Thrifted Desk

I love going to yard sales and thrift stores like Goodwill.  I especially love finding great pieces of furniture that need a little love.  A while back I found this desk at Goodwill for $11.  I didn't need a desk, but it has good bones.  And it's solid wood and has great dovetail joints on the drawer.  However, it needs a bit of work to get it in good shape.  Not a problem for me, though. 

So I stripped and sanded the top revealing a beautiful wood grain pattern.  As you can see below, the grain opens up from the center and is identical on both sides.  I'm sure there's some technical term for that.

The original plan was to either give it a Restoration Hardware lime wash finish or stain the top and paint the base.  I think it looks a bit worse in real life than in does in this picture.  It's been in my son's playroom and has been used as a desk for him...thus the playdoh caked into the top. {sigh}  So now the plan is to try to clean the top, but I may have to re-strip the top to get it clean again before refinishing it.  I'll be back to show you the stripped down piece and my plans for it.  Wish me the best!

P.S.  I finally updated the post on the dining room bookcases with the formula for the paint I used.

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Fabric and Stripes

I think it's the blogger right of passage to embrace stripes.  I don't know what it is...I cannot resist stripes.   I love a good striped shirt, striped walls, ticking stripe, striped napkins, striped straws.  Even things that resemble stripes like beadboard, planking, wood floors--you name it.  The thing is, they are timeless, and go with just about anything.  I think we all love them because you can't go wrong.  They are modern, vintage, and classic at the same time.

I have been hitting up my local fabric store and finding some amazing fabrics on sale for $3.50/yd!  I have gotten several beautiful stripes and have been hunting for a place to use them in my home.  What can I say...I have a fabric addiction.  In my own defense, I do seem to eventually find a place to use them.   In any case, take a peek at the goods! 

First up, a classic, blue+white stripe.  I am thinking of using this one for my dining room draperies.

This next one is a smaller blue stripe, but beautiful nonetheless.  My first thoughts were to use it for a duvet cover or slipcovers because of how delicate the stripes are.  They wouldn't be very noticeable on curtains.   Unfortunately there were only 5 yards left, so not enough for me to slipcover my chairs, but I couldn't pass it up.

This one I was also thinking of using for draperies.  It is a statement fabric.  I could also see it for pillows.  Because of how strong the pattern is, I don't think I could tolerate the pattern on a daily basis on an upholstered piece. When I first found it, I thought it was the famed David Hicks "La Fiorentina".  I should have known better, but even still the pattern is amazing.

I could also definitely see this as draperies with tall ceilings, with a black desk or table, and then a 'jolt' of emerald green.  Or with a a deep, gray-green painted piece with brass and mother of pearl accents and accessories...   O my goodness yes, please!  I scooped up 14 yards of this beauty.

And finally, this dusty rose colored stripe.  Well, it was striped, and a neutral red--if you can ever consider red a neutral.  I also can't seem to take red for too long.  But this was a muted, calm red that seemed to go with everything that I already love.  So I felt it could fit into the french cottage palette.  I bought 2 yards and, I am planning to at least make a lumbar pillow for my bed out of it.  Hmmm, now that I am looking at it again, I want more of it!

I'll keep you posted to see where they end up.  

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