Adopting the "new" Aztec Style!

I just got done resetting a small space at Unlisted and I love how it turned out!

I've been seeing so many great Aztec prints and styles, that I just knew the gorgeous Equipale table I had in stock would be the perfect base for a new look!

Wait, what's Equipale? It's a kind of furniture generally made in Mexico with tanned pigskin and cedar wood strips. Each piece is handmade and has its own character! The tables I've found online retail around $490. We've got ours priced at only $99!

I've seen cool barrel chairs before, but I'd never seen a table like this one. Especially one with great large nailhead trim!

So how do you complete this look? To me, it's all about blending the somewhat rustic Mexican style with more modern Aztec or Navajo fabrics.

As soon as I found this mission oak rocker, I knew exactly what to do with it! The black and cream upholstery is perfect.

Complete the look with some woven baskets, natural elements like twigs and sticks, and maybe even some industrial style artwork.

Check out these looks for inspiration!



Via The Nest

 


Via West Elm

 


Via Design Sponge

Have fun playing with these looks in your space!
Karli

Kandy's Master Bedroom Makeover, Part I

It is time to makeover our bedroom. It's looking tired, old, and a little heavy. (I could be describing more than just our bedroom!) Anyway, it is past time for a new look. I usually change things up about every 10 years or so. 

But, before I share the plan for changes, I thought you might get a chuckle out of where this room has been over the last 30 years.

In the 1980's it began as pure "Country."

Check out the waterbed

 

Check out the goose wallpaper border...if you couldn't sleep you could count geese.

In the 1990's, still Country, with more ruffles and Victorian touches. The walls had been painted hunter green. The accessories were burgundy and navy...believe me that was the "thing" back then. We had purchased a new oak bed and I had refinished the chest of drawers.


White bedding in the summer.



Navy bedding for winter....the ruffled shams and bedskirt remained the same.

 

The oak armoire is still in the room, just accessorized differently.

In 2000, the room got painted an olive green. I made the window valances, that in itself could be a new post. We also got a new comforter set and I made coordinating pillows.

The room in shades of green and khaki with a more monochomatic feel. (This must have been taken during the holiday season)

Then I had to make even more changes, the valances got recovered in a different fabric and I added fringe and changed out the bed pillows.



The brass lamps are antiques.This oak chest is a more recent refinishing project.

 

The valances




Probably need a new look here now. 

So, on to the plan for changes:

• Repaint doors, trim and window trim white. 
• Repaint ceiling and wood trim white.
• Repaint walls a shade of gray.       (pick the perfect shade)
• Purchase new white drum lampshades.     (probably at Target)
• Purchase or make a white lumbar pillow for bed.  (to go in front of gold ones)
• Purchase or make new art for over bed.
• Recover oak chair seat in a gray pattern fabric.
• Recover window valances, or uncover older fabric, or remove altogether???

I'm challenging myself to make these changes with very little money. Therefore, I'm keeping our old bedspread and all the furniture. I also need to change out some accessories...give the room a crisper, lighter, more modern touch.  

Anyway, I'm excited! When you live in the same house over 30 years, you have to keep changing it up or it gets as tired looking as its owner.

I'll keep you updated with the changes and transformation.
(See an update here)

~Kandy

Some of My Favorite Vintage Chairs

I adore Vintage Chairs..... every room can probably use at least one. They can readily be found at flea markets and garage sales and usually do not demand a large amount of $$$$$ (dollars) if you only need one. You can easily transform a chair to work in your room. Have fun with the finish and fabric, mix it up and make a statement. Here are some things I consider before starting any project with a vintage chair:

1. It only needs to be somewhat comfortable unless you're planning to spend hours sitting in it. I suggest you sit in it and judge for yourself.  
2. Make sure the joints are tight, not wobbly. It can be reglued, but unless you have a large collection of clamps, you may have to pay a pro to do it.
3. Make sure it is worthy of the time and money you may put into it. Fabric, foam, nailheads, paint, (not to mention time) can add up to a large investment.   

Here are some of my projects which have become some of my favorites:

I painted this one white and covered the seat in khaki checked fabric.



I painted this chair black but had it professionally upholstered
with a great leopard fabric from Hobby Lobby.

                                                             

Refinished oak with leafy print fabric seat.



Vanity stool with black and white ticking seat.



Refinished oak rocker with new chenille seat.



Refinished oak again (love that arts and crafts style oak)



Black paint and fun ribbons added to cover reglued spindles.

Have you given any of your old chairs a new life?

~Kandy

Grandpa's East Lake Dresser

As a child, I have fond memories of the time I spent with my Grandpa Ray playing in his parts and machinery shop. I spent hours ringing up "pretend" sales on the cash register, searching through boxes of nuts and bolts, and exploring the attic. The attic was accessible only by ladder, all the big stuff it contained had been brought up with an old rope pulley. Hidden in dark corners were a strange collection of antiques...an incubator for chicks, an old embalming table (creepy, right?), and an old dresser filled with an assortment of papers, letters, and photos. I was thrilled to find old love letters Grandpa had written to Grandma tied up with silk ribbon in one drawer. 

After Grandpa and Grandma were gone, my parents gave me that dresser from the attic. I was thrilled to take possession of that fond memory, even if it was in rough shape.

It had decades of dust and debris on it but had never been painted, so restoring it just involved cleaning it up, tightening and regluing the joints, and a coat of tung oil. Only one original knob was in place when I got it. I searched antique stores high and low to find the old ebony ones that matched. 

I did leave the drawers in the shape I found them...complete with baling wire on the back...that was Grandpa's way to fix anything!

After I had refinished the dresser and proudly brought it into the house, Karli, (being about 9 or 10 years old) asked me what I thought it was worth. I went into a long "schpeel" about its age, missing glove boxes, etc. and told her that considering all, it was probably worth about $300. I then asked her if she liked it. She informed me that she was just curious so she would know what to sell it for someday!

I think Karli has decided that she does like "old things" afterall. She has grown to have an appreciation for character pieces and especially one with family history. The East Lake dresser now resides in our entry way, but someday it will be Karli's. 

The old photo sitting atop the dresser is one of Grandpa Ray as a child.  

~Kandy

Oak Ice Box Makeover

In March of 1986 I purchased this oak ice box for $175 at a shack of an antique store in southern Colorado. The ice box had been sitting in a shed with its legs under water and had severe damage to the bottom of the structure. Below Karli is pictured with the "prize."

Karli's daddy, Dwight, got involved in the makeover project and decided it was a complete rebuild.

In the process of rebuilding, we reglued all the joints, cut off the damaged legs and put it back together. I then refinished the exterior, bringing it back to its golden oak glory. I painted the inside with a high gloss enamel and added new glass shelves.

Two months and many hours later, the ice box had found a new life as the bar--holding liquor and barware.

~Kandy