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.

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.

For the Love of Horses

Last month, we visited historic Leesburg, VA, and toured one of the early plantations rich in history, and very inventive in ideas still practiced today.  We began our tour in what was the Carriage House, built in 1903, nearly 100 years after the planation was established  by George Carter.  The plantation was originally built in the Federal/Georgian style, but Carter renovated the house in the 1820s to reflect the more “modern style” of the day, Greek Revival.

Oatlands Plantation

It was the Carriage House that held the most fascination for me.  It was our first stop, and it was the site of the visitor center.  The carriage house was a later improvement to the plantation, and I was impressed with how well the horses were treated.  The building was well built with heavy plank doors; the tenons extended through the styles for a fit that would last a thousand years, I think, however, it appears that there was a resident mouse that has created its own entrance.

I was studying the tile floors and taking pictures when one of the ladies in the gift shop pointed out the same tiles were in the walkway; had I seen them, she asked.  The walkway was the path for the huge draft horses that worked the plantation, leading from outside into the horse stalls.  The thick tiles, made of  local clay, were a typical rectangle shape, albeit a bit larger that a traditional brick of today.  The bricks in the walkway were not laid in the typical fashion showing the broad side of the tile, but instead were planted deep, so to speak, with only the short end exposed, adding strength to the tile.  No wonder they have held up so well.

The tile that bordered the washing area for the horses was perforated, and there is a gentle slope toward the center to a drain.  I think the horses were groomed in style.  Furthermore, each horse had its own stall and every stall had a window!  Now that was some forward thinking.

One of the things that I found most interesting, was the birthing room, now part of the gift shop.  The birthing room had two over two transom windows; instead of plain glass each pane was a mirror.  When the transom was open, it angled the reflecting mirror so that the birthing mare could deliver in private, but the caretakers could watch the birth and be at the ready in case there was need for intervention.  The window-mirrors served two purposes: one, to add much needed fresh air and two, provide a viewing station for the caretakers.

It took a farm boy friend of ours to suggest an answer to our question about the curious wooden structure attached to the wall, near the cast iron water pipe.  The structure had what looked like little shelves near the base of a three-spoke-like structure.  The shelves slide out, and the three structures can feed into one.  Apparently this feature was for three different types of grain that could be regulated by pulling out the “shelves”, allowing grain to flow into the center section.  I surmise that different horses required different diets, and this was the most efficient way to deliver the various grains.  The construction really was a work of art and for its day, I’d say, was very clever.

Today, the carriage house is host to many activities that continue to support this fine old plantation.  It offers afternoon teas, and people can hire the Carriage House for bridal teas and receptions of all sorts.  It is a beautiful old plantation, and it demonstrates how to keep history alive, and still stay current for more than two hundred years.

Refinishing with Stain

My current project is another round oak table.  My clients were impressed with the painted oak table that I did several months ago and talked with me about changing their oak table.  This family’s style is not country, but the eat in kitchen table was pure country, and completely incongruent with the style of the rest of the house.  The table’s condition was another source of frustration: its stained top was chipping, and there were bare spots, and bubbles left the surface anything but smooth.  We had talked over the years about what to do with the table, and replacing it was considered;  but the table had sentimental value, since it had been the table my client had grown up with from childhood, and she wanted to hang onto it for that reason. 

While the clients both liked the painted oak table, that was the inspiration for their table; we discussed the durability of a painted surface verses a stained surface. Staining was the most practical application for the heavy use this table receives on a daily basis.  A family of five can dish out a lot of wear and tear.  These clients’ have different circumstances from the client with the with the painted oak table, so staining was the right option.  

A stained oak table is what they had, again way too country for this modern family.  Since the black painted table was the inspiration for changing their country oak to something more modern, we talked about staining the table black or ebony.  Oak, stained or painted black gives it a decidedly more modern look.  

I checked out the stains offered and bought a name brand I have used for years in an ebony color.  Once I stripped, sanded, and washed the table, it was ready for the ebony stain.  Fortunately, I stained the leaf first.  The stain went on black and solid, but once the requisite time passed, when I wiped off the excess stain, I was disappointed to see the color was hardly what I had hoped for.  The brown color of the wood was still quite evident, while the more open grain of the oak absorbed the stain nicely, giving me the blackness I wanted.  I followed directions and allowed the stain to dry, and applied a couple of more coats of stain, not getting anywhere near the color I expected.  Additionally, I knew the wood would not accept any more stain, since the more open black grain was “weeping” out bubbles of stain.  

This process took days to work through, and resulting in more research.  I have been painting and staining furniture since I was a teenager, and I have used a variety of stains and paints; but times change—and so do products.  In California, many of the products of my youth are no longer available here.  I decided to do some online research and tried some home-grown ideas, like soaking steel wool in plain white vinegar; the color of the vinegar does not change, but there is a chemical reaction that affects the tannin in wood, and that will make it black or dark gray—not quite black enough for my goal, but interesting just the same.

I went to a salvage yard in downtown Los Angeles and talked with a man there who showed me what he uses, another familiar name brand stain I have used in the past.   After testing this new stain on the underside of the leaf, I was delighted to see the results would be perfect!  This brand was much more viscous; after only one coat, I knew would give the result I sought. 

After stripping off what I could of the first failed attempt to stain the leaf, I sanded and washed the surface.  I applied the new stain to the base as well as the leaf.  I saved the top for last, wanting to do all my experimenting on the base and leaf.

I used an oil based finish of the same brand that I felt would be the best under the circumstances; however the weather turned and drying times took days to get to the point I could lay the first coat of finish.  Having to wait at least 4 hours between coats means that it will take another day at least to finish this project. 

Once there are sufficient coats of finish, this table will serve the family well for many years, giving them the modern look they want, while preserving the sentimental value of the old oak table of my client’s youth

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.

New Life for an Old Bird Cage

A few weeks ago, we took a short trip to Phoenix, AZ.  Which gave me another opportunity to explore some different shops than I have here in Southern California.  My friend and I headed to  a little enclave of antiques stores.  Some specialized in painted furniture, others offered what my parents and now I would term just junk.  In keeping with today’s trends, there even was a shop dedicated to “man caves”, featuring all things guys collect.  However, that was not our favorite shop.

We felt like we had hit the mother lode at the first shop, which was charming without being overcrowded, and the items were very well priced; we’ll be going back!  Both my friend and I made several purchases including old books to clever signs.  My favorite find was a beautiful antique Victorian bird cage.

I had been looking at several bird cages that this shop offered; however, the proprietor had added to one cage what I’m sure she felt were improvements, but not to my eye.  While I was contemplating how to remove all the chandelier crystals and old fringed paper and then the paint, my eye traveled to another cage with less requiring less work.  I had pretty much decided on the second cage.  However, when I headed upstairs, I spotted the beauty pictured here!  Immediately I was reminded of great grandmother’s cage hanging in her kitchen.  She had a bright yellow canary that sang the most cheerful song each morning when presented with his daily  piece of toast.  My kids fondly remember “Dicky Bird”.

While I considered adding a small bird to my cage, I thought better of it, when I considered how much entertainment or terror it might provide for my own Sylvester the Cat and Tweety Bird; so, I thought a plant would be a wiser choice.

The bird cage itself is solid brass with fine brass mesh around the lower portion to keep seeds from becoming a mess on the floor.  The pretty harp stand was simply painted a gold, I’m sure to simulate  brass.  I decided that painting it black would be more authentic, and not distract from the beauty of the brass.

The cage bears a small brass plate above the door with the manufacturer’s name,  “Hendryx”.   A little searching online revealed that Andrew B. Hendryx moved his company to New Haven, Conn. in 1879, to continue his business of manufacturing fine brass products.  My cage is a good example of a Victorian era cage that also bears a made in the U.S.A label.

I haven’t decided yet where I will place the cage— probably in my office— but there are many possibilities.  I’m just thrilled to have found it and will enjoy many years of imagining its history.  You just never know what you might find when you are not looking for anything in particular.

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.

Glorious Flowers Inside or Outside

I love flowers.  I love gardens— local, in the islands and abroad; I will seek out gardens wherever I am.  Sadly, I am only a “fair weather gardener”, that is, give me a lovely day of moderate temperature and no wind, and I am happy to be outside raking, trimming and planting.   Having flowers inside and out is one of my favorite pleasures.  Fortunately, we have access to cut flowers from markets and discount stores as well as local nurseries.

My favorite colors are on the cool side of the color wheel.  While I love all colors, I have been always drawn to pretty blues, greens, purples and lavenders.  As a child, my father would plant blue flowers for me in the shady planter under the bedroom window by the elm tree.  I loved spring, when he would plant my favorite Cineraria, a member of the Pericallis genus; there are some pinks in the family as well.

This year when the nursery had pots of Cinerarias, I decided I could keep one inside near a south window.  Oh what glory can be had for only six dollars!  I have enjoyed this potted pant every day and it has the promise of many, many more weeks of bloom.  I often buy a bunch of mixed flowers or a single variety to lift my spirits during the year, but none have brought me as much joy as my old favorite.

Adding living plants and cut flowers to your decor is one of the least expensive yet most gratifying things you can do.   Like paint, the bright blooms are instantly rewarding and much less work than paint.  Better yet, you can move them around the house wherever you need a pop of color.

Orchids are another great indoor plant that can brighten any room.  I have had some amount of success in getting mine to re-bloom, but heaven only knows how—  just  lucky, I think.  Water, light and a light feeding is all I’ve done.  There are mysteries around some of my orchids, some re-bloom; others have not.  I am being patient.  Don’t be too hard on yourself, if you have received a beautiful blooming orchid and feel like the poor plant is doomed to a short life; maybe it just needs a new room, different light or a splash of fertilizer.   Orchids have a fairly long bloom period, so they can easily perform in whatever room you want for an event, then move them again to their “happy place”.

Lucky are you, who can have cutting gardens on your property, but others should not despair.  Blooms are readily available from many sources.  Enjoy the color.  Fortunately, there is no shortage of flowers.

Another Family Project

Before

After

This article could be called “how to install a slate floor in the kitchen and laundry room, or what our family did over the Christmas holiday.” Like most families, we have some holiday traditions. Of late, our traditions could be titled, “House Crashers, the Holiday Edition— Year Three.”

Several years ago, our daughter’s house needed a new roof; and our visiting son wanted to try his hand at roofing—again. He bought his sister her own pink tool belt and matching hard hat. Last year, dear old dad was finishing the master bath, which included tile; this project was another one on which our son wanted a refresher course— with the addition of building a new fence. This year, the task was to remove old kitchen flooring, and replace with a ton of slate—-hohoho, oh what fun we had.

The first day was very rewarding. Demolition is usually a fun time; and with all hands on deck, we weren’t disappointed. Watching brother and sister work together as adults was its own reward— the bickering, of their childhood and teen years was gone; they were a team!

We finally uncovered the original 1930s linoleum floor in an Arts and Crafts pattern. Seeing the original flooring made more sense of the odd, green back splash tile; that is another project— not sure it will be a holiday one, though.  

Over the decades, there had been at least three floors laid, so getting down to the original was pretty exciting; it was like an archeological dig. Finding the odd nails used to secure the more recent subfloor was quite an experience; well, the removal of them at least, was quite an experience. There were hundreds and hundreds of them, and each one had to be pulled out using a rocking motion with channel lock pliers. So many nails and suddenly so few hands on deck!

Next was leveling the old sagging floor. We used a common leveling compound, a semi-liquid substance that seeks its own level and hardens to concrete. For the most part, this worked fine, and we moved onto matching sub-floors of decades ago and new construction, and adding some new plywood. That done, the backer-board went down, more leveling and then finally thin set and tiles.

Our daughter chose a natural slate. The pieces are gaged, meaning the underside is level, but the upper or show-side have the natural characteristics of slate. The look is very textured, which is what she wanted. The pattern she chose was a herringbone using 12X24 tiles. Larger tiles are in some ways easier to use; at least they cover a greater area in a shorter amount of time, win-win, but they are heavy. Thankfully, we were not covering a banquet hall, only a modest kitchen and laundry/service porch area.

Once the tile was secured, we used a stone enhancer to bring the slate up in color— that is to make it more black, less dark grey. We used a very thin grout line and used a very dark charcoal grout to lessen the contrast between the tiles and grout, giving the floor a more cohesive look.

We centered the herringbone on the back door, since that is the sightline from the living and dining rooms. Next, we’ll have to get the baseboards replaced, but that is another day. It is a beautiful floor and will last a lifetime, at least mine!

Not a job for the feint of heart or back, that is for sure; we did meet some new friends with this exercise: Aleve and Aleve PM.

Stenciling a Subtle Design

I have not done stenciling myself, so you can imagine how excited I was to learn that my daughter had decided to tackle this project on her own. We had talked about it and discussed colors and where it would be effective— the whole process— but I left it up to her to do her own creating. She will admit, it took her some time to gain the courage to jump in, and then the job had to be put on hold. I know how hard it is to get back to a project once it has been postponed mid-way through.

Her newly built bathroom was nearly complete, that is to say it was pretty and has been functional for some time, but she wanted the commode area to have a little design in and of itself. Her plan is to add some shelves and baskets over the tank for more storage, but before that, she wanted a simple trellis design stenciled onto the wall directly behind the commode.

The first thing she did was plan where the stencil would begin and mark it on the wall with a light pencil; then, with an all purpose, temporary fixative to hold the stencil pattern to the wall, she began. She used paint same color as the walls, except the stencil paint was a high gloss, while the walls were a softer finish. With a small foam tool, she stamped the glossy paint over the stencil as far as the stencil would reach; then she carefully removed the stencil from the wall and allowed the paint to dry a bit; next, she repositioned the stencil with the fixative and began the process over again.

The finished wall is so subtle and pretty, she said she was inclined to do all the walls, but she restrained her impulse and is happier with the end result. Covering all the walls would have detracted from some of the other pretty elements in the room. While the commode area is separated from the room in a manner of speaking, it isn’t the focal point; but it did need a bit of attention, and this detail is just right. The effect is not unlike seeing a shadow on the wall; sometimes you can see it and sometimes you are not sure it is there.

This is a project that she can be immensely proud of, and it is surprising how lovely it looks; it is a detail that is unexpected and therefore gives the room an added element of elegance. This technique can be used in many different ways, and a higher contrast can add more drama. You must decide how much of one effect over another you wish to add to a room or a portion of a room. This bathroom is a case of “less is more”.

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.

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Fall

Hand Made Halloween Cards

My Little Goblins

The Three Bandits

The seasons in Southern California certainly exist, but they change on more subtile terms than they do for our neighbors to the east. We embrace those subtile changes just the same. With Fall and Halloween upon us, I enjoy seeing many of the elaborate decorations people put up around their homes and front gardens; I do miss the little goblins that used to roam the streets, but I understand that safety is far more important.

My decorating for fall usually starts in September, but I am slipping. I have only just put out some fall decorations. One tribute to Halloween I do incorporate is a picture of my little goblins from more decades ago than they would prefer acknowledge. I keep the picture of them heading out to Trick or Treat in their cheap, drugstore-bought costumes (they insisted they wanted to be like the other kids), posed among some fall pumpkins and vines. The picture is part of my annual decor; it always appears somewhere in my home, not always in the same place—that is part of the fun of decorating!

I do have the good fortune to have a very talented cousin, and I made it to his special Halloween Card list several years ago. His cards are always handcrafted, and his imagination and talents are honorably displayed each year somewhere in my home. This year, I felt the black china cabinet was the perfect place to enjoy them; they stand out in spooky fashion against the black background.

Whatever your preference for fall might be, you should embrace what you have and love. Whether it is a few photographs or natural elements from your garden, you can always find a place to show off the fall season in your home. Naturally, candles enhance fall with their spicy scents and fall colors. Placing them around your favorite photographs, gourds and vines will bring you hours of delight as they flicker in the now cooler evenings coming earlier and earlier.

Wreaths are another favorite of mine. I have several on different doors and in windows around my house— inside and out. Your front porch is a perfect venue to welcome your guests. A wagon full of real or realistic pumpkins from the crafts store sitting on a bed of straw, along with branches from your trees and vines from your yard, will add to the authenticity of your display. Additionally, you can pop in treasures from your past here as well, like a goblin toy or trick or treat bucket your children carried.

If you have a collection of lanterns, your front porch is a good place to gather and display them, again, using natural branches, vines and pumpkins to complement your display. The lanterns can hold candles and safely bring beautiful light to you entry.

Remember, you have lots of memories stored away in your home. All you need to do is pull out the photo albums and frame a few favorites, bring your fall and winter throws and quilts out of storage, and add some natural elements to your design to create a uniquely personal fall display.

Estate Sale Shopping

Small chair as book stand

Every once in awhile, I like to shop an estate sale; most often, a company holds such a sale in interesting or easy-to-reach locales. Many of the pieces I have found at estate sales have been placed in rooms that have beenselected for them; however, from time to time, the pieces move from room to room.

Shopping estate sales is fun as long as you have an open mind and are willing to shop out of order, so to speak. I may go looking for something specific for one client and find something that I need for another client; the item has been on my radar for sometime, but has not yet presented itself, and then, there it is. I often find myself looking at a piece, wondering why it has caught my eye. My brain goes through its catalog of clients and needs until it hits me that the piece would be perfect for a specific person. I like to shoot a picture and text it to my client to let him or her decide if I should pick it up. At times, the client may want to stop by in persona and take a look or pass on it entirely.

Sometimes, when shopping with my daughter, we come across something that we do not actually need, but the piece draws us into considering it for one of our homes. Such was the case with the little chair pictured here. Estate sales often run for several consecutive days, the first being the most expensive day, because everything is at full price; the second and subsequent days offer 25%-50% off, and the third day may offer items up to 75% off. We found this little chair on the third day of the sale, making it a super bargain and hard to pass up. Also, with the inventory at its lowest, we actually saw the chair, since I’m not sure I saw it on the previous visit.

The chair is a sturdy little oak piece with nicely turned legs, but otherwise fairly plain and modest—a perfect piece for a small corner of a room. The chair is of standard height, but has petite dimensions; I imagine it was at one time a child’s chair. It found a home in the corner of my daughter’s bedroom just outside the bathroom. It can be employed as extra seating inside or out, for parties, I suppose; but for now she’s happy to have it hold a few books. There is no guarantee that it will remain in its present location, but the corner previously seemed a bit empty.

Estate sales can have everything and anything a person has collected over a lifetime. Many things are ordinary items we all have, but many interesting books, pieces of art, furniture, garden and garage items may be found as well. If you need extra serving pieces for buffet dinners, estate sales might be a perfect place to add to your collection. You will find an interesting collection of shoppers as well. It can be a fun and expensive day out for some or just an interesting day.