Furniture painting and refinishing takes a a few tools and supplies in addition to paint, stain and topcoat. One of the "bare necessities" is something to smooth your wood surfaces - sandpaper or sponge, and possibly an electric sander.

​But there are so many questions: What type and what grit of sandpaper should you use? Is all sandpaper the same? What about steel wool? How many grades of sandpaper do you need for your project? Should you use an orbital or palm sander, or should you hand-sand everything? And what is wet-sanding? The good news is, once you understand the basics, the world of sanding and sandpaper will be much less confusing.

There's something about fall. It conjures up the combinations of cooler temperatures and warm blankets and bonfires, and a blaze of color washing over the landscape. While Mother Nature changes her wardrobe outside, we instinctively start to change things around inside our homes, too...bringing in hints (or armfuls) of the vibrant, rich tones we see outdoors.

Now that fall break is over, it's officially time to say goodbye to summer. Is your table or mantel in need of a seasonal adjustment? We've got all the ingredients to help you make your home feel pretty and special all season long!

It's that time of year...the ghosts and goblins are gearing up for a night of candy and fun. Costumes and jack o'lanterns have been around for hundreds of years, and they range from sweet and simple to creepy and macabre. If this is your favorite holiday, you may already have a collection of vintage Halloween decor, but whether you do or don't, here's a quick guide to collecting, displaying and storing those pieces from the past.

Those who know me well, know that I 🧡 the Peanuts holiday specials. The Charlie Brown Christmas is tied for first place with It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. I am a child of the 60s and nostalgia runs deep.

​So when I stumbled across orange colored dishware, made by my favorite USA manufacturer, Homer-Laughlin, AND I discovered the color is casually referred to as "pumpkin", I was in love...and on the hunt.

Autumn is knocking on our door and preparing to make her grand annual entrance. Although here in the South, we could have another month of almost summer temperatures. But by this point, most of us are ready to switch gears and usher in a change of seasons and scenery.

​Is your home ready to greet the next season? Here are three easy tips to make your home look its best for the days ahead. We've included links to our online store to make it even easier to see it, want it, and get the look.

No matter how much we love the conveniences of living in a modern era, the allure of old houses and their details will always beckon, from chandeliers and doors to fireplace mantels and more.

​Some items naturally lend themselves to your home, while others may take a bit more creativity to find the perfect spot in your home. 

My dining room chairs are about to get a serious makeover - paint and new cushions, and I thought I'd share some pointers on how to successfully (and easily) reupholster vintage dining or kitchen chairs. 

While reupholstering large furniture is more than a little daunting for most of us, updating seat cushions for your dining room chairs is a great beginner project. These chairs were one of the first sets we reupholstered and sold, but they definitely weren't the last. Here are our favorite tools and tips you'll need to successfully update your own chairs.

We're almost at the end of white shoe season. But white painted furniture has stood the test of time as a year-round favorite. It will always be a breezy beach-house base color. White paint launched the shabby chic trend, stayed strong during the farmhouse decade, and looks equally fabulous with MCM and cottage pieces. It always looks fresh and crisp, and it unifies furniture pieces in a room, and makes your room look airy and large.

But if you've painted a piece with white paint, you probably know the struggles of achieving a true white finish. Here are a few do's and don'ts we've learned along the way.

If you're reading this, you undoubtedly love old things and the thrill of the hunt for those old things. Maybe you've been to some inspiring shops or antique malls or markets. Or maybe you've seen some less-than-ideal booths and thought to yourself how you could/would do it...well, better. Maybe you're already an intrepid vintage picker, or perhaps you have a treasure trove of hand-me-downs that you are ready to part with. No matter how you got here, let's talk about some basic steps that will take you where you want to go next.

I've been sanding and staining furniture for over 30 years. Back to the days when the only stain available to DIYers was runny oil-based, came in a yellow can, and only had a handful of shades to choose from.

Nowadays, there are a lot more options - more brands, and a lot more colors and types of stain including water-based stains, water/oil blends, and thick gel stains. They each have their place, but for refinishing older pieces, my go-to is gel stain from General Finishes. Here are a few tips and tricks to using it successfully.