Coffee Table

Restoration Redoux’s Top Ten Projects of the Year!!!!!

Published December 31, 2012 | By Shanna

Since we are about to start off a new year, I thought I would reflect on this year’s favorite posts.

When I first started reading other DIY blogs, I have to admit I was a bit intimidated. Every project they did looked so perfect. When there was a tutorial, a lot of them used terms or techniques I wasn’t familiar with, and so I would never try them.

I was searching for a blog that brought it down to a beginner’s level. I wanted one that would say “Hey, I’m no expert, but this is what did or didn’t work for me.” I didn’t just want to see perfect houses with their perfect lives. I wanted the “Hey, my husband’s been out of town, my house flooded, the kid is sick, and the house is a wreck … but here’s this easy project I completed in the middle of it all.” I wanted real life. I wanted someone to tell me that not every project they do turns out perfect, or that they had to do a technique 3 times before they got it right, and I wanted to learn from their experiences.

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Posted in Chair, Coffee Table, Desk, Dresser, Lighting, Living Room, Side Table | 30 Comments

Dancing Psychic Doctors

Published October 19, 2012 | By Shanna

Well, Fall is here and all of the networks have started their new TV lineups. I want to start watching some new ones, but I don’t want to waste my time on sucky shows. I thought I would share with you some of my favorites, and you can see what my taste is and maybe you can share some of your favorites with me.

1. So You Think You Can Dance. I love this show! I want my body to do what some of these dancers can do. I also want my body to look like theirs do, but that’s probably not going to happen anytime soon. For my birthday I literally asked my husband, mom and daughter to not get me a gift but just watch the whole season with me (OK, that and some junk). What fun is watching a show if you don’t have anyone to discuss it with? I’m always a little sad after this season finale arrives.

2. Private Practice – The spin off of Grey’s Anatomy. Spin offs rarely work (Port Charles, Joni Loves Chachi, etc.), but this one is fantastic. But medical drama, mixed with personal drama, who could ask for more? Plus I would like Kate Walsh’s hair (nothing creepy, just saying I would like my hair to resemble hers).

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Snow White

Published October 10, 2012 | By Shanna

I rescued this pretty little side/coffee table at a yard sale for a steal.

I loved the detailed carving on the sides. I usually do quite a bit of color in my pieces but decided this one had so much going on that simplicity was the key. So I decided to chalk paint it white. I’ve done ivory before but never white. Once it was white the carving got lost. Continue reading →

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Ring around the table

Published August 28, 2012 | By Shanna

I bought this coffee table at a yard sale for $12. Great deal! It had a neat shape and great carving. It was an ugly brown and had a circle around the top of it that was inlaid with some other type of wood.

I painted the whole thing turquoise but the ring still showed through. I added a couple more coats of paint but it was still there, it just looked like a bad cover up job. So I paid my dear daughter to use a tiny paint brush and paint the ring brown. I then lightly sanded over it but it took off a huge chunk of it! Then I thought I would paint the whole top of the table brown and maybe I would sand the ring and the turquoise would show through. No dice, it looked weird. So I had to putty over the whole ring, sand it down, and start over. Ugh! In the end it turned out really pretty but I put way too much effort into the silly thing. I forgot to take a before picture (I have a hard time remembering to do that) but here is the after.

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