Spotted

Remember these chairs we recently sold at the Alameda Point Antiques Faire?  They were going into a new men's clothing store.

Well, look what we recently spotted while doing some blog reading...

Oh wait.  Couldn't grab the photo, so you'll just have to follow the link:

Refinery 29

We're Opening a Shop!

Big news!  We're finalizing the details to open a real storefront in Temescal Alley, Oakland.  

At the turn of the century our little (emphasis on little) shop was originally a stable.  Later the horse stalls were turned into carriage houses and most recently into tiny shops.

Here's what the inside looks like.

We love the exposed brick, the built-in rustic pipe shelving, and the concrete floors. And of course, we plan to do some work to make it our own.

via San Francisco Chronicle

We couldn't be more thrilled to be a part of this thriving community of small shops full of artisans and creatives. 

To read more about Temescal Alley, see The San Francisco Chronicle's recent article "Oakland's Hip and Vibrant Temescal Alley Takes Off.

One last thing, since our business is no longer located in the Claremont area of Oakland, we've decided to change our name.

Henceforth it will be "Walrus."

We have changed the blog title, and are working on changing our blog address to match.  Details to come!

Pallet Retrospective

  Oh the things you can do with the forlorn shipping pallet.

We added custom paint stains and casters to turn one into an outdoor coffee table.

And we designed an accordion style folding "living" gate with burlap pockets for plants and succulents.

We break them apart and reuse the wood for projects, like this table top for an upcycled desk.

We even used a piece of pallet as a stand for this rustic pewter candelabra. 

Befores and Afters

We thought it would be fun to take a walk down memory lane and show you some of the before and after photos of our many projects.  You might be shocked at how far these pieces have come!

Chalkboard Umbrella Stand

Side Table

 Shoe Rack Turned Girls' Dress-Up Stand

This rusty metal work bench had seen better days, but became a industrial-style desk a la Restoration Hardware with a lot of work.

A homely little chair with a missing spindle we fixed, painted, and reupholstered for a custom order.

We turned this motley grouping of ugly chairs into a trio of numbered chairs with a sense of humor.

 "Why was six afraid of seven?

"Because seven ate (eight) nine."

This mid-century white ceramic lamp was returned to its former glory after an unfortunate 80s era sponge paint incident.

So many of our pieces sell before we have a chance to post them and list them on Etsy.

Like this secretary we sold at the Alameda Point Antiques Faire recently.

We do a number of custom orders too.  

Like this hole-filled rustic table which was not working for a family with small children who need to color and eat off it.  With a lot of wood filler and paint, those tasks became easier for the family. 

This mission style rocking chair was also custom order.

 

Some of our work is done for one of Camille's decorating jobs, like these mismatched Ikea dressers.

These bright blue vintage bed frames got softened up a bit for the same room as above.

These nightstands were also a recent custom order for a couple of little boys.  Talk about big changes!

Another custom order was the old door turned chalkboard/coat rack.

Unfortunately, we often forget to take before pics and have to get a during shot when we remember.

Here's a "during pic" of an ugly oak dresser mirror which got transformed with some paint.

And very occasionally, we like something so much, we have to keep it for ourselves...

The power of a little labor and some paint never ceases to amaze!  
We love to give new life to old things. 

Candelabra -- SOLD at Studio Sale

When we found these pewter candleholders, there was no discernible way to stand them up or hang them.

So we used a piece of weathered, recycled wood as a stand to add that prefect rustic touch.  Each candleholder has been sunk down into the wood and glued into place to make a sturdy candelabra.  The wood has been cleaned, sanded and waxed.

We can see this stretched the length of a dining table surrounded by small clusters of flowers or greenery and some smaller votives.  It would make an excellent mantel display too.

This item is now available for purchase in our etsy shop for $45 plus S&H:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/117514698/pewter-and-wood-candelabra-upcycled

Custom Order: Chalkboard Door

We recently completed this chalkboard door as a custom order for client who found us at the last Alameda Point Antiques Faire. 

Inside the single panel we added a chalkboard for keeping notes and to-do lists.

 

And we found four of these great vintage, aged brass hooks for hanging hats, coats, and umbrellas.  This is a great piece to add to your entry space.

We are offering these as a custom order in painted or natural wood finishes.  Contact us to inquire further.

You can now order this custom piece on etsy for $175 plus S&H:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/117515736/chalkboard-door-upcycled-vintage-door

Studio Sale Postponed!

Well, the weather did not work in our favor.  It's raining, raining, raining...

So, we're going to try again on December 15th at10am.  We'd love to see you.  Come by and say hello!