RetroBabs Vintage

Happy New Year and Happy Superbowl day!  We were scheduled to have a party today but a foot of snow fell in Chicago so people kept cancelling. I cannot blame my guests but what am I to do with 5 lbs of spicy wings and a 20 inch pizza??  Hubby and I ate a few pieces and we froze the rest.  I thought you might like to see my latest project.  My mother graciously  gave me a chandelier that I believe came from my grandmother.  It is an antique and has beautiful hanging crystals.  I have always liked it and would never give it up because of the wonderful memories BUT....... it didn't really fit into my decor.  So I asked my hubby if he had anything we could put "around" it.  He has made other items for the yard as art- globes, obelisk type ornaments etc. Here is what he came up with once I described I wanted to do a Pottery Barn hack. He said the metal was from a snake  (a long ,thin piece of metal you put down a drain to unplug...

I recently was working on a project to freshen up my bedroom.  The hubby never cares what I do so I decided to move all the furniture around. I have a rather long narrow room with many windows. I decide to create a mood:  I was going for a 1950s Tiki vibe, Hawaiian tropic sort of motif.  Vintage Bark cloth in Hawaiian theme framed in hoops and wooden frames. This fabric usually has a scene woven in.  Our grandmothers had draperies made out of Bark cloth.  Some vintage fabric has threads of fiberglass which was a new innovation in the 50. Use your collections to enhance a space. My groovy wooden bowls are teak, monk wood and cherry wood. Each are hand turned on a lathe and I consider them works of art. 1. Use your collections to freshen things up .  I collect vintage fabric called Bark cloth.  You know you have seen this type of fabric.  It is made out of natural fibers and dates from the 1950s. Your Grandmother's drapes were probably ...

A neighbor gave me a vintage bedroom set, it included everything but the headboard.  I received 2 small dressers that fit together to form one long, ladies bureau/credenza and a mirror that fits between them.  One high boy dresser for a man/boy.  These were probably a set made from mahogany wood, circa 1940's or 1950's.  You know the type your mother or grandmother had for their entire married life!  Well with the help of my husband we were able to transform these three lovely dressers into refurbished things of beauty. Lets look at the BEFORE pics. They were in nice shape just needed a bit of glue on a veneer piece.  These pieces are so sturdy and have a lovely curved front which I am not sure translates in these photos. Now for the big reveal. The AFTER photos.  I suggested to my husband he make them ombre'- you know that gradual color change.  We picked a nice minty green, teal, aqua type color.  He got a little creative with th...