THE CAVENDER DIARY

Here are a few pieces of furniture with nailhead trim that inspire us.

Pretty Groovy, Right?

Well, we found a way to add that embellishment to any piece of furniture you already have.

All you need is a nailhead trim studding kit from Beacon Fabric & Notions.  

The tacks are available in Brass, Nickel, and French Natural (sort of a dirty brass)…..in 10 and 50 yard rolls. We choose the Nickel finish, it’s a shiny chrome. Although, 50 yards at $70 is a great deal if you are planning on using these all over your house, we bought 10 yards for $20. (10 yards will go pretty far) It seems like a bit of overkill to have silver studs on something in every room….

Although, we are tempted.

We also found the same kits at Perfect Fit Upholstery Fabric & Supplies, slightly cheaper, and with much easier checkout (to place an order with Beacon, you have to call or email them…there is NO checkout available on the website). But Perfect Fit only offers 10 yard rolls in Nickle and French Brass.

So, it’s your choice of the lesser of two slightly inconvenient evils.

Years ago, a friend gave me this little desk, which I promptly painted Glossy black.

It was rough, real rough. Our theory is that everything looks better painted black. Trust me, it’s wayyyyy nicer painted black. But it’s still a little “flat”.

This is the perfect candidate for a little glimmer.

Installation of the tack strips is so easy. All you need is a pair of needle-nose pliers and a rubber mallet.

Don’t have a rubber mallet? No worries, just use a rubber band to attach a piece of towel over the head of a regular hammer.

Each roll of trim has a hole every 5th nail for a real tack to go. Use the pliers to hold the tack in place;

Now bang a tack into every hole on the strip….pulling it tight against surface of your piece. 

Always start, and end, your nailhead strip with a hole for a tack. If the strip doesn’t end in a hole. Cut it off where it does, and just use single tacks to finish your line.

What do ya think?

So easy, with just the right amount of impact.

We could do this on a headboard, picture frames, upholstered chairs……or even framing a mirror. I could go on and on. Maybe the next piece will have a more intricate pattern.

I guarantee, if you look around your house right now, there is some piece of furniture that will look so much more amazing with this little detail.