The last week in August is normally when I'm bringing out some Fall goodies, trying to subtly ease into the Fall scene. Creeping in would be just a few little dried leaves and grasses; I might even sneak in a nonchalant small pumpkin or two. Big BUT here, instead of decorating, I'm surrounded by packing boxes and my house looks like the inside of a U-Haul store.
When we moved from our old house 5 years ago, I literally sold pick-up loads of furniture. Most of it was white and chippy, and even though I loved some of those pieces, I haven't really missed them. I tried hanging on to a few pieces of furniture that could be used for storage, and the old pie safe that had been used in my studio to store art/craft paints and supplies found it's way to the lease house to hold some of my transferware and ironstone in the kitchen sitting area.
But at this house it ended up in the lower level "kitchen" area, along with several "family" pieces that I've had for.ev.er. The pie safe badly needed a new coat of whitish paint to freshen it up, since an earlier attempt (before I bought it) of "antiquing" just made it look terribly dirty and neglected.
Another old piece was my rough church pew, that isn't in great shape, but has a lot of charm for me. It's fun to dress up with quilts and pillows and to decorate for holidays. I think it may have a place in the new sunroom.
The armoire below had been in the Living Room at the old house, and held our stereo equipment, when there was still stereo equipment: monster speakers, and a massive boom box. Yes, it was shut behind closed doors so people couldn't see our outdated mode of musical paraphernalia. We bought this piece when we were first married, and it has traveled all around with us for the last 40 some odd years.
(Definitely WILL NOT be painted)
I think it's headed to the Master Bedroom for a small TV.
I'd salvaged this little doorless cabinet many years ago to display merchandise at my vintage market space. It had been in horrible shape, but some molding along the perimeter and several coats of white paint made it usable. At the old house it was in the lower level guest room displaying quilts, and at this house it held some extra decorative pottery in the basement.
This little washstand was at my mom's house and she gave it to me when she moved from the farm, quite a few years ago. I finally got around to repainting it a couple of years ago, but didn't have a good place for it... so it was in the basement along with it's friends.
This is another family piece that was literally "black" with ancient varnish before I had it stripped in the late 70's. I used tung oil ala Homer Formby, but as it's aged it's just turned this ugly shade of orange. Time for a change, since it will have a place at the new house. It will be on the assembly line for a new look soon.
I couldn't find a spot for this little French desk here at our current house so it was sent to my daughter's house. She tried a paint job, but in the end couldn't use it, so it sat in her garage for several years. I reclaimed it a few weeks ago, because at the new house I won't have a built in desk, so this will hopefully hold my laptop and household papers. I've been sanding on it, but it's going to take a slap of the proverbial white paint brush to get it usable again.
Since this new house is much larger on the main level, I'm hoping to have a spot for all these random misfits. I'm going to have to try pieces out in various places, so I can see what works together. I've started painting a few pieces, and I'm using a basic antique white to unify them. It's going to be a toss-up to see where they each end up. That's the good thing about white/antique white paint, as it takes a bunch of non-related sad sack furniture and gives them new life. I'm thinking about using some on myself. haha.
Hope you guys are having a great week. Memorial Day er, Labor Day weekend (gosh, I don't even know what holiday is coming up) will be a working one for us, but we're trying to get as much done here as possible. We close at the end of September, then the real work will start!
xoxo,
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White paint is always my choice. I have about 20 other colors of chalk paint, but in the end I always paint over other colors and make the furniture piece white again. Good luck with the move. We are just in the decluttering stage before we hit the paint stage, and then put the house up for sale.
ReplyDeleteme too, I always end up with some variation of antique white. much easier to mix and match! So you're going thru it too? Moving is such an ordeal!
DeleteI feel your pain about the house looking like the inside of a U-Haul truck..but alas, I am about 90% done in settling into the rental house and before you know it, it will be time to do it all again...but this time it will be more exciting! I am easing into Fall...hoping to start on the front porch soon....Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteOh Shirley, I have thought about you often. You guys had so much more than we do, and somehow you've made a showhouse in just a few weeks! I applaud all your hard work! Your place is gorgeous, and now you're building a wonderful new place. I'm so excited for you!
DeleteLaughing out loud at putting some white paint on sad sacks! I can completely understand your mental exercises of what to use and where. I was already doing that when we were looking at place.....anything with storage is a keeper in my book. Btw, we still have those monster speakers, turntable and receiver.....all but the receiver are in the basement. Funny thing is my oldest (33) and her husband are totally into the turntable sounds and albums....
ReplyDeletehaha about the turntable etc. My mother-in-law had this oh so dated 60's Mediterranean stereo cabinet that she unequivocally stated could not be sold. ah, yeah right. I thought we'd BE LUCKY to beg someone to take it off our hands. But our son in law took it to his basement and hooked it up to his Ipod and the sound was incredible. But it did have to be hidden!
DeleteIt will be fun to see where everything ends up! With our move, we are playing musical chairs with furniture, too...two more pieces are headed out to our daughter's next week. This moving stuff is an adventure, to be sure.
ReplyDeletemoving can be so stressful, but in the process it's lot's of fun to think about how the rooms will turn out and all the possibilities!
DeleteGood luck with all your transformations. I know it's hard to visualize where everything will go---but you never know...how it will balance out. Fun pieces, and I for one would miss seeing any one of them.
ReplyDeletethankyou, Sandi!
DeletePlease, I'm begging you, don't paint the tung oiled family piece.
ReplyDeleteHi Virginia, I totally get what you're saying, but several years ago a super blogger, author, and person who has their own paint line said in essence... if you have a piece of furniture that has already been "redone" the piece generally has lost a good deal of monetary value, and if you really don't like it and don't want to use it then painting it in order to make it work for you is acceptable. I've lived with this orange for over 35 years and have not had it in a place that I can use or enjoy the piece.It's been hidden in the basement. Painting it to match my other decor is the probable best answer. I cannot tell you how many unattractive pieces I have painted only to be thrilled with the result. This is oak, not a high quality or well made piece.
DeleteThese are gorgeous! I love what you've done and how you bring everything together. You have a great eye.
ReplyDelete#SYClinky
Hi Debra I am loving how you are getting everything together in the new house. So pretty. Sometimes it does take changing things out into new rooms. I have always loved that armoire of yours. You know me and painting everything white but I have to agree with you on this gorgeous piece it should never be painted. The wood is too gorgeous. Ha how do you like that from a girl that lives to paint something white lol! It all looks so gorgeous as always. Happy Holiday weekend.
ReplyDeletexoxo
Kris
Debra, you have so many wonderful furniture pieces! It's fun to imagine where you will use them in your new home. Can't wait to see!! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
ReplyDeletehugs,
Jann