Sunday, May 15, 2011

Living With Imperfection

I’m sure many of you can relate that sometimes your projects do not come out perfect.  Or at least what you consider perfect.  My most recent imperfect project was this table I had and moved into my living room.  I already had everything on hand to complete this project so it cost me nada!

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A plain and non-descript table.  Nothing fancy, inexpensive but it’s wood and it’s a good size for a side table.

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I decided to paint it and went with Heirloom White {no surprise there!}. 

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It turned out smooth, lovely, perfect.  Too perfect!  It needed something else and I decided to try something I’d been wanting to for awhile now.  A harlequin pattern!   I had a very large harlequin stencil {the package said “wall stencil”} and put this on the top of the table.

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Some paint got underneath the stencil  and I had to come back in and touch up with some Heirloom White.  I think my 20 year old stencil brush had something to do with that.  I figured since I screwed it up pretty well already, I  might as well go ahead and add some black checks around the table top rim.  Freehand.  Yes, me, shaky did freehand.

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I also put a fleur de lis stencil on the bottom portion and did black checks around that edge, too.   

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And then, I let it go.  I realized I was never going to get it absolutely perfect and remembered seeing some harlequin pieces in stores that didn’t have super straight edges and how I liked them just fine that way.   So I took it outside and gave the top a spray of polyurethane.

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Here it is with a few little things I put on it for now. 

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My thrift store mini-tureen filled with small moss balls and the pedestal I got from Willow House, holding a couple of paperbacks tied together with a stamped muslin ribbon.

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It sits next to my black and white chair in my living room looking perfectly imperfect and I love it!

My Cottage Charm Giveaway runs through to May 29th!  One person will win one of my triple ruffled table runners along with one of my “clip its”!

Linking up to

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps On The Porch

Table Top Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

All Things Inspired at All Things Heart and Home

Open House Party at No Minimalist Here

Frugalicious Friday at Finding Fabulous

Weekend Wrap Up at Tatertots and Jello

Kathy

59 comments:

Red Door Home said...

I like the way your table turned out. The extra touches of black on the sides look great!

Marsha @ Tattered Chick said...

I think it looks fab, Kathy!!!! I can't even cut a straight line, LOL, so I know I would never even have attempted this!! Great job!!!

xxoo

Sherry @ No Minimalist Here said...

Hi Kathy, I think your table turned out adorable and it looks great with the fabric on the chair.
xo,
Sherry

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Oh I am so impressed. I don't paint furniture and I sure wouldn't attempt checks or any other pattern. You did a fabulous job and I love the vignette. Hugs, marty

ℳartina @ Northern Nesting said...

Kathy I LOVE the way your table turned out!! Great Job, Martina

Bonnie@Creative Decorating said...

I love it Kathy! It caught my eye right away and looks fabulous next to that chair. I understand what you mean as I come to terms with things not turning out quite as I wanted but still look good. I have to adjust!

Debbiedoos said...

I get it! But I do think it turned out cute regardless.

Rita's Recipes said...

I like it a lot! Great job! Gotto now and cover some paperbacks with brown (lunch bags) paper. Cute idea there!

The Inspired Nest said...

I love it and the imperfections make it perfect! I love the accessories with it!
Lacy

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

Kathy, it is wonderful. You had a vision, man alive it is awesome. Love it girl. hugs ~lynne~

Handy Man, Crafty Woman said...

It looks great! I love it!

Cindy @ Dwellings-The Heart of Your Home said...

I love your table and the acccessories are perfect!
Hope your week is wonderful!

Marianne said...

I think that it turned out great. I just love the harlequin look and the table looks great with the wing chair!
Marianne :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Kathy, thanks so much for stopping by to visit with me and my paper bag pretties! I enjoyed my stroll along your blog. Your table is fabulous, it reminds me of Mackenzie Childs furnishings.

xo,

Abby

Kim@Chattafabulous said...

Looks great Kathy! Also love that fabric on the wing chair!!

Sue@Uniquely Chic said...

That table is super cute...love the harlequin!

Anonymous said...

Are you kidding? I'm in love with your table! Love love love what you did with it - perfect beside that chair!

Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door said...

Kathy, I think it turned out adorable! Often it's so hard to get passed a perfectionist attitude when painting or doing a project. If you keep at it too much you end up ruining it when you should have left well enough alone! Speaking to myself here. LOL!

Erin said...

Love that table makeover and I love the vignette you put on it!

Kathy said...

I too have dabbled in hand painted furniture. I love the imperfections as much as the design. It tells me it was painted with love not a machine. It gives it a folksy look that is so like our homes.

Ms. Bake-it said...

Kathy, I think you did a great job on your table! I love the design you created. I can certainly relate to the shaky hands...

Recaptured Charm said...

Nothing handmade is ever perfect, and in my opinion, it shouldn't be. Every piece needs it's own character. It's fabulous just as it is. Looks terrific next to that chair too.
Lisa

Stitchfork said...

Absolutely NOTHING imperfect about this gem!!
xo Cathy

Jen said...

Great idea for the table :) Thank you for stopping by my blog. I am your newest Google friend.

One Cheap B*tch said...

I think it came out great! Sometimes the imperfections add to the charm!

Jeanine

foreverdecorating said...

Just my style. I am loving this table.

DIYbyDesign said...

I love the way the table came out. Us perfectionists have a hard time letting go. The imperfections are what make it one of a kind. Beautiful job.

Deborah March said...

Perfectly "imperfectly" GORGEOUS is what it is!

Gail said...

Your imperfection comments are kind of "wabi sabi" philosophy - all life is an imperfect transition . But the table is adorable.

Alison @ The Polohouse said...

Hi Kathy!

FANtastic!
This is so darn cute. Love MacKensie Childs and her B&W checks too....always have.

Now I think you need you need to find a demilune cabinet like the one on your sidebar and tackle that. You can do it!
:)
Lovely!
xx
Alison

Olive said...

I think it's fabulous. We embrace imperfection here as we live in a very very old house.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful table transformation Kathy!

Karie said...

Oh how adorable. Love it. Thanks for sharing. Karie

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

It is wonderful. I just love the harlequin! Good job!!

Chari at Happy To Design said...

Hi Kathy...

Oooh...I think your little side table turned out sooo pretty, my friend! I love the black and white harlequin pattern...ooh...and that pretty fleur de lis! You did such a great job painting this table...and I bet you had lots of fun doing it too! Thanks for sharing it with us!

Also wanted to thank you for stopping by for a visit today! Loved your sweet note, my friend! Thank you!!!

Have a wonderful week..
Chari

Grandma Yellow Hair said...

Honey you always make the neatest pieces. There is no way I could of done this to that table. It turned out really pretty.
I appreciate the heads up about the site to write my post on. Sounds prefect and I appreciate you giving it to me.
Also for the birthday wishes. I love it when someone tells me that they have a family memeber born on the same day....neat.
I am so proud of Kaci and I appreciate your comment. I would give anything in the world if they would find the cure for diabetes.
Kathy honey hope your well and having a great week.
Love ya
Maggie

abeachcottage said...

Love how your side table turned out. The harlequin pattern is just perfect. It goes with your sofa too!

Lizabeth said...

Hello Kathy- thanks for commenting on my blog! I love your table! You did a great job on it- you turned a rather ordinary table into a custom piece! I love it! I'd go ahead and give the pedestal piece with the books on it a paint job too! Maybe in a color that will pop! I love the fabric on the chair or sofa next to it too! I'll have to explore some of your other postings! Great job!

Kristens Creations said...

Hi Kathy, thanks for your nice comments on my bookcases...sometimes I think they are a little cluttered, but I've taken things out here and there and then they look empty!lol...I always end up putting everything right back in.

I just love the way your little table turned out! My island is one example that did not turn out how I had planned, but it actually turned out a little better. Ha! I had planned on painting it green and adding the stain. Instead I ended up distressing it, and adding another shade of green to give it more interest. That's just one example...lol. Your little table looks so good with that chair. I love black and white together. Have a great day! Kristen

Anonymous said...

Hi Kathy! Oh, I just love your little table and all the extra touches of blackness you've added made it all the more curer! You did great and I love your bowl with the little moss balls.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

High Street Cottage said...

Kathy, I got a wee sidetracked admiring that amazing chair! The black and white Wing Back is just stunning, and now to say, the transformation you made on the table is wonderfulllll! Hand painted looks should not be perfect, otherwise it will look screen printed, and in cottage decor we don't want that. You pulled off the look, and gave that little table a lot of charm. Well done, tami

xinex said...

The table turned out really cute, Kathy! Love the vignette too..Christine

Patti @ Pandoras Box said...

I love how this turned out...I have the same stencil - now my "wheels are turning"...!!

Atticmag said...

I mixed metaphor stencil-wise but it really turned out well and looks great with the chair. Clever! Imperfection is perfection for me. Hope you'll stop by and see our kitchen faucets. Jane

Unknown said...

You are AH mazing! Sorry I havent been over here in what feels like FOREVER! I have been slammed at work and I tried logging onto several blogs on Friday and the stupid Blogger program kept failing. ARG!

Kim said...

Wow! Looks great Kath. Nice job girl!!

Cindy Adkins said...

Oh my gosh, Kathy--it's brilliant AND adorable--and alot of work--but, so worth it--I LOVE it!!!
XO
Cindy

KK said...

I really like the black and white. The accessories look great and compliment the table well. Great job Kathy.

Unknown said...

do I adore what you did with your table- what a transformation.
great blog...

Karen

Katherines Corner said...

I Love it! xo

Sue said...

I think it is darling! I'm not good with arts and crafts, so all of my projects turn out imperfect:) I have a giveaway going on now too...please go sign up!

Homeroad said...

Love the table! It looks beautiful!
Susan

K&B by the Sea said...

Your harlequin side table is so charming :-) The beauty of imperfections is that they're evidence that a piece isn't a production line item, but a one-of-a-kind piece :-) Plus, perfection is boring!

Inspired by you said...

Your table turned out great! Thanks for stopping by and commenting on my white table.

KHS said...

What a darling accent table!!! You did a wonderful job. I have been wanting to do something to a little desk on my porch and now you have given me an idea. I will have to look for one of those stencils. Thanks for sharing this great project.
Hugs,
Katherine S.

Unknown said...

Very MacKenzie-Childs! And they would have gotten several hundred dollars for the same thing. LOVE it. Especially next to that chair.

Sherry @ No Minimalist Here said...

Kathy, I wanted to drop by again to thank you for sharing your darling table at my party.
xo,
Sherry

Ashh10 said...

I Did the diamond Design on my desk and had such a hard time getting it straight too!

http://ashtonscraftycreations.blogspot.com/

WiiZii said...

Perfection is so overrated! Very cute little table.

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