We found Primitive & Proper when browsing on Craigslist, rather fitting since that is also how proprietors Cassie and Theresa met some years ago. Cassie had posted an Items Wanted ad for furniture in need of TLC, and Theresa responded with some items she had for sale. One thing led to another, and before long these two stay-at-home moms found themselves in business together buying, refinishing, and selling furniture online...
Theresa and Cassie scour Craigslist, yard sales, flea markets, and streetcorners looking for neglected pieces to transform. They also do custom work so whether you have a piece you want redone or you see a piece on their website you'd like refinished in a certain way, Primitive & Proper is happy to work with you to create your ideal piece.
For the moment, Primitive & Proper has only an online storefront, though Cassie and Theresa do hold semi-annual sales in their homes, and have taken their show on the road to the Lucketts Spring Antiques Market for the last couple of years. They operate by appointment only and offer delivery services for customers who cannot pick up pieces in person.
We were most impressed by Cassie and Theresa's dedication to saving and refinishing wood furniture that is often on its last legs. We share their belief that older wood pieces often have a lot of life left in them, and love that they work hard to search out hidden gems and polish them up for resale. Though many of the pieces featured on the website are done in a traditional cottage style, Primitive & Proper is working to up the appeal for buyers with a more modern edge.
(Images: Primitive & Proper)
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
Really, I was excited when I read the words before I clicked through the pictures. It doesn't look like they sanded at all. If I wanted a piece of furniture that looked like that, I would pick one up free off of Craigslist and half ass it myself. Except it appears they are also camping Craigslist, so I guess the question of why all the free furniture is already taken has been answered.
view desertacacia's profile
Wow, why was this first comment permitted to post?
Kudos to this enterprising and energetic partnership! The furniture looked great and I wish them the best. Really inspiring!
view bustersbest's profile
Really, since when does sanding repainting and installing new hardware equal half a$$ing it? And if you are already doing it yourself or willing to then I guess you dont need them but it doesnt mean what they are doing is poorly done/less than.
I refinished a set of french doors last summer and it darn near killed us over here. I am super proud of it but if I were running a business redoing old furniture I probably wouldnt choose to strip paint, sand, and re-varnish as much as I did repaint.... and still you DO have to sand it first. Stripping off 7 layers of paint on old stuff doesnt always pay off either so what I see these women doing is savvy and smart. Certainly enterprising in this economy!
view amyandalastair's profile
Just to clarify, the before pictures show the furniture as it is when Cassie and Theresa first get their hands on it; they then sand and make any necessary repairs before deciding on a paint treatment.
Colleen
view Colleen in DC's profile
I want everything I see in those pictures.
I love it all!!
view Maebird's profile
I was lucky enough to stumble across Cassie and Theresa's work at Lucketts Market this spring. Their artistry and workmanship is unmatched! I completely blew my antique budget at their booth. Cassie also mentioned doing custom pieces which I am super excited about. The first poster obviously has no idea what goes into taking a piece of furniture that would otherwise end up in a landfill and making it a work of art. Kudos to Cassie and Therea!
view intandem's profile
This stuff is adorable! I love the look because I hate anything that is "too" perfect - casual pieces are excellent, particularly for families with kids - or young people on a budget! The great thing about what these ladies are doing is taking something old and unwanted, and giving it a fresh new life. Why is this so important? Because its better than seeing these these lovely treasures in a landfill when they are perfectly good and usable with a little TLC. I am disgusted by the first comment; the tone and the language violate the comment policy. Surprised it has not been removed.
view Schmemily's profile