South Beach Day One Update

I'm in South Beach for a couple of days on business. Kicking it at the HOTEL VICTOR located right smack dab in the middle of the OCEAN DRIVE art deco district. Wish you were here...

PS. Got to peep the old VERSACE MANSION (which is now THE VILLA BY BARTON G) located next to the HOTEL VICTOR. It seems that it's now open to the public as a hotel and restuarant (whereas you were able to tour it for $50 before they bought it out), but wouldn't you know it - it seems like I won't be able to check it out, have dinner and peruse it like a giddy school girl after all because I left both my BLACK and TITANIUM MasterCards at home this time around. shucks.

"Mr. Bojangles" Industrial Rolling Table-Cart

There's a little bit of a lengtheir back-story that comes with this occasional table-cart... if you're interested you can catch it here.

Quantity: 1

Size: 36" wide x 24" deep x 52" tall

Condition: Excellent new piece constructed from reclaimed wood/materials

Price: $625

New Item Sneak Peak (Part 3 Final)

So I went ahead and sanded the rest of the table down to the bare wood - I typically prefer to do this rather than using stripping chemicals or solvents (even though there are some natural-based products out there).

Once this was done, I stained the blond bare wood with an eco-friendly dark ebony as the base coat. This was allowed to let dry overnight.

The next step simply involved hand painting over the stained surface in a gloss-finish white. Again, this was allowed to dry overnight.

Finally, I pulled out the ol' standby line up of medium to fine sanding blocks and went to work on haphazardly pulling off some of the white paint to let the black stain foundation show through, creating a more natural layered and weathered paint look. I'm not a big fan of distressed looks for the sake of distressing furniture, but I knew this piece would really benefit more with a look that gave it more age and character, rather than going for a sleeker, contemporary or polished look.

My next-to-final conundrum will be deciding on whether or not to apply a light yellowish glaze before the final coats of matte poly seal the deal.

And there you have it.

My final conundrum is this: do you think I should christen him "The Admiral" or "Mick Jagger"? Both for obvious reasons so I'm really kind of torn.

I'll be giving him a command performance within the next several days, after his glamorous photoshoot, when he'll be going up for sale. Stay tuned.

New Item Sneak Peak (Part 2)

In my last post, I mentioned that I had sanded the top of the table... most people would have probably finished sanding the body, drawers and legs first before doing anything else... but I guess I'm not most people.

In order to proceed with the top, I first researched the correct way to draw/paint the Union Jack. After all, I didn't want to piss off any potential buyers whom might just happen to be British. I visualized the entire thing - I'd be set up at a market or something where I'd be approached by a middle-aged lady with a very British accent, looking ever so interested in purchasing the table - that is until she noticed some little inconsistency in her motherland's flag - whereupon she'd then walk away, but not without first giving me the two-fingered "up yours" sign that Brits are well known to impart on unsuspecting (and sometimes very suspecting) people. I decided I was not going to be "that (vendor) guy". So yeah, I had to get it right, and apparently there are a lot of ways to screw it up. Thank goodness for the internet.

My reasoning to finish the top of the table first was because the top's design was going to be crucial to the finished overall piece. If at first I didn't (technically) succeed, I was most likely going to have to try and try again until I got it right. Luckily for me, I got it right on the first try. I then proceeded to sand down the painted surface one last time, going for a more weathered look.

Now I could comfortably move on to the lower half of the table without compromising my vision of "what would be!"

Next time - the finished piece.

New Item Sneak Peak

So I scored this Bombay & Co. coffee table at a garage sale this summer for $5. Yup, five measly bucks.

The top needed to be refinished and the original 1980's look wasn't very appealing either... but hey, it had good bones, and THAT is all that really matters.

In the pictures above I was right in the middle of sanding the top to a nice smooth finish, but that's when I remembered that I should at least take some pics for posterity's sake, right? Right.

So there you have it. A quick little sneak peak at the transformation that I hope can and will inspire those of you DIY'ers out there. Once I take some of the transformational money shots, I'll be sure to upload to keep you posted.

Do You Rue?

RUE MAGAZINE launches this Thursday and I haven't gotten this excited about a new magazine since, um, well since I used to wait around waiting for the new issues of DOMINO every month... this kind of feels like it's gonna have the same kind of effect on me.

Be sure to head over to see all things stylish in the world of online design. This issue will include features from San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago and New York.

And, besides interiors, entertaining, recipes, design trends, products and more - we're also being promised some downloadable stationery with the very first issue as a bonus. Bonus!

Back at it.

courtesy emmas blogg

I've been away for a while and it's been kind of a bittersweet departure... I've missed the blogging, but I've been keeping plenty busy working as well as traveling to old familial destinations as well.

I found this picture today while looking around for some design inspiration. What a vignette! It looks so effortless, but if I know better. I would say it took anywhere between 2 and 4 hours to perfect the shot.

More updates, finds and new creations soon (and at better more constant intervals as well).

September already? Where does the time go?

I found these little pieces of inspiration over at avei.tumblr.com