New Shipping room - and a DIY table for you!

We have been making lots of changes at Cartolina and to accommodate this year's new distribution system we have had to expand the studio. We are so lucky to have lots of space and so Doug built us a really wonderful new shipping room - a space devoted entirely to packing boxes! I wanted the space to be functional, with really great shelving and a fabulous work table. 

The Table:

When I started looking for the perfect table I was really surprised that the options I was looking for were just not available. So, Doug to the rescue - he designed and built this GREAT table for me using plumbers, cast iron pipes and fittings. It's 8ft long and has a heavy wood work surface. When Doug started to design the table we were surprised that there were no plans available online for a table like this.  I knew that, as soon as I revealed the table here, loads of you would have questions for him about the construction. 

Our table is 35.5 inches high - which is great for a kitchen island or a work table. You can definitely shorten it for a dining room table. The pipes are all cut at the plumbers supply shop. The top is 8ft long and 32 inches wide - made from rough lumber from the lumber yard - sanded and varnished. You could also use reclaimed lumber for a wonderful vintage look! 

Also see our directions on how to produce and install an 'end grain block' floor right here.

Pinterest

I spotted this here on Pinterest yesterday - I absolutely adore it - it has every element of design that I love and the styling is divine! Smitten! So now I am officially a 'pin head' I'd love it if you followed me on Pinterest - and I'll follow you back and we can share the inspiration!

Inspiration in the details

Followed a link from Bright.Bazaar yesterday and found this wonderful vintage french etagere. I love it - the details (the curly bits) are so perfectly designed aren't they?

Restoration reproduction

After I posted that job listing yesterday and that great pic of the reproduction postal desk I became quite obsessed with Restoration Hardware's office furniture. I know it's a bit masculine but I really love the industrial style of these pieces. They are extraordinarily expensive but, gosh, I really like them. I love the patina and the huge scale of the pieces. This first piece, the desk, is zinc - so cool! RH really does a good job of reproductions. These pieces may not be to your taste but perhaps you can be inspired in some way :-)

Mystery product

At first I wasn't sure what was for sale here - I thought it was the cool old leather boots but then I realized it was the old doors - still a very cool find! It's all about the product shots isn't it?

I saw this little sofa at Anthropologie in Carmel a few weeks ago and perched on it while Doug finished shooting pictures for me - of course I forgot to get a picture of it because I was sitting on it! So here it is from their site. It's very sweet and really quite small. The fantastical floral pattern is what makes it so special! A real show stopper.

Sweater stools

Crazy sweater stools from Claire Anne O'Brien via House and Home. The textures are fabulous and they look terrific as a group don't they?

Found - Bellalulu

A wonderfully curated collection of vintage stuff - with great prices - my kind of stuff - at Bellalulu

Window Shopping - Sundance

There are some really neat pieces of 'industrial' furniture at Sundance this season - I especially like these pieces . . .

Makeover - episode III

Well, I did it. Half way through I seriously questioned the rationale for doing it, but, I did it! I painted the armoire black. Well, it's not really black it's Benjamin Moore Black Jack which is a charcoal grey but after testing a number of blacks, including Soot and Baby Seal, I settled on Black Jack. I'm pleased with how it turned out. I'm really trying to move away from the woodsy/cabin look but I didn't want to get rid of the TV armoire because it's solid wood - and so much of what you buy these days is not - I just didn't want that huge block of woodgrain sitting in the living room any more!

BEFORE(above) AFTER(below)

I had bought some simple black iron pull rings for the cupboard doors but when I attached them they looked so blah! Then I remembered that I had bought these simple tin rosettes about 10 years ago - and voila, I love them. They are fun and young and a total contract to the slick black surface. This is part 3 of the makeover - if you'd like to follow along - click here! Next up is new art and light fixtures - then the house gets painted - woot!

Window Shopping

Believe it, or not, these stylish numbers are available from Target. Good going Target, now hurry up and open a few stores across Canada!

The Makeover - Episode II

So off we went to Kelowna on Friday to pick up the sofa and love seat that we found last weekend. I'm so glad I still loved it when I saw it for only the 2nd time. We loaded it onto Doug's truck and got home, after the 4hr drive, at 9pm on Saturday. It was a very hot evening but we hauled the old furniture out to the carport and hauled the new furniture in. I love it and I think it's a great start to the makeover. I picked up four, nice, feather filled pillows from Homesense in a graphic, black and white design - keeping in mind that the plan is to paint the armoire a soft matte black.

So below is a photograph I took yesterday morning and the last picture is after I have Photoshopped a black armoire and different wall art into the shot. I think that with some more editing of the 'country'accessories and new white walls it's going to come together quite quickly. I am realizing as i go through this process that though I crave a slick urban look it really doesn't suit our house or our location so I think I will call it 'eclectic modern' - or 'urban country' when I am finished!

Thanks so much to all of you who have sent me your great ideas and inspiring links - it has helped so much! I love getting them!