My first drop leaf table restoration!

I picked up this drop leaf on a visit to a local estate sale. I had been wanting to do one for awhile and the price was right.  this is a Duncan Phyfe -Style....notice I said Style.....I did a little research and got some info from an antiques expert. Antique is usually something of at least 100 years old. 

And Duncan Phyfe was a furniture maker in the early 1800's. If you actually have a Duncan Phyfe anything, it's probably  180+years old! So, anything made later than that in his style, is a knock-off.

 I was told that the wood on the tables are of a mahogany veneer. The legs on the larger table are made from "red gum" wood and then stained to look like mahogany.

Here are the two items I got. The little guy was refurbed with the nautical compass. 

This wood refinishing was pretty straightforward.  After sanding, I applied Varthane dark walnut gel.
           The body got a coat of home made chalk paint using DE "lambswool".

And here's what I ended up with....

sigh....i know,,,it's off-center......

         Hub used the buffer and "mothers" to get the brassy-ness on her feet back to original.

 

So there 'ya have it! A little history lesson the Duncan Phyfe's ! 

Cute little vintage table w/Nautical Compass

 So I stumbled across this cute little vintage piece at an estate sale. I found a drop leaf

Duncan Phyfe-style table (post to come) and saw this guy next to him. The owner was asking 15

bucks for it. Um,,,,wait,,,,OK! 

I removed the metal band and the hardware, and went to town with the sandpaper. 

I didn't know what color to do it in. 

 And then I happened upon Domestically Speaking's post and saw her blog on painted rugs. 

I came across the nautical compass on a rug done by Mandi at

Vintage Revivals   here.

Her instructions were awesome!!  I scaled her measurements down to fit inside this table, but it was
pretty darn easy! I found the middle and drew a cross that measured about 12". Then the intersecting lines were done at about 7".  I connected the dots. Drew 2 circles, outlined them and then painted. I used my 2" letter stencils and then sealed the whole mess w/wax. Piece 'O cake!!  If you need to see detailed instructions, her tutorial has some great pics and how to's.  Oh, and her rug that she drew this on came out unbelievable! Check out her blog (after you finish mine of course!)

 This is my koi pond.  My fish are checkin' out the table!!

I used some Mother of Pearl knobs that I picked up from HL 

 Oh i forgot,,,,Paint.....Um, i used a custardy (yes it's a word) yellow on the base and then

painted over everything with Martha Stewart's "Marine"mixed w/a little gray.  I used my own chalk paint recipe. The gray on the compass is also MS

 The drawer got finished in the same custard-y yellow....

Her brassy feet polished up nicely! 

And there you have it! One vintage table turned into a cute little accent piece. I hope someone
really enjoys this piece.  I don't have anywhere for it.


Linking up to...... The shabby nest

Peacock Desk---Another one!!

So I had my 1st peacock desk/vanity up for sale on CL. I had two calls within an hour, both wanting the desk. Naturally the first person got it. So the 2nd one asked if I could do another. We hunted around on CL for a week and I found an almost identical vanity to the first one I did. 

I had already started working on it before I remembered to grab the camera. 

My client wanted the desk done the same way, minus the blue accent. This was going in her 6 year old daughters room with zebra accents and purple walls. So I did the accents in violet. She also brought over a bookcase and nightstand for me to finish to match the desk. 

 I did the same ASCP in Pure White on the two pieces as well as the desk. 

I mixed some purple latex paint and got this lavender shade (it's not as blue in person).

 I tied in the night stand with a peacock feather and black accent drawer, as well as violet accents. 

   
Here is my painting process for the peacock feathers. I finished it up after it dried w/dark paste wax.

The black is my own CP recipe. I painted the drawers and lined them.

The two bottom drawers

got "special" peacock

fabric! 

I did have a small issue with the ASCP white not covering completely. I kept getting a bleed

through of the mahogany stain, even after 3 coats. Sooooo I sanded most of it off and applied

an oil base primer very thoroughly. That did the trick. 

I made the custom hanger for the daughter and tried out my new letter stencils! 

She picked it up over the weekend and everyone liked it.  I will post a picture of everything 

in her room as soon as I get a pic!!

Ok....so here is Sydney's room!!

Mom is still looking for a vanity stool/desk.

I'm hoping that background on the bookcase isn't as blue in person.  It was a nice violet

when I painted it.  I should have asked mom for a bit of the wall color so I could match it.

Hmmmmm,,,,,live and learn!

Her one-of-a-kind accessory hanger!! 

I will be linking up at all my favorite party places at the bottom of this page!! 

The Horrendous Waterfall Desk

Ok. Feast your eyes on this beauty.  A CL find. It had been sitting out on a balcony.  Boy oh boy, she did not look good for her age.  The veneer was in shambles. No way to save it the bottom portion. The top was stained beyond recognition, the drawers were beat to hell and back.  Why did I buy this? (Gasp, "you actually paid money for this creature??") Um yeah,,15 bucks. What the heck; it's how we learn people! Besides, I just love me a good challenge! So here ya go,,,,feast your eyes:

 This baby put my wood finishing  skills to the test. 

Don't fret. When you see the finished top you will think I replaced it. I didn't. 

 I used, oh, about a pound of bondo and wood filler. 

 

                                         
     Since the veneer was peeling so badly from the inside panels, I chose to remove the worst part
                 and replace it with a piece of wood.  Sometimes you just have to improvise.

                                  Much to my surprise, the top sanded down rather nicely.......(Just you wait!)

Those wet stains are an attempt to bleach out the black stains (usually caused by water). 

It's supposed to set for a day or so. Uh no, I neither have the patience or inclination to wait.

 I hoped the stain would cover it. I used Minwax dark walnut (use a wood conditioner first).

Well Shut my mouth! Looka that finish! Not too B A D.....if I do say so myself. 

(Dont'cha yall peek now...just stay with me and scroll slowly to the bottom)

I believe I used a mixture of stains again. Gel walnut is great tho. 

 I like to use this Deft instead of poly. This is a waterbourne acrylic finish. It goes on beautifully. I turned the desk on it's back and painted it on like that. I didn't want it running down the front curved part. It dries fast and doesn't leave brush marks. Very important to use a quality brush. This was brand new. I clean them immediately and only use this for finishes. If you use a brush that was used with paint, you are likely to get little paint bits in the finish. Keep your brushes separate. 

So I had patched the knob holes but since I was leaving these unpainted, they were kind of noticeable. 

I decided to do some light stenciling with a metallic glaze on the drawer fronts, on the inside toe kick pieces and on the faux drawer right in front.

And here she is....all dressed up,,,

I am so diggin' this gorgeous walnut! I swear it's the same top. 

Paint color is a mixture of light blue and a gray/blue cut with some white. 

remember the replacement wood??? These were placed on the inside

as well as on the outside. I tried to make it seem like it was made that way. 

                           The flash has wiped out all the stenciling. You can barely see it.

You cant really tell in these pics, but the knobs are black w/a metallic-y iridescence.

Speaking of old-style decor. These blue baubles are from that era. They belonged to my mother.
I believe they are from the 50's-60's.  I remember her looking so glamorous when I was a kid.
Plus I just had to add one last shot of this vanity top.

Linking up at my fave parties!! :

Kammys Korner - Trash to Treasure Tuesdays

Domestically Speaking - The Power of Paint Party

Stacey Embracing Change - Thursday 

Miss Mustardseed - Furniture Feature Friday

Redoux - Friday Link Up Party

Funky Junk Interiors - Saturday Night Special

Knick of Time Interiors - Knick of Time Tuesday

Tuesday-Elizabeth and Co., My uncommon Slice of Suburbia,

Savvy Southern Style. Weds, Beyond the Picket Fence, PJH Designs

From my Front Porch to Yours,  The 36th Avenue,

Monday-Between Naps on the Porch, The Dedicated House,

My RePurposed Life, No Minimalist Here-Thurs.    
Under the Table and Dreaming-Sunday Party

Remodelaholic,  MinettesMaze-Sun party