Glacial progress
Sun, 26 Jun 2011 32 Comments 
Who said this would be a quick re-do? I need my head read. Honestly between work and blogging and weekends trying to get a life, time passes and nothing much gets done :) The counter tops go on this week hopefully. A good friend of Kelvin's is giving us a hand and this is why the counters aren't done yet. He wanted to get a better quality plywood. LOL. He may blow the budget out by $20! Speaking of budget it has come in around $150. Doesn't include props and the little paintings but, except for the paintings, everything is from thrift stores and only a few bucks each. (Oh make that $200 because I forgot to add in the 2 industrial pendants I put up soon after I moved in.)
I'm experimenting with different stains and strengths as well as just finishing with coats of danish oil for the plywood. I'm leaning towards a thinned out japan black stain, oiled then waxed. That will probably change by next weekend! So these shots just have a piece of raw plywood to give you an idea. There will be tops and edge strips in 5mm ply. The matt black acrylic paint is definitely not working so I'm painting it gloss. Next weekend ... or maybe the weekend after ...
I popped up 2 white wooden shelves and threw up some copper and coffee pots, kettles and a colander. A smattering of West German and studio pottery and some Hornsea. I think I have too many wooden spoons. There are 2 more jars out of view. Old wooden step ladder holding a set of yellow enamel pots and my 4 small paintings I got at a recent exhibition. And look! My bookcover wall is finished! Yeah! Just wish the kitchen was as well.
Reader Comments (32)
I think the kitchen looks lovely thus far. Better some progress than no progress at all. Quite admiring your collection of ceramics and pots. Just wondering what red items you are going to bring in to tie in the red in the wallpaper.
The wallpaper is actually orange (I think I need a better camera). I have some lovely vintage orange Le Creuset pots and a fab orange enamel stock pot (Polish) but they didn't fit on the ladder so the yellows went up instead for these shots. Have more orange West German pots too so some of those can go on the other side. I'm going to keep the orange as pops here and there. I've changed those shelves out already as I found my old glass apothecary jars and some teak topped spice jars as well. LOL. It will be changing all the time! Want to dig out my cookbooks for the step ladder maybe.
I love your book cover wall....the kitchen is looking fantastic.....happy Sunday, xv.
Your white wall with the white open shelves is absolutely gorgeous and you've done a fabulous job with the book cover wall and the way you've positioned those blue art works. I also love the way you've tied in some black, bleached wood and orange/copper because it's really pulled the room together. I think cook books on the ladder might be a bit much - they might look better in a couple of wooden crates to match the style of the lovely blue paintings. Keep going ....... its awesome!
love it jo! but you're scaring the bejeesus out of me with the glacial talk. have just bought myself a 60's number with a bar and lots of orange glass. will i ever blog or have a life again?
I really like what you have done so far. For me this is very inspiring because it is done with what you have and without staggering costs. Very inspiring to me. I love seeing something accomplished this way. As for the black counter I can imagine it and I agree with you on that choice. It will be "grounding" the white. Merci, thank you for posting your progress.
Thanks Vicki! Sarah I hadn't thought of a bleached finish. It's just the raw plywood but seeing it next to the raw frames it ties in well. Don't think it will stay that colour if I seal it though. More experimenting needed I guess :)
Jules I read that you had yourself a 60s money pit. Lucky you! It will be stunning and loads of fun and heartache. Can't wait!
Loulou isn't it the best when you can come up with a solution that doesn't cost that much?! Half the fun I think ;)
I love the pale plywood. Finding a white tinted urethane might be possible. great job in general, with such nice pots etc. collected.
YES you need a better camera but I've told you that 58 times so I'll shut up now.
Your kitchen is looking FANTASTIC!!! You're lucky it's a decent size and you have all this display space. That's one of the reasons why I can't wait for my reno - to finally have some places to display kitchen-y crap.
Can't wait to see what you end up doing with the plywood.
Love what you've done, and I'm the kind of person who will probably be sad when you get your "REAL" kitchen as I much prefer what you've done to all new stuff. I'm always way more thrilled with budget reno's than big money projects. I think it forces people to think outside the box and get creative. Your kitchen has so much personality! (I have the same copper canisters, and have just become obsessed with West German 60's and 70's vases. OBSESSED.)
Camera is coming Kim. I promise :) Sara I'm still on the fence as far as counter top colour goes but whitish/pale is an option. Lisa if you opened the cupboards and smelled the old mustiness of neglected damp cupboards you'd know why it has to go. I'm not going super modern though. Something similar I think. Just new and clean.
I am very impressed. Love the little paintings and the white shelves and their stuff. And I have a weakness for little step stools - I would have a zillion of them if I had the room. Regarding countertops, I am with the light wood group. I think it warms the place up and makes a nice transition from black cupboard to white wall. Think butcher block. However I am not sure I understand what you mean Jo when you talk about oil and wax. That seems like a recipe for work. Oil and wax are okay for a table or sideboard, but wouldn't you have to be re-oiling/waxing them weekly (or more) what with all the water, food guck, etc? I urethaned plywood for countertops at our cottage and have found its upkeep to be on par with laminate - but much more attractive. Keep up the good work and experiment. It is, after all, temporary.
I guess I just love the softness that oil gives a piece of wood. Totally impractical but so pretty. I also like the history that wood builds up with cleaning and polishing and cleaning and polishing. Like old well used country tables. I have little bits of ply all around my bench tops with different finishes for a week of experimenting with water and food gunk so I'm sure I'll have the "pretty, soft oil" look out of my system by then and the quick clean up and run out the door solution in place.
It looks fantastic Jo. I love the groupings of your collected items. And have the painters started yet? I can't wait to see what's happening in that department! xx
Just had a thought! Why dont you get a bleached wood laminate top ( not as revolting as they used to be!) to match the art frames and paint the cupboards orange. I think that wouldn't cost much if you just glued it on top of the ply wood yourself ( or K!!) and it would look really fresh and edgy!
LOVE IT. I have been anxiously waiting to see and you did not disappoint. Positively BRILLIANT.
Anita don't ask! :) 6 weeks delay but he was so nice about it we just couldn't say no. I'll have to do a post about it.
Sarah I swear I'm not picking up a paintbrush again so orange is out! LOL. And laminate will blow out our non-existant budget and I can't rub oil into it each week (see above).
Thanks Jen!
LOL.... agree actually! What was I thinking!!!!
Oh Jo! You've created my dream kitchen, only you've made a slight error, that it's not actually in my house. My house next time! The art you bought recently looks divine there.
OMG I want those chopping boards. Well, everything, actually.
So...how many years of thrifting are we talking here?
Rebecca you could easily do this in your place. That is if you could bring yourself to tear up a book ;P Imagine a wall of Bronte sisters! If you can't glue to a wall glue to a piece of plywood and lean it against the wall. I've been thrifting for this place seriously for 3 years but most of these were found in the past year. Mind you I was born with the thrifting gene. I find something though, keep it for a while and if it doesn't fit I give it away. Can never sell it on for some reason. All my friends love me. They get free stuff all the time. I think I should open a prop hire business.
Er, definite yes on the prop hire business.
Oh god. Wall of Brontes. You know I want it. I've got to get my arse into gear, finish this place up!
I tried my hand at selling on but I didn't like it. For two months I had a table at the flea market, and I actually made a killing but I just felt like a rat.
Hope Momma likes her new chairs!! The K man told me about the "dealer " comment at the thrift store...I loved it! The dealer who never sells just hoards and gifts ha. I hope Mickey is smelling and feeling lovely after his bath....I missed him. I was going to take his picture and do a post on my favourite customer...along the lines of.... it is a rule you shouldn;t have favourites or admit to them at least but Mickey is my favourite customer. Who can resist those eyes and ears and tubby belly. Hope you are making good progress on the bench tops. xx Katherine
PS I am so with Rebecca on the chopping boards...they look fantastic!!
Mickey missed you too. He told me all about how he didn't get to see you when he got home :P Love my new chairs. A project to work on for the next few months.
Please let us know how you go. Haven't caught up your blog for about 4 months - to find this post!!!! I've just bought marine ply on the weekend to do our kitchen benchtops and want to stain them japan black!!! How freaky is that!
I've already done 2 coats of sanding sealer and have a beautiful silky finish. I only want to stain the tops as I want to see the contrasting layers of different coloured timbers on the edges. I have a sample piece to tryout the japan black - and yes it definitely has to be gloss - maybe even 2 pack I'm thinking.
Can you try it first so I can learn from your mistakes? lol :)