I love interior decorating. By the time I go out to make certain purchases believe me it’s all planned out in my head – my head is one big story board. In high school I used to put story boards together just for the fun of it. I would have books and books of cut outs from magazines and catalogs of rooms that I wanted to put together. You should have seen my Montana mountain phase, thank you Sundance Catalog for hours of fun.

Now we have the internet and photo programs – they make story boarding fun. There are even online storyboards you can create, but it’s usually using their products and that’s not quite as fun to me – or creative.

So in purchasing this new home I find the gypsy in me has gotten rid of most of her furniture. I have some art work and bedroom furniture, that’s it. I have been wanting to update my bedroom for years but I don’t want to let go of my grandparents 1930 iron bed – so now that’s going in the guest bedroom, see how that worked out?

So here are the two story boards I have that are actually completed, I’m having a hard time with my living room one. Possibly because I still haven’t decided on the couch and that is, after all, the focal point.

The bedroom has loads of space for art work which I love!

1. Watercolor on Etsy that now I can’t find – sigh

2. Watercolor of Peacock by Mai Autumn – at http://maiautumn.typepad.com

3. and 4. Prints (original done in pen, pencil and marker) by Yellena James http://www.etsy.com/shop/yellena?ref=pr_shop

5. Bed from World Market

6. Curtains from Ikea

7. Duvet by Urban Outfitters

The dining room is by far the most complete room thus far as I actually have all of the items shown except the curtains. The focal point will be the painting so I may do a rug that will bring out some of those colors.

The darkest wall color will be behind the painting on the center wall. This room gets loads of natural light so I know the dark colors will be fine.

1. Curtains from Ikea

2. Chairs (2) from West Elm

3. Painting is one I own – salvaged from an office building so it wouldn’t end up in trash.

4. Dining table and bench from West Elm via Craig’s List

5. Chandelier from Lowe’s. Note these are gorgeous and the photo doesn’t do it justice. The material is Onyx and it has flecks of color in it, I think it will be perfect with the paining. I also got a new entry light that compliments this.

Last summer I took on a major furniture restoration project – it was only two pieces but by the time I finished that one little damn chair it felt like 4. It about did me in and I have been very hesitant to do another one. Except that this year I am buying a house and need LOADS of furniture, no really we’re talking hippy chick maybe I’ll just sit on bean bags status here. And of course many pieces I find need to be restored, then I think back to that damn chair and just give up.

So imagine my giddiness when Apartment Therapy dropped this little article in my lap today. So this is how the next project is going to go – lazy cheap restoration attempt take one – stay tuned.

For full article go here http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/boston/how-to/how-to-quickly-and-easily-spruce-up-wood-furniture-154404

I love this fabric so much I want to wrap my house in it, or maybe just re upholster a couple of chairs with it.

Cruising Burnet road, I saw this sad little cutie sitting on the sidewalk. Though it looked awful it was in pretty good shape. The drawers worked and it was sturdy. I thought it would make a great TV stand for now, and would have multiple other uses down the road. The hoarder proprietor of the shop offered me a great price on it and I couldn’t pass it up.

Honestly, it just needed a little love which included:

1. Sanding – note a power sander is a must when you are restoring furniture. The only time I use chemical stripper is when its been painted (which I just finished with on another project). But you’ll never live through hand sanding when something has been through hell and back.
– Sanding Tip – start with medium texture paper for stripping, then finish up with fine textured paper. Skip the coarse unless you are trying to smooth out some pretty brutal gashes in the furniture.

2. Pre treat the wood before staining. I like Minwax’ wood conditioner. It’s very easy and makes a big difference.

3. I use the stain without polyurethane. Mainly because you have better color options. You’re pretty limited with the polyurethane stains. This particular piece of furniture was stained with dark walnut, which I love and will use it again.

4. Finish off with polyurethane. I like satin over any of the glossy. But that’s just a personal preference. Use at least two coats with high traffic areas of the furniture. Like the tops of desks, tables etc.

The knobs came from World Market. They have a great selection of very artistic different types that don’t cost a fortune. Especially if you print coupons from their website. All in all this was a pretty simple job and turned out far better than I thought it would. The final cost was under $100 which included the materials and the furniture itself, a great deal in my opinion.

Keep in mind when you are restoring furniture it will never look perfect. So enjoy the bumps and scratches, the dents and imperfections. And painting is not restoring, though I’m  not opposed to painting furniture, it’s a whole different process.

Next… a chair I’m working on. It has turned into the BANE of my existence. It has not been a good find and I curse the 4 coats of paint on the damn thing and the people that did it….but that’s for another post.