I love the new look, but also like the old. I am torn between sanding down 1950's dressser and chest of drawer's and repainting them or just keeping them as they are for sentimental reasons.
Thank you, @Terri - we have tons of old sentimental stuff around here. I've finally convinced my husband that it's still his mothers table if it's painted only now it works better for us.
I needed to hear that Shabby Daze. It will alwiys be my grandparents bedroom set, no matter what I do to it. If I paint it, I cn even put knobs on the drawers. Just wish the ecomony was better, so I could sell the Ethan Allen dining room set. I used to love it, but it's no longer my taste, so...However, I won't sell the entire set for the $500.00 two auctioneers said I could get ir for it right now. It is just sometimes hard to change what you have known your entire life!
Yes Terri I get that. My Mom had a danish modern bedroom set from the 50's I converted the low long dresser to a media stand (after she passed) for hubby's massive TV - I thought my sister would have a stroke. Mom would have loved it. Go for it - I picked up a dining set at the thrift store I'll be doing (it will be for sale). I'm just looking at it for awhile to see what color/technique jumps out at me. Here is a picture of my dream set. I keep my eye out for one just like this so I can
...»
make it over! Is your Ethan Allen set Queen Anne like this one? Maybe it's for me!
No Shabby Daze, my Ethan Allen is actually oval in shape, closes down in siize to fit 6, but with it's leaves wil open into a banquest size table where 16 have comfortable sat around it before. Plus, I have a matching side server and lighted display/storage hutch that goes with it all....I have my grandparents original wedding china from 1929, and my other grandparents oriental things put here and there for display in it. I want to keep the china, but sell the oriental....However, I
...»
won't give the stuff away for a few dollars in comparison to what theiy paid. Economy will get bettter one day (I praiy).
That is really cool what you've done with the dresser. It makes me really regret leaving so much of my old/antique furniture which had sentimental attachment when I moved. After seeing all of the stuff that can be done from Hometalk, I realize I could have done so much more with it. Unfortunately I ended up putting my grandparents' beautiful bedroom set to the curb because it was scratched, missing knobs - nobody would have bought it and it would have cost too much to have fixed professionally.
People don't realize what can be done with a trashed older piece...with some creativity, paint and some elbow grease what is old becomes new again! I have a hard time painting some things....I have a gorgeous rock maple dining room set from Cushman that has long been out of business...the look it waaaay dated but I remember eating at that set when I was 4 so it's been in the family since the 50's. I should paint the trestle table legs black to give it a more modern look....just can't get myself to do it!
You are all too kind. Thank you. Don't be afraid HandyANDY it will always be an old family piece but you can make it work better for your family today.
Shabby Daze, I have some free time next week and will try to make it to some of our antiqeu and thrift stores in search of a Queen Anne style table, etc. If I come acrosss one, I will let you know, give you the contact infor and you can check it out. NJ isn't to far away if you grab the turnpike.
Thanks Terri, I noticed that York Pa comes up on the town list on NJ Craigslist so I figured it couldn't be too far. Are you in Bucks County? We will have to meet up some time for coffee or something. I will redo the table and chairs so the cheaper the better LOL - I'm going to look at one I found on CL later today or tomorrow if we get snow.
York is actually located in York County. I think Bucks County is a little northeast of me, but I am so used to just flying through various counties that I really don't pay attention. I will google it and let you know how far it is from me later today. Hope you find what you are looking for and if you get snow, keep sending it north!!! We have cold rain and that is enough for me.
I couldn't really locate Bucks County by itself, but will continue searching. If I know that Doylestown is in Bucks, and I believe that to be atout a two hour drive, depending on which route you take, how fast you drive, etc. Like I said, when I am on open highways, I fly...How far are you from Philadelphia? I know that that is 1.5 hours from here....
Let me know if you have found what you are searching for, as I will be heading out this weekend and next week in search of bargains myself.
I took the top off of an antique dresser and added hinges to it so it would lift up. Then I mounted a flat screen tv to the underside of the top. Then I took off the drawer front of the top drawer and put a hinge on it so it would fold down. I put a small DVD player inside. Now I have a shabby dresser that conceals modern tv stuff.
Let me know if you have found what you are searching for, as I will be heading out this weekend and next week in search of bargains myself.