vinyl + chrome = love

We’re just barely back from our honeymoon.  Still organizing life and most importantly all of our Brimfield finds!  However I couldn’t leave you hanging without a little dose of Circa Dee.

I’ve got a before & after for you from the archives.  I can’t hardly believe that I’ve never properly shared this project with you.  It is definitely one of my favorites around here.  In fact, there has been a debate on whether or not we should keep it for ourselves.  We don’t actually need this adorable retro dinette table & chairs however it fits in perfectly at the beach.  And we happen to have an open space for it.  Hmmm…

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Of course I didn’t take a proper before shot. More like an in progress shot after we started taking the chairs apart.  As you can see they were covered in the original vinyl which was in bad shape.  And then there was newer vinyl (not pictured) haphazardly tacked on over the original.

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Off it all came!  The chairs got updated with my modern spin on the original vinyl – bright aqua marine grade vinyl.  So fun!

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Don’t you just want to sit down?

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Now for the table… I love the original table.  Nice and solid.  What you can’t really see are all of the dings, filth and general wear & tear.  So ultimately we stripped it with the intent to stain the original wood with a more modern dark color.

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But at the end of the day we settled on a couple of coats of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in graphite.  I think it adds another modern punch that coordinates with the bright chairs very well.  I topped it off with a couple of cots of furniture wax.  It has a nice smooth finish.

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And check out all of those legs!  We cleaned and shined up all of that chrome which really gives off the retro vibe.  All of that gorgeous chrome is the feature that is saving the table from staying in our home.  We have all brass accents so the chrome has to go!  Too bad for us but maybe good for you?

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Wouldn’t you like to have a glass of wine at this table?

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to market, to market

Wow, the market scene is really heating up around town!  I’m not sure that I properly announced that Circa Dee will be a vendor at the first ever Brooklyn Flea Philly on June 2nd.

Brooklyn Flea Philly

Yes, you heard right!  Brooklyn Flea is heading south and launching a Philly based market.  And we’ll be there!

The flea will occur every Sunday at the Piazza in Northern Liberties.  There are a ton of great, well-known vendors lined up to sell at the market.  I can’t wait.

Ever since the time I shopped at the original Brooklyn Flea, I knew I wanted to be a seller there.  However, the early morning drive up to NY didn’t seem feasible.  I’m so glad they’re coming to us!

And if that isn’t enough, the following Sunday we’ll be closing out the Clover Market season on June 9th in Ardmore.  Sadly, we’ll miss May’s Clover Market but you should totally go!

clover

Don’t worry we’ll have plenty of new inventory for both events.  We’re currently treasure hunting throughout the entire Northeast on our road trip honeymoon!  And, yes, that includes a few days in Brimfield.  I’m smitten…can’t wait to share details from the wedding too!

Can you believe I’m talking about June already?  Summer is almost here!  See you soon.

twinsies

Good morning friends and happy Monday! How was your weekend?  Our was filled with final wedding DIY projects and prep…mostly outside because it was gorgeous out.  I’m getting so excited for our wedding festivities!

In the meantime, a little eye candy for you…

We have this amazing pair of oak twin beds in!  Only one is pictured here but honestly there is a phenom pair.  So I cleaned them up and hydrated the wood with hemp oil from Miss Mustard Seed’s milk paint line which enriched the color and patina of the wood.  This hemp oil is the bomb.  I’ve used it for so many projects from hydrating wood like this to a top coat over paint on a porous surface and also in between layers of paint.

antique oak twin bed - pair available

Each bed comes with a solid antique oak headboard, foot board, side rails & slats.  All you need to do is add the mattress and box spring. Check out the detail on the foot boards…

antique oak twin bed - pair available

I pretty much love them and keep imagining a twin room featuring this pair of beds (only one bed is pictured).  So tell me, how would you style a room with these beds?  I pulled a few inspiration photos below of twin rooms.  (Please do not pin them from here, rather click the source link to take you to the original image.)

antique oak twin bed - pair available

Sophisticated Twin Guest Rooms

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Airy Feminine Twin Rooms…

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Neutral Masculine Twin Rooms…

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Which is your favorite look?  And are you in he market for a pair of smokin’ hot antique oak twin beds??

stool sample

Honestly, I couldn’t think of a better title for this post.
Today I want to share a sample of what happens when mixing milk paint colors.

milk painted stool & vintage counting board

But first a little eye candy from the Circa Dee space at yesterday’s Clover Market.  We had an amazing day.  I can’t thank everyone enough!  The crowds were out in full force and were snatching up lucky finds like crazy.  Here’s a bit of what we had to offer with more booth photos posted on facebook

Clover Market April 2013

Clover Market April 2013

Clover Market April 2013

Clover Market April 2013

Clover Market April 2013

Back to the post at hand…

milk painted stool & vintage counting board

Last Thursday was the first milk paint workshop where we tackled mixing the paint, using it as a stain, wash and using hemp oil.  I used this little plywood stool as a sample applying ironstone milk paint to the top.

milk painted stool & vintage counting board

At the end of the class we got crazy and mixed up the remaining colors which introduced this magnificent mauvey pink color.

milk painted stool & vintage counting board

Tricycle + Mustard Seed + Kitchen Scale + Ironstone = Mauve

milk painted stool & vintage counting board

If you want to walk on the wild side with us this week, there is still time to join.  On Thursday we will be focusing on using the bonding agent to produce a controlled, opaque finish.  And next week, we’ll be getting chippy!

I know there is an interest in a Saturday workshop.  I hear ya loud and clear my milk paint loving friends!

Let’s shoot for a date in June where we’ll do the entire workshop series in one day.  Don’t quote me just yet but what does June 15th look like for those of you that are interested?

I’d like to schedule something before everyone starts taking off on summer vacations and May is pretty much out of the question for me with the upcoming nuptials and all!

Happy Monday!

a new display

A couple of weeks ago I posted this photo on instagram…

before

Gross.  I was in a dungeon rescuing this little piece of American history.  Is that too dramatic?

antique card catalog

I posted for feedback on whether or not I should strip it back to its original state – solid oak and brass pulls.  Finding a card catalog has been on my wanted list for quite some time!

antique card catalog

According to my very official poll, most people liked the color.

antique card catalog

And while I was on vacation in New Orleans, my antique factory shoe cart sold which was serving as a display piece.  That’s a good problem to have but it did leave me scrambling a bit this week!

antique factory shoe cart

I scrubbed away the filth on the card catalog keeping the history in tact and revealing the nice blue-green paint.  I think it makes for a really unique milk paint display with great patina.

antique card catalog

The history is also pretty cool.  It is a turn of the century 20 drawer card catalog from Penton Kelly Co. which was located in downtown Philadelphia.  It was a printing firm and this catalog seemed to house client information.

Ultimately I decided not to strip it.  I needed to turn it around quickly and figured I’d leave the restoration project out there should someone want to take it on!  Painted pieces are all the rage right now anyway, right?

This sucker is heavy!  You can see that solid oak peeking out.  Each side of the cabinet has a 4 pane panel.

antique card catalog

I just love these old pulls.  Check out the brass showing through.  I wonder why someone painted over the brass.  I guess we’ll be asking ourselves this same thing in the future about everything that is currently being painted.   Gotta love trends!

This guy is up for sale and display at Serendipity in Doylestown.

antique card catalog

I am trying something new with my watermark.  I always thought it would be fabulous to have my logo instead of text but I’m not sure I like it!  Thoughts?

Back to preparing for Sunday’s Clover Market…

counting down

Just over one week until Spring’s first Clover Market!  Will I see you there?

Clover Market

I’m narrowing down the inventory that will make it to the April popup next Sunday, April 14th.  Have you seen anything here lately that you’d like me to bring?

Oh I’ve got an awesome little vintage medical cabinet that will definitely be in the mix.  It is so fresh that I haven’t even posted a pic yet but it will make a fabulous bar for someone.  Or a nightstand.  Or both.  I’m not judging if you have a bar in your bedroom.  Stay tuned!

By the way you can get a sneak peak and first dibs at what we’re bringing to Clover by stopping by

Brick & Mortar next Saturday, April 13th from 12-4.

What are you treasure hunting for this season?