Working With a Small Dining Area

Living in a house with limited kitchen/dining room space has posed a problem for our family of 6.  Our home was built in the 60's, and lacked a formal dining room.  Our particular floor plan is perfect for us with 5 bedrooms and 2 baths and with a square footage of 1,800 square feet, the dining room was put on the back burner I guess.  So what we have is a eat in kitchen which leads to the back yard. Granted our back yard is large and also serves as our entertaining area, we needed to be creative in making space for the dining room table.

Before, we had a long rectangular farmhouse table (second-hand craigslist find) which I also refurbished, with a 4 chairs and a bench.  We used it for a while, but it just felt to big for the space, so out it went to the covered patio where we enjoy it on beautiful California evenings!

Now I have always loved the look and tone of round tables.  They bring family closer at dinner time, with everyone gathered around facing each other. This particular table, I also found 2nd hand but needed to be spruced up. It was a dark cherry finish.  With a simple paint and wax technique, it was transformed into a set we absolutely love and that gives us much more room!

Here it is, our beautiful 7 piece dining room set (without the high price tag too!) featuring a round solid antique craftsman style table that has been refinished in a sun drenched weathered oak. It seats six comfortably but does include 2 leaves for more seating.

The 4 cafe style wooden chairs and 2 end parlor chairs have also been refurbished in weathered oak and beautifully complete this set.

 

 

Other summer pieces I had fun with this summer!

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Pretty in Pink Vintage Dresser 

Very sweet Solid Wood Vintage Dresser in a soft pink with delicate whimsical hand painted design on drawer fronts. Distressed lightly for a time loved appeal. Original wooden wheels, papered drawers and porcelain knobs give it that special touch!

 

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Vintage Dresser/ Chest of drawers featuring a freshly refinished top and drawers in dark walnut stain with body painted in soft neutral grey/beige.

Original wooden wheels, glass knobs and slight distressing make for a classic a time worn gem!

  

 

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Vintage Solid Wood Dresser or Buffet with mirror in a simulated weathered rustic wood finish.

Would be beautiful used as a bathroom vanity as well!

Original hardware refinished in a dark steel finish.

 

 

True Love

I'm a true romance fanatic, so when this husband and new daddy wanted to surprise his wife with special piece just for her, I was thrilled! The story behind this project was so sweet. This gentleman's wife's family owned a grocery store in St. Louis in the 40's and it meant a lot to her. The name of the store was Ebert's Market and they would deliver groceries and such right to your door! He wanted me to put the logo from the market on a dresser or buffet. Oh, I forgot to mention that this couple also bought my last farmhouse table set! 

Here's some shots of that lovely...

We refinished the oak top in a dark walnut stain and painted the bottom half of in Chalk Paint® Decorative paint by Annie Sloan in a mix of CoCo and Old White.

And here is the very cool delivery truck...

I decided the color needed to coordinate yet stand out in their kitchen alongside their new farm table. One of my favorite colors to get this attention seeking job done is Antibes, another Chalk Paint® Color.  

After stripping, sanding and staining the top of this 1940's dresser, I used the an image transfer gel printed straight from my Word program trying to match the font as much as possible. I did need to get a reverse laser copy make to the size. After distressing a bit I used dark wax to tone down and give the piece a time worn patina. 

The day he brought her to pick up the farm table and chairs, he had me put a blanket over this piece and pull it off to SURPRISE her, so sweet! 

She of course was touched by the surprise and absolutely fell in love with it. 

What a romantic gesture!

I'll never forget that project, it was just as special for me to create as it was for a beloved wife and mom to receive.