As much as a decorator may admire antique furnishings, filling the home with well-worn originals entails many drawbacks: ferreting out, assessing, and restoring the original articles take time and effort, all for something that may, in the end, be inoperable -- not to mention, of course, that high-quality antiques can be quite expensive. So here is a sensible alternative in the manner of the most ingenious of Martha Stewart's tricks: transforming ordinary new (or nearly new) objects into beautiful period-style objets. Organized by the amount of time each project requires -- from one-hour wonders to weekend makeovers -- these creative transformations include candlesticks, jewelry boxes, lamps, planters, urns, cushions, chairs, chests, and washstands. The styles represented also run the gamut from the medieval to Victorian side chairs, French Provincial to Edwardian and Regency. Also included with the amply illustrated instructions for each piece are at-a-glance, easy-to-follow primers on the preparation of wood, decorative and antique finishes, basic equipment, safety precautions, and even a directory of suppliers. Read Less