Just Beautiful

When I was approached by Realtor Scott Rasmussen to stage a home he was listing for sale I thought it was a joke at first.  He suggested that I bring in a few pieces from my shop "Restore & Rework" so the house wouldn't look so empty when clients came in to look at it.  I thought let me sleep on it but you know I couldn't sleep that night I was restless for whatever reason.  The next morning it hit me I wanted to do this and in a bad way, not in a bad bad way just a good bad way.  Finally an opportunity to show off my skills or lack thereof.  I emailed Scott and agreed to do it, we met at the property and I took some notes and it was off to the races.  I had 2 weeks.  I gathered all my magazines and glued myself to Pinterest every evening, you can check that out under Cisco Diaz in group "Stage" for my inspiration.  Really not knowing what to do or how to do it I did what I thought I would like to see.  Soon after I grabbed a bunch of stuff from the shop and purchased a few items just for the stage.    Although I couldn't photograph everything in this 1300 square foot 3 bed 2 bath home for the sake of overwhelming the reader (uh you) I did do my best to condense the hundreds of photos I took.  Here is a snap shot of my work.  99.9% of the items used in this stage came from salvage yards, thrift stores,  flea markets or were headed for the landfil .  Nothing used here in this home stage is new and is all considered second use in nature, one exception were the pillows I used on the bed (just being sanitary).

 

 

These pillows were made by a vendor who sells out of my shop along with the runner used in the dining room out of a piece of vintage drop cloth.  Her work is impeccable.  I laundered the cloth beforehand but it still had some water stains, perfect in my world. Thank you Lydia.

 

 

 

I love this photo.  The chair  you see here I painted then rubbed back to almost remove all the paint.  I wanted it to look as if it was painted a long time ago and then someone attempted to strip it with limited results.  The fabric is original and is water stained and the upholstery nails exposed. 

 

 

 

 

 

My favorite piece by far is this handcrafted table.  It has been repaired a few times over the years with bits and pieces.  The only piece original is the top and legs everything else was added with whatever was available at the time.  It is super solid.  The unintentional look is exactly what I wanted.

 

 

In the kitchen I added a few touches.

 

 

Chippy paint salt and pepper.

 

 
The color scheme is bland, it seemed easier to go that route just in case a piece didn't work in one room I could use it in another plus it would be easier for me to sell at my store.

 

In the office I created a desk using an old door and metal saw horses here's the top.  The room had the illusion of an office so I stayed with that theme.  I tried to go lighter tones on the large pieces in the room since the walls were all wood.  I needed a contrast to compliment the room.

 

Bookshelf made from an old ladder and redwood fencing.  Hundreds of storage options here.

 

 

 

 
Outside a rusty table and scantly painted wooden chairs.  The green grass was a bonus.

 

 

In the kitchen a table I made from recycled wood.  I brought in some coffee mugs, napkins and small plates.  The rusty piece of metal in the back is leaned on the wall, not sure what it original use was but here it hold towels.

 

 

 

Outside I organized a potting table.

 

 

 

I have had this cement head for many months now.  No one ever asks about but I love it after this stage is over it may have to come home with me with all the other misfits I have at my home.

 

 

 

 

 

Ok this photo says it all.  Just need a cup of Joe and friend.

 
In the dining room I covered these chairs with coffee burlap bags.

 

 

Every room has a one of these.  A peek of what's next.  You can't see it all but it leads you in to want more, I did this purposely.

 

Hard to find small ornate frames on a wall in the living room.

Dining room.

 

 

 

Guest bedroom.  Stump of wood, books, white pitcher and a stem of green how can you mess that up?

 
Master bedroom.

 

 

 

 

My prize piece.  This door was giving to me by Linda Bautista Jones.  I cleaned it up a little and removed a layer of wood that was peeling off and the screen.  I added this homemade sign of odds and ends.  Half a broken frame, hub cap, rusty hardware and the wood of a salvaged broken chair.  Don't you just LOVE it.

 

 

Again just a peek you want to see more as you wander around the corner.

 

The box used here is actually a vintage box that was falling apart.  I dismantled it and kept the best parts now it leans creating some interest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the mantle a rusty wheel I picked up at an antique market, the window at a salvage yard.  I think the guy who sold the wheel to me was glad to see it go and gave me the look like I was the only one who asked about it before it had rust.  Still it fits here.

 

Here is a snap shot of the living room the shade I used for the lamp came from my good friend Aileen.  Stained and falling apart but here it fits right in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope you did enjoy every bit of this because I certainly did.  If I had to sum it all up with my own words I would say it is "Just Beautiful"  By the way this house is being shown as an Open House Saturday June 7th and 8th 2014 if you want to take a look 19171 Garrison Ave, Castro Valley, CA.   Thank you Scott for the opportunity.

My Day Off

 

 I get one day off a week to do whatever I choose to do.  Play golf?  Watch TV?  Do yard work?  None of the above.  I decided to go look for more goods or simply put find more junk.  Luckily I was emailed by a friend of mine Aileen over the weekend she planted the seed.  Aileen is getting out of the business of junk and trying to clear out her storage.  I obliged and figured, I could use some more stuff, right?  So out to Walnut Creek I drove to Public Storage.

 
 Here's how she rolls.  Organized and boxed.  Not used to this but hey you never know what you could find I mean after all she shops in better neighborhoods than I do.

 

It didn't take long.  I found a few things and her prices were very easy on the wallet.  A win win and I could make a few bucks and she cleans out her space.  Some hat forms, lamp shades, a ceiling tin, frames and bag of shredded paper (what was I thinking?).

Here's a close up.  Now your salivating, right?  Kidding really.  Some great finds.  Thanks Aileen worth the drive.

Since I was already out and about figured why not make a day of it and next visited my favorite salvage yard in the East Bay.  They have all kinds of stuff here and the creativity just explodes whenever I stop in.  This is the wood section.  I mean really there is way too much.  Right?

 

 

 They have more stuff like metal.  My favorite section but I try and stay away from this section since the pricing is on the high end but sometimes you get lucky.  Ask anyways I always do, nothing is priced.  Funny if you ask three different people you will get three different prices.  You have to know who to ask, for the best price, I do.

 

 Here's the catch.  Small ladder, fish tank (love), plant stand and a burl with a stick in it.  Not sure who, what, why on the burl stick.

 

 As I was walking out picked up a few more items.

 

 A chippy door.

 

 A few windows.

 

And this.  If anyone can tell me what this is.  Not sure why I bought it, maybe the shape, handmade not sure maybe I was hungry and it was shaped like a donut?

 

I was hungry so I had a quick lunch and decided to check out a thrift store on my way back home.  Here's what I found sometimes you just get lucky.  All of these will need some TLC but it's what I do.  Of course with Danielle's help, lucky me.

 

Back to shop in Castro Valley to unload my goods and look what greets me at the front door.  It happens, furniture just shows up.  Rarely do I ever find out who leaves it but I do appreciate it.  Thank you to whoever dropped this piece off.  I can do something with this. 

 

Anyways while unloading I ran into Michele Markovich, she runs a local estate sale company.  She saw me unloading my stuff and invited me to preview her estate sale later in the day what are the chances?  I obliged.  She previews at 3pm.  Time for a quick trip home for some coffee and sweets and see if Danielle and my wife want to join me for the ride.  They agree.  Here is where the estate sale is.  Happens to be in Castro Valley even better.

 

After greeting Michele I jet for the garage.  Ya lots to see but I need to stay focused on goods that I can sell and repurpose.  I ended up finding a load of stuff here, in the garage, outside in the storage and inside the house. 

 

See that table.  It belongs to me now.  All wood, hand built, I can appreciate that.  It just called my name, really.

 

 This mirror from a vanity, had to have it.

 

 Large blue glass bottle, love.

 

 Rusty table.  Wouldn't have bought it if the rust wasn't there.

 

 More stuff.  Enamelware, soil sifter and oil pan.

 

 You get the picture.  I just keep finding it.

 

 Metal chair, grey and solid.

 

These four children's chairs.  Not painting them no need to.  Back home to clean my goods and write this blog.  Come to the shop and see it all.  All in all a great day off.  Tired.  Sleepy.  Good night.