One thing leads to another

Back in January I set out to make goals for myself for the year 2011.  I'm working on it, but it has been a little slow going.  I thought that the Super Ultimate Mega Summer would yield lots of time for house projects, but I'm not going to lie...  I spent a good deal of time lounging by the pool.   Then School started and my foul mood and the agony of trying to find my "responsible school mom groove" didn't yield to projects.  However, if there is one thing I've learned about my way of grieving... I like to keep busy with projects.  Plus housebreaking a puppy means you spend a lot of time outside... which made this a great project for right now. 

Here is the table that I said I wanted refinished in 2011.  It was supposed to be done in 2010, but well.. that year was a bit overwhelming with the Chalet Construction.  This table was purchased on August 18th, 1995, over 16 years ago.  It was the first piece of furniture Mr. Man and I bought together and I love it.  The two tone wood might be a little dated... a little bit country... but this is The Chalet  so I'm going to keep it.  Here is the before picture.  The island which is in the bottom right corner is a dark brown, and the pine top table clashed.  (Pause for a moment to remember dear Skoopi. She always laid under the kitchen table in this house, it was her haven.  I still walk in and expect to see her there.) 

I refinished the table, in the same shade as the island and it. turned out great.  It gives a rich feel to table and as I sanded the table, I couldn't help but reminisce all the changes this table has seen.  We were young newlyweds and now..... Mr. Man is an old man.

Something didn't quite feel right about the table once it was refinished, besides the fact that Mr. Boy wouldn't move for the pics and is 4 months past due for a haircut....
I think the chairs aren't quite right.. and one thing led to another.

Then I spied these Ladder back chairs  at a thrift shop, when I went on Half off Day.  Yep, you read that right, I'm so cheap I went to the thrift store on half off day.  I scored four of these Ladder back chairs for $10 bucks each and laughed all the way to the bank.  (Not really, but still, that's a steal, no?)

Then I spray painted them with about 6,000 coats of Rust-oleum White Satin. It felt like 6,000 coats because I would pull these out spray them, and then forget about them, have to put them away at night, and then drag them out every morning to spray them again.  If I had just remembered to spray them every 2 hours, it would have taken a day.   

/

I love the end product, I ended up restaining the seats too. 

 

Only thing is, I'm not sure which I like better after viewing them both...     

Windsor Chairs or Ladder backs?