Furniture Revivals~Tips For a Great Makeover


At the end of this post, tell me which one of these makeovers is your favorite. 

Happy Friday!  While I'm busy working in the design studio today I have a special guest, Jamie from Southern Revivals, posting for me.  I stumbled upon Jamie's blog last year and was captivated by her furniture revivals.

I love a good furniture makeover.  Most times it's not only a budget friendly alternative to new furniture, but it usually results in a unique, custom piece.  Whether it's a family heirloom, a unique thrift store find or a frugal re-purpose, Jamie rocks it.  I invited her to share a sampling of her projects along with a few tips with us today.


Take it away, Jamie...


{After}

{Before}




"Hi Everyone! I'm Jamie from Southern Revivals. I am beyond honored to have been invited to be a guest here on Sarah's blog. Truthfully, my mind is blown. I'm so excited to be able to share some of what I do here with you all today. I consider myself a  furniture revivalist. I revive, repurpose and renew old, ugly or vintage furniture. I have a  'use what you have' approach to home decor but still, it has to be awesome." 

{After}

{Before}






 How do you decide when to replace and when to repurpose? 

"Haha well, that's a really good question! I'm not sure I have that down to a science yet myself because usually I'm pretty convinced that I can repurpose everything. Of course I can't, but that doesn't keep me from trying. So I guess that, in part, is the answer. Trial and error. But also I believe if a piece is good and solid it can be reused and revived in such a way that no one, not even you, will recognize it once it's done.  I think the trick is getting past the ugly...and seeing the potential…"





{After}


{Before}





 Where do you usually find the pieces you use for your projects?

"I will take it anywhere I can get it and I can't tell you how many times that has included the roadside.  I get far more excited than any grown woman should when I see someone has tossed furniture to the curb…" 

"I use Craigslist. A LOT. Usually people are just so ready to be rid of their stuff (because they haven't learned the secret) they sometimes practically give it away."

"...My all time favorite source for great finds are family heirlooms. Now I'm not talking about painting your great, great, great grandmother's Tufft table.  I just mean those hand-me-downs or inherited pieces that you'd never put in your home they're so ugly, but you'd lose sleep at night from the guilt of getting rid of it. You'd be surprised how gorgeous these pieces turn out and they're even lovelier knowing where they've come from. They tell great stories."


{After} 


{Before}








 Do you have any "go to" colors or favorite paint brands?

"This is my biggest secret and you heard it here first.... I regularly use mis-tinted paint in any brand {as long as it's a color I like!} from any store that has a mis-tinted paint section and that includes Wal-Mart.  There. I said it…"

"...I'll tell you like someone once told me: it's only paint. If you don't like it, you can paint over it".



{This one is my favorite, isn't it beautiful?}


Great advice, Jamie!
Thank you, for sharing your inspiring makeovers and tips with us today. 
Please be sure to stop by Jamie's blog, Southern Revivals for more project inspiration. 

I'll be back next week with new online design projects to share, another hint at my big upcoming announcement and I'll begin addressing your most common design challenges (as I mentioned in this post). 


So, which one is your favorite?


*For information on my affordable online design service, please click here

© Copyright 2013 The Yellow Cape Cod

28 comments:

  1. I can't make up my mind between the 3rd and the last revival!! I want both of those in my home! :) Amazing job!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Gorgeous! I love a good makeover...especially a frugal one. My favorite is the third set. The pulls are amazing. Wonderful inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm always falling for white furniture. I'll have to go with the first. Love these!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Home Place! I'm with you, love white. Especially against her orange wall color.

      Delete
  4. I like the last one - beautiful lines on the sideboard!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sorry if this is a repeat comment -- google's being odd :)

    I like the bottom sideboard, beautiful lines and it just looks refreshed not totally made over to me

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hard to choose but I think the last one---blue--is my favorite. I especially love removing dresser drawers and using great straw baskets--awesome interest + storage!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I think that last beauty in blue is my favorite. Although the black one prior to that is pretty awesome too. All beautiful!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Photo #3 is my favorite! Gorgeous!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love the last one!! Also, what a FANTASTIC idea to take one of the drawers out of the dressers and use baskets. I am definitely stealing that one for a pair of nightstands I made over. Thanks so much!

    ReplyDelete
  10. They are all wonderful. I'm most impressed with number 3. It went from a very ugly duckling to a beautiful swan. What talent to be able to see the potential!

    ReplyDelete
  11. i like the second! ive got some dark wood i want to incorporate in a gray room and i think i just found the answer! :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Great post! I like the third one down (black) and the bottom one. What fabulous pieces! I love giving furniture makeovers too. Although, I haven't been as lucky as Jamie to find so many wonderful things to revive. My most recent was last year when I found a large Henredon dresser with a mirror and a nightstand for only $35. What a deal! It was ugly to start with but the transformation was amazing! The dresser is now a buffet in my dining room. I love it! I can't wait to find more things. Thanks for the inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thanks everyone! And thank you Sarah for having me!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi, My favorite would be the fourth dresser. I guess I am the only one (so far) that likes the fourth one. Different strokes for different folks, that is what makes the world go round right???

    ReplyDelete
  15. What beautiful work, Jamie! Thank you for sharing these inspiring RE-creations.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I've been considering painting some old childhood furniture black and Jamie's work has convinced me. Number three is a stunning makeover. Would Jamie be willing to share where she sourced the pulls? They are the icing on the cake.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Oh Wow. I just love the gorgeous 3 piece white set. I want It!!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. It's gotta be the distressed navy blue dresser.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Jamie is really talented and these pieces are just the inspiration I needed to get off my butt and get to work on some of the many pieces of furniture that I have stockpiled in my garage just waiting to be made beautiful again~!!! As far as picking a favorite ...that is a tough one ....I love the details of the 3rd piece but then the fourth one was just as impressive in my opinion! My grandmother has a little vintage chest identical to the last one (except that it is a truly time worn chippy mustard yellow color ) ...You cannot beat the look of an age old paint patina ...but the blue Jamie used was stunning!.. Definitely a color I would never of thought to put on a piece like that!
    Sarah and Jamie, thanks so much for all of the motivation and inspiration !
    Have a great week...

    ReplyDelete
  20. They are all my favorites! I love Jamie and her Revivals!

    ReplyDelete
  21. My husband and I were just discussing updating our old bedroom dressers and nightstand. I love your blog and thought I would come to it for inspiration. Well, guess what???? my exact furniture is the second re-purpose and I absolutely love the re-purposed look!!!! I feel a weekend project coming on! :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. First and second to last are my favorites! I'm always amazed by furniture makeovers. One of these days I'll work up the nerve to do my own!

    ReplyDelete
  23. They are all amazing, but if I have to choose, I'd say the second to last one - just love it!

    Ann Lester
    Living Home Interiors

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
 
SITE DESIGN BY DESIGNER BLOGS