Monday, October 19, 2009

Why I love thrift shops

I am in love with my new dining room table, (or games table, or desk - depends where you put it). It is inlaid by hand in lovely colors and has a rich patina to the old wood.

It looks wonderful with the Reac Macintosh chairs, and would suit any house furnished in the last 100 or so years.

I haven't decided yet which dollhouse it will look best in, but plan to try it in several.




I found this lovely inlaid box and these fancy chopsticks at a thrift shop last weekend, and the light bulb went on over my head.




Using a dollhouse dining table as a guide for height, I cut the grooved ends off the chopsticks and sanded them smooth on top. At least I tried to sand them smooth - they are almost smooth. I kept the top of the chopsticks and the bottom of the box for future projects.











I removed the tiny screws from the hinges of the box and glued a leg to each corner of the inlaid top.











I had been itching to use these lovely Reac Macintosh chairs in a dining room and was delighted to see that the colors of the chairs matched the inlaid box top perfectly.






I waited impatiently for the glue to dry - I have a bad habit of picking things up too soon and knocking off the pieces I have glued to them - and set up the new table and chairs in my cardboard Ikea house for a photoshoot.


The carpet is cut from a page in Architectural Digest. I don't know how it would look in on a wood floor, but it looks just fine in the cardboard house.

I am so pleased with myself for finding the box and chopsticks and seeing the potential. Let's all pat Susan on the back ; )


Hugs to all


Susan

12 comments:

  1. That table is beautiful! Great finds!!

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  2. you definitely deserve a pat on the back ;-)
    that is amazing! I love the way you put it all together! its brilliant and inspiring!
    thanks for sharing

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  3. What a brilliant idea and lovely resulting table. What are you going to do with the remainder of the box - surely there is something you can make of it?

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  4. What a great idea and what a beautiful result!

    Thanks for sharing,
    Hugs Taenia

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  5. Consider yourself patted! Those were great finds. The other end of the Chopsticks would make great bedposts. Love the table.

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  6. Very inspiring - I love the way both the colours and the lines of the chairs are echoed in the tabletop!

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  7. The table is fabulous, what a great find and an even greater idea!
    And I love the colours in the scene and the chairs too, Macintosh is one of my favourite architects/designers.

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  8. Beautiful and thanks for sharing your ideas.

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  9. Thanks everyone! I am glad you like the table as much as I do. It's finds like this that send me back to thrift shops as often as I can get there. You just never know what you'll find.
    I agree with Casey that the rest of the chopsticks will make great bedposts. I picked them up before I found the box and that was my first thought for using them.
    And Dollmum, I will use the bottom of the box for something. The sides are inlaid, but the top is plain wood. Maybe I could cut it in half and make a server for the dining room using the other chopstick legs. I'm not sure yet.
    I love the way the colours of the inly go with the chairs so perfectly, Now I need to find items to make a sideboard or cupboard. I'll keep my eyes open for more treasures.
    Hugs
    Susan

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  10. Wow Susan...that looks wonderful...well done.

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