As we embarked on a huge life change, including moving from Arizona to Durango, Colorado, and building a new home, it was only fitting to shift the flavor of our home’s interior to something fresh and brand new.
The San Juan Mountains brought a sense of deep peace, which for me equated to a lighter pallet, natural elements, yet filled with lots of character. We parted with many belongings, which didn’t come easy for me personally, but as these changes took shape, I found this process to be profoundly healing. It was not only the closing of a chapter, but of a book.
One of the items that made the cut was an Eastlake dresser that purchased at one of my favorite auction houses, for an unbeatable price! Its rich beautiful color was originally a perfect fit for our Vineyard Estate guest room. This piece, along with a few of my other favorites, was stripped and bleached, creating that softer look I was after. I replaced the old wooden knobs (which were not original) with some beautiful Italian brass plate pulls. I love the soft romantic feel it has now!
Have a look at our “Rustic Mountain Vineyard” project on the portfolio page!
The other items that underwent a transformation were my Belter-style chair and mahogany desk, both from the 1870’s -1890’s. I was a bit hesitant to strip these items due to their value, but wanted to enjoy them in a new way. I reupholstered the green chair fabric with a cream-colored crewel and replaced the green felt on the desktop with an ecru suede.
The last item was our dining room table bench. I plan to use this in our future ski room since I have the perfect spot for it. Again, I had the dark stain stripped from the legs, revealing the raw wood, and replaced the brown leather with a light brindle cow hide. The hide was once used as a rug in our master bathroom. These are the times that repurposing becomes such a fun and creative process.
So before you get rid of unwanted items, have a second look. It’s amazing how a few changes can breathe new life into beloved pieces, creating a fresh and inviting atmosphere. I’m excited to see all these transformed pieces in our new home!
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~Carrie-Anne Oliver
