We’ve had, in our kitchen (which is used mostly as a common living space) some furniture mashed up together, that was “temporary.” You know how that goes. We’ll just put this over here for now… and then three years later, you come around to sorting out your wares. Sometimes you just don’t have the time. Often times, you just don’t have the finances to get everything you want, the moment you desire it. Whatever.
With growing kids in the house, furniture needs can change. What I realised some time ago was that we’d do better with some kind of desk, or a run of counter top that could be used as a surface for homework, computer use, or even as a food/bar surface while entertaining. Just about anything would be better than the dresser which hoarded housed my gorgeous stationary, this little red desk (as terribly cute as it is), and this small table for my ma-ga-zeeeeeenes which sat between the two. All fine at the time, but it was time to change up the space to suit us all a bit better.
The problem was in finding something like a console table, possibly with a couple of shallow drawers for stashing some paper and pencils, in a loooooong length, that wasn’t going to cost something crazy like three thousand dollars.
Impossible.
Over the holidays, while perusing IkeaHackers.net, Martin came upon this desk which seemed like just the right thing for our our space. It appeared to be both doable AND affordable. JOY! We opted not to put the second set of chrome legs under the run of wood… though gorgeous, it would add an extra four inches in the overall height, which seemed unnecessary for us. The whole profile of the the furnishing in the kitchen is decidedly on the low side. And anyway, we’re all smallish around here.
We visited lumber places until we found a piece that would work for us – finally, a piece of walnut, just over eight feet in length – and laid it out to figure out which side we liked best, see how much of an overhang we wanted, noted where we wanted it to start and end…
That thing weighs a tonne.
Next, Martin put that huge piece of wood in the back of our car (again) and drove it to a place where he could use all their wood-working machinery at a rate of $12 per hour, which was a deal for about three hours worth of time. We don’t own such tools, nor do we have the space for such wood-working shenanigans – especially during the wintertime. He planed and hand-sanded it before bringing it home again.
Since then, he’s been hand-sanding it, oiling it, and rubbing it with a diaper. It’s been curing… and now it’s silky-smooth to the touch, and it’s shiny!
We wanted to keep some of the bark from the live edge, but because of the way the tree was felled in the first place, the outer bark was entirely too prickly and couldn’t be salvaged. (I’m now glad to be free of the endless amount of splinters it’d been giving us.) The front edge has been sanded smooth, and the children can sit at it now. It will be useful as the keyboard ledge once lessons begin – we just need a tutor.
I wish we had a better solution for the speakers, but we really can’t mount them anywhere without wires dangling all over the place. I suppose there’s the idea of hiding the wires in the walls, but that would require hole-making, and plastering, and paint… I’m not ready for any of that just now, thanks.
These stools belong at the kitchen island… we’re on the hunt for a pair of stools with hydraulics, so one can sit higher for, say, piano lessons, but lower for typing – that should prove easier for the children to climb on and off them too. I’m looking for comfortable, sexy, and affordable. We’ll see what we can come up with, but for now, we’ll just keep dragging these ones over when we need them.
What I love about this project is we now have two deep cabinets for stashing most of the stuff we had hanging around… though, I kinda miss my stationary drawer – I’m not gonna lie. (It’s okay though, I never hardly ever used any of it… ’cause I’m a hoarder, remember?)
Next is taking down the cluster of photos I have at the moment and refreshing the whole wall. We need bigger images mixed with some other stuff. Not sure what yet, but I’m hunt Etsy for posters these days, which can give you a lot of bang for your buck – especially if you want something large.
Or you could make something. But that sounds like a lot of work. (Heh.)
Anyone else got an evolving space? Anyone? Bueller?!
Thanks, Village!! It’s working out pretty well, and I love it.
I too have a basement dump zone… also on the clean-up list. Soon(ish). It sure is nice to see a project finished sometimes!
Oh I love sneak peaks into your stylish life
always evolving over here but right now we are sitting pretty with a new space that needs nothing (can’t imagine that it possibe but it is) I do still have a dump zone in the basement that requires some TLC. Some day soon
love that this was done by Mr grumbler
Sara, you have to come here, and run your hand over it… like a mirror, yo. And also? Come to my house. Just come. 😉
HOly crap – that is amazing!
Thanks, Erin!! I’m loving it too. The shelves with the crown moldings (they flank the dining table) were made by the cabinet maker who built our kitchen eight years ago… if/when the time comes to re-do, I will ABSOLUTELY go Ikea – all the way. I can’t say enough good things about their kitchen systems. (We put one in the apartment downstairs, and it looks pretty boss!!)
You COULD apply trim molding to Ikea shelves or cabinets – the only trick would be making sure the paint colours match, or you’d have to paint/spray them the same colour. NOt a hard trick for a custom look. How’s your house coming these days?
I LOVE that! It’s gorgeous. You guys both ROCK! Is that an IKEA shelf with crown moulding there?
I know – our is constantly evolving too… that’s kind of a good thing though, no? I wish we could have a piano, but seriously – we have no place to put one either. Or, it would be in the kitchen, with no desk/storage/stereo, etc. Can’t have that! Anyway, let’s see if these children will even play a keyboard first, you know what I’m sayin’??!
I’d love to see your pics, Amreen – send them to me! Really!!
I adore that grand piece of walnut. my whole house is an evolving space. i’ve faced a few similar challenges: a keyboard ledge (now we’ve graduated to actually needing a piano and we have NOWHERE to put it), speakers and storage. i’ll take some pics of our solutions and send them to you. Good work! and your husband rocks.
Thanks, Idas! He really IS amazing… he does all these things AND he can cook like a muther. I’m a lucky girl. 😉 Thanks so much for reading!! xox
Niiiiice.
Men who can whisper or pen a sweet nothing now and then.
Men who can make funny.
Men who are aware and present.
Men who are honest and respectful.
Men who can make furniture.
Men who can keep clean.
Men who can cook.
That’s part of my top 10 list of awesome male traits.
I don’t know if Martin can cook but no wonder you moved to the Belle Province.
Beautiful that you inspire him to be so amazing.
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