Stripping Chairs and Making Decisions

As you have probably heard over and over again on Antiques Roadshow, "Never remove the original finish/decoration from antique furniture". However, in the real world, the decision is more nuanced than that. In this case, I was given three mid-nineteenth century chairs. They had seen hard use, but retained some of the original decoration.

The problem is, they are not particularly attractive or significant examples, and while somewhat charming, they were essentially "factory products", akin to Victorian "cottage furniture". Not really usable as is, and good candidates for re-decoration. Fortunately, the one with the worst structural issues was also the one retaining the most decoration. I have decided to clean and slightly refurbish this one, keeping as a document of the original decoration.

The other two have gone onto the stripping table. They will be readied for reassembly and painting over the winter (when they will have recovered from this summer's extreme humidity). Will follow up with progress at that time.

Another Project Underway

Note to self: In the future, do not buy anything that needs stripping.

Things purchased for myself to "do something with" often sit in the garage for years. I finally decided that stripping and repairing this would at least have it ready to paint over the winter, when it is too cold to go outside with the heat gun and/or stripper.

This New England dressing or side table is a common form, and were originally painted. Over the years they either were stripped and varnished, or as in this case, done over with one of those "antiquing kits" in the 1970s. The heat gun removed the plastic-like top coat, and I used citrus stripper on the rest, which worked fairly well. I can see now that this was originally painted yellow, but there was no trace remaining of any ornamental painting, if it ever had any.

I will probably do something stenciled/striped, possibly on a red/salmon base, since I already have a yellow dressing table.

It's in the Bag

Since Mandy's primary occupation is looking for new ways to cause trouble, it isn't really newsworthy anymore. But the other day she got her comeuppance when she decided to steal a paper sack with an inconvenient (for her) handle.

The Fireboard Project Part III

I primed the board I had cut to size, and then put the base coat of a light beige on before taking it to Maine where I had more room to work.

In spite of a cold/allergy situation, requiring frequent naps and Sudafeds,I was able to do the stenciling fairly quickly, thanks to the use of fast-drying acrylics.

I forgot to bring a print-out of the layout, so I had to do this from memory.

The finished board is now ready to be installed. I will configure some clips, and some moldings to match the fireplace surround, in order to hold it in place.

The Fireboard Project Part II

I worked up a simple design in Adobe Illustrator, using typical stencil motifs. The design seemed acceptable, and the colors will be in coordination with the room's soft furnishings.

It still seemed to need a bit more, so I decided to plan for some of the border designs to be over-stenciled to create a shadow effect. This should give it a bit more excitement.

The Fireboard Project

Fireboards were used to cover fireplace openings during the warm weather, for the practical reasons of keeping dirt and birds, etc. out of the house (in those days, there were not dampers to close off the flue). And of course, people began making these more decorative. Decoration could be akin to an oil painting or landscape mural, free-hand or stenciled designs, or wallpaper and other printed paper could be used.

Since the house in Wiscasset has some fireplaces that are not used, and have no dampers, I have kept them closed with pieces of foam board insulation - not an elegant solution. After visiting an exhibit of hearth-related items at Old Sturbridge Village (www.osv.org), I decided it was time to create some of these.

Will post more as the project moves ahead.

Phlox Explosion

While it is too hot to actually stay outside, the flowers are going wild. Bee balm is a nice cool blue, and the phlox this year have gone insane!