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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Linking to:  Miss Mustard Seed

secret weapon

Ok so it’s not so secret anymore.

Let’s just say that I am not much of an upholsterer.  I have tried my hand at it and it’s worked out ok but nothing epic has come of it.  I can’t do much beyond a basic seat.  Anything involving curves, sewing, welting, etc.  Not me.  Nor do I enjoy the task.  And I’ve come to accept that.  Part of the acceptance came when I found a stellar upholsterer to partner with who totally gets my style and is a true artist in his craft.

Meet Pete.  Hard at work.

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When I started designing the bedroom for my home show room I knew there had to be an upholstered headboard. It had to be eye-catching.  It had to be vintage fabric.  A few ideas flew around as to what fabric to use but ultimately I settled on this bold, vintage tablecloth that is durable enough to stand in as upholstery.  I love the print and feel like it is totally fresh again as a headboard.  I considered tackling this project alone but decided to call in the professional after all.

Home Show - Upholstered Headboard

I love to source vintage furniture, re-imagine it and find just the right fabric, lay it out and then turn my idea over to the professional to implement.  Check out these before and after collaborations between Circa Dee and Hummingbird Upholstery…my vision, Pete’s craftsmanship.

Barrel Back Chair Before & After

Before & After French Settee

Before & After Club Chair

To all of my local blogger/designer/DIYer/upcycler/upholsterer-seeking friends, I am sharing my secret resource with you because I believe in paying it forward.  I love supporting small businesses and artisans – people who do what they love everyday.  You should definitely enlist Pete at Hummingbird Upholstery for your next project.  His workshop is located in beautiful Chester county.

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By the way, the club chair and headboard collaborations from the Home Show room are for sale.  Both are currently listed on etsy.

Reclaimed Industrial Bedroom

where i’ve been

Where have I been you ask? Thank you for your concern! I have been all over this past week from the city to the country to the beach and back to the burbs picking up a whirlwind of inspiration along the way.  I love where I live simply for the fact that I can hit all of those places and spaces in just a few hours.  So let me share what I’ve been up to.

You may or may not know about my participation in the Philadelphia Home Show at this point.

Philadelphia Home Show

To recap, Circa Dee was selected to design an upcycled room at February’s show running from the 2nd to 10th.  I am ecstatic to share with you that almost every surface of the room will be repurposed or vintage in nature.

Because that’s how I do.

I’ve partnered with some stellar folks who are helping to make the impossible possible in the world of upcycling.

First up is my upholsterer who’s identity shall finally be revealed.  Drumroll please.  Hummingbird Upholstery.  Will you please stand up?

Hummingbird Upholstery

Here’s what we’ve got in progress.

Upholstery Project

Oops I’ve said too much already.

And this is where the magic happens…on a beautiful horse farm in the depths of Chester County.  Yes, I’ve blogged about my love for this barn before.  No, this is not a rerun.

More trash to treasure upholstery amazingness to come!

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And moving further east.  Further.  In Philadelphia.  Closer to the river.  You’ll find Provenance.

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And their warehouse full of SO awesome reclaimed goods.

Provenance Architecturals

You’ll have to tune in next month to see what we come up with it.  But let’s just say that Provenance did the new Barnes Foundation floor.  And yes, that was formerly the Coney Island Boardwalk.  I love the magic of salvage!

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I realize you don’t all live near the city of brotherly love and I don’t want to leave you out of this fun project called the Home Show.  I will most definitely share pictures of the finished room here with you and maybe even some awkward ‘during’ shots (although I hope to leave my hot pink paint pants at home).  I will also share lots of instagram pics because I’m hooked.  And facebook, twitter, pinterest and whatever other form of social media hits the interwebs between now and February 2nd.  However, if you are local I hope to meet you at the show!

Oh and speaking of the beach, we were speaking about the beach, right?  I rounded out my whirlwind few days there.

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Complete with lots of new additions to my space at the West End Garage.  Get ’em while they’re hot!  More about the lobster sign and other paint projects in a post later this week but I hope you like it!

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And I promise to start taking pictures again soon with my real camera and to lay off The Instagram.  Soon.