So, friends in from out of town, dinner planned, what next? Facials, manicures, injections? Extra trips to the personal trainor?

Heavens no. A little do-it-yourself face lift for the Dream House.

Inspired by Nick Olsen’s post I went on the hunt for local tables that could be used for consoles in the dining room. I like the tables he recommended from Target, but did not want to pay for shipping. And I didn’t want to wait. I’m bad about waiting.

Latin American Imports here in town usually has a good selection of iron table bases and they had a style that I thought would work. The rusted finish was not what I had in mind, but change is nothing but a spray can away. I had queried darling Nicky if he thought I should gold leaf the entire table. “Just the circles.” Wonderful. Just the circles is easy.

Per his suggestion I purchased paint grade wood for the tops and painted them with Rustoleum oil based paint. I used Sunset Red in gloss and mixed in a little glossy black to make it darker. Mr. Blandings popped in mid-project. “Is the black oil based, too?” His gentle way of checking to see if I had botched the whole thing. “Mmm-hmmm.” “Huh. Wonder if you sanded it between coats if it would look even more like lacquer?” Knee-deep in passive aggression I replied, “Excellent idea.”

Nick suggested moving the blanc de chine, which was spot on, but the wall still seemed a little bare. These paintings were together on a different wall of the dining room, but I’d never been comfortable with them there. The scale wasn’t right. They seem happy here. They like each other, but they get along better with a little distance.

It’s not Paul McCobb. It’s more Jolly McNow.