Time for An Eighties Revival
Our newly refreshed patio table has been hard at work for a couple of weeks now, experiencing both sunny, warm days in the mid-80s as well as a couple of full-blown rainstorms, and is holding up like a champ! The power of a good, simple paint job never ceases to amaze me, and this table’s makeover was no exception.
Towards the end of its Fable, I actually asked folks if they thought I had missed an opportunity…should I have maybe painted it in a bright, summertime color? Orange? Blue? Yellow? Although a few liked that idea, the response was almost overwhelmingly “no!”, with some even calling my custom paint color “Leftover Sludge” their favorite part of the story. One particular brilliant person even labeled it “bespoke”. (Well, thank you…thank you very much).
I knew my audience was specifically positioned to appreciate “Leftover Sludge” as a newly coined paint color name…who amongst us has not paused mid-project to marvel at the moniker of the paint color we’ve purchased? “Goose-turd green”, “Drunk-Tank Pink,” and “Lusty Gallant” are some of my current favorites. (The names, not necessarily the colors).
And while I love bright colors, I too am thinking it was the right way to go. I am pleased (and proud) to say ”Leftover Sludge” makes any bright color near it absolutely pop! The petunias I planted in the umbrella table circle planter just sparkle against it. On top of that, I’m not sure how that dark grey glass would look set into, let’s say, a bright yellow table.
It’s possible things could start to go in a rotten-citrus direction, which of course would then cause me to turn to John and say “could you please go make ten new Trivial Pursuit pie inserts (his term, not mine) that I will then paint yellow so our table doesn’t look like a diseased lemon?” He would, of course, say, “…okay,” but the guy does have a lot on his plate, so I think for now, we’ll stick with the Sludge.
PS – loving the new rug under the table. I think it helps anchor it nicely. What do you think? Comment below the photos!
4 Comments
Submit a Comment
Tiny Defenseless Gum Wrappers
When I was a little girl, I worried about the feelings of gum wrappers. Ok, let me back up. When I was a little girl, I worried about the feelings of inanimate objects. On any given Saturday afternoon, my brilliant, highly organized, and very logic-driven mother could...
Name This Newsletter
Help us name the newsletter! Submit your idea below, and you'll be entered into our drawing for the first-ever Furniture Fables swag give-away! Struggling to come up with something? Simply vote for your favorite from these top contenders: "The Fables Gazette", "Fresh...
Newsletter April 15th, 2026
Sneak Peek: Is It Cursed?
There are some pieces I regret picking up. The reasons for this regret vary. Perhaps a piece tests positive for lead paint. Perhaps its damage is more extensive than I first believed. Perhaps there’s something about is that is stumping me artistically. Or perhaps…I’m...
It turned out gorgeous and I love leftover sludge! It’s perfect!
Leftover Sludge is perfect for the table, and the rug is *chefs kiss*
Sludge was the way to go with this table. It plays well with pops of color that can be ever changing. The rug is a nice anchor piece. No shouting matches for dominance. Happy deck weather
It looks great! Just like you, Andy. You have a glow about you that is brand new! I really love the energy you bring to all your videos. Getting to see inside your life more and more is so fun. I have been thinking about starting a new channel called “Waverly’s Way”. I just turned 50 and scared to death to try something new like a YouTube channel. I would be sharing my love of crochet as well as asking for help with the redesign of my inherited house. I have a disabled husband from a wreck and disabled daughter with autism. It’s hard to find a work from home job, so I thought about YT, but if your channel isn’t doing what you thought it would do, and it’s so well produced, I really have doubts now. I know God is so good. He will bring something to me as I look for new things to do. I’m a creative spirit, and there’s not much out there in the world beside content creation that can give someone revenue as well as letting them be an artist. I really don’t have the money to start, but I do have ambition. Seeing your channel is one of the highlights of my month. You give your all to being a teacher, a comedian, artist, and flipper. Loving the things most would have tossed away is a special type of soul. Thanks, Andy, for being that truly inspiring lady!