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Design Tip: A Rose By Any Other Name…

I need to admit something: I have a love of junk! I have collected a lot of those still useful and/or beautiful items that their original owners have tossed aside.

That chair by the side of the road, a lamp with a broken switch and/or no shade, an old teapot missing its lid…In my mind, these are just diamonds in the rough, that given a chance, could easily be transformed into a beautiful, useful item once again.

As long as a piece has ‘good bones’, I believe you can take it places it never knew it could go! My home is full of these types of treasures. With all their flaws, quirks and squeaks, I love all of them. It’s kind of like bringing home a stray animal from the shelter. These furry cast-offs, once given a bit of love, will give you years of enjoyment!

The chair in the first photo was cast off into a wood pile, intended for the wood stove! The frame is solid oak and was hand carved by someone a long time ago.

old chair

I stripped it clean of the old upholstery, straw and springs then gave it a good scrub with soap and water. I lightly sanded it before applying a wash of light blue paint. Once the paint was dry, it was given another light sand and a clear coat to seal it all in. I used a small fabric remnant as the cover for the new seat.

chair after

Now, this beautiful little chair sits proudly at my front door welcoming guests and offering a place to sit while they’re putting on (or taking off) shoes. Not bad for an old chair that was destined to be firewood!

…Let me tell you something about this lady, Barb, She knows her stuff! When she gets a ‘vision’, after you have explained what you are looking for, if you let her go, she can take your house, thro… Read more

KSSurrey
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