CasaSugar

Before and After: An Editor's Refurbished Finds

CasaSugar — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 07:45:29 -0800

Anne E. Collins, editor of PointClickHome , recently refurbished some antique furniture finds. She says, "I tend to fall in love with run-down objects. I look right past the chipping paint and wobbly frame and see (with rose-colored glasses) a decorating project." Anne picked these pieces up at the Old Country Store outside Rhinebeck, NY, and she and her husband spent a frantic few days stripping, painting, drilling, and repairing. For the whole story, check out her blog. Get started on her journey with this slideshow, and hear what Anne has to say about the process! Source

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Su Casa: Renewing a Table

CasaSugar — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 08:01:35 -0800

Su Casa member Grumpalita recently posted pictures of a Craigslist find that went from forgettable to fabulous with some refinishing know-how and lots of hard work. Grumpalita writes

I found a table on Craigslist that had nice lines but was tragically painted over. After some stripping, sanding, and staining with india ink, it looks much better now!

Here's how the table looked when she found it.

To see her hard-won results, just read more.

I'm pretty floored by this transformation. And what a great project to celebrate the last week of Renewal month!

Do you want to post photos of your home? To join the Su Casa group, just follow this link and click "subscribe" beneath the photo on the lefthand side of the page. Once you're subscribed, click Share in the upper lefthand menu of any TeamSugar page and choose what type of post you want to create. If you have just one photo and some text, create a blog; if you have a gallery you want to share, select photos.

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Professional Help: Refinishing This Craigslist Find

CasaSugar — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 09:15:00 -0800

Su Casa member Katedavis recently asked for some help with refinishing a cool bar she found on Craigslist. Since it's Renewal month here at Casa, I thought that her post fit in perfectly with our theme.

I felt like I was in a little over my head with giving great advice on this issue, so I thought I'd pull in Chris Howard, who you might remember as the awesome midcentury-modern furniture refinisher I highlighted in my Adventures in Craigslisting posts. Let's see what advice he had for Katedavis.

Chris labeled the necessary steps as, "Strip, sand, repair, prime, paint . . ."

He says,

If this project is taking place indoors, I'd recommend hand painting. If you have access to a garage or exterior space, spray painting will get the best results. For color, black is versatile and modern. Black will go with any color pallet. Unfortunately this is the hardest finish to perfect.

To see all of the steps, just read more.

Remove any hardware, adjustable shelves, and any moving parts that can be done separately. Prepare space with tarp, dust covers, etc.
Strip. It's important to strip away the old finish (dirt, grease, remaining glues, etc.) to guarantee the paint's adhesion. Otherwise the paint might not stick; the finish may orange peel; or, the paint could chip off. In addition, furniture strippers will soften/ripple the contact paper, making it easier to pull off.
Sand. Always in the direction of the grain, sand from low grit to higher e.g. 150-180-220. When sanding veneer be sure not to sand through.
Repair the damaged corner with Bondo. First use a razor to cut triangles, dig holes - crevasses, whatever is necessary so the Bondo locks/grabs in place and won't pop out in the future. Read the directions. Mix. (You'll have 15 minutes to work with the mixture.) Push the Bondo into the space, slightly higher than it needs to be. Once the mixture gets firm, wait 5-10 minutes and use a razor to gently slice the Bondo into shape. Allow it to fully cure for about an hour. Then use 180-grit paper to do the final shaping. For other significant fills use Bondo (or plastic wood for small chips) and a Spackle knife.
Do a final sanding with 220 over the entire surface. Use a cotton towel to wipe off any dust from the surface and grain. Repeat until there is no evidence of dust on the towel. In addition you can vacuum the surface.
For home painting projects, I'd recommend either Rustoleum professional, or Rustoleum Painters Touch. They're readily available at OSH, ACE, Home Depot . . . and generate a durable, smooth factory-like finish. If you're confident with your brush and fanning skills, go for it. Brush lines can be finely sanded out. Rustoleum also sells Aqua, a child-safe, water-based paint. Color charts and MSDS available at Rustoleum's site.
Apply two coats of Rustoleum Primer. Working from one side to another (Left to right, right to left, half-way overlapping each line). Allow the wood to soak up the primer. The can says it dries in two hours . . . but let it dry one to two days. Then lightly smooth with 220-grit paper (or #0000 steel wool), and remove the dust. If the sand paper gums up quickly, the primer needs additional time to dry. (Drying times may vary depending on weather conditions.)
Apply two coats of FLAT (in the color of your choosing). Flat sands easily and the dry time is much less than the primer. Let dry for 1 day . . . sand with 220, then dust.
Apply two to three coats of semi-gloss. This will create a strong finish, which will last for years to come. Use #0000 steel wool to buff between coats one and two . . . make sure there is no dust anywhere before you spray the final coat. This will be dry to the touch within two hours. . . . But will not cure for two weeks. (The can does not say this).
(For tabletops spray a clear coat of nonyellowing scratch-resistant enamel.)
For a heavy-use bar, consider custom glass cut for the top, and a mirror behind the liquor shelf. Also available are tiny halogen light fixtures for cabinets, to create a high-end modern touch.
Lastly, pour a stiff drink, relax, and admire your work.

Thanks, Chris! That's some excellent advice that I'm sure Katedavis will appreciate, as will other readers interested in a refinishing a project.
If you have other technical home project questions, send me a private message with the subject line Professional Help, and I'll do my best to find an expert to answer your queries!

Before and After: A Dresser's Transformation

CasaSugar — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 08:04:04 -0800

Chris Howard makes a business out of refinishing some seriously flawed furniture. Check out this eyesore of a painted dresser that he was asked to refinish for a client.

To see the beautiful results, just read more.

Quite the difference! I love how you can see the classic lines of this dresser, and the lovely, wood color.

Do you have any before and after projects? Send them to me and I'll post the pictures on Casa!

Casa Verde: eBay Gets Green With DIYs

CasaSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:00:13 -0800

eBay, purveyor of thousands of used goods, is pretty green to begin with. But now the online auction house is asking you all to be earth-friendly, too. The eBay Green Team and sustainable style blog Ecofabulous have aligned forces, asking you to turn everyday items into fab must haves for a chance to win a $1,000 "shopping experience" on eBay and a personal consultation from Ecofabulous.

To inspire you, Ecofabulous founder and DIY superstar Zem Joaquin has given new life to a few vintage, used, and discarded furnishings with a little elbow grease and a few eco-friendly supplies. This stripped and refinished cabinet was one of her projects, in addition to a transformed telephone bench and a reupholstered couch. To enter, you need to send in pictures or a video of your eco-DIY project. Considering all of the wonderful before and after projects many of you have submitted to Su Casa, I'm sure you're up to the task!

Room Therapy: Has Anyone Used Rust-Oleum on Their Counters?

CasaSugar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:00:19 -0700

Dear Casa,

I just recently moved into a house and am excited about making it "my own." The problem is I'm broke. The house is old and I've already made peace with the fact that I'm going to have to live with some things (such as the horrendous '70s-era orange countertops in the kitchen) for the next few years until I can afford to replace them. But then today, while researching inexpensive options for refinishing my tacky gold light fixtures, I stumbled across this, a paint made just for countertops! Can it be?!

The product claims to be simple and effective (and the video-demo shows this to be true, ha) but it sounds suspiciously too good to be true. I do not want to get my hopes up if this product is really just crap. I was wondering if you knew anyone that had used this product with success or if I'm headed towards a horror story?

Thanks!

Rainey

To see my suggestions, and to leave comments, read more.

Hi Rainey,

I haven't personally tried this product, but I found this blog post from a homeowner who used this product on her counters. The results, at least from this picture, look great, and she says she's very happy with the results.

However, on the blog Tattered Hydrangeas, multiple readers commented that the paint doesn't hold up well at all. Perhaps if you used a sealant on it, it would be more wear-resistant. However, these users seem to think that one should proceed with caution.

Has anyone else used this product? Have you tried to paint your countertops with other products? What were your results? Leave your thoughts about the experience in the comments.

Good luck!
Casa

Kate's Chic, Budget-Beautiful Sun Room

CasaSugar — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 08:00:25 -0700

Kate Abney, an editor at Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles magazine, recently sent me a TwitPic of her fabulous sun room. I asked her if she'd send me a few more photos, and some background on her room and decorating style, and she graciously obliged.

Kate's apartment is on the second floor of a large, historic (1916) yellow-brick apartment building in the heart of midtown Atlanta. She notes, "We do have quite a lot of windows in the place (beautiful light!) but the interior is well-insulated and we are always more than cool enough - or toasty enough - in the summer or winter, respectively."

One of the rooms that really shows off this light beautifully is Kate's sun room. To see more photos of the room, and to find out all about how she decorated it, read more.

Since I know that readers are often curious as to where people sourced the objects and furniture in their homes, Kate was nice enough to let us in on the details. She notes that she picked up the printed cotton rug from Urban Outfitters for about $25, while the green upholstered chair was discovered at a vintage store for $50. "I'm still on the hunt for a cool Suzani lumbar pillow to toss on it," she notes.

Kate couldn't find the exact drinks table she was seeking, so she craftily created one using two Ikea planters, turning them on opposite ends and filling one with plaster-of-Paris.

"The Shaker-style blanket chest is an antique that's been in my family for years and once belonged to my great-grandfather. My uncle refinished it for me last year to the perfect matte warm brown finish. It's even gorgeous on the inside and perfect for stowing my laundry until I have a chance to take it to the laundry mat," Kate says. "The green botanical print cushion I actually made from a $10 CB2 table runner, just removing the seams, stuffing it and then sewing the end back up."

Kate ordered the mid-century upholstered footstool from an antiques store in Florida via eBay, while the arc lamp is a Bed Bath & Beyond knockoff, and the desk is from Target. Other room elements include a Jonathan Adler ceramic vase and a bent plywood chair shipped straight from France that she found through eBay.

What a great space, Kate! I wish I could visit and relax in your lovely sun room. I also admire your savvy sourcing of diverse accents and furniture. Nice work!

Do you have a well-decorated room to show off? Share it in my Su Casa group!

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Before and After: A DIY Kitchen Reno

CasaSugar — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 08:00:15 -0700

Su Casa member and ambitious home renovator Jenn1979 and her husband recently bought a home. However, they also assumed ownership of a not-so-pretty, poorly working kitchen in the process.

Jenn writes, "We bought our house just over a year ago. It was built in 1900, and the kitchen had been partially renovated sometime in the '50s or '60s. The faucet had very little water pressure, there was only one small drawer (the rest were fakes), and the countertops were only 32 inches high with only 15 inches between top and bottom cabinets. Plus, the ventilation for the stovetop was the ceiling fan (which was also the main source of light)."

To see how Jenn and her hubby took this kitchen from dysfunctional to fabulous, read more.

With a lot of hard work, the new kitchen looks great. Jenn and her husband demo-ed everything, and then rewired the kitchen themselves to bring it up to code. One of the real wow factors, in my opinion, is Jenn's smart decision to rip up the vinyl floors and refinish the original, beautiful fir floors.

It took Jenn and her husband seven months of "weekend warriorism" (as Jenn aptly describes it) to rebuild their kitchen, but their efforts were well worth it. Now, the kitchen has 11 drawers instead of one, as well as a coffee bar, additional counterspace, a new window over the sink, a baking nook with butcher block and beadboard behind the fridge, and a lot more lighting. Amazing effort and result!

Have you joined my Su Casa group yet? Show off your home reno projects, just like Jenn did!

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Before and After: Renovating Family Furniture

CasaSugar — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 08:00:29 -0700

Su Casa member Melissa Kathleen recently updated a piece of furniture that had been in her family for decades. She writes, "When my family and I had to move my grandmother out of her apartment, we didn't know what to do with all of her furniture. When I saw her old chest she kept in her large bathroom, I loved the shape and wanted to re-finish it." Curious as to how Melissa Kathleen's chest looks after its makeover? Find out when you read more.

Melissa Kathleen gave the old chest a thorough sanding. Then, she primed it and covered it with a few coats of paint. Another great update she added was changing out the drawer pulls for something more contemporary. She says, "I love my new chest! And the best part is, it's been in my family for about 60 years!" From the looks of it, I bet this stylish chest could easily stand the test of time for another 60 years, don't you think?

Have you joined my Su Casa group? Showcase your home makeovers, or just ask for advice from other members about your latest home project.

Ask Casa: Getting Nail Polish Off of a Wood Table

CasaSugar — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:00:39 -0700

Hi CasaSugar,

Last night I spilled clear nail polish on my boyfriend's Room & Board end table. I’m not exactly sure what it was, but I think it might have been solid maple, cherry, or walnut with a lacquer finish on it. Needless to say, he was not happy. Is there anything I can do about it? Or am I just going to have to live with a lifetime of guilt?

Thanks,
Susannah

To see my advice, read more.

Hi Susannah,

Oh no! I can relate! No need to live with a lifetime of guilt quite yet. My first question is whether or not you allowed the polish to dry as is, or if you smudged it with a cloth while it was still wet. If you let it dry as is, great! This is easier to deal with. Once the polish is dry, use a razor blade to carefully chip at the spot. Once it is chipped off, gently rub at the area with steel wool and furniture polish, to blend in the spot. However, if you scrubbed or wiped at the nail polish while it was still wet, you may have to have it professionally refinished. If you get an estimate, make sure to see if the table can be refinished only on the spot damaged by the polish, which will be much cheaper than having the whole table refinished.

I found some interesting home cures for this ailment online. I haven't tried any of them yet, so I can't guarantee they'll work, but here are a couple ideas:

One homespun method is to mix equal parts vinegar and olive oil and rub this mixture on the nail polish. Use a cloth dipped in warm water to rub the mixture into the stain and repeat as necessary.
Scrub the spot with mineral spirits, and then spray hair spray on the spot, let it sit for a few seconds, and gently wipe it off with a wet cloth.

Hope this helps, and good luck!

Casa