Filed under: Architecture, Furniture, Industrial, Inspiration, Nature, Our Work, Surface
I made these finials to go on top of the farm rollers I’ve mentioned before. The oak body of the finial is turned from a solid piece of wood. I like the checking (cracks) you can achieve with a solid piece of wood….the outside surface drys more quickly than the inside core of the wood so it cracks. If you were to laminate several smaller pieces of wood together and than turn the piece you would get little or no checking which is generally the most desired affect but not for me, I like to see the grain and nature of a single block of wood. The shape of the finial was inspired by a classical urn shape, often fashioned in metal and seen on old European entry gates, in stone on the roof of 18th century Palladian styled manor house or furniture…they’re everywhere. The zinc leaves are cut from salvaged roofing material. I just cut random size leaves, gathered them together in a pattern designed to represent the agave plant…..drilled the top of the urn and forced them in. You can use these in pairs to create symmetry or singly in another composition. Outside, a pair of these on the turned oak columns could give a garden path a little zest.
The agave plant was the inspiration for the zinc leaves.
Filed under: Architecture, Industrial, Inspiration, Latest Find, Surface, What will it be?
One of my favorite things about being an antiques dealer and designer is finding things that inspire me. I bought a pair of these not knowing what they were, just that I thought they were beautifully worn solid white oak “rollers” of some sort. I later found out that they were used in fields to compact the soil after the seeds were sown to keep the moisture in the soil. I cut off the stems on the ends so they stand on end more steadily. They make great pedestals for urns or finials. They have a very ” Rough Lux ” look.
This is a converted chicken coupe I’ve been working on. It is also my summer kitchen. I’m to the point on the project where I need to build luvered vents for ventilation above the windows. I’m very excited because I’d like the vents to also function as habitat for bats. I’m currently looking for reclaimed unfinished cedar boards to build them as I’ve found out bats prefer raw wood to hold on to. I also need to find bat guana ( bat shit ) to put in little cheese cloth bags, staple them to the newly constructed vent to attract new residents. There will be screening on the inside as to keep the bats out of the inside. Why bats? Why not….they eat a lot of bugs and they don’t bother me
People always ask me where I get all my cool stuff. I have my favorite spots I visit and I’ve been at it long enough that people come to me with things they think I’ll be interested in. I have to say ,though, driving a truck and being open to what the world presents is as good a source as any…and the price is often really good. ( see the sign ). These doors are actually beautifully crafted pine doors, at least 100 years old. They would make a handsome cabinet door or stripped of their old paint and used in new construction as a door could add a touch of character to a new space.
Filed under: Architecture
The round wooden “reeds” on the floor will make interesting furniture. Will post a frame made of these later.
Filed under: Architecture
On this column you can see that the flutes are being removed. Look closely at the faux painted mortar joints. The whole church was build to resemble stone as in the original European Churches.
Filed under: Architecture | Tags: europe, goth church, magnificent, medieval cathedral, philadelphia, salvage, victorian
Look at the magnificence of this Victorian era Church. Made in the style of the Medieval Cathederals of Europe, this Philadelphia church is unfortunately being taken apart.
