DIY Leather-Wrapped Console Table (and a Milk Paint Mirror!)

<center></center>Remember <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/01/how-to-strip-vintage-furniture.html" target="_blank">this citron yellow console table</a>? I accidentally sawed a big line in it with my circular saw when we were doing the <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2014/03/diy-wide-plank-floors-made-from-plywood.html" target="_blank">plywood floors</a> in the studio (whoops!). Rather than toss the table, I felt like it could be salvaged with a little thinking outside the box.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Jenny_DIYimages-35.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/Jenny_DIYimages-35.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />There is a place in Phoenix called the Fabric Depot (it's in Cave Creek) and they have what looks like the best price and selection of leather hides in the Valley. Half hides are usually about $60, which is just about as cheap as <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/05/a-new-leather-source.html" target="_blank">my leather place in Brooklyn</a>! Yay!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_3086.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_3086.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><a name="more"></a><br />I picked up this black half hide there and when I got it home I saw this little brand or something with JM initials. Meant to be ours. ;)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_3088.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_3088.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />The first step is to make a pattern of all the sides of your console table by flipping the hide over and tracing each piece out. (PS the old IKEA Malm console table would work really well for this project or the current <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50228034/" target="_blank">Lack sofa tables</a> seem like they could work well also.) Oh, and I spray painted the table black first in case there were any little gaps between the leather pieces in the end, hopefully they would be less noticeable.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1885.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_1885.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1899.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_1899.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I cut out the pieces and then used Fabritac to secure each of the pieces to the table.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1905.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_1905.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">It helps to use a glue brush to make sure there's an even layer of glue and no too-thick parts that will show under the leather.</div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1915.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_1915.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">It's most important to get glue right at the edge of the leather, so the edges lay flat.</div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1916.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_1916.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I used these small brass escutcheon brads as nail head trim. I wanted the brads to be more subtle than traditional nail heads and these worked great.</div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo cIMG_3090.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/cIMG_3090.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We marked out the first row, but it was pretty easy to eyeball the right spacing (about an inch) after I got in a rhythm.</div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo cIMG_3093.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/cIMG_3093.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">After all the nails were in, I could see that some of the leather had pulled a little bit and the edges needed to be trimmed with an X-Acto knife, which was pretty easy to do. (see the JM here?)</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_3118.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_3118.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I LOVE how this one turned out. We were able to salvage a table that wouldn't have been otherwise usable with a big old saw mark right in the middle of it. The texture is so pretty and the little sparkle from the nails is just enough.</div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Jenny_DIYimages-29.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/Jenny_DIYimages-29.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo bIMG_3133.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/bIMG_3133.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Jenny_DIYimages-39.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/Jenny_DIYimages-39.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">It's not perfectly perfect, but I think that makes it look unique and handmade.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_3122.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_3122.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I love how it looks with the <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2014/06/diy-upholstered-bench-from-coffee-table.html" target="_blank">DIY upholstered bench project</a>.</div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Jenny_DIYimages-36.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/Jenny_DIYimages-36.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Jenny_DIYimages-341.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/Jenny_DIYimages-341.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Oh, and some of you recognized <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/01/a-bigger-mirror.html" target="_blank">the old mirror</a> we had hanging in the brownstone over the fireplace. I never loved the old finish and I've been itching to try milk paint for years and this seemed like the perfect application.</div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1849.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_1849.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We picked up a bag of milk paint at a local antique store (Merchant Square) and added water to make the paint. I chose a creamy white color called Linen.</div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1863.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_1863.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1865.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_1865.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The paint is (not surprisingly) super watery, but it covers really well. The old finish on the mirror made the paint flake up a little, but I actually loved the effect. I didn't want the mirror to look newly painted anyway.</div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_3124.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/IMG_3124.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Jenny_DIYimages-38.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/Jenny_DIYimages-38.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Sometimes I think it's easy to get nervous about painting something, but this mirror was not precious to me and I didn't love it as it was in the wood stain. There wasn't much to lose, and I feel like the risk totally paid off here. I love it now.</div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><center></center></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Jenny_DIYimages-30.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2021/Jenny_DIYimages-30.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">How was your weekend? We had a family reunion and it felt really great to switch gears for a couple of days! Also, it was amazing to catch up on a little sleep. :)<br /><br /><i>PS Pretty photos above were taken by <a href="http://www.michelleherrick.com/" target="_blank">Michelle Herrick</a>. </i></div></div>

DIY Leather-Wrapped Console Table (and a Milk Paint Mirror!)

Remember this citron yellow console table ? I accidentally sawed a big line in it with my circular saw when we were doing the plywood floors...

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Lighter, Brighter Kitchen and New Dining Chairs

<center></center>One of the big projects I tackled this month was painting <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/06/valley-house-tour-kitchen.html" target="_blank">the kitchen</a>. No small feat with those 16 ft. vaulted ceilings!!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_0741.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2017/IMG_0741.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I had to rent a ridiculously tall ladder from Home Depot to get all the way up to the beam. Makes me a little fuzzy feeling just thinking about it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_0807.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2017/IMG_0807.jpg" /></div><br />Remember how it looked before we moved in? Lots of yellow and lots of faux brick:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_3250.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2017/IMG_3250.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0599.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2017/DSC_0599.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>The walls are now Benjamin Moore's Titanium, which was <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/09/starting-to-pick-paint-colors.html" target="_blank">a runner up</a> for the common areas in the rest of the house. I had two gallons on hand already, and I love the color, so it was an easy choice.<br /><a name="more"></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_0766.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2017/IMG_0766.jpg" /></div><br />The brick range surround also got a paint job. I need to do a second coat, but I'm still recovering from the hours and hours of work the first coat took! I'll do a post about it later, but the gist is that the mortar was a beast.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_0815.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2017/IMG_0815.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0583.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2017/DSC_0583.jpg" /></div><br />I'll admit I was a little nervous to paint out the brick for about five seconds, but now I have exactly zero regrets. It's so much brighter in here! I know I'll love it even more when the second coat is done.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_0810.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2017/IMG_0810.jpg" /></div><br />The dining table could use a refinishing, but my love affair with this vintage beauty is still going strong. We recently put in all the leaves after I picked up four ghost chairs at a junk shop for $60 for the set, so now we can seat ten people around the table comfortably. I love it.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_0807.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2017/IMG_0807.jpg" /></div><br />And I really like how the ghost chairs mix with <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/09/new-john-widdicomb-louis-style-chairs.html" target="_blank">the Widdicomb chairs</a>, which I got back from the upholsterers just in time for Christmas dinners and parties. They've held up so well the past two months! The leather is really easy to keep clean (spills wipe right off) and the color is so pretty against the soft gray walls.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9822.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2017/IMG_9822.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9807.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2017/IMG_9807.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9777.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2017/IMG_9777.jpg" /></div><br />I hung my old Italian mirror on one side of the table and a new piece of art on the other side that <a href="http://instagram.com/p/k0JWgjQW5d/" target="_blank">I made last night</a> on the fly.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_2485.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2017/IMG_2485.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_0528.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2017/IMG_0528.jpg" /></div><br />There are about a million things left to do in this room. New lighting. Cabinets facelift. Backsplashes. New sink and faucet. Open shelving. Etc., etc., etc. But I think now we're at least in a pretty comfortable place. I don't mind the blacky-brown color of the cabinets any more now that the yellow is gone. The lights are still horrible, but I took off the old globes and put in big white vanity bulbs and that somehow helps. We've only done temporary fixes, but they really add up and help make this room more inviting.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_0658.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2017/IMG_0658.jpg" /></div>

Lighter, Brighter Kitchen and New Dining Chairs

One of the big projects I tackled this month was painting the kitchen . No small feat with those 16 ft. vaulted ceilings!! I had to rent a r...

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Bright Velvets in the Library

One of the big house projects we haven't tackled yet is the built-in bookshelves in the front room we're calling <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/06/valley-house-tour-soon-to-be-library.html" target="_blank">the library</a> (it's the sunken space just inside the entry). I have a handful of inspiration images and a few drawings that I want to share with you guys. It's turning into a sort of expensive project, so I'm nervous about pulling the trigger. More on that later though. In the meantime, I've been making some progress on decorating the other side of the room!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9854x.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_9854x.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_0024.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_0024.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo cIMG_0124.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/cIMG_0124.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />We had my Lee roll arm sofa (which we've had for almost a decade! - a record for me!) upholstered in a mohair that I got for something insanely cheap, like $15 a yard, on sale at <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/05/jem-fabrics-update.html" target="_blank">my old favorite fabric store in the city</a>, JEM. It's a deep moody charcoal with lots of blue-green undertones. When the upholsterer dropped off the sofa a few weeks ago, my Gracie said now it was the color of the ocean and I think she was spot-on.<br /><br /><a name="more"></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_0110.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_0110.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_0073.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_0073.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9916.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_9916.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_0128.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_0128.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />The newest addition to the space is this pair of bright yellow Henredon chairs I got from a consignment store for $50. I picked them up at the same time and place that I got the <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2014/02/vintage-furniture-shopping-tips-and.html" target="_blank">pink ikat sofas</a> (they were probably owned by the same person).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1614.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_1614.jpg" /></div><br />I fell in love with the color and the Schumacher strie velvet was pretty new, just a little marked up from sitting in the store. And I knew the chairs could look a little more modern if I removed the skirts and left off the back cushions.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_1617.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_1617.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_2038.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_2038.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />When I got them home, I used a damp microfiber cloth to take off most of the smudges. I usually give all my vintage upholstered finds a good vacuuming and then a pass over with my steamer in case there are any mites or bed bugs (haven't had any problems yet).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_0099.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_0099.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9894.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_9894.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The feet aren't my favorite, but they look better than the skirts and I have some ideas for changing them up down the road.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9881.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_9881.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9909.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_9909.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The room's far from finished, but it's fun to have a place to sit and host visitors. I'm on the fence about the <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2011/04/layering-floral-pillows.html" target="_blank">Designer's Guild pillows</a> on the sofa. The <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/04/new-bergere-chairs.html" target="_blank">green bergeres</a> have needed new upholstery for a long time now (thinking gray Bengal Bazaar or some other pattern in a neutral color) and <a href="http://www.rugsusa.com/rugsusa/clearancerugs/jaipur-rugs-hl02/light-mushroom/229HL02-36056.html" target="_blank">the rug</a> is there temporarily. I do like the <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/05/painting-mirror-with-chalkboard-paint.html" target="_blank">magnolia mirror</a> in that spot though! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_0046.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_0046.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_9866.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2016/IMG_9866.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div>

Bright Velvets in the Library

One of the big house projects we haven't tackled yet is the built-in bookshelves in the front room we're calling the library (it...

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