Store-Front Doors for His New Closet

I

n addition to the two barn-style doors on the master bath and my closet, RJNJ also made out well on the master bedroom makeover. He has his own newly-built closet with this set of screen doors, which came from an original store-front in historic downtown Duluth, MN. The brass pull, the pull/push signs mounted on either side of the right door, the warm patina...what's not to love?!

BEFORE...icky carpet (ish!), strips on walls, NO closet!!

DURING...closet added, walls done, flooring in, doors installed...

This pair of store-front doors was an antique store find from a couple years ago. I had no idea where or when they would be used! All I knew was that they were special and that they had potential. They ended up being used as our headboard over the past two years. When we were discussing the master bedroom overhaul, the natural place for this pair of doors became apparent. The closet opening was built specifically to fit these doors. Sometimes you find the right piece but have to wait for the right time and place. Don't you agree?

AFTER...closet shelving installed...

THE NOOK...

When the closet was added to the room, a nook was created to the right of the closet near the window. Originally, I put a dresser here. The dresser was later moved to my closet, so I pulled this table (formerly in the guest room) from the junk shed and created this blue and white vignette.

THRIFTY TREASURES...

As I was thinking about this mix of pieces, each item took me back to the time, place, event, and people involved. I think it's often about the excitement of finding a great deal that I remember most! The table and lamp are garage sale/estate sale finds. The shell mirror and duck decoy are both from antique stores. The chair is one of a pair I picked up at one of Minnesota's infamous occasional sales. I had two of the striped lumbar pillows made by a vendor at the Ely Blueberry Festival last year. And those footed urns? They are from a rare trip to Home Goods with my friend, Lani@Cottage Elements. The shape, the design, the patina, and the price were too good to pass up!

Do your finds take you back to the place and time when you found them? Do you ever buy something (like the doors above) that whisper to you sweetly? And even though you don't know where it will go, you know you will find the perfect home for it eventually?

A Simple Way to Revitalize a Wood Finish

 

Y

ou've seen the two doors we added during our master bedroom makeover. Well, they both received a little TLC before they took up residence in the cottage. Here's a quick little tutorial on how to add a little pep to a slightly tired but fabulous piece.

BEFORE

Here are the doors after they just arrived home...

You can see that the doors had some fabulous patina. And I love patina! I don't mind scratches and other forms of character that age and wear bring to a piece.

These doors would have been good as is, but why settle for good when great is within reach? I thought I would take a few easy steps to put a bit of zip back into these doors. I simply wanted to respect the history and character of the piece while adding some richness to the finish.

ADDING THE ZIP

I started with a scraper and gently scraped off old scotch tape and other remnants of college teaching days. After a light sand over the entire piece, I pulled out the tung oil, which is designed to add some richness and vitality to wood. I used that foam brush to wipe it onto the entire side of one of the doors. I then used a rag to wipe off any excess. After giving it a while to dry, I flipped the door and did the other side. I repeated the steps with the second door. Compare the sheen on the door below to the photos above. Big difference!

 

ADDING THE HARDWARE

Above is a close-up of the brass "Ship's Nurse" plaque that we mounted on the door to the master bath. For the flat track trolleys, we lined them up on the door and pre-drilled holes. We found screws that had a rustic patina (shiny new screws would not have looked right!) and that were the proper length (always check the length of your screws so that you don't go through the other side!).

Here is one that has been fully attached. Notice how the channels in the flathead screws are all horizontal and parallel to each other. That's an eye for detail! (Nice job, honey!)

ADDING THEM TO THE ROOM

Here they are again...revitalized and moved into their new home at WhisperWood Cottage...

 

For the full master bedroom barn-style door transformations, check out the posts on door #1 and door #2.

Do you have any simple tips or tricks for revitalizing a piece? What products do you recommend?

Master Bedroom Makeover: Barn-Style Door #2 on Her Closet

A

second salvaged school door paired with a second set of salvaged barn flat track equals the new doorway to my walk-in closet!  Our master bedroom makeover continues!! You saw the first door and track set on the entry to the master bath. This second set is just as fun and it's mine, all mine! [cue maniacal laughter here]

THE TRANSFORMATION

BEFORE...green carpet, strips on walls, brown trim & doors...

DURING...closet clad in wood, new flooring put in, trim added...

AFTER...door and track added...

THE STORY BEHIND THE DOORS

I looove knowing the history of pieces! And I found out some interesting nostalgia for you on these doors!! Remember I told you that I found the doors this summer at the garage sale of my friend, Sue@JunkMarket Style? It turns out that she had gotten them from my other friend, Cammie@Daffadowndilly's, a few years back. After seeing the previous door post, Cammie emailed me and gave me the full scoop. She said she had rescued them from a building remodel on the Wayne State College campus in Wayne, NE. How cool is that?! Along with the 1800s flat track our parents had rescued from an 1800s barn, this project is full of history!

Does anyone else get excited about knowing the history of a junk or antique piece as much as I do?

     

Monster Mash...

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

H

appy Halloween! I thought you would enjoy this fun Jib Jab Sendable eCard I customized starring some of my favorite ghouls and goblins!! It's a hoot! Click the arrow to play it. I'm still laughing...I could watch it over and over (and I have!). Now, go make one of your own!!

Moving into 2nd Gear!

L

adies and gentlemen, start your engines! Here is RJNJ's second gear-inspired lamp made from salvaged auto parts. We are still using the first lamp he made as a docking station for our cell phones in the entry way. This one was made especially as a birthday gift for one of RJNJ's gear-head buddies. It is made from a Chevrolet piston and transmission gears. Who has a talented hubby? Oh, yeah, I do!

Blogging Makes You Lucky!

B

logging totally makes you lucky. What do I mean? Well, think about how lucky you are to have the blog friends, the blog inspiration, and the blog fun that surrounds you. I have been blogging for just over a year, which means I have known all of the people mentioned in this post (and you!) for less than that amount of time. And I am so lucky to know each of them! I have realized that bloggers are also a generous bunch of folks. Over the past couple months, I have received many great gifts from these warm-hearted bloggers.

FROM THE JUNKMARKET GIRLS...

It all started in August, during Oronoco Gold Rush Days. Kathy@Sylvia's Vintage Daughter and Candy@Junk Sophisticate drove all the way from Ohio to join the JunkMarket crew for junking fun in the sun. Kathy surprised me with a fabulous carafe filled with chocolate bars and blocks that spell out A-M-Y. Candy gifted me with a piece from a vintage grinder (fabulous as a tea light candle holder) filled with chocolates (trust me they were there at one time) and a name tag made from scrabble tiles. Ms. Sue@JunkMarket gifted each of us with a fun tag that says "Sterile Normal Saline"...it's hanging on the handle of that carafe. Last, but definitely not least, the Pfarkel Sisters@Junk {re}defined made me smile when they handed me a fabulous bottle of wine with a personalized Pfarkel label...

FROM BETH@OLD TYME MARKETPLACE

In early September, I won a giveaway hosted by Beth@Old Tyme Marketplace. What did I win? Chicken poop. Yes, you read that correctly. It's an all-natural lip moisturizer...and it works great!! She also surprised me with this adorable monogrammed toile pillow. Looove it!

FROM LANI & GRETCHEN

In mid-September, I attended Junk Bonanza (yeehaw!) to shop "a bit" and spend some time with my girls, Lani@Cottage Elements and Gretchen@Mimi-Toria's Designs, who had a booth at the show. September was my birthday month, so the girls surprised me with a necklace Gretchen made from a vintage cash register piece.

FROM HEATHER BULLARD

While at Junk Bonanza, I attended the blog party. My name was drawn as the recipient of this fabulous bag from Heather Bullard. Love her, her designs, and her photography!

FROM JUNK REVOLUTION

Remember waaaay back in the spring when I won the Ugliest Light Fixture contest over on the Junk Camp blog? To be honest, I didn't even know there was a prize involved (apparently I did not read the details!). I was just doing it for fun. When I found out that my idea was chosen as the winner, I also found out that I won a gift certificate from Junk Revolution. I was able to use that gift certificate at Junk Bonanza. Here is what I picked out...

FROM DEB & DANNY

When RJNJ and I made the trip to Texas for a wedding in late September, we were able to spend one day at Texas Antique Weekend. Deb & Danny@Talking Trash surprised me with these fun koozies that proclaim to the world that I am a "Cat Daddy's Kitten." Deb also gifted me with a thoughtful junk item (not shown)...a tie clip with a precious petite camera on it. With all that they have to do for that show, she took the time to pack that heartfelt gift because she knew I was going to be there. Can I tell you how much I admire these thoughtful people? Smile, CD!

FROM STAN WILLIAMS, THE ELEGANT THRIFTER

While in Texas, we met up with Stan Williams@The Elegant Thrifter, author of The Find. Here he is below doing a book signing at the blog party hosted by Theresa@Garden Antqs Vintage (and her handsome hubby, Cruz...I just love to say that name! Anyone remember Cruz Castillo from the soap Santa Barbara? There's something with that name! Hi, Cruz!). Stan, generous man that he is, gifted me with a copy of The Find. I read it the entire flight home! Normally I sleep on the plane, but I was so enthralled with each page of his book that I just had to keep reading!!

So, tell me...how lucky are you? Have you made blogging friends that you so appreciate? Have you found bloggers that you admire? Have you found blogs that inspire you? Have you won or been gifted some fabulous treasures? Tell me how blogging makes you feel lucky...

Master Bedroom Makeover: Barn-Style Door on Entry to Master Bath

D

o you remember the master bedroom makeover we've been working on? It's amazing when I think of where we started and the amount work that RJNJ did to transform the walls and floors. I remember the feeling of joy when the rug was laid and the canopy bed was delivered.

If you remember, the room was still not complete when the photo above was first posted. We still had doors to install in other parts of the room. This post is all about the entrance to the master bath. Here's the transformation that took place...

BEFORE...strips on walls, brown door and trim, green carpeting...

DURING...walls and floors done, no door to master bath...

AFTER...door to master bath installed...

No, that is not your standard door! We picked up two of these schnazzy old school doors this summer from the garage sale held by Sue Whitney of JunkMarket fame. After a little TLC and bit of polishing, they were ready to be hung! They are mounted on flat track that our parents rescued from an 1800s barn that was being torn down. They are the real deal!! A brass ship's nurse plaque mounted to the center and a ship's key for the upper deck showers inserted in the keyhole adds a bit of fun to the mix!