From black Laminated 80's look to a "Cottage Beach House"

First off thank you ladies for your wonderful ideas on how to cope with this table. I really like the idea of burlap or dropcloth attached with velcro around the bottom it sounds so simple and easy.

I also discovered that even though I can not lift the enormous piece of glass, I can slip a piece of paper in there . And came up with an idea. I was inspired by a  side table I saw at Home Goods. It really suits my style and I would like to incorporate this idea onto the top of these black slabs.

The inspiration table is collaged with vintage- looking maps.

Love, love. love this idea.

 Isn't it precious?

This is what I want to do to my table legs!

Not only are those dining chairs and table getting a makeover while I am in Florida. I'm finally getting started on that God- aweful hutch that is attached to the wall. 

uggg.
I tried to get that negotiated out of the deal when we purchased. I hate it that much. It is just not my style one bit. It's black laminate 80's comtemporary. I like vintage. This is not it. I like  trunks from the turn of the century. I like white cottage turned legs. I like soft pastels and stripes. I like old maps. Vintage milk glass. Green depression ware.  Hand crocheted lace tablecloths.
This thing just dangles from the wall like a big spaceship.

Removing it is not going to happen any time soon. We just are not here enough to accomplish that. And as I have stated before the hubbo is not handy.

So I am out to CBH (CottageBeachHouse) this puppy as best I can. My ideas are

1.  Give it some legs so it's not just hanging
2. Paint it a much lighter color, off white
3. Change all the knobs to a nickel finish
4. Dress it up with some wood appliques

• If anyone has a great idea for this one help me out will ya? I will be diving in with the primer real soon!  

Florida Challenges

Well I arrived safely after a long ride from New Jersey with my car making some crazy airplane noises. Right now it is in the shop getting ball bearings and brakes!
938 miles is a long way. I had no idea it needed work till half way down.
Before heading off to the Keys  in a couple of weeks, I will be attempting to "neutralize" this Florida house.
When we bought it, everything was Black, Aqua, and Purple. Yes, I said purple.
The walls are mostly grey and I can live with that.
But some things had to ...and still have to go.  The E- normous purple formica entertainment center is gone...it went last year when my big strong boys were down here with me. And that has been replaced with this adorable little tropical theme console table.

I never did take a pic of that purple entertainment center. Trust me it was really big and really purple!

~~~~~~

And the hall foyer had a glass and chrome table which, needless to say, I wasn't crazy about,-->

That has been delegated to the garage and will probably wind up in a consignment shop for some college student. I replaced it with this cutie  below from Home Goods

 The previous owners had the coffee table and end tables that matched the glass and gold foyer table,

 that I also hated. Off to the garage again.. The last time I was down I was able to swap them out for a much more cottage looking set.

I'd like to get rid of the aqua rug but that won't happen this year!
So this time around I am working on the dining room chairs! Get a load of these. We call them the "Beetlejuice" chairs. ....Absolutely not me. Go ahead , laugh if you want. I understand.

I wasn't kidding. Black, Aqua, Purple

So what is a girl to do? I don't have an extra thousand dollars to spend on a completely new dining room set right now, nor will I any time soon. So they will have to get "neutralized."

I am thinking slipcovers from dropcloths.... the perfect color and texture that I want.

I've been experimenting a little bit  and like the idea of some fabric paint on each chair with phrases such as "Beach" "Ocean"  "Surf" 

just so they aren't so plain.

I did this on a throw pillow and like how it looks. And this fabric paint stays on in the wash.

 One side is a nautical print the other the canvas dropcloth with "Ocean" and" Beach" written on them

So that's what I will be busy working on.. my chairs.

So far only one is done. And there are 7 more.

I do prefer this look to the black 80's look!

My sis will help me after our trip to the Keys.. she is a much better seamstress than I am.

In the meantime. I will have to spend some time on this gorgeous beach, on the gulf coast by Sarasota.  In this gorgeous water.

and tanning up this super white skin... I got going on.... from a cold New Jersey winter!
Just jump in!

Now for the Florida challenge...

Does anyone have any ideas what I could possibly do with this dining room table?

*Note>>> hub is NOT handy, this one is on me.

*Note>>> buying a new one is out.

How in God's name would you cottage this thing up? 2 big black formica pedestals hold up an extremely large piece of glass.

Any ideas ?

Changing this thing is a risk worth taking!

joining the nester's risk taking day