Office Progress: Installing an Old Antique Door

How to clean, seal and add character with a chippy antique door!  I didn't make as much progress on the office as I would have liked, but I did get the "new" office door hung, which is exciting! For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to add an old door to my home, unfortunately, there has never been a good place for one....until now. The closet door in my office is the only original door left in the house.  It was the perfect place to have fun and add an old chippy glass antique door.  I started looking on Facebook Marketplace for an old door that was mostly glass and full of character.  I then remembered I had an old door in my garage that I bought a few years ago to use in my vintage booth .  It wasn't quite the right size, but I had an idea to make it work in my office .  SUPPLIES NEEDED TO CLEAN AND SEAL AN OLD LEAD PAINT DOOR *** I'm not a professional, but these are the steps I took to clean and seal an antique lead paint door*** - LA's Tota...

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Get The Look: Vintage Schoolhouse Lights

Get the look of vintage schoolhouse lighting with these timeless modern alternatives!  Incorporating old-school lighting is one of my favorite ways to add a touch of vintage to my home.    I'm particularly partial to the simple clean lines and opaque glass shades of vintage schoolhouse lighting.  They're classic, timeless and blend in beautifully with my high-contrast, vintage modern decor.  Over the last few years, I've been lucky to find quite a few variations of large antique schoolhouse lights.  I hung one in my mudroom, sold many others and plan to install another one in my new office .  I love the classic vintage vibe they add to a space and I can't wait to get my "new" office light installed.   ***TIP*** Most vintage wiring is unsafe and/or not up to code, so please have it inspectetd or rewired.  We opt to rewire.all the vintage lights we install in our home.  Can't find authentic vintage schoolhouse lights?  There are so MANY look-a-like alte...

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Mood Board: Sophisticated Vintage-Modern Office Plans

Sophisticated vintage-modern office mood board, plans and decor sources! Earlier this year, I finally agreed and allowed my daughter to move her new bedroom to the basement .  Her room is still a work in progress, but new paint, carpet and furniture have already made such a huge difference.  Hopefully, I'll be able to share her new space soon. In the meantime, let's talk about my next big project, my home office! ...

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Antique Oak Card Catalog Makeover

How to clean and restore an antique oak card catalog without losing its original character! Who doesn't love authentic antique card catalogs and multi-drawer cabinets? They are by far my favorite pieces to hunt for, both for myself and my vintage shop .  In the past, I've fully  refinished card catalogs , but a recent oak card catalog that I just picked up had so much original character that I couldn't bring myself to fully refinish it. It had some marks and blemishes but was nothing I couldn't take care of without completely sanding, staining and refinishing. SUPPLIES NEEDED TO RESTORE AN ANTIQUE CARD CATALOG  (without fully refinishing)    - LA's Totally Awesome  (available at Dollar Tree) - Restore-A-Finish (Walnut) - Shop Rags - 400 Grit Sandpaper   - 5-in-1 Multifunctional Screwdriver  - 6 inch  Black metal legs How to restore a card catalog without refinishing There's something about original stain and character that you just can't replicate.   I ...

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Simple and Stylish Kitchen Counter Decor

Keep your kitchen functional and stylish with these simple kitchen counter decorating tips!  Kitchen countertops are magnets for unnecessary decor and clutter.   Trust me, I know how quickly and easily random clutter can accumulate. I try to keep my kitchen counters clean, but it never fails, as soon as I get them cleared off they get covered again.  I finally decided I had had enough and cleaned, organized, and simplified my kitchen counters, hoping to keep them clutter-free for good. Our kitchen, living room, and dining room are completely open, so a cluttered and unorganized kitchen negatively impacts how I feel about the rest of my home.   Can you relate? Keeping the kitchen counters clean, the sink clear, the countertops simplified and my plant babies thriving has reduced my stress and improved my mood, which makes me one happy mama. There can be a fine line though between having a clean, organized, and lived-in kitchen versus one that feels bare, stark, and more like a non-fu...

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