COUNTRY STORE COUNTER -- A DESIGN PIECE



A Country Store Island at Champlain Valley Antiques.
Perfect for a Kitchen Island!

In my book, Salvage Secrets, (which is coming out very soon -- Yippee!) I talk a lot about designing around salvage pieces, such as vintage doors, posts, beams and even larger pieces like a country store counter.  Yesterday, on a ROAD TRIP adventure with my twin sister, Rosanne, and daughter, Gabrielle, we came across an amazing piece that is SO "design around worthy" we had to share.  Champlain Valley Antiques -- one of my favorite antique/vintage goodies stops -- had a vintage Country Store Counter with a back that made your heart stop -- with drawers and pulls. Perfect as someones kitchen island!  Just place it on a platform to raise it up a little and you have yourself a showpiece!  It's not only an incrediable design aesthetic for your home but it is an affordable solution to a custom built cabinetry island. Whether you are renovating or building new, think about working your design around a very cool salvaged, recycled or vintage piece. You'll be glad you did!

Drink Anyone?

My Sister Thinking About How She is Going
to Get the Counter in Her Carry-On! 



RECLAIMED WOOD! DESIGN IDEAS

Amazing Before and After Story of Salvaged Wood Wall on Design Sponge Blog

I talk a lot about "salvaged" wood -- but many people use different names: reclaimed, recycled, used, old, vintage, antique.  I have to admit -- I do love the word RECLAIMED! There is something very strong about it :) Just like the numerous names for this type of wood there are numerous ideas for it!

I've placed a few pictures BELOW just to wet your appetite. Barnwood Naturals, a company out of Oregon, has an amazing gallery of pictures of salvaged wood walls and ceilings (not to mention hundreds of other ideas)  Also--check out my Ideabooks on Houzz.com-- one is Salvaged Wood! 
My Best,
Joanne

How Cool is That?
From Barnwood Naturals Wall Design Page

Another Great Barn Board Ideas from Barnwood Natural

Not All Salvaged Wood Needs to be Dark.
Source: Barnwood Natural

Coastal Living Magazines, Coastal White Story
Don't Forget--Recycled Lumber--It's a Great Way to Get Those Cottage White Walls!

SUMMER SALVAGE FUN!



Salvaged Dock Turns Swim Platform into Summer Fun!

What do you get when you use a salvaged piece of dock and a craigslist diving board? Hours and hours of summer fun! Steve put together recycled pieces and created an amazing swimming platform for the kids (of all ages) to enjoy year after year.  Check your local craigslist for your own summer fun finds!
My Best,
Joanne

Used Diving Board found on Craigs List!

Find Your Own Salvaged Summer Fun!

FATHER'S DAY GIFT IDEA: SALVAGED LUMBER SAWHORSES

Gabrielle's Homemade Father's Day Gift to Her Dad!

Last year, Gabrielle (age 10) wanted nothing more than build her father some sawhorses for Father's Day.  Of course, that took a little Internet research on "How to Build a Sawhorse"  including watching a video on the DIY website.  Using salvaged dimensional lumber we found at ReStore Building Supplies, together, armed with plans, a drill, and a few hours, we cut the salvaged lumber to size, used lots of screws and crossed our fingers. They turned out alright! (Sturdy was more important than pretty --so don't look too close.) Gabrielle added the finishing touch with a little red paint!  He loves them and uses them all the time. I'm not sure how she's going to top that this year--I'm a little nervous to find out :) Happy Father's Day!
My best,
Joanne

GARDENING WITH SALVAGE STUFF!

One of the Ideas from This Old House!

Be Creative With Your Gardens!

You don't need to wear your garden on your head to be creative (unless you are going to Crazy Hat day at school). Salvaged pieces, vintage iron gates, old buckets, recycled tubs, even kid's toys will add some spark to your garden and a smile to your face. This Old House has a fun article on ways to add salvage goods to your garden. Check it out!
My best,
Joanne

ROAD TRIP STOPS!

My friend, Tina, browsing at the Pink Pig in Essex, New York

A few days ago, Tina and I were travelling to upstate New York (via the ferry) and stopped in Essex, NY (just across the lake from Charlotte, Vermont--where one of our favorite shop, Abel and Lovely, is located). We discovered two amazing boutique stores:  The Pink Pig and The Neighborhood Nest.  Debbie Schrodt, the owner of the Pink Pig, just opened the Essex shop (she also has one in Westport)  and Barbara Page, the owner of The Neighborhood Nest, has been serving the area for a while. The shops complement each other with their variety of unique items. I recommend you check them out --I know I'll be back! 
My best,
Joanne

I was in love with the French-inspired look of vintage chairs and pillows at the Pink Pig!

Lots of salvaged and vintage outdoor furniture on the porch at The Neighborhood Nest

Barbara Page's original artwork is painted on salvaged pieces of wood, including the one I purchased made from a piece of a boat that floated up to shore!

And of course, our gal pals, at Abel and Lovely, across the lake in Charlotte, Vermont

CRAFTY SALVAGE!



Yesterday Bella Buckles participated in the Queen City Craft Fair!  What a thrill it was to see that over 90% of the vendors were using recycled or salvaged material.  It is not your grandmother's craft show anymore with Popsicle stick figures -- we are talking beautifully crafted clothing with vintage material, mixed media collages made with salvaged frames, tins and books, recycled felt monster dolls, our buckles made with recycled material and other cool buckles made with license plates, notebooks made with book covers and even plants placed in recycled dinosaurs!  It was a great day meeting fellow artisans and seeing that it only takes a little bit of imagination (and gumption) to create unique pieces out of salvage material!  Below are some of the amazing vendors and links to their shops!  Enjoy.
My Best,
Joanne

Lorraine Reynolds...Glimmering Prize

My Egg Blue...Robin Lauzon Parker's Recycled Fabric Monsters!

Recycle Moe! Moe O'Hara..recycled artist extraordinaire!

Janice Lloyd's Red Thread!  Repurposed Salvaged and Vintage Clothing!

The other buckle lady that was there! Heather Turnbull...ScrapMetalMags

Roar!  Found Beauty Studio...Laura Hale

Tina manning the booth! Bella Buckles Rock

We love sharing our recycled material stories to customers!

I LOVE WHAT I DO!

Everyday is different for me. Some days I'm designing, others I'm writing, and sometimes I get to do something really cool, like yesterday! A friend of mine helped me catalog a bunch of architectural salvage pieces at a turn of the century school that is becoming a senior center. We're helping the owner find homes (back in the project and other business) for all the amazing items. Granted we were a little afraid of all the birds-- the squawking was so bad we thought they were going to carry us away. I don't even want to know what was in the science lab closet -- the chemical bottles were still full. Check out some of the fun stuff we came across -- not to mention, miles and miles of slate chalkboards pieces!

I Remember Passing Notes...I Mean Studying Hard in this Class.

Check out the Picture in My Blog Header and You'll Know I Love Metal Lockers! You Can Get So Creative With Them.

One of My Favorite Finds!  The Workshop Table! Can You See This In a Bakery? I Can.

My goal is to help these salvaged pieces be given new lives!  Remember to reuse and think outside the box.
My best,
Joanne