Redeux in Color

The Redeux garage shop has had a nearly complete turnover of inventory this past week or so. Our customers seem to really appreciate the work we do in restoring our pieces of vintage furniture.

Replenishing our stock of vintage furniture was very difficult, especially when keeping within our stated goal of providing good, useable vintage furniture at fair prices. But, we would not compromise our purpose – and it paid off. We now have perhaps our most interesting and eclectic collection of vintage furniture yet. And, we will be expanding our offerings.

We have in a very interestingly detailed cedar chest that would make a super coffee table, blanket chest or, come to think of it, a “hope chest”. It was made by the Stewart Furniture Company of Ohio which operated between 1900 and 1950. There is an art deco type of carving on the front.

A lovely, round table, painted with a beautiful floral design is new to the shop. It’s a great card or side accent table. It is about 20 inches in diameter and has legs that fold. This piece dates from 1942.

Also just in is a chiffarobe. Once a very popular furniture piece, the chiffarobe is enjoying a comeback as an accent piece, guest room closet, baby room organizer, etc. Less tall than a typical armoire, the chiffarobe has one side containing drawers and the other an area to hang clothes. This piece seems to date from the 1920’s to 1930’s and has some very nice detailing. This will be the first piece of vintage furniture that I will paint. The decision to do this was at the urging of several “advisors” and also due to the fact that it was always a utilitarian piece of furniture with less emphasis on the type of wood used than on it being sturdy and very functional. Painting will bring it to a new level of beauty. This project will start when the humidity drops a bit. Special thanks go to my friend and on-call historian, Rachel Casillo, Barbara Orner, of Local Color in downtown Fairfield and, of course, to my favorite Redhead for urging me to make the decision to paint and in advising in the color choices.

There are several other new pieces that just came in including a nice chest, a painted cupboard and a nice little Empire-style oak side table. And a very special piece was also obtained that will require proper dating. It’s a bed that seems to be quite old, possibly dating to the early 19th century or even late 18th. Redeux searches every nook and cranny for great pieces, but sometimes even we are surprised. This is a really much more than a vintage piece. I have it tucked away for now but it can be viewed if you are interested.

Coming soon to Redeux will be a limited number of quilts specially made for Redeux. Look for these sometime in late August or September.

Lastly, Redeux will be closed August 5 through 12. We will reopen the morning of August 13th.

Hope to see you soon. Stop by and visit…I really need that iced tea break!

Bill

Victorian chest,desk and music stand

The 1880-1900 (age approximated based upon dovetailing, etc) commode style chest with mirror, the petite secretary desk with glass display cabinet and the larger, Wanamaker secretary desk have all been finished and are ready for new homes.

The commode chest is very attractive and unusual. It is 36 inches wide and about 60 inches tall to the top of the mirror. It has 1 full width drawer, two half-width drawers and a half-width cabinet in the base section. Intricate hand carving on the mirror and very striking drawer pulls make this piece a real showpiece. It is made of oak and has small wheels on the feet.

Both secretary desks finished up nicely and are great additions to our selection of desks. Speaking of desks, I am still trying to better identify the roll top desk that just came in this past week. It has a barrel or cylindrical type roll top, i.e., it has a solid panel roll top rather than the typical slat rolls. It also has bun feet and several drawers in the base section and lots of cubby holes in the writing area. It appears to have been made in the late 1800’s but further research is needed. Stop by and take a peek. I hope to have it ready by this coming weekend.

We are still offering our dining tables / sets at very special prices in order to make room for soon to arrive stock.

The Victorian music stand is now ready for a very special home. It has some wear but is nonetheless a great piece and would really grace a living room, library or music room. The pull-out bin holds dividers for sheet music. A rare find!

Coming in this week are a painted cupboard, an interesting chest of drawers and a nice, compact wardrobe having a section in which to hang clothes and another containing drawers.

We had lots of visitors to Redeux this past week, many for the first time. It is always a pleasure to share information and furniture tips, to get an idea of where each piece that leaves the shop will be going and to just chat. And, I look forward to taking an iced tea break when you stop by, too!

Looking forward to seeing you soon.

Bill

New Vintage Furniture Arrivals

This past week has been really productive at the Redeux garage. As I mentioned last week, many new items have arrived and progress is being made on getting them ready for you.

The oak medicine cabinet is ready. It’s quite sturdy, has two interior shelves inside and the exterior has a beveled glass mirror. It appears to be of pre-1930 vintage, possibly late 1800’s.

The mahogany chest and dresser are done. Both are in great condition and have interesting corner pillar detailing.

The Wanamaker secretary desk is just awaiting a replacement keyhole cover and lock that should be in before Wednesday. It shows beautifully.

A beautiful Sheraton-style sofa / coffee table is all set. Its great lines, gold leafing and wonderful condition make it a real show piece. It also has a glass top.

Two nice matching night tables made of mahogany are a nice addition to our inventory.

The walnut book-page table that I’ve been working on and redoing has finally come together. I’ve Tung oiled the top and left the original legs and stretchers with a shellac finish. While a bit unorthodox to have two different finishes on a single piece, I believe this displays the very unusual veneer work of the top part to its best advantage.

We also have a foot stool with carved legs and wonderfully turned wood leg stretchers. The top has a burgundy floral needlepoint. Make sure you take a look at this while it’s still available and before my favorite Redhead decides to keep it!

Not yet worked on is a Victorian-era music stand. Standing about four feet high it has a flat top with rail and a storage bin that opens to reveal several interior dividers that hold sheet music. It is painted flat black. This is a very interesting and unique piece.

Also awaiting attention is an oak commode / storage chest with an intricately carved wood mirror. This piece appears to date from the late 1800’s to about 1920. The style is similar to the other chest we have but the dovetailing, etc. seems to date it a bit later than that 1875-1890 piece. It would make a wonderful accent piece or could transform a guest room into something special. Additionally, the oak Pennsylvania, turn-of-the century made kitchen gate leg table is getting ready for its debut as is a just-arrived roll top desk. Great condition, lots of little drawers on top, large storage drawers underneath - old!! Please check the Redeux website for more inventory!

In stock we currently have three dining room sets. All come with chairs and are of differing styles. I need more room! So, each of these sets of tables and chairs are being offered for only $140.00 each. One set has a matching china cabinet and side board, which are selling separately, but will be sold at a very substantial discount if bought with the matching table and chair set. I need room!!

Several folks have recently said that they had wanted to stop by but did not see the yard sign displayed. Please feel free to stop whenever you see the garage doors up, sign or not. I’ll be in there at work on a new piece and you’re very welcome to drop by, browse, or just chat and have a cup of tea. Really! I’m often in there working on a piece Monday and Tuesday afternoons.

I would appreciate, too, if you bring kids –and they are always welcome – to keep them close at hand.

Redeux has now reached the two month mark! It has been everything I hoped for and more. It's been a continuous history lesson and a chance to see something created many years ago come alive once again with just a bit of attention and effort. You have allowed me the honor of taking these wonderful pieces of furniture – industrial art, really, restoring them and passing them on to you and your families. Thank you.

Bill

July 2

Our ability to get several pieces ready for your consideration continued these past several days despite the very unpredictable weather. Visitors to Redeux have been very understanding of the need to keep all the furniture inside rather than bring it to the outside display / working area. Thanks!

The small chest with drawers and open storage compartment that arrived last weekend is finished. Possibly dating from the late 1880’s, because of its “pin and cove” dovetailing, this chest has some “distressing” that appears not to have affected the structure. It’s been given a tung oil finish. While probably a bit older than most of our usual pieces, I couldn't help but bring it into the shop to fix up so it could find a new home. Also ready is the “book-page” walnut veneer stand. Next item on my "to do" list is the Wanamaker secretary desk.

Pictures of some of these and other pieces are posted here. The oak mission desk is very nice and would also make a very interesting accent piece. The “slipper case” chest would be a great coffee table and the Keystone table lamp with mica shade will bring color and style into any room in which it is placed.

This coming week Redeux will be receiving some very nice pieces. A few of your “special requests” may be satisfied with some of these, which will include a head and footboard for a full-size bed, chests, dining table and several other goodies. Stop by while I’m giving them a bit of TLC; I could always enjoy an iced tea break to chat!

Don't forget about our "special thank you" offer for active military personnel during this 4th of July weekend. If you know of any area military families needing furniture, please ask them to stop by.

Best regards,

Bill Giblin