Monday, December 10, 2007

furniture

I've once again picked up the hobby of furniture restoration. In the past I've spruced up cheap or distressed furniture out of a need to fill empty rooms economically. In a similar way I am seeking furniture from both thrift stores and out of alleys surrounding my house. The most I've paid for a piece is $65. That's the most recent one I'm working on and it was purchased at the St. Vincent DePaul. I'm probably going to put these pieces in my Coffeehouse/Craft Brewery when it opens. The colors and era fit in with the palette and theme of the place. Here are some examples of my recent pieces.
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This was a 10 year old file cabinet that I spray painted. My original intention was to layer the stencils until it looked more like a texture than individual letters and numbers. I got too impatient and left it as is. I love it now. Life is all about happy accidents.
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I bought this at a thrift store on Gravois. It had a big gouge in the top that made it impossible to refinish naturally so I slapped some paint on it. I wanted to go a little more modern and less traditional with it. I'm now using this color palette on several pieces.
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This is a Goodwill piece I picked up for $35. It's my favorite so far. I feel like there is a lot I can do with this kind of graphic pattern on furniture.
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This one was done for my wife. She always wants to infuse more red into our decor. I fight it for some unknown reason and decided to give in as a gift to her. I went with a rich red and a high gloss lacquer to give it a Chinese look. I found this in the alley directly behind my house. I think someone moving out left it there. Thanks unknown neighbor!
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Not too easy to see in this picture, but this hi-fi system was found in a nearby alley. I stripped the finish and put a Danish oil rub on it and use it as a credenza in the dining room. It was a bitch getting the stereo guts out of it. They made the thing heavy as hell too.

7 comments:

337is said...

What's up Piet? I love your work and am inspired to try something like it myself. You know, the whole imitation/flattery thing!

337is said...

I just had a thought ... 200 years from now, will the crotchety experts on Antiques Roadshow be praising folk for collecting your alterations, or demeaning them for covering up original patinas?

MsAmanda said...

Hi Mike--I saw your redo post on DesignSponge. I'm loving that print above the last photo (with the house and starry night). Where is it from?

Cheers! Amanda

Anonymous said...

I'm so inspired!
But seriously that orange and turquoise makes me think of HoJos!

mike g said...

amanda - That print is from Dan McCarthy. It's so much better in person. The stars make dinosaur constellations and they glow in the dark. It's a sold out print but he has more stuff at:
http://danmccarthy.org/

MsAmanda said...

wilco posters and glow in the dark constellations? i think i'm in love. thanks!

Anonymous said...

I love the fifth piece. The colors are incredible. Can you tell me anything about the house silhouette image that hangs above the dresser in the pic that is on designsponge? It looks great with the dresser!!!