Decorating the Studio

      A week or so ago I shared with you that we're planning to have an 20x24 building built on our property to accommodate my husband's studio needs. He currently uses our oversized garage as the studio, but I'm getting that as my workshop (SO excited!) and he's getting a wonderful new space in which to put a new upright piano (we already have two grand pianos egad!), all his recording equipment, guitars etc etc. Most of the business oriented stuff will be on the main floor of the building. On the second floor we're going to have a fun hang out space complete with bar, media area, dart board, We'll also nee a sleeping area, perhaps a leather couch/pull out, for when guests imbibe a bit too much, and spend the night. We've been referring to the building as "The Guesthouse" which is fairly cheeky of us, but there you go. I did a wish list for my new workshop last week- you can view it here- and I thought it would be fun to share the wish list for the studio today. We're hoping to have the building up and going by about mid November.
       I want the space to feel fairly masculine, as it will be my husband's man cave of sorts, and I want it to have a classic, 1940s jazz club feel, peppered with some more natural elements to keep it grounded.
Key things I want:
Leather club chairs- I know they cost about $1,500 each, but a girl can dream
Leather pullout sofa bed
Antique Bar
Killim rugs
Beadboard walls
A cool flat screen TV console
A round pub style dining table with four chairs
Lots of antique signs as art
Cool display for all the guitars
Maybe a long rustic table downstairs that can double as a desk
Some book storage upstairs
Cool bar accessories

Here are some inspiration pictures

I showed you this picture a couple weeks ago. This is the standard model for the building that we're having built. Ours will be custom done, larger, with a higher roof to accommodate a full upstairs. We're also doing a trandtional front door in the front, with two windows next to it, three windows on each side of the building, and double French doors on the back. 

This pair of antique leather club chairs is beyond gorgeous. 

I did this antique oak dining set in April. I think something similar would be perfect for the upstairs gaming area- though with darker seat covers. Those white ones would last about two days with my husbands friends...

I'm loving Kilim rugs like this one. Bright and boho and a little more exciting than a standard oriental rug. 

This antique bar is exactly what I want. Hopefully the craigslist gods will deliver and I'll find one for cheap cheap.

I love antique signs, and I've got quite a collection now. I'm hoping to use the space to grow and showcase my collection.

I would love to score a vintage, or vintage style, leather chesterfield sofa. It would really add to the old school vibe I'm shooting for.

And now for some inspiration rooms:

I really like to organic feel of this room. The black and white and caramel color all blend nicely together as well. 

Another beautiful space, with a more industrial feel.
The burgundy color of the floors really pop against the stark white walls. 

This room is just perfect. I asked my husband if we could do floors like this in the studio (we're installing our own) but he thought it would be beyond our skills. 

I'm envisioning the upstairs to look a bit like this, though our ceilings will be higher and the room will be wider. I definitely want exposed beams like this.

I'm hoping we can put a long farm table in the downstairs space, primarily because I'm obsessed with farm tables, but also because I think it could be multi functional as a desk/workstation and as a dining table.

We'll be getting a new upright piano for the space, this tiger oak one is stunning!

I just included this picture because it's about the coolest upstairs space ever. It would be such an amazing place to curl up with a good book during a thunderstorm!

I'm campaigning hard to convince my husband that we should put a wood stove like this one in. Nothing would be as cozy and amazing.

New Acquisitions: Flea Market Goodies

         I always trust the flea market will provide. Just a couple days ago I was putting on my black boots that I've had for three years and thinking I really need to buy another pair. I basically live in boots three seasons of the year, so these had seen a lot of use. Since were saving for the studio right now, buying new boots at full retail price is not really in the cards. But that's ok. The flea market always looks out for me. A few weeks ago it was a cache of vintage coach bags at $7 a piece, and this week is was a stunning STUNNING pair of leather Frye boots, in my size. I almost died. They were $15. I mean really. That's just crazy. I've always wanted a pair of Frye boots, they're so subtly elegant in a country sort of way. But they're so crazy expensive that it was impossible. Until yesterday. They don't even look like they were ever worn. The lady I bought them from said her daughter didn't want them.
      I also scored three antique oak office chairs. They're as industrial chic as it comes, with the original little brass plates on the back for the Hale Chair Co. They each have an old label on the front that says "warehouse". So cool! I picked up four bar stools for myself- I'll show you the before and afters on them when they're done. All in all it was a good day :)

     

A Classic Farm Table Dining Set

Last week I had farm table mania. I made one for me and I made one for you. I wanted to do a really classic, ever so slightly rustic table, that would really fit in with a lot of different styles and tastes. The table base and chairs are oak. The table is top is made from four pine boards, stained an English chestnut, then sealed until smooth as satin. The chairs are Windsor style, solid oak. I forgot to take 'before' shots, but here's a whole bunch of afters. I have the whole week off so I hope to tear through a lot of furniture. Check back for lots of updates and have a great week!

New Acquisitions

       On Friday evening I drove a few towns North to pick up a tremendous vintage cherry dining. I'm finished up two other dining sets which I hope to get photographed for you tomorrow, and then I'm starting in on this one. I'm chomping at the bit to get this project underway. A full size china cabinet, a sideboard, a dining table, four side chairs, two armchairs, and three leaves. It just looks like so much fun. It's French Provencal style, and I'm going to do black paint on chairs/table base etc, and lovely red chestnut toned wood tops on everything. I think it will really bring this set to life. I'd love to keep all three pieces together, it seems a shame to break the set up when it's made it 50 or so years already. I won't be starting this project until tomorrow, so if you really love it, email me, and I'll do it custom, in any color/stain selection you like.
       This morning I hit up the flea market and got an amazing set of three matching antique oak office chairs by Hale. Holy Cow! and I got a set of four barstools for myself, because I'm sick of looking at my current ones. Happy Sunday- I hope you're out enjoying this wonderful weather!

Garth's Country Americana Auction- Highlights Tour

It's that time of year again- where we can drool over every single knock your socks off gorgeous lot in the Garth's Americana Auction. The crop this fall is particularly fruitful, with stunning 19th century painted furniture, folk art sculpture, architectural salvage, and everything else one could hope for. I highly encourage you to visit their website and enjoy all the lots for yourself. You can view it here.
I've picked some of my very favorite pieces to highlight. What are your favorites?

This trestle table is so delicious

I love the old paint surface on this mantle. The powder blue highlights really make it.

Stunning shade of blue on this rustic table

Simply to die for. I adore this blue farm table.

A funky antique hutch is a deep saturated shade of blue.

What a sweet little wall box. Perfect for store keys and such.

I've always loved these stands. If I had a wicked cool closet, I'd use it as a shoe stand.

Love the well worn white paint on this tavern table.

This would be the perfect kitchen island for a large country kitchen

I really love these big bread boards.

A charming antique dry sink

Really really fantastic antique sign. 

Lately I've really been admiring these antique folding screens. I might do a whole post dedicated to them.

A sweet and cheerful little chest of drawers in a sunny shade of yellow.

This storage jar reminds me of a bee skepp. 

A wonderful and large folk art landscape.

A nice antique ship portrait with an outstanding folk art painted border

Such a nice bit of architectural salvage.

A nice 19th century appliqué quilt in unexpected citrus shades.

The deep emerald green and tall narrow shape of this cupboard make it especially appealing.

Stunning antique white step back cupboard. My favorite part is the whimsical shaped apron.

Look at the wear on this blue cupboard. It really adds to the appeal.

Very cool antique carved pineapple

I'm such a sucked for these antique piano teacher signs since my husband is a piano teacher.
If we weren't saving money for our studio, I'd throw my hat in the ring for this one.

And another fantastic antique piano sign.

And finally these wonderful 19th century sconces.