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.

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.

Tempered Glass Bits

Several years ago, a glass shower door in our home spontaneously shattered.  What a racket!  Thankfully we were downstairs, and no one was near the door when it exploded.  Sadly, it was a week out of warranty.  The glass, was just bunches of broken bits, none of it was sharp because the glass was tempered.  Once we swept up all the bits, my question was, “what to do with it all?”  It was a pile of shiny, sparkly glass, like diamonds, I needed to find a use for it.

I have seen small bags of tempered glass in craft stores; now I had a five gallon bucket of it.  Christmas was the next holiday on the calendar, and I thought of ice, which made me think the glass was a good substitute.  My idea was to use the glass as a base for a small vignette: a cardinal bird, a bit of greenery and a nest sitting on the glass “ice”.

Earlier this year, my daughter and I were planting small container gardens using succulents, and I brought along some small stones, both natural and colored, and some of the tempered glass for added interest in the gardens.  I liked the contrast of colors and textures of the plants and glass in the copper colander, I used as a container.  The succulents can take the heat of the sun reflecting off the glass in the small gardens.

I have a simple glass container to which I added some beach glass from Kauai, and have a few pairs of earrings hanging from the rim; I added some tempered glass pieces for interest.  You could add layers of clear and semi-clear stones to a tall, glass cylinder vase; the stones would give your creation an interesting texture.  You might add the vase to a vignette.

I added some of the glass bits to a tall vase, with a single gerbera daisy; the combination makes a beautiful, simple statement.  A grouping of similar vessels would make a pretty centerpiece for a spring or summer table setting.

A “found” medium can create a fun opportunity to spark ideas for its use.

Salvaged Goods—New Uses

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bookcases for an Empty Corner

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reclaimed Wood Shelves

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

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

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

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

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

Semi-Custom-Made Blinds

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Repurposing—Again!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A Pretty Utility Cabinet

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.  

Message Boards

There are message boards of every size, shape, color and material, but here are a few ideas you can make yourself— probably out of materials you have around the house.

Several years ago, my husband and I did a modest remodel of our kitchen. We took down the over-the-island cabinets and found another home for them; I love recycling! Next was the kitchen island itself; made of solid oak, it was hard for me to simply put its parts into the dumpster. I did have to retrieve some as my handy hubby was quick to toss them. I made a message board from one of the doors by simply painting the inside panel with chalkboard paint— that was the simplest thing ever. As a postscript, we have used nearly every piece of that oak island for a variety of projects, including a sample door for paint colors to my clients what painted oak might look like; it has been a huge success.

You could use this idea on a cabinet door that is currently in your kitchen, as long as it is within easy reach and convenient to change as needed. Another idea would be to paint a window pane or two on a window that is facing a less than attractive view, with chalkboard paint, again as long as it was within easy reach.

My next idea is to use an old picture frame with glass. I gave one away recently, then I had this idea; it figures! I went to Goodwill and spent $4.99 on a frame measuring 16X20 inches. Next I painted the frame, I used black as it is the easiest to use in my kitchen. I put the glass on a piece of grid paper and wrote out Santa’s List, Naughty and Nice and then some names (fictitious of course). I used dry erase pens, but you could use any kind of marker that will stick to glass and easily wipe off. Rubbing alcohol works well to remove markers.  

This message board is further made interesting by placing some left over Anagluypta or embossed wallpaper, to give the board some texture. You could use any type of wallpaper, wrapping paper, or rice paper that you might have on hand. Of course, you could find a backing paper that suite the room in which you wish to use your message board, e.g., children’s bedroom, playroom, or home office. My suggestion would be to use a pale-colored design to avoid competing with your messages. Any color will work as long as it is pale. You can find great paper choices at stationary stores, art stores and of course on line.

Once you have completed your board, find an appropriate place to hang or lean it up against a wall. The nice thing about using a glass surface is that it is easily changed with the season, or just a fun place to doodle for small children while you are busy in your kitchen or office.

Santa's List

Chalk Painted Cabinet Door

The Senses and Design

We are fortunate when we can enjoy a combination of positive effects on several of our senses at the same time. In the world of design, our senses of sight and touch offer pleasures, but our sense of smell is a likely third; it is oh so satisfying when flowers and greenery produce color, scent and texture all at once.

Bringing the outdoors in is a goal for most of us living in a temperate climate. While I am not a landscaper, I do know what I love to see and smell and Salvia Clevelandi, Winifred Gilman is a favorite for my eyes. I love it in the garden near an open window or door, so I can take in its lovely scent whenever a breeze comes up.

I like to make good use of plants in decor by using the real thing, whenever possible. Even dried plants can give off a pleasant fragrance in dried arrangements, or tied in a bundle and hung in a closet or shower. I like to use eucalyptus branches in these areas as well, especially hung in a shower; the steamy atmosphere helps bring their sweet, fresh scent into the surrounding areas-- for me, truly heaven sent.

Even a particularly lovely piece of furniture that needs protection from water spillage can be enhanced with a dry arrangement of local native or succulents as a centerpiece. One should never water a succulent on a table top; it should always be watered sparingly and on a surface that can be easily wiped up. Once the water has settled in the container, there is no danger of leaching moisture onto the surface of the furniture. An arrangement can sit for quite a long time, and infrequent watering will make a happy situation for both plant and table top.

Lavender is another favorite, both in the garden and in the house. These plants do well in our dry climate and are a favorite to dry and use as a sachet for drawers. Let me mention rosemary as well, which adds another sense, the sense of taste. Rosemary’s flavor adds to many savory dishes. Growing theses plants makes it easy enough to snip off small branches to bring into the house frequently, to add to an arrangement of roses or to use all by themselves. 

One of the great characteristics of these plants is their structure. They offer so many opportunities to display them creatively. They look lovely against a plain wall, or one enjoy the shadows they cast in the evenings. In addition, they bring fragrance to the room and the soul. With their color, scent, texture and taste, they have the makings of a long lasting and beautiful arrangement.

Sleepy Bear Cabinet Grows Up

Over the decades, useful and once treasured furniture pieces often get pushed aside for newer pieces, much like toys in the toy box. These pieces are associated with fond memories, and those memories make them hard to easily cast off; so we often find space for them in a garage or attic. The furniture piece in a garage can hold all sorts of things and so becomes useful, but mostly forgotten, in its new home. Small houses are always in want of more storage, and re-thinking the possibilities for an old piece of furniture can yield a better use for rediscovered items.  

Here is where this story begins--again. The cabinet lived in the garage, gathering dust, while storing gardening tools, seed packets, and a few moving blankets, along with some outdoor decor items. Adding more square footage to a master bedroom afforded more wall space to accommodate the cabinet inside to store more grown up things than when both the girl and the cabinet were young. Gone are the onesies, diapers, shirts and shorts and a few little dresses and caps; now the cabinet stores travel supplies and extra bathroom supplies; and a few shelves added will once again store shirts and shorts and possibly a sun cap or two.

The cabinet needed a good cleaning. Then We removed the screws that held the massive handles, meant for small, chubby hands. We filled the holes with a wood filler so we could select more modern drawer pulls without having to match the spacing of the old holes. We lightly sanded the piece, then primed and painted it a neutral color. We found fun drawer pulls at Anthropology, for a more sophisticated look.

The harder decision was what to do with the fuzzy, sleepy bear decal on the cabinet. At first, we thought we could cut out the panel and insert a glass panel with either a sanded glass or another decorative style of glass. The problem was that whatever is stored inside will show to some degree through the glass. Next, we remembered antiquing old mirrors long ago, and thought that might be a good solution, to reflect some light, while obscuring the contents of the cabinet; however today’s mirrors are constructed of better grades of silver or reflective material than days of old; today’s mirrors do not degrade nearly as easily as they used to, so we scrapped that plan. Next, we used some Anaglypta or embossed wallpaper, which is paintable and adds texture and interest to an otherwise pretty plain surface. This type of wall covering was first used in Victorian homes by inventor Fredric Walton, who patented linoleum floor covering in 1860.

Today’s embossed wall coverings are much softer and easier to work with and will not harden nearly as hard as they used to in olden days. Once we cut the piece and glued in place, it was painted a light gray paint and added a silver glaze to achieve an antique look.

Now the piece has an entirely new and fresh look and will serve for many decades to come. Happy memories now live inside while serving a modern girl with modern needs.

Sleepy Bear Before

Sleepy Bear All Grown Up

Easter Egg Garden

When I was a child, the markets sold cottage cheese in cartons decorated for Easter, and my family bought the cheese in these cartons.  We eagerly consumed the cheese  so we could use the cartons for little Easter Baskets to play with until the big day and the fancy baskets arrived Easter morning.  We would fill them with cotton and sprinkle bird seed on top and water them; soon we had our own little grass gardens in which the Easter Bunny left a brightly colored egg.  

On a smaller scale, we would take an egg shell and press cotton balls into the largest half, again sprinkle either bird seed or grass seed in the cotton soil and water it.  We would tend our egg gardens daily and report the progress of the seeds that would sprout.  It was a fascinating lesson for us as small children to be able to watch germination on a daily basis.

There is still time to begin a small garden of grass before Easter, if you start right away.  Naturally, you can use any small basket or vessel that is water tight, fill it with soil or cotton and sprinkle either grass seed or bird seed on top and water.  There is no need to bury the seeds; they will sprout sitting on top of the cotton or soil.  Place the egg or basket garden near a window and keep the soil moist; then watch the seeds grow before your eyes.  Once you have a healthy egg or basket of greens, you can add them to your centerpiece along with some decorated eggs or candy eggs. 

You also can place each half of an egg shell garden into an egg cup and place one at each setting on your holiday table as a party favor.  Add a toothpick with a small card along with each guest’s name, and you will have a clever place card sitting in a field of greens.  An entire centerpiece could be fashioned from eggs, grasses, baskets and your imagination.  A few spring candles added to the mix will help illuminate your table.

What I love about this tradition is how simple it is and how it helps connect children to the growing process, albeit in its most simple form.  It is also one of the least messy projects you can do with very young children.  Who knows, it may inspire little gardeners; and you will benefit from their enthusiasm for years to come.

Make a Eucalyptus Tree for the Winter Season

Every year, I see so many clever and creative Christmas decor ideas that embrace traditional styles as well as traditional with a twist.  While I love new ideas in the world of decor, I am traditional at heart.  Here is a tutorial on a completely original design I created more than 30 years ago: a lighted tree with natural eucalyptus leaves, and topped with your favorite tiny tree topper.

While this is on the easy, it is tough on your fingers, so you may want to use a thimble.  

You will need:  

Styrofoam cone (white or green)

Short string of 25-50 small electric lights (white or green wires)

Hair pins, not bobbie pins ( find them in beauty supply shops)

Eucalyptus branches

Thimble

Scissors or garden clippers

Small beads, either multi-colored, red or white or natural seeds from your garden

Tree topper, a small bird, angel, bow, or star, whatever you wish.

First, open your short (25) string of lights and begin winding at the bottom of the cone, securing them with the hair pins.  Continue winding them fairly close together until you reach the top of your cone, leaving one light near the top of your tree.  You should have a length of cord at the bottom to plug into an electric outlet when you are finished.  It is always a good idea to test the string of lights to make sure they are in working order.

Once your lights are secure, begin cutting (using garden clippers or strong scissors) the eucalyptus branches into short stems; I use the two leaves on opposite sides of the stem securing the stem by pushing a hairpin into the cone.  You can use a glue gun instead of hair pins.  Use the larger leaves on the bottom of the cone and gradually smaller ones the smaller ones as you go up the cone to the top of your tree.

This is a fairly long process, and this is where you may want to have a thimble to help push the pins into the cone.  As you get near the top of the cone, the pins will be too long to go straight in, so angle them downward, so they don’t stick out of the sides of the cone.  You will soon see how the leaves fit around the lights, covering the cords and filling in the cone.  You will want the leaves to be close together for a full look.

Once you are satisfied with the density of the tree, you may begin using your beads, pods or tiny decorations to adorn the tree; this is a very subjective process, so place them as you wish, again using the hairpins.

Your tree topper is the last piece to add, so use your hairpin to secure it.  Find a table top, or corner for your lighted creation and enjoy the fruits of your labor and the season.

This tree creation can be a winter fixture, by using natural seeds or just white beads, or red, like you see in nature.  I keep mine up through January, or throughout winter to brighten the gloomy days of winter.

The Search Continues

The build-out for my current client is not limited to a new bathroom, but also a seven- foot extension of the master bedroom.  Having the additional space in the bedroom allows for a cabinet on the other side of the bed for some much needed storage and surface space.

The need for this furniture piece took us back to the Rose Bowl in search of a hefty bedside cabinet.  Not wanting a matched pair made the search both easy and more difficult as sellers are less likely to break up a set; although it is always a good idea to ask, you might get lucky.

This time we planned to paint the surface so we were less concerned with the species of wood and its condition.  I am always surprised to see “shabby chic” still popular, but it does not alter our goal for a painted surface.  

The piece we settled on had some pretty feminine applique details that I mistakenly thought would be simple to pry off with a putty knife.  Apparently, a century ago, the glues they used were pretty strong; in addition,  the appliques were secured with tiny brass pins.  We needed to resort to heavier tools than we found in the pink tool box; we needed a man’s tools for this job!  The appliques came off but not always cleanly; some of the oak splintered off leaving more to sand off with an electric sander.

My client chose this piece  because of its size and storage capabilities and because of the secret compartment!  When making choices from flea markets, one needs to be certain the piece will fit the space and needs; it is wise to be careful, and always carry a tape measure since such pieces are not returnable.  Getting the furniture from the stall to one’s vehicle is the task of the buyer.  We were not well prepared for this part; the oak was much heavier than we anticipated, and we were without a strong guy to carry the for us.

We struggled carrying the awkward piece through the crowds, having to stop and rest periodically.  At one point, we had the great good fortune to stop in front of a stall where the kind owner offered to loan us her homemade dolly if we would leave a driver license.  She apologized for needing to keep something of value as she had been burned by people in the past not respecting her generosity.  My eternal thanks to this wonderfully kind woman.

To make a simple portable dolly requires on a couple of 2x4’s nailed to form a platform and covered with a remnant piece of carpet.  Four heavy duty casters attached with some screws to the underside, and one is in business. 

All Season Outdoor Lighting

One of Southern California’s best assets is the weather, allowing homeowners to enjoy many months of outdoor living.  Add an outdoor fire pit, and you can have smores nearly all year long.  While lighting is an essential necessity inside, it is an added benefit outside to increase the ambience of your outdoor space.

Having mood lighting installed is often an expensive endeavor, especially if you have a large area to cover;  but you can select a small social area and create your own lighting, if only around a small fire pit with some comfortable seating.

If you have an established patio area with covering, you are nine-tenths of the way there already.  All you need is a little mood lighting to finish the space.  A pergola can be fitted with a simple string of clear lights.   If set on a dimmer, they are especially useful for different activities; board games require more light than enjoying a glass of wine on a summer’s eve.  

Add some pendant lighting above a table, and you can add additional light and opportunities for capturing the right mood.  The example I have here is one that you can make on your own with a little skill and some caution while handling the sharp edges of the pressed metal.

Sheets of pressed metal can be easily obtained at your local home center, and you will find a variety of patterns from which to choose.  Again, I caution you to wear gloves when you are handling at these sheets as they are extremely sharp and cut like a knife with unless your hands are protected.

It is best to have a professional install an exterior socket unless you are experienced in working with electricity.  Once the electrical box is in place, it is fairly simple for a homeowner to purchase a pendant kit from the home center and hang them from the roof or ceiling of your pergola.

Creating a metal shade requires cutting the metal sheets with an angle grinder or similar tool.  A rigid, 90-degree edge is necessary for the shade.  We created a shade using a piece of one-eighth inch thick, right-angle aluminum stock as a bending edge and anchoring it on the edge of a workbench with clamps. to form a sharp angle for the edges of the shade.  Then we gently hammered the material into a right angle bend.  Next, we determined the size of the shade.  We used three different sizes for aesthetic reasons.  Once you have formed three of the bends, we brought the two remaining edges together and clamped them.  We applied epoxy glue to  hold the edges together.  For the top where the socket goes, we used the metal frame from an off-the-shelf paper lantern from IKEA.  We discarded the paper part of the lantern and simply epoxied the metal shade to the lamp frame.  We used one-hour epoxy, and the shades have been in service outside for more than a year, with no problems.

Hanging or pendant lighting can be an asset outside in many places.  Think of highlighting an area under a tree--which might require some clever electrical work, and add a bench for seating.   A lantern overhead in an arched trellis at an entry to a garden would be particularly inviting to guests arriving or leaving your home.

All you need to do is take a walk around your property and see where you could imagine having a special seating area and add some light.