Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Refinished Coffee Table – the details!


A little while back I shared a sneak peak of a coffee table project I was about to begin using a new-to-me refinishing technique.  I am happy to report it is complete and turned out even better than I had hoped!



Above is what the table looks like today and below is a picture of what the table looked like when I started.  I loved the shape and scale of the table for our office sitting area but it was very orange and too shiny. 


My original refinishing plan was to use a furniture stripper followed by sanding with a palm sander.  My plans changed, however, when I visited my local Lowes store.  The salesperson I worked with just happened to be a woodworker and suggested I try using acetone for removing the finish, followed by a good hand sanding.  The acetone, he said, would remove all the inorganic elements (stain and varnish) from the wood and by using a 00 grade of steel wool the table would require only hand sanding to achieve a perfectly smooth finish.   It sounded pretty simple so I decided to give it a try.

After he explained the safety considerations when working with acetone – it will burn your skin and eyes and is highly flammable and should only be used in well ventilated (outside) areas away from any open flames – we went around the store gathering up the supplies.  I needed acetone, chemical safe gloves, a full chemical face mask, 00 grade steel wool, fine grit sand paper and a small metal bucket.

I began the project by removing the brass casters and decorations from the table. The table was then placed outside on rocks (acetone will kill grass) in the corner of our garden area on top of a layer of plastic and newspapers.  I tied my hair back, wore long pants, a long sleeved shirt tucked into the chemical safe gloves and the face mask to make sure I was fully protected.


Once I was ready to go, the project was fairly straight forward.  Simply pour about an inch or two of acetone in the metal bucket, dip the steel wool into the acetone and then start scrubbing with the grain of the wood.  (Acetone will evaporate quickly so you only want to pour a small amount in the bucket at a time.)  Keep dipping the steel wool into the acetone and scrubbing.  When the steel wool “wears out” grab a new piece and repeat the procedure until you are satisfied with the results. 

After all the finish was removed, I sprayed the table with water using a garden hose and let it dry outside.  When the table was completely dry it was time for a hand sanding to even out the grain of the wood and remove any residue. 

It took about 3 hours for me to remove everything from the wood using the acetone and steel wool plus more time for sanding. It was a lot of work but the results were worth the effort.  The table was returned to the natural wood color and was extremely smooth.



Since I wanted the table to have a light, slightly white finish, I decided to try another first for me - Briwax liming wax.  I could not find it locally so I ended up ordering the wax online.  I simply followed the directions on the can and applied small amounts using a cotton cloth.  I kept applying the wax until I had the look I wanted.  Once the wax was dry it was time for a top coat of furniture wax.  I used a clear finish furniture paste wax by Minwax. 





The table turned out wonderful!  I also have to say liming wax has now been added to my list of favorite products.  I have already used it on another project which I will be sharing shortly and have found myself looking around my house to see what other wood pieces I can use it on!

I am curious to know, have you ever tried using acetone and/or liming wax?  Were you happy with the results?  Looking forward to hearing about your experiences!

Note:  Please be sure to read all the instructions and warnings on the acetone container and wax as well as consulting with a salesperson to make sure you have all the proper equipment to order complete this project safely.



Monday, September 10, 2012

Family Room Photo Shoot Published!


I discovered a nice surprise a few days ago at the grocery store.  The photo shoot in which my family room was used as a back drop for a Better Homes and Gardens Storage magazine story had been published!  I was originally told it would appear next summer so I was thrilled when I saw the story out so early.

Better Homes and Gardens Storage Magazine  - Photographer:  John Bessler
Stylist Donna Talley, Regional Editor and Producer for Meredith Publications

Donna Talley, Regional Editor and Producer for Meredith publications, put together a beautiful and functional space utilizing lots of clever and unique storage ideas.  John Bessler was the photographer and once again did an amazing job of capturing all the great details of this pretty room.

Better Homes and Gardens Storage Magazine  - Photographer:  John Bessler
Stylist Donna Talley, Regional Editor and Producer for Meredith Publications

I loved the jars, bins, boxes, and baskets Donna used for holding all sorts of crafts, books, games, movies, music and more. She added an extra organizing touch by labeling everything for easy access.  I have to say it was really a treat having things so neatly organized and displayed.

Better Homes and Gardens Storage Magazine  - Photographer:  John Bessler
Stylist Donna Talley, Regional Editor and Producer for Meredith Publications

I ended up keeping many of her organizing strategies in place including the way she arranged the movies and music.  All this new organization also inspired me to go through some other areas of my home to get them up to speed as well.

Better Homes and Gardens Storage Magazine  - Photographer:  John Bessler
Stylist Donna Talley, Regional Editor and Producer for Meredith Publications

Better Homes and Gardens Storage Magazine  - Photographer:  John Bessler
Stylist Donna Talley, Regional Editor and Producer for Meredith Publications

Some of my favorite items in the room included the graphic black curtains from Country Curtains, the striped bins and wire baskets from The Container Store and of course the wonderful vintage French basket from Bonny Nieman Antiques.

Better Homes and Gardens Storage Magazine  - Photographer:  John Bessler
Stylist Donna Talley, Regional Editor and Producer for Meredith Publications


Better Homes and Gardens Storage Magazine  - Photographer:  John Bessler
Stylist Donna Talley, Regional Editor and Producer for Meredith Publications

I created the letter in a box embroidered G pillow on the chair to the left of the fireplace.  I loved it so much I decided to use and sell this design in my Etsy shop.  Available in your choice of fabric and embroidery color, it already has become one of my best sellers.

Better Homes and Gardens Storage Magazine  - Photographer:  John Bessler
Stylist Donna Talley, Regional Editor and Producer for Meredith Publications

If you are looking for some simple and clever tips and ideas on how to get the family spaces in your home organized this is a terrific story to study.  One of the most important aspects I took from watching Donna was her use of a consistent color palette.  Notice that all the containers, baskets and bins are all black, crème or coral.  There is a lot of “stuff” in this space, yet by keeping colors the same it all comes together beautifully.


To find a copy of this story and other great storage solutions look for the cover above on newsstands now.

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Segreto Secrets – the RDH September Blog of the Month




There are several blogs I follow which truly get me excited when I see a new post has been published.  These blogs are filled with a multitude of beautiful images, lots of inspiration, along with well written and thought out text.  I learn something new each time I visit and many times find myself going back to reread the posts again and again.  Segreto Secrets, the RDH September blog of the month is one of these special blogs.


Many of you may be familiar with Leslie Sinclair and Segreto Finishes through Leslie’s book Segreto: The Secrets to Finishing Beautiful Interiors.


It is a fabulous 300 page book filled with incredible photos of some of Segreto Finishes best projects.  The book is full of inspiration and shares the secrets to fine finishing and how it can transform a room.



I purchased my copy a while back and have to agree with all the positive reviews I have seen. The book is truly wonderful! (A link to purchase the book is available on Leslie’s blog.)


Segreto Finishes is located in Houston Texas and offers a wide variety of decorative painting and plastering on almost any surface you can imagine – walls, ceilings, furniture, cabinets and more.


Leslie’s company has rightly received national acclaim and has been published in many leading décor magazines including Veranda, Beautiful Homes, Southern Living, and Houston Lifestyle and Home.  Below (and scattered throughout this post) are a few of my favorite photos of her work.




One of the biggest changes at Segreto Finishes is their new office space.  For years, Leslie has been working from her home and recently purchased and renovated a 1950’s ranch. This project is the perfect illustration of how transformative Leslie’s work can be.  Here is the house before:


Here is the new office today.

What an amazing difference.

Kitchen before


Kitchen after

Office Entrance

New Office Space

There are many more incredible projects to see at Segreto Secrets so please be sure to visit Leslie and leave a comment letting her know you stopped by.  (Leslie also has a business website filled with more amazing pictures which can be found here.)  She is super nice and would be thrilled!  Segreto Secrets is one of my favorite blogs and I know you will love it too!


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