Saturday, July 14, 2012

Before & After

Can you stand just one post about a factory cart coffee table?  Ok, good!  Industrial furniture has been on the home decorating "scene" for some time now.  I think we have Restoration Hardware to thank for introducing us to the ever coveted factory cart, as well as the sticker shock that accompanies the grand delusions of buying one from them! You can also find industrial pieces in Pottery Barn, Home Decorators, and Ballard Designs to name a few, but you'll still be shelling out a few bucks there as well.


Imagine (as I reminisce) the sheer joy and squeals of ridiculous delight as an overhead door to junk heaven opens and this baby is the first thing in sight.  MY sight....junk sisters were behind me, so I called dibs on this one!


That was two years ago, and she has finally made her debut in my living room!  What took me so long?  JunkFest....that's what took me so long!  Every junker knows you don't actually get to your own stuff until.....well...two years later. Or longer.


When I finally did start working on her, I was faced with the dilemma of what to do with the old planks on top.  It was one of those love/hate things.....I LOVED the patina of that old, weathered wood.  It definitely had a story to tell.  But I HATED the thought of bringing it into my home.  To use.  Everyday.  Because I knew I would have to seal all of that lovely worn wood in order to put our feet on it, or eat on it.  Yes, it happens....sometimes at the same time.  Don't judge.  Anyway....as I said, I loved the patina of that old wood, and sealing it would ruin the character.  Seems like a crime, doesn't it?


So I decided to remove all the old planks and try my hand at distressing new lumber, so that I would feel better about mine and my family's feet resting comfortably on that new wood.  No slivers for my loves. And, I could use the weathered wood for something else...that we would not eat off.


 Yes, the pictures are blurry.  It happens when you're excited.  Just wanted to show you how she looked with the posts attached.  I felt really bad about removing those too, but I got over it quickly.  They're not conducive to t.v. watching. 


Here she is, resting comfortably in my living room...just waiting for the feet.


 Ah...yes! There are the feet!  And lanky legs of the resident tweener.


I wanted to add some height, so I found some square lumber (technical term) and adhered it under the newly stained and slightly distressed planks.  If you've never distressed anything (intentionally) I highly recommend it.  It's cheap therapy.


 I'm in love with the wheels. Now that they're clean.  And stained & poly'd.


 The whole thing got a coat of walnut stain.  Then I waxed the wood several times and called her good.



This is one of my favorite before/after's. Probably because I get to keep this one.  But now I have to get to work...JunkFest is just around the corner!  Linking up to Funky Junk's SNS143 here... , Miss Mustard Seed's Furniture Friday here, ...and here...and here...

13 comments:

  1. Be still my heart. She's a beauty. I would have been torn on the lumber decision too but you came up with the perfect solution. Just wish I would have been in front when junk heaven guy opened that door...but girl, you had your game on that day! Oh good times!


    We are food /feet people too!

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  2. Be still my heart. She's a beauty. I would have been torn on the lumber decision too but you came up with the perfect solution. Just wish I would have been in front when junk heaven guy opened that door...but girl, you had your game on that day! Oh good times!


    We are food /feet people too!

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  3. Oh she's gorgeous! I don't think I'd have been capable to wait two years to have that beauty in my house. You've got amazing patience! I finally found a similar cart at a local furniture store they'd used as a floor model so it had a cracked plank. Got it for a steal! It certainly doesn't have the character and history of yours, but I'll take what I can get!
    Found you at Funky Junk!

    Jeannine @ The Concrete Cottage

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  4. It's fun when you get to keep a piece. It took me years to learn that I could actually do that! You picked a good one!

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  5. wonderful piece! Someone gave me a beautiful old luggage cart from the railroads, It isn't high enough for a table so I keep an old trunk on it. This looks great!

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  6. Wow, that is an amazing transformation. Enjoy it.

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  7. What a fantastic find and wonderful makeover!

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  8. This is amazing! What a wonderful job you did! I really love the new wood (and no splinters)!

    blessings,
    karianne

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  9. Trust me, you are not the only people out there eating off your coffee table. I would be more worried if you put your feet on the dining room table! This is awesome. When I (ever) come across one of these, I will do the same thing you did - probably with accompanying palpitations.

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  10. I have to say I am so glad you changed the wood. Fabulous project. Every bit as good as Restoration Hardware.

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  11. Beautiful! If anyone lives near MD, Great Stuff by Paul in Frederick MD has the real deal old factory carts for pretty reasonable prices (under $400). But they are heavy! I have one that looks very similar to yours, but I just brought it home and plopped it in front of the sofa. Yours looks great.

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  12. It's fun time to put your feet on the table. I do it all the time too.

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