Spalted Maple Artwork

The wonders of nature never cease to amaze me.  On our trip to the wine country last month, my daughter and I visited a gallery and were mesmerized by some of the collections; but what captivated us and held our attention was the spalted maple turned to art.

The gallery representative was anxious to tell us that spalted wood is caused by a fungus that occurs primarily in dead trees, and the artist is careful to use only felled trees. 

Spalted wood is divided into three types: pigmentation, white rot and zone lines.  The artwork that my daughter bought is zone line spalting, which is characterized by thin lines of black surrounding heavy, black, irregular spots that appear very hard, almost like stone, called dark mycelium.  While all this is somewhat technical, the effect on the wood is simply beautiful, almost like thin ink lines shakily drawn around the heavy black spots.  In the gallery exhibit, the wood was cut into unevenly sliced slats and mounted on thin strips of wood to hold the piece together.  

My daughter bought the two pieces that were in the gallery to place over her bed’s headboard.  I suggested we paint a solid rectangle on the wall a very dark color to form a frame and place the work inside, the rectangle, of course, being larger than the two pieces together.  We did that, but once the art was up on the wall, it seemed too flat.  My daughter wanted more color, so we repainted the rectangle right over the original color, but without care to cover the sharp lines completely, while staying within the original shape.  She thought she would like to add a frame of molding to the painted on wall and paint it the same color, for texture.  Then she decided the irregular color on top of the dark color was interesting and she would leave it for the time being.

Artwork, of course, is a matter of very personal choice; fortunately we share similar tastes.  Her room is coming together nicely and I think she is beginning to feel it is just about right.

If you look up spalted wood on the Internet, you will see some amazing pieces of art, that are not only beautiful but useful too.  Spalted wood is used for musical instruments, bowls, tables and cabinets.  Some of the images show inlays of turquoise and metals.  Artists find uses for this wood in jewelry and furniture; their creativity seems endless.  Please be sure to take a look, next time you are at your computer, I think you will be amazed at this oddity of nature.

Salvaged Goods—New Uses

In recent weeks and months, I have felt like a small animal foraging in the world, collecting items tossed aside by others, to put in my own nest.  My daughter calls us, “roadside bandits”, but since these items are set out for pick-up by anyone, we are hardly bandits in the true sense of the word.

Some of these items are small, some are large, but all are useful and fun additions.  The smallest of these items was actually salvaged from our own stuff: a small shelf that was originally in the Hoosier Cabinet’s lower inside door.  I removed it years ago in order to make better use of the cavity under the pull-out counter.  I store all sorts of stuff under there, and the shelf was more in the way, so it has just been on a shelf in the garage for years and years.  The addition of the farm table allowed for much needed counter space and overflow eating space when needed, but using it as a landing spot for my husbands keys, sunglasses and change was not a good solution.  

I found the shelf and put it under the table top on the apron and discovered the space was exactly the right size to hold the shelf.  It just needed a backing, since it did not have the back of the cabinet door as a stop.  I knew we had some of the decorative metal screening we used to make the backyard lanterns for my daughter several years ago, and the screening turned out to be the perfect solution to keep all the loose change and keys from falling off the shelf.  The shelf is convenient and out of the way, not really even seen.  

While in Phoenix several months ago, my friend spotted some very cute shutters with the quarter moon cut out, and I had just the place for them!  Initially I thought I would put them on either side of the door inside the garage’s three piece bathroom, but there was not enough space.  However, flanking the bathroom window on the outside was more appropriate, and helped identify where a bathroom was located for a quick stop without having to go inside the house.

I put another salvage find under the bathroom window.  Along with the farm table, I had purchased a baby bathtub, and will be an ideal spot for washing my paint brushes outside, once the plumbing is extended through the exterior wall from the bathroom, in what had been a guest house addition next to the garage.   I will be able to attach a small hose to the drain spout and allow the tub to drain into an existing drain in the patio only a few feet away.  The tub is a great container for ice and cold drinks, when we have backyard parties.  The farm table journey was a positive one for sure.  I was able to pick up an old wash basin stand and enamel basin to use as a succulent garden and add a spot of color to a dull entry.

A number of friends now keep an eye out for me in my pursuit of doors for my fence idea.  A friend of my daughter’s spotted some french doors on the side of the road, and notified her.  My daughter picked up her Dad’s SUV and headed out to locate and load the doors; the bonus was an antique chair and some windows. 

I am currently using a couple of our old reclaimed doors as a backdrop for some climbing vines by attaching small nails to the door frame, allowing the vines to climb up the door and add interest to the plain garage wall.

All in all, these salvaged items have proved to be useful, sometimes simply as decorations, but at other times, providing a very useful function for my family.

Try to look at the ordinary with an open and creative mind; a simple box can be so much more than just a box.  Oh the possibilities!

Bookcases for an Empty Corner

After we downsized into our smaller home, and finally got the living room set up with the final furnishings, I was left with boxes of books.  The boxes lived under the window by the fireplace until I moved the old Magnavox cabinet that I had recently painted, displacing many boxes of books.  

Finding bookcases that suited both my husband and myself was proving to be a challenge.  I traveled to North Hollywood to look at a pair I saw on Craig’s List—oh my!  The picture was grainy enough to allow my keen imagination to fill in where I wanted it to, but the reality was very, very sad.  So I began the search again, through the various sources available to us now via the Internet and catalogs.

I found the perfect pair through a catalog, but wanted to see them in person at the brick and mortar store.  I had called late in January and was assured there were plenty, so I decided not to make the trip on one of our rare rainy days, knowing I would be in the area in two days.  To my surprise, the rains brought out shoppers, all wanting those bookcases—they were completely sold out by the time I made it to West LA.

I decided I would wait until the end of the next month for the new shipment, and wait another two weeks as the shipment was coming from overseas.  After what seemed like months of waiting, the bookcases were finally delivered.  They were assembled and installed easily.  I still have a couple of boxes of books in the garage that will eventually get unpacked and fitted onto some of the lower shelves, which should complete the corner and finish the great room.

The round table that is the real focal point of this area, was built by my handy husband in 1978 from a picture I found in Sunset Magazine.  He used two inch by two inch wood pieces glued together and cut into a circle, and narrow wood slats glued onto an old salvaged paper barrel for the base, thus creating the perfect puzzle table for his parents.

The puzzle table was housed in my husband’s upstairs office for years after my in-laws downsized, and served as a conference table when business associates visited.  Once we moved, with much smaller circumstances, the corner of the living room seemed like the best place for it be useful.

We use the table for overflow dining when we have large gatherings, and on occasion for a new generation of puzzlers to enjoy. 

Panel Problem Solved!

In my last article I described our latest project, which was removing a peninsula that closed off the kitchen from the dining area.  No regrets!  However, it posed a question as to what I would do with the pretty panel that faced the dining area and backed the peninsula.  My husband was successful in removing the panel in tact, which pleased me; to have destroyed it would have been very disappointing to say the least.  

I did not know if or how I would use it, but I would have offered it up for free to anyone who could use it before I would have it cut up and put in the trash.  The panel was set aside in our breezeway for the time being; I passed it many times a day when I went to the backyard or garage.  It was always on my mind.  I decided I needed to measure it and see if I could find a place to use at least part of it, if not all of it.  

It dawned on me with its dimensions, it might be a perfect panel for hiding the space behind the washer and dryer and the wall.   Since we replaced the original apartment-sized stackable units with full sized appliances, we needed to rotate them 90 degrees, leaving the backs exposed to the side wall of the basement.  The smaller units had been housed in a cabinet, hiding the vents and hoses against the back wall.  With the rotation, those unsightly, but necessary hoses were exposed; and you could see where the painters had painted back as far as they could reach on the wall, without moving the bulky appliances.  It was just plain ugly and I would see it every time I walked through the hall or went to the basement.

With the measurements of the panel in mind, I used my trusty tape measure on the space and discovered with a little cutting down and turing the panel on its side, it would be a perfect covering for the gap between the wall and machines.  Now I had to convince my husband this was a great use for this panel.  I am the idea person; he is the engineer who can figure out how to attach it to the wall.

The result is perfect!  I love that the pretty panel is useful again, and that the ugly space between the wall and stackable units is hidden, and I did not even have to paint it.  My original thought was to have the panel on a sliding mechanism, similar to a sliding closet door, for easy access to the machines if necessary, but my husband decided in the short term to simply screw it to the wall until he comes up with cabinets above the machines.  Saving the panel from the landfill has been achieved!  It is a win, win either way—proving once again that reusing what is salvageable is the best way to recycle.

Farm Table Addition

I have been waiting a long time to write about this topic; since I first saw this house, three years ago, a farm type table has been onmy mind.  As I toured this house, I knew the kitchen area was not my ideal, yet it had all the essentials; and it was pretty with all the molding trim.  In fact, when we listed it as a rental, the kitchen and dining area photos, brought people to our door.  Functionally, however, it was far from ideal; but it sure was pretty and had such appeal; everyone loved it.  Form took the lead over function. 

The peninsula that separated the kitchen from the dining area was a huge problem for me, though I understood the reasoning behind the peninsula.  The house was built in 1938; then, there was a pair of odd pull-out cabinets under the counter next to the sink.  The cabinets were, no doubt, very serviceable; decades later, the homeowner wanted a dishwasher.  I am sure the dilemma was where to put the dishwasher, without giving up the pull-out cabinets and all the storage they provided.  A peninsula was the only option.

Unfortunately, the peninsula with a dishwasher would have to be adjusted to accommodate the pull-out cabinets, making for a very awkward space.  I am certain it was a case of wanting the cake and eat it too; something had to give, so they decided awkward would suffice.  The space drove me crazy!  If I could have done the work myself, I would have removed the wall that backed the peninsula before we moved in; but, that would not do; moving alone was enough.  Besides, it is always better to live with a problem awhile to make sure you know all the shortcomings.

I was anxious to be rid of the under-counter cabinets in favor of putting the dishwasher in their place.  Removing the pretty wall was a problem for me, but we were able to remove it intact.  How I’ll use remains to be determined.

Years earlier, I had seen a magazine article with a great plan to build table out of pipe and wood.  My husband humored me on this topic for a couple of years, even after we moved in; but finally, he admitted he did not like the plan at all. His admission was frustrating to me since I had just seen a great farm table in a Phoenix salvage show and had passed on it since I had my planned table settled, I thought.  

The hunt began for the next perfect table to act as an island between our kitchen and dining area.  Luck was with me when I made my way to the Rose Bowl again, with my daughter, my favorite hunting companion.  We found many bargains and a table; unfortunately it had already been sold.  However, the booth owner said he had more in his warehouse, if I was willing to go to Santa Ana.  My daughter and I nodded in unison and spoke the words, at the same time.  We were anxious to say the least.

What a fantastic experience it was to be able to climb through all the salvaged furniture and other relics the owner had brought back from France; we were like kids in a candy shop!  We found the table, purchased it and had it delivered within days of our adventure. 

Next step was preparing the space, which meant some electrical and plumbing work under the sink, not to mention the deconstruction of the wall separating the kitchen from dining area with the peninsula.  After three weekends of work, the dishwasher is under the counter and the table is in place.  There are a few flooring issues to take care of, but I will call my flooring installer and have him tidy up the area where the dishwasher had been.

Fortunately, my husband and I are equally thrilled with the results.  I now have an additional six and a half feet of counter space in the farm table.  It is so convenient to have a place to set things down from the refrigerator and a place to prep food.  It feels as though the room should have been like this all along.  Using an old farm table is the perfect solution for more counter space and giving the kitchen and dining areas a more open, appealing feeling.

Reclaimed Wood Shelves

The pretty bathroom that we added onto my daughter’s house a couple of years ago has been finished for sometime, with the exception of some reclaimed wood shelves she had always wanted to add.  We spent some time researching reclaimed wood, drove to a salvage business in downtown Los Angeles, and found what might be a good fit.  Then, as other projects moved forward, the salvaged shelves were put on hold.  

Finally, the wood was purchased, and the shelves were added to the area above the commode.  My daughter wanted this rustic look to relate to the natural weave of her laundry basket and to add some relief to the fancy turned legs of the reclaimed dining room buffet we made into her vanity with the addition of a vessel sink.   The beautiful faucet set and vanity, along with the custom tile band for the shower, are the show stoppers in the bathroom.

The ceilings are tall in her 1930s Spanish home, and my daughter felt the commode area needed a little special attention.  She added the stenciling on the commode wall for a little sparkle, which adds to the elegance of the rest of the bathroom; the rustic shelves are a juxtaposition to this design element.

Dressing the shelves was the next project.   We found a fun little wire basket at the “Junk Bonanza” in Del Mar a couple of weeks ago in which she could store her spare bath towel.  Then she added some of her favorite things from trips abroad and down under.  The memorabilia are a nice reminder of fun trips and outings with friends and family.

Additionally, we picked up some fun pieces during our salvaging outings.  We picked up vessels for planting succulents on the patio along with an old bedspring she will use as a planting screen for added privacy behind her outdoor patio furniture.  I will share more about these and other items in another article, so stay tuned for more of our salvaging exploits.

Window Grate Reinvented

Some weeks ago, I went to a salvage store and found an old, exterior, decorative window grate that I thought would make a good interior dog gate.  I did not want to have a typical dog or baby gate because I did not want to store it or have an unsightly gate permanently attached to the door jam; besides the wall could use a little dressing up, I thought.

I knew my handy husband would not be thrilled with another kooky idea of mine and then have to adapt it, so before I even decided to buy the grate, I made a plan.  That plan would not involve my husband initially, only later to attach it to the wall.  The grate was a little too large for the door opening, and would require cutting down the iron material.  I knew just where I was going to start for that project.  Unfortunately, the first guy sent me up the street a few doors, and those guys sent me next door to a fellow who would do the cutting and welding of the hinges, but wanted a detailed plan;  he then offered had a cousin would could make me a gate.  I was not deterred!  I had yet another source; however, my husband took the grate out of my car, thinking he was doing me a favor.  I told him my plan, and he decided he’d do the project—exactly what I did not want to have happen; he has many projects on his list and this is not one I wanted to have him tackle at this time.  Apparently, it was one he wanted to do.

Once he cut the grate down to fit the doorway, he used a metal epoxy to fix the hinges to the grate, let it dry and set, then he screwed it to a wood slat he screwed to the wall, perfect.  Now the dogs cannot get to cats who prefer not to socialize with the canine kind.  

This gate was a good solution to the problem of having to keep pet species separated and wanting to keep the area easily accessed by the humans who tend to them.  Someday, I hope to have cats that accept the dogs, but I do not think that will happen with these cats; they were not raised with the dogs, and the cats were here first.

Imagine all the places this window grate could be incorporated easily— certainly outside for a similar solution to keep pets out of a garden area or kids for that matter.  The grate was inexpensive and that was appealing; besides, it was close to the right size and had at the look I wanted.

Stay tuned for what my plans are for the unsightly area behind the washer and dryer, a work in progress.

Semi-Custom-Made Blinds

Finding suitable window treatments for my living room was a concern for me.  I wanted something that would give us a little privacy at night, and disappear during the day, but be attractive all the time.  When I did my first design project back in the 60s, I got high marks for using matchstick blinds, and trimming them with decorative fabric trim tape.  During that period, there was a bit of a Bohemian vibe, and matchstick blinds were easy to acquire, hang and decorate, not to mention inexpensive, too.

I have continued to use matchstick blinds throughout the years, sometimes sacrificing most of the blind to make simple valances— where full coverage of the windows was not necessary— but still giving the impression of window treatments.

In the early days, I did not use liners with the blinds; they were not in an area that required privacy.  In my previous office that faced east, cutting the bright morning sunlight and heat made lining a must.  Once the sun rose above the blind area of my view, I could easily raise the blind and enjoy the view.  

My current living room faces the street, and I felt too exposed to do without any window treatments.  I had considered a lightweight wool drape for the window; but with an east facing window, I felt it would require a lining, which would make the drape too heavy to fall nicely and would add considerably to the already expensive wool fabric.  Besides, wool would be more formal than I wanted.

Matchstick blinds were a little harder to find this time around.  Once I got the requisite sizes, color and number I needed, it would be up to my handy husband to cut them to size—standard was not going to work in my space.  The cutting down of the blinds would be put off for sometime, since it required the use of his table saw, which had not found a place to operate right away.  Bummer!

The trick to cutting down matchstick blinds, is to roll them tightly and use a new, fine tooth, sharp blade.  In days gone by, he used painters tape to hold the blind while he cut it to size, but this time he thought of using hose clamps.  Brilliant.

Once the blinds were cut and fixed to the windows, I was delighted with them.  I wanted to live with them for a little while to see how I felt at night with lights on inside the house—still a bit exposed. 

The solution was to line them.  Again, there was nothing standard about the now customized blinds.  I bought some light-weight batiste fabric, trimmed it to size and hemmed all four sides.  Perfect.  Now to attach.  I began doing it by hand, but quickly decided that hand work would be too labor intensive; and my hands and back would not appreciate it.  I thought of using a nylon tag gun that is used to attach price tags to clothing, but would employ shorter nylon pins.  Fabric stores carry these guns.  They are called Quilter’s Basting Guns; however, I found that the nylon pins were red or hot pink, and that would not do for my project.  I went on-line and found the basting tool with shorter, clear pins; but had to wait for them to be delivered—over a holiday weekend.  

Once I had the basting tool, I was in business; and it worked like a charm!  I was particular about getting the lining up as high as possible and tacking it all along the top as well as the bottom.  Additionally, I pinned all the way down the liner and across the blind in neat rows, to ensure the liner would roll up cleanly; and from the outside it would appear smooth.

The end result is just what I wanted: the privacy issue is solved, and it feels cozy from the inside at night.  During the day, with the blinds raised, I love the light and the look of the blinds rolled up; it adds to our casual lifestyle, not so Bohemian since the blinds are unadorned.

Design and Function—The Beauty Within

Not everyone will agree on what beauty is, but it is one’s perception that counts; however function is a bit more concrete.  As a designer and decorator, I strive for both, it is in my DNA.  I know that not nearly as many people will find a storage shed a thing of beauty as will find a pretty fabric or the lines of a lovely chair; but to me, the shed illustrated here is a thing of beauty.

I do a great many painting and refinishing projects that add to the aesthetic quality of my life and the lives of my clients; so having a place to work on these projects is particularly important to me.  I wholeheartedly subscribe to the designer mantra that form follows function.

I purchased an eight-by-ten foot shed last fall, and my handy husband spent a couple of weekends getting it set up; first he built a frame for the foundation so the shed to sit level on the back patio that was sloping for drainage.  Suffice to say that he built the shed and foundation with his usual precision.  There are still some additions to install, such as lighting and a box fan for exhausting paint spray and fumes.

Fitting the interior with a tall, wire-frame shelving unit was key to storing the many cans of paint and other necessary supplies.  I thought it would be a good idea to wrap the wire-frame shelves with an insulation blanket meant for a water heater.  My hope it to help preserve the paint, which degrades in extreme temperatures— since the shed is not as well insulated as the garage.  Investment:  Insulation, $22, shelving unit was a donation from my daughter, $0. 

I bought a set of adjustable saw horses to hold a discarded, standard interior door; this serves as my work table. Investment:  Saw-Horses, $59, Interior Door, $0, Lighting, $140 and the Box Fan, $25.  The shed was certainly the most expensive, but I did get it on sale.  I do not remember what the pressure treated wood and flashing cost, but probably somewhere around $100+/-, and the labor was based on pure love which is priceless.

Without the lighting or the fan installed yet, the room has been a valuable addition.   My husband was the first to use it.  I insisted that he spray paint some auto parts for the restoration of our 1930 Model A, which has not seen any attention in 50 years!  Next up was the painting of a cabinet my daughter uses to conceal the litter box in a bathroom.  The shed, which we have nick named "The Dexter Room", has been deemed a great asset and in my mind, a thing of beauty. 

A word about the decision to purchase a pre-made shed; we looked into many less expensive options of which there are many.  First, was the least expensive, was inspired by the popular TV series Dexter but, involved assembly and take down after each use.  PVC pipe fitted to make a frame, and heavy sheet plastic sheeting attached to the PVC constituted the “room”, and would cost about $50.  I liked that, but from a realistic stand point, I didn’t think I could do the assembly by myself, and weather might be an issue.  The next idea was a simple pop-up tent, a bit more expensive, and certainly easy enough for me to assemble; but it would limit the size of the projects.  The ability to use the Dexter Room shed in just about any weather for large and small projects drove the decision to acquirea more formidable structure.  My daughter and I have plans to spray paint some custom doors for the newly installed cabinets in her laundry room; a couple of the doors are quite tall and require a fairly large area to work on them and allow a place for them to dry without interference.

From the outside, the shed is a pleasant enough looking piece, with a cottage look, but the interior is pure function.

Something Old Is New Again

After the excitement of Christmas and the clean-up aftermath, I set a new goal for myself:  to rid the living room of boxes of books that thus far have had nowhere to go. I had wanted to get a bookcase for the area the boxes occupied, but it would have to be low enough to allow in the lovely light from the window above.  A low bookcase would not be sufficient for the many boxes of books.  

The space where the boxes were stacked for the past six months is right beside the fireplace—a pretty prominent feature in the room— and the boxes were not at all attractive.  I have selected a place for tall bookcases— which will solve the book problem—but that is another story.

For more than four decades, I have had a cabinet always used just to fill space in our home.  It is an old Magnavox Hi-Fi cabinet that I gutted years ago to make it easier for me to move around.  It is a very traditional mahogany piece and has seen better days since it first came to us.  After our move, I decided it might be more appealing if it were painted.  It certainly was not valuable as an original cabinet with its insides removed.  It had some battle scars from early use as a stand for a small portable TV. Paint seemed to be in order.

I had considered a black and gray combination, or a turquoise; turquoise won.  At first, it seemed too bright and lacking in depth, so I added some antique glazing; that was better.  Still not sure before Christmas what to do with it, I first put it in the spare room and let the holidays occupy me.

Come the new year, my daughter suggested I try using the old, painted the cabinet in the space beside the fireplace until I found something better; it certainly would fit.   I decided that the cabinetwould allow “Sophie” the cat, a more stable place in the sun to view the dogs next door; the boxes of books were sinking under her weight!  It also would add a bit of color in a room that already has a lot of wood furnishings.

I was not thrilled with the cabinet even after the paint; it just was not something I thought I would use again, but using it under the window was a good idea, so why not give it a chance.  Just when I thought I would kick it to the curb and see who might pick it up, it was spared that humiliation and has a place in our home once again.

The moral of this story is not to give up on a piece just because it is old and worn.  Paint can revive just about anything and bring new life to an old piece.  Who knows? It looks good enough to stand the test of time for another few decades.

Good Fences Make Good Neighbors

“The Mending Wall”, by Robert Frost, is a poem I studied during my high school literature days; I remember well discussing what the author meant by good fences make good neighbors.  Now, my family and I are trying to be good neighbors as we face a fencing issue of our own.

The neighbors behind us have a couple of large dogs that seem to want to tear apart the fence when we are in the back area of our yard; and when our daughter’s dogs come to visit, the neighbor dogs sound like attack dogs.  This problem seems to stem from the fact that there is a bit of space between the grape-stake fence that is fastened to a chain-link fence.  The grape-stake fencing, no doubt, was intended to add privacy and improve the look of the link-fencing.   While we have plans to make improvements in the back yard, the fence falls far below the top of the list—except when we have dogs visiting.

The problem seemed to be that the dogs could see and smell each other through a space in the fence; so my immediate solution was to block that area, which I did with a large trash can.  Never intended as a long-term solution, it seemed to work initially.  Next, I bought an old gate from a local salvage store, and my husband clamped it to the fence—a was a good solution for a time, but the smaller of our visiting dogs could nose her way under the gate enough to be a perceived threat to the dogs behind us.

Next, we decided that a series of old reclaimed doors would take care of the problem.  The plan is to link several old doors of different styles, to create a strong, closed barrier and paint them a mossy color to blend with the ivy growing from the neighbors fence.

We have a start of this new “fence”, already.  My daughter and I were driving around after going to the salvage store and found some doors beside the road, clearly needing to be picked up and carted away; we were obliging.  Maybe we will get lucky and find more doors that are someone else’s trash, but ones that can become our treasure.

My goal is to create a secret garden look with odd styled doors and unite them with a common color, keeping the gate for added interest, and to help create that secret garden aesthetic.  Naturally, I have to embellish the plain gate until I can implement fully my plan.  I rolled some tree stumps that were on our property and set them on either side of the gate, then added some pots and plants for color.  A wreath gives the gate a touch of holiday spirit; I felt it was no longer an inside wreath, but it would do for the garden.

So far, my investment is the cost of the gate, and a quart of paint and a few annuals.  I will keep you posted on the fence project as it progresses.   We might get it done very soon since we will have all the kids home for the holidays—another family project!

With thanks to Robert Frost for his inspiring, thought-provoking poem, we too hope that a good fence will indeed make us all good neighbors. 

Repurposing—Again!

Necessity is the mother of invention, it has been said; and to me, a truism.  No sooner had I sold my old sewing machine cabinet to a friend—a cabinet that we had re-purposed more than four decades ago, as a place for the Hi-Fi turntable—, yes, that long ago— I found a need for it as it had been intended for: a sewing machine cabinet!  For many years since we first used it as a place for the turntable, we used it as a small entry table.  It served at Christmas time a fine place to set a tall Santa looking upwards towards stars I hung from the ceiling.  The rest of the year, however,it was just a small table to the side of the door, with no real purpose; so selling it was the logical thing to do.

Now I find myself in need of a convenient place to do some mending in my office.  I have 36 inches between my storage unit and a wall, and thought that would be a perfect place for the table.  I began going through the spare room, where all the extra furniture resides at this time; I soon remembered I had the sewing table!

I began my quest at a familiar antiques store and found an old- fashioned, wrought iron base with a marble top.  “Perfect,”I thought.  I inquired about the price, and the owner said she would get back to me.  Unfortunately, while the price she quoted was acceptable, I could not get back to her and the shop would not hold it for me.  I found myself back to square one.

What I had liked about that particular table was that it had a flat surface on which I could set my mending machine; now the search was on.  I found that many antique sewing tables still had the old machines intact.  I really did not want the machine; I, perhaps foolishly, had gotten rid of the one that came with my cabinet all those year ago, so the thought of having another one to discard did not sit well with me.  My searches took me to Craig’s List and a fairly near-by community where I found what appeared to be a suitable cabinet—with machine, ugh.  I went to see the piece and after talking with the owner, we came to an agreeable price.  We loaded it into my car and off I drove.

The cabinet top was in fairly poor condition; but I knew my husband could remove it, and I had planned to get a stone cut to fit it.  In the mean time, however, my husband cut a piece of cabinet grade plywood, sanded the edges and set it on top.  When I saw the new top, I decided to give it a coat of stain, just for the time being.  

Well, as luck would have it, the stain was a perfect match to the existing cabinet drawers and frame of the old top; so the thing was settled; it would so remain.

My next conundrum was what to do with the sewing machine.  Appreciating all the beautiful detail in painting and metal scrolling that was engraved on the face of the machine,  I was averse to just tossing it into the landfill.  I pondered the problem for a short time.  I decided to use it as decor and a “nod” to its glorious past.  I found a shelf and bought a couple of matching, iron brackets that appeared to be similar to the iron work on the base.  

My husband fixed the brackets to the wall and we set the shelf on top and then the old machine upon the shelf.  Now it sits in its place of pride, not in the way of anything, but a pretty reminder of the past.  I learned to sew on a treadle machine, not too unlike this one, so it brings back fond memories to me as I sit at my desk and work.  While the space of 36” is small, the iron frame has tiny wheels, and I can easily slide the machine out for work that requires a bit more space.

So the hasty selling of my old cabinet turned out to be a good thing, as my friend has a place for her computer monitor, and I have a given an old machine a place to shine and be saved it from the landfill.

A Pretty Utility Cabinet

 I have had a curio cabinet for many, many years; and it has been in a couple of different rooms in my home, always holding pretty objects that I have collected.  Sometimes it held delicate china and porcelain figurines, while at other times I used it to hold attractive serving pieces in the dining room, and sometimes a combination of both.

With limited space, I had planned to sell it, but it must have been too dated in its traditional pecan finish to be very appealing to buyers.  I decided to give it a bit of a facelift with some cottage looking paint; even the paint had a few iterations before I settled on a lime washed finish.  Right up to the time I was putting the final finish on the cabinet, I planned to sell it; but then I began falling in love with it again. 

I took measurements around the house, trying to find a place where I could squeeze it in.  The bedroom seemed like a good place, but no.  The bathroom would have been my first choice for anyone buying it, but our bathroom would not accommodate its dimensions.  Then I thought of our laundry area.  We do not have an actual laundry room; the washer and dryer have space at the back entrance, but not room for much more.  I had a multi-tiered wire rack on rollers that fit behind the back door—it was pure utility.  Because the rack was all open, I did my best to disguise the huge jug of laundry detergent that stood out like it was on the grocery store shelf—ugly!

I did find a solution for covering the bright green jug, because I just could not stand looking at it.  I bought an attractive, firm storage basket, and turned it upside down and covered the jug completely; it was quite the curiosity object.  A recent party guest just had to lift it up to see what it was—boy was he surprised!

The space that the wire rack occupied was perfect for the cottage style, transformed curio cabinet.  Now I have space for bottles of water to grab when I leave, a place for towels that are always needed when an accidental spill occurs, and a space for the laundry products.  It is a perfect combination of using what I had to fill a need, and it is pretty too!  I guess it is a good thing no one wanted my old curio cabinet.

Storage for the Home Office or Playroom

Finding functional and attractive storage can be a challenge.  Using what is already available to you should be the first thing you consider; after all, using what you have is both economical and practical as long as it functions well for what is needed—now.  What worked before may no longer be what will work today.

  After you access what your space can accommodate, and measure your current pieces, you need to start moving your furnishings around so they will function best.  After determining function, see how you like the arrangement.  Is it attractive as well as functional?

If you no longer want what you have, and your budget allows, find new pieces that will fit your space.  There are places where discount retail shopping is feasible.  IKEA is a master at utilizing function and space while keeping the look clean, attractive, and budget friendly.  

I knew the office space in our new house would be a challenge for me because I had an oversized office previously.  Like a goldfish, I grew my possessions to fill the available space; downsizing is no easy task.  My current office would have accommodated the large cube structure I had before, but would not be as useful as a different configuration.  I purchased three, equal cube towers from IKEA.  Like the building blocks I played with as a kid, I could conform these to suit my new needs.  

Laying one of the structures on its side with the two other rectangular pieces upright on either side, creating a low center—perfect for my TV, filling the wall space between two windows.

One of the improvements IKEA has made with their most popular storage structure, is in the various coverings for the cubes.  The choice of drawers, doors, bins in many materials or the option to leave a cube open, make these building blocks very useful for work or play.

As with many things, I needed to try a few options out to see what I liked best.  I discovered I did not like so much open storage; it was too chaotic seeing all that stuff every time I sat at my desk.  I had more open storage and, very few bins in my previous storage unit, but I did not see it much, because it was behind me.  This was an exercise in trial and error, I needed to determine what I wanted or needed in the way of closed storage, doors or drawers or bins.

I made a scale drawing of the units and played with the balance of the coverings open to me, as well as what I had to store in these spaces.  I needed to do a bit more editing of stuff I have kept over the years.  I finally decided that the two taller towers would have open cubes across the top, and just below, I chose to have a combination of a bin next to a set of drawers; both sides of the towers matched, of course.  

The next level of openings was a bit more of a challenge since it would go across the entire width of the combined three units, as well as the bottom level.  Drawers were better located up off the floor level, but doors would do fine there as well as bins.

For my office, this works well; the units suit my particular needs.  I can see how they would work for many home offices.  If more space is needed, you can easily add more.  Everything is bolted together and to the walls, for safety.  These would also make a great play storage station for a playroom with plenty of space for toys, games and crafts.

IKEA has made a great business of simple, efficient units; and there are several color options to suit your decor.  These units will not withstand abuse, of course, and will not appear stately in many homes; but they are great service pieces at a great price for many.

When In Doubt, Paint It

I have several pieces of furniture that no longer fit my home, and I figured they were likely in need of an update when they didn’t sell on Craigslist or during a yard sale.  I decided to give them a coat of paint to see if that would make them more interesting.  The first two pieces I have finished, the rest are in a holding pattern waiting their turn at my brush.

In addition, there was a jewelry box that was given to my daughter by her brother after he spent time in Japan.  He did not purchase it overseas, but it reminded him of his time there and thought she would enjoy it.  My daughter has caught the decorating bug for me and wanted to incorporate the box somehow into her eclectic, Spanish— style home.  Many of my followers are familiar with my mantra, “If you don’t like it, paint it”.  So with that in mind, I decided to make a drastic change in the box.

This project will no doubt offend some, while others are happy to know that something can change so drastically with only a can of chalk paint, brush and some clear and dark wax.  I proceeded to paint the piece, hardware and all with a soft Paris Gray.  It was not all that great looking after the paint went on, so my interest lagged a bit.  I wondered if I had made a mistake.  The first coat of clear wax, did little to assuage my concerns; but with a coat of dark wax applied, I could see the possibility of it fitting into my daughter’s Spanish cottage.  Once I had buffed the final coat of wax, I called my daughter over to see if the change; to say she was shocked would be an understatement.  After a month of careful purging in nearly every room of her house, I knew the box would have to be useful to find a home in her home.  It did!  The main bathroom has a cabinet that will hold this large box, and it now contains contact lenses— all lined up on the left and right side of one of the little drawers; it is easy to tell which to pick up, even without glasses.  The rest of the little drawers are suitable for tweezers and other little things that can get lost in a larger drawer.  The gentleman of the house seems quite pleased with this new addition and all its possibilities.

Another piece, I worked on is similar to a piece I did for a client last year, a two-tiered end table from another generation.  I had used it as a side table next to my bed; it held all of the necessities: the land phone, my glasses, pad and pen, and a ton of books, along with the bedside lamp.  It suited me and the room well, but I just don’t have the room for it in this house, so now it is painted in the same soft Paris Gray, but I used a bronze glaze on the top to give it some depth.  The glaze is easier on my hands.

I find this kind of work not only rewarding, but fun, I simply plug in my headset and listen to the latest book downloaded from the Library and go to work, hopefully giving new life to something old and tired.

New Places for Some Old Favorites

Most people sooner or later, will get into a decorating rut.  They put the same things in the same places, either because they like the arrangements or are just too intimidated by the thought of changing.  I have been guilty in both cases.  Sometimes the geometry of a space dictates what will fit or create a reasonably balanced setting.  Other times, why change a pleasing setting?  Small changes can occur with seasonal decorating, and that is change is enough for me, as long as everything else suits.

I always suggest to clients to live in a space for a time to see how the space will work out for them, practically, to see how their life patterns will develop.  I am reminded of one of my earliest design instructors telling us how a New EnglandLandscape Architect allowed the pathways of a major University to be developed naturally, that is he allowed the students walking from class to class to set the pathways before setting them in stone.  What evolved was a pleasing and sometimes meandering paths, while other pathways were direct— that’s human nature.  It was just like seeing the paths blazed by the animals in the wild.

Moving forced me to consider what to save and what to let go— not an easy task, I admit.  The next step was to decide what artwork, family pictures, and the like would go where.  This decision-making took a bit longer than I expected, but then emptying boxes and finding space for what was most important took even longer.  More editing!

As a family, we have grown attached to many things. Some, while not great pieces of art, are important to our family’s history.  We all tried to remember where the five large Sunset posters had hung when our family was very young.  Thank heavens for the stronger memory banks of our children.  We sold a couple of the framed posters that our kids grew up with, more than 40 years ago, and we had several hanging in the home we had for 30 years.  It was gratifying to know that two young couples furnishing their first home, coincidentally enough, the California Craftsman style home that was our first home, were happy to hear our family’s story about the posters.  We are now down from five posters to two.  The placement of one of them in the bathroom may seem odd, but why not the bathroom? It feels fresh and fun.

Another grouping of framed art, is a set of three sketches of my husband’s first trip to Europe, on a cycling tour.  He turned 16 in a Paris cafe and met up with an artist from the San Fernando Valley— small world indeed.  After storing the sketches in a drawer for many years, I had them framed; they have hung somewhere in our home ever since.

This house is much smaller than our previous one, so I have had to think of ways to get our favorite pieces to fit and make some sense of what might be considered a diverse collection.

The three Paris sketches have made the cut and landed in the TV room.  Another important collection was of my father, as the “Fire-Fall” man in Yosemite National Park during his youth in the 1920s.  The pictures were always a treasure to me, because of the stories he told of those daring times.  Pictured in the background is Half  Dome, and there are scenes of him in his cabin, under what had been the Glacier Point Hotel, high above the valley, where guests of the Ahwahnee Hotel would marvel at the fiery logs being tossed over the falls.

I decided that the scale and coloring of both these two diverse collections could work together, since the black and white sketches were framed in a similar wood and style as the Yosemite photographs, which are in a sepia tone.  We have decided after much thought that this was a good choice, although not quickly made.

If you are moving, you certainly will be challenged with what to keep and where to place your things, but do not be hasty. Even if you are not moving, but are tired of your current displays, I say take them down, sort through what you have, keep only your very best and favorites and then find new places for them.  You will find it is refreshing to have familiar things in new places.

It Is Time for Some Black

Most readers of this column will not be surprised to learn that I love a black wall— somewhere.  I have a designer friend who asks me fairly often where my blackboard wall is going to go.  I have not yet decided, but you can be sure I will have one.  

I had determined, early on, that one of my office walls would be black.  I have several black and white prints that I especially like, and think they will be stunning on a black wall.  The French doors and frame are white, so there is a nice contrast and boldness without being too bold.  The black wall is visible from the living room and adds dramatic relief to the soft, soothing taupe walls in the that room.

My black wall is hung with nine, mostly all black and white sketches.  There is a pair of bird drawings with very subdued coloring— the birds must be the female of the species.  The subject matter of the collection is varied.  The frames are not identical, although the frames of the three Aubrey Beardsley drawings all match, and the three bird drawings have matching frames.  Consistency in color, size or subject help a collection achieve a cohesive feel.

A black or very dark wall of blue or plum or green— something very close to black can give drama to an ordinary room.  If your room has a great deal of light, as mine does, you will see sharp contrast that does not make the room seem gloomy.  

The TV room is painted a very dark blue, but not dark enough to be mistaken for black; it is very definitely blue, and the white trim keeps it lively.  The TV room has no direct outside source of light; the two long windows that flank one wall, borrow light from my office.  Without the white trim and the borrowed light, the dark blue would make this room a bit depressing for me; but it is a perfect room for watching TV with no glare on the screen. 

A home office or study, where you want quiet solitude, might be a good place to consider very dark walls.  Decades ago, a man’s office or study would have been paneled in dark wood and probably would have had walls lined with books, with a window looking out onto a shady garden— all lovely, but hardly practical today.  Most houses do not have a space for a separate library, but the thought is still very appealing to those who treasure reading an old fashioned book, in peace and quiet without any electronic hum.  You might be able to achieve a similar look for a reading nook in a room; if you can find a “quiet corner” in a room, paint two of the walls a dark color and section it off using an area rug or seating to visually close it off from the rest of the room.  Some tall bookcases can become walls within a room and add to the quiet effect.

Decorating Western Style

We have enjoyed several days visiting our western neighbors to the north, primarily Montana and Wyoming, with a detour through parts of Idaho.  We have touched all of these neighbors over the years, but only passing through on our way to somewhere else.  Having a destination wedding to attend, we decided to take a little extra time and see these beautiful states.  Oh, America the Beautiful!

Decor styles in these very western states run to the rustic and, country reigns supreme.  The wedding reception was held in a beautiful and historic barn.  The ceremony was as beautiful as the bride was elegant.  Guests sat outside, under beautiful shade trees, on fabric covered bales of hay.  Small mason jars held sprigs of lavender at the end of each row.  Inside the barn, tables were set around a wooden dance floor.  

But the show stopper was the lighting.  Strings of tiny lights were strung from side to side, the width of the barn, about forty feet wide!  That took a lot of strings of lights.  Additionally, there were paper lanterns of varying sizes that drifted with the breezes that came through the barn doors, it was magical and a lovely idea for any country wedding or gathering where lighting is needed.

During our travels, there was a reoccurring theme in nearly every restaurant, casual or dressy, and that was the use of antlers in lighting fixtures.  Nothing new, I know; but I saw such variety and could imagine some of the choices in many different settings.  

Outside would be natural for an antler chandelier, but inside would be fun as long as the proportion was suitable for the room.  I can invasion small twinkle lights draped around the antlers or wound around them tightly for a more intense lighting effect.  How fun would it be to decorate seasonally with an antler fixture?  Spooky black lights for Halloween, red, green and white for Cinco de Mayo; soft pastels for Easter— you get the picture.

I saw plenty of simple antler table and floor lamps.  An antler lamp could give a modern room a bit of natural sculptural element, especially when it casts its shadow against a wall at night—  beauty in simplicity, the best kind.

Of course, an antler fixture would be at ease in most country homes; the possibilities are endless.  If you have an old antler lamp in your barn, garage or attic, you mayhave been hoping it would be lost or tossed out—anything but bringing it back inside.  However, you could get creative and spray paint it a fun color and add a funky shade.  

Probably the most unique use of antlers was the the town square in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.  Each corner of a city block had a massive arch of naturally shed antlers, and at night they are lit with hundreds of tiny lights.  It is a spectacular vision.

I have never considered decorating with an antler lamp or chandelier, but I'm intrigued by the possibilities--maybe in the garden.  Now the problem is collecting enough for a small arch of my own!

Mail Delivery

I remember mail slots in the wall from my earliest years.  Oh how I longed for a modern mail box.  Now, I find the nostalgia comforting and quaint.  This little mail slot in our wall is one of the reasons I fell in love with this house— several years ago.  As I waited for the chance to move into the little house on the other side of the mountain, I envisioned different pieces of furniture I had to catch the mail, but after I moved in, I realized that most were not right for the space; I have had to make many similar adjustments.  

Not to be deterred, my first solution was simply an unpacked box sitting under the mail slot, with a basket to catch the mail.  Soon after the boxes were unpacked and out of the house, I moved a small, square table I had into position and replaced the box.  However, it was a bit bulky and interfered with one of the chairs at the table.  

With a bit more time on my hands now, I decided a small stool or short bench would probably suffice.  My daughter and I took off exploring shops around town.  I was in no hurry, so I could be choosy.  I knew I did not want anything fancy, and something more in keeping with the period was what I had in mind.  With a lot of wood used in this room— with the hardwood floors, round oak table and chairs and the hoosier cabinet— I was feeling like something painted would be my best option.

I found a small white stool with turned legs. The stool is not too fussy, and it is the perfect size.  The price was right, too, less than twenty bucks; now that was a bargain.  I liked it right away, and the size suited the space, as I predicted; but the white color was a bit too sweet for my taste.  I painted it a bright apple green; and for now, it is just right.  However, I have a feeling that very soon, it will be painted black and be more in keeping with a long bench I have in the room, and the black china cabinet. 

The black keeps the soft blue-green walls with white trim from being too cottage like. While I like the cottage look, I need a little black to keep it more grounded.

We enjoy having this little bit of nostalgia as a reminder of times gone by.  Another discovery, is a little post office inside a local pharmacy; it will never take the place of our beloved Acton Post Office and all the wonderful people that we got to know over the years, but it is as close to a community post office as we will see again, I think.

An Inexpensive Privacy Solution

The house we have recently moved to is what you might call vintage; it was built in 1938.  It has many great features; and over the years, some of the features have changed and others have remained the same.

I am certain the master bathroom has seen some remodeling; however, unlike other improvements in the home, the bathroom could use another refreshing.  We plan to make some changes in the near future, but our most important issue after moving in was privacy.  A prior owner had used a spray giving the window glass a frosted look with a clear border.  This solution seemed to be a good enough for the tenants who occupied the home while we were preparing to sell our home.  However, the last tenant removed the frosted part on one window, and the children must have picked away at the other window leaving it less than attractive.  Once we moved in, we needed the light, but needed the privacy more.  I had purchased some temporary blinds, and we lived with them for a couple of weeks; but I could only tolerate that for a short time.

In the mean time, I had been thinking of an inexpensive solution that would be attractive enough, private enough and easy enough for the short term until we make some major adjustments to this bathroom.

On a previous trip to IKEA, I had seen a new pattern of sliding panels and was thinking of different ways I might make the panel work for me.  The panels are only 24 inches wide, and fortunately the bathroom windows are about the same size.  The upper portion of the double sash windows provide enough privacy because of foliage outside, but the lower half was my concern.  I did not want to install the sliding frames that are available for these panels, but did want to keep the project simple.

I purchased small, slender, cafe curtain rods easily found in just about any hardware or big box store.  To give the panel some weight to hang properly, I purchased one- quarter inch steel dowels, and sewed a pocket on the top of my fabric and bottom of my panel fabric; slipped the curtain rod in the top and the steel dowel in the bottom; gravity did the rest, pulling the curtain down snuggly to the window sill.  

One of the reasons this was so easy and simple is that the fabric edges, a poly or plastic of some sort, will not fray; so there was no finishing to the edges, as there would be with other fabrics.  I liked this grid or checker pattern because it lent itself to a country or more modern style.  I had enough fabric left to do a similar treatment on the back door window that gives both our neighbor to the north, and us a bit more privacy.  The only change I made in the construction was to fix the same type of rods to the top and bottom so the bottom was firmly fixed, and would not bang on the door every time the door opened or closed.  With the bathroom windows, this was not an issue and, having the bottom of the window blind not fixed, makes opening the windows in the bath room easier.

Covering three windows for under $30 feels like a good deal to me.  I saved my dollars for the kitchen and dining room windows and went with linen top-down and bottom-up blinds that allow light and privacy, a win, win.