Here’s a How-To for anyone interested in giving new life to an old piece of furniture. Once you get these basics down, you can get crazy! Shown here are some ideas of what you can accomplish if you have an artistic hand. Thanks to Patina for the bookcase above. You can use wallpaper or simply a different paint color to achieve this affect. Below is a crazy and beautiful dresser from La Parliere. This artist offers truly unique objects - something for all of us who like to paint to aspire to.

So here we go with the directions. This method brings the best results. To begin with, make sure you have the right tools for the job. When using oil paint, use a brush meant for oil-based paints, etc. I find that sponge brushes don’t give a good result, so try to stay away from them.

Prime all painting surfaces to prevent stains from bleeding through the new paint. Primer must match the type of paint you’ve chosen and can be tinted to match the paint color. For furniture it’s best to use a satin or semi gloss finish in either latex or oil-based paint. I find that oil-based paints work best because they dry more slowly and you get fewer brush strokes. But there is a strong odor. Don’t freak over clean-up with oil-based paint. Fill an old coffee can with some paint thinner and swirl the brush in it until it’s clean. Simple.

Start at the top and work down. Check back to make sure you have no drips. If there are drawers or doors, remove them and paint separately. Don’t paint the hinges. Instead, remove them but be sure to label everything so that you put the hinges back on the same door.

To achieve that aged look paint the piece in a base color, such as red, then paint the top coat, like black. When the top coat is dry, take a fine sand paper and sand off the black layer where it would naturally wear (the bottom, the edges, etc). You can get fancy by applying photos or cut-outs and painting a watered down paint over the top or using a clear lacquer. Good luck and feel free to add your own tips and techniques.

Here is today’s submission. It’s just one piece in the beautiful Aprio line from Giati. It’s made from die-cast aluminum and stainless steel and comes in a standard nylon mesh fabric, or you can team it with your own. The line includes tables, an ottoman and lounge chair. I think this sleek line is a beautiful and welcome departure from Giati’s more traditional lines of exterior furniture. This would look fantastic next to my pool (if I had one).

I thought I’d expand my blog a bit to include all things in and around Detroit. So here we go with Pure Detroit. You’ll find Pure Detroit shops throughout Detroit and online. They sell hip t-shirts and other apparel. While it’s not interior design, it is design and it’s Detroit all the way. One of their most popular sellers is a way-cool line of handbags made from set belt webbing. They’ve also got a new line of mesh bags in orange. Be sure to check them out.
Their t-shirts are awesome. Here are a couple I like, but the Woodward Ave. bus is a must-have for those in-the-know Detroiters.
This belt, however, is my all-time favorite. It’s basically a classic seat belt - clip and all. Choose your favorite car logo. Makes a perfect gift. Pure Detroit also supports local designers in the Pure Detroit Design Lab. Sarah Lurtz, the brains behind the lab, designs her own line of clothing, but also supports a group of 25 other designers who take turns as the featured designer by displaying their creations in the store’s window.

Thanks to Decor 8 for this great find. Maryink has opened an online store at Etsy, the website for buying and selling homemade items (a bit hit or miss, but as with Maryink there are some nice things). Aren’t these candles fantastic? The price is 2 for $16.00. The designs are screen printed and hand-applied.

Other items in their creative line include t-shirts (love this one) and various styles of hand-screened tote bags. Check out Mary Ink, and thanks again to Decor 8 for this great find.

Just in time for spring cleaning, Maine Cottage is holding a February Sale! (Isn’t it February 27th today?) I was just informed of this today. Anyway, act quickly because it’s over on March 3rd. This vacation-style furnishings and accessories company is offering 10% off purchases. They discount to the trade as well. Remember, you heard it here last!

What is going on here? Hmmm, where would I use this? I think it’s perfect for those Geico cavemen guys, but I’m kind of scratching my head about this. This furry creation called (appropriately) Log Chair, was designed for Aterlano by my fave, Patricia Urquiola. It’s certainly a departure from her sleek, Italian pieces. Maybe she was feeling cold and needed to put on a sweater. Now I really wish I had a job designing a ski lodge in Verbier.

Here’s a handy link to bookmark. It’s a fabric estimator with just about everything on it imaginable. If you’re like me, you remember fabric guides for things you do a lot. But every now and then I get brain freeze and don’t feel like calling my fabricator in the middle of the night. What to do? I think this is the answer.

Today I’m heading back in time to the only item of furniture that ever fulfilled the Bauhaus’s dream of designing something “timeless”. It’s Thonet’s Chair Number 14, and it’s the first winner for Design Hole’s Bauhaus Award. It was put into production in the 1850’s and used innovative techniques of bent plywood. If you recall (and I’ll keep it short), the Bauhaus professors dreamed of designing items wherein form followed function. There was to be no frippery. Also important, these things should be designed for mass production and be inexpensive so that ordinary people could afford them. Certainly, the Bauhaus designers created beautiful and innovative pieces. However, they are all considered period pieces called “Modern.” They also failed miserably in the inexpensive, mass production department. So take a look at this chair. What era does it belong to? What period? The answer? None! It is timeless. It was also mass-produced and so inexpensive that every cafe could afford them. What do you think?

Wow! What a fantastic new product from Armstrong - and just what I’ve been looking for at Chum Bucket. It’s called MIYO, which stands for Make It Your Own. Basically, it’s like FLOR only in vinyl instead of carpet. The styles and colors are bright, modern and you can install it yourself. the tiles are beveled 16″ squares that click together. According to their site installation is easy because you design on a grid which is printed onto a base layer and sent with the product. The tiles adhere to the grid, so you can install it over any surface. This is definitely something to check out.

Don’t cry, but “Chair of the Day” will be on vacation whilst I travel to Vacation Paradise. Once I’m in paradise I’m sure to have all kinds of wonderful new inspirations to write about.

I don’t feel French anymore. I’m feeling Italian now, bambino. So, here’s an Italian design that’s great for the office or at home in the dining room. It’s called Baby (no idea why), it’s from Parri and was designed by Marco Maran. These is just one of the super fabulous versions. There are several more including a bar stool that I actually like (hate most of them). This version also stacks. Find out more about Parri and its Baby here.

I’m feeling French today. I’ve got my beret on and I’m drinking my Mariage Fréres‘ tea. So, I took a little walk down to La Forge Francais to see what’s going on. Rêveland! I love the simplicity of this firescreen. It’s not covered with foo-foo. I love its simple lines and the finish. I don’t know exactly why this looks so French, but it just does. So there.

La Forge also makes furniture, such as this beautiful cocktail table. They can customize the designs to fit your space. Call your designer because La Forge Francais sells only to the trade.