dining table & DIY RH Salvaged Natural finish

David's recent completed project is our new dining table.

We started looking for a table for our strangely small yet open kitchen eating area back in September when we moved in.   Everything we saw and liked measured out to being too long.  It is tight because the space is flanked by a walkway to the master and our bar seating area and then a 6" step on the other.  So, we were landlocked with our size.  A round table worked really well, but we could only fit 4 comfortably there.

So, what do Katie and David do?  They design and build their own.

David loves working with wood and metal.  He started with the wood top and after one complete table top in the trash (I was adamant about the way it was constructed/finished), we finally came to a great happy final product.  Then the legs were a challenge with the wood due to species and availability so David just decided to make them out of welded steel tube.

Here is the completed table.

It is very "farm-table"-esque.  He ended up using standard yellow pine.  He planed it himself and then sanded it all down with a 220 grit before the stain.  I am in love. {with David too}

Close up on the finish.  Which is my FAVORITE part.  

The finish is a-la-Restoration Hardware's Salvaged Natural.  See below.  I LOVE this finish because its very "found" in essence and isn't too slick or dark or contrived.  Natural.

And a furniture piece from Restoration Hardware with this finish.  I want this piece in our house.  But for $5500.  I'll try my hand at having David make it?

In order to get this stain and finish we came up with a pretty good formula.  Here are the parts/process.

DIY Restoration Salvaged Natural Finish

- sand stain-grade wood with 220 grit until ultra uber smooth

- mix 1 part minwax espresso 273 with 5 parts mineral spirits {stir, DO NOT shake}

{side note:  I had David disassemble the end pieces of wood that ran the opposite direction of the others, so that when he applied the stain,there wouldn't be any doubling over of the stain etc.  This proved to be a very good idea if I do say so myself }

- rub stain on with cloth, wiping away any excess as you go

- let it dry per manufacturer's instructions

- repeat if desired

- seal/finish wood with boiled linseed oil

{side note:  the boiled linseed oil is AWESOME in that it gives the wood a more rich, but not darker color, and it saturates the wood fibers and protects them instead of a polyurethane coating that would sit on top of the wood and create a film.  I wanted to make sure this table would patina and age with us}

- care for table by applying mineral oil every year or so (like a butcher block cutting board)

typical, for us.

David and I have an interesting relationship.  Different than any of my friends and their loved ones.  And its amazing and hysterical.  

First, when we are out on date night, you can be assured that there is going to be a drawing on a napkin, scratch piece of paper, receipt, etc.  Or plans for a trip to Home Depot the next day or discussions on how we're going to prepare, build, and finish the next project.  

Examples are below.

Sketch of some ideas for our back deck at dinner on a Friday night.  Mussels weren't that great, but we came up with some awesome plans for the grill and the smoker.

David's on-going small scale project.  A new kitchen/dining table.  Wood farm-style top and steel base.  He welded the base himself because he's awesome like that.  Still needs some staining and finish but I am so excited!  

{Mom's Christmas present [x2] to go with the new dining table. Most always gifts are for our house;) }

And David's Christmas present from me.  Everyone I tell is so confused.  Its a sheet of steel.  A 3/8" x 4' x 8' sheet of steel.  It weighs something like 500 lbs, but David is in love.  Basically this inanimate object allows him to weld in his own shop now instead of elsewhere.  It helps ground the metal, and all that electrical current stuff.  I won best wife of the year on Christmas.

a few "afters"

Some of my friends and family have asked me to post more pictures of the finished house, so here you go,a little snippet.  Our master bedroom.  Just a couple of little happy moments.  

Some may know I'm a little afraid of color.  I really like neutral natural honest materials.  Jute, wool, wood etc.  But I have some fun patterned accent pillows coming.  

And I found these amazing sheets at Target this weekend.  They have this great new "Threshold" line.

This was a little project completed a while back, but I hadn't posted it yet.  That is our toilet behind the "saloon doors".  The doors were made out of painted wood and frosted plexi glass.  Its actually really great.

And, during the winter, I have found that our "open-air" shower is pretty un-bearable.  And if you know me, you know I HATE being cold.  And showers should be warm and comfy.  Closing off our shower during the winter with a shower curtain is a must.

Farewell!  Until  next time, when I get the energy to fancy up another area of our house for pictures :)

my day, 75% of it

75% of my day is spent getting ready for, going to, being at, and coming home from WORK.  I truly love my job and because I spend so much of my time designing corporate spaces, I thought  I would share some here and there.  The most recent project is below.  

The project was for a media/web/software company and they were a joy to work with.  The building is at 800 Brazos, and this space was a suite that encompassed 3 different buildings, all built before the 1960s.  It was a major challenge.  We tried to expose and be true to all the awesome existing architecture, including brick structural walls, massive concrete columns, steel trusses, and these awesome arched windows at the Brazos facing side.  

We are now working on Phase 2 for this exact same client in the same building, on the same floor with even more challenges, but even more fun.  I can't wait to share.