Mexican Cantina

It was by design. The architects purposely left the ceiling unfinished, exposing the structural elements. This is rugged and borderline crazy. I'm all about character. I would just hope it stays up there.

Always conscious of budget, I like the simplistic use of the hose bib style faucet and concrete trough sink.

Regardless of your take on the ceiling I do like the "basic" materials they've paired here from the polished concrete floors to the galvanized metal chairs. Low maintenance and cost effective. A "what you see is what you get" approach to the design. All brought forth by the design team.

photos via ArchDaily

Splatter

Check this crazy composition. I love what they've done here with this cabinet. It's just a sweet example of taking an older piece and getting creative. Have a vision and make it your own.

photo via Remodelista

Limitations and Challenges

There are plenty of times in renovation work when you come across design challenges. It's all about how you solve them both aesthetically and economically. The owners here wanted to expand their 800 square foot home however ran into some limitations. The municipality would not allow a second story and the soil conditions (and budget) were not conducive for a basement. The architects got creative and designed a small addition split level.

This is the exterior of the 800 square foot home in Montreal, Canada before the architects got loose.

This is a view from the addition looking back toward the existing house. The split level has created three rooms; the dining area, a sitting room and a bedroom. A pretty genius idea working on a limited budget and site restrictions.

via Contemporist

Formica, Yes, Formica

Formica seems to have a bad name associated with it. As if it's too embarrassing to be the one to say they kind of actually still like the stuff. Hey, I'm down with it. Although it definitely helps that it's kind of retro. Check it out.

With summer coming to a close, I was going through some photos and found these. We spent a long weekend in Alpena at my sister-in-law's boyfriend's family's (got that all?) cottage. It was the perfect cottage on Lake Huron with a perfect beach and the perfect space. And...it had Formica in the kitchen. It was totally retro and, it just worked. The tops were white with this gold veining. They were sweet and accented with these vintage wood stained cabinets that they painted. A little cottage kitchen make over on a budget. Nice. Something that works and feels right in a space, no matter if it is a current trend or a blast from the past.

Wood Floors

I love wood floors. There are a ton of options for hardwood out there on the market. You can even find some great stuff in salvage warehouses. We have three different species in our house and this one is by far my favorite. It's 2-1/4" White Oak No. 2 Common. It's not the lowest grade but just one step above. They wouldn't sell me the lowest grade because they thought I would come back complaining that it was so awful I couldn't use it.


I told my installer to basically just throw it down. I didn't want him to fit it super tight nor did I want him to fill any holes or knots. Call me crazy but it worked, we saved a ton of money and got a rustic look. The wood was very inexpensive and beat up (basically because no one else wanted it) and I didn't want him to make it look polished. He did a great job and we love it.

Salvage Finds

A custom look of quality and craftsmanship does not have to come with a steep price tag. I really think there are a ton of ways to add character and charm to your space without spending top dollar. One of my favorite tricks for saving some money is to visit a salvage warehouse.

We found an old 1890's solid oak door with a beveled oval window and hand carved recessed panels at an architectural salvage warehouse for dirt cheap. We bought the door early on in our project and had it sanded down and restained.

It now adds a ton of character to the front of the house and creates a unique focal point for our small foyer.

A couple quick tips for great finds at a salvage yard:

- Be proactive. If you find something that has an odd shape like an old door or a stained glass window, you'll want to do so early on so you can easily incorporate it into your project

- Ask questions. Talk to the salespeople in the shop. They are usually really passionate about their finds and can give you details about finishes, eras and history.

- Think big and small. Doors and large pieces aren't the only things you can score at salvage yards. We once did a house where the owner and I found old school glass doorknobs for all of her doors. They would've cost a fortune new and that small detail really added a ton of character.

(Pictures by Tim Capaldi)