Friday, April 6, 2012

Deconstruction, etc.

And your opinions, please...




Well, I missed another deadline with my living room. 
You see, I'm having trouble getting the windows out.
I need a sawzall, and I have a fear of saws.

But on a brighter note, I may have a solution to a problem
that will cost nothing but a coat of paint. 
And I actually painted one already...but that may change,
depending upon your input.

Here's the whole deconstructed corner
this post is dealing with today:


This is the right side of the fireplace, where I am removing 
a window. In the spirit of the recent deconstruction craze,
I decided to go ahead and try out this bookshelf.

It has been living in my laundry room for the past nine years.
And I have another that was relegated to the storage shed.

They were painted dark green, back when dark green was hot.
Until yesterday. I mixed up some black latex paint
with some gray mis-tint paint from Home Depot, until I got this:


These shelves were purchased eons ago at Ikea. 
They were raw wood. They're slatted, which is not ideal, but I can work with it.

Why did I decide to try them, other than I HAD them?
I saw this at Restoration Hardware:


OK, so it's a French Library Shelf, with real metal.
And it costs a bundle. If you squint really hard,
and use your imagination, do you think my little
Ikea relic has a similar feel?


I think it will work until I build or find something else!
So, what do you think of the gray?
I was originally thinking white...

Let me know. Meanwhile, here are some of my
vintage industrial elegant items in close-up shots, from the top down:

A painted Chinese basket on top of vintage books, and a basket.
(No, the basket is not white, but you'll see why I'm keeping it natural later...)


An old chippy box with a bent wood handle. 
And the Bible I received in third grade, 
open to Psalm 91, a Psalm of protection, 
and one of my personal favorites.


I just plopped a couple of small pots of fake ivy in it.
 I really need something nicer!


See this writing on the end of the box? Cool, huh?


I paid $4 for this years ago. I thought it was pricey, but I liked it. Still do.
My sweet Dad practically wore this KJV Bible out! It's falling apart.
The glasses are from an unknown family member. 
They were in a trunk with old family things.


Here's a little bird cage I snagged at a garage sale last summer for a buck.
It's next to more vintage books, and a little white house.


See the detail of the shelf construction? Industrial. :)


On the shelf below, more vintage books. I love vintage books! 


And a natural wood bowl with old chippy painted croquet balls in it.


When I have walls behind the shelf, I can prop empty frames 
or hang small art pieces to finish my vignettes.

Now, I need your opinion about a purchase I made last week.
My uncle brought it to me yesterday, since he has a truck.
He's also going to help me saw the nails that are
connecting the window frame to the studs soon! Yay!

I mean, I love a good deconstructed chair as much as the next girl,
but the walls by my fireplace have got to be constructed!

Speaking of deconstructed chairs...what do you think
about this sofa? Sixty Bucks. 


"Not much," you say? "But the dog is cute."

Yeah, but she's the culprit who did this:

  
Have a closer look:


And you thought I was exaggerating when I told 
you my son's dog ate my sofa. 

Well, here's her replacement, sans the multitude
of pillows that probably "brought her into the '80s"


Still not that impressed? Take a closer look:


Pretty, no? And she has nice legs:


And I think a couple of drop cloths, a few upholstery tacks,
maybe some bolsters, and she will be drop dead gorgeous!

This is why I left some dark wood pieces. I'm thinking
of leaving her natural. But then again, maybe
she's look beautiful painted - white distressed...

OK - opinions on the shelves?
Gray? or White? or Find Other Options

What about the sofa? 
To paint or not to paint. 
That is the question.
Your input is seriously considered.
Examples of other pieces would
be amazingly helpful!

Have I told you lately how much I 
appreciate you! Well I do. 
You're the bomb!

Word for the Day:
Good Friday

John 19:4-7
4 Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, 
“Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know
 that I find no basis for a charge against him.” 
5 When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns 
and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”
 6 As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, 
they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!”
   But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. 
As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.”
 7 The Jews insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law 
he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.”

Today, we focus on how a sinless Jesus, 
fully God and fully man, chose to suffer and die
so we may one day live in paradise with
Him and our Father, Creator, God.
It is both horrible and wonderful. But Sunday is coming...
-Revi

Linking With:
Friday

Feathered Nest Friday
Furniture Feature Friday
Fridays on Remodelaholic
Friday Redoux Link Party
Frugal Friday
Frugalicious Friday
Flaunt it Friday
Vintage Inspiration Friday
Saturday

Saturday Nite Special
Show and Tell Saturday





Wish Book


When I was a child, and I would visit my maternal grandmother,
one of the things I enjoyed was looking through her new
J.C. Penney catalog. I would choose everything I wanted, and
bookmark it. Then I would show the things to her.

Just now, as I opened an Anthropologie ad, I remembered that
childhood activity, and decided to re-invent it for my blog friends!
Don't you love the little bird salt and pepper shakers above?

If I woke up this morning and found my mailbox
stuffed with 52 million dollars, here are
some of the items I would order:

For my living room, a couple of these
French Library Shelves from Restoration Hardware:


And one of these:


Though I really like this one from Gray is Grey...


And maybe this Italian 19th C. Medallion 
bedding for my bedroom, in "fog" Queen, please:


Oh, and while I'm at it, I should probably get one of these
white goose down comforters:


And I'm still looking for a headboard. 
This Belgian camel back number could work...


And a couple of these cool vintage-style 
metal chairs from World Market would look 
great at the head of the dining table...


Hmmm, maybe it would be a good time
to purchase a few new towels... 
These are pretty cute!


I could go on and on, since there are so many
choices out there for us these days.

This is a modern day "wish book," as my 
grandmother called it.  I must admit,
It was still fun to choose when money was no object. 
And I DO love these Espadrille wedges by Ralph Lauren...


But even more than that, it was a good way
 to know what you REALLY like!
Style is not about money.
 I often see things in thrift stores
that I would rather have than
pricey items in "hip" boutiques.

And I love the satisfaction of making a "not so cute" 
item look great with the right paint job.


I was surprised that I actually had a hard time 
finding something I would have actually 
purchased at Restoration Hardware. 
I have long admired the style there, and have 
often wished I could afford to shop there. 

But when I was spending my $52m,
the sofa was just not quite right. 

Now the bedding was another matter! 

But it would have cost hundreds - 
maybe even a grand to outfit my bed. 

I don't think I could sleep easily knowing that, 
no matter how soft and comfy it was!

Word for the Day:

Ecclesiastes 5:12
The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much, 
but the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep.

May you enjoy wish book shopping, thrift shopping, or any other
kind of shopping as you make a nice home for your family!
-Revi

Linking With

Sunday

Sunday’s Best
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Thursday

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Friday

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Saturday

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