Buttons, Piping, and Refinishing: Faux Eames Reupholstered

We picked up the new fabric along with the button kits at Joann's Fabric and got to work on the buttons and piping. The button project proved a bit difficult because the supplied backs in the kit were too flimsy. We used some buttons we had lying around that happened to be the right size. The kit had a fabric template so we cut it to shape, applied some fabric glue, and jammed the button in the back. I wish it was as easy as that, my wife spent quite a bit of time finessing these buttons into shape and her hard work paid off. While all of my attempts failed miserably. 

 

The Deconstruction: Faux Eames Reupholstered

We picked up two of these faux Eames lounge chairs off of craigslist a few years back and we've finally re-upholstered one of them. Here you can see how faded the fabric was and the ripped arm rest. The cushion was also non-existent. So we took the whole thing apart and refinished the wood, added new foam, buttons and fabric. 

Dressing Up a Campaign Dresser

We picked up this campaign dresser awhile back off of craigslist for my wife to use as her new vanity in our guest room/dressing room. The dresser was it pretty good shape it just need a a little sanding and wood putty on the banged up corners. There was also one missing brass bracket, so we picked one up on ebay (it was harder to find than I had expected). We cleaned off the hardware and gave it a fresh coat with brass colored paint. I think the brass hardware looks great, especially against the new white finish. 

BEFORE:

Mid-Century Hi-Fi Restored

We picked up this old mid century hi-fi stand awhile back, but it needed a fair amount of work. There were a lot of blemishes on the wood and the previous owner started drilling holes in the white support pieces trying to remove them (I assume they didn't have a saw). So we cleaned it up and patched the holes and added some additional support . Then we stripped it down and refinished it

BEFORE:


More photos after the jump

Matte Black Side Table

My better half returned from work the other day with this great side table. It just needed a little love and fresh coat of paint. We decided to remove the hand carved piece at the base of the cabinet. It looks like it was an addition to the piece and it didn't really go that well.

BEFORE:

Hardware removed, but still in its original condition.  Here you can see that hand carved piece at the base of the cabinet.

Refinished Gate-leg

We purchased a beautiful Danish Modern gate-leg table and chair set on Craigslist. The table was a bit worn when we purchased it. It was living the last few years of its life in the basement of a house as a kids arts & crafts table. Someone added a thick coat of varnish to the table which may have helped protect it at some point, but now its just a reminder of all the damage thats been done. After a thick coat of Multi-Strip (an odor-free environmentally friendly paint and varnish stripper) the table is back to almost its original glory.

Step 1: Apply thick coat of Multi-Strip.
Step 2: Wait 3 hours.
Step 3: Remove Multi-Strip with a straight edge paint scraper.
Step 4: Wipe down the table with Odorless Mineral Spirits

Step 5: Sit back and admire your hard work.

A little more work tightening some of the screws and some new upholstery for the chairs and this set will be perfect.

Bookshelf and Book Organization

After purchasing a giant eight foot by eight foot handmade bookshelf when we were moving I finally got around to securing it to the wall. Now you would think this would be an easy enough task, but this wall is plaster on brick with no gap. I discovered this after drilling a hole for an anchor screw. So I went back to the orange depot and picked up some masonry screws so I could attach my bracket directly to the brick. The process went fairly smoothly after that and the support seems to be working, but I’m not sure it can hold too much more weight. Now all I have to do is patch two small holes and this project is done (or so I thought).

As soon as the bookcase was secured it was time put our books on it. I immediately began organizing by subject matter novels on one shelf, philosophy books on another, etc... My better half had a different idea, thus the beautifully organized by color bookcase. It really looks great and once we fill the rest of the spots with art and what not I think it will look even better. Now all I need to do is remember what the color of the spine of Bloodsucking Fiends is.