Old wood plank

After testing the old barn wood plank with tung oil versus a walnut stain, I decided that I prefer the colour that the tung oil brings out.  The walnut stain was too dark and brown for my liking, I like the redish tones that the oil enhances and a wet look. It is also a closer match to the exotic piece of wood above the cooktop, which is also covered in tung oil.

Its an old wood plank that my contractor dug up in his 100 year old barn.  I first washed it with water and a scrub brush. Scrubbed it until my fingers froze. Then I brought them in to dry. Hauled a piece upstairs to test the tung oil, applied on the top side. Above right is the first day, but it slowly got darker each day. 

The original rough cut appears on the sides, smooth on one side and the original, large markings on the other side. I poured the oil directly onto the wood and after trying to spread it with a fabric remnant, I decided that using my fingers to spread the oil was most effective.  No splinters so far! And then I spread the access with fabric - I had a piece of thick ticking. Once this settles, I'll flip and do the other sides.

I bought some simple black brackets to support the planks and once the tung oil settles and the smell disperses (a few weeks -  I did testing (and the rest of it) in my dining room (roll eyes) and the smell lingers!)) I'll hang them above the sink.

And to get an idea of what it will look like ... the plates. I cannot wait to have a proper and convenient place for my dishes!

Project updates: Painting, oiling and hooks

Dramatic wall with a "Pinch of Spice" verdict? Undecided.  I've been to the spice market in Istanbul before, and wonder if this shade appeared.  I want to like it. I want to love it, but I don't. At least not at 6am in the morning. A little too brown. By the mid afternoon though, its a much truer to the colour and idea I want.

"Pinch of spice" is much more brown then purple (before dawn, at least). Even though the lighter tones on the paint chip are real purple, this deepest tone is more brown with a tint of purple. Different times of day/lighting do show more purple tones, but....maybe Im just a chicken. One sample pint covers a lot, and I'm really glad I have tried it. By testing colours it really helps define what works for me and the house. Next attempt, a true gray purple.

And the dining room. Nixed the Taos Taupe. Too dark and muddy or maybe not enough sunlight comes in. I tried an older sample of a  toned down  blue too. Not a fan of this either.  Clearly I need a happy colour.

The "Babe" by Valspar, totally misread the sample can. Fuccini Pink by Glidden is a winner. For my bedroom, unexpected but wanted.

The soon to be reclaimed barnwood and tung oil for the upper wooden shelves above the kitchen sink. Coming along nicely. Washed and dried. Testing to see what colour the tung oil brings out. I may need to stain the wood first.

Hooks on the wall. Success! Attached to wall, primed and painted and hooks screwed in (although there are a few more hooks to add). And a properly centered mirror to boot.!

Disclaimer: If you havent heard me complain before, I'm a bad painter. No patience! BUT I have since gone back and painted the baseboards, which have cleaned it up nicely.

Fun in the kitchen - the details

Spice rack up! 

But what is casting all those shadows and light? Well! that would be the beehive light that I purchased many months ago! And luckily I still like it and it still works for me! Have you ever had something for so long, something you bought and loved but then months later, you wondered if you would still like it and if it would even look OK the way you originally envisioned?

I had ordered 2 medium and one large last August, 6 whole months ago. The medium arrived and I immediately cancelled the large, which had been backordered. The medium were large enough. I originally thought three would work in my kitchen, in a L shape  of sorts, wrapping around the backwards L counter.  No way, not after I had one sitting in here.   I re-planned the lighting, and kept the 2nd medium to hang above my stairs. 

Months later, my contractor came (alright, he had been here many other times to help install the cabinets and counter, but yesterday he came to help with the details). I sat and he would ask "Whats next?" Boom, boom, boom! My wishes, problems fixed and design ideas come to light right in front of me; install the remaining three problem drawers; spice rack up; beehive light, up, task lights assembled and installed. 2nd beehive light up. toe kick installed. Woot.

More about the task lighting in another post.

Next week, the trim and baseboard!

Sources:
"Beehive" light : aka West Elm Organic Blown Glass Pendant
Spice rack: Lisa and Lars Greenhouse framing
Yellow industrial task lights: Cage and bulbs from 1000bulbs; cord from an ebay seller.

Lighting inspiration. here, here and here