Whenever we have an opportunity to salvage a tag sale find, we take it. The two now luxe-looking side tables on either side of the sofa (below) are our latest conquest. When we first discovered them (courtesy of our friend Kate, a dedicated weekend “antique picker”), we looked inside the drawers to find that they had been made by a now defunct, but once quite reputable American furniture maker called Kroehler Manufacturing. How did we know that these side tables would make great pieces? Four reasons. One: they’re a pair. Decorators love pairs because they add symmetry and balance to a room. Two: they’re a pair that are slightly different from each other–even better. Three: they’re well-made (out of natural wood materials). When you pick them up, they feel sturdy, and the drawers slide in and out effortlessly. Four: they have an unusual and interesting architectural feature, in this case their profile (if you continue scrolling down, there’s a side view of the legs to show you what we mean). While they may have been made in the 1950′s, we think they look quite modern and updated in our living room.
A quick history lesson on Kroehler in case you’re curious. It turns out that Kroehler Manufacturing had a long, and and at one time, quite prosperous history. It began in 1902 as a family business, started by Peter E. Kroehler in Naperville, Illinois (the factory actually survived a tornado in its earliest years). In the mid 1940′s, Kroehler Manufacturing company,with over $20 million in annual sales, was the second largest furniture maker in the country! Unfortunately, the company took a turn for the worse in the ’70s, closing its historic factory in Naperville. Since being acquired in 1981, some Kroehler furniture is still being manufactured today (and it can be found online). Notice the classic hardware made of solid brass. We chose to preserve and reuse these.We began our DIY by pulling together all of the ingredients and tools. We like using an electric sander on furniture projects. First, we cleaned, and then lightly sanded, every surface. To prepare the wood for an enamel paint, we used Zinsser primecoat water-base primer and sealer (two coats). We chose a neutral taupe color from the BEHR paint collection at Home Depot called Castle Path (730C-3); it’s a high gloss enamel. We let the paint dry overnight, then gave it a second coat. Lastly, we coated the surfaces with Min Wax fast-drying polyurethane clear semi-gloss to give the tables an even more lacquered look.
And here they are on either side of the sofa post-transformation. Ta-da!
Originally, it was the side-view of that tables that grabbed our attention. It’s this feature that gives these pieces that staying power we’re always looking for.
While they can easily live beside a sofa in almost any room of the home, they look equally great as night tables in your bedroom. Their flexibility is one of their greatest assets. They’ve got good bones, and they’re great pieces (sorry, we couldn’t resist).
Want to see how we created the ironstone arrangement above the sofa? We love collections of just about anything, but we’re not purists. We’re more interested in how groups of similar objects can be assembled beautifully. Over the years, we’ve amassed quite a few ironstone platters. I’m proud to say most of them were found in barns and garage sales across the country–from Maine to Wisconsin. Lauren and I decided to create a montage on this large white wall while showcasing our Kroehler table transformation, and here’s what we came up with.
This looks harder than it is. The secret weapon is 3M picture hanging stickers that can hold as much as 10 lbs. Many stylists and designers use this tool instead of traditional picture hangers when trying not to make holes in walls. They are amazing!

1. Measure the space above the piece of furniture you are using as your focal point to figure out about how large a space the collection will need to take up. 2. With the dimensions you have just taken, mark off a square or rectangular space with blue painters’ tape on the floor to create a “frame” for your objects. Play around with how you see them laying out. Lauren and I always have the most fun with this step. 3. Start with the top and center piece, then work you way down and around the wall replicating the formation you just created on the floor–you can even photograph your arrangement if you need a reference. Unless you have the patience to make extremely precise measurements, two people are essential when you’re actually hanging up your collection. 4. Keep going until you’ve got all of the objects on the wall. Sometimes, once you actually start to see things on the wall, you make small adjustments. That’s where these 3M stickies come in handy. Step back and admire! – S & L