Eddie Ross: Before & After Guest Blog

Hi, everyone! Eddie Ross here. I'm super excited to be able to guest blog today for Lauren, one of Jaithan's and my closest friends! It's not something we do very often, but Lauren's definitely a designer after my own heart. I love the way she mixes new and old, classic and modern. She has amazing style and is so humble about it! Can you believe it's been over a year since we all met on our first shopping trip to the New York City flea market? In the blogging world especially, you never know whom you'll meet if you just put it out there!


FleaMarket


Speaking of the old becoming new, here's a quick before and after with a sweet, little tray I picked up last week in Atlanta. I'd been looking for a piece with handles that went with our bar cart—something I could could cary and serve, say, two or three drinks at a cocktail party here at home. You never know when luck is going to strike, and this time around, it was at a tiny, hole-in-the-wall thrift shop in Norcross on our way to Larson-Juhl to prep for the framing party. It's a faux bamboo brass tray, probably, from the 50s, so stained with water marks, even I wasn't sure it would come clean. But for $2, I was willing to take a chance!


Bamboo1


Flash forward, and we're back upstate, unpacking from the trip, when out came the tray, soiled and spotted as ever. Quickly, I went to the sink or, as I like to call it, the Restoration Department. Out came the gloves, Brillo pad and Brasso, my favorite polish for brass. Call me crazy (compulsive, neurotic, etc.), but I love taking something like this forgotten little tray from trash to treasure. A little polish goes a long way!


Bamboo2


Fifteen or so minutes later—"scrub, Christina, scrub!"—and voilĂ ! I love how the tray turned a nice matte finish while the crevices kept their tarnish, accentuating the bamboo. Here's something that cost all of two bucks that now looks like it could have come from the 7th floor of Bergdorf Goodman!


Bamboo3


So where to use it? On the dresser as a vanity tray for cuff links and cologne? Passed hors d'oeuvres at cocktail hour? How about lining it with a pretty linen napkin for rolls at a dinner party? For now at least, I'm taking the Rat Pack-route, propping it appropriately with L-monogrammed highballs from our Etsy shop, Grecian lowballs from our friend Steve McKenzie, a shaker we picked up in Kansas City, and an Italian tiered tray from the Goodwill.


Bamboo4


Talk about trash to treasure! Cocktails, anyone?


-----------------------------------------------

Ahhhh love it!!!  Thanks so much to Eddie & Jaithan for putting together this awesome before & after.  The tray is GORGEOUS & I love the Ratt-Pack-esque cocktail set-up above...  SO ready for it after 9 months!!  (and for $2?!!!  INSANITY.)  I'm always floored by everything Eddie does but am never surprised by its perfection...  Mm mm good! 

xoxo,
lauren

ps- Guest Blogger up next week:  Maria Killam the Color Queen of Colour Me Happy!

51 comments:

paula said...

It is gorgeous. I am always a fan of a good before and after.

Anonymous said...

It's beautiful - what a great find. And I always appreciate a Mommy Dearest reference ;-)

Nate

~Grace Happens~ said...

hi eddie and lauren! love this before and after. i have an obsession for all things bamboo, and it's throughout my entire house. i would have prob paid lots of moola for amazing tray. What a STEAL for $2!!!! i bet it makes the drinks taste better too:)

Janell @ House of Fifty said...

Stunning, both the look and the price! Janell

Alaina @ Live Creating Yourself said...

Amazing. I can't wait for the Chicago antique market in February. Hopefully I'll find a few trash-to-treasure projects like this!

Cheers,
Alaina

debra @ 5th and state said...

hi lauren

eddie and jaithan are so wonderful aren't they!!?

had the opportunity to have dinner with them, steve mckenzie and other bloggers, pure magic.

your previous post on the shell chandeliers...........love those and had them in my shop five years ago. here in the midwest, they were not understood. eventually went into the tent sale for 75.00 each....ouch!
mfgr. is roost if you wish to order direct.
my best
debra

La Dolfina said...

Eddie never ceases to amaze! I too am crazy for bamboo. In fact I just picked up a pair of vintage bamboo ski poles at The Point after Christmas which tells you I have a hard time passing bamboo by :)
Love your Spring cleaning projects, keep em coming.
Have a great day!
xo
Terri

Anonymous said...

Love it! Thanks for sharing!

Kathysue said...

Lauren, Eddie and Jaithan are two of my favorite men. How fun to see him over here. He is always bring fresh fun ideas to the table. He keeps me inspired. Love him! Kathysue
PS would love for you to visit my new blog,I just joined blogland.
Goodlifeofdesign@blogspot.com

elisabeth (bovagoods) said...

hi lauren! love eddie's before and after. great post! can't wait to see what your project is for next week!

nelya said...

What a fabulous transformation. I'm only jealous because I didn't find it first. No fair Eddie, you have plenty of pickings in NYC, save some of the down home goodness for us Atlanta girls! ;0)

Thanks for the ever inspiring post!

My Notting Hill said...

Eddie's done it again - $2 now looks like $200+. Love the nickname for his sink!

Design Actually said...

What an amazing find! I just scored a brass bamboo bar cart last week for $5 that I'm going to shine up with some Brasso. After seeing the amazing results here I want to get started on it right away!

Unknown said...

Someone needs to copy and reproduce that tray! What a find! LOVE it!

Tracy Watier said...

Such a pretty find. So many people probably passed it over thinking it was beyond repair... but not Eddie!
I'd like to add to the endless ways this tray could be used: does the bamboo rail look like finger bones to anyone else? I think it's the perfect serving piece for a Halloween party! To pass "finger" sandwiches or cookies... you know, the kind that have almond "nails". Just a random idea... :)

Melissa said...

That is fab! Just perfect-- although I am wondering about how much elbow grease to apply with that Brillo? I had no idea you can use that on decorative metals. Can't WAIT for the next guest, too!

Anonymous said...

The wonders of the blogging community continue to amaze me. So happy you found each other.

This 'before & after' tray is amazing. Makes me need to rethink how I see certain thing!

Tricia - Avolli

Renae Moore said...

I love that! I too am looking for a tray such as this! I love polishing silver b/c what comes after a little elbow grease is amazing!
Fantastic!
xx

The City Sage said...

Oh my goodness I have GOT to get myself on an antiquing trip to the south! we just don't find stuff nearly that good out here in san francisco. and of course eddie's gifted touch makes it even better. ADORE!

xo
Anne @ The City Sage
www.annesage.com

Fargerike Dagny said...

Fabulous! Eddie - you're super talented!!

Jennifer said...

seriously, he finds the best stuff! the man has AN EYE!

pve design said...

I have some polishing to do here. You inspire me so -
Eddie, Jaithan and Lauren.
Now pour me a drink.
pve

My Dog-Eared Pages said...

What a fabu tray!!
I'd love to find one... it's tray perfection!

Mrs. Limestone said...

I had no clue I could use Brasso on silver plate? Here i've been buying silver polish all along. Doh! Thanks for the tip.

Acanthus and Acorn said...

PVE said it best!!! Can't top that :)

Kasey at Thrifty Little Blog said...

Wow, that boy is talented! $2?!

Tina said...

Oh I love a good thrift store find! Fantastic transformation and a great post :) Have a lovely day Lauren, Eddie and Jaithan - Tina x

Gypsy Heart said...

A great find and such a beautiful "after". LOVE the Rat Pack look! The pic of all of you is great...thanks for sharing.

Free Art Printables said...

What a great find that tray is!

jones said...

Hi Lauren (just came from Eddie's post). The brasso and steel wool is a great idea. But using #0000 steel wool instead of brillo pad would not change the surface of the brass. (Have been an antiques dealer forever). I love your blog.

Linda@ Lime in the Coconut said...

What a gorgeous little faux bamboo tray!

Cocktails....are you kiddin?!

Serve 'em up, Eddie!

LindsB said...

$2! That is just nuts! I love that you always take trash to treasure, you make all of us look beyond that first glance to something stunning and beautiful!

Samy said...

Fabulous!

Unknown said...

Very Very Nice...
Lauren-
I am know this is not the right section but I cannot figure out any other way.I have a question-
We are headed to Lucketts for a shopping trip this weekend. Besides Lucketts and On a Whim, are there any other shops that we should hit?
5 women roadtripping!!!

Thanks for all your inspiration,
j

Ness Lockyer said...

A bargain hunting Man after my own heart. Eddie needs to come and do a shopping trip here in Australia, better yet Tasmainia. We have loads of antique places here and heaps of markets...we would have a ball. You should come to Lauren!
Ness xx

Lauren said...

Hi Jean!

Oh that sounds like such a great time! Try out the Beekeeper's Cottage which is right in the same parking lot as Lucketts. (Very Shabby Chic & more expensive but worth going in if you've never been.) Across the street from Lucketts is another place- it's sort of "meh"-- they have some cool architectural salvage & things outside. Inside is full of antiques with okay prices that heaven't been fixed up yet.

If you have time you can go into the town of Leesburg & try The Cottage (http://www.cottageatleesburg.com/) and also Four Shabby Chicks (http://www.fourshabbychicks.net/)
Both have lots of cool things.

Have fun!! might see you there as I think we're heading out that way this weekend too! ;)
xoxo,
lauren

Linda in AZ * said...

* Blogs like this are ALWAYS great FUN n' soooo INSPIRATIONAL!!! (And BONUS: It's got ME feeling CREATIVE to do SOMETHING fun & new!!! And I NEEEEEEDED that!)~

Thanks, everybody!
XO,
Linda in AZ *
bellesmom1234@comcast.net

Nishant said...

It looks beautiful. He has the magic touch!

Work from home India

Connie @ SogniESorrisi said...

What a great post & project!

DecRenew Interiors said...

Eddie, you are a man after my own heart. Love the treasure you found and love it even more now that it has had some TLC.

Ruthie

Ana Herda said...

Love this! I went straight to eBay and found the same tray for cheap, there are a few on there for those who are interseted.

Riviera Boardwalk said...

I have bad luck with Brasso. I can rub and rub and the water marks will mot come out for me. What am I doing wrong, I wonder?
xoxo,
nancy

Cristin // Simplified Bee said...

For $2... now that is a steal! Looks amazing. Thanks Eddie!

xo,
cristin

Unknown said...

Lauren-
Thank you for your response about Lucketts and other shopping sites. I have to tell you my friends in Catonsville (outside Balto) read your blog and continue to be amazed by your home. I am VERY impressed at your energy level given pregnancy and now a newborn. I am almost 8 month pregnant and am dragging :)
However, I am always thinking about my house and your blog continues to push me...
I hope we do run into you. I promise we won't behave like groupies...hehehe...

Take care and good hunting,
Jean

Fiona said...

I had no idea Brasso could do so much!

Also, what a group of good-looking people and what brilliant smiles! Looks like a good time.

Maria Killam said...

Eddie as always whips up beauty wherever he goes :) Love the pic of all of you!

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Had SO much fun with Eddie, Jaithan & Steve last weekend. They are so creative & fun to hang out with. Wish you could have been with us. Great find on that tray & it did clean up so well.

My shop is up & running over at Open Sky. Let's hope they can get us more products in our shops soon!

susanne said...

Thought of this blog post today when I found a FABULOUS galley tray today at an estate sale that would have been great with the Brasso treatment. BUT, it was $75 and I couldn't justify it because of Eddie's unbelievable $2 find. Drat him!!

Julie @ Chapman Interiors said...

This is GREAT!!! The tray is incredible. I love making goodwill/flea market/old stuff, new beautiful again, cheers!

xx
julie
http://chapmaninteriors.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Affiliate Marketing is a performance based sales technique used by companies to expand their reach into the internet at low costs. This commission based program allows affiliate marketers to place ads on their websites or other advertising efforts such as email distribution in exchange for payment of a small commission when a sale results.

www.onlineuniversalwork.com

Shauntelle said...

This Atlanta girl just wants to know the whereabouts of the Norcross shop. I work in the Norcross area, sounds like I need to have an extended lunch break! :)