FOCAL POINT STYLING: BNOTP

It's kind of funny - and ironic at times - the paths you may have crossed while in your twenties... you can find yourself referring back to again in your forties. One summer, back around 1992, I had taken a break from retailing and took on a new challenge: furniture refinishing. I may have sprayed painted a 60's pole light for my room or some old frames for a window display, but this was something new. At first fearful of holding a hand sander - I afterwards found myself wanting to purchase one. Little did I know, years later, I'd be applying what I had learned - which ironically was taught to me by the then boyfriend of my now client.

Sanding off the existing finish is the first part of this furniture refinishing process. It will allow the new finish to adhere. I'm using a 220 grade sandpaper. One sheet can be cut into two for the sander, and the two scarps are GREAT for using with fingers to get into the flutes and molding details. The inside of drawers will be left natural - but I did sand the edges to make it easier to glide on the runners (Florida humidity swells wood).

I've picked up a thrift pieces here and there (and even curb mined a three drawer chest and a 50's style desk). But these projects were individual and timed apart from one another. This time, I'm refinishing finds - five at one time - not for me, but for my first client (I'm going to now refer her as "Vero").

The higher the grade of sand paper, the more coarse it is. To remove paint. 120 grade works well, and won't leave as many marks as a 100 grade would. The 220 is good to use to smooth out the paint sanding removal. In between the top coat (of polyurethane of a lacquer) the 400 grade is extra fine for finishing. Also while sanding, keep in mind the grain of the wood and go with it.

For Vero's home, I didn't just want to spray paint every piece espresso. Vero had mentioned she didn't want a "Rooms To Go" look, she liked the look of my space, and she wanted something clean looking - but not necessarily as clean and modern of West Elm. I searched online at one of my favorite sources for inspiration:

PLANTATION DESIGN.COM

I wanted to give each piece a little more character and play with their lines and attributes (you can read more about these finds at Thrifting For A Client Project). At first, I was going to go for a Jacobean stain (its a black-brown), but I'm thinking I may use that stain on just round coffee table. I'm leaning towards painting the sofa coffee table black, along with the side table as well - but the drawer facing in Heirloom white.

Testing the colors first helped to eliminate the espresso - it's too red.

Black satin spray looks like the winner for the end table with an heirloom white drawer.

The Jacobean stain looked good lightly coated over the black spray - so it could work for the sofa coffee table. The stain process on their own will take too long to complete the project.

To unify both finishes in the space, I'm going to try a trio of colors on the buffet: Heirloom White for the main raised panel of doors, trim moldings in black and the main piece stained Jacobean. I'll probably also use the Jacobean stain to highlight some pasts of the dining table we picked up at Pier 1 (another steal of a deal - was $449 - on clearance for $299 - minus an extra 20% because of a few dings, and Vero had a $60 gift Card - so the table was only $180!!)

For now... back to the mess of sanding. I've been doing a piece a day - so the neighbors don't get too annoyed. I had started with the smaller pieces (the side tables) and they also had the most details. Setting up in the driveway at 3pm has been good for sanding because I get some shade as the sun heads west. When I go to paint or stain, I'll probably set up the four pieces in the morning so the sun can help dry & set the stains and paint.

After sanding tables, I'll be painting, finishing and load them to deliver to Vero. After they are out of the way, I'll be doing the buffet (there is only so much space in the garage and I really don't want to be stacking the pieces after they are finished. Online orders have started to arrive at Vero's townhome and I've colected all the detail pieces upstairs (out of harms way in an extra room.) So her project is moving right along...

Found a FABULOUS blog I'll be checking out more often about furniture refinishing and finds. She has Friday Furniture Feature parties, so if you have a project or are looking for ideas to refinish some pieces, check out this blog at:

MUSTARD SEED CREATIONS

Have you ever refinished furniture?

It's a messy process - but I'm LOVING it!!

LINKING TO

The DIY Showoff - Project Parade
C.R.A.F.T. - Making Monday Marvelous
Under The Table & Dreaming - Showcase Sunday

Between Naps On The Porch - Metamorphosis Monday

I believe, the way we design and redesign our home, is a reflection of events in our life, our environment we're surrounded with, and a feeling we want to share. Designer Chris Madden has even said, "design is not just about how something looks but also how it feels." I can really see different feelings reflected in the way I have restyled our home over the years - especially just from last year to this year. Last year, my Fall style was more minimal and inferred. It was understood it was Fall, not because of leaves and acorns, but more so because of the color palette and images used.

I had temporarily put away the B&W rag rug to show the brown & black sisal & chenille. The white pieces here are now up in the office (the blogging think tank). The round mirror, today in the dining room, was above the wall unit. I'd like to refinish it - maybe even add a starburst treatment to it - and bring it back in here for the holidays...

This year, after much transition in my life, the look and feel of Fall in our home is more literal. But it's not necessarily because I ran out and bought all new items. I just used what I've already had acquired - from years past - in new ways. The feeling in our home now is more reflective of cocooning... something I'm sure many of us have been doing these days.

Acorn fillers from a previous Thanksgiving tablescape, are placed inside existing containers and topped with glass tea lights. Wreaths, previously used outside, now helped to dress mirrors with a splash of color. The Tiffany bowl, previously this summer filled with shells on the entrance buffet, is now on the bar top counter filled with faux nut covered apples - also from a previous Thanksgiving tablescape. The only new addition are the leaf sprays (I mentioned yesterday) paired with more of my found branches. Older leaf sprays are now used outside - mixed into the leafy green filled containers - adding a splash of Fall color out front...

No fall color pillows? No problem.

A tablerunner on a chair can add a band of color.

The two crows perched on this living room branch help

to relate this space to the Hitchcock Hallway decor.

Old comfy couch, dec pillows and a fur throw - a great place to

curl up with a favorite home decor magazine...

The space this year, is reminiscent of how it was set in 2007....

HGTV FEATURE: 6 Great Ways To Use Throws

The sofa legs I have since stained. The eteger is now on the patio and this side table is now up in the office. The pair of thrifted side tables now flank the sofa, and this coffee table is upstairs in the (ha!) yoga room. I say ha! because I haven't done yoga in a while and probably need to get back to it.

Autumn Home 2007

This year it has more COLOR... more life.

Autumn Home 2010

I've probably become more fearless in my styling. I'm eager to try new things, new looks, and new combinations. I enjoy challenging myself to create these looks without breaking the bank - and now I'm enjoying styling even more because of inspiration from other bloggers and sharing some of my tips as well. This is it for Fall this year...

Check out more about this years halloween decor at

Hitchcock Halloween Hallway

The next change won't happen until November 1st when I'll take down Halloween. Along with working on my Client Project, I've been planning how to set for Christmas this year... which - BTW - I heard my first Christmas song yesterday while shopping for her in Pier 1. At first, I couldn't believe what I was hearing - and even the sales associate looked up and said, "OMG - is that Christmas music?" I guess it was difficult for us to decipher because it was an instrumental Salsa version of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas."

And that my friends... we shall.