Elderberry and SK's Finished Bath
Finishing with Light & SK
It's been a long road of discovery, designing, building and living in many homes. This journey has recently become more delightful. And not so "SK re-inventing the wheel" mode.
As we grow and expand our homes environment, it's amazing to see the difference as our tastes change and mature.
As a farm girl, I grew up with very simple, handmade fixtures. My father was a genius when it came to creating a beautiful piece, from very little.
I grew with a farm, cottage and industrial background. We created with what we had. That might be a light hung from the end of a pipe. I understood this wasn't what others might consider beautiful or elegant. But it became beautiful to my eye, as I saw this necessary element coming from what we could scavenge.
Now this design element has become commonplace. Farm/Industrial. A little sparkly here and there. The influence my farm life had on my end results.
I have had the pleasure to be invited to work with Parrot Uncle Lighting.
Shadow Painted Signage
Professional Pictures Will Be Posted When Completed.
5,600 copper penny shower floor
Black raw iron pipe and fittings to hang clear glass shower walls.
With the re-introduction of the iconic Edison light bulb, design elements farm and industrial have gone from very common, to delightfully uncommon. We found a deep well of lighting, which up until a few years back, we had very little chance of finding. I found myself building my own versions of what I thought would work in my designs and spaces.
Working as a custom general contractor and designer on cottages, built dating back to the 1920's was a challenge. Finding the correct style of lighting was difficult and or very expensive. More times than not, I would end up creating and building my own designs from salvaged parts.As salvaging and saving old craftsman style cottages began to be popular, lighting designers began to take notice.It's a serendipitous moment as you discover others of like mind. Giving builders, designers and ultimately the homeowner, a better resource for the much needed finishing touches in lighting.
As my home is in it's final stretch, I couldn't be more excited to have an abundance of great lighting to choose from. Not just the run of the mill stuff you see on a everyday basis. Parrot Uncle's lighting can alter any rooms ambiance.
This couldn't have come at a better time for our own new home. I was struggling to find unique lights. I hate to be bored and after all the labor and love which has gone into this new home, I hated to have the same-old-same-old lights everyone else was using. Just wasn't going to work. I cannot stand to be bored...
So as I spend hours perusing Parrot Uncle. I am finding just the right elements to complete my one-of-a-kind home.
I love my bath lighting. It finishes an awkward lighting dilemma. Parrot Uncle came to my rescue and I thank them. More orders to come...I now know where I can purchase nicely styled lighting for my projects.
Thank you Parrot Uncle for your delightful addition to my new home. SK Sartell
Thanks for visiting. sk on elderberry
Oak to Copper and Rust with SK
From Oak to Copper and Rust with SK
We are well on our way to having an actual bathroom...
While the snow falls, I find time to play in my new fanciful bath. While it looks like this from my bath window,
I am staying warm working
Dominoes. That's what it's like on a from scratch project. One thing has to happen first, then the next thing. On and on and on, until you can finally see what you visioned coming to life.
The before and afters tell quite a story. SK's Dresser Vanity Saga
http://sksartell.blogspot.com/2015/09/sks-copper-vanity.html
The brick has yet to be whitewashed and lettered with antique store signs. The penny and glass shower are next. The claw foot tub is waiting details.
So I hope you stay tuned for the next crazy detailed fairy tale.
SK on Elderberry
Thanks for visiting.
SK and The Hope Chest
My Mother's Hope, 1940 World War II and a Handsome Sailor
This beautiful aromatic cedar hope chest was given to my mother in 1945 a year or so after she was married. Dad was a machinist mate on the World War II destroyer tender Piedmont. This didn't mean much to me until I had become an adult and learned the history and ramifications of this horrible war.
My mom passed away last year at the young age of ninety three, I was given her hope chest.
And the chest I received certainly did not look like this...
With delight I started to rummage through mom and dad's past. Not until I found the bundle of tied love letters, did I slow down and show the reverence this prize contained.
As a child this chest was always in my parent's bedroom. I was not allowed to open this treasure without mom's attendance. I remember vividly the fragrant cedar smell as this "secret" chest was opened.
Although the inside was beautifully intact, the exterior had been painted and was now an old cracked and peeling white. I could see damaged and peeling vanner had been sanded and puttied.
But I had no idea where or if I wanted to have this in my own home. Other than a sentimental value, it was in very poor shape.
When a small child's mom had painted her hope chest an antique cream. I didn't know why or even cared at the time.
With a certainty, the paint could and was a lead-based paint. I wanted to be careful with how to proceed.
With my face mask on, I began to lightly sand the top, where I could see the most damage. As I lightly sanded the front of the chest I began to see a sunburst pattern of light ridges appear. I hated to ruin the chest with indiscriminate sanding, so I slowly did bits at a time. As the sunburst pattern became more and more apparent, I knew there was a beautiful secret behind all the old white paint.
With a bit of research, I found that The Roos Corporation of Forest Park, Illinois was a manufacturer of these fine cedar chests.
With aromatic cedar as the interior and the front an inlaid book-matched rosewood and other precious woods, my mothers chest is truly my new treasure. With a last 400 grit sanding, I used a boiled linseed oil to bring out the distinct patterns and colors. As I run my hand over the surface it feels like fine silk.
With the sweet memories of my mom and dad and their sixty-plus years of marriage my sentimentality came to the forefront, and I did not completely refurbish my treasure. I chose to keep a bit of my mom's paint and still enjoy the beautiful woodwork.
I love this piece of my parents history and will enjoy having it in my bedroom for the next fifty years or so. Then my daughters can fight over it...
Thanks for visiting. sk on elderberry
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