Project: Chalkboard Paint

I'm a little bit in love with chalkboard paint. It's an easy solution when a piece of furniture has an appealing design but a not-so-nice finish. I've used it most on desks and workbenches (above and below) because it heightens their functionality. Who needs post-its when you can scribble notes to yourself in chalk and erase them when they no longer apply (a greener solution than scraps of paper). 

Chalkboard paint can turn a wall into a message board or a place to publish favored quotes and sayings. I'm tempted to paint the wall next to my shop door so that customers can treat it as an informal guest book. Now that chalkboard paint comes in virtually every color, there's no reason not to indulge in what used to be childish misbehavior -- drawing on the walls.

Images: RevivalSmith, Casual Living: No-Fuss Style for a Comfortable Home by Judith Wilson, photography by Polly Wreford, published by Ryland, Peters & Small, 2010. Living etc magazine, February 2010 issue.

Project: Chalkboard Paint

I'm a little bit in love with chalkboard paint. It's an easy solution when a piece of furniture has an appealing design but a not-so-nice finish. I've used it most on desks and workbenches (above and below) because it heightens their functionality. Who needs post-its when you can scribble notes to yourself in chalk and erase them when they no longer apply (a greener solution than scraps of paper). 

Chalkboard paint can turn a wall into a message board or a place to publish favored quotes and sayings. I'm tempted to paint the wall next to my shop door so that customers can treat it as an informal guest book. Now that chalkboard paint comes in virtually every color, there's no reason not to indulge in what used to be childish misbehavior -- drawing on the walls.

Images: RevivalSmith, Casual Living: No-Fuss Style for a Comfortable Home by Judith Wilson, photography by Polly Wreford, published by Ryland, Peters & Small, 2010. Living etc magazine, February 2010 issue.

Project: Lamp Making

When I discovered a few years ago how easy it is to re-wire a lamp, I soon progressed to making lamps out of cool objects I found at flea markets and antique shops--like the tripod above (see here for instructions). Since starting my own business, I've created a small collection of one-of-a-kind lamps out of everything from vintage tins to industrial molds. I have two main criteria for deciding if an object will make the transition: I have to be able to drill a hole large enough to fit a lamp pipe and then be able to tighten a nut at the base that doesn't compromise the lamp's balance (or be able to adjust the base to support the hardware and electrical cord). Clear cords are the priciest but they're guaranteed not to be an eyesore. 

Each piece presents its own unique set of challenges, some of which can't be foreseen until the work has started. Sometimes the trickiest part of the project is tracking down a lampshade that complements the base. Most often, I choose simple shades that don't compete with the object base. But I will occasionally recover an existing shade with fabric if I can't find what I want in the marketplace. Joann carries self adhesive lampshades that take the guess work out of that task. Overhead light serves a purpose, but a great lamp serves style and ambiance.

Wood cog.

Wood vase turned upside down.

Vintage wallpaper printing roller.

 Stack of vintage books (drilling holes through paper requires space to make a mess).

A vintage coffee tin.

A wood spool with a metal dry measure shade (requires low-energy bulbs to keep it from over-heating).

Project: Lamp Making

When I discovered a few years ago how easy it is to re-wire a lamp, I soon progressed to making lamps out of cool objects I found at flea markets and antique shops--like the tripod above (see here for instructions). Since starting my own business, I've created a small collection of one-of-a-kind lamps out of everything from vintage tins to industrial molds. I have two main criteria for deciding if an object will make the transition: I have to be able to drill a hole large enough to fit a lamp pipe and then be able to tighten a nut at the base that doesn't compromise the lamp's balance (or be able to adjust the base to support the hardware and electrical cord). Clear cords are the priciest but they're guaranteed not to be an eyesore. 

Each piece presents its own unique set of challenges, some of which can't be foreseen until the work has started. Sometimes the trickiest part of the project is tracking down a lampshade that complements the base. Most often, I choose simple shades that don't compete with the object base. But I will occasionally recover an existing shade with fabric if I can't find what I want in the marketplace. Joann carries self adhesive lampshades that take the guess work out of that task. Overhead light serves a purpose, but a great lamp serves style and ambiance.

Wood cog.

Wood vase turned upside down.

Vintage wallpaper printing roller.

 Stack of vintage books (drilling holes through paper requires space to make a mess).

A vintage coffee tin.

A wood spool with a metal dry measure shade (requires low-energy bulbs to keep it from over-heating).