*SOLD* This three shelf unit could use a fresh coat of paint, unless you enjoy the distressed finish, and it would work on its own as a toy shelf for the wee ones, or a low book shelf (perhaps next to a fireplace) in a den, library, or livingroom, or as extra storage in a kitchen. We have a similar, though larger one, sitting on a table in our kitchen, and it works very well as a hutch.

This one measures 38" tall, 30" wide, and 8" deep.

Price: $20

Inspiration:

Paint it white, and put a nice contrasting colour inside.

If not white, why not a pale blue? Then pop it on a small cabinet!

So many more ideas here!

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Last weekend: Molly & May(hem) on the balcony.

Balcony Makeover:  Part III

Last weekend we finished painting, moved the chair-bench into its new place of honour, cut and attached the lattice to the railings, and acquired shelves at the Percival Street Block Sale in Montreal-West.    This week was all about flowers!

We went to see Alex at Marché de Fleurs Westminster  and received great advice on what flowers to plant for the very sunny and windy conditions on our balcony.  We picked up two flower boxes, a beautiful hanging basket, and some gardening supplies, then headed home.   Sohrab drilled drainage holes into the flower boxes, and I happily arranged our new flowers and foliage in them.

See the newly adorned corner below!

Next weekend I'm hoping to pick up the edibles:  tomatoes, mint, basil, lavendar, thyme, and maybe even beans & strawberries.

 
Oh so much better! 

Oh sad balcony railing, are you lonely and bleagh? 
Oh view of the "massage" parlour across the street (no joke: 3am, goombas, track suits, gold chains), can you be blotted out?

 

Lonely bleagh-ness & view of the "massage" establishment banished!

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What's this? A rather Unassuming White Cabinet with Shelves? But what can be inside? Shall we take a peek?

My - a pretty ladies' accessories closet, with jewelry, purses & party shoes!

But wait, we close the door, and when we open it again...

A nicely apppointed little linen closet! Perfect for bathtowels, bed linens & bathroom supplies.

Close the door, and open it for the third time...

A neat kitchen pantry! Space for fancy dishes, colourful Pyrex, cans-o-beans, a vintage stand mixer, and your collection of herbal tisanes!

Sohrab and I snagged this little beauty at an estate sale with the hope that it would live on the balcony to store gardening things and BBQ tools. Sadly, there simply isn't enough space for it out there. We're going to see how it fares elsewhere in our 'umble abode, but given the tremendous size of our closets, this wonderful cabinet (pantry, linen closet, accessories storage) may be up for grabs! Feel free to email me if you're interested :)

Update: SOLD
This cabinet has found a loving new home and may be undergoing a dramatic transformation :)

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*SOLD* I know I said I wouldn't be posting for a bit, but I forgot that I already had a few more items photographed!   This wee vintage 60s clip on lamp is 5" tall and can clip onto a shelf of treasured photos or items, your headboard, or any little nook that could use a warm glow!

Price: $10

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*SOLD* Elegant Sheridan Silver Co.footed  water pitcher, 1950s-60s.  this heavy beauty could use a good polish over some areas, I've kept it as found for those who prefer the aged patina.  I love the simple lines of this piece, with a nicely rounded body, simple scroll ornamentation,  and a graceful handle.  It is marked "Silver on Copper" and has the crown, S, and crest mark of the Sheridan Silver Co.
It measures 6 1/2" tall (not including the top curve of the handle) and 6" across (without the spout or the handle.)  This would make a beautiful vase for a shorter floral arrangement.
Price: $30

Inspiration: rich red peonies in a silver vase

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*SOLD* This classic chair design has been a staple in schools for over a hundred years - though these chairs likely date to the late 1960s.   I'm uncertain what wood they are made from, but would put my money on maple or beech.  These would look very attractive in an entrance way or den, at a kitchen table, or as part of a fun mismatched diningroom set.  Or, you could get a little crafty and join 'em together as a chair bench!

Measurements: 33" tall (back), 15" deep (seats) and 16" wide (at the front of the seats)

Trio for $30

Inspiration:  DIY Ombre Painted chair!

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*SOLD* Add metallic warmth to any corner of your kitchen or display shelf with these lightweight copper-plated teapots. They each have porcelain handles and have never been used.

Price: $20 for the pair

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The balcony makeover is almost complete!  The photo above shows the sad state of affairs out there just a couple of weeks ago, and then the improvement after a single coat of paint.   We put another coat of paint up yesterday, and then this morning (before dim sum - yeah!), Sohrab decided to tackle this monster:  our giant BBQ!  We never use the side burner, and we decided to cut the arms off the sides.   We stopped at Canadian Tire to get a new single tube for the propane tank (the old one was split between the main BBQ and the side burner - didn't need that!), and then borrowed a metal grinder from our friend Eddy.  This is how the beastie looked at 9:30am:

Then Sohrab did his thing.  See below for triumphant posing with the first section to be cut off.

And this was the BBQ at 9:45am!  It takes up ONE THIRD of the space, which makes for a much more efficient working area, as the BBQer no longer needs to angle in sideways to stand in front of the grill.  You can also see the PVC lattice we scored for $4 on Craiglist - tie-wrapped to the railing...by the light of last night's Super Moon!  We sat out there this morning and enjoyed the additional shade and privacy it offers.

Here's the other side of the balcony!  The bench Sohrab made fits perfectly in the small space, and leaves ample room for our garage sale find of the weekend:  a foldable white shelf!  The large green framed poster provides some inspiration for plant life, at least until we can pick up some plants of our own.  The balcony certainly has the cats' stamp of approval - they love their new bench!

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*SOLD* Oh the display possibilities you'll introduce to your walls with this vintage industrial printer's drawer! It even has its original handle, and the paper label indicating what typeface letters were stored within its various compartments. The DIY webiverse is replete with instructions/examples on transforming one of these drawers into a jewelry display, a seashell collection, a family photo frame, a way to display lego and small toys, a coffee table, and a guest card holder at events!

This one measures: 32" long, 16 1/2" wide, and 1" in depth.

Price: $50

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Step 1:  Go for brunch.  Decide to spend the rest of the day cleaning the apartment and cooking meals for the week.   Drive through Montreal-West on the way home.  Spot these two sturdy oak chairs at a garage sale.  $10 for both?  Done and DONE.   Remember this project on Kindall's Creations, show it to Sohrab, and BOOM.  We've got Project Fever and are off to the races!   So much for the earlier plans :)

Step 2:  Race to Reno, pick up a $10 pine piece that happens to be almost exactly the right size.  Head to Fabricville, and raid the Bargain section for foam (two rectangular foam cushions, $10 each) and outdoor fabric ($14 for some stunning turquoise paisley).

Step 3:  Show up at Sohrab's mom's house, take over the basement workshop.  Cut the excess off the pine board.  Place the board on the worktable, arrange the chairs over it, ensuring the the front of the chairs line up, mark four spots in a square shape approx. 5" apart on each seat where the drilling will take place.  Drill through the chair seats and into the plank - but not all the way through it.  Place chairs on the floor.

Step 4:  Place fabric on the worktable, foam on the fabric, and plank on the foam.   Wrap tightly and go wonkers with three different staple guns (stupid staples kept jamming), making sure that the foam edges out over the plank a bit fore & aft.

Step 5:  Place the chairs on top of the newly constructed bench seat,  feeling carefully through the fabric for the holes in the bench to line 'em up, and screw the bench to the chairs.

Step 6:  Bring the new bench home and place in entry way.

Its new home will be our balcony!  We have a small space out there, and all the benches we've seen were too large, too expensive, or plain old charmless.  Ditto for most of the bistro sets.   This way, we have sturdy seating for two that doesn't take up too much real estate.  If I could do it again, I'd pick thinner foam padding, but then again, maybe not.   So far, everyone who has sat on it has grinned as they sunk down in the cushy seat!

We're also snazzing up the balcony - which was pretty unusable last year due to the fact that everytime we closed the door or brushed against a wall it RAINED NASTY GIANT FLAKES OF PEELING PAINT.  Also, our table and chair set was too big, and since our balcony faces Sherbrooke street, I always felt so exposed whenever I went out to read or loll in the summer sun.   We decided to re-paint, sell the too-large furniture, and put in lattice or fabric for privacy.

Last weekend we rolled up our sleeves and proceeded to remove all the layers of old paint, scraping away like mad things, then we wacked on a coat of cheery seafoam blue and antique white.  Here's what one corner looks like right now - more painting is supposed to happen next weekend.

I'd also like to grow a few things on the balcony this summer, and since we get tons of sun and wind, I'm thinking of growing hardy sun-loving things like basil, rosemary, mint, tomatoes, and maybe eggplant.   We scored some PVC lattice on Craigslist for $4 (retail $40!) and will be using that as both a privacy screen and a wind break for our plants.  Next on my list of balcony wants:  a sturdy shelf for potted flowers and edibles!

More on the balcony makeover in weeks to come...

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Mid-century classic Dansk heavy black iron candelabrum, a stunner when filled with tall slender tapers.
Price: $20

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Munising bowls were made between 1911 and 1955 in Munising, Michigan, where the company had been established due to the availability of excellent hardwoods.   Most of their bowls, including this beautiful carved one, were machine-lathed from maple.   This particular bowl measures 12" in diameter and bears a mark which most likely dates it to the 1940s.   A lot of the original red paint remains and though the bowl's finish does show wear & tear, it has many years of use left in it.   Martha Stewart has helpful suggestions on how to care for Munising woodenware bowls.

Price: $20

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*SOLD* Add a metallic whimsical industrial accent to a den, library or livingroom with this brass hand held blow torch lamp.  It stands 19 1/2" tall - quite the conversation piece!

Price: $30

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*SOLD* Striking Siam silver nielloware pin featuring Ramasoon, the Thai god of thunder.

This piece is from the 1940s or 50s and measures 1 1/3" tall and 1 1/4" wide. It can be worn as a pin or as a pendant.

Price: $30 $15

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Dear Trovers,

I'll be taking a short break to tackle my ever-growing To Do list (dig up a few last tax docs, plan out the balcony) and to cheer on Sohrab - his Concordia Alum hockey team has made it to the finals and it's time to scream myself silly from the stands!

Never fear, starting midweek more goodies will be making their appearance in the Trove, including:

1. Vintage brass blowtorch lamp, 1950s
2. Hand-hammered antique Middle Eastern pitcher
3. Sterling silver & Niello Siam dancer pendant/brooch, 1940s-50s
4. Cashmere cardigan in vibrant hibiscus, size S, 1960s
5. Large etched brass circular tray
6. Vintage alabaster bookends, 1970s

In the meanwhile, enjoy the warmer weather!

Cheers,

MJ

PS - If anyone's in the market for a robin's egg blue wrought iron bistro set for their patio or kitchen, ours is up for grabs - the price is negotiable!  The entire set retails for between $642 & $1003 on-line.

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*SOLD* The hamsa is a traditional symbol in many Middle Eastern cultures, and is used in home decor and jewelry as a ward against ill will and bad luck. This particular piece measures 4" long, on a 31" chain, and dates back to at least the 1940s. It would make a striking metallic accent in your home or garden.

Price: $20

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SOLD

Tiny vintage 1950s 10kt gold pendant or charm, in the shape of a sweetly old-fashioned key. It measures 1.5 cm in length and is light enough to wear everyday.

Price: $60

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