Channeling Ralph Lauren II

I thought that I would slip in a little update on Mr. Lauren and me. The tables have been stripped and Roberto (my life saver) has completed the sanding and filling of the little table. Every piece of vintage/antique furniture needs more than simple stripping before it can be refinished. The most crucial part is filling any imperfections and sanding the surface to perfection before painting. I chose a soft, chalky warm off white. The first coat is on the pedestal and we are waiting for the filler to dry before final sanding....it is a process. 

Here are details of the first coat of white, tomorrow the table gets its second coat of white and then the carving will be highlighted with a soft gray and a light sanding and patination will be applied as the final step. As you can see, the carving is beginning to show its stripes.  Just look at the great detailing on the ball and claw feet--talons anyone?

     

Juan is picking up the more elaborately carved table in a couple of days. The preparation for this table is more complex as it involves stripping, bleaching the mahogany, filling, sanding, washing with color, more sanding, patination and finally a colorless hard paste wax. (This is why professionally restored pieces are so pricey, but they look fantastic).

Thanks for sharing my journey. 

Mary, Jones (and Cole)

**Next up for my edition of Ralph Lauren are deep cobalt and ivory Indonesian Batik pillows (still looking for the backing).