So, your mom really wants you to incorporate all of her vintage traditional tables and dressers into your home. It is solid wood she says. It means alot to me she says. But, you just can’t get past the style or the finish. You really want to take it all to Good Will. As do almost all of your peers.
Instead, what about using the solid wood from your mom’s outdated furniture and have it remade into modern things that you and your siblings need and want and that will remind you of momma everyday when you enjoy them in your home. In a modern custom finish you love and suits.
Things like ottoman trays, valet trays, mirror frames, ledges, drink tables, stools and art frames.
Recently we did just this. Making custom solid wood art frames in our wood workshop that would slide over prints ( through Rug and Weave and Pink Lemon Decor ) that we mounted on wood art panels ( no glass means no reflection! ).
At the very end of the post, we share photos of some of the not so premium vintage furniture that were used to mill up the wood for these solid wood art frames!
Note: I love a good gallery wall, but only when counter balanced with solo art on other walls.
For the gallery art wall we laid the frames out on the floor to get a sense of the flow and what looked best next to each other and then started hanging the middle first with a small level. We eyeball the spacing so it’s a bit different and more informal. The actual end result always varies from what we laid out on the floor!
On some of the frames we left beauty marks and others, we milled the wood like new!
All edges we created with a router, corner jig and roundover and bullnose bits ( except for the beaded frame which was the apron from a dining table ).
All of our custom frames are like slipcovers and easily slide on and off the wood panels so we could easily see the prints with many different frames. My goal is always to vary the frames for a curated feel and enhance the print image through frame finish. Frames are to prints what the right jewellery is to an outfit.
Enjoy the photos! If you are interested to know more about the custom frames, finishes, prints and resources, read on.
We would love to know what your favourites are!
CUSTOM FRAMES MADE IN OUR WORKSHOP
First we dismantled all of the furniture.
Wood was then cut down on the table saw and run through the planer and jointer to make all of the wood flat and square.
Then the wood boards are run through the saw again and cut into moulding stick and rabbets created to sit over the art panel. We tried a few methods for the rabbets ( table saw, router table and attaching two pieces of wood with different depths ). The preferred method is the table saw.
Next we used the router to create the rounded edge edge profiles. Then, we cut the mitres slowly ( for a nice clean cut ) on either the table saw with the blade at 45 degrees ( preferred ) or the mitre saw with a jig set up for repeatable cuts.
Next the frames where glued ( we used Titebond III on some and AKfix PA370 Marine glue on the larger frames and clamped up with clamps that ensure square. We tend to wipe off the excess glue at this point especially in the small crevices although some wood workers like to scrape it off after dried up.
For the rounded corner frame we used a corner jig and router.
Once out of the clamps the frames are thoroughly hand sanded up to 180/220 grit to get ready for finishing with either Rubiomonocoat or Osmo. We wipe or spray with water to raise the grain with one last light sand to ensure a smooth finish. On the oak we use a wire brush to allow the finishes to be more pronounced in the grains.
FINISH CLOSEUPS
We have used both Rubiomonocoat and Osmo ( world leaders for low voc durable flooring ) extensively and what we reach for depends on a few factors. Please reach out if you want to know more. We have spent years and thousands of dollars doing real world testing on our vintage restorations and new build furniture!
ART PANELS
We made some art panels from scrap wood and bought some from Michaels with their 40% off coupon. Currys and DeSerres also carries.
We primed each of these with matte medium. Then lightly sanded with 220 sandpaper. We vacuumed them and then applied another liberal coat of art matte medium. Then placed the print on top. We then used a rubber roller to smooth out all of the air pockets. You really don’t want to be touching the top of the print at this stage as the paper can be fragile. Once this stage is dry, apply a few coats of the matte medium on top of the paper print to seal and protect it and give it a slight original painting look ( and eliminate the need for glass ).
PRINTS
Laurie Anne Art prints on a canvas paper. This is my favourite. Luxe and durable and still affordable. Especially great if you don’t want to use glass. We have used Laurie’s art on our last few interior design projects we love her work so much! You can order directly from Laurie in the USA and in Canada Rug and Weave carries some of Laurie’s prints ( where we bought the one shown in the gallery wall ).
Rug and Weave has a wonderful selection of prints on paper ( Guelph, Ontario but ship nation wide ). Half of the prints on our gallery wall are from Rug and Weave.
Also Pink Lemon Decor ( Bowmanville, Ontario but also ships ) is a great source for prints on paper.
The mini originals on hardboard are by Aimee Ruoff.
Small Paris and macaroon photograph by France photographer Carina Okula.
OTHER SOURCES
Pottery is vintage
Gorgeous dried floral ( Statice Sinuta ) from Jack and Marion ( Newmarket, Ontario )
I WILL ADD ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS HERE
It takes alot of time to cut and prepare the wood for its new life and build and finish to craftsman standards. This is not about saving money, but rather getting well made modern custom pieces that also have sentimental value.
Professional tools we used: Table saw, mitre saw, jointer, planer, handle held router ( Makita ) and router table ( Bosch ), corner jigs and router bits ( rabbit, roundover and bullnose ), sanders ( Festool ), frame clamps and 23 gauge air nailer in addition to glue ( Titebond III and AKfix PU370 marine glue ).
We have about 500 Rubiomonocoat and Osmo finish recipe samples on oak, ash, maple, pine, walnut, butternut and mahogany so that we can easily decide on finishes with a clients entire design plan.
PHOTOS OF SOME OF THE SOLID WOOD VINTAGE FURNITURE USED TO CREATE THESE CUSTOM ART FRAMES