COCKTAILS ANYONE?

A Vintage Board, Scoop and Bowl...Make an Eye Pleasing Platter!

After record amounts of rain, I'm ready for some sun and a gathering with friends. I like to keep things simple with some Italian treats and good wine.  But how I display it -- really makes it shine! I use an extra large salvaged board (waxed and ready for food), some salvage goodies, like small bowls and extra large scoops, and then I make my own vase out of salvage belts --so much fun!  Displaying with salvaged, vintage and recycled materials is not only fun -- but really adds a WOW element to any party!

Shannon's Display! Don't you want something cool to drink?

My friend Shannon Quimby, www.shannonquimby.com, threw a really fun party a while back and used some creative vintage items to display her beverages! Check her site out for more creative ideas!

My sister, Rosanne, our friend Shannon, and me getting ready for Shannon's guests to show up!

Think about different ways you can add salvage -- an piece of stone, driftwood, glass...the possibilities are endless!  Have fun. For some really fun vintage accessories, check out www.barnhousemarket.com or a couple of vintage goodies sites on www.etsy.com.

My best, Joanne

DIRTY SALVAGE!

Dirty Salvage! Oil and Oil Tanks!

Were you hoping for something else?  Most people (including me) think about good looking salvage items-- stained glass windows, doors, wood, glass... but what about old oil tanks? Many families are converting to natural gas and leave their old oil tank and the extra oil sitting in their basement because they don't know what to do.  There are people (many times the gas company can give you a name) who will come and remove the tanks and take the oil to use for their family and give away or sell the tanks. We had two oil tanks -- one in our home and one in our cottage. Since they had a fair amount of oil in them -- the cost of the removal was really low.  They only had to cut one of them up (to get out of the space). They will clean the pieces and sell to a salvage scrap metal yard and the other tank, they took out whole and will recycled it or sell it. With oil prices the way they are, you can help someone else with your salvaged oil while getting rid of a potential environmental hazard from your home.
My Best, Joanne

DESIGN WORK

I love when I get the opportunity to work with great designers on a project including this one with the interior design team of TruexCullins Architecture and Interior Design that designed the suites at the Tram Haus Lodge at Jay Peak Resort.  The bed is made by a local company with local wood and the the bedside tables are made with metal and concrete. Concrete is a popular product because it can contain a great deal of salvage material and it is long lasting -- which makes it a green product as well. This concrete table made by Red Concrete, which has an imprint of the resort's logo, has salvaged glass in it! Even in commerical design, it is important to think outside the box and use green, salvage and local materials whenever possible.  Photo by Susan Teare.
My best, Joanne

BETTER HOMES AND GARDEN ARTICLE AND ONLINE STORY!

CHECK OUT THE STORY ABOUT OUR MUDROOM!

The JUNE issue of Better Homes and Garden Magazine is out and there is a story about our mudroom -- making a pegwall in a day for less than $300! It was really fun and our daughter was the star of the show. You can check out the magazine and the STEP-BY-STEP article on their website as well. The ONLINE version shows pictures of Steve and I creating the wall!  Remember you can find pegboards, hooks, baskets, and pieces of wainscotting at your local recycle or architectural salvage shop! 
My best, Joanne

CARDBOARD!

I cannot begin to tell you how many projects we do here with cardboard.  For Gabrielle is usually involves a spaceship, entire tunnel city, or this project, a race car from boxes that Better Homes and Garden Magazine left us from a fabulous photo shoot (more on that later).

  I think people underestimate what you can do with cardboard. There are so many things besides making great toys for kids -- you can make gift cards, tags, even lighting fixtures--which I'm about to attempt. I will show you pictures as soon as that project is complete. Have some fun with cardboard! 
My best, Joanne

I WAS IN PIGGY HEAVEN!

A Pig in an Italian Architectural Salvage Yard!

Traveling to Italy with my twin sister, Rosanne, was a huge treat. Add in some flea markets, architectural salvage shops and a thrift stores and you have a vacation made in heaven.

When I travel I love to bring something back that has some history! I never feel the need to bring anything big back-- a small change purse that some little old lady donated to the thrift shop or even a piece of tile I can use as an accent in my home, is enough. They always remind me of the amazing time I had and the history of each place I visited.
Ciao, Joanne

Still Kicking Myself I Didn't Buy This.

I Use This Change Purse I Bought at a Second Hand Shop in Venice to Hold My Jewelry When I Travel.

Rosanne and I Stopping for Lunch on Our Way to a Flea Market!

KARIN LIDBECK BRENT

My dear friend, Karin, at one of her photo shoots.
Photo by Michael Partenio

We all love looking at pictures in magazines and ooohhh and awwww over them. Besides an exceptional photographer, there is usually a very talented photo stylist behind the scene, like my dear friend Karin Lidbeck Brent.  Karin has been a photo stylist for over twenty years for magazines like Better Homes and Garden, Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Renovation Style, Country Garden, and many, many more. She has an amazing eye and loves to use salvaged and recycled items in her shots. (When she visits Vermont, I always know that many of my own home's salvaged goodies will end up in a shot.) She is so talented and has her own blog that gives great ideas for decorating and flowers. I hope you check it out.
My best,
Joanne

THE BEST CUP OF COFFEE....CHAIRS!

I love my coffee.  I mean I make a ritual of it in the morning.  Heat the milk, froth it, scoop my freshly ground coffee into a metal Keurig filter (I don't use the plastic ones), press the button and then for the grand finale I add my maple syrup. Mmmmmmm..... So when I saw these over-stuffed chairs covered in salvaged coffee bags I knew I had to post them. I don't think I'm the only one who loves these chairs since the post on Etsy got over 15,000 hits!  Great job on the COFFEE BAG CHAIRS!

My Best, Joanne