Super Bowl Sunday Party Platter

I know I don't watch a lot of football -- O.K. O.K. I only watch one game a year--but I actually do watch it. Of course, the food and the commercials are an added bonus. Which brings me to the party platter. I made this great platter for friends to thank them for hosting my book release party. I actually found this piece of wood floating in the water on our beach--had to make the most of the flooding some how. I let it dry out and then shellaced it like crazy. Then I found these really cool vintage glass shades (originally used for ceiling lights) at the recylce center and added them. DIY NETWORK has my step by step of the project so you should check it out -- so easy and you can have it ready by the big game.  Go....Team (politically correct I know) My best, Joanne  :)

Go To DIY NETWORK to see the easy directions to make the platter!

Romantic Salvage

I've always loved the romantic look of salvage material. So when others share the same passion, I can't help but ooohhh and aaaahhhh. So as Valentine's Day nears I want to bow my head and give thanks to some very creative people out there who bring romance back into our homes, wardrobes and hearts. We can never get enough of it -- no matter what time of the year it is! XO Joanne

 Designers, Steve and Brooke Giannetti's bathroom is featured in Redbook Magazine. Their Blog, Velvet and Linen is fabulous -- filled with gorgeous romantic design and salvage materials.

White, White, White. Seriously Romantic Look-- Photographed by John Granen, an amazing photographer.

Romantic Salvage Style Jewelry made by Jennifer. See her Etsy site, Precious Pastimes.
I love this necklace, a Walk in the Woods!  

Anthropologie has some of the most romantic clothing around!

I could seat out here all night -- wine, food, friends. This is a place to make memories. This Sandy Koepke Design is a conversation starter for sure!

And of course, we cannot talk romantic design without mentioning the guru of all things romantic shabby chic -- Rachel Ashwell!  Here is a picture from her blog, of her own home.  I want to curl up in one of those chairs right now! I have to take a moment and say--thank you Rachel for allowing us all to feel at home in romantic salvage.

This is one of my all time favorite pictures that Susan Teare took for my book, Salvage Secrets. The lighting, the setting, the thoughtful designer/homeowner, all made this a fun filled day of photographing. Romance is not in just the colors and fabrics, but the soul of the material itself. Reclaimed wood floors, vintage furniture, and salvaged jewelry are just the beginning...a quiet place in our hearts to enjoy it all...now that is romantic.

CLEAN OUT YOUR BASEMENT AND GARAGE!

Yesterday, I was once again bothering all the folks at the rebuild center (you guys should just give me my own corner). Any hoo-ha...they were chatting about contacting builders and companies to remind them to drop off their extra materials. So here I am reminding you, homeowners and friends, drop off your extra building materials.  Have some extra tiles lying around, metal pieces, PVC piping, paints, wood, whatever you have you can drop it off and get a tax deduction. To big for you to carry or you don't want to deal -- they will pick it up for a very small fee -- well worth it to help you get organized and allow someone else to use something that is just in your way.

Many rebuild centers also have appliance training programs, deconstruction services,  youth building programs and more. It is not just about the material on hand, it's about making good choices for the environment and your community. So if you're a builder or homeowner who has household goods and building materials lying around--donate them! I donate mine and then I turn around and buy yours :)  It makes the green world go around!  Ciao, Joanne

Looking for a cool piece of wood? Check out your local rebuild center or architectural salvage store. I used this piece for an entrance way bench -- coming soon on DIY Network.

Who doesn't have a million of these lying around -- bring them in --someone will use them.

No scrap of salvaged wood is too small. They all can be used for something, just ask architect, Ryan Walsh, of DRW Design Build, he can tell you its true!

Seven Affordable Salvaged Kitchen Backsplash Ideas for DIY NETWORK

My friend, Tina and I worked hard on creating unique, fun and easy-to-do backsplashes for the DIY'ers who want a quick fix for an apartment kitchen or a really inexpensive way to give your kitchen new life. We made all of the backsplashes with salvaged and recycled material. I picked up old frames at Goodwill, maps at the ReStore, trim pieces at Mason Brothers Architectural Salvage, vinyl tablecloth at Goodwill, picket fence pieces at a friend's neighbor's house and the burlap I had (I always have tons of burlap -- not sure why) and the thin plywood backing from the Rebuild Center. These projects were made for DIY NETWORK and they have all the step by steps on their site and bigger pictures!

Thanks again DIY NETWORK for having me as a regular contributor -- it's a ton of fun!  And a BIG thank you to Tawyna for letting us use her kitchen, Tina for being my DIY buddy and Susan Teare for the amazing pictures! I'm a lucky gal to have friends like you! My Best, Joanne

P.S. I'd love to hear which is your favorite.  Thanks!

THE BEFORE SHOT!

 

GO TO DIY NETWORK FOR MORE PICTURES AND INSTRUCTIONS!

Planning My Tropical Eco Resort Getaway (in my head, anyway)

So it's January in Vermont, no snow on my front lawn and lots of ice on the road, making walking a pain in the ...you know what. I usually wait till February to start thinking about warm waters and the hot sun on my face but this year I just can't wait! So I started dreaming early and have my eyes on some really cool resorts that use a ton of salvage material and eco friendly building practices. I may not get there in real life but in my dreams I'm already there!  My best, Joanne

The Misool Eco Resort has an amazing salvage story. "Our eight Water Cottages, Dive Centre, restaurant, walkways, and staff accommodation were built from reclaimed tropical hardwood. We sourced driftwood and naturally fallen timbers, then milled each and every piece of lumber ourselves in our portable sawmill. Aside from the clear advantages of eco-friendly building practices, this allowed us to create a remarkably consistent aesthetic with an undeviating standard of quality. All the furniture and fittings (including wardrobes, shelving, tables, beds, doors, doorhandles...) were hand-crafted on site from recycled wood by our team of resident Javanese artisans and their local apprentices." 
You had me at...reclaimed tropical hardwood...oh and the blue, blue water!

 

Costa Lanta in Southern Thailand, is protected under the Marine Park Authority. "Conceptualized by contemporary Thai architect Duangrit Bunnag, the natural beauty of Lanta Island and Costa Lanta epitomize simplicity of life." The bungalows are made from concrete and salvaged wood from old Colonial homes. Just looking at the pictures I feel very ZEN like. Ommmm....

O.K. so the Villa Montana in Puerto Rico has a white beach, oh and lounging areas by a pool where I could lose myself in a book forever, with, of course, some cool decorating with salvaged and vintage wood -- yeah -- yeah---that would TOTALLY be enough to get me there. But the bonus to this place is the Sea Turtle program. Our daughter has been into turtles for many years, even doing school projects on them. So to go to a resort that will adopt one for her -- pretty cool.  Here is info from www.conserveturtles.org about Villa Montana Resort in Puerto Rico. "The Villa Montaña Beach Resort, announced the resort has unveiled an environmental education and amenity Program developed in conjunction with the nonprofit Caribbean Conservation Corporation (CCC). The resort will “adopt a sea turtle,” for each family checking into the resort with children ages 16 and under. In return, Villa Montaña Beach Resort is making a significant financial contribution to support CCC and its ongoing efforts to study and save sea turtles across the Caribbean. The “Adopt a Turtle” package includes a color certificate with picture of the turtle, conservation guide, colorful decal, logo magnet and a one-year complimentary subscription to CCC's quarterly newsletter. The “adopted” turtles are among a select group that have already been named and satellite tagged with transmitters for scientific research purposes. Families then have the unique opportunity to continue an Internet-based Program at home or at school, where children can track the migratory patterns of their turtle online via maps on CCC's website: www.conserveturtles.org." How COOL is that!

Well, if I can't get away to one of the above far away tropical places, I definitely want to check out the Postcard Inn in St. Petersburg, Florida for a long weekend away. Love the vintage retro look of the place and the Beach Bar looks like a great place to  get a cold drink and put up my feet for a while. 

Getting Organized with Salvage Storage

I'm just like everyone else, the new year brings on the urge to get organized. For those who know me, with my piles and piles of paperwork everywhere, wonder if it's truly possible. Well, a girl can try :)  I love the idea of creating storage spaces out of salvaged materials, such as old apple crates, tins, jars, lockers, and of course an antique pie cupboard. There are so many great storage ideas! I'll put a few fun pictures that I found from some great sites as well as the story Better Homes and Garden did at my house last year, getting my mudroom organized. Thanks Karin (the stylist), you know what a mess my entrance way used to be. You should check out the step by step they do with my husband and I building it -- fun, fun!  Happy Storage Dreams to you all. My best, Joanne

The Funky Junk Sisters know a great flea market find when they see it! This vintage dresser
looks great and can store lots and lots of mittens and hats.

At the Mt. Hood B&B, they hang their aprons on a vintage hook rack.
Loved looking at this functional display while I ate the most amazing breakfast!

Apartment Therapy always has the coolest posts! Love them. Apple crate storage -- Clever! 
I'm going to find a place to do this if it kills me!

Who doesn't have a million jars from their jams and sauces. I keep all mine -- now I know what to do with them. If only I could be this organized....sigh.

Loved shooting this house with Susan Teare for my book, Salvage Secrets. These recycled video racks turned into an instant pantry, lined with old mason jars for the spices. Affordable and easy!The homeowner has so many cool ideas and tons of salvage (check out the book :))

My improved entrance way with my daughter! Thanks to the Better Homes and Garden Magazine story --Instant Mudroom Storage and Peg Wall. You can use an old bookshelf and pick up some salvaged wainscoting and follow the step by step directions on the Better Homes and Gardens website (featured in their June 2011 magazine). Wait till you see the before picture--scary!

This cool idea I found on the knock-off decor blog. Add wheels to boxes and stuff them under the kids bed and you have toy storage that can be hidden in an instant. Or for your own winter sweaters or summer clothes -- easy access. These old boxes can be found at an antique shop or an architectural warehouse (or your local wine shop). I've found the wheels at the hardware stores--all you need is a screwdriver-or drill for us lazy people. 

Check out this story on Remodelista! Metal office shelves in the kitchen with old metal baskets. Sometimes I forget that repurposed office furniture makes for great decor, especially if you like the cool industrial look. Storage that is also the decor -- nice touch! 

Another crate idea for a cottage look on ana-white.  I wish I could be this neat!

While browsing an antique show, I came across this vintage store rack showcased by Five Corners Antiques.  It would be perfect for either a pantry, laundry room, master closet or an entrance way. The storage solutions this rack could solve are endless. Happy Salvage Storage Hunting :)

Happy New Year from Salvage Secrets!

Wow! I can't believe it is 2012!  Last year was such a whirl-wind -- book published, huge hit, projects for DIY, styling for This Old House -- and that's just work stuff. Hanging with family and friends was also full of laughter and memories!  So as I sit here on the first day of the new year I think about what I want to accomplish. Of course, I try not to put in print my resolutions -- just in case :)  But what I will say is that I will try harder to...

Measure Twice, Cut Once!

Spend more time with friends, even if I'm putting them to work, like this photo shoot of a salvaged light fixture! (Thanks Susan and Tina.)

Help others see the beauty in salvage!

Always appreciate my family, including the feathered ones!

Happy New Year to You and Your Family.
My best, Joanne