MY FABULOUS FINDS GRAVEYARD ---- LOOK WHAT HAPPENED!!!

One of my skills is my ability to find the fabulous and the unique---- and then hoard it until I have the perfect location.   I haven't decided if this is a good or bad skill to have.  You see what has been happening with me for many, and I mean many years is that I have no will power and I purchase these wonderful pieces without having a plan or a place for them.  Hence, I am the owner of the fabulous finds graveyard.

I'm happy to announce that I was able to retrieve this vintage copper-topped restaurant tray from the home decor graveyard and find the perfect spot for it in my kitchen.  In preparation for the blog post about the tray,  I added a vase with some clippings from my Nandina shrub.   I love using "just green" clippings as Fall flower arrangements.

The next morning when I entered the kitchen I found that the Nandina decided to shed all its leaves.  Look what happened!

My first thought was that I had a big mess to clean up.  Next though I realized that the way the Nandina scattered her leaves was very artist.  I decided to write the blog post with the leaves just where they fell. The tray is huge.  I'm going to use it as an extra serving/prep area in the kitchen.  I love that the copper covers the sides too.  Don't miss the nail head trim on the corners.  It fit perfectly on top of a folding French bistro table I also had in the graveyard.  Don't you love it when it all works out.

TRAY RESTING ON FOLDING FRENCH BISTRO TABLE

CLOSE UP OF NAIL HEAD

There are handles on each side.

LIFT HANDLES

My bread boards fit perfectly on the table base.

BREAD BOARDS

Of course I mostly cleaned it up.  Here's the result in the afternoon sun.

AFTER CLEAN UP

Notice the hook behind the demijohn bowl with the bee napkin rings.  I think the restaurant hooked up the tray when it wasn't in use.  What do you think?

The bowl with artichokes took the place of the vase.

What do you have in your home decor queue?

MY LATEST VINTAGE FIND: DOROTHY DRAPER CHAIRS

Over the years many tables and chairs have passed through my kitchen.  When I found these Dorothy Draper chairs by Baker Furniture,  I knew that the Chinese Chippendale chairs had to go.

MY DOROTHY DRAPER CHAIR

The back is just as detailed as the front.

FRONT AND BACK DETAILS

If you've been following my blog for a while you know that not only do I love black and white, but I also love nail head trim.

MY FAVORITE:  NAIL HEAD TRIM

There is even more nail head trim around the curved back.

Another detail:  a medallion applique.

ADDED MEDALLION

This brass handle is also a Draper signature-style feature.  It appears on many of her furniture pieces.

DOROTHY'S SIGNATURE STYLE:  BRASS HANDLE

BRASS HANDLE

And just when you think she just can't add another detail, you notice the greek key design carved into the back rest.

GREEK KEY CARVED DETAIL

Aren't they wonderful!

Dorothy Draper is one of my favorite designers.  I'm sure it's because she always uses black and white, adds pops of color, and mixes patterns.  Best of all, she's not a minimalist.

To learn more about her and her bold unique style,
 go here.

To see my post about my other find, my Dorothy Draper Espana dresser, go here.

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Curly Iron-Based Side Tables with Nail Head Trim

I purchased a pair of curvy iron bases from a friend.  

They originally were black, but I painted them gray and distressed them.

Curvy Iron Table Bases

I bought two pre-made round table tops at Lowes for only $10 each.

I diluted the same gray paint I used for the bases and gave the raw wood a wash.  

All I did was apply the thinned paint and rub away with a damp cloth where it was too dark.

You can see the wood grain still showing.

Gray Washed Table Top

To dress them up I added large nail heads around the edge.

7/8 inch Nail Heads from DIY Upholstery

This is a good look at the nail heads, the distressed base, and the gray wash.  

Sorry it looks like a face.

Oh my, it looks like a face!!

I styled the tables with some nature inspiration. 

 Oh please Spring, come soon.

Nature-Inspired Styling

One last look at that nail head.  

Yes, I admit I'm obsessed with nail head.

Vintage Footstool with Leopard Fabric

I'm always surprised by what a little paint and some new fabric can do to a tired piece. 

 This antique curved leg mahogany stool had seen better days. 

 I painted the legs black,  added my favorite leopard fabric by P. Kaufmann, some double cording, and lately nothing I do is complete without nail head.

Reupholstered Vintage Stool

She wasn't quite so pretty when I found her.  I'd already painted the mahogany legs black before I took the photo.  How do you like her original fabric?

Here's a side view.
She does havegreat legs.

Of course I  had to show you how the nail head just completes the piece.

Have you updated any furniture lately?

Kathy

If you missed my post about my updated caned back sofa, go here.

If you missed my updated caned back chair, go here.

Vintage Caned Back Settee Before and After

In a minute I'll share the before, but wanted to show you how some fabric and paint

 transformed an ugly dated piece into this beauty.

Initially this settee was caned and tufted.
 Of course I remembered to take the before pics when I'd already started removing the old fabric.

BEFORE SIDE VIEW

Here's the back.

BEFORE BACK SIDE

The beige fabric is Belgian linen and the center stripe is black linen.  

This next view is without the coordinating pillow.

And of course, my current favorite furniture accent, nail head.  These are 1".

Settee With Linen Fabric Outlined in Nail Head

Next, the updated side view.

And the view of the new caned back with double cording.

I put the coordinating pillow back on.  Not only does it match the design,
 but it also has cording and a zipper.

Left Side With Pillow

Right Side.  No Pillow

I love the medallion detail in the center.

Close up.

Chair Obsession Part Two

Previously I posted about my obsessions that I was aware of and realized that I have another, chairs.  If you missed chair obsession part one, go here.

You know that the chairs I love most are this pair of leopard covered chairs.  If you've been following you've seen these already.  They speak for themselves.

I have another pair of chairs in my dining room.  You probably recognize the P. Kaufmann geometric fabric from some photo shoots where I used it as a back drop.
These chairs have a caned back which I decided would look good slip covered.
The seats and arms are upholstered and I also added nail head trim.
Here they are in place in my dining room.

If you saw my first post about my chairs you know that I love adding details to my upholstered pieces.  This pair was no exception.
In this side view you can see the ties on the slip covered top and the nail head trim.

I loved the carved piece on the chair back and didn't want to cover it up.
I decided to let it peek out of a cut out.

What do you think about adding details to upholstery pieces?

Kathy

BTY
I just wanted to thank everyone who came to our second sale and all of you who contacted me to see how I did.  I have to say that I was thrilled with the second sale.  It was even better than the first one.  When I left on Sunday my booth looked depleted.  Yea!

Now I need to focus on getting my home ready for the holidays.  So far all I have is a tree in a stand and many ideas spinning around in my head.

Kitchen Update Reveal

I continue to update my 1970's knotty pine kitchen.  In a previous post I shared that I painted my cabinets gray.  As a back splash alternative I used Duralee  Faux Snakeskin fabric and trimmed it out with nail heads.  This vignette with the pewter plate and urns stayed the same.  So did the back splash.  I love the faux snake skin fabric and nail head trim as much if not more than when I added it more than two years ago.  If you missed that post, go here.

I decided to change the window treatments to this Schumacher chevron fabric, High Voltage.

And also changed the chairs in the eat-in area from this:

To this set of four, found at a consignment store.

Modern Chrome and Leather Vintage Chair

Not much changed in the kitchen prep area.  I made a faux roman shade for above the sink and changed the red French canister set for a set of stainless.