Exceptionally Eclectic #1 - Gargantuan Window Turned Chalkboard

Here's the first of what I am officially calling Exceptionally Eclectic (catchy huh), where I will showcase the coolest mix of eclectic stuff that catches my eye every week!

Kicking us off (drum roll please) is this ginormous (yes, I like to combine words on occasion!) window that called from the trash pile to Karianne at Thistlewood Farm.  She was lucky enough to find one with seven rows of windows so she added days of the week plaques and uses it as a family calendar!

Here's what she had to say about about this great find! 

Do you ever have a curbside conversation?

You know what I mean….

….you are driving to some undisclosed location….

….minding your own business…..and suddenly…..

….you hear your name.

Trash:  “hey….pssssst…..you….I’m talking to you.  I know I look like an old window, but, I need to go home with you and become a chalkboard.”

Me:  “How did you know that I needed a gigantic, over-sized chalkboard in my family room?”

Trash:  “Ma’am  (the trash called me ma’am because I only stop and speak to very polite trash) …..I knew a trash spotter when I saw one.”

Me:  “You had me at …..pssst.”

I can totally relate since that little voice in my head often whispers for me to pull over when I spot cool curbside castoffs!  (Read about one such embarrassing incident here).

Wanna make one?

• Remove the glass (most was already broken anyway!) while wearing thick gloves and safety goggles
• Measure and cut (or have a place like Lowes do it) one large piece of plywood to fit behind the window 
• Paint plywood with chalkboard paint
• Attach plywood to the back wooden part of the window with nails
• Karianne nailed the plywood directly to the walls (she lives in an old house and has solid wood walls) but for those of us with regular walls, I recommend attaching sawtooth picture hangers to the plywood
• Optional - add small wood plaques to the top and label (this one is labeled with the days of the week)

See the rest of this gorgeous room here all decked out in some amazing Christmas finery.  

Thanks Karianne at  Thistlewood Farm for letting me share this truly exceptional and statement making chalkboard!  

House Tour - Foyer and Living Room

Hopefully, you've seen the outside of the house on one of my previous posts (click here to read) so now, come on in!  We'll start in the entrance vestibule (that's what the realtor called it!) and the foyer then move into the living room.  The original front door had layer upon layer of mint green paint and the sidelights were cracked and drafty.  We decided to replace the door and sidelights with a beautiful new Spanish Cedar door stained a rich brown.  Looking for the perfect door, I drove around the neighborhood for inspiration, even knocking at one house to ask if I could see it up close (she was very accomodating)!  I love the big glass window that takes up about 1/3 of the new door (mental note, don't walk around in my b-day suit).

Before and After Front Door

Next, we step into the vestibule which is the perfect place to wipe your feet and hang your coat.  We replaced red painted tile with beautiful marble fan shaped tile.  In such a small space, we splurged. 

Before and After Vestibule

Then we step through another door (which was original to the house and has beautiful old wavy glass) into the foyer.  When we bought the house, it had beautiful old oak floors laid on the diagonal throughout most of the first floor.  We weren't sure if the floors could handle another sanding as they were very thin.  Luckily, they turned out beautifully and we stained them a deep brown.  We downsized the closet, added a tiny powder room (there was no bathroom on the first floor), and updated the light fixtures with schoolhouse style lights.  Another one of my consignment store finds is the cowhide rug. 

Before Foyer

After Foyer

The living room also had the same great original oak floors.  Some updates to this room include replacing the small window at the back of the room with french doors which lead to a new family room, building a new mantel (I found a picture in a magazine and asked my woodworker to make it), and adding new carrera marble tile to the fireplace surround.  I saved lots of money by getting my tile from the same warehouse where I got my kitchen counter slabs.  Some vintage touches that add zing to the living room include a few of my fabulous collections (1960's Italian decanters on mantel, 50's orange stretch glass on coffee table,  and various vintage green glass pieces on the bombe' chest.  Another great find were the blue velvet mid century chairs under the windows that I snagged, once again, at a consignment store.  I love mixing all styles together as can be seen in my Asian pieces which include two green high backed chairs, armoire, and basket by the fireplace.  

Before Living Room.

After Living Room with my favorite capiz shell light

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A few Asian pieces and vintage glass collections

Mid century chairs and original glass doorknobs (backplates found on ebay)

More vintage glass!

This tour was featured here!

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