BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE

This all seems like a distant memory.

What used to be this is now a cozy spot on a cold evening.

The fire is so delightful.

Side note: The antique firescreen was a Christmas gift from my sweet husband.  It fit as if it were made for this spot.

ANOTHER VINTAGE FIXTURE HUNG

That was then....

and 

THIS IS NOW.

Hanging outside its new home on the 2nd story deck

Admittedly, the fixture requires a more decorative bulb but this one did in a pinch in attempts to pass

the electrical inspection.

A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH

    After acquiring all the light fixtures for the house this past year, we brought them to Hawthorne Ave. last week to be installed.  The electrician noticed that the 2 fixtures sold to me as exterior lights are actually labeled inside the fixture "not for outside use".  Putting the fixtures back in their boxes to be returned, we went in search of replacements....fast.  Paul's Place to the rescue.  Anne at Paul's Place pulled out numerous fixtures, most in need of some work.  The one I decided to fall for needs perhaps the most work.  It figures!

A little scrubbing with fine steel wool revealed some brass detailing.

BEFORE

AFTER

This one will hang above the door on the 2nd floor deck out back.  I've decided to clean it up and clear coat the fixture instead of paint it again.  I like how, with this treatment, this beauty's age shows.  

Stay tuned for the completely cleaned, re-wired , and refinished light fixture!  It should be sometime this week.

THERE HE GOES AGAIN....

    It was just a few days ago that I mentioned Kyle.  In addition to creating his own funky artwork, 

Kyle works at Paul's Place restoring and often resurrecting antique light fixtures.

We purchased this gas fixture several months ago from Paul's Place.

Kyle converted this early gas fixture to electric, maintaining the original features.  (Originally the house lighting was fueled by gas.  Several of the original house fixtures had been converted years ago but the front fixture was a small  Arts and Crafts lantern).

 Since the gas fixture was missing a canopy, Kyle took a paint laden canopy from another fixture,  
cleaned it up, gave it color and created patina to compliment the fixture, 

and VOILA !

    The electrician is scheduled to return tomorrow to hang more light fixtures.  Check back to see this beautiful fixture in its new home on my front porch.

AMAZING TALENT

Cabinet from Caravati's

   
    Check out this facebook link.  Our kitchen cabinets are being installed and our cabinetmaker Roy is doing a fantastic job.  He has incorporated an early 1900 kitchen cabinet from a home on Three Chopt Rd. that we got from Caravati's  and 4 old corbels I picked up at Paul's Place, both local antique and salvage shops.  In addition, Roy has used the last bit of bead board, original to the house and leftover from building the stair well wall, to line the back of the book shelf area on the kitchen island.

Original bead board recycled as backing for bookshelves in kitchen island

Corbels shelved at Paul's Place

My kitchen is going to be so beautiful I am eager to begin enjoying it all the time.

*  Roy, if you are reading this, look at the shamrock corbels on the shelf next to the ones you put in my island!  Are they calling out "HOFFERT,  TAKE ME HOME!" ?