The before

When I first saw the cabinet I had visions I stripping and refinishing it just like its mate – however I was soon thwarted by something that I didn't notice until I tipped the cabinet over to start working on it. I knew that the cabinet hadn’t been treated too kindly and was filthy, however there was one small detail I hadn’t noticed when I bought it - one of the feet (for lack of a better word) was irreversibly damaged - the wood base was missing a rather large chunk. This immediately took the wind out of my ‘woo-hoo, new project! ‘ sails, and left me completely stumped on how I was going to fix it. I could strip the veneer easily enough, but as the missing chunk was at the front corner of the base, even if I could repair the structural wood underneath I would have to re-veneer two sides. While I repaired the veneer on the base of my console, the repair there was on the side and isn’t easily seen. The front of the cabinet would always be on display, and I wasn’t confident that I’d be able to do a good enough job with the veneer replacement. Compounding the issue, I didn’t have the tools, space or skills for any woodworking, so repairing the base myself was impossible.
Needless to say I was completely stumped as to what to do so the project came to a screeching halt. Eventually I got tired of the cabinet sitting there empty and ugly and I decided to just Google local woodworkers and email them asking if they might be able to replicate the entire base of my cabinet. Eventually I found one who was willing to work on such a small project and I schlepped the damaged base cross town on public transit so he could copy it. Skilled trades aren’t cheap, and his expert work cost me nearly 3 times what the cabinet did.

My china cabinet was quite dirty when I got it - the hardware before and after a prolonged polish

Once my cabinet had a sturdy base it was time to turn my attention to its beautification. The new base was natural wood and I could have attempted to veneer it, but I opted for paint instead. I’m normally firmly in the ‘wood should not be painted' camp but the veneer on the entire piece was in really rough shape, cracking and splitting, so painting it was the only option. After using wood filler to fix the worst of the blemishes I primed it, and then did two coats of colour.
I debated painting the interior of the cabinet a fun hue, but in the end I decided that I wanted the items I displayed behind the glass to be the focus so I chose a warm white – Coconut Sugar (PF 60). For the exterior I wanted something that would highlight the brass hardware I spent so long polishing, but I didn’t want anything too dark. I chose Fort Beauséjour (P2144-02) which is a lovely blue-grey. Both colours are from Para Paints.
I think my china cabinet is a million times better than when I got it and, in the end, I’m glad I persevered.

I love that the table is white, but one small problem I noticed once I put the table in the foyer was that it blended a little too well with my white walls - it needed a little colour. I think one of the easiest ways to add colour to a space is with flowers. I love Orchids as they’re not too expensive and they last forever, however as my foyer doesn’t really get any natural light I opted for some colourful fake ranunculus from HomeSense instead. I also placed a little tray to hold my mail and keys, and then I decided the table needed a little whimsy so I added my Matryoshka-like dolls that I brought back from Australia a few years ago.
What do you think? Do you have a place in your entry to put the mail and your keys when you come home? Or do you do what I used to, and drop it  in the hopes a magical elf would come by in the middle of the night to tidy it away?

Disclosure: Staples Canada provided me with the table and asked me to share how I would use it as an accent piece in my home. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Ikea Ovre Toddler bed - $96 (frame)

I don't have kids, but most of my friends do. There's some debate as to the value of a toddler bed, but this one (called Ovre) may sway some opinions. I think it's adorable, and the bunting makes it even cuter (and I would love that stuffed shark).

Ikea Ranarp Lamps - Desk Lamp and Pendant lamp - $40ea

I think these new Ranarp lamps are simple and classic, and therefore beautiful. It's available in a desk, and a pendant lamp, as well as a floor lamp that I think I may need to own in the near future.

Ikea Fjallberget Chairs - $199 ea.

My office has some very typical 'office-style' chairs in the meeting rooms. These new Fjallberget chairs are oh-so stylish, and now every time I sit in a meeting on the regular boring office chairs I'll be a bit disappointed.

Ikea Fjalkinge shelving units - $189

I have a feeling these Fjalkinge shelving units will become a new blogger favourite. They come with four shelves, and you can add drawers. While they're lovely in white I know that the blogoshere will soon be filled with these shelved spray painted gold, and every colour of the rainbow.


*All Images by Ikea

Photo via

Photo by Patric Johansson

Photo by Bernard Touillon via

Photo via (If you know the original source please let me know)

(yes, I know the last image hasn't got the exact same chair, but I'm including it because it's amazing, and I love the Eames rocker too)

Faux Bamboo Chippendale Chairs - $100 each (Sellers image)

In all honestly I’m not sure if this is a great deal, but I think they’re pretty. One might be nice as a desk chair.

White Campaign Dresser - $120 (Sellers image)

I know Campaign style dressers have been quite popular recently. I can’t decide if I’d paint this a fun colour, or leave as-is. I rather like the white with the chrome.

Brass Bar Cart - $10 (Sellers image)

Brass bar carts are usually pretty expensive.This one isn’t. It hasn’t got the most elegant lines, but for $10 I might be willing to overlook that.

Antique Cane Seat Chairs - $100 for 4 (Sellers image)

I’m kind of in love with these chairs – aren’t they sweet? I think they’d be lovely around a small marble bistro table.

Brass Dining Chairs - $120 for 6 (Sellers Image)

I really wish the seller had posted some other pictures of these chairs - I’d love to see the side profile. I think they could be pretty amazing if they were re-upholstered.

Mahogany Secretary - $600 (sellers Image)

Surprisingly, this time I did find exactly what I wanted  for sale. Unfortunately it’s a bit on the pricy side. Also, it's in another country. Isn’t it pretty though?

What do you think? Would you be tempted to bring any of the above home? Or am I a bit crazy?

Well, someone is selling the exact same piece only they had a slightly different take on how to make it over.

Sellers photo

Sellers photo

Sellers Photo

I realise that everyone's taste is different, but I like my version so much better. What do you think?

One of my Kijiji Chairs complete with rather unattractive upholstery

In my defense figuring out what I wanted to do to them is HARD. Do I paint the wood, try to strip and refinish it? What type of upholstery? What colour? I’ve received a small mountains of fabric samples over time in my search for ‘the right one’. Take a look at a some of my collection.
Happily I think I’ve finally made a decision. Or part of one anyways. I’ve finally picked a fabric. Hallelujah! I’ve decided to go with this fabric from Tonic Living – it’s Kukula from Robert Allen in Iris with stripes in deep purple, white, light grey, and lime green.

Robert Allen - Kukula Fabric in Iris colourway

While I’m excited to finally have that decided I do have one other decision to make – what to do with the chair frame itself. I’ve decided that the chairs aren’t worth stripping and refinishing – they are by no means antiques, so I’m going to paint them. Now I’ve run into a conundrum – what colour should I paint them? I know I won’t paint them lime green (which could be fun, but most decidedly not for me), but other than that I’m unsure – deep purple, white, or grey to match the stripes, or maybe even something else? Like black perhaps?

What colour should I paint the chair frame?

Anyone have any suggestions? What would you do?

I’m crazy I know, buying yet another project before finishing (ahem – starting) so many other projects, but it’s an almost perfect match to my living room console, so I couldn’t not get it. Right? Plus it was only $40 (if you don't count the gas I needed to drive an hour each way to get it). It does need quite a bit of work, and while I’m normally a ‘wood should look like wood’ purist, this is a piece that may need to be painted given the many chips in the veneer, and the damaged foot. I also need to source some more chopsticks as this piece has got damaged trim - just like the console did. The hutch will go in my dining room so I’m trying to figure out if I do have to paint it what colour might work with the kitchen’s dark blue floor, and the piece's brass hardware. Once it’s finished will help add some needed storage to my dining room (and will replace my old dresser which is the next item to go into my January Cure outbox).

Anyways, the Junction flea was pretty neat with a wide variety of vendors and items for sale. I did bring home two things that I thought were pretty.

I bought both the vase and the bowl from the same vendor (wish I had remembered to get her name) for $40. I think the glass bowl looks a bit like an overturned iceberg. The white porcelain vase says ‘Kaiser – Germany’ on the bottom, but I couldn’t find a similar vase online to see if I got a good deal or not. It doesn’t really matter though as I’m happy with my purchases.
This weekends task for the January cure was to organise my kitchen, make myself a new recipe and buy myself flowers. I did buy myself flowers as you can see from the picture of my new vase above, but I completely failed at the other tasks. On a positive note I did continue with the outbox task and sold two furniture items on Kijiji, and made myself $80 which covered the cost of the hutch and the pretty flea market purchases.

The replica Eames style DSW chairs now available at Kitchen Stuff Plus

Now I have to decide what to do – should I try to sell the black Windsor style chairs I worked so hard on and buy the replica of my dream chair instead? Before I even owned my condo I dreamed about having these chairs around my dining room table (I discovered them while eating in Marks & Spencer's on Grafton street in Dublin with my aunt and grandmother a few years ago), but I spent A LOT OF TIME working on those black chairs.

My refinished dining chairs

If I do try to sell my black chairs, how do I figure out what I could reasonably get for them on Craigslist? Help please – I don’t know what to do.

Any interest in a pay-phone bank?

I rather liked these lamps

You too can own a bathroom stall door from the Four Season's

Even the plant is up for auction

Have something to celebrate?? You'll need a champagne bucket

Everyone needs a 20-ft. onyx bar right?

There is another preview today (May 30th) from 9 until 4pm. I'd love to attend the auction of Friday when they're selling all the furniture, if only to see what some of the items go for. Would you buy any of the items above? Any plans on attending the auction?

For more information about the auction click here.