Bird Cage Dining Table

I hate throwing things away.  It is seriously hard for me to thrown anything out that I think I just might, someday, some year, be able to use for some thing.  My husband is the opposite from me in that respect.  If it's broke, chunk it, if we don't use it donate or else chunk it.  I have actually dug a couple things out of the trash that he has thrown out!  How bad and sad is that?  Digging through my own trash!

We import hand carved furniture by the container load.  In this business it is not uncommon to receive some damaged pieces.  My husband literally will just toss them into the trash dumpster but I...I really can't do it.  He usually does this when I'm not there.  I managed to keep a few pieces this time and although they've hung around the warehouse for a looong time I finally got inspiration (from many bloggers and especially Miss Mustard Seed) to go for it!

One of the pieces we received damaged was a 7' tall birdcage.  The cage is about 32-34" square and sits atop a table base and has a large dome that goes on top.
As you can see if you look at each top corner the finials are all broken off.  There were a few other minor dings and breaks which made this unsellable as is. The table base was broken as well.  I could not stand the idea of tossing this into the trash though, so I hid it from hubby in my dish room at the shop! ;-) 


After reading so many blogs and seeing all the great ideas with furniture redo's I finally found my inspiration for this piece and knew exactly what I'd do with it!  Now, whether it would turn out as I pictured, I can't say I was certain about that.  It made it a bit easier knowing that I did not HAVE to make this work perfectly since my husband would love to have trashed this anyway and I knew we'd never be able to sell it.  But, I was thinking it may just turn out kinda neat, traditional and yet somewhat whimsical.


I began with the domed top that would normally fit on the top of the bird cage and a can of white paint.  The white I chose is called French Canvas.  I liked the name before I saw the color! ;-)   I literally just spread out a drop cloth (actually a pool table cover), grabbed a brush, opened the can and away I went.  I painted this in a blotting and some stroking method as I wanted to leave some wood showing so that it would have an old, chippy appearance.  Can you tell I am NO expert at painting furniture?


Next came the base, which is the main bird cage.  The only thing about this project that was getting on my nerves is that there are a million wires and small, intricate pieces...I'd have had to have sprayed this if I really wanted a solid coat of paint.  My wrist was really tired after getting in all the grooves, crevices and wires.

After painting the cage portion itself I decided the base needed to be white as well. 


Ok, so now I have this bird cage base and domed top.  Well, next I rolled in a table top whose Chippendale styled base came in a million pieces.  I love how Miss Mustard Seed and alot of you other crafty, super talented furniture re-finishing gurus are leaving the table tops stained, so I simply applied the same paint technique around the lip of this table top and well-ahh:  I have a bird cage dining table!



The dome top is optional but I like it as a centerpiece.
Here are some pictures of a recent tablescape I created around this table.  I really like the way it all turned out!  Hope you do to!
Transferware is available HERE
Handpainted hydrangea glasses are available HERE
Birds, Gold beads, and Greenery are HERE




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Comments

  1. What an inspired idea! You've executed it perfectly (even if you don't consider yourself a painting expert!). I love the romantic look you've created. It really does look magazine-worthy! Lovely!

    Hope you have a great weekend!
    Bill

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  2. Precious! I can't believe it almost went in the trash! It looks like it should be in that "Flea Market" magazine!!

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  3. Whoa! That is the most amazing table! What a genius eye you have - I would never have thought of that!

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  4. Nancy, I love, love, love it!! Just inspired! Are you keeping it in your shop?? OMG, I just LOVE it!
    xoxo Pattie

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  5. Absolutely fantastic Nancy! I love it! Your salvaging and hard work really paid off.

    ~ Tracy

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  6. Hi Pattie, I really am liking the way it turned out, and I do have it at the shop right now. I need to better secure the top to the base and then I think I'll see if it sells. If so, I may just wait for the next bird cage to arrive damaged...I have another table top already! ;-) Glad you like it! Thanks for popping by!

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  7. Great job. If I had a space for it, I would buy it!
    Beckie

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  8. Wow. Great idea. Great results! I think I will be dumpster diving in your trash from now on!! My husband sounds like your husband and I do the same thing you do. When we moved last year (after 17 years in a huge house) my husband was like the Trashbag King. I couldn't believe the things he thought were unimportant and throwing out!! ha! Anyway,I have no doubt you can sell that piece for a nice profit. It is wonderful. Lori L

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  9. amazing idea! i love bird cages! that was a stroke of genius! thanks for visiting my blog today nancy! love yours too- definitely becoming a follower!

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  10. What a wonderful table! Love it! Thanks for sharing and have yourself a lovely weekend.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  11. Nancy, I would have hidden this one from my hubby's trash pile too! The table turned out great and I love how you used the dome as a centerpiece. Looks amazing!
    xo, Sherry

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  12. Awesome idea, I love the cage, thanks for sharing

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  13. Can I just say this is fabulous? So glad that didn't end up in the trash 'cause you were truly inspired. Looks so good.

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  14. Hi Nancy, thank you for stopping by my blog and your kind comments on my beach balls.
    Your table is very unique and gorgeous! I love the little bird tucked behind the ribbon.
    I would like to invite you to my Garden Party June23-25. Please come and bring a summer,outdoor or garden project to share! There will be lots of fun and giveaways!
    Hope to see you there!
    Sharon

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  15. Sure dresses up a plain table, great idea, Nancy!

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  16. Love, love, love it!! We are in need of a table, how cute that would look in my dining space.

    Thanks for the fabulous inspiration.

    Have a wonderful weekend!

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  17. What a super creative idea! I love that you took such an unique piece and made it very functional.

    Chelsea

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  18. Nancy this is an amazing project!! If you ever get another damage birdcage like this call me!!!

    My you had the patience of a saint to brush paint this piece!! I love my sprayer and it comes in real handy with pieces like this. It turned out just fabulous and I am sure your hubby is glad he didn't get around to throwing it out now!

    Thank you for sharing your awesome project!!

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  19. You are SO talented! What a fabulous idea, and then to do it all yourself. Wow!
    I like your gold glasses with pink flowers

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  20. Ooooooook, I've seen some pretty crafty things in blogworld but this seriously has to go in the Top 10 ever!!! I love it! You definitely won't find one of these in anyone else's home!!!

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  21. Wow, I love what you did with this. You are so clever Nancy.

    Best wishes,
    Natasha.

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  22. This is just amazing! I can't believe your hubby would throw it out. Yikes! Even broken it was too neat of a piece to get rid of and you putting it together with the table top was genius!

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  23. This is just the coolest idea!! I love the way it turned out!!

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  24. You are one creative lady. That is a wonderful table and so unique, great job.
    Sandy

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  25. Wow! this is a wonderful idea!! I love your creativity...But you need another place to paint besides on the rug in your living room. Just the splatter from the paintbrush must have reached the rug. I guess I'm a messier painter than you are.
    You sure do always give me great ideas.

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  26. Wow! This is just stunning, and such a neat idea! I love the sweet little birdie, and your wonderful tablescape, too. Great job!

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  27. This is amazing!!

    Beautiful!

    blessings

    barbara jean

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  28. Beautiful! Blogland really is inspirational isn't it?! I've gotten several great ideas from different bloggers!

    Tania

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  29. Your table is gorgeous! How clever, you obviously have a talent that you didn't know about. I bet your husband is glad that he didn't throw that birdcage away now! We have the same issue at our house, and I'm always happy when I find something that I didn't throw away. Have a great Weekend Nancy!

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  30. That is seriously cool! Wow, I'm blown away by your creativity!

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  31. lookin' pretty grand from here!

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  32. Nancy, what a great idea. Look how you saved that and made something extraordinary out of it. Love the table setting, too. Good job.

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  33. Oh my sweetie this is one delightful redo!!!!!!!!!!! I am super impressed with this! I loveeeee it! Excellent job and my goodness the patience it takes to brush something with tons of grooves! Trust me I know!
    Hugs,
    Olivia

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  34. What a creative idea. How beautiful that piece is. Good thinking hiding that from your hubby.

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  35. Hi Nancy!!
    I am so in awe of people like you who can take something that BAD hubby would have thrown out - see past some damage ~ have a vision ~ and follow thru with such fantastic results!
    I absolutely LOVE the table ~ and the dome top - PERFECTION!!!
    If you have a little doggie he could have a secret hidey place too :-)
    I'm a follower so I dont miss anything!!
    Hugs and Smiles,
    Lynn

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  36. I am amazed at what you have done. It's fabulous!

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  37. that is enchanting! are you a genie?

    sorry about your son moving out. it
    will get easier, and the first is the
    worst.

    you will make it, i promise.

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  38. You have done a fabulous job on painting and I love how original this is.

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  39. Wow , what wonderful expression , you have got a gr8 collection of things .

    You are right ..it hard to through things away even they gets dull ..

    Nice read ..

    have a gr8 weekend ..

    take care
    keep smiling..

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  40. This is soooo clever! I love a touch of the unexpected anyway, but that birdcage truly makes this table look really high end. And you nailed it leaving the stained top. It's lovely. :)

    Thanks for linking up to SNS!
    Donna

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  41. This is absolutely beautiful! I LOVE this! You sure know how to pull together a display. Great idea, and wonderful job.
    Debbie@houseatthelake

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  42. Ah, Nancy, this is waaaay to adorable, beautiful and CREATIVE! Make do and mend! Hooray!

    Love, Me xo

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  43. Great Great idea! And wonderful save.

    Makes me kinda sad to think he has thrown out some good stuff :) Can i come rumage your garbage? eeeeeeek that would make me a garbage rat LOL

    Thanks for joining in with us at FFB ... always a treat for me to stop by here.

    Claudia

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  44. WOW! How did I miss your post on this Miss Nancy? I LOVE this birdcage table!! It is fabulous, whimsical and so fresh. What a genius you are! I have to say I am like your husband in discards and my husband is like you, always saving my throw-aways! If I had an old carriage house, I might change my ways and start becoming a saver.
    Amy

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  45. Oh my goodness Nancy. First of all, I can't believe your husband want to trash it. It is an amazing piece and clearly had potential and you did an outstanding job!!

    Has he reflected upon the error of his ways?????

    I bet you'll have no problem selling it now!

    I'm hosting a new meme, "Summer Sundays" and it's all about what summer means to you. Which could be transforming a broken bird cage into a totally awesome table. Hope you'll come participate next Sunday.

    - The Tablescaper

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  46. That is so good Nancy!
    What an amazing piece!
    You could sell that for big bucks now, but don't, it's so gorgeous all beautifully set for dinner! Your tablescape is amazing too, just gorgeous!
    Cindy

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  47. WOW! Truly unique and creative! Fab job!

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  48. Oh my gosh that birdhouse rocks!! I bring home some of the rickitiest stuff that my hubbs would love to throw in the trash too! Of course after I make it cute he likes it :) Great blog!

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  49. How beautiful! I just adore the birds and the creativity. Gorgeous job!

    Have a blessed week. ~Melissa :)

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  50. I do love antique birdcages and it's quite unique to see one made into a table base. Someone will doubtless fall in love. Hope you'll stop by and get in on our glass vessel sink giveaway. Jane F.

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  51. What a "TWEET" idea, I love the way it turned out! Thank you for inspiring me!
    Hugz,
    Kim

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  52. What a wonderful creation! I love it ~ and you did a superb job in painting. The tablescape looks so springy...is that a word? :-)

    Hope you have a blessed week ~
    Pat

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  53. dear nancy,
    the table is truly stunning! i am so happy you did this project and got to see how creative you are! something i notice when i finish a project is how it takes on a life of it's own and becomes art. you have certainly created art out of trash here!!
    all the best,
    donna

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  54. LOVE that as a table base...and the dome as your centerpiece is so creative :-)

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  55. This is wicked cool! Wow! And I can't believe you painted this by hand....OMG.....

    Thank you for linking up to Fab Friday!

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  56. Nancy, this is amazing! Thank you for bringing this hodgepodge to my party. I will be featuring this in the wrap-up!
    ~Gay~
    itsahodgepodgelife.blogspot.com

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  57. That is so pretty and what a clever idea! I'm partial to birds, too, so this has really captivated me.

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  58. NANCY!!! OMG!!!! That is so amazingly fabulous!! You never cease to floor me!!

    Good job and I definitely LOVE that birdcage table! Well done!

    June 8, 2010 7:37 PM

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  59. Nancy, yes! by all means grab the featured button. Thank you for sharing!
    ~Gay~
    itsahodgepodgelife.blogspot.com

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  60. Way to go saving that. This is an amazing makeover. So unique and the perfect solution for the damage. It looks fantastic!
    Sherry

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  61. Hello Nancy! I sooo love this. It turned out stunning! This is my first time posting for White Wednesday and I'm so happy to have found your blog! I adore that table ~ I've got a white church house table base that I'll try to picture for next WW~

    Big tx hugs,
    Stephanie
    Angelic Accents

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  62. What a big project, it turned out really neat-enjoy!

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  63. Hi Nancy - I featured your project on my Fab Friday Favorites today. Grab my "I've been featured" button if you want.

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  64. This is an adorable table! I think it's fantastic that you created this from broken pieces too! OMG! I just can't get over it! Love the dome as the centerpiece too, it totally finish's this off! Very creative! I am your newest follower! Love this sooooo much!!!

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  65. What a fantastic job!!!!!!! It looks great! Very creative idea to use the bottom of the birdcage under the table and use the top as a centerpiece...I love how it turned out and it's even cuter with all the pretty dishes and greenery and birds!

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  66. I'm so glad you saved that cage from the trash! I would have too. But I would have just stuck it in the garden. I wouldn't have had the imagination to do something as incredible as this! I adore this table, and the tablescape that you did on it!
    Happy White Wednesday!
    Carol

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  67. Holy Cow what a transformation such creativity! I love how it all turned out! Amazing1 I bet your hubby will think twice now about throwing things out that are damaged. Just beautiful! Thanks for joining Centerpiece Wednesday!
    Karin

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  68. Are you kidding? I would have purchased that gorgeous thing in a heart beat. You are so very talented. I'll bet your husband loves it! I think I need you to come on over and give me ideas. The tablescape is beautiful too.
    Joanie

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  69. Gorgeous.........love the birdcage as a table base. So unique and eyecatching! Hope you can stop by my blog for a visit and become follower too. I have just signed up to follow your blog. Have a fun week!

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  70. SUPER GORGEOUS! I'm so glad I saw this on WW! SUCH A UNIQUE IDEA!

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  71. Hi Nancy!

    I love this idea...How cool, the table turned out just beautiful! How fun :)
    Sally

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  72. OMG...brilliant, I just love it!!

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  73. Oh my word! That is so beautiful. Wow...I'll take any broken pieces your hubby wants to throw away! This was a brilliant use and I love the white base and the dark top (you know it!) Way to make lemonade out of lemons.

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  74. I have never seen anything like this! So very, very amazing.

    Thank you for participating the Creative Therapy session at Life in the Pitts!

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  75. Yup, I'm featuring it :)

    http://lanieree.blogspot.com/2010/06/featuring-you_11.html

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  76. I'm speechless! I am featuring this at somedaycrafts.blogspot.com.

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  77. Simply breathtaking!! Love it!! TFS! :-)

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  78. Wow, I want one of those! That is unbelievable. You could design those and sell them.

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  79. Stopping by from Better After. This is the coolest table I have ever seen. I agree with Jacqueline you could sell these!!

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  80. I love this. What did your husband say? Was he glad you rescued this wonderful birdcage? I love that you saved both pieces from the landfill. The dome is perfect as a centerpiece.

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  81. WOW that is awesome Nancy...not what I expected at all, and I love the unexepected! OK thanks for joining in again:) Hope you have fun browsing some others. That was my first party...I will be doing that one every other Wednesday. Enjoy the weekend, I really enjoyed this project. Debbie

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  82. Your table is "Outstanding".... I just
    love it.. what a beautiful piece!
    Sandy
    thewondersofdoing@blogspot.com

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  83. Just visiting from debbiedoos party! The birdcage itself is awesome but what you have done with it is just amazing. What a beautiful tablescape!

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  84. Thank you for not trashing this beautiful birdcage! I would buy this table in a heartbeat!

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  85. I so love this table. How unique!

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  86. What a neat idea. That birdcage is very beautiful, with and without the table :)

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  87. Awesome!! I would ove what your husband had to say about this transformation. Your comments about digging thru your own trash made me laugh as I've done the same for the very same reason, husbands!

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  88. This is awesome. I thought it would be great to turn the domed part of the cage into a light over the table. What fun!!!!

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  89. That is so beautiful, I am without words!!

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  90. That is incredible!!! Oh my Gosh- it is SO beautiful- & he had thrown the cage away?!?!!?!? WHat does he say now? =) It is really spectacular- wow! LOVE it LOVE it LOVE it! Found you on trash to treasure @ sassysites. I am your newest follower/stalker =P Be blessed, Karyl

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  91. Uh...Wow! What else is there to say? I am in love with this.

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  92. I love the wood dining tables. I’ve grown up with a big wood table in the kitchen. The always look so inviting and you can just sit and chat there for hrs while cooking and having some freshly brewed coffee. round dining tables

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  93. Nancy, I just discovered you site. Thanks for all the beauty you share and the inspiration! I hope to soon be living a dream -- moving into a restored 1910 farmhouse that is used as a luxury B&B:) We're planning to keep some of the furnishings, such as the glass table with the white upholstered chairs. The table has a white metal base ... but oh my! I'd love to copy what you created here....ideas flowing!:) And on your Christmas design with the ribbon and wreath wrapped around each chair -- that is SO perfect for "our" dining set. Thank you again!!!

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  94. That is such an incredibly cool table! GREAT idea, GREAT execution! WOW!

    Pam

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  95. Hello... I my I just love how it turned out,,good thing you were able to keep this one,,, and how you are using it,,,,, awesome..... love it....

    Hugs;
    Alaura

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  96. I'm a birdcage fanatic, and this is over the top, outside of the box, outta this world gorgeous! If ever in life I can beg, borrow, or steal a cage big enough, ...I have to do this! Thanks so much for sharing your vision and creativity. It is truly a work of art. Incredible!
    Hugs,
    Patti

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  97. Soo love your gorgeous birdhouse table Nancy- it is just beautiful!! Great thinking on what to do with it! :)

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  98. What a genius idea! If somebody with an imagination and vision came along, certainly you could sell it. And just reading that you import hand carved furniture by the container load nearly made me hyperventilate. Your table is wonderfully done!

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  99. I am in love with this table! So creative and so unique! Great job. I am your newest follower!

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  100. This is stunning. What a fantastic and inspiring way to upcycle. I had a lovely table whose base broke. I didn't want to get rid of it, and the best solution I could come up with was to buy adjustable table bases to support it. I wish I had your creativity and talent, so I could have turned it into something more customized. Thanks for sharing. Maybe, I will come up with my own idea inspired by this. :)

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  101. Hello, found your lovely page while trying to track down exactly what you have turned into a bird cage table...Wonderful idea, i actually had one of these cages here in my little Antique shop in Australia. I had so much interest in it i wished i had 100 of them!!! I have been trying to source but to no avail.... Do you have any idea where abouts on this great planet i could find them??? I would really appreciate any insight...Cheers, Belinda....

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  102. Very nice.Nice ideas especially the idea of the cage as a base for the table. Nice decorating.

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