I think that the current fashion for chippy old furniture pieces that were originally not particularly stylish when they were new will pass, eventually. These are the items whose main claim to fame, at present, is merely their chippiness. Something made by your DH (assuming he'd be pleased to do so), even from a kit and even being a copy of something from a well-known resource would be preferable, I think. I do understand the antiquarian interest in un-messed-wth finishes, even if now in somewhat battered condition. This seems to me to apply more to things with some inherent value based on age, documented provenance (for instance chippy stuff that was actually made for the Sabbath Day Lake Shaker's own use even if in the 1920s) or authentic periodness which have aquired some patina. Chippiness, in and of itself, doesn't elevate ordinary battered old junk to higher value. Householders who orginally owned the stuff wouldn't have valued chippiness: they would have thought it needed to be repainted! (Same goes triple for cabs with faux fly specks and applied grubby hand smudges around handles. Boil some water and get out the lye soap and stop being such a slattern would, I think, have been their own view on many a modern cabinet-shop display model.) Your proposed kitchen table is very lovely. I'm not so keen on the duck-pin shaped legs on the cabinet, though. L.

The contractor simply told us we would have to wait an additional week for the counter tops since they miss-measured cabinets and he would have to order the correct size. I asked if he could return the wrong ones and he said no and they would probably use them in the show room or something. I already knew that their show room was way too small for what they have now and space was a problem for them because of deliveries of people's construction supplies. They are growing too fast and are having problems finding qualified people to work (problems in this area finding people that can pass a credit/drug test). This is a very small TN town. They simply didn't need another problem and we offered to split the cost. They have done an amazing job (complete to the studs teardown) and even with the extra week, the whole project will take just over 4 weeks. They are finishing up the plumbing and elect. and will re-install the appliances tomorrow. They put a rush on the granite and it was installed one week after it was ordered. Even though we are in a rural area, they corrected all code violations - something they didn't have to do since there are no permits required here. (BTW - that is one reason the project was completed so quickly.) We are impressed.

I think that the nails we see are not original, but were part of a patch-up made after this piece had aged. The drawers may have been glued together, and then came apart. The owner resorted to nailing to keep it together. Look at the 11th photo. Toe nailing was done with nails that were much too long and the nails protrude by a large amount. This is sloppy patching, but typical of someone using whatever he has in his nail bin. In earlier photos of the drawers, the nails are not evenly spaced indicating these were placed by eye, and not measured.

Love those pendants! I love Tuscany but even when the faux Tuscan look was ”stylish” like you, I never liked it. That green is just gorgeous 3pinktrees! I have to admit I am a little OCD as far as something not being authentic and in your words, trying to be something that it’s not. I do like simple more than most, just ask Lyn. :))) It sounds like you know what you want and it will be gorgeous. Can’t wait to see what you do.