But just as important as these donations from individuals are the donations that come from our local businesses. We have new doors, cabinets, tile and many more items that have never been used available at ReStore, thanks to the generosity of local businesses. So if your business is able to make a tax-deductible donation of building supplies, appliances or furniture, please consider donating to ReStore. Or if you’re in the market to purchase one of those items, remember to check out our supply. You’ll be advancing ReStore’s mission to support Habitat for Humanity’s efforts to help families realize the dream of homeownership.

There are so many clever and creative things you can do with the items available at ReStore. A little imagination goes a long way in turning an old door, an outdated light fixture, a tired piece of furniture or almost anything you can imagine into a unique and trendy piece perfect for

Interior Decorator Jenifer Yoon

decorating your home. To get our inspiration, we’ve teamed up with interior decorator Jenifer Yoon, of Interior Creations by Jenifer in Rockville, to launch ReImagine at ReStore, a new blog feature where Jenifer will share her ideas on what customers could do with items available at ReStore to create chic decorating pieces for their homes. In this feature, Jenifer explains how to transform a common brass chandelier into a unique dining room focal piece.

by Jenifer Yoon

Contractor-grade brass chandeliers are everywhere and can make a place look very dated and humdrum. To give them a fresh new and personalized look, you can easily repaint them whatever color you choose. When selecting a chandelier for a do-it-yourself project, ignore the color and pay attention to the scale and the shape of the piece. Ask yourself if you like the lines of the piece. Does it have graceful curves or sleek modern elements? If the color or finish is the only thing you don’t like, then all you need to make it perfect is a little bit of time and some spray paint.

Example of brass chandelier available at ReStore

Once you have everything you need, then the fun begins:

-Take the chandelier outside or to a well-ventilated area and protect anything you don’t want to get paint on. If you have a way to hang or suspend the chandelier, that will work best and allow you the most access to the entire piece.
-If you can, remove anything that isn’t metal. Some chandeliers have plastic tubes to look like candles that you can slide off and set aside.
-You’ll want to tape over any light bulb sockets or wires so paint doesn’t get on them.
-Use the steel wool or fine grit sandpaper to lightly rough up the surface (but be careful not to gouge or damage it); this will help the paint stick to the light fixture.
-Start with the primer spray paint and apply a thin layer, let dry, then apply a second coat. If you apply spray paint too heavily, it can cause drips and runs in your finish.
-Then spray with two to three thin coats of paint, allowing 10 minutes of dry time in between coats, and then let the whole piece dry for 24 hours.
-Finally, if you are an experienced DIYer then carefully wire up the chandelier or contact an electrician to wire it for you.  We want you to be shocked by the beauty of the piece not by an electrical current.

And there you have it! You have an updated lighting fixture from a very common and readily available brass chandelier. We’ve found a video that shows some of these steps at http://bit.ly/wKnkJp so you can get a better visual of the process and see a sample of a finished piece.

Next time, Jenifer will reimagine ways to use some great folding doors with decorative glass panels to create a headboard or a room divider that adds character and lets the light in.  Check out samples of Jenifer’s work at www.ICbyJen.com

Lincoln-style bed donated to ReStore.

An elegant Lincoln-style bed was recently donated to ReStore. According to the donor, the bed was purchased from an antique dealer in Lexington, Ky. in 1977. It measures 8 feet 7 inches tall from the floor to the top of its intricately carved headboard, which has a removable portion making it suitable for a room with an 8-foot ceiling. This bed would be a beautiful addition to a home!

James said he came across the piano at ReStore, which he tries to visit to find what he needs before shopping at Home Depot. According to James, he and his wife, Ai-Fen Lin, are not collectors, although he admits to being addicted to the History Channel show, “American Pickers” about two collectors and dealers who travel around to homes and go through houses full of antiques or just old stuff to buy items to resell. James adds, “Like a lot of people now, we tend to romanticize the past and we are always browsing thrift stores, yard sales and antique stores and sometimes we come across furniture and accessories for our home. This piano will be the center piece for our basement renovation. We have been wavering between a few retro themes and this seals it!”

Piano believed to have once been used in Harlem's Cotton Club sold at ReStore

James said he wished there was some authentication of the piano’s journey from the Cotton Club because the connection to the club and its place in history are very important to him. “There is no getting around some of the less savory history of the Cotton Club, but there is also no denying its significance to the Harlem Renaissance and to the music of the time,” he said. The Cotton Club has been linked to segregation as it served only white patrons, although the entertainers and most of the staff were African American.

About the piano, James says, “It is a fantastic piece and it is a great motivation for me to finish up my renovations and get it tuned. Ai-Fen Lin and I couldn’t be happier that we found it, although my first impression of the piano was actually negative. It is not in great shape, but the story behind it is quite interesting. I would like to thank Sherman Harris for his donation and for his willingness to share his story and that of the piano. We spent 45 minutes on the phone last night and it couldn’t have been more enjoyable. Thanks Mr. Harris.”

My Resolution for 2012
by Margaret Cromelin, Habitat for Humanity-MC Board Member

Re-gift to charity! That’s my New Year’s resolution for 2012. There are lots of things I need to do more of (exercise) and less of (eat), but one of my less predictable resolutions this year is to do strategic, charity-minded purging of things I just don’t use or want. Take the two artificial-greens Christmas wreathes hanging in our small storage room in the basement. I’m going to donate them to Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County ReStore when I go out there for a board meeting this month. It used to be you could only make donations for the ReStore Holiday Shoppe in the months leading up to Christmas; but now ReStore has storage space and can take holiday donations year-round.

I’m also going to donate a brand new triangle-shaped desk from Wisteria that’s in my garage. It arrived with a noticeable nick on the writing surface, so they sent me a new one and told me not to bother to send back the damaged one. Even with the nick, it’s a good-looking little desk and I know it will sell at ReStore. Then there are the clothes that don’t fit or have way too pronounced shoulder pads… I can’t donate them to ReStore, but I’ll find another worthy organization that will be happy to have them.

What about you? Tell us about your 2012 new year’s resolution. You can share your resolution in the comment portion immediately following this post. But if your resolution is to complete a home project or live greener, consider entering our ReSolve and ReStore contest below! 

However, there are some people who have a knack for organization and can either help you organize your space or give great advice on how to do it. If you plan to tackle the clutter in your space, check out professional organizer Erin Doland’s recent blog post for some great ideas. And if you are motivated to take her advice, make a resolution and stick to it. Tell us about it in the post above about ReStore’s ReSolve and ReStore contest.

Sources: Harlem World Blog, PBS Web Site

The Prize: One winner in each of the following categories will receive a $50 gift certificate to ReStore.

1. ReStore the Earth Did you make a resolution to recycle more, use more reusable material, or reduce the amount you drive? Maybe you have another idea of a change you can make to help protect or conserve resources.

2. ReStore Your Space Are you tired of that door that needs repainting or the home office that needs to be organized? Or do you have bigger plans for a kitchen redesign? Whatever it is, tell us about your plan to improve your space.

How to Enter: Describe your green or home project resolution in a paragraph in the comment section below and why your resolution is important to you. One winner will be selected in each category.

Deadline: Post your comment by January 23, 2012.

Remember, don’t worry about making a big change. Just use your imagination and come up with an idea to live greener or improve your living space, make a resolution, and tell us about it!      

Sale items include $5 and $10 Clearance Furniture, 50% off Holiday Shoppe, 25% off Tools, and 20% off Kitchen Cabinet Sets.

We wish you Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for 2012!