BLUE GLASS, A THRIFT STORE FIND!

Vintage Blue Glasses...My Recent Thrift Store Find.

I Think This is My New Favorite Color!

I always like to stop at Thrift Stores whenever I see one.  I happened upon one in Waterbury, Vermont this weekend.  Thrift stores can be hit or miss -- but I love to keep looking because sometimes you come across something that is just right! These blue glasses -- almost a full set -- did that for me. Now, not only will they function as my "fancy" glasses for parties but they make a beautiful display as well.  There are probably lots of thrift stores in your area -- check your churches and non-profit organizations thrift shops too.
My Best,
Joanne

RECYCLED GLASS A GREAT SALVAGED OPTION

Yesterday I was at a recycling center collecting bottle caps for a DIY project -- I know -- weird...but what I loved to see was all the recycled glass get crushed and know that it was going to be remade into something cool! It is hard to believe that in the United States with all the recycling options we still only recycled about a 1/3 of our glass -- so let's get on it and check out some really cool recycled glass for our homes!
My Best,
Joanne

The start of something new at the recycled center!

Check out this recycled glass countertop in this amazing kitchen.

Recycled glass tiles can come in many shapes and sizes!

INTERVIEW AND PICTURES ON CASA SUGAR

A big thank you to Elka Karl of CASASUGAR.COM for posting pictures of my home and interviewing me! What fun. 
My Best,
Joanne

MY HOUSE PICTURES AND INTERVIEW ON CASASUGAR!

REPURPOSING IN A COTTAGE!

In the summer my parents live on an adorable lake which is surrounded by cozy cottages. Their neighbors, Dave and Pat, are fixing up a cottage and I love the clever ways they are REPURPOSING! 

Updating an Outdated Fireplace!

1. They updated a fireplace by placing brick right over the old brick and then building a wood mantel to go over the whole thing -- including the old mantel!  This is a great place to put salvage stone or brick -- you can just go over your old stone! They left the original floors -- just sanded them.

Lightened up the stairs!

2. I love how they painted the dark wall wainscoting (paneling) with a glossy white. GREAT REPURPOSING! Now it really reflects the light coming from the front of the house and the lakeside! The left the stairs the dark wood color.  Beautiful contrast.

Keeping the Tub -- Changing the Look!

3. They decided to keep the old tub in the bathroom but just give a darker colored base to match the new vanity.

This cottage has lots of salvaged and reclaimed and repurposed ideas! Keep up the great work Pat and Dave!
My Best,
Joanne

APARTMENT THERAPY POST!

So EXCITED about the post on Apartment Therapy! THANK YOU! THANK YOU for your REALLY NICE WORDS about my book!
My Best,
Joanne

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/sf/books-guides-resources/sneak-peek-salvage-secrets-transforming-reclaimed-materials-into-design-concepts-by-joanne-palmisano-154382

FRENCH LINEN VINTAGE INSPIRED SHABBY CHIC DIY FURNITURE!

MY DIY French Inspired Shabby Chic!

I know a wordy title but that's exactly what it is! I found two chairs at Canal Street Barge -- a funky second hand shop in Vermont. I loved the caning on them and the size -- perfect fit for short little me! So I brought them home, sanded them down, painted them white (sprayed them actually) and then covered the stained cushions with a cotton painters tarp I bought at Lowe's for $9. (See the step by step pictures below)  Voila! My very own French chic furniture! LOVE THEM! You can do it too -- go to your second hand store and find furniture you can convert to your favorite look! 
My Best,
Joanne

Brown to White in a FLASH!

My HACKER slipcover job -- the Hot Glue Gun!

Covering up the evidence with left-over fabric and
iron-on sewing tape!

If you love this look check out the Beekeeper's Cottage!

FROM THE BEEKEEPER'S COTTAGE WEBSITE!

SALVAGED BATHROOM VANITIES!

Rosanne and I created a double sink bathroom vanity out of an old salvaged bureau!

One of my favorite places to add salvage material to a design is in the bathroom.  I love the thought of old tables, bureaus or even desks being a vanity.  Painted wood flooring, salvaged lighting or even recycled glass block can be added to create a variety of unique styles in the bathroom.  On a recent visit to my twin sister's house, she and I created a double sink vanity out of a salvaged mid-century bureau. This gorgeous piece is now a functioning bathroom vanity in her guest bathroom. All it took was some sweat equity, a little searching for the perfect second-hand piece of furniture and a good plumber! We measured the sink templates and marked their locations, sanded the bureau, spray painted the handles to give them a polished chrome look, cut out the holes for the sinks, and the back of the drawers for the plumbing and let the plumber drop in the sinks and plumb it up. Ta Da!
My Best,
Joanne

Finding the perfect bureau at the Salvation Army

Rosanne (my twin) making sure we can get the sinks in them following the template.

How come I always get the sanding job?

SALVAGE BOUTIQUE IN MAINE!

Photographer, Susan Teare, visits a salvage boutique in Maine!

Susan Teare, the photographer of my book and a dear dear friend, is vacationing in Maine and came across this amazing shop, Summer Salvage, in South Bristol.  I can't wait to visit it myself. If you are in the area you should check it out! 
My Best,
Joanne

PICKER SISTERS

I'm always excited to see other ladies doing what I love to do--upcycling! Check out this ARTICLE by Elka Karl from the amazing blog CASASUGAR.COM about the PICKER SISTERS -- a new TV show on the History Channel. If one of them catches a cold or gets a hang nail -- I'd be happy to pitch hit a couple of times :)  You go girls! Thanks for sharing CasaSugar!
My Best,
Joanne

The new Picker Sisters show on the History Channel

LOCAL COLOR -- REMIXED LATEX PAINT!

Sample can of the new color of my house. LOVE IT!

 

Here are some recycled gray paints from CSWD!

When we decided to change the color of our house, we tested a few paints using sample size containers. Instead of letting the samples dry up in our basement (gasp!) we dropped them off at our Solid Waste District so they could remix them with other latex paints. It is a great program! You should check out if your town has a remixing program too!

From CSWD's Website:   CSWD recycles up to 70% of the latex paint collected through its hazardous waste program. Every can of leftover paint collected from area businesses and residents is inspected for quality and sorted by color. Selected paint is re-blended, double filtered, and poured into 5-gallon and 2-gallon pails. The result? Local Color Premium re-blended latex paint!
Our paint can be applied with a brush, roller or paint sprayer. It is very durable, can be washed and scrubbed, and usually covers in one coat.
**Please Note:** Hardened latex paint is not recyclable. If you have hardened latex paint it can be disposed of with your regular household trash. Latex paint and other latex products (because they are predominantly water-based) are not considered hazardous. SO DON'T WAIT! Recycle your paint right away! 
My Best,
Joannenne

FUN IN OREGON!

The question is...where haven't I been during my two week visit to Portland?!? If you've been following the blog, you've seen me on KOIN TV, preparing for a book signing and a project with frames purchased at Goodwill.  But those are only the TIP of the ICEBERG!
My Best,
Joanne

Couple of Peaceful Nights at a Friends at the Edge of Mt. Hood!

Saturday's Farmers Market in Milwaukie, Oregon

The Best Food Cart (my opinion) in Portland. LARDO!

The Barn House Sale! AMAZING! Don't Miss It Next Year.

LOVED THE DISPLAYS at the Barn House Event!

My Book Signing at Rejuvenation was a Success and Tons of Fun! Thank you everyone who came and got a book! Look for my Guest Blog on Rejuvenation.

Mt. Hood B&B, Down the Road from my Friend's House. Fun Salvage Decor!

LOVE what the B& B owner, Jackie, did with the salvaged wagon wheel! Great Light Idea!

My twin sister, Rosanne, and I trying to look like Lewis & Clark (this way to the spa?) I'm the one standing on the post! Bonneville Hot Springs Resort here we come!