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March 12th, 2009
before & after: liz’s makeovers

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this series of five before & afters comes from the talented liz karney of the shop sticks & bricks in northampton mass. liz keeps a fantastic blog called carpenter ant where she chronicles shop news and furniture makeovers- so i was thrilled to scroll through pages of great projects. what i like most about her makeovers is the way she left the rustic nature of several pieces in tact- not everything needs to be glossy and new looking. i’ve chosen my 5 favorites (they continue after the jump below!) but you can click here to browse liz’s blog and see her archives of great projects. thanks, liz!

[have a before & after you'd like to share on d*s? just send me an email right here with your pictures!]

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CLICK HERE for three more makeovers after the jump!

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49 comments
erin said:
March 12th, 2009 - 12:11 pm

these are completely delightful. such inspiration. thanks for sharing!

Julie said:
March 12th, 2009 - 12:16 pm

Oh, I just love that desk! So cute!

And the table with the woodcut on top is really neat, too. That’s a great, subtle makeover.

Jennifer said:
March 12th, 2009 - 12:21 pm

I really like the second-to-last one where it looks like the shape of the table leg was cut into the veneer. Very simple, yet very interesting. The paint/stain around the edges is nice, too.

tanya said:
March 12th, 2009 - 12:27 pm

oh wow, love these–especially that first and last makeover…beautiful!

March 12th, 2009 - 12:27 pm

So inspiring!

I agree with Jennifer about the next-to-last piece — the cutout in the veneer is wonderful, and I love the burnished look.

Yvonne said:
March 12th, 2009 - 12:29 pm

The last one with wood and metal is very very nice!
Really love your blog! I put it in my favorite on my new blog.

lisa said:
March 12th, 2009 - 12:30 pm

WOW!!! That two-tiered table is to die for!

Amanda said:
March 12th, 2009 - 12:33 pm

Love it! I just saw the 3 & 4 tables in antique shops this weekend and it took all my might to protect my wallet and not grab them both up- so beautiful!

amandalbs said:
March 12th, 2009 - 12:35 pm

wow on last and second-to-last — especially the table. these updates are respectful and highlight the history of the pieces, without feeling stuffy, out of place or like a budget makeover. YAY!

Kristin said:
March 12th, 2009 - 12:54 pm

Thanks for sharing – these are great pieces of inspiration.

Ruth said:
March 12th, 2009 - 12:55 pm

What type of paint is used on most of your items? They’re beautiful.

Sara (Mrs. B.) said:
March 12th, 2009 - 1:05 pm

What’s amazing is the complete lack of pedigree on the pieces, I consider myself quite imaginative and yet I know I would have considered these pieces beyond redemption. Great job!!

March 12th, 2009 - 1:44 pm

How inspirational!

monaluna said:
March 12th, 2009 - 1:44 pm

I LOVE the raw wood lily placement on the blue table – what a great idea!

Briana said:
March 12th, 2009 - 1:49 pm

I adore these! What fun pieces!

Marieke said:
March 12th, 2009 - 1:51 pm

oh these are just amazing. absolutely beautiful.

Kristen said:
March 12th, 2009 - 1:56 pm

I like them all. :) Any chance we could get a sort of how-to for the decorative woodcuts? They’re so interesting and unique!

March 12th, 2009 - 1:59 pm

absolutely wonderful refurbishment!~
the cutout idea is terribly clever and most pleasing to the eye; a simple idea with so much oomph. very impressive.

liz said:
March 12th, 2009 - 2:35 pm

thanks for all the lovely feedback! most of the carvings are hand drawn and then done with a router or dremel- i’ll give a more detailed description on my blog in the coming days. now i just have to start a new project….

Julie said:
March 12th, 2009 - 3:28 pm

liz rules!

Norine said:
March 12th, 2009 - 3:53 pm

This is the most impressive before and after I have seen.

Krista said:
March 12th, 2009 - 4:16 pm

I grew up near Northampton and now I can’t wait to check out Sticks and Bricks the next time I’m home! These projects are beautiful and have inspired me to start making better use of my Dremel. Thanks so much, Liz!

For the paint in the first photo, did you just use a wash?

I also love-love-love the crate end tables on the blog :)

Krista said:
March 12th, 2009 - 4:19 pm

I grew up near Northampton and can’t wait to check this place out the next time I’m home! These projects are absoutely beautiful… and they’ve inspired me to start making better use of my Dremel. Thanks so much, Liz!

In that first picture, did you just use a yellow wash?

Krista said:
March 12th, 2009 - 4:22 pm

PS – the designs on the floor are amazing too… such a good idea for freshening up an old wooden floor without completely painting over it!

March 12th, 2009 - 4:38 pm

I always look forward to your Before/After posts…this is definitely one of the best!!! Love the desk!

Shannon said:
March 12th, 2009 - 4:41 pm

OH my!! Some of the most beautiful pieces I’ve ever seen! What an inspiration!!

Fatima said:
March 12th, 2009 - 4:58 pm

I love the way Liz bring those pieces back to life with colors that soften rather than ¨choke¨ the original work. Very inspiring, I am looking forward to reading the details in the blog.

the.mediatrix said:
March 12th, 2009 - 5:00 pm

These are amazing! I love the 9 used as a latch. All of the work is so well suited to the original pieces. Thanks so much for sharing these!

March 12th, 2009 - 6:48 pm

we just bought an amazing little yellow cabinet from liz at sticks and bricks this past weekend! it was one of those “can’t walk away from this without getting it” sort of impulse buys. she does beautiful work! so happy to see it here and in person when we pick up our new piece tomorrow!

Jennifer said:
March 12th, 2009 - 6:57 pm

That blue end table is amazing — I love how she used the old finish as part of the design. Gorgeous work!

monica said:
March 12th, 2009 - 7:06 pm

These are fantastic! Especially love the floral embellishments. Very creative.

ch said:
March 12th, 2009 - 9:20 pm

These are Genius! Such great details.

puck said:
March 12th, 2009 - 9:33 pm

amazing! fabulous work!!!

Janet said:
March 12th, 2009 - 10:20 pm

Seriously, I have total do-over envy each and every week when I see what people do here! It’s so amazing!

kk said:
March 13th, 2009 - 1:43 am

Thats what I’m talking about, refreshing old wooden furniture while enhancing, not killing its innate character. Such nice work!

knack said:
March 13th, 2009 - 8:13 am

great job liz!!

I love everything!

Kristan said:
March 13th, 2009 - 9:32 am

I love the way she left that flower in the blue table! Stunning.

March 13th, 2009 - 10:43 am

what beautiful tables! i was excited to see that a dremel was used to do some of the woodcarvings. i will be looking forward to the how-to. thank you!

Jillian said:
March 13th, 2009 - 12:25 pm

I walked into Sticks and Bricks and fell in love with the style and care that Liz puts into all of her pieces. I especially love the desk at the top (mostly because I’m the owner of it!) but all of her work is so amazing. I look forward to having more custom work done by her.

sarah said:
March 13th, 2009 - 3:22 pm

liz and i went to college together and she has always been an amazing crafter… i love everything liz, great job, and very inspiring. look likes some of the before pieces could have come out of old bay rd…

jess said:
March 14th, 2009 - 11:05 pm

Wow, these are amazing. I’m actually inspired to work on some of the furniture sitting in my parents cellar. Hopefully this new found enthusiasm will stick around long enough for me to get something done!

leslie said:
March 15th, 2009 - 9:45 pm

liz most certainly kicks some booty, bricks & sticks stlye!!!

kate b said:
March 16th, 2009 - 8:21 pm

you continue to amaze me liz! i have two of your pieces in my home and i can’t wait to buy more. i’m so incredibly obsessed with your style and talent!

March 17th, 2009 - 10:50 am

I really love the first makeover! The insides of the drawers are awesome! As they say: it’s whats inside that really counts. Haha. Lovely makeovers!!! ♥

Marianna said:
March 18th, 2009 - 5:55 am

Very nice!
What did you use to cover the small blue table?

Sheena Smith said:
March 20th, 2009 - 9:39 am

Fabulous, love the desk & tiered table!! Ok gotta run & get started myself =) thx

March 26th, 2009 - 5:15 pm

i love a bit of re-worked furniture. The wood engraving is a really subtle touch, and shows a little bit of the original wood which i think makes it all the more special. Lovely!

meikie said:
March 31st, 2009 - 2:34 am

It’s all so incredibly inspirational, and reminds me as a designer to think sideways for that contemporary and individual look!

ReillyO' said:
April 15th, 2009 - 3:26 pm

beautiful! what quality of paint can i use to paint my wood chairs?

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