Friday, March 28, 2008

Kitchen Facelift

When I moved into my first apartment I didn't have a kitchen table set. I made do with a card table and chairs while I shopped around. My budget was extremely limited and I sure didn't like anything that I could afford. One day my friend Laurie and I were passing time and driving around Los Angeles, Hollywood and Beverly Hills. It was late in the afternoon and we were trying to find our way back to the freeway when we happened upon an "estate sale" on the edge of Beverly Hills. The homeowners were getting ready to haul back inside a kitchen table and 4 chairs. While talking to them I found out that the set dated back to the 30's and that they had refinished and reupholstered the table and chairs. We settled on a price, half what they wanted, but all of what I had on me at the moment. We hauled it back to my apartment and Laurie was a really good sport about giving up quite a bit of personal comfort on our way back to Orange County. The table set served me quite well, as it was, through 4 apartments and finally to my townhouse.

Eventually I had to take it to an antique refinisher to have the chairs re-glued. They were horrified by how dated the entire set looked. So, I decided to have the table top refinished and to have the sides, legs and chairs painted a brick red color and distressed. Then I recovered the chair seats. I liked the look so much that I had my china cabinet (which I acquired off the curb at my parent's neighbor's house) painted the same brick red color and distressed. I must say that I really liked it and my friends always commented about how "Pottery Barn" it looked. Well, in our current house the china cabinet is in our dining room with the big dining room table and the little red table and chairs have been in the kitchen.

Anyhow, this is what it looked like. You may have noticed that there were only 3 chairs. Basically, certain family members (who shall remain nameless) demonstrated extreme difficulty, repeatedly, in being able to stand up without knocking over the chair upon which they were seated. It soon became unrealistic to continue sending chairs back to California to be repaired.

So, I bought new, much heavier and sturdier chairs. Black chairs. And today I painted the table sides and legs black, leaving the original table top. What you can't really see in the picture is that the table top has an inlaid wood border that is really dark, almost black. I'm quite pleased with the finished project and it really quite nicely ties together the entire kitchen.
So? What do you think? And please don't forget to check on the latest poll!

12 comments:

  1. Anonymous9:23 PM

    It took me almost four hours and her taunting that I'd never notice what she did today. Unfortunately, I only noticed it because I logged on to see if she had blogged today. What can I say. I guess I should pay a little more attention to my surroundings.

    Brian

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  2. let me say, I never have found good stuff from someone else. Good job. You are really lucky. I love it when it was red. it was so cool, but black. I really love it. And it all goes so well together (the new chairs and the old table) what did you do with the old chairs. They were cute, maybe for sitting in a corner with a cute quilt on it.

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  3. The table and new chairs look absolutely gorgeous! you did a great job--it's awesome when home projects turn out so well.

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  4. Anonymous7:18 AM

    Oh my gosh! I remember that. We were absolutely squished driving back to Orange County with that in the car. I can't believe you still have it. It looks great! I remember how nice it was when we found it though and what a great deal you got on it. Remember driving around the city searching for an atm to pay for it? Gosh that was so long ago. Thanks for bringing back a fun memory.

    By the way I guessed that Brian would have to look at the blog to notice the difference. But that was before I looked at the before and after picture. It is quite a change. I love the black. It looks very sleek and pretty.

    Laurie D.

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  5. It looks great! I guessed Brian wouldn't notice until logging on, then read the comments. Sure enough, I was right!

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  6. I think you did an awesome job, it looks great!

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  7. That looks AWESOME!!!! Well done.

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  8. I love the new look! Can I come join you for a meal? =)

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  9. Criss,
    You have a talent for keeping busy with projects!! The table & chairs really look great. A for a good job.

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  10. Very chic. And the table looks so perfect with the new chairs that I don't think I would have even realized it was the same table if you hadn't pointed it out.

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  11. You did an awesome job on the table!!!!

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