We Buy Junk and Sell Antiques

Well....we've been at it again. Buying up crazy, broken down, abused stuff is what we do although, this time we may have outdone ourselves. This flat-to-the-wall is smelly and mouldy. It has lots of chippy paint but not the sort that can be salvaged and besides someone started to strip it and then had second thoughts. We have ascertained that it was originally a painted piece in that iron oxide colour that you can see exposed. I think we are going to have to down a couple of Marguritas before we get down to the nitty-gritty of transforming this one. Did I mention that we were on a roll and couldn't be satisfied to bring home only one junker? True to form, we couldn't leave this bed behind....never mind that the shop isn't big enough to accomodate either the cupboard or the bed. The big question as always is how to re-finish these and turn them into pieces of furniture other people would actually want to put in their homes. We don't usually shrink from the challenge but this is going to take some thinking.

Suffice to say that for today anyway we will begin with a thorough airing out and a good scrub and see if we feel inspired after that.

Hopefully the weather will hold out this week (enough rain already!!) and we can get started on one of these.

Stay tuned....I will post some close ups.

Jackie

Oh Canada!

Happy Canada Day!

I was going to post a pic of our flag which I have flying over our garage....but because of the thunder storms last night it is hanging like a limp noodle this morning. Instead I perused the internet and have borrowed these wonderful images for your viewing pleasure.

In his speech at the national flag inauguration ceremony, Prime Minister Lester Pearson said:

"Under this Flag may our youth find new inspiration for loyalty to Canada; for a patriotism based not on any mean or narrow nationalism, but on the deep and equal pride that all Canadians will feel for every part of this good land."

For more fun this Canada Day take the Canada Day Quiz...I'm not going to tell you my score...but it was darn near perfect.... ;)

http://www.canadadayquiz.com/questions.cnc

Cheers

Jackie

The Potting Shed

It is June but the weather here is not very "June like"....only a chilly 15 degrees today and the sun has abandoned us. Rain showers stop and start as I try (again) to pot up my planters. The garden centres are busy places though and we finally have our hanging baskets up at The Red Door. What interesting prims do you put in your garden? Old chairs, rickety step ladders and vintage mirrors are all finding their way into our gardens. At the shop we re-purpose a broken old kitchen chair as a plant stand. Have fun and get your hands dirty.

Cheers

Jackie

Sweet Little Kitchen Cabinet

This little cabinet came to us last summer for a quick fix up. The owner of this wee cupboard asked us if we could touch it up a bit....you know...glue up a piece of lifting veneer and slap a fresh coat of paint on the top. Nothing too difficult and certainly not a complete restoration. Well, not too long after that we got a call from the customer to say that since making a move the cupboard didn't fit into her new home and she wondered if we would we like to buy it. Ummmm....YES!!!

Our next decision was whether to leave it "as is", do a bit more fixer-upper work but keep the basic yellow cupboard with red trim as is or sand it down and begin a complete restoration. We have a hard time leaving well enough alone....a little sanding here and there lead to a bit more sanding and before you could say "Holy Art Deco Motif"....we had unearthed the original finish.

So here she is....back to her original colour and sporting the aforementioned art deco motif in taupe and black.

For those of you who may be interested....it is a small kitchen cabinet measuring a mere 36 inches wide and cute as a button! (at least we think so!)

Original Step Back Cupboard

This is an original Upper Canada Step Back cupboard that we aquired at auction a couple of weeks ago.

All it really needed was a good cleaning. So here she is sparkling like a new penny! There's nothing like 150-160 yrs to give pine a patina ya just can't get from a can!

We don't often go to Saturday auctions because it's hard to be open and auctioning at the same time, but this one in Vernon was worth it. There were 2 step backs there....this is the smaller of the pair....the large one was gorgeous but we have to be careful not to buy something too large to fit in the shop. I think 6'4" and we are maxed out....in fact we have had to shuffle things around just to find a spot where the beams are smaller to fit things in. Big cupboards and low ceilings

are not a good combination!

We have another cupboard similar to this one...but it needs a little work....it was an impulse buy and we completely forgot to take it's height into consideration! Luckily for us there is ONE place in the shop where we can display it....however it won't fit in the workshop at all so we will have to

wait for the weather to warm up a bit because we'll have to do all the restoration work out in the yard.

I wish you joy in the simple things!

Jackie

Welcome Spring

The robins have returned to Eastern Ontario, the sap is running and the Canada Geese are overhead in huge noisey flocks. These harbingers of Spring are a welcome sight to these sore eyes. Earlier in the week our old pellet stove started acting up and although the weather is much warmer now we still need to keep a fire on. This necessitated a trip to the stove store in Spencerville and along the way we stopped to take a few photos. I wonder how many sap buckets this knarly maple has seen over the years?

Find the joy in the simple things....Jackie

Having Fun Under the Mayan Sun

We couldn't have asked for nicer weather for our late January getaway. Initially it looked as if we would have a dismal week of rain but the weather forecasters were wrong and we had an absolutely fantastic week in the sun!!

These pics were taken at the Coba Mayan ruins. This is a very cool place....our guide was great...and much to my surprise I actually climbed to the top of the big pyramid. I will post more pics later on....the view of the surrounding jungle was breathtaking!

On the home front....we spent the afternoon yesterday re-arranging the shop, dusting, cleaning and basically getting things spic and span after our winter hiatus. A sudden thaw and downpour caused a small flood in front of the shop....and yes it came in under the door...however it stopped before reaching any of the furniture. We are all mopped up and dried out now so if your looking for something to do this weekend to alleviate the winter blahs....come on out....THE RED DOOR IS OPEN!!

WINTER HOURS

I was going to post a pic of Terry sunning herself on a tropical beach but I was afraid she would have my head!! So instead...I posted one of myself...don't ask me what I'm doing ...raising my glass in a toast perhaps???

Anyway....as we have sufffered in winters death grip this past week with temps in the vacinity of -36 visions of pristine beaches are dancing in our heads. Terry and I will soon be taking off for the sunny south to rejuvenate and relax for a week. This brings me to the subject of winter hours at the shop. In January and February (the ugly months) we don't keep regular hours. If you pop by we will be open by chance. As you can imagine trying to keep an 1800's barn warm in -30 degree temps in virtually impossible. So...if you do venture out and find someone there be prepared to keep your coat on as it will feel colder inside than outside.

In summing up, here's the skinny: January and February OPEN BY CHANCE

Specifically: January 27 - Feb 6 CLOSED for much needed sunny vacation

Regular hours will RESUME IN MARCH weather permitting

PLEASE keep checking in as we will be posting interesting pics and tidbits from the auction all winter long! We will be trying to get out on snowshoes whenever possible with "The Hounds" and we hope to share the adventures of Terry and Feu pulling the sleigh.

In the meanwhile keep warm!!

Cheers from The Door

Early Morning Walk

The dogs wait, not so patiently, for us to get zipped up and hats pulled down. It was snowing lightly and was a crisp -10 degrees as we set out on a 7 km walk. I can't think of a better way to spend the day. The light fluffy snow hid patches of ice making the walking treacherous in places. In fact I went on my rear a couple of times! Good Times! How much do you want to bet I'll be stiff and sore tomorrow!

Happy Endings

As you know if you follow our blog, or as you will soon discover if you are new here, salvaging furniture that is destined for the landfill is what we do best. Now this cupboard wasn't quite at the "set it ablaze" stage yet...but it had been quite badly abused by someone who thought the only good use for a 1930's Ontario made kitchen cupboard was to use it to store paint and batteries in out in the back shed. (yes...I know....sets off horrific visuals doesn't it??)

So you can just imagine how thrilled we were earlier this week when the new owner of the Knetchel Kitchen Kupboard sent us this lovely picture of herself and her daughter.....Thanks Carol!!! (we nearly teared up some)

Merry Christmas to All Our Friends

We would like to thank all our customers and friends who have made 2008 an outstanding year for The Red Door. The response we have had from both the article in the Ottawa Citizen and our segment on CTV's Regional Contact has been just awesome. Kathy Donovan and the Regional Contact team did an outstanding job and we can't thank them enough.

We have some great plans in the works for 2009. We will be working on a Red Door newsletter chock full of great items for the prim/antique lover as well as continuing to show before and after photos of more great auction finds here on the blog. The drive shed is full to bursting with fantastic pieces just waiting to be rejuvenated and we can't wait to get started on some new projects!!

We wish you all a Safe and Merry Christmas!!

Cheers

Jackie and Terry

Regional Contact

To see the cupboard pictured in the previous post in "before" condition, go to the CJOH website and watch our segment on Regional Contact. Just click on the link...it'll take ya right to it. http://ottawa.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20081120/ott_regionalcontact_Red_Door_081120/20081120/?hub=OttawaHome

Sellers Kitchen Cupboard

We restored this Sellers Klear Front 42 to "showroom condition". Although it looks light blue in this light...it is really gray...a perfect match for the flecked enamel along the edge of the work top. Unfortunately I don't have "before" shots of this one but it had the usual layers of paint to work through and had lost some of it's hardware. If you've had a chance to watch our segment on Regional Contact then you will remember seeing this cupboard in the workshop....it was being worked on when the TV show folks were in to film.

I think this one has to be one of my favourite cupboards...but then again they all become my "favourite".

Cutting a Figure 8

If this cold weather hangs on much longer we'll be skating on the creek before you can say Jack Frost!! You will however need more than one of these prim wreaths if you plan on cutting a figure on the outdoor rink since we only painted up one skate per wreath....so we suggest that you hang one on your door to greet guests instead!! We love the way these turned out and hope to get a few more made up this week.

Let us know what you think....until next time...Keep Warm!

New Winter Creations

This is the snowman we have affectionately named "The Red Door Snowman"....he has been created with arms and without... with a snow shovel and without one...done large and freestanding or a tiny painted version on an old skate. It doesn't seem to matter how we make him up he's just as popular as all get out.

I will post a picture of the skate version a little later...for now I need to stoke the wood stove....brrrrrrr.

Cheers

Jackie

So much to do and so little time

Okay...I should be busy working on shop stuff and not playing around with the blog. The dogs had me awake way too early this morning and instead of using this time productively to finish off half a dozen stitcheries for the shop I'm playing around finding our Fairy Names. I'm Tangle Goblinglimmer and Terry is Buttercup Hailfilter. You can read about us on the left of this page. Sheeeesh...I need a good swift kick in the pants....I should be producing....NOT procrastinating!!! :)

Wait until you see what we got at the Friday night auction!!!!!!!
Pics to follow...as you might have guessed....it is Deer Hunting season and I am again without a camera!!!! We scored the cutest vintage kitchen table, a child's bobsled, a dry sink that needs stripping and restoration and........(saving the best for last) A FLAT TO THE WALL CUPBOARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is amazing and VERY old. Unfortunately it has had a hard life and someone started to (unsuccessfully) strip it. Damn that cousin Ralph!! Looks like we won't be getting down to the nitty gritty of working on it until after the Christmas rush but we will keep you posted on it's progress because it is a rare gem that you won't want to miss!

Hoosiers R Us

Okay...so we are starting to look like a Hoosiers R Us franchise. We can't help it...it has become an obsession of sorts. Really now...could any of you turn this little gem away? It is 100% original....I mean all original hardware, original flour sifter, tambour, door fronts, everything! And best of all...it has never been tampered with....this is the original oak finish.
Usually we pick up stuff that good old cousin Ralph has repaired...you know the kind of repair I'm talking about....the "Don't worry about the broken hinge 'cuz good old cousin Ralph has one that looks almost like the original 'cept that it's got a few coats of paint on it and it's only an inch or so bigger but you'll hardly notice after Ralph works on it." kind of repair. "Oh, and while he's at it he might as well slap a coat a paint on her 'cuz he has a half gallon of chartreuse enamel left over from paintin' his motor home." So you can imagine our delight at acquiring this wonderful kitchen cupboard in pristine condition, because we just aren't usually this lucky. (This one didn't even smell bad.)
It looks great in the shop especially all decked out with vintage accessories.
Don't ya just love the hooked mat in front of it???? I may have mentioned that mat in a prior post...but it is just so folky it deserves a second look!
Stay tuned because we have a couple more kitchen cupboards to show off...they just need the usual 2 weeks worth of reconstructive surgery first...so don't rush off now...ya hear?
Cheers
From The Door

The Pantry Cupboard Make-over Complete

Well....here it is!!!

Hard to believe that this is the same old cupboard that was covered in thick gray porch paint!

If you need to refresh your memory...just scroll down a few posts to revisit the "before" pics of this piece.

After stripping and sanding we painted it in a lovely soft yellow.

Once dry we completed the make-over with our classic museum finish.

We think it turned out just great and hope it's new owner will be just as pleased.

At last weeks auction a reproduction dry sink was on the block...we looked it over...it was nicely done but somehow there was just something missing about it

We dithered over it and finally decided to pass on it. I'm sure someone took it home and that they were tickled pink with their purchase, but it just wasn't a "Red Door" find. It didn't have the warmth and charm of a truly old piece of furniture and that was the thing that was missing. It didn't have a history. It didn't have a story.

So this is the real deal folks...no repros here...just the warmth and feel of yesteryear.

Cheers!

New Display Window at Benjamin Moore and Hollywood Awaits!

So you won't see us picking up an Emmy any time soon...but if ya stay tuned you might just catch us on TV!!

Yessireee...the local CTV channel, CJOH, came out to the shop this week to film an episode of their long running show, Regional Contact.

This show features area artisans and other interesting folk and I guess they figured we fell into one of those categories.

They especially liked the wardrobe as seen here on the blog and hoped to feature it on the episode....this was all well and good except for the fact that the wardrobe wasn't here but was in town holding a rather prominent spot in our Benjamin Moore paint store display window.

Saturday morning found us scrambling to come up with a replacement window display.

TAAAADAAAAAA!!!!!

The "Country Kitchen" window display was the end result of the ensuing pandemonium.

In order to save time and to minimize the inconvenience we were about to cause Denise and Carrie, the great gals at Benjamin Moore, we planned out the display right here in front of the shop. It looks great in their window and even met with the approval of shop cat and head mouser Mr. Binks. (shown seated in the display photo above....he drew the line at spending the next several weeks in town actually becoming part of the permanent display although he did however sign a release allowing his image to be used in this photo)

Our images however are probably on the cutting room floor as we speak and our intrepid cameraman is probably deciding that his impending retirement is not such a bad idea considering what he had to work with here at The Red Door.

We'll keep you posted re: Our TV Debut

Life in the Hand-did Lane or Blah Blah Blah

Okay...just a short post to let you know what we've been up to.

Friday: Auction Night in K-town

The auction was as usual...amusing to say the least. Most of the usual regulars were in attendance with an ample dash of city-folk to amuse us. The newbies stick out like the proverbial sore thumb. We scored big time on a very old plank chair. It has the cracked chippy paint we love and has been distressed to perfection through years of wear. The auctioneer got a tad frustrated by the hesitating/waffling/newbie city-bidder and yelled "STOLE! to number 128!" As simple as that we had snagged it...newbie city-bidder began a stuttering protest that fell on deaf ears...but that's the thing about the auction....come with cash/debit or credit card and be prepared to bid 'cuz at Finnerty's they don't take cheques.

At this point I would normally post a pic of said auction deal of a lifetime...however I am sans camera at the moment. You see I don't actually have my own camera because around here ya can just borrow someones. The husband, who will be henceforth and hereafter known as C, has taken off to the nether regions of the province, bow in hand, on a 3 week odyssey to bond with the fellas and find himself a Swamp Donkey. This ordeal requires 2 wks prep time minimum...umpteen all-terrain vehicles, a couple of generators, enough filled Jerry cans to create a gas shortage in Eastern Ontario and (I kid you not) an apartment size freezer. In addition, C has commandeered every piece of technology this family owns...video cameras, digital cameras and even his lap top computer. (I know...WTH good will that be to him!! Can one connect to the internet by perching atop the highest Black Spruce in Nakina????)

The end result: no pics of beautiful prim antiques until early October.

Don't get me wrong...I quite enjoy this alone time...he works hard and deserves his holiday...but I can't live without a camera!!!

I nearly forgot to tell you about the cute wee humpback truck we acquired on Friday as well. (Ranting like a lunatic gets me off the topic at hand)

It is wonderful and will remain in "as found" condition. Picture to follow. (no kidding)

Saturday: The shop was open as usual...had lots of nice folks in. This was great considering the weather was cool and it mizzled off and on. At one point we noticed a flurry of activity over at the house which included vehicles being moved and Terry's husband and son (we shall refer to them as R and M) running back and forth. As we had customers in the shop at the time we tried to act nonplussed by their nonsensical behaviour....when the customers left M strolled in and shut the barn door....then proceeded to ask us if we could smell him...

It seems that as R and M piled wood in the woodshed they inadvertently trapped a skunk under the woodpile. Don't ask how that is even possible. They kindly extricated the beast after our customers had left, however we had to put up with the after affects of skunk removal for the rest of the day.

No pics of that...nor will there be any.