Living outside your parents' house for the first time is certainly one of those things, as is looking for a real job that will pay those things called bills that are now addressed in your name; and I'm sure that buying your first house and having kids qualify in this category as well, although my experience there only extends to minor repairs in a rented apartment and being responsible for two kitties that can pretty much fend for themselves minus the food and litter box considerations.
But recently I have discovered that another one of those times you want to grab the oh shit bar in this vehicle called life is when you realize that you now have real, actual furniture. Now by real, actual furniture, I do not mean the suites set up at the end of the isle in Target (ladder bookcase, I still think you're ochen' spiffy; and folding bookshelves, there will never be a replacement for the brilliant ease with which you move apartments) or easy-up, flat-pack Ikea offerings (Ikea, darling, you know there will always be an s-shaped allen wrench sized spot in my heart for you). By real, actual furniture, I mean pieces that were not picked up just to fill an immediate need or use, but those which fill a spot in the more nebulous spheres of taste and want. Pieces that are worth love and upkeep. Pieces that you will never list in a craigslist moving sale or curb alert.
With our most recent move (the fourth in three years), the percentage of real, actual furniture we have in our home has increased. Not to a majority, but certainly to a significant minority. And this increase means that I must now really and actually start thinking about some serious refinishing and reupholstering projects.
First up is this lovely and simple little bookcase with minimal, but graceful design. Under the avocado paint, there's a layer of nice dark stain, which I'm not sure will survive the stripping process, but I guess we'll see. All the finish strippers at the hardware store carried a very prominent warning preceded by a skull and crossbones, so I'm planning on trying a non-toxic stripping method I found online. You make a paste of washing soda and water, slather it on, leave it for six hours or so, and then scrape it off. I found this piece in the alley after our last move and brought it in because it was a fraternal twin to another bookcase I'd picked up at a garage sale and also because who couldn't use another bookshelf?
Next up, although probably not next in the queue, is my number one alley find ever. It's a Danish modern egg chair by the Bramin furniture company, and it's super awesome aside from the fact that the stuffing has gone crunchy and the upholstery color can only truly be described as 70's puke. We used to keep a throw pillow on it that was made of construction-orange-dyed fake goat fur. My best friend gave me that pillow in memory of my first car, a '77 once-sparkly orange Buick LeSabre with fake fur steering wheel and headrest covers, 8-track deck and analog dash clock that never worked. The 70's also puked all over that. RIP, BOB the Big Orange Buick, RIP.
Speaking of decade vomit and goat fur, we found this awesome piece of bedroom furniture for really cheap at an estate sale, and when the DH went to pick it up, the seller threw in this, um, lovely rug for free. I need to fashion a new shelf for my half of the wardrobe slash credenza thingy. Guess the rug will be warm in the winter...
We also finally have a real desk with real drawers that happens to go very nicely with the silly desk lamp I bought when I went away to college. The chair does need some new upholstery, though, and it also needs some padding, period. The bottom half of the upholstery is much uglier in person, and we actually removed the matching slipcover from the back because the horribly tattered remnants of the last reupholster job were less unattractive. I'm thinking something ridiculously sumptuous and dark red held on with brass furniture tacks.
Lastly, but perhaps most excitingly, I am now also the proud owner of a real, actual dining suite with six chairs, a table with three leaves, and a buffet complete with flocked furniture drawer. This needs a few minor pieces replaced, some touch-up on the finish where it's worn off, and reupholstering. Now, there's nothing really wrong with the upholstery on these chairs, it's good quality and matches the woodwork nicely. It's just pink. Baby pink. And ecru. And I have no idea what color it should be, but I know it's not that. Any suggestions?
So, I have my work cut out for me for the next few months. I'll be posting some project photos, hopefully with a how-to element, as I tackle each item, so stay tuned.
