Sunday, May 2, 2010

Earrings On A Pig

It's that special time of the week again!
Saturday Night Special over at Funky Junk Interiors


Check out all the furniture ideas and make overs at
Furniture Feature Friday
on Mustard Seed Creations


I'm joining Marty this week over at A Stroll Through Life
for another edition of Tabletop Tuesday.


Be sure to stop over at Reinvented for
Trash to Treasures Tuesday!


I'm also joining all the Metamorphosis Monday participants over at
Between Naps On The Porch for another fun filled project show and tell.
Come on over and see all the new DIY's this week!

I'm really bad about remembering to take BEFORE pictures.
My project involves a vintage piano bench and an old rustic garden table for
Phase 1.  A set of dining room chairs and table are on the TO DO
list for Phase 2 sometime soon.

This garden table was originally painted off white and turquoise and lived
in my sunroom at the old house.  At some point I painted it an antiqued greeny-gold.
It was never a "good" piece of furniture, made in the Far East of mahogany and
meant to be used in a garden or patio setting.  Weather resistant and a bit rustic, it
always made me smile because of its faux high style and painted finish.

When we built this house three years ago, there really was no place for it and after
trying it in a few places that didn't work for me on the patio, it was relegated to
living in the side yard exposed to the elements.  I walked by it a few weeks ago and
felt very sorry for it, with its now chipping paint and utter look of despair.

A friend in Chicago years ago had a favorite expression about gentrifying
a piece like this, " It's like putting earrings on a pig."
Well I'm actually quite pleased with this little piggy and may yet
find a place for it on one of the patios when I finish Phase 2 of the project.
For now it's living inside and enjoying it's new found "earrings."


Sand paper, clamps, some glue, paint and glaze.
You can see some of the remnants of the old coats of paint here and there.





Painted with several colors of gray paint, the first coat of glaze
is on and ready to be wiped off.





This was the piano bench in its old home, with some friends
decorating it.  Sadly all but my white cat Homer are no longer with us.




And here is the piano bench recovered and painted with
the same gray paint and glaze as the table.


The fabric is my favorite toile.  I have close to a hundred yards of this
fabric from the drapes at the old house.  I've made tablecloths, pillows, now 
the bench and probably could line all the walls in the bedroom with this
same fabric ....... no, I don't think that's going to happen!



And here are the results.











It doesn't take much to amuse me and I smile everytime I walk by my "new" table.
Oink! Oink!

64 comments:

  1. The transformation is great! I love the gray on the table.

    ReplyDelete
  2. How pretty - I love what you did with both pieces. I have two iron coffee table bases picked up curbside years ago. I could make a bench (or two) from them. Thanks for the idea. I had made a tile table top for one, but it didn't last too long outside. Dropping by from BNOTP.

    Allison
    Atticmag

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh, your earrings are so pretty!! This is gorgeous! You're too good and I love how you've dressed the table!
    Oink oink!! :)
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

    ReplyDelete
  4. As soon as I saw "earrings on a pig" I was drawn in!!! Very pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love how this turned out but what really caught my eye is the gorgeous mirror!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love both pieces but especially the piano bench. That toile is beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Both pieces are lovely!! They look fantastic together. Love the grey on the table. I see you're animals are there to lend a paw!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wow! Just gorgeous..love this vignette!

    ReplyDelete
  9. OMG, that is absolutely wonderful. You did such a fabulous job giving it new life but Holy Cow, what beautiful pieces to work with. Takes my breath away. Jackie

    ReplyDelete
  10. OMG!! I love it all!! The table is stunning and the piano bench? Perfection!!

    I really love this!

    Lou Cinda:)

    I am a follower!

    ReplyDelete
  11. love that mirror! and the table is a great piece!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Great job! Your home looks just lovely...but I'm sorry about your fur babies!

    Have a beautiful Monday!

    : )

    Julie M.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love your table. It's so similar to one that I have. My grandmother gave it to me along with a chest of drawers... a few remaining pieces of her first bedroom suite when she and my grandfather married. Your posting truly inspires me to get busy and redo it. Thank you!
    Karen
    Ladybug Creek

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love the way you put the piano bench with the desk -- and the carving on that desk is great. Nice job on all the refinishing! The picture with all the kitties and the puppy near the fireplace and on the piano bench is adorable.

    ReplyDelete
  15. What a great transformation! Love both pieces in the grey! And I'm more than a little jealous that you have 100 yds of that gorgeous toile! Vanna

    ReplyDelete
  16. Beautiful transformation! You did a marvelous job! The toile fabric is gorgeous!

    Katherine

    ReplyDelete
  17. FABULOUS transformations!!! LOVE them both and they compliment each other beautifully...I think they have found a perfect home right where they are!
    Have a beautiful week!
    ;-D Kathleen

    ReplyDelete
  18. Oh my word, they are both just stunning. I love the table and the bench. The paint job is just perfect and you have the perfect wall to put them on. Love the mirror and the vignette you've created. Sheer perfection. I really love it. Thanks so much for joining the party. Beautiful. Hugs, Marty

    ReplyDelete
  19. Your table turned out great and the bench looks wonderful under it. The whole vignette you created is perfect.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Beautiful! Absolutely beautiful transformation.

    ReplyDelete
  21. You did a fantastic job refinishing that table and I love the fabric on the bench. Everything looks superb!! I absolutely love all of it. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  22. A truly marvelous transformation! Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Great job, I would be walking by and smiling tooo!!! Loved that material. Thanks for sharing.
    Sandy

    ReplyDelete
  24. Your lovely comments on my little project are greatly appreciated! I really considered not posting this, sometimes my idea of neat is not seen in the same light by others. :-)

    Patti - I've had that mirror for years! If I recall it came from Ballard.

    Maybe if I can get caught up in the garden, I'll begin work on the chairs soon.... :-)

    Thanks again for all the oohs and aahhs!

    Candy

    ReplyDelete
  25. Wow! I love it! I am definately partial to putting earrings on a pig! LOL! Your whole setting is just beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  26. This is gorgeous! :) I love the paint treatment that you did on the table - it's beautiful! And that bench ... well I could go on and on, really! I found you through Marty's Tabletop Tuesday! I've got a dining room update up - I hope you can stop by! :)

    See you soon!
    Artie

    ReplyDelete
  27. I think it looks beautiful!!!! I love it; great job!
    It was fun to see a glimpse of your home; usually I only see your tablescapes on TT!!!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Great transformation!!

    Love,
    Susan and Bentley
    xxoo

    ReplyDelete
  29. This is an absolutely gorgeous makeover! Congrats on such beautiful work!

    ReplyDelete
  30. That is absolutely stunning! I just love every little detail in this beautiful transformation. You are so clever!

    Best wishes,
    Natasha.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Yikers!! WHAT a transformation. It is really beautiful and inspriational!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Very very nice. I really like the lines and the gray is fab.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Oh my!

    Thanks for all the super comments on my little makeover! I do appreciate you stopping by to admire my little old table and bench.

    Candy

    ReplyDelete
  34. OMG, the table was left outside. . .tears of joy for it's new place in your home. It's stunning! If ever you tire of it please ship it to me!

    Love your striped mirror above it too. Girl you have style.
    ~ ~Ahrisha~ ~

    ReplyDelete
  35. Oh wow this is great! I love the colors of your transformations. Very classy! Smiles, Marla

    ReplyDelete
  36. Oh my goodness...I love that table. You let me know if you ever get tired of it and I'll give her a good home. Just beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Gorgeous pieces! I love that fabric, too! Love the way you decorated this whole area.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Gorgeous!! I love that color!

    ReplyDelete
  39. I love this arrangement. I love all the colors.

    ReplyDelete
  40. oh how pretty! I love the way they go together. Good job putting these pieces together!

    ReplyDelete
  41. My little table is going to get a big head, with all these glowing reviews! I do thank you all for your nice comments on this make-over that I did on a whim!

    I am pleased with the colors, which came from the Martha Stewart line of paints new at Home Depot.

    Candy

    ReplyDelete
  42. Nice table and bench -- the mirror is terrific, too. Jane F

    ReplyDelete
  43. wowsa, what great pieces. your transformation is a success!

    ReplyDelete
  44. Those two pieces look like they were made for each other! I think your table is glad to be inside out of the elements :)

    ReplyDelete
  45. Oh. My. Gosh. For one thing, each of those pieces on their OWN are over the top gorgeous. The way you've finished them perfectly suits them.

    And then you went up another 12 notches and married them....

    What a stunning area! I'm impressed. :)

    Thanks for linking this up to SNS!
    FJ Donna

    ReplyDelete
  46. JUST BEAUTIFUL! LOVE all the different pieces put together! It's just perfect!

    ReplyDelete
  47. The whole vignette is just stunning! Truly an inspiration.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Thanks ladies, for stopping by and for your generous comments on my little makeover!

    Hope to see your again soon here on The Little Round Table.

    Candy

    ReplyDelete
  49. Absolutely beautiful. That bench had such naturally nice shape and the refinements you gave it were perfect.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Thanks Missy, I'm glad you enjoyed my little makeover!

    Candy

    ReplyDelete
  51. Now that is just too cool the way the table and the bench fit so well,. It looks as if they were intended to go together. Great job, Candy. The silvery grey finish is really nice.

    Do you recall where you found the chickens? I have a dear friend who would love some of those.

    ReplyDelete
  52. All of the chickens came from Home Goods. The two on the left a couple of months prior to the time I found the other two. It was a treat for myself in lieu of real chickens. The coyotes have devasted the few home flocks here in the neighborhood and that I can't deal with.

    Candy

    ReplyDelete
  53. Oh, I wouldn't be able to deal with coyotes after the chickens either. :-( We have no Home Goods here, so I will keep on the lookout for some others for my friend. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  54. Perhaps someday Blogger will implement an "edit" feature on these comments so that I don't sound like a complete moron!

    my last comment should have read "devastated" not devasted! LOL

    Candy

    ReplyDelete
  55. The earrings look pretty good on that old pig! ;)

    Blessings,
    Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage
    http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  56. OMGOSH...what is that BEAUTIFUL thing behind your mirror here?????
    Please tell me you have a post on this somewhere.

    ReplyDelete
  57. Hi bj -

    Are you talking about the reflection in the mirror? I think so, here's a link that will show more of the fireplace that is reflected in that image. :-)

    Way down at the bottom of this post past the tablescape!

    http://happenstancestuffhappens.blogspot.com/2010/12/its-turquoise-christmas.html

    Candy

    ReplyDelete
  58. The overall finished look is fabulous, you should be very proud. Keep up the great work!!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for your lovely comments.

Related Posts with Thumbnails