Thursday, May 19, 2011

Oh Stanley...you're just so pretty!

This project has been featured on Better After.
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Link
I'm sure a guy named Stanley wouldn't appreciate that remark. However, I just finished a BIG dining room set made by Stanley Furniture...and well, you know the rest. It's just so pretty!

I didn't always feel that way about Stanley. Here's what I started with:



Six chairs with those gold velvet cushions. I don't know about you, but I am so over gold velvet. (What year were those popular, anyway??) And yes, two of the chairs had broken caning, so I got some more experience at replacing cane! (The story in pictures of that adventure can be seen here.)


The table definitely had some really pretty details, but you had to look past the brassy gold trim, orange-y table top, the yellowish-white paint, and the black specks! Why was the whole thing covered in black specks? And no, it wasn't an accident...it was really/truly part of the finish.




Then there was a buffet and china hutch. Again, the same funky speckled paint job. The hutch doors had some sort of a faux-wire treatment in front of the glass. I've seen chicken wire in hutches that looks pretty cool...somehow it just didn't work with this set. Then the back of the china hutch was covered in a very brassy-gold mottled paper. Not my favorite look.

Here's the after...
(be prepared for a LOT of pictures!)






I do recognize that it seems a little funny...or snooty...or snotty maybe...to make fun of one shade of white only to choose to paint another shade of white. So be it. At least mine doesn't have funny specks, and it's not all yellow-y! I used Behr Ultra paint in Pillar White. The stain on the table top is Minwax Jacobean--FOUR coats of it! I used some stain to highlight details, as well as Minwax Dark Wax. I did not distress any of these pieces. I tried it on one chair, but I wasn't a fan of the speckled yellowish finish showing through!


The chairs were slipcovered ala Miss Mustard Seed (in fact, the whole makeover was inspired by her beautiful dining room set). Yes, they're made out of drop cloths. I love that stuff. I made miles of box pleats (well, it seemed like miles) to go around all six chairs! I used a narrow irridescent white ribbon on top of a cream-colored grograin ribbon for the ties. When the slipcovers were all done, they seemed a little blah to me...so I painted two random stripes on each seat. Some are centered, some are not! It gave a little pizzazz to the chairs.



Although the buffet top was originally painted, I chose to stain it to match the table instead. If someone chooses to use it by itself, I think it gives it a lot more appeal (that's what I tell myself anyway).


I covered the back of the hutch with wallpaper that has a subtle white and silvery-gold stripe. I already had it on hand--and when I held it up, it was perfect.

I used all the original hardware. I painted them with Rustoleum ORB spray paint, but they were a little blah, too. So I experimented with Rub-n-Buff for the first time, and I love it! It's glaze for metal! I rubbed a little on the edges of all the pulls, and it gave it a whole different dimension. I'm definitely a fan.


So what do you think of Stanley now?

This set is available for purchase. You can see it at Re-Creations ( 5508 South 1900 West, Roy, UT, or you can e-mail RedHenHome@gmail.com for inquiries.








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55 comments:

Stacey said...

Amazing transformation...lovely!
Stacey of Embracing Change
love the contrast of darks to lights!

Kim said...

Very beautiful!! Love the seat covers...great job on those!! My husband and I just refinished a kitchen table and it had the same black specks all over it...that must have been popular years ago!

Sue@Uniquely Chic said...

Know that black speck thing too. This set looks fantastic! You totally outdid yourself!

Anita at Cedar Hill said...

I know the finish you were describing. Your white paint looks lovely and what I professional job you did on the slipcovers with the pleats. You are more daring than me to do pleats. Thanks for visiting my blog. I am following!!

Bonnie@Creative Decorating said...

I refinished the same finish on a table and chairs I purchased as well. They had the green velvet seats and cane chairs. Must have been an era! Your set came out just gorgeous!

Unknown said...

loving it! the chair covers are great too

Abby said...

Amazing job! The set is just beautiful! I have a table that is on the list to redo with that awful speckled black stuff all over it too...cant ever figure out how people thought that was attractive!

Jacqueline said...

absolutely stunning! It all looks so gorgeous and wonderful you are very talented! Thanks for sharing at my link party!

Cathy said...

Beautiful!! Painting my dining table is my next project, maybe I don't have to use chalk paint after all! Love the slipcover too, Miss Mustard Seed would be proud of you!

Full Circle Creations said...

Just beautiful! You did a great job making it fantastic! The chair covers are great and I like that the lines you put on them aren't exactly alike on each chair!
Holly

SkinnyMeg said...

Wow! That is spectacular! So stunning and worth all your hard work!!

Emily at The Fine House said...

Holy gorgeous! That's a TON of work! And if you repair caning, I'm even more in awe! Now I really want to re-do the top of my kitchen table. The last comment hit the nail on the head: Stunning!

Kim @ A Brush of Whimsy said...

Goodness! Everything looks awesome! I just used my dark wax yesterday, thanks to your tip on where to purchase it from! :)

vanessa said...

That is a beautiful set!!! I am sure it will be sold soon.

Jennifer Interiors said...

Simply breathtaking! I love it!

Finding Home said...

Looks so beautiful - what a great job!

foreverdecorating said...

Pat yourself on the back for you are right on all counts and this is now THE most beautiful set!

Inspired by you said...

Stanley is lookin' pretty good. Great job!

reFresh reStyle said...

I love Stanley, how long it take to do all that! Wonderful job on the seat cushions, and I love the wallpaper!! Can I have it?
:) Debbie

JC said...

Wow, I'm in awe! Great job!
~JC

Amy@HomeRemediesRX said...

Absolutely stunning! Love the lines on those pieces... great job!

Tracy's Trinkets and Treasures said...

So impressive. You have major talent. I am a bit jealous of it. :)

Rae said...

I just found your site and I am so inspired? How do I do that lettering? Are they stencils? Fantastic!

Korrie@RedHenHome said...

Rae, you don't have an e-mail address attached to your profile, so I couldn't answer you directly! I use my Silhouette for my stenciling (that's the short answer). If you want a better description, ping me again and leave your e-mail address!

Andrea at Opulent Cottage said...

Such a gorgeous set now! Every detail is just great!
Cheers, Andrea

Here On Crow Creek said...

Great job! My mother in law used to work at Stanly. She snagged a few stanly pieces while she worked there. I love what you did with that set! I would love to know how to cane a chair. I wouldnt know were to start. You have turned this set into beauty!! Love it !! ps I think the gold velvet is from the 70's my mother in law give me a headboard with the lovely gold velvet that had to go! lol...I am now following:)

KimMalk said...

This is definitely a MMS inspired set! You did a great job, I love all of the details it has. Can you tell me, how was it sanding the top of the table? Those differing wood grains would have me stumped.

Suzanne@thriftstoredecorjunky said...

Stanley had a great facelift....
Love what you did with it, it looks like a lot of hard work that paid off well

Rachel said...

Gorgeous Korrie! Just gorgeous! That whole black speckly stuff. I kid you not, most of my parents furniture is covered in it. HORRILBLE! I don't know what it was about that era but gold, black speckles, etc. etc. etc...... OOOOOGly!

Cracks me up that black flecks was all over this furniture. Never understood it myself.... The square table I spray painted red and then held my breath hoping Mom wouldn't have a fit...... yup! Covered in the black specks. Mom loves it by the way........ Phew! Sarah has several of those old pieces. She needs to get out the spray paint!!

Deborah March said...

OH-MY-GOODNESS, this is SPECTACULAR!! After all that work, how can you bear to sell it!?

Kerrie Lightfoot said...

Oh my goodness. This dining set is amazing. I can't wait to do my own!

Cassie Bustamante said...

beautiful! i love that sideboard!

Erin said...

Wow, I cannot imagine how much time it took you to do this project! Quite the undertaking, but the end results are well worth it. :) Definitely looks like a MMS and it's gorgeous--great job!

Erin
Carolina Country Living
(visiting from Primitive and Proper)

Melissa and Scott said...

Wowzers, what a JOB! The whole set is gorgeous but I just love that table to pieces. Someone is going to be very lucky to have that as their set!

~Melissa

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

I love it. That table has such great details. Love the dark stained top. Great slips. I am not a sewer, but would make those if I was. Thanks for joining WUW.

Chris said...

This is so pretty! I pinned it. :)

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

I'd say Stanley is looking pretty darn good! Great job! I know the finish you are talking about with the black specks; I've seen pieces with it. The table had really nice lines to it and I think you brought them out better. Love the stain and the chairs are absolutely wonderful! Your miles of pleats look fabulous!

visiting from WUW : )

Courtney ~ French Country Cottage said...

Hey there~ I LOVE Stanley!! How gorgeous now! Love the slipcovers too- they are wonderful and so perfect for your frenchy set. I love the stripes you added to the hutch as well~ well done!!! Thank you for sharing this at FNF :)

Nutbird said...

I think the set was from the early 1970's. It yellowed from the varnish or polyurethane. The first type of "antiqueing" was just paint and a glaze. In the late 1960's kits were available. Two processes were too easy, so one of the final steps was a speckled finish to make it look like pecan wood or something like that. I did a set of furniture like that.
Well done! Marian would be proud. Ann

Ido said...

Awesome dining room set, love it! I recently acquired a chair with broken caning like yours, did you buy new caning, where did you find it?
Thank you for any advice you may have for me!
XXX Ido

Brenda Watts said...

Wonderful...Stanly is stunning !! Love LOVE

Cortney said...

TDF!!!!

Brooks Interior said...

Have you seen that slogan, "I feel a sin coming on"? After seeing your blog and wonderful transformations, I'm green with EnVy! Lord, please forgive me?????

gail@My Repurposed Life said...

Wow! Korrie all of those pieces are gorgeous! Super Job! I hope it moves quick for you!
gail

Cassie said...

wow - it's beautiful! how do you get such a smooth finish with your paint? I want to repaint my grandmother's hutch.....roller, brush, spray??? thanks!

Sonshine In My Soul said...

I am envious of your work. My hubby, Stanley, would approve :) Jenny

Cheri said...

Stunning.......Wow.

Amy Kinser said...

That is a gorgeous table and those slip covered chairs with it are perfect!

Sherry @ No Minimalist Here said...

I think Stanley is gorgeous now and I love the chair covers you made.
xo,
Sherry

Heaven's Walk said...

AMAZING job!!!! Stanley just oozes French vintage now! I'll bet he's much happier! lol! I've never used the dark paste wax before (any paste wax for that matter). Does it actually darken the spot you rub it on? How do you use it exactly? Thanks for sharing your beautiful treasures! :)

xoxo laurie

Courtney ~ French Country Cottage said...

Loving seeing this again~ it's absolutely charming!! Your slipcovers are wonderful! :)

DIYbyDesign said...

I have to say WOW! What a transformation. I absolutely love each and every detail. Love what you did with the chairs. I found you at the blogger block party. I am your latest follower. I would love for you to come and check out my blog and follow me back at www.diybydesign.blogspot.com. Thanks so much.

Suzanne@Meridian Road said...

Korrie~it's gorgeous! I love the chairs! The slipcovers are so pretty, and top of the table is beautiful. It's not an outdated set anymore! Well done!

Anonymous said...

Love it! You've inspired me to take on a similar project. I'd be interested to know what type of paint you used and how you applied it (especially on the caning). Thanks!

Yvonne said...

You are not going to believe this but I bought these same chairs just yesterday. I've been looking for the cane chairs forever and finally found an entire set I could afford.
I got online today researching them and ended up on your blog. My table and china cabinet are slightly different but very similar, with the faux wire and all! And, I planned to redo the seats ala Miss Mustard Seed as well. How ridiculous is that!