Now becomes a stool!

This once worn Queen Anne could be mistaken for a Pottery Barn reproduction piece, if it weren’t for the unpierced back splat.  I’ve been working on this little number a couple of days now breathing new life into it as an entryway stool.  The first day out here working in my studio, I sanded away the finish while listening to the rain magically patter down on the metal garage door. Remembering my luck finding the perfect silk fabric at F and S for Traci’s chair, I returned to find something appropriate for this piece. I really enjoyed picking the fabric and cutting a custom plywood seat with my new orbital scrolling jigsaw.

I must admit to having a weakness for cool patterns on anything from a footstool to an ottoman. This one works especially well as an entryway spot to stop and take shoes off, or a as a vanity seat because of it’s height.

I hope to make more pieces like this, occasional tables, stools, and nightstands tend to be my latest fascination!

Next time, I may pad the seat even higher. Instead of using 1″ foam and polyester batting, I may try the 2″ foam for something really fluffy.What do you think would look the best, thick or thin?…Ideas?

Here’s a taste of what’s going on in my studio!!

I loved this chunky wood table in baby Eva’s bedroom.  The natural wood top was beautiful, but as a piece it just didn’t fit in with the room’s decor. Plus, it had a few blemishes to be taken care of.

In an effort to give it a second life, I’ve been washing it with sage accents and a glaze of white.

Stay tuned to see how it looks with it’s partner piece, a cream sofa and chocolate n’ white furnishings.

I can’t wait to show you Eva’s  updated room!

Traci’s chair had been handed down to her. It had a strong frame and was built beautifully. I was up to the challenge of restoring her heirloom piece. Here it is before on the left. We loved the original colors of the silk on the seat.

When, I came across this gorgeous Sunbrella silk at right, I knew that we had found our new fabric! We both agreed on it immediately. To add comfort, I added an extra sheet of polyester batting to the existing cushion, being mindful not to make it too fluffy! Here you can see the beauty of the wood from the side.

That is one chic restoration piece, does anyone know what period it is from exactly? My guess is a Thomas Sheraton piece.

Looks like it is going to be another full day. Pop in later in the week for a DIY project and inspiration!

Okay, so I’m a little embarrassed that our bathroom used to look like this. I couldn’t delve into painting because we were still considering a move and in my defense, the cream and cranberry tile were a tough color combination to accent.

The first week in our apartment, I painted the bathroom. Then, I painted it white all over again, here’s what it looked like (please excuse the mess!)

Here’s a peak at the pine wood frame. I prefer to lighten and darken stain with artist’s oil to develop a custom shade. This one is Varathane’s Summer Oak stain,  mixed with Raw Umber. I chose knot filled 1″ x 2″ from Anawalt Lumber in lieu of rustic pieces which were hard to find in L.A. I came across this plan at Knock of Wood and knew the solution to my frameless mirror had manifested!

All year, I have been picturing this simple upgrade. Paint is budget friendly and makes such a huge difference in small rooms. The blue shade made the tile look creamier and less yellow…Did I mention I’m so happy?!

For now, this is the final peak! I’d still like to accessorize the outlets with covers, pewter maybe? Plus, find some decorative knobs for our built in storage.

For those of you playing my little faux granite guessing game, you are fool proof, it is the one on the right!

When my neighbor Marca, showed me these 2 incredible hand carved fish tables, I knew I was interested in the project. They were selected by her from a prominent antiques dealer and friend years ago. Although the beauty of their carvings each had withstood the test of time, the table tops and bases needed to be restored. We decided to refinish and recreate them with a decorative flair based on a watercolor painting within the room. You can see the artwork way in background, just to the right of the window.

I know, I’ll grab an extra picture of the painting tomorrow!

Here you can see them as they are further embellished in my studio. I used combination of color washing and gilding to renew the surface. As you will see the oxide red and burnt orange really complement Marca’s own decor. As for the bases we chose a deep blue.

The pair can be used a serving table side by side or alone, when she entertains!

We  really wanted something unique, so we chose to abstract the mossy green lilly pads on the table tops. Whenever, painting on the top of a table, I think about how best to protect the finished artwork. I accomplished these through sanding, painting, and marbleizing techniques. They were then sealed with an oil based polyurethane glaze. Luckily, Marca had glass tops cut for added protection.

I love the how the green orange and blue tie into the room. Next up is the blue  and white mantle that I will be marbleizing!

We are looking for a swatch that will bring in a little gray and white.

Which one do you like best and why?

This is the story of a chair.

It belonged to my neighbor, who had purchased a whole set, but upon her big move she left this lil’ beauty behind.

I’m sure some of you are thinking “I own this chair!” , and it is  a popular type of Windsor loop-back reproduction commonly sold at Target amongst other places;) So, I decided to try my hand at stenciling and making this piece a little more one of a kind.

Another inspiration to revisit stenciling came from a Storque article on surface designer Lena Corwin.

Here is what Violet looked like after I stripped and sanded all the white paint off of her seat.

Not too shabby! I like the look of her with the oiled and sanded natural wood. Ahem…you may also notice the amethyst curtains that I hand dyed this week!

Next, I cut flower shaped stickers from contact paper. I did this by tracing the design onto the contact paper, then applying them to the seat of the chair.

This method of stenciling can be used to create a wall mural too.

To do this yourself, you simply need:

• A wooden surface
• Roll of contact/self adhesive paper
• Scissors
• Paint and roller
• Brush for touch ups

I decided to let the natural wood show through the surface, so I didn’t need to do a base coat of paint.

I am pleased as punch with the final results.

Ain’t she a beauty?

If you have similar stencil projects you’d like to share, send over the pics to hilary.hahn@pinkpianos.com.

Next Monday, I will be sharing the work of a talented artist along with an interview here!

Until then, XX!

This table is 59 years old. I tried a few things to restore the wood, beginning with stripping and sanding the lacquer. The top had a few knicks, scratches, and one coffee ring that I was desperate to remove.

Looking back I’m sure I made a few mistakes. I would probably use Restor-A Finish instead, a product that does not interfere so much with the existing lacquer. This wood is so beautiful, it just needs to be oiled and polished.

I think preserving the natural wood is key in a job like this. The top is a satinwood, and the legs, mahogany. I liked dealing with this combination and even mimicking the Shaker finishes by sealing the piece in a coat of orange oil and beeswax. Au naturelle, for a change.

From the front, you can see the gold plated, nickel pulls.

The top shines so nicely, it is hard to believe this table is at least 50 years old.

Inside the drawer there are the words American of Martinsville engraved, corroborating it’s authenticity. The aspect that most please me is the top.

These pieces popularly sell on Ebay and 1st Dibs for a pretty penny, but don’t always look this renewed.

If you are interested, email me for a quote.

Stay tuned tomorrow for some timeless Shaker classics.

As promised here’s a peak at what I’ve been sewing at home. Et Voila!

This pillowcase is for the Designer Tag Sale in Orange County that I’ll be participating in this weekend. Details below.

Another big reveal…drumroll…is this little side table.

I named her Marlene. I hadn’t planned on naming her, but this one just struck me.

She looked very different before. I also found this shade of beige light and totally appealing.

Today while shopping around for other vintage side tables to redo, I found these alabaster candle holders on 1st Dibs.

Green and beige can look pretty sophisticated side by side. More on that soon.

I’m glad to be back after a busy weekend!

This past Saturday, I took one look at my garage/studio and knew I had some serious work ahead. Fall is in the air…or should I say was? and I’ve been thinking about doing some painting outdoors. Here’a a look at some quick organizational fixes that I did in my studio to de-clutter.

Oh~and since I live for using Found Objects, you’ll notice I made two floating shelves out of recycled drawers, drilled a salvaged easel to the wall and painted up some pegboard panels. My goal was not to spend a lot of money on a fancy studio redo, but to tidy up what I already had.

I plan to fancy it up with some finishing touches after I hit up the Malibu Lion’s Club flea market this weekend. I’ll be hunting for a recycling bin, vintage fabrics, and little cool containers.

Wouldn’t it be fun to design a fine artist’s workspace?

On Friday, I am excited to share what I learned at “Get Hung” a little art-biz seminar this past week, plus an inspirational DIY idea.

Do you love a Quick Fix?

Me too!

Here I found a modern workstation, completely cast off. Lots of coffee rings and paint had seeped into the wood. In fact the entire work top was detached.

Here’s what it looked like.

Some of these before shots end up more “artsy” than expected. I guess that’s what happens when you forget to clean up your studio….

A coat of gray paint and fresh honey stain on the shelving made a big difference.

I removed a computer tray to allow for a sleek new look. Check out the gorgeous paper I chose by Smock for the work top. Their paper sheets are eco-friendly using post consumer waste and bamboo! You can be sure you’ll see more wallpaper and graphic prints in the weeks to come. I’ve been on a paper binge, ever since two new commissions have called for me to revamp my stock of glorious papers.

Whether you clean up an existing piece or salvage a scrap from your neighborhood streets, I hope you’ve been inspired by this simple fix.

This is one of three projects I’d been working on in studio before my flying off to the Bluegrass State.

This week look forward to all kinds of inspirational snapshots from my trip to Kentucky along with one of a kind design finds fresh from the South.