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Tag Archive | "Salvage"

Treasure Hunting in Cobourg, Ontario

Friday, January 13, 2012

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Here's a post that's been in the can for months. Back in September when I scouted Waddington's new Cobourg outpost, I went on a little treasure hunt along tiny Covert Street, which I discovered thanks to my friend Susan Forint and her SAF Affect blog. Then, before I got a chance to post my thrifty finds, I learned that I had overlooked Cobourg's biggest claim to vintage fame, the massive Legacy salvage yard. So back I went with my Ajax friends Denise and Larry who kindly provided the transport.

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Craigslist Deja Vu

Thursday, December 15, 2011

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This morning I saw an ad on Craigslist that really took me back. This Duncan Phyfe is a dead ringer for the table that became my first big refinishing project, my trial by fire. Because of its condition, the table above is selling for just $30, which makes it an ideal candidate for someone like me with more ambition than brains who wants to get his or her hands dirty and learn a helluva lot about refinishing. And while I'm definitely tempted, I don't have the space or inclination to take this on right now. What about you? You might end up with a something you can be proud of, I know I was when my table, below, finally emerged from the fire.

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Reclaimed Zen

Monday, November 7, 2011

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Normally, one photo from a shop review jumps out as the one to feature. I'm usually looking for some colour and an image that gives a good sense of what the post is about. But the choice was especially hard with Toronto's Zenporium (998 Queen Street East, 416.778.1936), a relatively young retail operation specializing in home furnishings crafted from wood reclaimed along the Pacific Rim, particularly Indonesia. To make choosing even more difficult, Zenporium's offerings fall into two distinct camps, the rough and rustic and the sleek and contemporary. Teak root side tables have a foot in each camp (priced around $400), while this dresser is crafted from wood reclaimed from old fishing boats (about $1,000).

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A Red Letter Mooch

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

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My friend Ingrid and I took advantage of the glorious summery weather on Saturday and headed to the Aberfoyle Antiques Market outside Guelph, Ontario (about 1 hour west of Toronto). For some reason we encountered a plethora of old sign letters, always a hot home accessory. My decorating partner Kevin recently spelled out the word "modern" on a client's wall, which they then edited back to simply "mod" — yes, you can have lots of fun with these things. I'm constantly seeing children's names spelled out in nurseries; I wonder if putting the word "serenity" in my bedroom would have a positive effect. If you entertain such notions, definitely head to Aberfoyle where you'll find plenty of fodder for your Scrabble-inspired flights of fancy. The letters range in price from about $10 - $12 for smaller letters to $30 - $40 for really big, free standing ones.

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A Dangerously Good Product

Thursday, September 1, 2011

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My decorating buddy Kevin happened to score some original Briwax at a yard sale and he was so thrilled with the results he held off on finishing the job so I could see the before and after (below). Briwax is a one-step staining and finishing product that makes easy projects easier. Kevin stained the inside of a cabinet with one coat of dark Briwax (left). The colour and finish are really impressive. A British product with a Royal Warrant, Briwax is hard to find here in North American; a list of distributors can be found on the company's website. In Toronto Briwax is available at Lansing Buildall (258 Sheppard Avenue East) and Primetime Paint & Paper (299 Queen Street East). But that's not where this post ends. Kevin's cabinet holds a very clever secret . . .

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