Pepper Design Blog

Master Bedroom: A ‘New’ Salvaged Chair

I found this little gem at an antique/thrift store going out of business (best combination ever) and thought it would work great in our master bedroom. While the structure of the chair is my favorite part, the icy blue upholstery is in great shape and works beautifully with the rest of the room’s color palette.

Maybe she’ll receive new fabric some day in the future?

It fits the corner of our bedroom perfectly! More recently it has become a catch-all for every piece of Kevin’s clothing (who needs a dresser when you have an over-sized chair?) but it’s also a great spot to put on shoes or lay out the next day’s outfit.

The jury is still out on the color of the wood… I actually love the light pecan stain but there are enough blemishes that this piece might need an allover sanding and a slightly darker finish.

Or maybe all of those little nicks and bruises provide character? That might be the lazy answer.

I borrowed the nursery’s glider pillow for the photos, but I’ll have to hunt out a fabric for the future.

I’ve found that salvaged furniture is a great way to add well-built pieces to your home (they just don’t make furniture like they used to. at least not in my budget…), but it’s rare to find pieces in good shape. Do you bring thrift store furniture into your home or is the cleaning/refurbishing just too much work?

Before & After: Antique Sideboards

I love a good before & after… especially one that involves chic restyling of antique/vintage pieces that are usually lost in the bustle of an over-crowded thrift shop.

Anyone might dismiss these original sideboards as too dated, too much work, too time consuming… but a careful eye might spot the beautiful curves in those legs, the ornate detail of the carved doors or the solid wood core of a well-made vintage find.

I fell in love with antique-buffets-turned-new after we spotted this one in a local shop:

For photos sake, I wish I could say I knew her before that brilliant coat of turquoise! With the remodel well under way I borrowed these picture from a previous “Favorite Spot” guest post a while back – the dining room now resembles a bit of a stack and pile area.

We love our antique buffet and have slowly added restoration fixes ourselves – new handles, lined cabinets and next on the list is reinforcing those fragile legs.

Here’s a bit more inspiration for a weekend DIY project, each of these thrift finds have been beautifully restored to their former {or improved} life:

Sources: Country Living, House in Progress & Harpers Bazaar.

And a few DIY before & after photos that look incredible!

Navy blue sideboard by LivingEtc via CasaSugar and white dresser-turned-buffet by Holly of Life in the Fun Lane via Simply Elegance.

A bold coat of paint and new handles over at Live, Lush & Laugh:

And a white credenza makeover by Verity and a new yellow buffet by Michelle of Three Men & a Lady {both via design*sponge}.

Top amazing red sideboard before & after image by Jenny of Little Green Notebook.

Happy Goodwill hunting!

Guest Blogging… Over at 6th Street Design School!

Come visit me today over at 6th Street Design School! Kirsten asked me to share one of my favorite spots in our home… and I was delighted to share a sneak peek and several details of our ever-transforming dining room (which has served as my office space, our dinner party venue and project table during our remodel).

Come say hi!