Lauren Schwartz’s Senior Project: Phenomenal Furniture

1. Lauren Schwartz’s Senior Project: Phenomenal Furniture

2. Research Paper • History of furniture • Styles of furniture • Evolution of furniture • Beginning of the furniture industry • Materials used in furniture • How to refurbish • Benefits of refurbishment

3. Project Facilitator • Mrs. Vickie Jones • Had an interest in interior design and began watching DIY channels • Took an interior design online course • Took classes in downtown Atlanta at a faux finishing school • Painted the ceiling at the Cheesecake Factory in Cumberland Mall • Main focus became cabinets and furniture • She and her brother teamed together 10 years ago to remodel kitchens and baths

4. Process • Went to my facilitator’s home to begin the refurbishment process • Mrs. Vickie taught me steps that would be taken • Found best places to look for furniture • How much my project would cost

5. Process • Went shopping for piece

6. Process • Sanding the furniture • Wear down piece of furniture • Makes paint stick better • Without sanding paint will not last as long/ chip • Makes the piece not look as good overall • Without sanding rough spots can be seen and felt through paint

7. Process • Clean piece with TSP • Allows paint to stick better/ not chip • Used for many other things • Scrubbed piece with rag

8. Process • Painting first base coat • Had all the supplies at my facilitator’s home • Paint with way of the wood • Make sure entire piece is covered in paint

9. Process • Painting second base coat • Exact same process as first base coat • Make sure entire area is painted

10. Process • Painting first top coat • Varnish plus gloss • Long and smooth strokes • Cannot go over top coat too many times or it will come off • Stroke piece two or three times then move to new area

11. Process • Painting second top coat • Same process as first top coat • Used varnish plus satin • Shiny and finished look

12. Process • Placing chevron decals • Carefully measured the inside of the furniture • Cut the decals • Placed them on the piece

14. Final product

15. Learning stretch • First time ever refurbishing a piece of furniture • Had no idea how to even start • Had no idea what the process entailed • Always simply went and bought everything new • Never painted before

16. obstacles • Trying to find a piece of furniture and for the right price • Difficulty with sanding • Physical aspect of painting • Paint drying over edges • Patience • Painting with the way of the wood • Difficulty with top coats • Difficulty with chevron decals

17. Career link • Thoroughly enjoyed refurbishing furniture • Plan to do it in the future • Learned I am much more patient and creative than I ever thought • Nice furniture does not have to be costly • Attending Auburn University in the fall • Accepted into the business school • Majoring in marketing and minoring in interior design • I now know in a way what to expect if I end up having my own interior design company in the future