DIY Rustic Bench

Although I love DIY projects, I'm rarely that satisfied with the results. However, in the Feb/March 2010 issue of ReadyMade magazine there is a DIY project that I think is pretty foolproof and it looks incredible.

The project takes a thick piece of floor joist and attaches metal legs to it to form a bench. The wood can be found in a salvage yard and the legs can either be found or can be ordered from hairpinlegs.com ($14-$30 per leg)

I love the combination of rustic with modern. This bench would look great by our front door for putting on shoes and boots or around a low table on the patio.

I will post my results after I try this one!

Vintage Industrial

I am loving the simplicity, large scale, and rustic look of vintage industrial furniture right now. There are a few vendors that carry this style at the Alameda Antique Fair or you can find examples on line at sites like Get Back, Inc, Big Daddy Antiques, Factory 20 or Cleveland Art.

Right now I'm looking for some metal dressers as well as industrial shelving to divide the living room and dining room of our new place. Here's a few great examples of this style. I've found during my hunt.

Industrial Wood & Steel Shelving Unit

This shelving unit from Get Back Inc. ($2,800) stands over 6 feet tall (see photo above). It would be great as a baker's rack in the kitchen or in a library or living room.

Perforated Bookcase

This perforated bookcase from Cleveland Art has the look of an old locker room. Standing over 6 feet tall with nice deep shelves. Way better than the Ikea bookshelves we have now!

Metal Dresser

I wish I could find a couple of these metal dressers from Twenty Gauge or else one big longer version.

Vintage Chalkboard

I love the idea of chalkboards as art. This 1970's school chalkboard ($885) would be amazing in a loft leaning against a wall. Not something I need right now, I but love it!

Give a Hoot

Owl Light

Nights at our country house are very dark. I've been looking for a light for our hallway for those light night bathroom trips and think I found the perfect lamp. This porcelain owl nightlight from Viva Terra ($149) stands 10" high.

Owl Art

These little owl plaques ($20) from Fred Flare come in a multitude of colors--blue, pink, green, etc. Wood base with a hand cast plastic owl. A few of these would look cool grouped together.

Woodsy the Owl

If you grew up in the 70's like me then you probably remember those public service announcements featuring Woodsy the Owl. This t-shirt ($24) from Junkfood (available at Fred Flare) brings me back.

More Furniture Finds

Wired
I'm loving this wire De La Tour chair from Urban Outfitters ($160).

I think these chairs would be great paired with my really rustic wood dining table. I like the contrast of modern industrial, with rustic.

A couple of these chairs would also be great as extra seating in the living room maybe with a sheepskin thrown over them for extra padding.




Roots

I also love this root coat rack from VivaTerra ($259). Would be great in our country house. Very organic looking.






Log Furniture
I've been liking the idea of logs as furniture especially if juxaposed against more modern pieces. These log side tables from VivaTerra ($169) are great, but a little steep.





D.I.Y.

I think I'm probably more inclined to make my own log furniture. The latest issue of Martha Stewart Living (June 2008) has a DIY project for log side tables with painted tops and wheels so you can move them around more easily.



I also like this idea in the same issue of using a tree as a towel rack and piece of driftwood as a bathroom shelf.

Driftwood and Candlelight

I saw this bathroom photo in a recent edition of Domino Magazine and have been obsessing about the mirror and the light fixture which I think would go perfectly in our lake house bathroom.

The driftwood mirror ($750) can be found here . The old fashioned lightbulb ($18) can be found here.

Wish I could find the exact light fixture, but have not found anything similar.


I've also been really captivated by faux candles recently. I bought some battery operated candles from Smith and Hawken that I put in our entryway as well as on our patio.

They are great because you don't have to worry about burning down your house and they look extremely realistic. They have a built-in timer so they come on automatically when it gets dark.

I've also been contemplating the purchase of this light fixture from Napa Style for our lake house. In this case the candles have lightbulbs inside and the whole fixture is hardwired.