a table refinished... a first!

Done awhile ago, just now posting!  I needed a better side table for the guest room and wanted to experiment with refinishing and antiquing.  

Inspiration tables:

from Richard Tubbs

above...

from Interiors and Antiques in Vestavia Hills

and below....

The find:

The process (compiled from several you-tube videos):

Sand down the table, paint with a base coat (I chose Ben Moore's Coastal Fog, 976)

 

Put a coat of lighter-colored paint on top after base is dry (Waverly Snow White and Cottage Linen), and wipe off in line with the woodgrain with a rag.  You will be removing lots of the paint, and can do this many times.

Water down your lighter paint and continue to use the above technique to apply depth and the illusion of woodmarkings to your surface.

Sand down the edges in a subtle way to make it look less "new".

The end result:

Did that make sense at all??  I'm not the best explainer.  Maybe you should just you-tube it like I did...

It's Complicated

Finally watched "It's Complicated" with Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin last weekend with Jimmy.  We loved it - and I especially loved the house that Meryl's character lives in, in Santa Barbara.  It is a Spanish style ranch house.

Upon googling it, I found these fantastic photos from the movie from another great blogger, Hooked on Houses.  In fact, I found that it was quite a popular subject for many design bloggers!

I absolutely love the design decor - going back to the search for my own personal design aesthetic - I think that this home hits the mark!  Designed by Jon Hutman - who also did "Something's Got to Give" (remember that fantastic beach house?).

Lots of grays and neutrals, but it has a pop of black here and there (window frames) and best of all - it seems so lived in!

LOVE this table and its simplicity!  I need to learn how to do better tablescapes....  an art I haven't quite attempted yet!

I want this patio!

Aunt Anne would love this yard and garden to work with!  (Visit her at Simply Gardens here.)

Rattan Headboards

Cover had the best idea for updating her bedroom- a light rattan headboard! We saw a fabulous one in Birmingham at Interior's at Pepper Place, and sadly, when I went back to snap a few pictures, it had been snagged! Above is a perfect example from a home in Key West featured in May's Traditional Home.

She is still on the hunt if anyone finds a great one...

arrival of the bookshelf!

A while ago I posted about this disturbingly empty space in our hallway.... just begging for some furniture!

Though I much much prefer to buy antiques, I could not find the right look for the nook... until I stumbled upon this shelf from Wisteria:

And, just the other day.... arrival!!

a little elbow grease to put this bad boy together and obviously more antiquing to perfect my new favorite nook in the house:

  

Do you like it as much as I do??

!Casi terminada!

The den is finished.... minus a rug, the actual installation of the new light, fabric curtains for hiding what's underneath the table, and a large cork inspiration board for behind the table....!

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