Japan black, new art and a chair
Mon, 29 Aug 2011 6 Comments 
Please don't ask. The kitchen quick make-do reno ground to a halt and not much has happened for weeks and weeks and weeks. Finally the plywood for the counter tops has been cut and sanded and today I applied a japan black stain and varnish combo. It's a little dark for my liking because I couldn't thin it down. K picked up a stain and varnish combo instead of just the stain and well I was too lazy to go back to the store to get just the stain. It's turned the ply a rich dark colour with the grain showing through. This is one coat and it's still wet. It is quite matt when dry. I'll have to wait a day (which translates to next weekend) when I'll try sanding it back a bit to see what the effect looks like. If it looks like sh*t then I'll just apply another coat. I haven't glued and nailed it in place yet while I play around with the finish.
That's one of my new art pieces. Tyra Mail by local artist Ruffo. Here's a better shot. It may not stay there though. I have a fabulous70s metallic poster (tea pots and pop art stripes) that might just be the right size for that spot. It's at the back of the shed though. Hmmmm.
Here's the other side of the room. Remember I still have to glue the tops down and nail on a plywood trim along the edges. So maybe in a few more months I'll have more shots for you. One thing I do have to do still is repaint the cupboards in gloss. The matt finish is sexy but SOOOOOOO impractical. Marks and scratches, greasy fingerprints, water drops. Urgh! I tried waxing it but that was a complete waste of time. Thank God I only tested on one door otherwise I'd be stripping the wax grease off before painting!
2 more pieces I bought at a recent exhibition. The first is by Craig Amos, Loose Ends (I have 4 small pieces of his already in the kitchen) and a pen drawing by Sharon McKenzie, large and quite striking in person. The photo just doesn't do it justice.
I picked up one more thing this weekend. A depression era style chair (except I think it is 40s not 30s). It's made from an old wooden box and still "upholstered" in its original barkcloth. It is so ugly that it's really quite lovely in person. Here's a photo in the shop. I'll take a better shot at home when I can. I'm fascinated that someone made this for their home all those years ago from bits and pieces they cobbled together. That even though they had no money to buy the real thing, they wanted to be stylish, to have pretty things.
Reader Comments (6)
I like the black bench top look in your kitchen, Jo. I think your black kitchen beats the blue version. Loving your new art pieces too. And are you sure you're not planning to change your name to Shabby-chic Jo now that you've brought that bedroom chair home?? xx
I think it will be quite interesting next to a set of white Giotto Stoppino tables I have. Thinking my office. The counter tops have gone a lovely matt black now. You'll have to come up and help me hang art after the painer has finished :P
You go ages without any "JO" news and then bam I can't keep up ha! Love the bench tops, agree with Anita. Excited you got one of sharon's drawings. She must be too!! She is doing a new series on people who dress in vintage which should be intersting. Ipswich is amazing in its little Arts community which is so vibrant and supportive of each other don't you think? I agree about the chair. I wonder who the owner was...it is questions like this that reminds me why I love vintage so much. Is it going in the bathroom reno upstairs i can see it paired with the vanity or rather the dressingtable you are going to turn into a vanity ? xx Katherine
I love how the black stain came out. I don't think it's too dark. Your kitchen is looking SO much better.
Really like the art too. The chair - not sure about. I'll wait and see once you've worked your magic with it.
Yes I am excited!!!! That drawing was my favourite from the series, so happy that it has gone to a good home.
Hi Sharon :) Will be so happy when I pick him up on Saturday. Where to hang him is another thing! Still thinking my office. You'll have to come around and check he's straight when I hang him.
I knew you'd "get" that chair Katherine. It's not my style but it has a history that appeals to me. Speaking of style I had to beat off a pesky stylist who was trying to buy it out from under me. I'm lending it to him instead.
LOL Kim. Knew you'd love the art (tatts are your thing after all) but also knew the chair would leave you cold.