January 5, 2012

best of… lia fagan: curvy couch

Let’s take a look back on 2011 – the posts that inspired, challenged, and encouraged us. Today, enjoy Lia Fagan’s first “Thrifted Thoughts” post on Scoutie Girl, published in March.

Finding the old in the new can be challenging. Especially when the old looks a little something like this…

Grandma’s 70s sofa is screaming, “time-warp!”

That’s most likely why it ended up here, in the basement of a Salvation Army Thrift Store, hoping to one day be loved by someone again. While many probably pass her by daily and think “yikes!” I see promise in her curvy shape & wooden details.

Seeing past scary upholstery and scratched wood takes practice. If you’ve ever house-hunted, you’ll know that the process is similar. When house-hunting, you need to force yourself to see past the current state of the home.

See past the current owners’ decorating style, furnishings, and colours to get a glimpse of the “bones.” If you can do this, then you can start to reimagine the possibilities that lay within those “bones.” The same is true of vintage furnishings.

Now the real fun begins!

Take grandma’s sofa, for instance. Her cushions are in great shape (probably because the sofa sat, unused, in her parlour, wrapped in the original plastic for the last four decades). The springs feel firm and legs are sturdy. The wood could do with a little refreshing, but other than that, it’s in great shape. For a measly $49.00, what more could you ask for?

The obvious choice here is to reupholster. Purchasing a sofa that is in no need of structural repair means that upholstery costs will remain low. Snap a photo of your find and email it off to several local businesses that offer reupholstering services.

Hint – be sure to tell them that you’ll provide your own fabric (rather than choosing from their standard selection) so that the quote only reflects the reupholstering charges.

When you rescue vintage furniture, you give yourself the opportunity to create a one-of-a-kind piece that is completely customized to you and your taste.

Take advantage of this opportunity by giving your fabric choice some serious thought. This is something that you will want to do once and do right.

Two distinct design concepts come to mind when I re-envision this sofa. The first is for the bold, fearless, risk-takers. I’m picturing plush velvet in a deep saturated hue, like red wine, amethyst, or peacock blue. That would completely transform this tired sofa into a stunning statement piece.

Prefer to surround yourself with soothing neutrals? I hear ya! A light stone or charcoal shade of grey would look amazing next to the dark wood detailing and afford you the opportunity to inject some punch with pillows. Grey is the best colour to offset any other colour, making it a solid, timeless choice.

I’m confident that you could transform this sofa, or one like it, into a show-stopper for around $1000, all in. You will not find anything even remotely similar in style, quality or price (not to mention fully customizable) in any big-box chain store.

Do yourself a favor and include some vintage hideaways on your shopping list for your next big furniture purchase!

Has the makeover bug bit you? Tell me about it in the comments!

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August 11, 2011

Thrifted Thoughts: Tray Table

Ah, the tray table… Its classic lines will never go out of style.

This one was in near perfect condition and could easily blend into your décor in an instant. But, if one was so inclined, they could take this table to the next level since it lends itself to many other crafty DIY ideas.

Right of the bat, decoupage comes to mind. But you could also use fabric, pressed under glass. A mosaic of mirrors would be stunning laid in a herringbone pattern, so long as each piece had a clean, beveled edge.

But, my favorite idea for adding a little drama to this classic table: Tile!

I’m not talking ordinary tile. I’m talking art tile. And where is one to head when in need of art tile? Why, Ann Sacks of course!

Keep it modern by installing a graphic, starburst tile mural, like Jimi in colourway 5 by Angela Adams.

With a few square feet of stunning tile and an afternoon of your time, you could transform this table into an eclectic, one-of-a-kind piece!

Next comes the issue of where to show off your creation.

Because a table this size is so versatile, you could use it as a coffee table in front of a small sofa, or as a side table beside a deep, low sofa. Try it as a bedside table or an indoor/outdoor occasional table. Perfect for enclosed porches!

The tile will create a durable surface, making it into the perfect place to set a drink, regardless of what room in ends up in!

What would you do to up the awesome factor of a classic table like this?

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June 23, 2011

Thrifted Thoughts – Telephone Table

Do you ever wonder what to do with retro pieces that don’t really serve a purpose in today’s lifestyle?

Take this telephone table, for example…

We are no longer bound to one location when talking on the phone. Most of us use our cordless telephones or even our cell phones around the house.

A piece like this can still be super-functional, especially in a small space.

I picture it in an entryway, doing double-duty as a console table and seating. It offers you a place to set down the mail, your keys and your purse, while also providing seating for putting on your shoes.

If you’re lucky, you’ll find one like this, that is solid wood (as opposed to laminate) and is in near perfect condition. Being able to keep the existing wood, as-is, cuts down on your makeover budget.

All you really need now is some fabric and 20 minutes to recover the seat and give this piece a new lease on life!

To liven it up and add a little drama to the entryway, introduce a bold, graphic fabric. Any of these gorgeous fabrics would do the trick.

And there you have it: An outdated piece now has a new function, a new look, and a new home in today’s lifestyle!

How would you revamp a retro find like this one?

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June 9, 2011

Thrifted Thoughts: Ornate Sideboard

Pieces in disrepair often get passed by because buyers assume that the fixes will be much scarier than they really are.

Take, for instance, this sideboard.

The top is badly gouged and chipped. One of the doors is falling off and it’s missing all of its hardware. To me, this is the perfect candidate for a painted makeover, because of all these issues.

The top can be fixed with wood filler and a good sanding. The door just needs a new set of hinges.

Hint: Mount the hinges in a new location so that they have fresh wood to “bite” into. Then fill the old holes with wood filler.

The lack of hardware is the best part. This allows you to choose something that really suits your makeover.

I’ve been dying to try out the idea of painting a piece in only one colour.

I can’t remember where I first saw the idea, but it looked amazing when finished. Everything, from the outside of the piec, to the interior of the piece to the hardware, was painted out in the same colour. The completed look was so chic and sophisticated. To recreate it, the best place to start is with the hardware.

Most reuse centers have a hardware section. Knobs & handles usually sell for next to nothing!

For this piece, I would choose something metal that is ornate with lots of interesting details.

Because the piece will be lacking in colour contrast and pattern, the more interesting the hardware, the more interesting the finished piece will be.

You could paint this piece out in white, black or any bold, statement colour that suits your décor. I’m picturing it finished in a deep, rich, navy blue.

Before installing the new hardware, choose your colour.  The metal hardware will have to be spray painted. Since there are only a handful of spray paint colours on the market, compared to the thousands of latex paint colours, you’ll want to choose your spray paint colour first and then pick your latex paint colour to match.

Don’t forget to keep the sheen finish the same for both types of paint. If you choose a satin finish spray paint, you should also select satin finish latex.

Once the entire piece is painted out and the newly finished hardware is installed, I guarantee you’ll be in love with your new, modern classic!

What are your thoughts on this one-tone idea?

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March 9, 2011

Thrifted Thoughts – Curvy Couch

I could not be more excited to be part of the Scoutie Girl team! I can’t wait to share my ideas, tips & resources with you here in my column. Each week, I’ll be sharing photos of actual pieces that I stumble upon during my thrifting adventures, as well as my vision for how they could be revived. I hope that, from each post, you’ll take away a fresh perspective on time worn cast-offs and become inspired to do some reinventing of your own. Thank you so much for having me!

Finding the old in the new can be challenging. Especially when the old looks a little something like this…

Grandma’s 70s sofa is screaming, “time-warp!”

That’s most likely why it ended up here, in the basement of a Salvation Army Thrift Store, hoping to one day be loved by someone again. While many probably pass her by daily and think “yikes!” I see promise in her curvy shape & wooden details.

Seeing past scary upholstery and scratched wood takes practice. If you’ve ever house-hunted, you’ll know that the process is similar. When house-hunting, you need to force yourself to see past the current state of the home.

See past the current owners’ decorating style, furnishings, and colours to get a glimpse of the “bones.” If you can do this, then you can start to reimagine the possibilities that lay within those “bones.” The same is true of vintage furnishings.

Now the real fun begins!

Take grandma’s sofa, for instance. Her cushions are in great shape (probably because the sofa sat, unused, in her parlour, wrapped in the original plastic for the last four decades). The springs feel firm and legs are sturdy. The wood could do with a little refreshing, but other than that, it’s in great shape. For a measly $49.00, what more could you ask for?

The obvious choice here is to reupholster. Purchasing a sofa that is in no need of structural repair means that upholstery costs will remain low. Snap a photo of your find and email it off to several local businesses that offer reupholstering services.

Hint – be sure to tell them that you’ll provide your own fabric (rather than choosing from their standard selection) so that the quote only reflects the reupholstering charges.

When you rescue vintage furniture, you give yourself the opportunity to create a one-of-a-kind piece that is completely customized to you and your taste.

Take advantage of this opportunity by giving your fabric choice some serious thought. This is something that you will want to do once and do right.

Two distinct design concepts come to mind when I re-envision this sofa. The first is for the bold, fearless, risk-takers. I’m picturing plush velvet in a deep saturated hue, like red wine, amethyst, or peacock blue. That would completely transform this tired sofa into a stunning statement piece.

Prefer to surround yourself with soothing neutrals? I hear ya! A light stone or charcoal shade of grey would look amazing next to the dark wood detailing and afford you the opportunity to inject some punch with pillows. Grey is the best colour to offset any other colour, making it a solid, timeless choice.

I’m confident that you could transform this sofa, or one like it, into a show-stopper for around $1000, all in. You will not find anything even remotely similar in style, quality or price (not to mention fully customizable) in any big-box chain store.

Do yourself a favor and include some vintage hideaways on your shopping list for your next big furniture purchase!

Has the makeover bug bit you? Tell me about it in the comments!

Filed Under: Thrifted Thoughts, vintage Tagged With: , , , 14 Comments