction for me!  It is an island of pretties, of simplicity, creativity and community.

When thinking about the purpose of this blog, I have as many questions as answers.  I have waited long enough to gain a clear direction for it to take but have decided to just take the plunge and view it as a journey! 

At times I will post new listings from my Etsy store www.vintageculler.etsy.com, post about my three superb grandchildren :) and give updates on any new ventures in my life.  This will include before and after pictures of the occasional redecorating projects in my home.  I love to re-purpose vintage items and incorporate them into my rooms.  The fun of having an Etsy store is having the inventory to pull from if I decide to use it in my décor! 

I look forward to getting to know all of you out there! Please visit again!

Wishing you all a Very Happy New Year!

Cindy