Feature in 7X7 San Francisco Magazine!

We are thrilled to be included  in 7X7 San Francisco's April Home and Design issue. 

They ran a story about Temescal Alley.  How fun to be one of the shops included!

See the photo of the yellow door?  That's us!

Here's write-up about Walrus. 

A few recent projects for the shop.

Well, our little shop is doing pretty well! So well, in fact, that we are scrambling to keep up with inventory. It's not an easy to thing to  "man" a shop AND produce the inventory. Especially when you've still got your kids at home  -- minus a few hours of preschool each week.  But somehow we are making it happen.

Anyway, we thought we'd share a few recent projects, like this industrial side table. We found the card file at a salvage shop and were about to order hairpin legs for it to make it into a table when a friend called and said she had some stuff to give us.  (Thanks, Monika!!) One of those things was a falling apart vintage side table with hairpin legs.  How's that for fortuitous?  The legs easily came off the old piece and we cut the a new base out of plywood so we had something to attach both the card file and legs to.  This one sold quickly.  Industrial is still hot.

We're also doing a lot of custom work.  We recently got two of these broken antique chairs (both broken in the exact same place from years of right-handed folks pulling them out from a table.  The wood was literally split and pieces were missing.  They'd been tacked back together with nails, but eventually that didn't hold it together either.  Because the client asked us to paint them to match a set of her existing black chairs, we were able to screw the wood together using a counter-sink drill bit and then fill with wood filler.

Nothing a little paint can't cover.

The two chairs we were asked to match were painted with in glossy black, and we have to say that we are surprised by how this glossy paint looks on an old marred antique chair.  We love it.  If you look closely at the painted chair, you can barely see the fix.   A guest would never know it was repaired.

We're normally against painting antiques, but when a piece is that broken, it's a good way to salvage a quality, real wood piece of furniture. Because otherwise it sits dusty and unused in the basement for 10 years -- like these did. :)

You wouldn't believe the support we're getting from our community.  Folks love that we repurpose and upcycle, so when they have furniture to get rid of, they often give it to us.  Complete strangers!

Take this solid wood two-drawer chest, for example.  A customer dropped by to browse and when he saw the kind of work we do, he showed up a few minutes later with a carload of furniture which he gave to us for free.  It included this office-y looking piece. 

We transformed it into this with the help from a stencil:

We hadn't purchased the new pulls (vintage-y looking clear glass numbers) when we took this photo, but you get the picture.

We're feeling particularly proud of this piece because it was pretty painstaking and involved but so worth the effort!
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Welcoming Our New Furniture Designer

We want to extend a warm welcome and introduce our new furniture designer, Nicole.  She'll be putting in a few hours each week to help us and to create pieces of her own for Walrus.

We thought we'd do a little interview so readers can get to know Nicole a bit better.

How did you become interested in furniture design?

I became interested in furniture design while at school at Art Center College of Design. Although I got my BFA in Illustration Design I realized after being introduced to the wood shop at the school that I really enjoyed working with my hands. It was something that has stuck with me since then.


What is your favorite tool to use -- power or otherwise?

I like the new nail gun and compressor we got! You can do a lot of cool stuff really fast with it!


Tell us a bit more about you.

I am also really interested in metal smithing and have hopes to continue learning as many hands on skills as I can!



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We are thrilled to have Nicole on board and are looking forward to revealing what she'll be making with that nail gun soon.  We know she's going to be quite an asset for our little business.

Thanks, Nicole!

Jute Webbing Photo Display Board -- Available as Custom Order

Our jute photo display boards are one of our most popular items.  They are made to order from vintage frames and no two are exactly alike.  A great way to display and organize photos, invitations, mail that needs attention, tickets, etc.

We are offering the wooden frames painted in a variety of colors. You can choose either straight or woven jute webbing design. Contact us to inquire further.

Measures: exact frame sizes differ but we use many in the range of 18" x 24"

Photoboards are usually available in our shop or can be custom ordered on etsy for $45-50 per plus S&H:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/127337222/handmade-jute-webbing-photo-display

Vintage Copper Half Pint Dipper Cup

This vintage dipper cup is made of copper with a brass handle and label which says 1/2 pint.  A fun display piece to hang on a pot rack or place on an open shelf.  A bunch of flowers would look lovely in it, and it can even be hung by the handle. 

This item is now available for purchase on etsy for $22 plus S&H:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/127457156/vintage-copper-half-pint-dipper-cup-half

Enamel Roasting Pan with Lid

This white enamel roasting pan has the word "savory" on the base and a fitted lid.  Both the handles on the side and the handle on the lid are black.  The pan shows slight wear consistent with the vintage nature of this piece.  We think this pan is quite charming and would make a great display or storage piece. 






Here's one way to use it:





Give your kitchen a little vintage charm and set it out on the counter for bread or other storage.


This item is now available for purchase on etsy for $30 plus S&H:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/127456508/white-enamel-roasting-pan-with-lid

Vintage Brass Tray, Hollywood Regency

This brass serving tray probably dates to the 70s during the Hollywood Regency era.  The brass is made to look like bamboo while the center is made from caning that has been set in a stiff epoxy.  A fabulous piece to set on a sideboard, display drinks on at the bar, or use outdoors during the warmers months.

You can now purchase this item in our store or on etsy for $35 plus S&H:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/127425029/vintage-brass-tray-hollywood-regency

Small Vintage Grey Metal Toolbox

We love old metal toolboxes for their durability and versatility.  Use to store all manner of items from tools, to art supplies to desk items to toiletries.  Full of patina, this toolbox bears the mark of age with some great rusty spots and a few small dents.  The clasp and handle are in good working condition. There is one black plastic shelf inside toolbox that moves up as the lid opens. This toolbox was made in the USA. 

You can purchase this toolbox in our store or etsy shop for $25 plus S&H:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/126387301/small-vintage-grey-metal-toolbox-small

Vintage Wicker Thermal Carafe

This vintage thermal glass carafe is covered in a beautiful wicker, comes complete with a handle, and has a cork for the top.   A great display piece or fun to take on an old-school style picnic. 

You can purchase this item from our etsy shop for $35 plus S&H:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/126386970/vintage-wicker-thermal-carafe-vintage

Vintage Shelf Paper with Decorative Edge -- Set of 3

This vintage shelf paper is the real deal.  The paper is made to sit on top of a shelf while the border folds over the edge for a decorative look.  The border features a country scene in reds, blues, yellows, and greens, with a blue "eyelet" border.  Each shelf liner covers nine feet for a total of 27 feet covered.

There is some wear consistent with the vintage nature of the paper.  Small discolorations and some wear show at top surface and the corners.  However, the shelf paper has never been used and is in good condition.

Measure: 9 feet long (each paper); 27 feet long total (3 papers)
This item will be sold as a set of 3 papers

You can buy the set in our etsy shop for $21 plus S&H:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/126386372/vintage-shelf-paper-with-decorative-edge


 

Set of 2 Handmade Pillows from Vintage Linen Fabric

Each pillow is handmade from a linen fabric showing a garden scene in reds, blues, greens, and tans with a figure next to a fence and palm trees.  The pom-poms at the corners are also handmade and alternate in yellow, aqua, and blue.

Measure: ~12" square (each pillow)

You can purchase each pillow or the set in our store or on etsy for $30 each ($55 set) plus S&H:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/126385728/vintage-linen-handmade-pillows-with-pom