Dealer Spotlight: White Butterfly Furniture, and Owner Kirsten

So you're wondering how the heck we pull off finding & refinishing & making all those handmade items each month? We don't do it alone, that's for sure. We are so proud to have an amazing, incredible, talented team of people behind the Carver Junk Company brand. They each have a different style, personality, and strength that they bring to the team, and we want to let you get to know them all a little better!

We're writing up a series of Dealer Spotlights. The first few that we share will be focused on our "dealers"  -the folks that regularly and religiously fill space in our stores, re-stock new pieces as things sell, support our crazy ideas, expansions, and who have become our friends through the journey that has been CJC. We'll also feature the artisans that bring in a few perfect pieces here and there, and that make all of those one-of-a-kind handmade-in-MN items for which we've become known. There are over 40 different individuals and businesses that come together behind the scenes to create Carver Junk Company.

So let's meet Kirsten {kIRsten, not Kristen. We called her the wrong name the first time we met her, so we're saving you from the same mistake}. We asked her a few questions about herself, but what you really need to know is that she's a blogger extraordinaire, a mom of FOUR BOYS, strong for her size, and our dealer who is least afraid to use color on her pieces. Those teal nightstands you all drooled over recently, that sold within 10 minutes of posting on Facebook? Kirsten. The red ones we posted 10 minutes later and sold that night? Kirsten. 

Collect Junk You Love!

Some of the things in our home that we love, and are authentic to us:

Los Angeles Pottery Co, "Cookies All Over" cookie jar. It's not beautiful, and it's not modern, but it was my grandmother's. It is the cookie jar that I used to steal those little rectangle-shaped waffle cookies with the cream filling from when I was four. And now it's a great spot to store dog treats!

Nescafe Vintage World Mugs. They are not hand-me-downs, but they are vintage. And they are the same as the ones my grandma {my Mamo} used to make chocolate pudding in when my cousin and I were young. I found two sets of four mugs at a vintage sale two years ago. I immediately called my Dad {before leaving the store} to make sure my six-year-old memories were remembering the same mugs. Before I even finished describing the "mugs Mamo used to make pudding in," he responded with "those Nescafe mugs with the World on them!"  I bought both sets, and gave one to my cousin. We use them as espresso cups in our house, and one day, I will serve chocolate pudding in them to our children.

Our styles are a mix of more traditional and rustic (Chad), and more vintage and modern (Me). Our compromises are many, in that we choose most things in our home together. And they are few, in that when we find the perfect piece, neither of us usually feels like we've compromised our own style. Our curtains are an awesome example. We looked for months for the right curtains for the dining room of our previous house. And found nothing. So, I convinced Chad to let me make some, if we could find the perfect fabric. He was apprehensive {admittedly, he'd never seen me sew anything at this point....}, but agreed. And then I went out on a limb and suggested {one of hundreds of suggestions} a fabric I thought he'd hate. He LOVED it! And now, this fabric is the basis of our living and dining room decor:

Oh yeah, we were SO ahead of the trend on the suzani pattern fabric. {and we're humble, too} See that pop of aqua in the fabric? We've pulled out a brighter version of that for our TV stand, and our soon-to-be kitchen island stools. This is our kitchen inspiration {apologies, don't know source, it's from Pinterest}:

The kitchen is a work in progress, but someday we'll get some photos up, so you can see how we're progressing against our inspiration piece, vs. what we've changed to be more authentically "us."

As far as other things we LOVE: white leather couches. Have I mentioned we have three dogs? Oh yeah, we have. And we STILL LOVE white leather couches.  We had these ones in our old house {you get a little peek at our old home before and after}:

And when we moved, the two separate, matching sofas wouldn't fit into the configuration of our new house. Boo!! We loved the setup the previous owners' had, which included a sectional in the corner of the living room. So we got this:

But it just wasn't "us."  It was one of those compromises where we both felt we compromised. And so we sold it, and bought this {whoops, only have photos of it that include the dogs sitting on it. proof that it's durable!! .....and proof that our house is sometimes messy well-lived-in}:

Ahhhh.....so much better. Oh yeah, and we painted the walls gray to make the white trim "pop." And yeah, we have a photo canvas on the wall of our three dogs sitting on the {old} white leather couch. Because we love them. And that photo. And that couch. And they are a huge part of our lives! 

So that's the rundown of just a few of the things that we collect and love around our house. We have moved twice in the last few years, which has provided us a great opportunity to de-clutter and remove the things we don't truly LOVE. Which has led to a house full of things we DO love, and a lot of things that tell our story.

What's your favorite, most-authentically-you, loved item in your home?

A Mid-Century Mess made Modern! Chairs get a Re-do.

I found four of these mid-century chairs when we were out shopping a few weeks ago. SCORE!  Ok, my first thought was, "no WAY these are going anywhere near the house." The fabric was absolutely disgusting. As in, I should have worn rubber gloves to take them apart.

We hauled them home on the trailer, and put them in the garage. Then immediately scrubbed our hands.

 I disassembled them and, yes, cut right through that nasty old fabric.

The backrest of the chairs was a different style than I've upholstered before, but luckily wasn't too tricky once I looked at the way it was done previously.

Basically, you just staple right into the bottom side of the backrest, wrap the fabric around, fold it over so you get a nice finished edge, and staple right back along the bottom. Then, staple the sides, leaving room for the hardware holes to secure it back to the chair frame.

Here is the chair with just the seat cushion completed. I'm loving this fun fabric. It lends even more "modern" to the Mid-Century Modern style of the chairs. And after what they've been through in their lifetimes, they deserve a little love and excitement.

Excuse the crummy iPhone photos - I'll stage a better shot in the house, and upload when I have time. One down, three to go - I can just picture these around a white pedestal-base table, or tulip-style table. Or, for something even more dramatic, a round black table. 

Where would you put them?  Have you done any chair makeovers? What's the hardest thing you've reupholstered?


Linking up to: Savvy Southern Style, Lady Behind the Curtain, Polka Dots on Parade,

A Great Primitive Find - an Antique File Cabinet. Scrapbook, Photo, Jewelry Storage Cabinet.

We recently found this antique filing cabinet. We're not even sure that's the proper term for it - the drawers are about 1" high, and 15" wide. It would be perfect to use for scrapbooking supplies, photography, or jewelry.

It's also stacking. The whole thing is really three separate units. It could all be separated if you wanted, but there's currently a back on it that connects all three units, and makes it incredibly sturdy.

Take a peek:

Dorothy the Dresser gets a little makeover

I'm not paint-happy. At least not overly paint-happy. I swear. I appreciate a good, pristine piece of wood without any colored stuff on it as much as the next person. In fact, maybe more than a lot of people. Looooove me some walnut wood, in any shade or shape.

Buuuuuut, I also know a lady in need of some makeup when I see one. Let's face it, I have lots of practice looking in the mirror each morning. {I kid, I kid. I rarely wear makeup either.}

This lovely lady came along to us in early January. I named her Dorothy. Anything I spend more than a few hours with, getting to know as intimately as this, deserves a name. Remember Chester?  Anyway, Dorothy was actually in pretty good shape structurally. Except, her left side was a little wrinkly. I mean, that's natural. She's nearly 100 years old, if I have her dates right - I'm thinking 1920s. Her veneer was all chippy, wavy and peely on that right side.

Nonetheless, I was willing to give this lovely lady a shot at a new home just as she was. I asked for some opinions when I posted her on Facebook, and the responses were mixed. Some said paint, some said "don't you dare." Mind you, I didn't post a photo of her wrinkles...so she looked pretty good to those folks. Oh well. I left her be. She sat in the store for 2+ months, with no luck finding a home. So, I decided to give her a little makeover.

Here's how it went down {I am an ultimate picture-taker. Except when I need to be. Then I forget.}:

1. Homemade chalk paint, made from a can of oops paint I picked up at Home Depot for $2.00. I call it creamy gray.

2. Peeled, sanded, patched, sanded her rough spots on the side.

3. Painted two coats of homemade chalk paint in creamy gray. I think it needs a more glamourous name. Perhaps Dorothy Gray from now on? She looks delicious! In a non-edible kind of way. But also a little like a mime, if we're sticking with the makeup theme. {ie, super white and ....white.}

4. An orbital sander with 220 grit sandpaper across her detailed bits, and the edges of the drawers. Whoop, she's coming alive! It's like we just added a little blush and mascara!

5. Now for the bronzer and eyeliner. {Am I taking the analogy a bit too far?} I coated her distressed self with a clear wax all over. I let it dry about 10 minutes, and then used a soft dark wax - a little more around the edges and details, a little less in the open parts. I left the dark wax on for literally about 30 seconds, and then wiped it with a clean rag. I buffed it until I liked the way it blended into the details and feathered out to the creamier gray in other areas, then coated it with another round of clear wax. This removed even a bit more of the dark wax, and evened it all out.

6. Let 'er dry about 20 minutes, and buffed her to a beautiful, waxy shine!

And now, her big reveal. Meet Dorothy!

I just love how the gold/brass hardware plays so nicely with the dark waxed detail and the wood showing through where she's distressed!

What do you think? Have you done any furniture makeovers lately? What's your favorite way to distress and/or wax a piece of furniture?

Linking to: http://www.cozylittlehouse.com/2013/04/tweak-it-tuesday-37/

Instagrams from January Sale!

A quick update - if you're looking for info on this month's sale:  We are open Thursday - Saturday January 17, 18, 19 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.  We are located at 300 Broadway Street, Lower Level   Carver, MN  55315. And, as always, we'll be open by appointment between sales!  We hope to see you!

Here are some Instagram photos from our January sale:

French-Kissed - A Little Dresser Before and After

French kissed. Clever, huh? Maybe that's what we should call our new paint color creation, which we mixed up just for this french provinicial-style dresser we madeover last weekend. Or...maybe we should stick to junking, and painting....and not clever-blog-title-writing....

Here's her before {oh, and don't ask how I decide which furniture pieces are "he" vs. "she" - I just use whichever seems right at the time...in this case, she's curvy, flirty, and just downright pretty. So, she's a "she."}

Before: Pretty good shape. Clean. Boring (please don't be offended if you love her Before. she hung out in the store for 3 months in her Before state, and no one loved her enough to give her a new home).

After.  Homemade chalk paint, mixed with our own version of Tiffany blue paint (now known as French Kissed), and white painted hardware. Two coats of paint, a couple coats of wax, and she's officially made-over!

Within an hour of posting on Facebook, she was sold! She never even made it back to the store, but we're so happy she's going to a 9-year old girl. What an awesome Christmas surprise! {though we're sure this was just an add-on to the rest of her more typical 9-year old gifts!}

Have an awesome pre-Christmas weekend. Happy Holidays from our family to yours.

Linking to:
http://www.sugarbeecrafts.com/2013/04/take-look-tuesday_22.html?m=1
http://www.salttree.net/2013/04/salttree-social-51.html?m=1

A New Space for a New Year!

Exciting news: {drumroll please.....}       We're Moving!

If you follow us on Facebook, you may have already seen the announcement, but here are some more details.

Railroad Cart Reveal - our new coffee table

I'm running a little short on time this morning, but want to get this before/after post up before the week gets even more crazy!  The shop is open Thursday - Saturday this weekend, which always means tons of last-minute work to do to get it ready. Like pricing all the new items we've brought in!

Pretend this is one of those MadLibs-type blog posts, and fill in the captions (outloud or silently) as you go. The end result will be "Here is the super awesome finished cart in our new, not-yet-accessorized living room."

 

So, what was your favorite caption? Have you done anything this ambitous for your own house? How did it turn out?! Share a link to the photos!