home improvements

There hasn't been much action on this here old blog lately. The summer is just racing by. Lately it has been a blur of family visits, good times with friends, and lots of work. We've had some major apartment improvements courtesy of Andrew and our good friend Clayton (new bookshelf - details below), and my Dad (while visiting last weekend, he installed new ceiling lights for us in the dining room and bedroom - replacing the hideous fixtures that have been tormenting us for the last three years. Thanks Dad!).

This bookshelf has transformed our living room. All these books used to sit on the floor, in a long line at the base of the wall, curling around into the dining room, collecting dust bunnies. Now our living room feels like a library (there are several other full bookshelves in addition to this). Andrew and Clayton made it using reclaimed wood that Clayton acquired from an old mansion in Rosedale. The wood itself is spectacular. So thick, heavy and rich, with beautiful grain. They planed the surfaces smooth and did a decorative paint effect on the rough edges of the boards. I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical when Andrew described it to me as several colours of spray paint randomly stenciled onto the wood and partially sanded off. I tend to prefer more minimal and natural surfaces on furniture, and to get my colour dose from textiles and artwork. But once I saw the results I was totally won over. I think it looks amazing, especially full of books. I love how the colours of the books themselves play off the subtle colours on the shelf edges.

Our place feels so much better with all these improvements, and it's good timing, since I'll be locked in the house working furiously to finish my paintings before we go camping (!!!) in a couple of weeks.