Makeover

While out running errands the other day, I popped into Homegoods since I had not been in quite some time. During a drive-by of the home section, a little table caught my eye. Specifically, its shape.

I was not a fan of the leopard-printed surface (now, don't get me wrong, I love leopard, but not in this context. I'd much rather have it on a pillow). But, at $20 the price was right, and I had some ideas of how I could transform it. So, home it went. Here it is in my driveway.

Some of my inspirations. These are a little bit smaller and are called "cigar tables" but I can't see anyone using these to hold their tobacco products. 

Worlds Away

Studiolo

So, I got out my black lacquer spray paint and my gold leaf, and several hours later I came up with this . . . 

I love the look. I've been digging black and gold together lately. Pretty good for a $20 table. I already had the supplies, so just my labor was involved. Gold leafing is not an easy process but I alternately love it and hate it. Being covered in gold flakes is not fun, and the process is messy and time-consuming. But, there's something satisfying about rubbing the gold onto the surface and seeing the furniture transform. I would probably be smart to get a piece of glass cut to fit the top, but I'm not sure I'm feeling that ambitious right now.

Also, in the makeover vein, I recently recovered my Frances Elkins knock-off loop chair in Braemore's Flowering Branch fabric.

Don't mind the junk on the chest in the background. Or the messy shoe basket. I did not style this.

Here's what the chair looked like when I bought it over a year ago. Plain cream chenille. Kind of blah.

It will reside in the front entry adjacent to the dining room.

I must have thrown a dozen fabric samples on this chair over the past year, but could never find one that I loved until now. It was a very basic upholstery job (tear off the old fabric, staple on the new and cover the staples with trim), otherwise I would not have attempted it. I'm liking the way it turned out.

Have you done any makeovers recently?

Who Knew?

Thank you all for your sage advice about this "fish table." I really do appreciate you weighing in. So, did I get it?

Well, sort of. I don't officially have it yet. Because of my son's birthday party on Saturday and family visiting, I couldn't make it back to the estate sale. However, the nice estate sale lady is giving me until Friday to pick it up. So, on Friday it will be mine, or some other lucky person's as it is going straight from its old home to its new home in the antique booth.

And by the way, I tried to find some examples of these tables on 1st Dibs by searching "fish table."I found nothing. But, my partner in crime Bri, of course, found some for me. She's a super sleuth/treasure hunter. It turns out these are dolphins not fish. Silly me.

Here are some examples from 1st Dibs . . .

This table is pretty darn similar to the one I found. Except there are two of these. They are selling for $5,800 for the pair!

Apparently, these dolphin tables are considered Italian "Grotto" furniture, consisting of fantasy pieces that showcase oceanic subjects. You learn something new everyday, I guess.

More examples . . . 

And I knew this type of table looked familiar, and then it hit me. One of my favorite rooms by Celerie Kemble has a pair of "dolphin" lamp tables that I have long coveted. Of course, they are a Chinese red-orange and not brass, but if you're so inclined you can always paint them (as Naomi from Design Manifest suggested).

So, if you're looking for some fantasy in your own life, stop by my booth and the Grotto dolphin table is yours. I'll give you a much better deal than 1st Dibs!

Sources: 1st Dibs, Kemble Interiors