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Crikey, I’ve gone and done it: I’ve started a third blog, Knotty is Nice – a big bear hug aimed at respecting, preserving, maintaining and defending the knotty pine paneling and cabinetry that was phenomenally popular in midcentury homes.
Alas, knotty pine seems to get little respect in today’s design world. To me, though, it’s clear: Knotty is nice. I think we are just out of the habit of being able to see so, and to say so.
Many thanks to reader Christopher, who spotted these two, new retro bathroom sconces just launched for sale at Rejuvenation — the press releases aren’t even out yet, Rejuv confirmed! There are two sizes — please note, I greatly prefer the aesthetics of the top design, the smaller one — the “Starlette” Get it with two sockets, mount it over your bathroom mirror, and you’re ready to rock. The second design, the Stella reads too… bulky in the middle… to me. These are not cheap, however: When I used the configure tool, I get $330 for the Starlette with two sockets. Rejuvenation tells me: The process to make these lights is hand-done… They are working with American vendors — way to go, Rejuv!…and I know they are very focused on quality — hey, you get what you pay for. That said, if you have time to wait it out to find true vintage, you likely could find a similar light cheaper; but sometimes, you just want the room done — and the Starlette sure is purty.
My office studio remodel is not the only project I have up my sleeve. Shhhhh! Don’t tell anyone: I’m also working on a new little website all about, yes, the Knotty Pine. Alas, the whole wide world doesn’t quite understand — like Betty Crafter (above) and Eartha Kitsch and Jeff and Lynne and a whole bunch of us do — that knotty pine can be a gosh-darned wonderful thing.
Can you help me tell the knotty pine story — by sharing photos of your knotty pine kitchens, dens, basements, sunrooms, tiki bars — all your knotty pine galore (bathrooms, even!) – that I can use on the new website? It’s easy to upload your photos, below. I will be so grateful! Get out your camera — most all cameras today do a great job, cell phones, too! Use natural light, and get artsy fartsy with your angles (get up on a ladder… lay down on the floor… take wide shots… take detail and accessories shots… Have fun — let’s show ‘em that knotty can be nice! Instructions on how upload your photos follow:
I am super duper close to finishing My Punch List to finish my Office Studio Remodel is Done. I have begun blogging again while I squeeze in time to finish this list. I am Determined. Punch List Progress Tracker:
| Punch Item | Status |
| Caulk ceiling trim to fill gaps. | Done. Became unnecessary because new, darker trim hides gaps. |
| Repaint ceiling trim another color because first color is not right. Be really careful, because trim is already nailed up there. Oh, and carpet is back in, so be sure to lay tarp etc. in case of spills. | Done. Had to tape ceiling with blue painter’s tape. Huge PITA. |
| Take 2 Advil. (Wednesday morning) | Done. |
| Second coat will be necessary. | Done. This is a big one. Heading into the home stretch now! |
| Final coat of paint around door and window – the flat part, not the decorative part. | Done. |
| Hit tricky spot where wallpaper is not sticking well with another coat of wall size. (Yes, there is wallpaper involved). | Done. |
| Finish tricky wallpaper spot. | Done. This is also a huge one. The END of this project is in sight. |
| Prime wood shelving side 1. Let dry. | Done. |
| Flip over and prime wood shelving side 2. Let dry. | Done. |
| Paint wood shelving side 1. Let dry. | Done. |
| Flip over and paint wood shelving side 2. Let dry. | Done. |
| Second coat: Flip over and paint wood shelving side 1. Let dry. | Done. |
| Take 2 Advil. (Thursday morning) | Done. |
| Second coat: Flip over and paint wood shelving side 2. Let dry. | I am skipping this step, because you can’t see the bottom of the shelves when they are installed, and because my patience with this project is on its last legs. Good enough & Done. |
| Call Kevin and remind him he needs to come back and (1) add bit of trim to shelf on bathroom wall and (2) put in shelf grommet thingies. | Done. |
| Figure out the “creative thing” to do with the shelf trim. Do it. Multiple steps, I repeat: Shoot me. | Done. |
| Install shelves. Easy. This really isn’t even a step, but it gets in because of item above. | Done. |
| Install new vent cover for ductwork coming out of ceiling. (Hope it really fits cuz you aren’t sure.) | Done. Got to use “The Claw.” Fits. |
| Go out and buy attachment brackets for vintage shutters. BTW, who has this kind of hardware? I hope it’s easy to find. (Yes, there are vintage shutters involved.) | Ordered online. |
| Get hardware onto vintage shutters. | Done. |
| Install vintage shutters into window. | Done. |
| Clean new/old curtains going into window. | Done. |
| Sew new/old curtain panels together and re-hang. | Done. |
| Assemble rug shampooer purchased from Target July 2011. I have a feeling this is not going to be fun. At all. | Deferred to late date. |
| Shampoo carpet while room still is empty. | Deferred to later date. |
You know that point in a project where all the huge stuff is behind you… you are so close to “done”… and you get all excited?
Skip the prefab workbenches from Sears or wherever: Design your own workbench — or crafting area — to fit your space and needs using the amazing variety of legs, shelves, stringers, drawers and countertops available from McMaster-Carr. Researching storage solutions for my office remodel, I bumped into an amazing resource for all kinds of home improvement materials – McMaster-Carr — last week. Their product line is pretty expansive, and their prices seem very competitive. This company claims 490,000 items on their website. There are a big bunch of ready-made workbenches here. BUT, if you want to design your own, here’s the trick:
My obsession with finding the perfect storage solutions for my office studio remodel has been leading me to new resources. (Well, new to me.) My latest discovery: McMaster-Carr, who market all kinds of products to engineering types, and whose online catalog claims to feature 490,000 different products. Yes: 490,000 items. The first thing I want to spotlight from this incredible compendium: Butcher block countertops — in both maple and oak — that are offered in an expansive range of sizes — and at what, to me, seem like terrific prices. In addition, the maple butcher block comes in two thickness — a standard 1-3/4″ but also, a hunkier chunkier 2-1/4″. You can also get several edging styles. Based on one website I found (C&H) these seem to be made by John Boos, the famous maker of butcher block.
Of course, it’s only now that my office studio remodel is almost done that I discover that you can buy plastic booties to put over your shoes or socks when you are working in a dusty area doing your home improvement project. Denise was here last week helping. We spent like 30 hours in that room. We wore our socks the whole time. I think I pretty much destroyed three pairs. Then, electrician dude is here this week and I see these. I love these. I did like TWO PHOTOS SHOOTS with these plastic booties to wear when you are remodeling your house. I STYLED THIS PHOTO, I peaked up the little bootie points and modeled H2T just like Tyra teaches on ANTM. I did not choose new socks, though, these are what I was really wearing. I wanted to *keep it real*.
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