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Craigslist Deja Vu

Thursday, December 15, 2011 by Chris

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This morning I saw an ad on Craigslist that really took me back. This Duncan Phyfe is a dead ringer for the table that became my first big refinishing project, my trial by fire. Because of its condition, the table above is selling for just $30, which makes it an ideal candidate for someone like me with more ambition than brains who wants to get his or her hands dirty and learn a helluva lot about refinishing. And while I'm definitely tempted, I don't have the space or inclination to take this on right now. What about you? You might end up with a something you can be proud of, I know I was when my table, below, finally emerged from the fire.

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Chair Story

Monday, December 12, 2011 by Chris

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I hadn't intended to revamp my high back chair at my upholstery class but the pair of mid-century beauties I coveted could not be secured affordably so I turned to this chair, which has languished in my storage locker for a year. My original plan was to do something totally "outside" like the wingbacks below, photo by Eric Roth from Glamour, Making it Modern. But I wasn't sure I'd actually keep the chair so I wanted it to appeal to as wide a group as possible in case I ended up selling it on Craigslist, hence my choice of the neutral, gray poly-blend that looks and feels like linen but is "bullet proof" according to the fabric store clerk.

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Upholstery Class Wrap Up

Saturday, December 10, 2011 by Chris

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Last Saturday was a happy day, my upholstery class ended giving me back my weekends and I brought my chair home completed and comfortable, not perfect, but what is? And that description neatly sums up the class itself, which was frustrating in lots of ways but ultimately satisfying because instructor Robby, pictured, was able to guide me to a good result. In the end, I felt a lot of empathy for Robby and a bit of resentment toward the Toronto District School Board, which runs the class without nearly enough resources. There was one sewing machine and three staple guns for 11 students. Madness.

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Valspar Spray Paint Contest

Wednesday, November 9, 2011 by Chris

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Now this is a contest I can get behind. Paint and coatings expert Valspar is introducing a new spray paint formula and can design with a contest encouraging DIYers to send them a photo of an item you'd like to make over for your chance to win a spray paint kit. Just visit the company's facebook contest page and upload a photo of an item in your household that could use a new look. Then encourage your friends, fans, followers and family to vote for you. The 10 entrants with the most votes will win a kit that includes five cans of spray.

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Do It Yourself Tray Table

Tuesday, October 11, 2011 by Chris

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When I'm thrifting, I always keep my eyes open for great table legs, even if they're attached to a piece-of-crap top. The legs above are a case in point: I found them at Value Village a few weeks ago attached to an Arborite top so crummy I balked at the $9.99 price tag. But the legs were awesome and I knew they'd be a great match for my daybed so I plunked down my tenner. I intended to use the legs on another project but they weren't quite tall enough so I decided to turn them into the little side table, above, with the addition of a brass tray I already owned.

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