Barn Knock-Off

#1 I need to apologize for not having the dining room make-over posted yet . . . I just got the china cabinet door hung last night.  I have been way to busy to photograph it as I'm getting ready to take off to be in a wedding 8 hours away this weekend. I PROMISE next week I will have that and the BIG delivery photos up!

I'm always scanning catalogs and magazines for ideas for the house.  I've seen this bench in Pottery Barn for awhile. I always drool over it! It just makes sense for an entryway space, to put your boots on or drop your groceries while you unlock the door.

Once we got the carpet pulled up in the breezeway I knew I had the perfect spot for this entryway bench.  Cost, however was a problem.  But it was so stuck in my mind that we needed a place to hide out recycling bins, generally when this happens, you hear this through our house . . . "Bruuuuuuuuuce, can you build me this????" 

I'm so lucky, Bruce was able to create this bench for our breezeway! We had to cut the handles off of one of the benches so that the bench could be build to a size that fits that space.  The boys had to drop it into place in between the stairs and the wall, it's so custom! Once I have a color scheme for the space I'll make a cushion for the top and get a basket to make faux front for the recycling bins. I know the tile is a little scuzzy but way better than the stained, smelly green carpet!  How much did we save? With shipping it would have been around $600 (at the time) we spent about half that on the lumber and the paint is the trim color that will go in the main living spaces in our house!

Quick Storage

While our kitchen was torn apart (hint, hint) everything was out from under the sink and I wanted something to keep all our cleaning supplies in.  There were two metal crates that were in the house when we moved in and I decided that they would be great solution for storage.

First I brushed it down quickly with a wire brush.

Then sprayed on a coat of primer.

Then I used the chrome spray paint that I used on the bathroom light fixtures.  I also sprayed on a coat of clear to keep the chrome faux finish intact (something I wish I had done on the lights).

Here's how it looks finished and in use, I ended up not using it under the sink but in the breezeway to hold our supply of paper bags. Remember when you're spray painting do it in a well ventilated area and not near you're car!

Butcher Block Make Over

This butcher block was originally my Bumpa's, after he passed away it went to my dad. It then sat in their basement for a few years. I dug it out sometime in jr. high and sanded it by hand and it became part of my parents' kitchen.  A few years ago they re-did their kitchen and Bumpa's Butcher Block was relegated to the basement once again.  So when we were getting ready to move into the house I claimed it as my own. 

It's been living in the corner of the kitchen since my dad came down with all my furniture, this is the closest photo I have that shows where in the kitchen it was (the arrow is the actual location it has spent most of its time).  When we needed to move it for some kitchen changes (more on that soon) I decided it was a great time to refinish it.

To the basement it went, there is some marker transfer, some moisture rings, and at least fifteen years of use and grime.

After a pass with 60 grit, then 110 and finally 220 with my trusty palm sander. I originally started with 220, being cautious and used 3 pads on the first pass, then went through 5 of 110 before I gave up and went for 60 grit. There was alot of grime! Remember, if you are sanding wood go with the grain!

I wiped it down thoroughly then slathered on a beeswax and food grade mineral oil product made for butcher blocks and cutting boards, that I picked up at Home Depot.  I heated the product up with hot water first, then painted it on with a 3 inch foam brush. And let it soak for twenty minutes.

After the soak I wiped off the excess and buffed it.  The stains are mostly gone but it still has all the character from years and years of Bumpa's cooking!

This is how it looks in the kitchen! Notice something else used to be here . . . (hint, hint)

You're Killing the Letuce!!!

You would think that we live in the South with the amount of afternoon heavy rains we've had.

This is a shot of our front entry way (with a full gutter).

Garden Update

Considering how many trees we have (little sunlight) the garden is coming along nicely. I would say that half of what I planted has grown, most of that is doing really well.

The peppers get an A

So do the tomatoes.

And the zuchinni and summer squash. 

The radishes get a B, along with the broccolli and peas.

The letuce is questionable the brutal thunderstorms we've been getting are really beating them up, I might try again in the fall. The melons, cucumbers, beans, asparagus and spinach were a no go, most likely not enough sun for those guys.  Yes, the garden is very weedy, it's the first year and we expected this. I have been weeding.  I also started some things in the house for a summer crop, stay tuned for cucumbers (again) spagetti squash, butternut squash, acorn squash and sugar pumpkins.

Getting Ready

We have a BIG delivery coming tomorrow and I am beside myself excited. But I'm going to be cruel and make you wait until the delivery actually happens.

In preparation for the BIG delivery Bruce replaced one of the outlets in the kitchen.  I'm not a big fan of DIY electrical work so I'm sparing all the details, bottom line: if you aren't sure hire a pro.

Old two prong outlet was removed, the purpose of this photo is to show that there is no ground wire.

Then clean out the box.

Add ground wire, with green screw. Apparently everything is color coded.

Secure new outlet.  Yes, it is upsided-down on purpose, for things that have the third prong it helps them stay in better as the ground pole is the longest, also if something spills the "bottom" which is our top, protrudes the farthest and will prevent the spill from getting in the outlet.

We're Still Alive!

Sorry I know we've been MIA for a while, June is always a busy month for us with birthdays and holidays. Plus I seem to have miss placed my camera . . . again. This is becoming a reoccuring problem for me! I've been busy job hunting and keeping house, the wood is split and stacked, and the garden (for the most part) is coming along nicely! Stay tuned, we have some good things coming up!