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jewels · 02-11-2011, 02:42 PM

When I was a tike, my mom used to buy furniture at a farmer's market on Saturday mornings. The farmers would sell their old solid wood furniture which had been painted, for pocket change. This farmer's market is grew into one of the largest flea markets in the northeast now (I think it's still there in Englishtown, NJ?) but I'm sure these deals would never be had nowadays.

So Mom would buy a solid oak table with gorgeous hand carved lion claws for feet. She'd strip off multiple layers of paint and use steel wool and sandpaper to prepare the surface. Then I'd watch her clean and condition the wood, followed by stain and varnish. Every weekend she'd buy new pieces, ranging from 25 cents to no more than $20 or so. As I got older, she'd let me help.

I didn't have a house with a garage until I was in my late 30s, and that's when I began to tamper with refinishing. Although I have no garage now and had to get rid of most of my furniture, I still have a chest of drawers and an end table I've refinished, and I have two night stands that I refuse to get rid of that desperately need refinishing.

So I love refinishing furniture. My tastes have changed over the years but I do mix my few antiques with more contemporary pieces. I miss having a garage, too.

At one point I seriously thought I might love to learn to build furniture as I have an odd fascination with power tools and would love to design my own pieces.

I don't view them as investments, but there are a couple of pieces I would love my girls to want to keep when I'm gone. As far as matching sets, I don't have issue with a couple of matching chairs or dining chairs that match, I just don't care for the overly matchy-match stuff, a la Rooms To Go or others who will push matching sofa, love seat, side chairs and drapes. Ugh.

02-11-2011, 02:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
jewels Eponymous Location: Central Central Florida	When I was a tike, my mom used to buy furniture at a farmer's market on Saturday mornings. The farmers would sell their old solid wood furniture which had been painted, for pocket change. This farmer's market is grew into one of the largest flea markets in the northeast now (I think it's still there in Englishtown, NJ?) but I'm sure these deals would never be had nowadays. So Mom would buy a solid oak table with gorgeous hand carved lion claws for feet. She'd strip off multiple layers of paint and use steel wool and sandpaper to prepare the surface. Then I'd watch her clean and condition the wood, followed by stain and varnish. Every weekend she'd buy new pieces, ranging from 25 cents to no more than $20 or so. As I got older, she'd let me help. I didn't have a house with a garage until I was in my late 30s, and that's when I began to tamper with refinishing. Although I have no garage now and had to get rid of most of my furniture, I still have a chest of drawers and an end table I've refinished, and I have two night stands that I refuse to get rid of that desperately need refinishing. So I love refinishing furniture. My tastes have changed over the years but I do mix my few antiques with more contemporary pieces. I miss having a garage, too. At one point I seriously thought I might love to learn to build furniture as I have an odd fascination with power tools and would love to design my own pieces. I don't view them as investments, but there are a couple of pieces I would love my girls to want to keep when I'm gone. As far as matching sets, I don't have issue with a couple of matching chairs or dining chairs that match, I just don't care for the overly matchy-match stuff, a la Rooms To Go or others who will push matching sofa, love seat, side chairs and drapes. Ugh. __________________ We are always more anxious to be distinguished for a talent which we do not possess, than to be praised for the fifteen which we do possess. Mark Twain Last edited by jewels; 02-11-2011 at 02:48 PM..