Happy New Year from Sage & Balm!

Happy New year!  May your 2017 be a good one! :)

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Merry Christmas from Sage & Balm!

Have a very Merry Christmas, however you celebrate it!

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My long anticipated, rustic & shabby-chic farmhouse bathroom renovation!

This is a long post - much longer than usual - but I thought I'd detail our renovation since lots of people have already asked me about it; and to be honest, I am sharing it here on my business blog because design is partly what I do with living spaces and the furniture, decor, and photography pieces that I work on. This bathroom is quintessentially Sage & Balm in its aesthetic, and that is why I'm so involved in this business: it is a reflection of myself and how I want to live, and so it is an extension of some of the personal tastes that you'll see come out in the pieces I produce.  Because this is such a long post, if you'd prefer to skip to the photos, feel free, but if you're interested in hearing about how it all came together, read on!  

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When my husband and I bought our current house, it was in "as-is" condition.  While it wasn't in terrible shape, it had not been updated or had any serious TLC in a long time...perhaps decades.  The house is wonderful; and at 55 years old, it has good bones and lots of other features that we love about it.  However, the plaster in our kitchen ceiling which happened to be directly below our upstairs bathroom started to deteriorate over the 4+ years that we've been here, and the peeling paint, cracks, and water stains were beginning to hastily worsen.  We knew that when we bought this place that the savings we gained in buying a house in this condition would mean that money would likely be channeled into some renovations over time.  Our upstairs bathroom was fairly low priority, and was on a 5-10-year plan for us.  So, not wanting to renovate for a long while bought us time to save and plan.....until our bathroom started leaking water right onto our kitchen counters.  ACK.  Knowing that there is no quick fix for a leak that could potentially be sewage-based and full of mould, my husband and I looked at each other with apprehension in our eyes and knew we'd be forced into a renovation way ahead of schedule!  But....we pulled it together!  We started searching for contractors and quotes in April of this year, and by September, we had a brand new bathroom! 

We started with an incredible private contractor (Dan M. - if you're local, let me know via email or message if you'd like me to put you in contact with him!) who agreed to work with us and all of my crazy plans (and believe me, I'm very particular!).  Other contracting companies were way out of our budget by thousands of dollars, so Dan was a breath of fresh air, knowing he would do 99% of the work without accruing out-sourced labour costs.  After we had a trust-worthy and honest contractor booked, we started to hone in on exactly what we  wanted for the bathroom in terms of lighting, flooring, bathing, and other large and small-scale details.  I looked for ways to merge my ideal dream bathroom design with a tight budget, and put in enough work to achieve that while coming in under budget!  It took time and some energy to do it, but it was well worth the effort!  We also saved time and money in keeping the original footprint of the bathroom intact.  It is a standard 5'x8' bathroom and while I would have loved to blow out walls and have a clawfoot tub and separate shower, it just wasn't feasible.  Where I focused my attention was on making the most out of a small space where everything would remain in its original position.

Design & function

Since every single part of the bathroom had to be built back up from scratch, we had to think of everything involved, and I needed to work on a tight budget and make all the random pieces we were hunting down tie in together.  This meant I had to put a lot of thought into the design of the bathroom to make it look the way we wanted it to look - something that I enjoy doing :)  

We needed an exhaust fan and better lighting to control for moisture and to get us out of the dark.  We also considered vapour barriers and the type of tile to use, along with improving the plumbing (which had caused all of this in the first place!).  After all the initial practical, heavy work was done, it was time for more of the "fun" stuff.  

In my design, I opted for an airy colour palette of neutrals to stand the test of time, and picked out warm, traditional fixtures in antiqued brass or oil-rubbed bronze tones to add more warmth while still keeping it all fresh and modern in function.  We planked out the walls in shiplap in step with the vintage feel and had Dan rip new trim and moudlings from the left over planks so it all tied together.  We also had him build out an old-fashioned apron and window sill to make a handy shelf!  I loved the pretty glass-bell lights which were the perfect amount of curviness to play off of all that linear shiplap! I wanted to have a sense of symmetry against the vanity wall, and better lighting, so I choose sconce lighting to flank the mirror and a single pot light in the ceiling.  I chose an LED pot-light and Edison bulbs to keep in step with the vintage style and to conserve energy.  Rather than close off the vanity space with hulking cabinetry, I picked up a used antique table to give the illusion of more space and to give the bathroom a sense of character and history.  Then I used grey-washed willow baskets with rustic rope-handles for some farm-house inspired storage (one is our garbage can and the other is for storing toilet paper and hair-styling tools!).  I found a great mirror that had the exact shape I was after - I wanted something that would have an arched top to fall nicely between the sconces, and that was tall enough to give vertical interest and the idea that the bathroom was much loftier than it actually is.

We only keep two towels in the bathroom at all times, so keeping things streamlined was a nice touch.  I also like fixtures that are easy to use, like the hand-towel ring and open-ended toilet paper holder (husband and kid-friendly!!)  The antique medicine cabinet is perfect for out-of-the-way storage of essentials, along with some simple jars and a shallow drawer on the table.  I stuck with classic creamy whites for trim and ceramics like the sink, toilet and acrylic tub as those are never out of date.  And to soften the whole look, I picked out a few peachy-pink accent colours and a very breezy ruffled shower curtain to add texture and keep things from being too grey and drab.  I picked gold ball-bearing shower curtain rings because I am always annoyed by how easily the standard S-shaped hooks fall off or scrape open only by pulling open the shower curtain too hard.  The ball bearings glide effortlessly, sparing wear and tear on the shower curtain and keeping the rod from falling down!  They also don't rust which is great when you have a pristine white curtain! 

Lastly, since we couldn't stand having our old in-swing door smacking us and the toilet anymore, we chose a very practical sliding barn door which opened up the entire room!  The stunning and character-filled door slides very quietly (no slamming!) and gives us much better use of the space so we can all be in the bathroom at once without pushing each other out of the way :)  I love when design and function come together!

Reno realities: mishaps and delays

The renovation turned out beautifully; but like all renovations, we expected and of course, had some mishaps.  The shower tile was an ever-growing concern as the time approached to install it since Dan had never tiled intricate patterns in a 45-degree herringbone pattern before.  It was apparent that no tilers that Dan knew of had ever done that pattern before either, and there was some nervous tension about having it done properly, to the right scale, with minimal tile waste, and without damaging the new acrylic tub!  No pressure!  Thankfully a skilled tiler and Dan put the tiles we picked out in beautifully and everything went smoothly to everyone's relief.   Then, we ordered a trim kit but not a diverter for our shower kit, setting us back a week until it arrived as it was so specific, it had to be ordered in specially to match a discontinued kit (hence the deal I got on it).  

The sink I had initially purchased was delivered to our door; but upon opening it, I was disappointed to find that the sink was completely shattered in its box!  That set us back again. After hunting down the same model elsewhere, I picked it up in person and checked it over to make sure it was intact! 

 I ordered our sink faucet and taps online (never again!!!) and the first shipment "went missing", according to the company shipping it.  So after waiting 12 weeks for the taps and struggling through a ton of back and forths with the company, they finally arrived and Dan was kind enough to return to the job-site after the renovations were done and install it for us. And since this past summer was the hottest and most humid on record, we all suffered through a broiling, stifling heat wave over 14 long weeks of renovations (uuuuuugh!) with no air-conditioning, and no shower or bathtub!  Poor Dan worked so hard to first gut, then rebuild the bathroom from the inside-out (in jeans, no less!) and my 3 year old daughter and I patiently (and sometimes with expletives!) got through the noise, dust, mould, heat, mess of tools and clutter from the old bathroom, and sticky humidity that this summer held!  I'm thankful Dan was a great communicator and such a tough worker, or we would all have been toast!  

While there were minor changes to my design and a few last-minute details that went in long after the renovation was complete, the bathroom was done thoroughly with great attention to detail and fit my initial design very closely!  And YES I did all the painting after taking literally 5 hours to select the perfect colours, paint type, special brushes, etc. because I am compelled to paint things and do it perfectly!  :)

I'm so proud of this bathroom, and how gorgeous and unique it is!  I feel like it could grace the pages of a magazine and inspire other people to make their own interesting design choices, all while on a tight budget!

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** if you'd like to know where I sourced my items from, send me an email about certain items or read the blurb following the photos!

BEFORE: THE DARK, CRUMBLING, LEAKING, MOULDY BLUE BEAST OF 1962

DURING RENOVATIONS

AFTER: GLORIOUSLY RESTORED BATHROOM OF MY DREAMS!

**Sourcing materials and finishing touches**

My gorgeous barn door is actually from a barn up near my parents' place in New Tecumseth township.  I bought it from a lovely man and his wife after they approached me at the Beeton Honey Festival with an offer to scour their barn for antiques.  I happened to do just that (what a cool opportunity) and found the door lying on the ground.  I figured it would do nicely for a sliding door for the bathroom and snapped it up for $80!  Not only is it the same grey colour in the bathroom, but it was the right thickness for installing the sliding door hardware from Home Depot, and it has some great character and charm!  I just put on a new cast-iron handle that I bought online.

I found my vanity on kijiji: it was a kitchen table in "J.T.'s" family for generations.  I bought it with an enameled top, but unscrewed that to expose the pretty wood underneath.  I cut the drawer down and reinstalled that once the sink was cut into place.  

I found the lovely antique medicine cabinet at "Time After Time consignment" five years ago, and had been saving it for a bathroom update down the line.  Thankfully it works perfectly in its new home!  

The beautiful bell lights with edison bulbs are from amazon and were such a good price I had to pinch myself.  The lights I was originally after were about $360 and that was just too much to justify spending on two lights!  So I got both sconces for $160 total, and they shipped for free to my door!

The stunning mirror was found on clearance at Home Sense!  $43 is pretty darn good for that gorgeous mirror which checked off all the wants from my "perfect mirror list"!

Our original walls were plaster, and rather than installing drywall, we opted for 3/4'' thick pine tongue & groove planks with an 8" face to make shiplap.  Shiplap is very traditional and classic and should stand the test of time while also giving the bathroom some character.  I can't imagine the bathroom  being quite as striking without planked walls!  We picked up the planks bit by bit at big box stores, taking four trips to get enough without significant holes or cracks in them.

A lot of items were hunted down on Amazon.ca where I have a Prime membership to save on shipping and I scoured looking for the right items.  I got every single online item for a great deal, and since I work from home and have a tight schedule, it was very nice to order many items online and have them ship to my door! 

Our tile came from two different contracting and tile/flooring stores in Kitchener, and other purchases were made by taking time to hand-select and wait out deals from a few different big-box stores, as well as smaller local businesses, who I make a point to support. 

To place a custom furniture order or to purchase an existing piece or photography prints, please contact me at sageandbalm@gmail.com and I'll be happy to assist you!  You can also follow Sage & Balm on Facebook and at sageandbalm.com.

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Smaller orders: a rustic spool clock & a barnboard shelf with shabby-chic brackets

Here are two smaller custom orders from a short while ago.  The first is a rustic grey spool clock I made up for "M" to hang in her pool house.  The second is a shabby-chic barnboard shelf that sits on two very pretty wooden brackets in "G"'s entryway.  Enjoy!

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To place a custom furniture order or to purchase an existing piece or photography prints, please contact me at sageandbalm@gmail.com and I'll be happy to assist you!  You can also follow Sage & Balm on Facebook and at sageandbalm.com.

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Several smaller custom refinished projects - side table edition!

I often blog about the larger furniture pieces I refinish, but I haven't updated with any photos or blurbs on the many smaller pieces that I've done.  Sometimes writing up a blog post simply takes too long relative to the time spent on a smaller project, so I figured I'd stretch my time by corralling some of my smaller pieces into the same post!  

These are a mix of custom-order pieces as well as pieces that I did up on my own for re-sale or as gifts for family/friends.  As you can see, I love variety and I enjoy tackling a smattering of different styles from shabby-chic to farmhouse/cottage style, to industrial and rustic.  I have a soft spot for old things, but making them new again is what really makes me tick.  Enjoy!

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To place a custom furniture order or to purchase an existing piece or photography prints, please contact me at sageandbalm@gmail.com and I'll be happy to assist you!  You can also follow Sage & Balm on Facebook and at sageandbalm.com.

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1) An antique side table that was badly damaged in its structure and finish ( it could barely stand up on its own legs):

After: pretty in navy and walnut stain!

2) An old pine trunk that had seen better days...no before pic (it was brown, dirty, chipping and boring!)

After: a pretty shabby-chic trunk ready for use again!

My daughter, lording over her mama's trunk!

3) Two standard cable spools full of stickers, dirt, and permanent marker! And for a future post....my planked out floors which replace those awful white peel-and-stick tiles! *scroll down for a sneak peak!

After: two very pretty industrial-chic side tables! (Only one pictured).

4) A worn-down antique table passed down from grandma to grandson, that didn't fit in with the couple's decor...* check out the new kitchen floor! in these pics!

After: Now pretty and shabby-chic in a gorgeous soft linen colour!

5) A hand-built rustic coffee table from scrap lumber! (No before picture: visualize a pile of wood!)

After: a very rustic coffee table perfect for the porch or living room!  Here it is on my porch - and yes, that orange tile will go one day... :)

6) A hand-built console table made from barnboard and reclaimed wood! Again - no before photo...

7) And last, but not least: a worn down table with good bones, but a damaged finish:

 After: A very bright and restored, yet still shabby-chic table which highlights the wood inlays! (Apologies for the blurry photo)

To place a custom furniture order or to purchase an existing piece or photography prints, please contact me at sageandbalm@gmail.com and I'll be happy to assist you!  You can also follow Sage & Balm on Facebook and at sageandbalm.com.

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Soft blue vintage vanity with tilt mirror and layered chippy paint, original casters & fixtures!

Here is a darling little vanity that I picked up and wanted to makeover.  I really enjoyed its shape, but the previous owner (or someone else perhaps) had painted it a cloying yellow with gold highlights and glazed it with a very heavy (and drippy) hand; likely in the 90's or earlier.  The paint was starting to chip, which I like on some pieces; but I couldn't stand the yellow-brown finish on it, and on top of that, it was covered in unsightly glaze drips that made the piece look filthy.  It was time for a makeover. 

 I started by stripping the table top and sealing it to show off the beautiful natural walnut and maple tones which had a beachy driftwood feel. I left the quirky parts of the top as they were because I like the imperfect look, especially when the rest of the piece has planned imperfections!  Then I thought a very pale and soft blue-green colour - almost like seaglass - would keep the piece from being too overwhelming, and suited the shape and beachy top.  And since I really am a sucker for ultra shabby-chic pieces, I decided to make the finish very chippy to show the layers of colours underneath: just as you'd see on old pieces painted with milk paint or old oil-based paint. I like that the old yellow paint colour compliments the soft blue and dark wood underneath.  After trying to get a more "authentic" chipping paint look, by using the existing chips and making more of my own, the whole piece was waxed to keep in step with the vanity's vintage and give a matte-eggshell sheen.   Would this piece have looked great restored?  Sure....but sometimes you can have fun with a piece too (so long as it's not a truly valuable antique!)  Now this piece is ready for a new home!

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Before: poorly finished, and frankly very homely!

After: a soft, beachy & very pretty shabby-chic vanity!

Peeps of the yellow paint and dark stain underneath compliment the soft blue colour nicely, and give the vanity a layered, time-worn feel.

 Gorgeous walnut & maple sealed in their natural colour state!

To place a custom furniture order or to purchase an existing piece or photography prints, please contact me at sageandbalm@gmail.com and I'll be happy to assist you!  You can also follow Sage & Balm on Facebook and at sageandbalm.com.

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