Sneak Peek - Dining Room Curtains

It was a giddy moment when my new curtains went up in my dining room this afternoon. 

I still have one more panel to make and a few more finishing touches and the dining room will be done**.   

The best thing about these curtains?  They look luxurious, but each panel took about 20 minutes to make and cost me only $22.00.   

I even made a matching cord cozy to cover my chandelier chain and wires.

More to come...

**I reserve the right to add, tweak or change anything in the room, large or small, even if the room is declared done.  Such changes may happen without notice and may be changed back at my discretion.  These changes do not need to be submitted in writing and require no pre-authorization.  A state of doneness may only be declared for a limited time.  This dining room is non-transferable and void in states where prohibited. 

A Vintage Find With Many Modern Uses

Yesterday, I shared some of my newly acquired yard sale and flea market finds and this vintage milk delivery box was among the deals.  It didn't look like this when I bought it, though.

The box was in excellent condition with a clean interior (it wan't all rusted and nasty), but the paint advertising the dairy had worn off.  This box fit several categories that I look for in what I buy.  It has a story, it is multi-functional, and it's great storage.  I can image one of these sitting on my front porch when my house was young (it was built in the 1940's.)  I am not old enough to remember those days, but we did have bread, beer, and sodas delivered to our door when we lived in Germany. 

I decided to use the blank front to my advantage and marry the vintage piece with a modern product.  Chalkboard paint was the perfect solution.  This box can become anything you want it to be. 

How about as an ice bucket or cooler for drinks?  If I was using this for ice, I would want to put a plastic liner in it, just to be safe, but the insulated box would keep your ice chilled as you guests linger through the evening hours.

I also immediately pictured it being a perfect and stylish place to store powdered laundry detergent.  It's almost the perfect size to drop a small box of soap into. 

Idea number three is to use it as diaper storage.  A clever girl, Katie Bell, used one she found at a yard sale this way.   I store my diapers in a metal bread box, so we are definitely on the same track.  I tested it out and it is the perfect size for half a box of diapers.

It's a great idea to keep diapers handy and hidden in a common room. 

Some other ideas...

• 
  
  Use it as a planter or to store potting soil.  To successfully grow a plant in it, make sure you drill holes at the bottom or fill it with gravel to provide proper drainage. 
• 
  
  It's a good size to hide your non-pretty toiletries in the bathroom, like hair products and lotions.  It would also look great sitting on the toilet tank to keep extra TP rolls on hand.
• 
  
  If you have a great porch, why not sit one on the steps as a nod to the past?  Sometimes an item doesn't need to be repurposed to be used in a creative way. 

Now, go enjoy the fireworks.  Happy Independence Day! 

I linked this up to SNS over at Donna's blog. 

Another Door And More

Well, it seems like an entire stash of antique doors is just not enough for me. 

I had to buy one more today while I was out at yard sales today.  I picked up this split barn door (hardware and cobwebs included) for $5.00. 

It is going to make a perfect closet door for my guest room.  Oh, my poor, poor hubby. 

I also picked up an oar for a song.  It's a little rough, but I am planning to sand down the blonde finish and put a rich coat of dark walnut on it. 

I sold a vintage metal tool box almost exactly like this at Lucketts, so I jumped at the chance to buy another.  I love the color and chippy paint.

I also found a couple more aqua beverage crates like one I sold at Lucketts. 

And one of my favorite finds of the day was this vintage dairy box.  I've wanted one for a long time and finally found one at a price I could afford.  I can't wait to share what I'm doing with it. 

Tonight I sewed a set of curtain panels for my dining room and I have loads of things that need my attention, so I'll have a lot of new things to blog about over the next couple of weeks.

Kerala home plan elevation and floor plan - 2254 Sq FT

Total area of the house - 2254 sq ft
Total cost of construction - 27 lakhs
Owner - Mr. Mr. Basheer K
Location - Manakkadave, Calicut
Designer - Shukoor C Manapat, Lloyds, Calicut

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Shukoor C Manapat
Lloyds
Architecture/Planning/Interiors
Second Floor
Marina Residency, YMCA Cross Raod
Calicut
Mobile # 9847981035

Determination and a Treat

Can you believe I fit both of these lanterns in my suitcase and they arrived (on a plane from Florida) intact?  I found them at Ross for only $12/each and I was determined to get them home with me.  Mission accomplished.

This is not a foodie blog, but I couldn't resist sharing a simple and yummy summer treat with you. 

A homemade ice cream sandwich is sure to please kids and adults alike.  Simply bake your favorite cookie.  You can use a mix or make them from scratch.  Allow them to cool.  Stuff with a complimenting ice cream, wrap with saran wrap, and freeze until hardened. 

Yum.

PS - I have not forgotten about the free design consultations.  I picked a few of my favorite comments and I am going to put it up for a vote in a few days.  The winner of the vote will be my test subject.  I'm snapping my rubber gloves right now...muh-ha-ha!  Stay tuned! 

What I Look For

When I go shopping, I never know what I'm going to look for or what I'm going to find.  There are certain things I always gravitate towards, but I go with an open mind and I am often surprised at what I come home with.  These are some of the qualities that catch my eye...

Pieces that were utilized in daily life.  I love elevating something that was functional to something that's all about looks.

I love things like fans, scales, clocks, linens, kitchen utensils...things that are humble.

Things that are multi-functional.  Baskets, boxes, totes and platters can be used in so many practical ways and they look great, too.

Things that were special.  I love christening gowns, not only for their detail and delicate beauty, but because they were worn on a very important day in a baby's life.  

I also look for trophies, letters, and other sentimental items and keepsakes.

Things that are unique. I must admit that I get a lot of raised eyebrows from my friends and family for some of the things I buy, but I love having pieces that people want to stop, look at, and wonder about.  This calf muzzle definitely falls in that category. 

This old, rusty metal piece is a curiosity...

...as are these duck callers and umbrella handles.

Things that can be reinvented.  I love the shape of this chicken feeder and have loads of ideas on how to use it.  I'm always looking at pieces for what they can be, not what they are.

Things that look cool.  Sometimes, it's just about the look.  If something will look really cool in a bowl, on a wall, or on a table, it's a contender for coming home with me.

And to be a little more specific, I am always on the lookout for ironstone, Bakelite flatware, monogrammed linens, feed sacks, and architectural pieces.

What do you look for?

By the way, my glass canisters are featured today over at CRESCENDoh.  Check it out!

Office Furniture Plan and Elevation - 2615 sq. feet

Total Area-2615 sq. ft.
Ground Floor-1528 sq. ft.
First Floor-1087 sq. ft.

Architect : Praveen.M
moyacheri (ho)
kottakkal
vatakara(via)
Phone:9645457494,9388744505.04962275234
Email:praveenarchitect.m32@gmail.com
Click on each image for larger view