What to Expect When You Visit RDFCo.

We try to stick to two rules when stocking our shop: offer handcrafted, restyled or found items. And, it must be something we would put in our own home. If we don't truly love it, how can we be passionate about it and sell it to our customers? These might sound like easy rules to follow, but they are hard to stick to as we build a curated selection. 

So, what the heck does all that mean? Here's what you can expect to find when you visit our Frenchtown shop:

handcrafted

From rustic wooden coasters to unique pillows to dining room tables, we offer a variety of home furnishings for every budget. Our tables are handcrafted from old doors we source and find around the St. Louis area. Each one is completely one-of-kind -- no two have ever been alike and each one holds it's own story!

If you are interested in a custom table, we also carry a selection of doors in the shop. We will work with you to select the right door for your table, whether you want a sofa or entry table, a buffet or bar, coffee table or dining room table. You get to choose the door, and be a part of the story.

We are adding other handcrafted items daily, including bread/cheese boards, candle holders, unique signs, soap bars, and more. 

restyled

We are not against painting furniture to bring new life (and love) to it. Some of my favorite pieces in our home have been passed down to us and given a new life with a coat of paint. They are no longer hanging out in someone's garage or basement, but are used and appreciated every day.

So of the items we carry have had many years of love, but they still have many more in them! They've been restyled into a unique piece you won't find anywhere else.

 

Red Cross Dresser

Our favorite line of paint is Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint. It's what most of our furniture is restyled with. We offer the entire line of milk paint in our shop, including 18 colors, waxes, brushes, hemp oil and more. Our inspiration boards are on display to help you choose the perfect color for your next project. We also offer monthly hands-on Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint workshops where you can work with the paint and learn all the techniques you need to create your own one-of-a-kind piece.

found

From vintage trunks and typewriters to antique metal boxes and shoe forms, we have a unique stock of found items. They add an interesting touch to that empty bookshelf or coffee table you might have.

So, in a nutshell, that's a little taste of what you can expect when you visit. We are now open at 1105 N. Second Street in St. Charles, MO (Wed-Fri from noon-5 p.m. and Sat & Sun from 11-4 p.m.) Our selection will constantly be changing...to stay on top of what we have on-hand, follow us on Facebook. We hope to see you soon!

How to Use Milk Paint as a Stain

I'll admit, I'm fairly new to milk paint. I was always a little hesitant to use it, because of the whole "you don't know where it will chip" factor (Don't worry, we have things to help with that). And, the fact that you mix it yourself was always a little overwhelming.

During the last couple of months, I've been experimenting and using it more. I've discovered colors that I would never have chosen for a piece of furniture before, are now among my very faves. I have my preferred methods of mixing the paint. And, I love that I'm able to control the amount of coverage. For instance, did you know that by mixing in more water, you can use it as a stain? Which leads us to....

This is not an exact measurement and it doesn't have to be. I filled my container with water and then added a couple of scoops (tablespoons) of Miss Mustard Seed's Curio. Here's the coverage when mixed with the recommended ratio (1 part milk paint to 1 part water):

Here it is when mixed as a stain. You are looking for a watery consistency. The mix below had no "thickness" too it, like paint. It was a dark, watery mix. I mixed the milk paint and water in a container with a lid. Just put it all in, add the lid, and shake it up.

We used Curio to stain the workshop table we'll have in the shop. Jeff built the table out of Douglas Fir. I gave it a very light sanding to smooth it out. Here's what one brush of paint looked like:

And here's what it looked like as it soaked into the wood. Once I got it all painted, I took a rag and wiped it down. However, most of it had already soaked in.

Here's the finished product. I LOVE it. The finish doesn't resemble paint at all -- it totally looks and feels like it's been stained. We finished it with Howard Feed-N-Wax. It deepened the color and will help protect the top. Miss Mustard Seed's Hemp Oil would also be beautiful on this (I opted for Howard's because it's such a huge table).

If you are interested in using milk paint as a stain, we carry the entire line of Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint in our shop. Stop in and visit on Feb. 1 at 1105 N. Second Street in St. Charles, or send me an email at info@reddoorfurnitureco.com.

The Story

Red Door Furniture Co. started from a table Jeff made more than a decade ago. It was made out of an old door his dad found on a job site in downtown St. Louis. He spent hours and hours stripping and sanding the top of the table. By the time he got to the underside, he grabbed the nearest thing he could find...a can of red paint and slapped on a coat. Years later, we named our little company Red Door Furniture Co.

First RDFCo. Table

I've been sharing alot of the new items we will be offering in our shop -- we are trying hard to stick to unique home decor that is handcrafted, restyled or found by us. It's not easy! But, we're building a curated collection where each piece holds it's own little story. Just waiting for you to bring it home and add it to yours!

Today we're going out to look for old doors for dining room tables, sofa tables, bars, headboards...you name it! We'll be setting up an area of the store where, if we don't have a table in stock that fits your needs, you can select the door that does (as you can see below...no two are ever the same).

This weekend, Jeff will be working on a dining room table that I'm really excited about. We found the door below at a local antique store. It's perfectly chippy and rustic looking. Follow us on Facebook for updates and pics this weekend. I can't wait to see it when it's done!