The salvage sisters blog has lain fallow for a few months now, but the time has come to bring out the bugle and announce a new season of all things decorative, thrifty and creative! Earlier this year, as summer approached, the sisters both became busy with other things and the salvage projects began collecting dust in the corner. This started for me in May when I decided to drive a big bus across America, blogging our way through via this travelogue. After our return my energies were focused on preparing to leave our shared house in Hailes Street and finding a new place to buy, whilst at the same time Gemma moved into a big manse in South Belfast.

Hundreds of boxes later, we have now successfully moved into our beloved new home in Lauriston Gardens. Our very own blank canvas.

Moving from a rental to one’s own home creates a whole new untapped world of salvaging and décor heaven! The flat has 3 south-facing rooms which was a big sell for me. Having gazed at endless pictures of dreamy homes, natural light gives any place an immediate head start. The kitchen needs a full over-haul which was, oddly, another selling point for me, as a kitchen re-work is a challenge I will certainly relish! (Country Kitchen in the City coming up…) The flat on the ground floor with a main door which meant we did compromise other things inside (a 3rd bedroom perhaps), but as you will shortly see, a little space outside to carry out projects was a priority for me.

If the current pace is anything to go by, the place will hopefully be shadow of its former self by Christmas. With boxes unpacked and screwdrivers at the ready by the middle of week 2, we got to work removing all the old pine doors ready for stripping. The Dip ‘n Strip folks in Edinburgh provide a great service, picking up your paint-clad doors at 6am and returning them, pared back to their former glory, by lunchtime. As each door came home there was an entertaining running commentary from the guy about the various quirks and stories hidden beneath the gloss. The apparent woodworm was actually the result of someone’s poor dart board aim; there was once a cat or puppy (which chewed the corners of every door); one door actually turned out to be two half doors.

The doors needed sanded down, waxed, and despite our excellent organisation, a great deal of time figuring out which fittings go where.

The now stripped pine doors already add such warmth to the place. We are pretty pleased with our story-telling doors!

Footwear storage is a passion of mine. Such is the case that i recently considered purchasing a very overpriced wall mounted welly rack. Until i realised how easy it would be to make, especially with a handy construction pal, a trip to the salvage yard and a sunny saturday afternoon. My sculptor friend Ali T provided me with the base, an old warped, weathered piece of hardwood, and the dowels are a collection of old broom handles.

Mathematics being a low point for both, we spent a while figuring out how to space the 6 pairs of holes across the wood. Luckily we followed my dad’s time-honoured advice – “Measure twice, cut once”.

Once the first pole was tested for strength and length with Malkie’s big boot, we carried on with cutting each end down to size, sanding further and then hammering in.

The finished product houses 6 pairs of happy boots. It was such a successful project (unusual for me when it comes to hammers, drills etc), maybe we’ll start taking commissions…