Laurie Miller Designs - Designed with Heart. . .Dazzled by Hand.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

A very long bench

Problem. . .We need a coffee table.

Dilemma #1. . .The area that the coffee table needs to go is not very large and a traditional coffee table makes me feel very, very cramped.

Dilemma #2 . . .When it comes to furniture, I am:

a. cheap

b. unconventional

c. uneasy - because I know that whatever goes there will have feet put on it and drinks without coasters even though coasters are there and food set on it . . .you get the idea. I have a family afterall.

d. all of the above

What is a girl to do?

Hmmmm - how about a bench? That would be the right height, narrow and sturdy.

So I start to look -

all the benches I find are tufted and upholstered or outdoor benches with backs.

No. No. and No.

I see a bench at Ikea - it is in the clearance section.

A retired showroom piece.

That would work - but $60 for a bench that I will need to clean up and paint because it's covered with scratches? I don't think so (see point "a" above).

I spend a moment envisioning exactly what I want.

I check CraigsList.

There's a bench - but it's upholstered. The seller says that the upholstery is torn and will need to be recovered.

I read further - it was custom made for someone.

I email the seller - is it all wood underneath? No pressboard?

Yes it is - all wood. It is very heavy.

How much . . .$20?????

Now that works for me.

I bring the bench home - pull off the tattered fabric, the foam pad.

Thank goodness they didn't glue anything - it was all stapled.

There is a little bit of repair that needs to be done - some of the wood has seperated.

Nothing a little wood glue and puddy won't fix.

A primer base coat of paint.

A lot of color, and

Voila!

A new coffee table/bench -

the perfect height and the length of my couch (6 1/2 ft.).

And no one else has one like it.

I think I found something that fit all my needs - narrow, unconventional, cheap, and sturdy.

The only thing this bench wasnt? Easy to photograph - how do you photograph a 6 1/2 ft tall bench?

Oh well - you get the idea.

The bench leaned up against a doorway for the photo - Yes, you are correct - the bench is taller than the door.

Close up views of "sections" of the bench . . .

Monday, February 28, 2011

Snow Day

Last week, Portland was hit with a late winter snow storm.

Not alot of snow - but we are usually blessed with a layer of ice on all the roads with the snow.

Since my day job is at a school, I was lucky enough to get a snow day.

The morning was a bit mucky and I was grateful that I didn't have to drive - but as the day progressed, my hubby and I headed out on an adventure.

I am getting ready to convert one of the rooms in our home into a new art studio. Due to the type of work that we do, we are seperating the messy and the messier.

My husband does alot of work with sawing, drilling, sanding, etc.

I do the painting part.

So we are seperating the work space so that the power tools don't get mixed up with the paint brushes.

This is good for both of us
and especially good for our marriage - if you know what I mean!.

We need to change the flooring in the room that I will be taking over.

In an effort to do this as cost effectively as possible - we headed to a Portland treasure . . .

The Rebuilding Center.

The Rebuilding Center is a thrift store for building supplies -

and it is a treasure trove for an artist!

When builders tear down and do remodels or . . .whatever -

they can donate the resuseable supplies to the Center for resale and repurposing.

This place is brimming with old cupboards, toilets, bathtubs, lumber, light fixtures, door knobs, shelving. . .

the list is endless.

Everything has been used - much is rather "dated" - and it is all cheap!

And I mean - cheap as in - "what a great deal".

And the RBC practices what it preaches in the construction of the builidng itself. Let's go on a little tour . . .

The main entrance - it's cob construction and sculpted to look like old growth trees. So unique. I love it.

Look at the texture and detail on those trees. And all of the windows are reclaimed.

I love this look - Old paned windows "collaged" together to create a wall.

Doors, doors and more doors. There are rows and rows and rows of old doors. Just think of the murals that could be created!

Lumber, siding and flooring . . .oh my!

These would be just perfect for some weather garden stakes.

Need a window? Single paned? Multi-paned - more windows than you could possible imagine.

I love tis flooring - made with old doors - randomly cut and put together like a quilt. Old siding boards create a gorgeous walkway.

Unfortunately, we didn't find what we were looking for while we were there. And since we went on one of the coldest days of the year - and a good portion of the building is open and not heated, we didn't spend quite as much time as I would have liked - but it was a great field trip. And my creative brain was a hoppin' when we left.

Thanks for coming along on my little field trip with me!

Friday, February 25, 2011

The Birth of the Wine Barrel

If you are my "friend" on FaceBook, then you have some photos of this project . . .

but here is the full progression.

The barrel is completed!

So first - a little history on this project.

A friend of ours traveled to the Napa Valley this last fall for a wedding.

Good friends of his were getting married and he was the best man.

I saw photos of the wedding at the vineyard - WOW - so beautiful!

After our friend got back he sent me a message and said that he had purchased a barrel

from the vineyard and wanted me to turn it into a work of art for a wedding gift.

Talk about a humbling request . . .

his instructions were simple -

1.try to reflect the essence of the vineyard

2. Include their names and wedding date

3. Include the quote that was on their wedding invitations

4. Put my "mark" on it . . .

I think I accomplished all of the requests.

The before . . .in its all it natural glory.

The first layers of paint. The "house" and basic landscape were taken from the vineyard itself.

The back of the barrel - continuing with the hills and creating the rolling vineyards.

The vineyards are laid in . . .but now it needed some vines and grapes.

Finished up - on side. the straps were painted black, the detail has been laid in, and it is all sealed for protection. I love how the sealer makes it glisten and look like satin.