Teen Work Space, Before & After

When we got the stay at home order in mid March, I knew we would have to do some organizing at home. My daughter needed a work space of her own for school. Her current desk was too small, so I searched on line, including Craigslist, where I found this.
I wasn't sure if I wanted the top piece of the desk, but the owner asked me to take both. So I figured we could see if the top could work too. The price was just $25, its actually made very well and in great condition.

I knew we would paint it white (already had the paint). I painted 2 coats of primer and 2 coats of white paint. Being such a big piece, it was just very time consuming..note to self: don't paint on a windy day!

I picked up some new draw pulls at the local hardware store, my daughter just requested gold, they did have a few gold options...

The vintage vinyl orange chair she actually picked out at a local thrift store months ago. She loved it right away. It's very durable and easy to clean.

She loves her new desk, and the extra storage. We painted the cork a light teal, which I already had too.

Thrift Store Find, Gunlocke Chairs

I had been looking for an office chair for my desk for sometime, just couldn't find the right one. I had a temporary one so I wasn't in a rush.

I stopped by a thrift store just outside of Boston not expecting to find anything. These 2 side chairs caught my eye, I could tell right away they were made really well and had a vintage feel to them. They were 9.99 each so without even sitting in one, I bought them.
After I had them home I discovered they were Gunlocke chairs, an office furniture company, thats been around since 1902. I had specified Gunlocke when I was exclusively doing commercial interior design. I photographed the labels all still attached to the underside and sent them to Gunlocke so I could find out more information.

The style chair I had was made in the mid 1970's to mid 1980's. They were solid walnut, black vinyl. The list price in 1984 was $400- $500 each (depending on the upholstery). The year of mine was 1977.

I spent sometime cleaning the wood with 0000 grade steel wool and Jo-jo hand cleaner (non-pumice) both from the hardware store. The wood came out beautiful. It removed spills/ stains and brought it to its original luster.
I cleaned the upholstery with a vinyl cleaner. There is one small hole in the upholstery I wouldn't know how to repair. But I very happy with how they look.

They are extremely strong and I'm sure will last many more years.

A bit of History of Gunlocke Furniture Company, from their site :

1900s

The Beginning

Image: Earliest existing photograph of factory exterior.

1902: William H. Gunlocke and four other wood furniture experts acquire a vacant factory in Wayland, New York. They establish the W. H. Gunlocke Chair Company, which initially specializes in seating for homes, libraries and lounges.

1920s

First National Contract

Image: A sell sheet featuring some of the latest Gunlocke Products..

1920: Gunlocke was awarded its first National Contract with Western Electric. Due to this contract, demand for Gunlocke’s office seating was so strong that the company discontinues its household furniture to concentrate on manufacturing for the corporate market.

1940s

Manufacturing Advances

Image: photo of Bank of England chairs in production.

During the war years, most of Gunlocke’s output is for government and military facilities.

Assembly-line manufacturing techniques are implemented to produce high quality seating in unprecedented quantities.

1950s

First Showroom

Image: 1950s chair sales truck.

In the booming postwar period, Gunlocke establishes a factory showroom for the southwest states in Dallas, Texas.

Boring Beige to Stark Black Shed Makeover

I've never been a fan of my shed and I felt it was an eye-soar. I have a nice view of the trees, its calming, many birds visit. But the beige color just stood out and I wanted a warm comfortable feel in the overall yard.

Since I've been mostly home this spring, it was a good time to tackle this project with some paint and much needed yard work.

I have seen a few residences in the city and businesses painted black and love the contrast with its surroundings. Really any color looks great with it, even the backdrop of the woods, greens and browns, which I have in my yard. I choose Ben Moore Black 2132-10, and had it color matched at my local Lowe's store with a flat exterior primer & paint combo. 1 gallon of paint covers 400 sq ft typically, so I needed 2 gallons.

After doing some research, most exterior paints will apply to vinyl siding just fine. Just needs some prep work of cleaning it well, spray wash with water and a little bleach to remove any possible mold. After a day to dry, I started to paint. I was really happy the way it went on, I just needed 2 coats.

Since there was already electricity wired to the shed, I was able to have an exterior light installed.

I added some color with flowers, hopefully will grow over time.

Moonshine Yarrow, is a low maintenance blooming perennial. I love the pop of yellow color against the black. I am also good with any plant that is low maintenance!

Paint: $39.00 gallon x2

Light fixture: $82.00

Flowers and mulch: $60.00

Total cost:

$220.00

Bathroom Remodel, Classic & Efficient

I am sharing one of my recent bathroom renovations at my client's historic New England home.

This 2nd floor bath is one of the two full baths used by a family of 6, so space and efficiency is the utmost importance. They have an historic home so I wanted to stay with a classic style while also considering resale value in the future.

I chose grey and white subway gloss tiles for the interior shower walls, with large 12" x 24" porcelain tiles for the floor. Having the larger floor tiles equals less grout and easier to clean, which is a plus for this large busy family.

Almost done! The client is very happy with how its coming out. Easier on the budget, we found a store bought vanity with 2 sinks for the 48" wide space (rather than custom built).

The toilet is in the same location, but moving the shower/tub to the right (as you enter) it allows for a larger vanity, going right the exterior wall.

A built in storage space for toiletries is created right behind the shower wall.

A mirror is now being made to fit.

New Lighting New Room!

My client wanted a new chandelier over their dining room table. The current one was too low and didn't offer anything special to the room. After exploring some different options we narrowed it down to a few and she loved this one the best. I'm so glad this was the final one, it looks gorgeous in the room.

The glass beads really sparkle!

Lighting purchased at Overstock.com

Colored Lamps. Too many to choose!

I am currently working with my client on her Master Bedroom. She wanted to declutter and keep it simple and calming. A relaxing place. The walls are newly painted a soft white, the window panels will be an off-white, maybe add some texture and most of the heavy furniture is gone.

They have a walk in closet to store most of their clothes and we are currently looking for a low height bureau. The only color will be a pair of table lamps on the bedside tables and art work above the headboard of the king size bed.

I've pulled some options together. Which would you choose?

Lamps are from Target or Lamps Plus.

A Diamond (House) in the Rough. Mary and Eliza Freeman Houses.

I love abandoned buildings. I wonder what it was like when it once thrived. Someone built it by hand. So much time and effort once went into it. It was someone's dreams. It meant everything to someone. What would they think if they saw it now?
What has happened to it?

As I was leaving Bridgeport, Connecticut last month, (my car was in a parking lot for the ferry) I noticed this neighborhood was so run down. I didn't see anyone around in the middle of a summer afternoon. The stores were closed with metal gates. The buildings, homes and near by church looked abandoned.
I saw a pair of neighboring houses with boarded up windows, closed with a chain link fence and a large sign out front. I thought this must have been something important to have that sign. I took a quick picture before I left.
Once I got home I looked more closely at the photo and looked up the information on the sign.

I learned these two houses were owned and built for two sisters, Mary and Eliza Freeman. Mary (1815-1883) and Eliza (1805-1862) were free African American women from Derby, Connecticut and moved to Bridgeport where they had neighboring homes built, in 1848.

These two woman were part of a community of free blacks and Native Americans, that was created in 1821 with the 1st settlers in part of Bridgeport. It became known as Little Liberia. These new communities were beginning in other north east areas, New York City, Providence, New Haven to name a few.

These houses are the oldest remaining homes in Connecticut built by free African Americans, before the state completed its gradual abolition of slavery in 1848.
The two woman shortly after, leased their homes and moved to New York City where they lived and worked. They returned to Bridgeport in the later years of their life where they were respected members of their community and quite successful.
When Mary passed away at 68. she had accumulated a considerable amount of property, estimating its worth at $30,000 - $50,000.
For a single, African American woman in 19th Century, this wasn't very common.

These are the last 2 homes standing, out of 33, that made up the Little Liberia community. So it is important to keep them, and restore them so this history and this neighborhood is not forgotten.

In recent years, an organization was developed to raise funds and to restore these houses to become The Mary & Eliza Freeman Center for History and Community. To restore, preserve and ensure the viability of the houses, teach the history, revitalize the community as well as facilitate the preservation and revitalization of the other African-American and greater Bridgeport historic preservation communities. Learn more here

It is amazing these homes don't need to be torn down. The have a good structure, the interior's original trim and molding, as well as hardware, will remain and be restored.

* Free Blacks

Since the mid-1600s, free people of African descent have been in America. It is a common misperception that only enslaved black people were in America from the earliest days of exploration and colonization until the final abolition of slavery at the close of the Civil War. Although the majority of black people came to America as captive slaves, there were free people of African descent who lived and worked with early explorers and colonists in the American colonies.

Source- Encyclopedia.com.