All Hands On Deck

This summer has been full of projects around the house. It seems that each one has revolved around the deck remodel though. After our big hail storm in April I figured it was time to redo the deck the way we always wanted to. We get afternoon sun that just beats on the back of the house and makes it uncomfortable to enjoy the deck until the sun goes down. We tried an outdoor steel/canvas canopy from Target that was nice but didn't quite cover the whole deck, however it did provide some relieve from the heat. I've been envious of pergola's and shade structures for a long time so decided it was time take back our deck from the big ball of fire. I researched different shade fabrics, sails, and solid top structures. I figured we wanted the versatility of shade, but aesthetically pleasing at the same time. I used all reclaimed wood from a friend of mine that was remodeling his deck and then just started building. I had an idea of a flat straight lined Manhattan terrace that you would see in a Manhattan penthouse loft. However this Kansas and this is what I came up with. Thanks to my father in law for the labor of the structure and two of my good friends for the wood donation.

This is an outdoor rug that I free handed a zebra pattern onto. I seamed two 6x9 rugs together to create a larger rug.

I used canvas drop cloths for the outdoor curtains hemmed about 6 inches on the top and bottom for a more finished look. The rods are galvanized conduit and the rings are just normal clip rings to hold the curtain. I plan on doing a chevron stripe on these soon.

That chandelier was made from a bradford pear that I trimmed up this summer. I chopped up some of the larger branches and stapled them together with my air nailer. The string light is just randomly wrapped around the branches and wired into the light outlet so it can be controlled from an inside switch.

I always liked the louvered look of steel awnings and wanted to somehow incorporate this into the design. I think this finishes off the slight overhang of the shade structure too.

I did the floor in a gray color to match the shade fabric and to break up the black.

I wanted some natural wood tones also. Reclaimed cedar pickets from a fence is what I used to wrapped the lower half. It provides shade and hides my sons toys and my lumber for other projects.

Another floor view with the rug.

A view of the shade structure and fabric. It cuts out about 80 to 90% of the sun and still allows good ventilation.

Now that the extreme heat is over it is time to enjoy this bad boy. No invitation needed, just stop by and relax.

Over A Month...Really? C'mon!

I hate that it's been over a month since my last post, and that wasn't even my post, just something I found interesting. I said it before that I had a lot of projects going on and was having a hard time finding the strength and inspiration to blog...cry cry cry. Excuses be no more!! I got a new phone with fun camera apps and it's super fast and I hope to be able to blog on the fly.

Here is one of the past redesign projects that has been going on. Our living room is starting to look like something and more will be added as time goes on, but it's a start.

This wall was inspired by the 25 most important mid century designs. Thanks to curbly.com for the free download and thanks to my mind and corner wall that needed some pizazz.

This is my 6 dollar chair rebuild. A little cleaning and a fresh coat of teak oil and this thing looked brand new. I found a faux fur throw to dress it up a bit for 2 dollars and it turned out pretty cool. Not bad for an 8 dollar splurge. I saw one yesterday just like it in an antique store for 300 bucks, that makes me feel pretty good about it.

You guys remember this right? 20 bucks. It's what started this whole love affair with mid century design.

Here is the "wow" factor of the room. I thought it would be the first thing people see when they walk in but it usually takes a little time and then BAM! 25 dollars at habitat, a little cleaning and construction cone orange spray paint is all it took. 

This was a gift from the ladies that help us out around the house. Carolyn and Jamie are the best and we get them little gifts throughout the year to show our appreciation and they bring us awesome baked goods around the holidays and this. A retro orange foot stool that is so perfect. I remember walking in one day and wondering where in the hell this thing came from. Talk about being thoughtful, this blew me away. 

I was searching and searching for a round glass coffee table forever and could not find one. I ran across this on craigslist for 10 bucks and decided it may work. I ended up being boring and just painting it a gloss black enamel. It works for now until I can build what I want.

And this is the view from up above in the kitchen over looking the living room. This pic could or needs to be better, but it gets the idea across pretty good. So far, so good. 

Last Weekends Projects

We have been wanting to do away with the 10 year old honey oak that was in our kitchen for quite some time. After painting our cabinets a few years ago I finally got around to changing the handrail. Our house is a split level or split level(s) as our master bedroom is on one level. Kitchen, Ki's room, spare bedroom and bathroom is on another level. The living room and entryway on another level. The basement living room, bathroom, and office on another level. Each level had honey oak railings to accompany the stairs. I went back and forth on staining vs painting. I decided on black to match our cabinets and other decor througout the house. We are still debating on changing the spindles or I may just do some sort of paint treatment or may just leave them as they are. Next up is the floors which I am not looking forward to, but it will be nice to bring them into the present day.

That same weekend I painted the hallway and stairway the same as the rest of the living room. It was a chocolate brown color from a previous era that I was just so done with. With the help of a few nics and hand prints from my son it was a perfect time to change it. I also stumbled across a board and batten treatment for an otherwise useless hallway wall. Thank you http://www.centsationalgirl.com/ for the killer idea. It makes the hallway so much brighter and clean. Eventually I will find some hooks or knobs and hang some cool framed pics from them, but until then this is what it looks like.

Have a nice weekend and try to stay warm.

Paint It Black

A while back we redesigned a spare guest room in our house and went with a black and white scheme. It's a work in progress and I wanted some one off art to go in there, and who better to make this happen than a 5 year old ( 4 at the time ). I gave him a black foam core board and white craft paint and said get after it. Kids art, to me, is the most amazing art there is. They just go for it and the thoughts and ideas just pour out. I have always said that if I were to build my own dream home I would have a 100' hallway lined with kids art. How cool would that be. 

Have A Drink And Smile

 

Two years ago my father in law started making his own wine. Over the past two years of experimentation and research and hundreds of opinionated wine "connoisseur's" he is starting to find his niche. The brews are made from mid missouri fruits such as blackberries, wild plums, and grapes from a vineyard of a family friend. I have to admit that he is starting to make quite a name for himself in the small community where they live.

This past summer my in laws added on a new garage and a small cellar where he will be able to keep his stock, brew new batches, and my least favorite part....taste testing. For you see taste testing requires many little paper cups filled up with sweet and delicious wine, fresh out of the glass tanks in which they are made. This makes for a fun few hours, but as time passes you start to forget your whereabouts, you start to forget about that 7 a.m. tee time, and if you stick around long enough you start to forget how to put full sentences together. You see what I'm getting at right?

A few weekends ago my wife and I go to visit and I walk in on this 20' long cabinet that use to belong in an old bar in some old small town where old men probably sat around and grumbled about old cows or old cars or old wives. This thing is AMAZINGLY AWESOME!!!! It was a purplish color (could have been a topic that the old men grumbled about) that my father in law, with a little help, sanded down a little bit and added the compartments that will hold the wine that he crafts. I thought it needed to look like a piece that has been handed down through generations of italian wine makers, thrown on a cargo ship, and after changing trucks a few dozen times delivered to the new wine cellar. I added a distressed black over the whole piece while letting some of the history show through. I think it turned out really nice and as it gets banged around it will just add to the charm. I won't tell you what he paid for this, but lets just say it changed hands over a cup of genenral store coffee.

I hope to add more pictures as the production and inventory grows, until then have a drink on me.