a quick and easy fix

our salvation army buffet after 26 years of daily use

One of our most cherished pieces of furniture is a buffet found at a Norwood thrift store in 1986.  Shortly after we were married and moved into our first modern house, an eagle eyed new neighbor, Stan Rosemire, called and said that there was a piece of furniture at the Salvation Army that ‘looked like us.’  Intrigued, we ran over to the store and $25 later, the buffet (labeled ‘stereo cabinet’) was ours!  In not so typical thrift store fashion, it was in perfect condition. 

But 26 years, 3 kids, 3 moves and countless buffets served later, it was no longer in such perfect condition.  We toyed with the idea of having it refinished, but it was really just the top that was showing wear and it just didn’t seem worth it, especially since it is likely to get spilled on again. 

years of serving buffets have taken their toll on the original finish and especially noticeable is the watermark to the left of the tray 

'before'

'before'

Then last week, one of my internet MCM blog reading episodes lead me to two products that promised to ‘restore’ the finish of wood furniture without having to strip and refinish.  After some more searching on the net, I found out that the products, Howard Restore-a –Finish and Howard Feed-n-Wax, are available at Home Depot.  How could I not try it?  There was really nothing to lose.

restoration products used 

I applied the Restore-a-Finish (in Mahogany, which seemed from the small sample on the can like the closest color to the teak? buffet) using 0000 steel wool as suggested.  A finish coat of the Feed –n-Wax went a long way to even the tone of the wood an make it look way less dried out.  The entire process with drying time only took an hour. 

it only took an hour and I didn't even have to change into work clothes!

The white water ring on the right side of the top covered over beautifully.  The other lighter and darker (wine?) stains did not fare as well, but overall it does look a lot better.  Not quite the miracle products I had hoped for, but overall an improvement.  And I do feel like the wood is more protected than it was.  Overall, I give the products a C+, and certainly worth the small amount of time and money invested. 

'after'

'after' our kitty Miller seems unimpressed...

the finished product - the white ring is gone! What do you think?

a modern tragedy

It once stood proud

It’s now in tatters

Is architecture all that matters?

Carl Strauss, Ray Roush, you built them all

You never intended to see them fall

If you love it, a house is a home

But watch out if you start to roam

Fifty years from start to finish

Wood, glass and stucco, hard to diminish

Yet there it is, so uncertain

Waiting for its final curtain

-Susan Rissover

news flash - first time buyer funds available!

Welcome Home Funds* for first time buyers are available starting MARCH 1.  This is a limited pool of funds and is only available until the pool is empty!  Up to $5000 in down payment assistance.  How great is that!?  You can reserve yours now, and lock up your purchase contract later.  Our MOD COD listing would be the perfect first time buyer home and it is OPEN THIS SUNDAY, MARCH 4, 2:00 - 3:00.  Come take a look and possibly take advantage of FREE MONEY! 

own this home for less than rent! ask us how!

*Welcome Home Funds Program is offered by the Federal Home Loan Bank. These Welcome Home Funds are meant to assist eligible homebuyers with their down payment and closing costs on the purchase of an eligible property. These funds may be reserved as soon as March 1st and will only be available for a limited time. FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO RESERVE YOURS, CONTACT SHAWN HUSS @ FIRST PLACE BANK 513.703.6489. 

Update on Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at 9:55AM by cincinnatimodern.com

As of today, there are still some 'Welcome Home' funds left.   And you actually DO NOT have to be a first time buyer - but you cannot own other real estate currently.  OWN A HOME WITH ONLY $500 OUT OF POCKET!!! 

form follows function

We obviously love classic modern furniture, but one thing we have learned through the years is that furniture must be as functional as it is beautiful.  I thought I would take this opportunity, right before the 20^th Century Cincinnati Show, to share a photo timeline of our now legendary 3/ $25 coconut chairs.  It seems that they are as comfortable as they are functional and beautiful.   Now that’s good design!

We 'found' three of these original early production George Nelson Coconut Chairs in a GTE office building in Lafayette, IN in 1986. New chairs were on order and they ‘sold’ them to us for a $25 donation to the American Heart Association. Right away, our cats took to them. This is the sweetest cat that ever lived, Tyler, taking a siesta on one of them shortly after we acquired them. Evidently word got our about how comfortable the chairs were, and our cat Ryan had to see for himself (circa 1986). The chairs had just been recovered in 1987 when our friend Jenny could not resist their particular charms at a New Year’s Eve party. Either that or we throw really bad (or good?!) parties……Tyler, again (circa 1988).Our 2 ½ year old son, Trent (now 23), taking a coconut nap in December 1991. Daughter Tenley, just shy of her 3rd birthday in 2000.Tenley showing that the chairs are comfortable so many ways!Daughter Tenley when she was 13 posing with her violin (circa 2010).Our family photo for Best Magazine with daughter Kirsten (then 18) in the chair in the foreground, and Tenley in the background (circa 2010). Our cat Harper circa 2011 proving that orange cats LOVE to nap on coconut chairs!

the wonder years

my friend Jenny and I selling bugs in the neighborhood, circa 1969I grew up in Suburbia in the 1960’s and 70’s.  It was an idyllic ‘Wonder Years’ kind of childhood, where there were 6 girls on my block, all the same age and we all went to the same school.  We explored the woods, played on giant piles of construction sand from all of the new houses being built in our neighborhood, sold bugs, and rode our bikes forever.  As long as we were home for dinner, all was good.  But as I was reading the Cincinnati Enquirer this morning, I realized that something was missing from my childhood.  There was a great article by Brent Coleman on identifying Rookwood tile, and I thought of all the Cincinnati homes I have sold, both modern and traditional, and all of the great architectural character and details they had. 

And it hit me.  Everything I grew up with was new.  The house my family lived in when I was born was 3 years old.  We moved to a brand new house when I was 6.  My grade school was built 1960ish in a faux colonial revival style.  My junior high was roughly the same age (although in a decidedly more midcentury modern style), and my high school…… built in 1976, let’s just say it was late 20^th Century penitentiary style.  Very few windows, and the ones that were there were dark and did not open.  What if there was a fire?  Is that even legal?

Sylvania Southview High School, 1976I was born at the end of the baby boom and my Suburbia was hastily constructed to accommodate the burgeoning population.  My schools were completely devoid of any kind of architectural detail.  They were all slab on grade – no steps.  None of my schools even had an auditorium!  The only ‘character’ in my friends’ houses, (all built roughly between 1968 and 1972) were the different patterns of kitchen carpeting (yes, kitchen carpet was all the rage circa 1970 and my entire neighborhood was built with it).  My very cool and cutting edge friend, Linda, had the most awesome 70’s wallpaper and furniture in her house, made even cooler by the fact that the whole family listened to Carly Simon on the Hi Fi.  But surely none of this exists in these homes today. 

that's me, second from the left, in my friend Linda's groovy kitchen, circa 1979Tile work, such as Rookwood and Wheatley in the early 20^th Century, and the more generic mosaics and 4x4 field tiles with decorative borders or accent tiles so popular in the 40’s, 50’s and early 60’s is a lasting testament to the era when these homes were built.  A time when things were built to last, when craftsmanship was an art form, and before everyone was in such a hurry.  The article in the paper this morning talked about a time when Rookwood tile fell out of favor, only to be fawned all over by today’s buyer.  We often get feedback about our midcentury listings that the bathrooms are ‘dated’ or need updating.  I imagine the 1950’s era buyer of a 1928 Cincinnati Tudor felt the same way about their Rookwood fireplace!

Rookwood bathroom in a Price Hill Tudor, circa 1928. Notice the relief tile (or plaster?) border at the top....Rookwood Fireplace in a 1926 Tudor in Clifton -Susan Rissover