the drum table

These drum tables are so commonly found, and relatively in expensive.  Painted or stained, and so many different styles—a flexible design solution!

I found this in a thrift store going out of business for an irresistible $10!  Although I had no use for it–yet–so off to storage, until further notice.

A very transitional piece~~as a side table, an entry way table, paired with a chair in a guest bedroom.  Or cut down the pedestal, and it could  become a coffee table!

Last spring, on a warm sunny day, I got the itch to play with it and fetched it from storage.  I had an idea I wanted to try out~~

“What if I troweled on venetian plaster to its top for a masculine finish?”

**like I did to this piece!

I troweled on many very light coats, giving each layer hours to dry, and a fine sanding before adding the next layer!  *I used my finger to coat the edge.

↓ This is after ~gosh, 7 layers?~

And, before I was finished with this project, I changed out the brass foot caps to something wAy more fun!

Here’s my reveal!

(I forgot all about sharing this project last spring–?)

Many years ago (2004-?) I took a different approach to the finish of one of these tables with an octagonal shape.  It was just one part of a whole studio design for a traveling business man’s part-time-studio.  About 429 sq ft and a fun exercise on small space efficiency.

My good friend Sara hand painted the top and edge, and I applied a couple hundred nail heads around that.  A laborious project that looked fantastic in the end (hard to see in this crappy pic–you’ll just have to believe me)!  Wish I could find the pictures of the finished project, showing all the architectural millwork/details, the hardwood floors–and the beautiful island-styled chairs that were paired with the table!

Catherine

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That Laundry Room project–

A 10′ x 12′ room in the lower level.  Nice space to get things done.

I figured ALL the flooring (and made one order) back when we were originally reworking the whole house.  The floor was laid throughout the lower level, except–not quite the whole laundry room.  Since there were other things to do in there, I figured—“I’ll come back to it later.”  Ha-ha-ha!

Hey—it’s later!  And here’s what I’ve been doing!

The Ceiling.  I’m not a fan, but the room HAD to have a dropped ceiling because there are many [things] running up in there–ie: gas line to fire place, water line to frig, etc, and you have to keep some ready access.  I toyed with “dropped ceiling tin,” but just couldn’t justify the cost in that room.  I also had to get creative at the awning window–the water line to the frig runs through it.  Perfect.  Just for fun, I added some vintage wallpaper for an unexpected punctuation!

The Walls.  There are two outside walls of cinder block.  But you only really see a part of one, so it didn’t seem worth the trouble and expense of firing, insulating, and sheet rocking.

I bought a product that would allow me to re-coat the walls, eliminating some of the cinder block outlining and texture.  You trowel it on much like joint compound– but I found it to be disappointing.  After two good layers, the coverage was not so great.  However, it did smooth things out “enough” to continue with some venetian plaster–3 more layers!  And–I waxed it at the end.  Yes–the whole process was a lot of work, but it’s beautiful!  It looks very old world, and has some natural crackle for added effect (that was exploited in the waxing).

The Cabinets.  These were built on site, and would be really tough to tear out, so I worked with ‘em.

1. I sanded and puttied some bad areas,
2. added a small crown-cove at the top and other finish-moldings, and some flea market hardware,
3. lowered the doors and shifted them around (the 3rd door is a dummy)
4. and, repainted.

And, Those Floors.

I miscalculated.

By ONE. dang. box.

I ran out right in front of the washer/dryer.

But it finally arrived and I finished it.  With enough to lay in the electric closet and one other place I will also show you.

I’d like to tell you more about this flooring–pros and cons.  So I will save it for the next post.  And show you better pictures of the overall, finished room.

btw–This is the same type of flooring that was used in the 1st floor bathroom and living room.

Catherine

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The Journey of a Stylish Renovation–a bathroom

Okay, so while this vicious headcold, that I think became a few days of a migraine (and my nose that could guide Santa’s sleigh) are KICKing MY BUTT—

Here’s #1 -of 3 bathrooms- as it was demo’d and re-built on

The Journey of a Stylish Renovation–1st flr Guest Bath.

John was busy taking down the dropped ceiling and prying off the window casing by the time I got there with the camera, but this still shows just HoW UGly the room was.  And NARrow.  And UGly.  Even the attempt of a nicer light bar didn’t REAlly help.

~Wish I could find the pictures of the room stripped down to NU-thin’ but the tub.  1961 DID provide a nice deep tub that holds the heat, so that remained!

1–The room was gutted.  Ceiling, most walls, floor.  The electric was updated, light junction box raised, a new bath fan re-run.  After the walls were “re-hung” and/or “repaired,” I finished them with venetian plaster.  Four layers, “honed,” not the usual burnished, mirror-like finish.

2–I hung a new, reproduction tin ceiling that I primed and painted (Rustoleum for metal, Heirloom White).

3–My expert tile guy worked his magic on my shower surround design, adding a “frame and keystone” for me from some rescued-from-a-dumpster tile!

4–I used leftover vinyl floor planks from the living room for the new floor in this room as well.  As I cut and dry-fit the planks, I discovered I didn’t have quite enough, and added the square vinyl insets to make up the deficit.

5–I used one of those commonly found french provincial dressers as the new vanity.  I wanted something more furniture-like, wanted it to be “lifted off the floor” for an airier look, and needed a reduced depth cabinet to open up the narrow floor space.  This one checked all the boxes perfectly!  It was primed with a chocolaty brown base color, then dry brushed with a few other darker browns.  Two large-scaled appliques were applied to the upper drawers and new pulls to the others.

6–A visit to a local stone company scored the extra thick granite–a scrap end cut from someone’s kitchen counter job.  I negotiated a sUper good price for it, including the serpentine detailed profile, the plumbing cutouts, and glossy finish!  Isn’t the thickness just perfect?!

7–Had a mirror custom-cut, counter to ceiling, with a cutout for the junction box.  We installed it ourselves saving about $150 in labor charges.  It’s very easy to do, but if you’re not confident, let the glass company do it.  If you install it wrong, or scratch it, or break it—it’s your dime to start over.

8–The plumber came to do all his parts, and,

9–Then it was finally time to start working on all the finishes and details of the room.  Door and window casing, base molding.  Hanging the light bar, hanging drapery to “connect” the window and shower, and all the other bath accessories.

–Trying to make this guest bathroom vERy “User-Friendly,” I reconstructed the linen closet behind the door to make bath and hand towels more obvious for guests.  Three baskets hang in the shower holding wash clothes at the ready, and a variety of shampoos and soaps.

–A towel bar at the left of the sink holds the option of a plush towel or a more sanitary disposable kind.

–Daily use of a curling iron and blow dryer made it “inconvenient” to put them away each time, and I got tired of them on the counter, so I mounted two “rings” on the end of the cabinet to catch them when not in use.

I’ll just finish with more pictures–they tell a pretty good story!

Catherine

Do you know about the

Show Us Your House

linky party–??

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