Archive | Do It Yourself! RSS feed for this section
Mid-Century Chair Overhaul
The amazing, mid-century modern dining chairs looked terrific in the ad but it wasn't until we got them home that we appreciated just how much work would be involved to renew them. The lacquer was worn revealing a yellowish undercoat, dings needed patching, the foam had completely disintegrated and nearly half the feet were missing. I didn't doubt that they'd be fantastic, I just underestimated what it would take to get them there.
The DIY Learning Curve
Tuesday, October 20, 2009 by Chris
Last week I spent what turned out to be a "wasted" hour removing paint stains from this Duncan Phyfe dining table. I say wasted because it wasn't until I got the piece cleaned up that I fully appreciated how damaged the finish really is. The table top will have to be completely stripped after all, making all of my cleaning effort redundant. But the process taught me a valuable lesson, which I then applied to our coffee table with superb results.
Do It Yourself: House Names and Numbers
Saturday, October 17, 2009 by Susan Forint
In the English tradition of naming houses, my Mom and Dad decided that "Idyllwood" wold be a fitting moniker for their 1928 Tudor-style home, which is set on the edge of an ancient, wooded ravine. And since you can't have a name without a sign, I set about creating an appropriate plaque with the help of Toronto's iCOPY Express, a local print and sign business. They cut the peel-and-stick letters while I waited for less than $20. Many homeowners use these vinyl cut letters to mark their house number and street name.
Stencils For a New Decorating Era
Thursday, October 1, 2009 by Chris
When I got the press release from Beauti-Tone I admit my first thought was, 'Stencils? You've got to be kidding . . . so 80s!' But rather than being used as borders as they were two decades ago, today's stencils are being sold as super-inexpensive alternatives to wallpaper. "They're fantastic for an accent wall or a nook," says Beauti-Tone Creative Director Bev Bell, "and without the expense or challenge of hanging paper. There are no seams to match up and no stripping to do when you're ready for a new look."
Wood Refinishing 101: Start Small
Monday, September 21, 2009 by Chris
What I know about woodworking is enough to fill a single blog post, this one. I'm as rank an amateur and you'll find. But that didn't stop me from trying to rehabilitate this teak bar cart which looks incredible now, thanks to a really good sanding and a rub-down with my new favorite product, polymerized tung oil.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009 by Chris
12 Comments