An update on the bathrooms!

Yesterday, an e-mail from someone looking for the perfect bathroom vanity reminded me that in a previous blog entry (see my entry from Feb 25, 2010), I promised to provide before and after photos of our bathroom projects. So, here they are!

The half bath we added has no ‘before’ photos because this was a brand new bathroom located where we once had a sort of butler’s pantry that was largely going unused. Although I am still missing the storage I had in the pantry’s cabinets, we couldn’t be happier with the new powder room! Because our house was built in 1888, it’s a bit quirky and doesn’t have rooms laid out the way most of us have come to expect. Plumbing wasn’t part of the original house, and when it was added, only one bathroom was put on the main floor. That would be okay, except that in our case, it was accessible ‘Jack and Jill’ style from both the kitchen and our master bedroom. This meant that everything from my husband’s shaving supplies to my nightie hanging on the back of the bedroom door was on full display for every guest who used the bathroom. Keeping the bathroom tidy and making sure the hamper wasn’t overflowing with dirty laundry was an ever-present challenge. In the photos below, you can see some of the choices we made for this bathroom. The bead board walls, pedestal sink, and black and white mosaic floor tiles are exactly what might have been installed in 1934 when plumbing was added to the house. To keep the room from looking too sterile, I chose a vibrant green color for the walls (Benjamin Moore’s “Georgian Green”, #HC-115 from their historic colors palette.) The mirror, from Pottery Barn, was a bit of a splurge at $279 but I love the way the brackets hold it off the wall so that it clears the cap molding on the bead board. Brushed nickel fixtures complete the look – clean, timeless, and cheerful.

The master bathroom underwent an enormous transformation. The ‘before’ pictures are so horrible, it’s hard to imagine that in 1974 when it was last remodeled, it was stylish and tasteful. Here are some photos of where we started….

Behind this ratty looking curtain, was this….

Here’s a close-up of the tile and shower floor…

They almost defy words! One last ‘before': photo shows our old vanity with its brown-swirled cultured marble top:

Wow! All that wood – it so…. 70’s!

For our new bath, we wanted to keep a shower stall, add a separate tub, and confine the construction to the existing footprint of the bathroom. In order to do that, we opted to forgo double sinks, so that there’d be room for the tub. As you might imagine, this was against the advice of every contractor with whom we spoke. However, my husband and I have been happily married for 22 years and we have never had double sinks, nor have we ever felt the need for them. I, on the other hand, have been desperate for a tub! There’s nothing I love more on a chilly night than a good soak in the tub; after seven years without one, I was finished with waiting. Our selections included white carrara marble for the vanity top, white and green carrara marble mosaic for the floor, simple white ceramic tiles, a seamless shower door, and brushed nickel fixtures.

Our new vanity base was purchased from Lowes. Its break-front design and furniture feet help it look a little less like modern cabinetry. The mirror is the one element that remains incomplete. A white decorative frame around the mirror is in the works to make it a standout.

The shower is spacious and pretty!

A matching pair of antique etched glass windows hung above the tub help bring a sense of nostalgia to the room.

I just LOVE the white tile! It’s so clean and timeless, and the decorative tiles keep the whole bathroom from appearing boring or dull.

One last word…. Lots of my customers have purchased pieces from me with the intent of having them retrofitted as bathroom vanities. One local blogger, author of Spoon and Chair, wrote about her master bathroom make-over earlier this month, using one of my pieces. To read about her project, check out her June 5, 2010 entry at http://spoonandchair.com/

Mirror, mirror, on the wall....

One of the things I love to use when decorating is mirrors – though certainly not because I’m so enamored with my own reflection that I like to see it every where I turn. Mirrors have the wonderful ability to reflect and bounce light around a room. They make a room look larger, feel more spacious, and funnel natural light into dark corners. I have them all over my house, multiples in a single room, and always in hallways and on landings. Yet, I never feel like they’re overdone. Just as you don’t pause to take in the view as you pass each and every window in your home, you won’t find yourself stopping to look every time you pass a mirror. Rather, the mirrors become almost window-like in their ability to provide a sense of ‘other space’ - where you could go, if only you could pass through the glass, much like climbing through a window.

Most people expect to see mirrors in certain places – over a dresser or above a fireplace mantle. Mirrors in the dining room reflect candlelight, whether it’s the warm glow of candles on the table, or the electric glow from the candles in a chandelier. And of course, a mirror hung beside your front door provides a chance to quickly check yourself before greeting visitors who come knocking! But I like to use mirrors in other, less typical, places as well. Mirrors in a hallway or basement bounce and magnify light when existing light is insufficient. A mirror backing an arrangement of flowers amplifies the drama by expanding your floral vignette to twice its depth. A small mirror placed against the inside back of a shelf can bring light into the depth and add sparkle to the items displayed there. China cabinets often have mirrored back panels; so do knick-knack shelves. You can accomplish this same thing with a small mirror leaning against the wall on a shelf of treasures.

I sell lots of vintage mirrors, and work hard to keep an ever-changing selection available. Often, the mirror itself is no longer perfect, having developed streaks or marks in the silvering behind the glass as a result of age. These marks don’t bother me – or most of my clients - as they are part of the patina of an older piece. Besides, when it comes to really looking in a mirror, most of us use the brightly lit mirrors in our bathrooms for make-up and skin care. But for those who can’t live with these marks, it’s a simple matter to replace the old mirror with a new one. Occasionally, I need to replace a mirror and when I do, I always use A-1 Glass on Rt. 28 in Manassas. Their prices are excellent and you can’t beat the service! [A word of caution is called for here: antique mirrors are never a standard size, and are frequently slightly out of square, so it’s best to give the whole frame to the mirror company, not just the measurements.]

Perfect glass or not though, the real star of an antique or vintage mirror is the frame. Most of the mirrors I carry are mahogany and many have wonderful pierced cutwork adorning their crests.

Others have inlay and still others have other types of embellishments like those seen here.

My painted mirrors have multiple levels of molding that remind me of the ornate layers of icing found on a wedding cake.

Most modern mirrors are rectangular and though their frames may be gilded or silvered, they never seem to have quite the character of a vintage mirror. If you’re looking for a way to update a room that doesn’t take a lot of money and can provide instant satisfaction, try adding a new mirror – or two!

What Color is "Buff"?

With my Spring Barn Sale fast approaching, I am very busy these days painting furniture. This season, I have decided to experiment a little bit more with color than the basics of ivory and black that I have loved in the past. I think it must be a result of all the wonderful new design trends I am exposed to, as I continue working toward my degree in Interior Design. Or maybe, I’m just ready to ‘step out of the box’ and try something new. Whatever, the reason, I am discovering some new favorite colors. At least – they’re all new colors for me. The ironic thing is that all of these new “colors” are actually wonderfully soft, soothing neutrals. I suspect I have a subconscious need for all things soothing and calm – our two college-age sons (and all their stuff!) come home for the summer in just a couple of weeks! Anyway, this week, my favorite color is one I call “buff”. But, what color is ‘buff”? That‘s a good question!


My 16-year old daughter, a talented aspiring artist, thinks it’s a terrible word, and we had a lively discussion over how I could better describe this wonderful, calming, yet elegant, color. The color is very close to a natural unbleached linen; somewhere between a light gray-ish tan and ecru. However, I hesitate to use ‘linen’ to describe it because all of my ivory pieces are painted in a Benjamin Moore color called ‘Linen White’. The actual name for my new favorite color, also a Benjamin Moore paint, is “Thunder” but that sounds much more gray the color actually is. And so, I came back to buff. I really LOVE it! Its so sophisticated, and yet neutral enough to go with any décor. If you make it out to my barn sale, you’ll have to let me know what words YOU would use to describe it. At any rate, it doesn’t matter too much. Next week, I think I’ll work with Benjamin Moore’s “Pashmina” - a color I’m going to call “Stone”!

New life for old furniture!

A new entry: New life for old furniture….

Between my classes (I’m working on an Interior Design degree), cleaning up storm damage around our property, and trying to get ready for a Spring barn sale, there hasn’t been much time to work on my blog. Yesterday however, I was working on a beautiful old chest from 1955, and it occurred to me that people might like to know my favorite furniture tip: lemon oil! Did you know that an old piece of furniture that is looking tired and dirty can be given new life just by cleaning it with lemon oil? Take a look at the pictures here. These are the SAME drawer before and after a good cleaning with lemon oil.

BEFORE: 

AFTER:

Here’s how to achieve these results on your own piece of furniture:

1. Remove the hardware from each drawer or door.

• Always take the time to remove the hardware. This step is necessary because very often the worst dirt is around the pulls, and if you try to work around them, you will not be able to keep your strokes going in the direction of the grain.

2. Apply a liberal amount of lemon oil directly to the surface.

•  Any kind of lemon oil will do. I buy mine at Safeway. Just make sure its 100% lemon oil, with no additives.

3. Using #0000 steel wool, rub the lemon oil into the wood in the direction of the grain.

•  You must use #0000 steel wool. This is the finest grade available in your local hardware store. Anything rougher – even #000 may scratch your finish, so take care when choosing steel wool.
• Always work in the direction of the grain. If you do not, again – you’ll get scratches.
• If you’re nervous or unsure, always test first in an inconspicuous spot.

4. Wipe up any excess oil with a soft clean cloth and reattach the hardware.

  

It’s really just that simple! Cleaning your old wood furniture with lemon oil is like giving thirsty wood a long cool drink of water. Here’s another example. In the picture below, you don’t see the same drawer, but rather two drawers from the same piece. Both drawers started out looking like the drawer on the right, but in the photo, the one on the left has been cleaned with lemon oil and steel wool – nothing else!

One final note – and this is important: Make sure you use plenty of lemon oil. Don’t skimp! The lemon oil acts as a lubricant between the furniture surface and the steel wool. You need to have a thick layer to prevent scratching – but as long as you do – you can really scrub! In fact, you’ll be surprised at how vigorously you can scrub the surface! Give it try – you’re going to love the results!

p.s. This hint will not work on modern furniture that has a polyurethane finish. It won’t hurt it, but you won’t see much of a result.

Yesterday's Look in Today's Bathroom

Our house, built in 1888, has a kitchen and bathrooms that were last updated in 1974. With our Formica counters, sheet vinyl floors, and florescent lights, you’d never guess that I am a part-time student pursuing a degree in Interior Design. At school, I am constantly exposed to the latest and greatest in current day design trends. At home, you could probably film an episode of “That 70’s Show” right in my kitchen.

The reality is that although we have no regrets, living in a historic home is expensive. Something as simple as updating a wall sconce becomes a major project when unsafe wiring from 1934 is exposed - brittle, mouse gnawed, and improperly grounded. And so, it is with great care and forethought that we undertake renovations. Up to now, our money has gone to “infrastructure” items – replacing the well pump, electric panel, hot water heater, gutters, etc. We even had to divert the outflow pipe for our washing machine which was previously emptying into the yard! Now, after seven years in our house, we are finally updating our master bathroom and also adding an entirely new half bath on the main floor. (The kitchen will just have to wait!)

Coming up with a design for the new bathrooms has been both challenging and fun. There are so many little decisions that you don’t think about: the color of the tile grout, the finish on the door hinges, and whether the electrical outlets should be white or ivory. Meanwhile, the big decisions are almost daunting. There are so many wonderful new innovations in bathroom design! You can’t help but be hypnotized by art-glass vessel sinks, iridescent glass tile, and showers with multiple body sprays. The first time my husband and I walked into a tile shop, we utterly dazzled by all the choices. We went in looking for vintage inspired tile, but were so dazzled by the exquisite tiles available, that we came away with a spec sheet for travertine tile, accented by sea glass mosaics. The combination was stunning! However, as we moved forward, choosing sinks, faucets, cabinetry and light fixtures, I began to feel more and more unsettled about the tile.

When you live in a historic house, I believe you have a responsibility to honor the house and its roots. In fact, my husband and I feel almost more like stewards of our home than its ‘owners’. The style of the house is what is technically called a “vernacular farmhouse”, which the Old House Web (www.oldhouseweb.com) defines as being characterized by “severe simplicity, functionality, and a straightforward appearance, typically with the structure being an "L" or "T" in plan.” This description fits our house perfectly and with that in mind, I wanted to make sure that our new bathrooms were period appropriate and suited to the rest of the house. I wanted a vintage look that mimicked the look of a bathroom installed in the 1920’s, combined with modern conveniences like a soaking tub and dimmable recessed lights. Lots of my Fabulous Finds customers have purchased vintage dressers from me and had them converted to bathroom vanities; I considered this option too. In the end, we chose simple white ceramic tiles for the shower, 1” black and white mosaic tiles in for the floors, and simple white bead board on the walls. Our “splurges” have come in the form of such things as white carrara marble for the vanity top, marble mosaics on the floor, and top-of-the-line fixtures. My goal for both bathrooms is an elegant simplicity that is nothing short of timeless. I'll be sure to post 'before' and 'after' photos when its finished.

Never understimate the power of paint.

I received an e-mail recently from a client inquiring about my painting services. She had purchased an old sideboard (probably circa 1925) from Craig’s List, and wanted to know if I thought it had any “potential” and/or whether it was worth salvaging. With that lack-luster introduction, I had fairly low expectations. However, when I opened the photo attachment, I fell in love; her piece was stunning. Sure, the finish was beat up; it had holes in the top, and there were some deep gouges along one side. But it also had wonderful lines and graceful proportions; lovely carvings gave it flair, without being excessive or over-the-top, and the original hardware and skeleton key were in perfect condition.

Immediately I responded to her e-mail with an enthusiastic “Yes! – your piece has oodles of potential.” In the time since she first contacted me, the sideboard has been delivered to my workshop and I have begun working on its transformation. I absolutely love watching a beautiful old piece of furniture – one that someone might have thought was past its useful life - transform into a showpiece, with the right amount of love, attention, and a good coat of paint.

Working on this sideboard, I have become intimately familiar with some of the tiny details that are the hallmark of a beautiful piece of furniture. They truly don’t make them like they used to. The backboard is attached not simply by nailing it to the finished cabinet, but by building it into the cabinet, sandwiched between pieces of the structural framework. The escutcheon plates that give ornamentation to the key holes are attached not with nails as I usually see, but with screws; four tiny ones each, no bigger than those you’d find in your eyeglasses. And the veneer on the cabinet doors is thicker than any I have ever seen. (A brief segue here; if you think ‘veneer’ is a bad word, please reconsider. Veneers have been around for centuries. The great cabinet maker Duncan Phyfe (1768 – 1854) used veneers extensively, and had a reputation for his artistic use of fancy or unusual wood grains in his veneers. In fact, it is reported that he once paid $1, 000 for a single log and personally supervised the cutting of the veneers. It was only in the 1970’s, when newly invented techniques for cutting veneer sheets as thin as a piece of paper, did veneer start to become a sign of a lesser piece of furniture.)

I’m so glad that my client contacted me about this sideboard. Whoever sold it could not have known what a treasure s/he had. When I am finished with it, it will be beautiful and ready to grace her home for many years. Finally, a quick word to the die-hards out there who are horrified at the idea of painting an antique… Please consider that the original finish on these pieces is already destroyed. I have painted pieces that were used to store paints, left in the rain, even one that had been chewed by a large dog. These are pieces that were headed for the junk heap until someone saw their potential. I make no apologies; one look at the before and after photos on my web site should convince you. Never underestimate the power of a good coat of paint.

UPDATE 2-24-10: Here is a photo of the finished piece!

The Perfect Guest Room

My husband and I have four children, and the older two are away at college nine months of the year. As happens so often when children begin to leave the nest, we found ourselves – finally! – with a room we could designate as our “guest room”. Preparing it for guests, I ran across a piece of advice that went something like this: Once you’ve set up a guest room in your home, spend a night in it, as if you were a guest, and see how well it ‘works’. Well, I thought this was great advice! Thus, one night when my husband was away on business, rather than sleeping on our own room, I slept in the new guest room. What follows is a checklist of things things I came away with. Perhaps in reviewing it, it will help you set up your own ‘perfect guest room’.

1) Is the bed comfortable?
In the case of my son’s room, he had a lumpy old mattress and I knew it. But, I reasoned, why buy a brand new mattress when he’s away most of the year? Besides, I knew from experience that teenagers can sleep – quite literally – anywhere! However, after my father complained about the mattress being horrible on his back, my husband I dutifully purchased a new set for our son’s room. The trouble is, new mattresses can be so deep these days that we unknowingly purchased one so high my father-in-law couldn’t even get up in it. This, we discovered after a recent visit from my in-laws. After spending a couple of hours visiting and catching up, we all retired at the same time. Imagine my surprise the next morning when I woke to find my father-in-law asleep on the family room couch! While my mother-in-law is still agile enough to climb up into a high bed, my father-in-law is not. So, make sure the bed is comfortable, and if you purchase one of the new deep mattresses, consider buying a set of bedsteps to go along with it.

2) When sleeping in the bed, is the temperature comfortable?
This one seems like a no-brainer; if you were cold in your guest room, chances are, your guests will be too. The reason I included this is because, chances are, you won't know if your guest room is overly cold or warm, unless you've spent the night in it. If its cold, add more blankets, a thicker quilt, or my personal favorite - a down-filled comforter. If you were too warm, go the other way and use lighter-weight bedding. Finally, if you suspect your guests will fall prey to the ‘Goldilocks Syndrome’ – i.e., this one thinks its too cold, that one thinks its too hot, and the third thinks its just right, fold a blanket or quilt across the bottom of the bed to be pulled up as necessary, and keep an additional one or two blankets handy in the closet. Beds, like people, are best dressed in layers that can be removed or added as preferences shift.

3) Is the somewhere – other than the floor – for your guests to put a suitcase?
I confess, this is my own pet peeve. There is nothing worse than having to live out of a suitcase, even for the weekend, that is sitting on the floor. Everything seems to spill out onto the surrounding floor, making a big mess. If you have a proper luggage rack, great! If not, consider putting a small backless stool or bench in the room that is large enough for a small suitcase to sit on. If your guests are staying for a longer visit, consider emptying a drawer or two for them.

4) Is there somewhere to hang hanging clothes?
This one is easy to address. Simply slide the clothing in the closet aside so that there is an 8”- 10” length of unused closet rod in the center, and hang some empty hangers in this spot. If you absolutely don’t have room in the closet, consider using attractive over-the-door hooks, and hang some empty hangers there.

5) Is there a decent mirror in the room?
No guest wants to come down to breakfast with his or her hair sticking out like a half-plucked chicken. Believe it or not, my son’s room did not have a mirror. He prefers to do all his personal grooming in the bathroom, where he has a big mirror and plenty of light, so he never needed one. I have since added a full-length mirror to the back of his door, where guests can not only check their hair, but their whole person as well.

6) Is there sufficient light in the room for your guests to read in bed?
Lots of people like to read before dropping off to sleep. Try doing this in your guest room. Is there a bedside lamp that is bright enough to read by, and close enough to turn off, without getting out of bed? If not, be sure to add one – to each side of the bed, if possible.

7) On the subject of reading in bed, have you provided anything to read?
Magazines are a common choice - they’re inexpensive and cover a wide range of topics – but they are quickly out of date. Its no fun to read about how to throw a perfect Halloween party when Easter is just a month away. Novels are another common choice, but they can impractical as most people don’t want to start something they won’t have time to finish. I prefer books with short stories or anecdotes; something from the “Chicken Soup” series or a collection of memoirs from famous people in history. Whatever your preference, supply something.

8) Is there an illuminated clock in the room?
I hate stumbling out of bed to fumble for my glasses so I can see where I put my cell phone, which I want to use to check the time – all without waking my husband. An illuminated clock on the bedside table – just like you’d find in any good hotel – is the answer!

9) Is there a handy place for guests to put small items?
It seemed that whenever my parents came to visit, my mother would remember to collect her earrings from the bedside table on her side of the bed, but not my fathers’ medicine from his. Or, my father would loose a handful of spare change from his pocket when he picked up his pants from their hem. Now, I keep a small ceramic decorative tray right on the dresser. As guests undress, they tend to automatically drop their small items into the tray. It’s as if its got some kind of magnetic draw, and it works like a charm!

10) Last but not least, do the window treatments do their job?
Bright and cheerful guest rooms are wonderfully inviting during the day, but it can be annoying to have the sun in your eyes at daybreak. In our case, we had a different issue. We had roller shades on the windows that we pulled up and down for light control and privacy, while the hanging panels on either side of the window were purely decorative. Unfortunately, I forgot to mention this to one guest. She went to pull the curtains closed with a swift and sturdy yank, and ended up pulling the whole curtain rod off the wall. Trust me – I was more embarrassed that she was!