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!
1. Use spray mount to attach the fabric. This gives a clean and non-rumpled finish. However its not great for going around corners so…
3. …to make the edges a bit neater. That’s basically it!
5. Now for display. Line them all up in pretty rows and complement with other pointless but aesthetic items like a broken 1920’s typewriter.
Here’s the full set. I originally had them all in a big happy row but it somehow didn’t make the most of them. So i’ve gone for the interspersed look.
The bottom row consists of magazine racks covered many moons ago. Oh, and another typewriter….