My 2016 Flippin' Bucket List

Well 2015 has come and gone and I was one shy of a completed Furniture Flip Bucket List.  When I laid out my aspiring projects this time last year, I vowed to do my best but also give myself grace if I couldn't finish all the items on my list so...

Grace.

 Yeah I only got through 6 of the 7.  And that's ok.  Here's a look back on what I set out to do last year [with links to the ones I did actually complete]:

No.1: Build my own baker's rack
No.2: Wood shim surface treatment
No.3: Rivet something
No.4: Navy and gold dresser
No.5: Best vintage pull-down chart hack
No.6: White chippy dresser
No.7: Turn a swivel chair into an accent chair

Now even though I didn't get to finish every item on my list, I did decide I to lay out my intentions for another year of new challenges for myself.  First up, surprise surprise, I'm rolling over the DIY baker's rack from last year - but with a new stipulation.

Source: Timberwolf Bay

I think what kept me from starting this project last year was the cost.  Wood is straight up expensive yo when you're building from scratch.  Plus the best part of a vintage baker's rack is just that: it's VINTAGE.  So my spin for this flip list item for 2016 is to try to DIY a baker's rack with salvaged wood.  It might take me a while to collect all the wood I need so here's hopin' I can tackle it by the end of the year.

Source: Better Homes and Gardens

I have ALWAYS wanted to have the guts to reupholster a chair.  Yes I've done benches like this one, this one, and more recently this one.  But a whole chair is a whole nother animal.  I think what intimidates me most is the piping.  And the cushions.  And sewing in general.  So I'm finally pushing myself to give it a stab this year and document my successes or failures right here for your entertainment.

Source: Lambert & Fils

Now this one I'm rather excited about.  I've seen a couple folks build their own hanging light fixtures on pinterest lately and I want in.  I have an idea for how to do it but I have no idea if it will actually work.  So hopefully that will entice you to stay tuned ;)

Source: Ellen Dodd

Now my original artwork isn't going anywhere but lately I've been thinking that there's something... juvenile about it.  Maybe it's the scale or the placement, but this year I'm going to find out.  

Yes I know I've done teal & navy dressers before but I am ITCHING to do another one.  I just LOVE me some jewel tones.  And I may be turning into a bit of a jewel-tone-obsessed addict bent on feeding her habit one dresser at a time.

Source: West Elm

I've done a whole lot of wooden tapered legs but not metal legs.  So I'm hoping that this year, I'll find the right project to try this style out on.

Source: Knock Off Decor

And finally, the last item on this year's list is to experiment with some unconventional hardware.  And by unconventional I mean anything but your standard knobs and pulls.  I'm not sure if I'll try rope pulls like this one of Chelsea's or if I'll do something with agate slices but I just want to think outside the box.

Thanks friends for dropping by and I hope you check below on how these projects are coming along.

Gail's Custom (faux) Cowhide Stools

Hey there! Dropping by for a quick before and after of a pair of stools I recently finished up for a client! Remember this handsome pair?

Probably not. Cate and I spotted these across the street when my neighbors were having a yard sale this Summer and thought of a couple ways to reuse the seats in this post.

When a very dear client, Gail, came by to pick up another piece for her new home, she spotted these stools and did some imagining of her own! She noticed Cate's cowhide bench in our Garage Shop, and found an inspirational image of a pair of stools with cowhide seats and chrome bases.

After swapping a few ideas on fabric and style, this was my finished product for her:

The cheapest option for finding round wooden discs to use as seats ended up being a pair of basic run-of-the-mill pine stools from Walmart and removing the seats. After attaching them to the metal stool bases I covered the wooden seats with 2" foam, batting, and finally, the fabric, (found at Fabric Bravo). They're quite comfortable, especially for doing sophisticated things like cleaning your eye glasses. ;)

I don't have a bar or island in my own home so it sure was fun to create this pair of beauties for someone who can use them!

Thank you for stopping by! Now go be your awesome self.

Flip-Off: Chelsea's MCM Restoration

Happy Thanksgiving Eve! We sure have enjoyed sharing our flip-off pieces with you this week and you may be thankful to know that this is the last post of the bunch! Hah! Much like Cate's story, I had out of this world plans for these pieces when they came into my possession, but ultimately convenience, budget and using what I had on hand won out.

My original plan involved actually making these two pieces into one 6-drawer dresser. I was going to deconstruct them completely, giving them a new top and base, and attach them together from the inside. But then I saw them side by side and realized I wanted their future owner to have the choice between using them as one unit or as two!

After giving them a shiny coat using Rustoleum Protective Enamel in High Gloss White, and new tapered angled legs, I decided that hardware would be my best bet for giving the illusion of one piece. I wanted something sleek and thin, but easy to grab hold of - when I saw this 'L' shaped wood molding at Home Depot it was perfect! I cut the pieces to fit the width of each drawer, stained them in Hickory wood stain, (same as I used on the legs), and screwed them into the pieces! When the pieces are side by side, the long pulls create the unified, sleek look I envisioned!

Now these pieces look fantastic side-by-side and could be used as a dresser, or apart as nightstands! My number one motive when refinishing a piece of furniture is versatility. Since I am more likely to spend my money on something that can be used multiple ways, I think that way as a flipper as well.

This pair got snatched up quick but I've got more goodies coming out of the garage soon!

Thank you so much for joining us this week with our mini-flip-off series! Your kind words have been so encouraging to both Cate and I and we certainly count you among our blessings this Thanksgiving. We'll be taking the rest of the week off to spend time with family and friends, but will be back next week getting ready for Christmas!

Gobble, gobble, yo.