Rustic T.V. & media console

My old friend "S" just moved into a new house where her darker floors have created some minor furniture issues!  Now that her floors are much darker than in the old house, some of her furniture looks out of place or errs on the depressing side!  After inquiring if I had any rustic benches kicking around in my inventory, I suggested building one, since the kind of thing she was looking for may be difficult to hunt down in a store.  So after agreeing to a design and colours, I collected all my lumber and tools and built this media unit to her dimensions.  I will spare you all the details that go into building something from scratch, and finish by saying that it is amazing what some elbow grease, faux weathering and paint will do!  Here is her new media console unit - all ready for her big-screen T.V., media boxes and with storage to boot!  I hope "S" will enjoy snuggling up with her family to watch some movies from her new media console!

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As this project started out as a pile of wood, there is no before photo!

But here is what it looks like now!

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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Unique, white & pale grey, shabby-chic writing desk

This very interesting desk was sent my way by "G" who loved it's shape, but knew it needed some TLC.  The desk was a bit beaten up with large cracks, broken pieces, lots of scratches and scuffmarks.  The parts of veneer that were nice to look at weren't really worth saving, so "G" and I decided to go with a full-out paint job to transform this tired desk!  She really enjoys the shabby-chic style, so we settled on some classic neutrals that will look more timeless down the road.  

After lots of repair work, the desk was shellac'd to high heaven (mahogany stains are notorious for tannin-bleeding).  Then the white chalk paint came out....but those tannins were not going to surrender so easily.  THREE heavy applications of shellac were needed before the pristine white paint no longer showed red-brown stains from the colour underneath.  Once that stallion was tamed, a pale grey colour to off-set all the white was used on the flat surfaces, and beautiful glass knobs were fixed to the false drawer-front.  After some selective distressing and a few coats of sealant, the desk was ready for a new home!  I hope "G" enjoys her "new" shabby-chic desk and loves its new look!

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Before: a lovely shape, but a terrible finish!

After: a beautiful shabby-chic statement desk!

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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Industrial-chic & rustic wooden spool table

I had a lovely lady request a side-table made out of a used cable spool when she heard that I made those.  After picking out a specific size and style from my catalogue of available spools, "A" requested that it be stained a beautifully dark black-brown with some distressing to let the original wood colour peek through.  She also loved the look of the printed lettering that was already on the spool and the rust forming on the metal.  So after a good cleaning, the spool was prepped to remove any sharp nails, staples, slivers, cable remnants, and edges prior to staining.  After the whole piece was stained and distressed, the spool got several buffed coats of varnish, especially on the bottom so "A's" floors would be safe from damage.  Furniture pads placed along the bottom leveled out the top and allowed the spool to slide safely on her hardwood floors.  All together, this makes for a very interesting industrial-chic conversation piece that is both attractive and functional!

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Before: your standard planked-top cable spool:

After: A beautiful, industrial-chic statement piece!

Close-up details:

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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Simple mahogany-stained headboard

Here is a custom order that I did up for "C''s father: he's an older gentleman who really wanted a headboard for his double bed which matched the rest of his furniture.  A fan of the Bombay company mahogany satin-finish style, he wanted something along those lines, but still quite simple..."something to just peak out above the pillow" and not too rustic looking.  So I found a basic headboard shape, and once that design was agreed upon, I went about building it from select, clear pine (no knots) and made it to measure for a standard double-sized bed.  After constructing the headboard, and making sure it was sanded smoothly, it was time for multiple coats of a deep, mahogany stain, followed by several coats of high-gloss varnish.  Between each coat of stain and varnish, the wood was buffed to keep that smooth, glossy finish.  On the back, I added specialized fitted slats so the bed could be wall-mounted for extra security.  

 I think it looks quite polished; and while it's not my usual style, that's what makes custom orders "custom"!  I hope "C"'s father enjoys his new headboard!

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There is no "before" photo, as this headboard started out as a pile of lumber, screws, glue, and trim!

But here is what it looks like all constructed and finished:

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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Happy Mother's Day!

A very Happy Mother's Day to all the beautiful and special moms out there!

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Nautical themed photography prints

Happy Sunday!  I thought since I don't have any custom orders staged and ready to post tonight, that I would share some photography prints instead.  Stay tuned for a slew of furniture makeovers - I've been quite busy this month with 8 custom orders!  

I have a soft spot for anything of a nautical nature, so I've collected some prints that express my love of the seaside and I hope you will enjoy them.

As a reminder, all photography prints posted to this blog are available for purchase.  Please visit http://sageandbalm.com/ for more prints and for a list of sizes and prices!

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Pebbles rest in the snug crevasses of driftwood, near Sooke, British Columbia.

A beautiful ship-clap lighthouse stands sentinel over the Port Dalhousie pier in St.Catherine's, Ontario.

A lonely tanker ship sets out from the Vancouver Bay near Stanley Park, British Columbia.

A dazzling sight from Cape Spear - one of many lighthouses bathe in the light of a rare sunny afternoon in Newfoundland.

A derelict fisherman's cabin sits empty on this long, untamed path along the Newfoundland coastline.

A lone fisherman takes a break and gazes out at the breakers on Florida's east coast.

 Two canoes sit patiently while their owners take a dip off-camera in one of Parry Sound's many pretty lakes.

A seagull's reflection in the still of the tide water makes for a wistful seascape.

An expertly tied slipknot holds a boat to its dock after sunset, awaiting the next day's boating adventures.

A golden sundial sits on a beautifully aged table: apparently Vikings may have used sundials on some of their voyages at sea.

The stunning and iconic lighthouse at St.Augustine shows off its whimsical design in the warm Florida sun.

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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