Chic Chevron: Coffee Table from scratch

Step 1: get some wood from an old wood pile:

 

Step 2: Begin to make some 45 degree cuts.

 Step 3: Attach the pieces

Okay well that's not your step-by-step how to, obviously; but, I thought it might be nice to include a few photos from along the way.  I went one Saturday to pick up some wood from a local cinematographer who had at one point refinished his gate.  I very lady-like picked out a few boards that I found a bit of life still in and loaded 'em up.  This project took a few curve ball turns.  I originally had a whole different vision in mind, that gradually took on a different face at every step.  I was pretty thrilled to get to use a miter saw, particularly because it made the cuts so quickly and with such precision.  The problem I continued to run into, and will continue to if I persist to use discarded materials, is the boards were 1. old 2. warped 3. varying sizes and depths.
This as you may assume can create a few problems when you are wanting some fluidity and smoothness to your pieces.  I also came across the trouble of needing the table to be sturdy.  I rebutted with the thought that I am not making furniture for people to stand on and dance upon (though I wouldn't be fully opposed).  I failed to recognize the naturalness to sitting on the ledge of a coffee table while chatting with someone on the couch.  Needless to say, I wanted my project to withstand a decent about of wear and tear.  And withstand it she does!
I tried to create some legs that could portray a bit of modernity and simplicity to offset the detail and interest of the top.  When all put together, while very modern, it was a tad too short for my liking.
So I screwed on some hefty casterwheels which complement her whole image quite nicely.

I am consistently surprised at how varied my responses are to these projects as they develop.  How often I am thrilled and inspired, and at many times frustrated and in disgust, only to consistently see a thread of potential and hope. Their finished projects rarely disappoint.
So many alterations and adjustments, hours of sanding and refining. What glory to behold a beauty that could never have been realized without the vision and labor of another.  Again, I am in awe.

Vintage Chic Dresser

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This dresser sat on my porch for months longer than necessary.  Made of real wood, all her parts were heavier than they ever appeared to be.  I spent months avoiding her because of a good deal of structural issues she posed.  Finally, it became time to man up and do something.  Either I get rid of her as is or I do something with her.  It is not often that I would simply give up on a project, not that easily at least.  So I did a bit of surgery and gave her a few coats of a face lift, added some flare of sassy glass knobs, and rescrewed those little ivory-esque key holes back on her and she was ready to head back into the world, a confident (abeit heavy) lady.
I'm thrilled to have given her that second chance. Go get em'.

Country Cottage Beach Dresser

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After:

I was quite pleased by how this little one came out.  When I went to pick this dresser up, I noticed some vintage remnants of her original color and became quickly fond of the light blue and cream combo.  I searched around my paint options and while none of them actually was the true color, I began doing a little kindergarten paint mixing to try and match the color as best as possible.  While not often functioning, keyholes are a favorite feature of mine in a dresser.  I also loved the simple trim around the bottom 2 drawers that adds a dainty extra touch to her face.

Industrial Entry: McKendry Manor

Step 1: build the pipe frame

Step 2: Pick out wood and attach

A whole new world has been awakened.  My boss wrote me about 3 months ago and prompted an opportunity to build a new entry table for them.  He sent a few ideas from Restoration Hardware.  You can imagine the lust I possess over some of their pieces of furniture.  I think I laughed and verbally commented "I only wish I had the tools and space to build pieces like that."  I paused for a moment and thought, ' BUT MAYBE.'  And what if our boundaries were expanded and supported in such a manner that we could respond with motivation in the challenge.  This wasn't your common challenge, this lit a fire within me, ideas swimming, face fit with giddy grin.  I could barely focus on all the to-do's already on my plate, but this, THIS I wanted to think upon, I wanted to dream, I wanted to create, to build, to form.
I found a few ideas and we sketched out a plan together to better fit what he was wanting.  Then started the research.  I made a few trips to ol' Home Depot to 'play with pipes.' Measuring, adjusting, resketching.  Then, I found myself a new piping friend.  I got some old pluming pipes, a box full of components and took them home to fit the puzzle together.  I considered myself a strong "Jane of all trades," but these pipes dominated me.  My perfectionistic side wanted to screw them together in such a way that the threads would be hidden, which is nearly impossible especially without some serious wrenches and clamps.
Then, I headed out to a dear friend's family 'lumberyard' which is just simply a cozy haven of heaven.  Smell of fresh lumber, and piles upon piles of possibility.  You'd think I was a cooped up kid on a playground.  I picked out my slabs, was assisted using some Capital S, Serious tools to plane and join.  Loaded up and shipped back home.  Went through a handful of options for the coloring, wanting it to be perfect; test strip upon test strip.  Finally came up with a combo of steeped black tea, and a vinegar/steel wool combination.
Many measurements and clamping later, I attached the wood and began to work on rusting the legs and attaching the caster wheels.  I waited around for a new clear wax to seal it off and was squealing over the change in really smoothing out the confines of the wood.  I inevitably always find favorite little pockets of unique quirks abnormalities in every piece.  This one had a particular knot that I am sincerely fond of.  In cutting this piece of wood, my original measurements would have cut it either down the middle (trouble) or off completely.  I saw no other choice than to just extend my measurements to include that little seedling of a branch.  The coloring on it is such an array of warmth and intricate detail. I'm in love with the imperfections.

What a sweet labor of love. What a joy to create. To make something from nothing. I'm so accustomed to fixing the already broken and discarded.  This was a whole new testimony to designing with care and vision.  So many lessons seemed to awaited discovery for me in this and what a delight to see fruit from mine own simple two hands and feeble eager mind.

Chic Cottage Bedside Table

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After:

Finished this sweet little bedside table just last week.  I am ever so fond of her details. I tried my hand at using some crackle but had been warned to use sporadically rather than covering her whole surface so as to give her a sincere worn look.  Anthropologie little knobs and boisterous curvy little legs I cant get enough of.  She must be a separated twin of an ancient vanity in her structural bodice.  I found her at a friend's house as they were packing up years of her grandmother's saved and stored treasures.  Amidst the big 3 piece, ornate, and I'm sure wickedly valuable, I had my little eye on her and knew some soft greys and whites would do her good.

Visit the shop:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/111270823/chic-cottage-grey-bedside-table?ref=af_shop_favitem

Reclaimed Re"loved" Wooden Entry Table

Oh man, its been awhile since I built a piece from scrap...and here she is. You can see some of the progression.  I bucked up and dumpster dove not once but twice to find the perfect pieces for a unique entry table.  I actually went back to get more because I decided, as often happens, that if I like it I will want one for myself.  I typically forget how much math and time goes into these projects.  But using power tools and figuring out ways to piece it together (weathered, warped and all) is always a task of delight.  There were 2 final products; one residing in the Denver Counseling & Coaching and the other behind my couch!  My favorite is seeing which piece of wood strike different people.  If you happened upon my porch (professional workspace) I'd have asked you which you favored.  Each has such individual character and quirks!

Grandpa's Grizzly Bear found his way to Steamboat

Finished a little mountain bear for the Steamboat cabin. grrrr.

Chic Cedar Chest

I happened along this trunk from a sweet guy moving west. He mentioned that his great-grandfather built it for his dad years ago.  Apparently he built one for each of his children.  She wasn't in the best of shape and I nearly begged the guy to hang on to her for family heirloom's sake.  But without too much convincing she became mine.  I was hoping to maintain some of the rustic elements to her and beat it up a teeny bit more (always with love). I love the copper edging and appreciate that you can efficiently store your winter woolies in there right under a spot to kick your feet up and relax all cozy on your couch.

Mister Matt got Married

little miss maddie has turned 1!

So happy for this grinning groom! We headed up to Steamboat Springs last weekend to celebrate Labor Day with all sorts of soiree-like festivities.  What a lovely weekend for lovely nuptuals. It was a sweet weekend to spend with old family-new family, old friends-new friends and all just up the road from me.  I am always quite thrilled to have people up to my neck of the woods and get to enjoy the splendor of the fall mountains.  The air is getting a new little crispness to it and it couldn't make me more jolly!

Shabby Chevron Desk

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I have been meaning for sometime to try a chevron pattern on a piece of furniture.  I got this desk and wasn't wild about it and figured it'd be the perfect option to do a little experimenting.  I was quite pleased with her end result.  The actual chevron portion took a little extra time.  I tend to forget how much math is necessary to do a job well.  

It took some deliberating on the knobs, but I am quite happy with the orange pop of color to off set the neutrals.  She'll make a happy little perch for someone study up next to! 

Frenchy Four Drawer

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This is a 100+ year old vintage dresser with delicate woodwork additions.  I love the thickness of the legs and the detail added onto the drawers.  I chose a creamy slate color for the base and distressed it for a well loved look.  The top is stained a dark walnut and I loved the way the original pulls drew out the darkness of the top to tie back in a dark hue on the bottom.

Robin's Egg Blue Antique Dresser

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What a dainty little dresser.  I love the original key holes and caster wheels of this little dresser that seem to accentuate her French feel! This was a little of an experiment in color as I wasn't quite sure how this slate would turn out with the Dark Walnut Stain.  But love her I do! She was an easy little ditty to put some love into!

Delicately Dear Farm Table

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This little country table was a piece of work. The top of her was in pretty pathetic condition.  I stripped the top few layers off with a good old fashioned chisel and hammer and sanded her down.  I am quite fond of the base and the detail to the bottom half.  I think she will make a quaint country table paired with benches or mix matched country chairs.

Ski Vail painting

This was an unexpected fun project I did on commission for a friend Andrew Anderson.  He's a real estate agent that flips homes and wanted a piece of art for a mountain condo he was fixing up in Dylan, Colorado. Andrew threw together a unique canvas made from slats of wood from his old fence.  I hoped to maintain a little of the rustic look and allow the wood to still show through the paint. 

Kelly Green and Brass Beauty

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I have been itching to pull a kelly green piece out of my arsenal and almost backed out.  I saw these little brass pulls on her to triggered a thought to pair it with a green that would really make them stick out.  The green was pretty intense to begin with and she took a few tries to get her just as I wanted, but I am quite pleased with how she ended up!

Just stumbled across this from A Cup of Jo (http://joannagoddard.blogspot.com/).
I read East of Eden just a few months ago and couldn't help but fall in love with the storyline Steinbeck penned into life.

In 1958, John Steinbeck received a letter from his teenage son Thom, in which Thom confessed that he had fallen desperately in love with a girl named Susan at his boarding school.

Steinbeck's reply is as follows...ever so endearing

New York
November 10, 1958
Dear Thom:

We had your letter this morning. I will answer it from my point of view and of course Elaine will from hers.

First -- if you are in love -- that's a good thing -- that's about the best thing that can happen to anyone. Don't let anyone make it small or light to you.

Second -- There are several kinds of love. One is a selfish, mean, grasping, egotistical thing which uses love for self-importance. This is the ugly and crippling kind. The other is an outpouring of everything good in you -- of kindness and consideration and respect -- not only the social respect of manners but the greater respect which is recognition of another person as unique and valuable. The first kind can make you sick and small and weak but the second can release in you strength, and courage and goodness and even wisdom you didn't know you had.

You say this is not puppy love. If you feel so deeply -- of course it isn't puppy love.

But I don't think you were asking me what you feel. You know better than anyone. What you wanted me to help you with is what to do about it -- and that I can tell you.

Glory in it for one thing and be very glad and grateful for it.

The object of love is the best and most beautiful. Try to live up to it.

If you love someone -- there is no possible harm in saying so -- only you must remember that some people are very shy and sometimes the saying must take that shyness into consideration.

Girls have a way of knowing or feeling what you feel, but they usually like to hear it also.

It sometimes happens that what you feel is not returned for one reason or another -- but that does not make your feeling less valuable and good.

Lastly, I know your feeling because I have it and I'm glad you have it.

We will be glad to meet Susan. She will be very welcome. But Elaine will make all such arrangements because that is her province and she will be very glad to. She knows about love too and maybe she can give you more help than I can.

And don't worry about losing. If it is right, it happens -- The main thing is not to hurry. Nothing good gets away.

Love,

Fa