DIY Industrial Wall Vases

Friday night I took this photo in the bathroom of a newly opened restaurant in Milwaukee, Odd Duck.  I loved the decor for the most part and per the bartender the build-out was all done by the owners of the restaurant along with the staff.

As coincidence would have it, I saw this image on Pinterest on Saturday:

Which links back to this awesome tutorial on Design Sponge.

Clearly not a new idea, but new to me, or maybe my new found interest in industrial fixtures and fittings has just finally made me take notice.

Delusions of DIY: Gold Painted Geodes

I'm obsessed with all things gold at the moment and I've always liked geodes so of course I repinned this image on Pinterest:

And instantly thought of it when I came across this little cutie at a consignment shop today, it had me hooked with the lucite base:

Major improvement after removing the "Geode" sticker (thanks Captain Obvious) and the gross green felt from the bottom of the lucite base:

I used Goof Off in the little metal can to remove the adhesive:

I read the can AFTER I used it, when my fingers starting feeling weird, and apparently you shouldn't let come in contact with your skin.  The warning label reads "WARNING: This product contains a chemical known to the state of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm."

Awesome.  I wasn't planning to use my reproductive parts but I'd still like to keep the intact.  I should really get some decent rubber gloves, and read labels first.

Then I used my new favorite to come in a can product on the outside of the geode after taping off the lucite base and face with painters tape:

The end result:

I'm not positive I love the gold paint now that it's done (and wishing the geode was a teal/turquoise color).

Look for Less: Owl Table Lamp

West Elm, $99

TJ Maxx, $35

I think the TJM version is really cute and better priced for a trend item.  And now he's getting packed up to be shipped to a friend.

Upholstery Basics

I admit that when it comes to reading blogs I'm mostly about the pretty pictures and great tutorials but this picture post by Cassie at Hi, Sugarplum is just too awesome:

I learn something new every time I take a project to the upholsterer or workroom but I love the way this sofa was made to allow for a side by side comparison of different options.  I find over and over that not everyone can articulate what they like or don't like but they definitely know it when they see it!

Still Loving.....Anything with a Greek Key Detail

Like this tile flooring in a historic mansion turned B&B I was in recently:

I wonder if my husband or my tile guy would be more annoyed with me if I suggested cutting out a portion of the barely a year old black hex tile on the floor of my guest bathroom to add this border:

I bought the entire spool of Greek key trim at Joann Fabrics recently and can't decide if I want to do bolsters on the guest beds or trim out the curtains (or both) with it.

I love the trim used with a strong Ikat print in the same same color here:

I keep looking at, and walking away from, a set of Hollywood Regency horse head bookends with a Greek key motif around the base at a local consignment shop.  I really think I need to go get them for my office.

I'm also pondering painting a wood tray (I'm obsessed with trays) I picked up at Goodwill aqua and using a Greek key stencil (in gold) either around the outside or in the inside bottom of it.

I'd love even just a few pieces of the Jonathan Adler Greek Key china:

This bench with Greek key details would be gorgeous in almost any room:

I will probably always regret not buying the coffee table version of this from Williams Sonoma Home:

I know Greek Key is having a really popular moment right now but I still think it's a classic and can't get enough of it!

Client Project: Basement Kitchenette

I was so excited to do glass subway tile in a vertical herringbone pattern as a part of this project, but when I saw this tile I knew the client would love it:

I think we may run it vertically though:

It's the Oak Moss Crackled Cardine from The Tile Shop that can be found here.  I really do love the availability of their products and generous return policy so much that they are usually my first stop when looking for tile.  Where else can I over order high variation tiles and return the pieces I don't like?

Our House: My Long Neglected Office

Last fall I made the permanent shift to working from home full time and my home office went from mainly unused to needing to support actual work.  No longer just a place to put paperwork and random furniture (my husband's massive wing back chair, the Room & Board Loring Sofa that wasn't comfortable enough for the living room....) but the room in the house where I'll spend a huge chunk of my time.

This was such a 'non-room' for me that I don't even have any proper before photos:

The only in progress photo is a random one taken by my mother in law shortly after we moved in (before it was totally crapped up):

When I look at my Home Office board on Pinterest there are some common themes that jump out to me right away:

Clearly I like the two matching tall bookcases flanking a desk or shorter table (and I must be the only one that needs actual office equipment in my office.)

I picked up this vintage drafting table on Craig's List for $100 (and was THRILLED with the price):

Clearly it needs some cleaning up but I still think it'll be perfect for my office.

Sometime last spring I came across a set of campaign bedroom furniture and just had to the buy a single drawer, 2 door little 29" tall chest.  I had no idea what I was going to do with it but I couldn't not get it.  So it sat in my garage as one of the many pieces of random furniture that were occupying my parking spot for months.

Then I bought a 3 drawer campaign chest the same size and decided I should have hutches built to get my vision of the tall bookcases.

Then I got prices for the hutches.  I seriously miss my hourly finish carpenter. Badly.

I procrastinated on the hutches for months.  My office is embarrassingly overflowing and disorganized at this point.  Olive thinks blueprints are her bed (which makes perfect sense considering slippers are her favorite toys).

Yesterday I bought two vintage Stanley furniture bookcases at St. Vincent de Paul, they're well made, in a great condition, and cost far less than having the hutches made for the Campaign chests.  Not to mention they are ideal for my needs:

They've already been stripped of their hardware, cleaned and sanded.  Choosing the 'right' dark teal/peacock inky blue color is proving harder than I expected.  I'm debating between these two colors at the moment but oddly enough Hague Blue looks brighter and lighter in most actual photos and Teal darker:

          

           Farrow and Ball Hague Blue

             Benjamin Moore Teal

Either way though, the inside is going gold!

I'm not still feeling the massive surge of motivation to get stuff done like I was a few weeks ago but I'm definitely ready for this progress.