Shew...Jay finished the table JUST IN TIME for Christmas. The table was finished and brought in about 4 days before Christmas, but the chairs and bench weren't finished until the day before.
This was my grandparents table. And it came to us with fuzzy felt eaten into the top surface from vinyl tablecloths. But we could see the diamond in the rough and I just ADORE things from family such as this. So...Jay stripped the entire table top, sanded it, stained and sealed it again. He did the legs of it as well. Also tightened everything and made the table not sway in the middle like it used to . 40+ years of big family dinners kind of has that effect I suppose. The chairs are the original chairs. We took the upholstered seats off them though and left them as plain wood seats. I don't want to have to worry about stains with kids around. :o) There was only 1 armchair so Jay turned one of the other chairs into a matching armchair. He then built me a bench for one side.
Many a meal was eaten on this table at my grandparents . With my granddaddy (who passed away earlier this year) sitting there looking on proudly at his family. There were 2 cigarette burns in the surface where he had accidently let his Camel unfiltered cigarettes touch the surface. I asked Jay to try and not sand those completely out. Those are just a reminder that my granddaddy once sat there. On Christmas Day, a big family meal sat there once again and we all commented on how happy it must have made him to see the tradition continue.
In the picture above, you can see a china cabinet we repainted that was my great-grandmothers. It is filled with china I got from my grandma. And on the table is some ceramic figurines made by Jay's grandmother. We also have my other grandparents bedroom set in our guestroom. It has a vanity with a bench with it. I can remember watching grandma pat on her rouge before going out at that thing. I had to have it when they passed away. One drawer of the vanity STILL smells like Avon Cold Cream. I'll NEVER clean that drawer and risk taking away that smell :o)
Furniture like these pieces, while not brand new, or in perfect condition, are what make my house a home to me. I love to see them or show them to people and explain the history behind it.
Oh and by the way. AFter a month of spending every waking free moment on this table and chairs....when the last chair was brought into the house...Jay looked at me rather exasperated and said "Merry Christmas". LOL
This was my grandparents table. And it came to us with fuzzy felt eaten into the top surface from vinyl tablecloths. But we could see the diamond in the rough and I just ADORE things from family such as this. So...Jay stripped the entire table top, sanded it, stained and sealed it again. He did the legs of it as well. Also tightened everything and made the table not sway in the middle like it used to . 40+ years of big family dinners kind of has that effect I suppose. The chairs are the original chairs. We took the upholstered seats off them though and left them as plain wood seats. I don't want to have to worry about stains with kids around. :o) There was only 1 armchair so Jay turned one of the other chairs into a matching armchair. He then built me a bench for one side.
Many a meal was eaten on this table at my grandparents . With my granddaddy (who passed away earlier this year) sitting there looking on proudly at his family. There were 2 cigarette burns in the surface where he had accidently let his Camel unfiltered cigarettes touch the surface. I asked Jay to try and not sand those completely out. Those are just a reminder that my granddaddy once sat there. On Christmas Day, a big family meal sat there once again and we all commented on how happy it must have made him to see the tradition continue.
In the picture above, you can see a china cabinet we repainted that was my great-grandmothers. It is filled with china I got from my grandma. And on the table is some ceramic figurines made by Jay's grandmother. We also have my other grandparents bedroom set in our guestroom. It has a vanity with a bench with it. I can remember watching grandma pat on her rouge before going out at that thing. I had to have it when they passed away. One drawer of the vanity STILL smells like Avon Cold Cream. I'll NEVER clean that drawer and risk taking away that smell :o)
Furniture like these pieces, while not brand new, or in perfect condition, are what make my house a home to me. I love to see them or show them to people and explain the history behind it.
Oh and by the way. AFter a month of spending every waking free moment on this table and chairs....when the last chair was brought into the house...Jay looked at me rather exasperated and said "Merry Christmas". LOL
2 comments:
BEAUTIFUL!!!
Christie
No words to describe it! I know how happy you must feel inside...I too love and cherish all my heritage! Love, Pauline
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