Little Table

Several years ago, my daughter and I found this little table at an estate sale. She bought it and used it as an outdoor plant stand for several years and then passed it on to me. It was pretty weathered when we first acquired it and by the time it came to me, it was quite rickety and barely able to stand.

Handy Hubby to the rescue. Once it was made secure with a few screws and plenty of glue, I let it sit for sometime, before deciding to paint it.

Spraying it all black after priming the table gave me time to think about what to finally do with it. Bright colors and patterns seemed to be the answer. Starting with the legs, they each got the same treatment of color and patterns to lessen the chaos of the project.

I decided to paint the top a black and white checkerboard. The top was the most damaged, so the pattern is far from perfect, but it is still recognizable.

The bottom shelf was the last design idea. Since the legs were so quirky and the top was a checkerboard, I figured it was heading to Alice’s Garden in the end, therefore a rose and the four suits of cards would be perfect.

In the story of Alice in Wonderland, the Queen shouts, “Off with their head’s” when she sees the cards painting the roses red; they were supposed to have planted red roses, but planted white instead. The cards discovered their mistake and were hastily trying to rectify the situation before the Queen found out. That is the “hidden message” with the partially painted red rose on the bottom shelf.

Antique Sewing Machine Revival

Table compete, just waiting for chairs

A friend had an antique sewing machine in a lovely oak cabinet she was looking to dispose of, unless I had any ideas for another use for it.  My friend had been using it as a side table, mostly as an interesting conversation piece.

I named a half dozen things she could do with it within a couple of minutes and she was intrigued with the idea that it could be made into a dining room table, since she was considering leaving her current dining table and chairs when she sold the house. 

I explained that the ornate iron frame can be separated from the decorative oak box and sewing machine.  She was hoping to have a round glass table top cut to fit the iron base.  Knowing that the standard height for a dining table was 30” and the frame was only about 28”; an extension would need to be built or casters could be added to the legs for the additional height.  Who could do this, she wondered, well, “the engineer” of course.

We collected the heavy— very heavy and awkward sewing cabinet and brought it to the “workshop”.  The engineer was delighted with the new puzzle.  Thinking we had found all the screws, we’d be surprised to have to search yet again for the reason the box would not separate from the frame.  

Finally, with the two pieces separated, we went into discussions about how to build the frame.  My very handy husband, wanted to buy new wood, but being a practical sort of person, I wanted to use what we had, in scrap, it would only be painted anyway.  Oddly enough my husband had just cut up the pallet on which, the ceiling wood (Office Remodel Phase 1) had been delivered, and put into the trash.  Ugh!  I had suspected that part of the frame of the pallet was made of a very good hard wood; a friend thought it might be maple and I think he was right.  I thought about all the different types of maple and think it is most likely,“ribbon maple”.  A beautiful wood.  There was only a very little of it having been used as the ribs of the pallet, but as luck would have it, just enough to make a beautiful frame for the iron legs and extension for the table top.

Painting complete, including a little gold leaf on the lettering at the base identifying the machine; all that was left was a round glass table top, my friend was delighted with the outcome.

A little gold leaf

The beautiful oak box was mine to do as I wished.  I decided I did want to add it to the office as a permanent place for my light table.  Now, however it has no legs!  My dear friend and fellow designer Dawn, in Virginia suggested hanging it on the wall.  I had thought of that, but there was a window where it needed to go, not a solid wall.  Again, luck was on my side, it was just wide enough to clear the window and be fastened to the wall.

Nice fit!

The engineer was able to find some iron brackets to hold the weight of the oak box and cast iron sewing machine inside.  In addition he used a piece of left over walnut to strengthen the bracket and support the box.

Two antique sewing cabinets in use.

The Antique Sewing Machine has served many masters, since it was built at the turn of the twentieth century, and now in the twenty first century, retirement is still in the future for this well built piece of history.  It is perfect for my light table and the placement is ideal.

Bathroom Remodel:

When the Open Concept is Taken Too Far

We started the hall bathroom remodel several weeks ago, a bit backwards perhaps— with a door.  Years ago, I bought an antique leaded glass door with the hopes to use it as the door for the hall bathroom, since it was so pretty and the bathroom was not.  My main objection to the hall bath was that whomever added it on, placed the toilet smack in the middle of the doorway, with the door open, it was not a pretty sight, especially since you see it from the kitchen.

My handy hubby, the engineer did another stretching job to the door, it was wide enough, but not long enough to cover the opening and hang from the sliding mechanism.  Then, there was the task of filling holes from door knobs and dead bolts.  And finally, hours of filling, sanding, priming and painting!  A substantial header needed to be put in place to hold the heavy duty sliding mechanism to allow us to hang the door.

Next up was what to do with the leaded glass that offered lots of beauty, but little privacy needed for a bathroom.  I thought an antique mirror behind the leaded glass would offer the necessary privacy, and thought it would be interesting from the kitchen/hall side.  As for the bathroom side, I am planning on a sheet of wallpaper that will compliment the bathroom, or maybe blackboard paint.

The actual tear down of the bathroom or demo to the studs was next.  The house was built in 1938, when a 2X4 was exactly that, not today’s shaved down version.  When the bath was added, this factor was not taken into consideration, hence uneven walls with odd bulges and waviness.  My engineer decided the only way to fix it was to strip it down to the studs.  Besides, the reason for the remodel was to move the toilet from, “front and center”, to under the window and move the sink to where the toilet had been for a more pleasing view.

This bathroom was “carved” out of what we expect was a “laundry area” and stolen bedroom closet space on the common wall behind where the toilet was placed.  We decided to take more out of the closet area, by removing some of the upper storage, that had been left with the previous remodel.  We wanted the new sink area to have full ceiling height, rather than the lowered ceiling that was from the previous remodel.  This would allow for a nicer lighting fixture and a more spacious feeling in this tiny three quarter hall bath.

The demolition of the surrounding walls, left the toilet standing in my husband’s office; pretty convenient for him, but lacking privacy all around!  He is wasting no time getting the remainder of the closet walls reframed, thus closing in the bathroom from the office side, at least.

Next up will be further demolition of the shower tile and floor tiles.  Floor tiles have been ordered along with a mirror/medicine cabinet. Stay tuned.

Commitment Problem

Everyone has a problem with commitment at some time or another whether it be personal, financial, family, or design.  Design commitments will have far less impact, hopefully, than family issues or employment decisions,  but hesitance to make design commitments seem to result in people doing nothing rather than something or anything, when it comes to changes in their home.

I, too, have commitment problems with some design challenges.  My solution is to find an option that will give me more choices.  The most recent dilemma I faced was what to do about the inside of my upper cabinets in the kitchen.  The doors on the upper cabinets are glass and therefore expose my dishware, which is white; with the interiors painted white, there was no contrast and hardly made an impact.  A few weeks ago, I emptied the upper cabinets of all the dishes and glassware on both sides and painted just the back wall of each of the upper cabinets the color of the kitchen walls: a soft sage green.  While I liked the change, it was barely noticeable.  At least that exercise forced me clean all the glass shelves, and the new color did give it a fresh look.

Still not satisfied with the lack of impact in those cabinets, I had toyed with the idea of painting the backs of the cabinets black—yep, black.  I can imagine what many of my readers may be thinking, “Is she painting the entire house black”?  I do like a bit of drama in design.  The kitchen is one of my favorite places, and I thought the introduction of a little more black would give me the impact I wanted.  Painting the backs of the cabinets is not an “in your face” dramatic change; it is more subtle.  In fact, people hardly notice it; but I do, which is the point.

As for the lack of commitment, I decided to use black foam board cut to size before painting the cabinets and then painting over the black if I did not like it.  I have suggested to clients over the years that to add a little color in bookcases or glass fronted cabinets, first use foam board painted the color they want, to see if they liked it, before painting the back of an entire bookcase.  This option also allows for seasonal changes for displays for Easter, Halloween and Christmas.

I will confess that painting would have been cheaper and take less time than I spent on cutting foam board and going back to the office supply store for more material.  I was pretty sure I was going to like the black, but thought I would give the foam board a try.  I am glad I did.  I like the smooth texture as opposed to the less than perfect plaster walls behind my cabinets dating back to 1938, and all the things that have been done to these cabinets over the years

I still have some black paint plans for my home.  They too will be subtle, but will make an impact.  If you have considered taking an old entertainment unit or bookcase, and using it as a room divider or as a display area for some of your collections, you might consider removing the back of the cabinet and painting it a bright accent color that you are using elsewhere in the room.  Painting an old cabinet or dresser that you are re-purposing, is a win-win project, with little to lose and a good exercise in trying something new.  Try it, you might like it.

Tea Tables Give Way to Coffee Tables

The tea table came into homes in the early 18th century, and the coffee table 200 years later.  What is the difference?  Over thecenturies, differences have developed in the way we enjoy our favorite hot beverage, be it tea or coffee.  Most modern coffee and tea drinkers head to their nearest name brand hot beverage shop to enjoy a cup or mug of their favorite caffeinated or non-caffeinated beverage; but centuries ago, “modern” families were just beginning to enjoy the exotic flavors of the Far East.

Tables, dishes, and pots were designed for imbibing these new culturally fashionable drinks, not to mention new silverware pieces.  Manufactures were all too happy to deliver something new to homeowners who needed to show their neighbors and friends that they had “arrived” and were up-to-date with the latest and greatest.  Apparently, not much has changed since the 1720s.

While tea tables were typically something you pulled a chair up to while dining on small sandwiches and sweets, they needed to be tall enough for ladies and gentlemen to sit with their knees neatly tucked beneath the table.  Remember ladies were wearing full skirts with bustles, no less; and gentlemen had buckles on their shoes; if the buckles were not properly shined, they were discreetly hidden under a tea table.

Skip ahead a couple of centuries, and you have the modern coffee table, following the importation of coffee from Latin America.  The practice of sitting around a tea table or now coffee table as a form of entertaining in the home was more relaxed in the 20th century.  The coffee table sat low and was found in living rooms or other leisure spaces in the home.  This lower table was to encourage a more relaxed atmosphere and casual living.  In fact, by the 1950s, the coffee table was a staple in most homes and was used for displaying the family’s extensive magazine collection.  I know in my house, those magazines were fanned out on the coffee table that sat in front of the sofa.  Teen and Seventeen Magazine were not considered suitable for display; Look, Life, Sunset and The Ladies Home Journal were magazines of choice in our home.

Today, we still see and use both of these tables, sometimes even to hold a cup of tea or coffee.  Often, the taller tea table finds itself at the end of a sofa or chair holding a lamp, with space for a cup of tea or coffee or cocktail.  Both tables continue to be of service and can be fashionably fun as well as useful, with coffee tables often being a favorite spot to rest feet while watching TV.

I have an artist client who loves color and whimsey.  She asked me to paint a tea table, and a small coffee table to add some color to her predominantly black and white living room.  Each piece I painted for her, had a particular detail that I thought I could enhance with some gold or silver leaf; she chose gold leaf, and the added touch brought the pieces up a notch in the interest factor. Her home is such a fun place to visit, with such interesting pieces, and she is fearless when it comes to accepting decorating advise.  I think her only regret to her downsizing, is now she does not have the room for all the things she loves to collect.  But, color is her signature.

As with most wood furniture that may seem outdated in its look, a fun paint color can bring more years of enjoyment; especially if you were just going to kick it to the curb and buy something new.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Card Table of the Past

There are times when having a spare table comes in handy.  How many times have you wished you had such a table and resorted to the reliable card table?  Not that card tables are a bad thing— heaven knows many a party has been saved by them.  Owned or borrowed, they are handy to have and easy to store.

However, have you ever wondered what folks did a couple of generations ago?  Those thrifty colonials and Europeans had such a solution when an impromptu table was needed, and the table did not have its legs folding into the top and side for storage under the bed; they had console tables that doubled as game tables and tea tables and whatever kind of table they needed.  These console tables had a flip top, and the top swiveled around to support the extension; like magic there was a game table for a quick lesson in cards or chess, or a table for additional treats at tea time.  When not in use, the table would stand in the entry or against a wall with a few pictures or a vase of flowers in it, paying no attention at all to its surroundings; it was just ready whenever needed.

I came across quite a nice selection of such tables this past weekend at an estate sale. The company sponsoring the sale had a bit of overstock on baby grand pianos, tall secretaries and console/game tables.  On the last day of the sale, I arrived in time for them to announce everything was 75% off.  As I wandered through the nearly empty warehouse, I was surprised to see so many of these tables still left and now at true bargain prices; they were well priced on the first day; but on the last, they were a steal.  I am guessing that people did not know about them or their value.  These tables were quite popular in the Victorian times, and their popularity lived on for more than a hundred years.  The furniture came in every style that was manufactured.  I have often thought of them as the card table of the past.  They do not flatten down and slide under a bed, like our modern day card tables, but they are infinitely more attractive and have many uses.

I was saved from buying one or two of them and painting them, because I am in such a state of chaos having just downsized.  And, I have a large refinishing job looming ahead of me this month just as soon as I can clear a spot in the garage to get to it.  I was certainly tempted though, and even made another trip into the warehouse to take another look.  

Several of the tables would have been better off painted rather than refinished, since refinishing them would leave them looking like they belonged in a great grandmother’s parlor, but painting lends a whole new meaning and life to such a table.  No longer, great granny’s old stuff, now it can be a fun, colorful table for a kids room and a great play space for them to do crafts and even enjoy a little tea party.  You can get very creative and paint whimsical patterns or simply a checkerboard in a fun color for the family room.  It is a great table with many uses; if you come across one, you should consider it.

A Trip Back in Time

This is one of my favorite times of year because the Pasadena Showcase House Tour is running through May 17th.  I have been visiting this showcase for decades and always marvel at what designers can come up with in new and inventive ideas of the designers; I do not always agree with what I see, but I usually come away inspired.  This year was no different; there were some likes and some not so much.

One of my favorite rooms was the Artist’s Retreat.  I nearly gasped when I saw the quiet color palette, the same palette that I planned for my new office, and some of the same materials.  The designer who was responsible for this particular room, used very expensive oak planks on the walls and spaced them tightly together, while my plan is to use wide pine planks with a shiplap look instead.  Cost is always an issue for me.  I loved the use of cork for the floors, they actually looked like travertine.  I had planned to use travertine, but I think cork is the way to go.  With advances in the use of cork, you can find it in a variety colors.  You can mix and match to create designs such as the harlequin pattern in this room.  Cork is warm, quiet and renewable, therefore a very “green” product.

Another take away from this year’s house was the liberal use of Edison light bulbs.  No doubt you have seen them in many magazines, brochures and other advertisements.  One of the designers commented that the Edison lights used in the room he designed were from a local and well known lighting shop—Lamps Plus.  I guess even showcase designers have to find savings where they can.  Edison lights were used throughout the house in a variety of designs from industrial to elegant.

Pasadena Showcase House 2015, from Google Images

The color palette for this year’s house has some of my all time favorites and some new colors from Dunn Edward’s newest collection that I have already used—it is good to know I’m on trend.  There were some pretty bold colors but they were well balanced in the private rooms upstairs where the family stayed, while the more public rooms were much more neutral but had accent colors repeating some of the bolder colors used upstairs.  I found it to be a good exercise in the use of the color palette keeping it unified without creating a rainbow effect.

Pasadena Showcase House 2015, from Google Imagaes

As I mentioned, there were some “misses” for me.  I felt some of the bathrooms were a bit overdone with the use of stone, and I love stone in a bathroom; but I felt there was too much pattern conflict.  There certainly were a lot of bathrooms to choose from, something for every taste, and I had some favorites there too.

You can go online and see some of the photos from the Showcase House, this year and past years; but if you have a chance you should go and see it for yourself this year’s Tudor style house designed by Fernand Parmentier in 1910.  There is always something gained, besides the benefit to children’s music programs throughout the community that the Showcase House funds.

From Dark to Bright and Light

Spooky Beginnings

The china cabinet I have been working on for what seems like months is finally finished.  The reason it took so long is that I had to paint it on site, which required finding accommodating times for both my client and me.  If I can work on a piece at home, I can work on it anytime.  Painting a cabinet requires many steps: washing away oils and grease, priming, two coats of paint and finally playing the antique glaze.  I took all the hardware off and painted it a warm brown to blend with the counter top.

That Awkward In Between Stage

My client is so pleased and happy I suggested painting it to give it a lighter, brighter feeling.  The cabinet shares space with the kitchen and the TV room.  While the kitchen has white cabinets, the TV room has lots of darker furniture, fortunately blue is a reoccurring color in this clients home.

Painting the cabinet has given it a visual lift and shows off the pretty items my client has to display.  I left the top surface of the bottom cabinet (the counter) its natural wood color as I did the crown molding.  I felt that the wood would wear best, since my client would use the counter area for serving; and a painted surface is not always the most durable surface.  The rest of the cabinet would show best with the white paint and an antique glaze.  There are carved details that now show up subtly without being too bright.  The combination of the original natural wood color marries nicely the darker wood tones in the TV room and the white kitchen cabinets do not feel quite as foreign now with the antique glazed cabinet.

For a cohesive look,I painted the interior of the upper cabinet the same blue that we have used in other areas of the home.  The rug in the family/TV room has the same blue in it as does several upholstered pieces.

While the style of the cabinet is in the same French Country style as much of the home, the TV room has a more comfortable lounge sofa and reclining chair.   The china cabinet is a nice fusion of the two, in style and color.  There is no jarring feeling when you look from one room to another.  Before, the dark cabinet seemed too heavy for the space and oddly out of place; now there is a nice blend of old and new.

Ready For Its Close-up

With the kitchen cabinets so white, my client worried that the “off white” of the paint-glaze combination would look out of place.  Once it was finished, she was pleased with the blend of the two.  Clearly the china cabinet is a more old fashioned style piece than the more modern shaker style kitchen cabinets, but together they work well.  A shaker style cabinet lends itself nicely to many different styles, hence its popularity today.  

A Good Candidate For Painting

My most recent painting project is nearly finished, and I will share it with you once it is completed.  It is looking quite nice, and the client is thrilled.   Sharing my projects with my business group instilled some interest in several members.   I haven’t found the perfect cabinet for one particular client yet; but in my first voyage into the unknown, I found several interesting pieces—one I wish I had someone in mind for, as it is the perfect piece for painting.

There are pieces I would not paint because they are in perfect shape and of a high quality and value.  I found such a piece the other day; but in the same shop, I did find a great project piece.  It has seen a lot of wear and tear, and the wood is not special.  This piece is in good enough shape to continue to be useful and pretty, but it needs to be painted.  I realize that painted furniture doesn’t appeal to everyone, but if you can imagine it, it can be fantastic and even playful.  Sometimes an old piece just looks dowdy and people cannot see the possibilities beyond its present condition.  I have heard more times than I can count, someone saying, “That piece is just ugly; my grandmother had one in her dining room, it’s so dark.”

The piece that I would paint would make a great cabinet in a kitchen, dining room, even a bedroom, bath or study-family room.  As you can see from the picture, the upper cabinet has glass doors, making it ideal as a display cabinet in a little girl’s room for her treasures, while the lower drawers are perfect for storing clothes, sheets or blankets, even toys.  Painting it a lively color would make it a great focal point and useful for many years to come.

As a kitchen piece, you can store everyday dishes in the upper portion or special occasion pieces.  The drawers are always useful for flatware, serving pieces, platters and little used pieces that can be stored close by until needed.

In a bath, this cabinet would prove to be useful for storing pretty bath accessories and some colorful towels.  In a guest room, the cabinet would provide your guests some niceties for their overnight stay, including fresh towels, pretty soaps and bath salts, an interesting book and a scented candle, as  well as a place to unpack if they are staying more than one night. 

The obvious place for this piece is in the dining room, but painted a soft gray with a background color to compliment the rest of the room, it would show off favorite china, crystal or silver pieces.  Linen and silverware storage would make this a valuable piece to hang onto in a dining room.  Freshened up hardware would complete this piece.

In a study or family room, favorite tomes would be on display and kept dust free.  Lower drawers make hiding everyday necessities—like the remotes, a lap blanket and important papers being reviewed— which the family may not want exposed all the time.  Also, as family room furniture, this piece would make a nice display cabinet for small antique toys and games can be stored in the drawers.  Just think of the possibilities; they are nearly endless.

Patio Furniture

With the summer-like temperatures we have been experiencing, people are beginning to think of outside activities.  The big box stores haul out the patio furniture in January to coordinate with retail department stores displaying bathing suits, preempting spring altogether.  While I am still holding out for a bit of winter and the possibility of some much needed rain, I’m considering washing my windows to bring the rainy season.

My latest project has to do with patio furniture and yet another “great find”, for my client in Burbank.  She has a pair of decorative metal chairs and a matching settee.  I have found some pretty outdoor fabric for cushions to compliment the newly painted seating set.  I suspected the pieces were aluminum because they were so light, but the cross pieces or stretcher bars were pretty rusted, indicating they must be a steel or alloy of some kind.  The chairs have been painted several colors, over the years, so a good clean up was necessary.  

I started with sandblasting off the worst of the paint; I was sure it would take ten years off my face, since I didn’t have a full face shield, only goggles, but alas, no such luck.  After getting the worst of the old paint off, I took them to the patio to be pressured washed and sun dried.  

The next day, I began the spray painting, which is a big improvement, since the coverage is consistent and the previous painting was not; the previous coverage consisted of several sloppy hand painted attempts.

People often ask me what is the best choice for outdoor furniture and most cost effective.  Those questions that have no easy answer, since budgets vary and use considerably different.  In general, teak is a good product with little or no maintenance, if you do not mind the natural aging of teak to a silver gray color.  All you need to do is a light sanding and enjoy.  

If you would prefer the look of new teak, you can use a teak oil to maintain the look of new teak.  You can add colorful cushions if you like.  Teak is a fairly heavy wood, which is good if you are using it in a windy area; it is not likely going to be tossed about your space in a hearty wind.

Powder coated aluminum is a good choice for a lasting finish, but like any metal, the arms and seat will be hot if left in the sun.  Heavier metals will be more stable in any kind of weather, but heavy to move for repositioning.  Again, colorful cushions add to the beauty of these pieces.

There are pros and cons to any choice, expense is usually a deciding factor—which brings me to the second-hand choice.  You may not get exactly what you envision for your patio space, but if cost is an issue, you should take a look at used pieces, wood or metal.  A little sanding and paint could net you a very satisfactory seating arrangement.

Upholstery for outdoor furniture, is usually a fairly costly expense, since outdoor fabrics rate a premium price, due to their durability.  Check to see what the fade expectations are when considering upholstery.  You might find ready made aftermarket pieces that will fit your furniture and satisfy your needs.  Custom is expensive because it is custom, that never changes.  Of course if you are handy with a sewing machine, you can make your own and save about one half the cost; the fabric cost will be about the same as the labor cost, which can make re-upholstery an expensive choice.

If you are considering second hand furniture— a big cost savings, and re-upholstery or ready-made cushions, you might come out ahead.  Your decision should be based in a similar manor to furnishings inside; how much will you use it, will you store it in the off season or purchase covers to extend its life, how long do you expect to have the furniture?  All questions you should consider when making your purchase.

Some Criteria I Use for Painting Furniture

Many people find it difficult to paint wood furniture, and I completely understand the dilemma. To paint or not to paint can be a difficult decision, so here are a few guidelines I use when making that decision.

Number one is usually the quality of the piece. For example is it in good to excellent condition? Is it a fine piece, an old piece? Is it a family heirloom? All of these questions should be asked and evaluated honestly. I do not posses fine museum quality antiques, but I have plenty of pieces considered to be antique. For the most part, I would prefer to restore them, or if in acceptable condition leave them as they are; but that is not to say I would not paint some of them under certain circumstances. Answering no to any of the above questions would eliminate my concerns about painting or not painting a piece.

When decorating a room, I look to see how “heavy” the feel is in the room. Usually, when there is a lot of wood, a room can appear to be dark and heavy, which is fine if you are looking for a cosy reading room or library like room. Too much wood can have the appearance of a cave; think of the wood paneled rooms of the 1960s and 70s, just add plaid upholstery and you can transform a room back in time. If you wish to add a lightness to a room, consider painting some of the wood pieces. Even painting the frame of an upholstered chair can lift the room, especially with new upholstery in an updated pattern or color.

The tea cart shown here required such a decision. My client has had it for probably 40+ years. It is solid oak, and it is in excellent condition; however, she felt it was too granny now and wanted a change. She is an artist with an eclectic style, which I love. Color is very important to her; with her dining room walls painted a pale blue, with lots of bright sunlight entering the room, she thought she would like to bring in some orange, the complimentary color to blue. I fully agreed, and we decided on Annie Sloan’s Chalk paint in Barcelona Orange, with a dark wax finish. It turned out beautifully and she loves it. She says it makes her happy instead of bringing her down, as it did before. It looks fantastic in the room, and no one would call this room a “granny room”.

I have painted, stripped, refinished and antiqued lots of furniture in my time; and I am always happy to see the change. A couple of years ago, I found an old, round, oak table in an antiques store. The base had been partially stripped and I could see that it was quarter sawn white oak, but had been painted white. There was another table, a reproduction, priced more than a hundred dollars higher than the table I was considering. When I returned to purchase the table, the reproduction was sold, lucky for me. Whoever bought it was either not aware of the quality of the older table or didn’t want to have to strip and refinish it. The round oak table comes in very handy when we have large sit down gatherings. It came with two leaves, and seats six to eight people, all for under $200— now that’s a bargain.

If you are faced with a painting decision, I recommend you get an estimate on both painting and restoring the piece. Cost can be a factor that helps you decide which to do. With respect to family heirlooms, I would check with family members outside of your immediate family to find a new home if it does not suit you or any immediate family member any longer. The age of a piece of furniture does not necessarily make it a valuable antique, so painting such a piece would not devalue it; besides, once a piece is painted, it can always be stripped and the natural wood restored.

Make an Entrance

I have been house shopping with a friend and have become aware of how many houses, old and new-er, open directly into the living space-- be it a dining room, kitchen or living room.  I find it much more pleasing to open a front door without exposing the living space to whomever is on the other side of the door.  

It is simple enough to create a “foyer” feeling from the front door, especially when the front door is off set from the center of the room into which it opens;  the homeowner thus has a bit of space in which to put up a screen or something to distract the eye, which protects the privacy of the home.  A simple piece of furniture can do the trick, creating a bit of a barrier between your living space and the person outside your door.  You can set up a hall tree or a table or a screen to add to the privacy. 

If you want to create such a screen, there are so many materials you can use, and you may have them around the house already.  Shutters that are no longer in service can be adapted into a useful screen by joining two or more together with reversible hinges; you can connect shutters that are the same width to make them taller as well.

There are plenty of uses for decorative screens, not just at the front door to make an entrance more private.  Screens can make a serve more than one purpose without the benefit of floor-to ceiling walls. A large room can be divided easily into multiple service areas with the clever use of furniture, screens or even sliding panels that attach to the ceiling.

Large sized cube-type book or storage units make great room dividers, and the open cubbies can be filled with useful baskets or containers for last minute items you need before heading out the door, like gloves, hats or scarves.  You also can fill the cubbies with decorative items that suit your decor, an especially good way to display collections you may have as long as the scale is in keeping with the size of the cubby; remember tiny objects can become lost in large spaces.

Hanging a long fabric “screen” from a rod in a ceiling of a loft is an excellent way to create rooms within a large space.  This division can be achieved with a long drape, with a beautiful colorful piece of fabric, or a great textured piece, as simple as bamboo.  Lofts offer you lots of ways to create clever separations while allowing your space to remain open and airy, which after all is one of the great appealing factors in loft living.

A strategic chest, table or area rug can give a room a boundary, thus making the room feel more comfortable and oddly enough more spacious.  It is a misconception that placing furniture around the perimeter of a room will make the room feel larger; actually the opposite is true.  Floating a table, chest or folding screen will allow you some privacy at your entrance and actually might make your space feel a bit larger.

Contrast Adds Drama

While it is true that high contrast will add drama to a room, it is wise to consider how you use contrast.  A painted accent wall is fairly easy to change should you decide you cannot live with the drama the color created, but a floor or a tiled backsplash or shower enclosure is a bit more complicated in terms of expense and time invested.

When you are considering changing something more permanent in your home, like flooring and counter surfaces as well as backsplashes and tub/shower enclosures, try less contrast.  You will be living with these changes for a long time and a classic surface in these areas will serve you better.

Think of all the homes built in the early to mid-20th Century; for the most part, these homes were built with hardwood flooring.  Over the years, as wall to wall carpet became popular, these floors were covered with soft, colorful carpet.   Today, that carpet is considered undesirable and old fashioned.  Carpets in older homes are routinely being  pulled up, exposing those now treasured hardwood floors.  If the wood is in good condition, a simple sanding, staining and fresh coat of polyurethane to preserve its beauty for another half century or more.

Choosing a new color for the floor will be important and fairly permanent.  While it may be tempting to add or stain a border or pattern, think in terms of long term use and how you will feel about such a contrast as a wide, light or dark border verses a solid-colored floor.  An exception to this rule, would be if the floors cannot be successfully refinished, but can be painted instead; then I’d say, go ahead and paint a fun harlequin pattern or boarder.  While the traditional black and white pattern is always popular, you can use softer colors for less contrast, like shades of grey or spa colors like blues and greens; even shades of beige would be a calm and peaceful color combination. 

Tile and natural stone is an expensive and fairly permanent surface for kitchens and baths.  Tempting are the bright colors and fun patterns, but again, consider how long it will be in style, staying classic is wiser.

Unless your home is clearly in a particular style like a Spanish Revival or Spanish Colonial, the use of colorfully patterned tiles might be a bit risky.  Adding cute “accent tiles” to a kitchen backsplash will date your renovation very quickly and reduce its value at resale time.

If using these colorful and playful tiles is something you have your heart set on, use them in less permanent ways.  For instance you can make tile trivets and hang them on the backsplash to add some personality without risking the need to tear it out once you tire of it.

When considering high contrast, think about how long you will live in this home and consider the home’s style.  High contrast will give you high drama, but you can enjoy soft contrast too and it is often easier to live with in the long term.