Furniture Fashion

Sometime in my life around the age of 12, I discovered the Pottery Barn catalog.  I am sure I was their only 12-year old subscriber   But anyway, I have pretty much always loved looking at those catalogs.  I love how classic, chic, and homey it looks.  It looks beautiful but livable at the same time.  Dream home stuff.

Well as the 25-year old "adult" that I am now, I realize that Pottery Barn is DANG EXPENSIVE.  Seriously, who can afford $200 for a dining room chair?  If I were ever able to afford that stuff, I don't think I would let anyone use the furniture.  (Or more likely, I would have ONE really nice Pottery Barn chair and the rest would be folding chairs!  Classy, right?)  Maybe, I'm just cheap.  But I still love the look of Pottery Barn.

As I've stated before, I frequented the "auction scene" this fall.  I found quite a few things that in my mind, look like Pottery Barn.  Classic.  Chic.  Maybe a little dusty.  (You might disagree, which is fine.  I'll live my PB fantasy in my head.)  My auction tips are:
1.  Get there early to scope it out.
2.  Get yourself a donut to make sure you have enough calories in your body to think clearly.  Hot chocolate is helpful too.
3.  Find what you like.  Look for well-made and quality workmanship.  If you like modern lines, look for modern lines.  I like classic and traditional and have looked at thousands of PB catalogs so I kind of know the look I am going for, so that's what I look for.  Don't be scared by an ugly wood finish or a paint color you don't like.  These things can be changed!  Be creative!!
4.  Once you have found something you like, REALLY look at it.  Open the drawers, look underneath it, etc.
5.  Decide your "top price" that you will pay.  You have to STICK to this so really think about it.  Questions to ask yourself that help you determine your top price include: "Do I need this?"  (My answer is always yes!)  "Where am I putting this?"  "Do I need to revamp the furniture in anyway?"  If the answer to that question is yes, consider the cost of that when figuring out your top price.

So here is a dresser that I had purchased at an auction for about $15.  This auction really had nothing else except this dresser.  It was a rose among thorns (i.e., junk!).  Also, I didn't really think about HOW to get it home.  I totally had to ride in the passenger side seat WITH my mom also in it.  It was a long 20 minute drive.

One of the wooden knobs was missing.  Also the wood finish
wasn't great looking.  

Step 1:  Degloss.  This probably wasn't totally necessary, but
it did get some of the gross stuff off the wood.  

Step 2:  Begin wiping on the stain with a cloth or rag.  I chose a really
dark stain.  It's important to stain it in a horizontal position so that the
stain doesn't "run."  

Step 2 (continued):  The one on the top has the stain.  The bottom
is the old finish.  

Step 2 (continued):  Staining the sides

Step 3:  Wipe on a polyurethane coating to seal the stain into the wood.  Do
this at least 24 hours after you have stained so the stain is "set."  See that scratch on the
bottom left?  That's what happens when you put too much polyurethane on.  My dad
later informed me that it is NOT like frosting a cake.  He had to sand it out and re-stain it.
Isn't he great?

Finished product!!  My dad had the idea to use the extra knobs
that we had leftover from the kitchen reno instead of the wooden
knobs that were with it!  

                                       

Excuse my not-great-picture taking skills.  It's late and I'm tired.
What do you think though?  I am not totally sold on the mirror being
white.  The old homeowners had left it and was a nice 90s gold.  The
white is much better but it's very whiiiiiiiiiiiiiite.

I'll update soon, I promise!  I have a couple of thoughts for my next entry.  It might be my recent bargain-grocery shopping adventures or maybe an update on my hallway!!!!!!!  We'll see!!