December 16, 2015

This Is Home...A Salvage Noel


This Is Home...
Burlap Luxe

Home For Un Joyeux Noel

The French linen came from a French brocante
packed in a suitcase.
Perfectly wrinkled and relaxed for a
Salvaged...

Joyeux Noel.
 
  
Creating a salvaged season

Some of you know this piece (desk) that has appeared in
many places in my home, and has made it in
several magazine features.

I was in need of a side-table and could not find
the perfect piece that I could salvage, and
truly did not want to spend money for one
just to settle and not be happy with
the look I was after.
  

Salvage and Reimaged
  
Now my antique desk has become my new side-table.
After living with this desk for over 22 years I
decided it needed a new life.

I cut 16" inches off each side and across the back,
an inch up from the top drawer.
Then the Home Depot wood guys cut me some planks from
a damaged piece of Poplar, my request.
(They know me well)
I simply wood glued each plank to the surface of the 
desk top, screwed the planks in place,
wood puttied the holes, and washed the
planks with white.

  Loving my salvage season
 

Salvage Style
 

Velvet Wreath
  
The velvet wreath, yes, salvaged.
It was a vintage ladies velvet hat they call a
birdcage hat. This is where the hat sits forward on
your head and the netting drapes over your eyes
gently.

 By adding a clipping of pine from the tree,
and a tattered piece of sheeting it hung,
beautifully as my seasonal wreath.
  



Pale Coco Velvet
 

Winter whites and natural tones.
Winter birds is our theme.
 

The Armoire Gets Dressed
 

Here a beautiful ephemera book paper wreath was
created by the beautiful hands of
Rosemary of VillaBarnes.com
This beautiful piece adds so much seasonal beauty
to my home in such an artfully salvaged way.

A SPECIAL thank you to my dear friend,
Vera, over at 
RowHomesAndCobbleStones.blogspot.com
For gifting me such an amazing
wreath.
  



Nordic

A Nordic pine branch I cut and screwed a plank of
wood to its trunk, to then fasten garden stakes
as its limbs all washed in grey and white.

Decorated with tattering of linens, and old salvaged
beaded necklaces coated in plaster and paint
draped as garland with my hand twisted
wire chandeliers.
  



Nordic French

This tree of green received a coat of flat white
spray paint finish to it. Misting it with a
look of frost.
  

Created From Salvage

The tree of Noel sits in a old galvanized planter, and 
is draped in painted beaded necklace garlands.
The crystal prisms are from an old chandelier that I
washed in plaster paints. The look of icicles hanging 
are wood chair back rungs that I sawed off from old chairs.
I drilled a hole through the tops and wired a ring through
them to hang. I then coated the rungs with my Cartapesta
paper mache and washed them with painted age.

Garland

Tattered torn old bed sheets tied together the making of 
loosely strung garland.
    

Wild Birds
 

Ephemera paper bird ornaments I created to rest.
All is calm.
 



Rustic and Handmade Salvage
 

Wrapped in torn and tatter.
 

Nestled With Objects of Desire
 

This Is Home...A Salvaged Noel

44 comments:

Rosemary@villabarnes said...

Oh, Dore, I don't know where to start. Your home is stunning as always. Every visit is like a breath of fresh air. As you know, I'm a big fan of repurposing. I love every single element. I cannot think of a better place for this particular wreath I created to have landed. Thank you for including me in your post. Have a very Merry Christmas, my friend.

Chrissy...The Apothecary Shop said...

Oh my goodness....what an inspirational post this is!!! So many beautiful photos..thank you! ox

Lisa said...

Dore, you amaze me! I knew you would make that desk turned side table look amazing with your touch! It is perfect. And that twig and plank tree took my breath away! I love it so much and want to try to make one like that. :) It is so unique and Nordic! What a sweet little Christmas tree with all your handmade ornaments out of salvage pieces and paper! The wreaths are both so wonderful too. I just love it all and knew it would look beautiful and so you! Have a very Merry Christmas,my dear friend! xo

oldgreymareprimitives said...

All I can say Is BRILLIANT. Love it all, every tattered and torn, papered and painted piece,and I'm backing up to look at it all over again.
Merry Merry to you and yours. <3

suZan

Row homes and Cobblestones said...

Oh my sweet friend, I am in love, everything is fantastique! I was in Whole-Foods with John checking out when your new post email came in. I clicked and quickly viewed and fell in love with the salvaged, tattered created Christmas in your house. But atlas an iPhone is difficult to enlarge and take in all your winter holiday beauty so here I am home enlarging, scrolling up and down and I'm enchanted.

Doré I absolutely am amazed at your transformation from desk to side table, Sometimes pieces need a new outlook and you gave it a new facelift and gracious future.

I am glad you hung my gift to you made by the very talented and creative Rosemary on your armoire, it looks perfect there, My armoire is also adorned with a Rosemary book page wreath. I often wonder if Rosemary realizes the beauty she adds to our hearts and homes.

I am charmed and smitten with the vintage velvet hat you repurposed into a wreath. Charming and emotionally provoking, I imagine the woman it once belonged to and what her reaction would be to see it hanging as an elegant Christmas wreath. I will return to enjoy your Nordic holiday charm and all you inspire.

Sending love,
Vera

martinealison said...

Bonjour chère amie,

Un univers rempli de douceur... J'aime beaucoup l'atmosphère que vous créez avec subtilité.
Je vous souhaite de joyeuses fêtes de fin d'année.

Gros bisous ♡

JoanMarie said...

Greetings Dore....I have never felt such a feeling of peace and wonderment as when reading your blog. The images are so serene and yet profound, the colors are so soothing, and your words are full of grace. Wishing you a beautiful holiday!
JoanMarie

Burlap Luxe said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Burlap Luxe said...

Martine Alison
mon cher ami français je vous remercie cher cette saison Joyeux Noël de prendre le temps de profiter de mon art et deasigns En créant un Chirstmas de sauvetage français .
xx
baisers
Un Joyeux Noël à vous et à tous .
Dore

Botanic Bleu said...

Dore,
The re-invented side table fits beside your sofa perfectly. What did you do with the top piece that you cut off? Another salvaged, reimaged beauty?

Your lovely Nordic tree is now PINed to my Christmas Greenery board. Like Vera I continued to scroll up and down trying to take it all in.

Joyeux Noël,

Judith

Sherry said...

gracious sakes .. what a fantastic transformation from desk to side table. amazing. the creativity in your home this season is a feast for the eyes, dore. :)

Méa Strauß said...

Oh, Doré, I love this branch!!! I am branch-addicted anyway, as you know. And then the icicles (how is that written??? Hope, you know, what I mean), so beautiful.
Your home is a sophisticated winterwonderland, but down to earth as a surrounding of life, natural in its looks, so French. The gorgeous mirror (this alone would do for christmas, this is a wonderpiece) now has a new reflection, showing your "old" piece in a new life.
Old wood planks here are almost impossible to get, everybody wants it here, so you are lucky :))
I wish you days like floating happily through these rooms, your "every-days-life" enchanted now, huggies from me, your friend Méa


Karen @ Beatrice Euphemie said...

So very beautiful....everything....Wishing you a lovely Christmas. x Karen

Méa Strauß said...

Oh, I forgot (old woman me), Rosemary´s wreath of bookpages, this is absolutely taking my breath away :)) As for christmas it is nothing but perfect - the time of fairytales and magical stories.
So huggggggs again, Méa

Bente said...

It`s always a pleasure to come here, Dore. I love your little tree. Everything is so beautiful.
Hugs from here

It's me said...

Beautiful.......Merry Merry Christmas ....love Ria x❤️

Unknown said...

Your home looks so beautiful Dore and your Christmastime styling is lovely. What great little wreaths, they're both so unique and fit in perfectly with your Christmas look. xo

Rié Moratto said...

You are amazing... such lovely re-designs! Merry Christmas to you! Thank you for sharing your lovely home and design inspirations....xxRié |Portobello Design Blog

michele said...

gorgeous christmas moments sing in your salvaged noel, dore. i love the icicles and how you touched each of them with your magic. the whole ensemblage has a frosty magical feel which is so gentle on my eyes when contrasted with the overstimulating crimsons of the commercial-y season. thanks for sharing your treasures, tips, and timeless decor. peace to you right where you are.

Jacqueline~Cabin and Cottage said...

You are a true original, Dore! What an exciting display you have created. Truly breathtaking! The change in your desk is so artful. I love your wondrous interpretation of a beautiful Christmas, and I am in awe of your amazing talents. SO inspirational. So glad you shared. Happy Christmas! And a beautiful New Year!

Victoria said...

There's so much beauty to soak up in this post Dore!!! Your Nordic tree is amazing and so perfectly *you*! Love your little bird ornaments too. I love how casually you mention reinventing your end table...that would be a major undertaking for me, I wouldn't even know where to begin! Your little fir tree is lovely also, it must be so soothing to relax in that gorgeous room at the end of the day:)

Rosemary is so talented, I have several of her items in my home and love them all so much. How kind of your friend to gift you the wreath:) Only one more week and it's Christmas Eve!!!

Unknown said...

Dore, i really want to live in your home. It is perfect!!!!!!!!!!!
Hugs Kuni

chateau chic said...

Dore, I adore all of your repurposing throughout your gorgeous home. I think my favorite is the velvet wreath from a vintage woman's hat...absolutely adorable!!! Love the idea of using your desk as a side table. The book paper wreath from VillaBarnes is fabulous. It's always a treat to see how you put your heart and soul into everything you do to make your French cottage so full of charm.
Merry Christmas!
Mary Alice

Robin Johnson said...

Gorgeous! I love the tiny tree with the adorable bird ornaments!

handmade by amalia said...

I was looking forward to your decorations, dear Dore, and they are as elegant and shimmering and lovely as I knew they would be. Beautiful.
Amalia
xo

Debbie said...

I love every photo, Dore'. Your post is filled with inspiration, and beauty!
The creativity here is amazing!
Merry Christmas!
Debbie
xo

DD's Cottage said...

I love that you repurposed a favorite to make it work for you side table-brilliant. Your home is so serene and calm and I love it!

Lin from A {tiny} Cottage In The Woods said...

Gorgeous, as always. You seem fearless when it comes to salvaging a piece of furniture. I am still hesitating painting my armoire ~ I wish I had your courage!

I especially love your Nordic French tree & your handmade touches ~ absolutely beautiful.

See you soon my friend!
xoxo,
Lin

Karen said...

Dore I can barely catch my breath! What amazing and stunning Christmas decor.Everything is so beautiful! From your salvaged elements ro that pretty wreath by Rosmary and that velvet wreath! Oh my its all like a dream

Karen said...

Dore I can barely catch my breath! What amazing and stunning Christmas decor.Everything is so beautiful! From your salvaged elements ro that pretty wreath by Rosmary and that velvet wreath! Oh my its all like a dream

Karena said...

Dore your wonderful desk has moved on to the next chapter in it's lovely life! Everything you do has your heart and soul in it! I feel so peaceful and full of joy when I visit you!

xoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena
The Reason for the Season

Rue said...

Dore, your home is always such a treat. Etherial and magical... love it all.

I hope you have a beautiful Christmas with your family and I wish you peace and happiness.

xo,
rue

Little Farmstead said...

I love your salvaged Noel Dore! So in keeping with your style - which I adore. Faded beauty with visual space left to dream and create. Fantastic job on your desk turned side table! Love your Nordic and French trees... beautifully unique! Merry Christmas! ~julie ps - if you'll email me (little farmstead@gmail.com), I've set aside one of our son's gold leaf drawing Christmas cards for you. :) Thank you for your sweet comments about the card.

Little Farmstead said...

There's no space (thanks autocorrect ;) - it's littlefarmstead@gmail.com. Just send me your address and I'll drop it in the mail...

by meisje said...

Oh Dore, your home is just ... PERFECT!!! I love your style and I'd like to rent a room at yours ;o) Thank you so much for this pretty post, I always love to read about you! So please take my very best wishes for a wonderful X-mas and a great, happy new year!!! XOX, with lot`s of love, Meisje

edy said...


Your colors and ideas are heavenly...
sensitive yet playful is your tree...
I love it all...and the re-imaging of
your desk is divine....
as the stars dance across the night sky
so to does your creativity flow...
let er rip....

Angelsdoor * Penny said...

Dear Dore,
Your home looks like a winter wonderland.. Such beautiful Christmas touches. I love all that you create. Dear Vera's gift made by Rosemary is such a delight..
Wishing you and Hannah a joyful and blessed Christmas.
Sending you a warm hug!
Penny

Butterfly 8)(8 Bungalow said...

It's so beautiful and peaceful. I love the paper birds on the tree and the repurposing of the desk. Merry Christmas. xoxo Su

Elizabeth@ Pine Cones and Acorns said...

Everything looks so peaceful and beautiful! I love the trees and the birds!
Have a very merry Christmas!

Rhonda said...

Beautiful as always Dore! I especially love the Nordic tree with the tattered tree "skirt"! Merry Christmas!

Angelsdoor * Penny said...

Dearest Dore,
I went back to your previous post and read your poem with a happy heart. It was beautiful, dear friend.

What a joy it was to see you had come for a visit.. Your words today have truly touched my heart. I am so happy you enjoyed the poem and post. I can still see that little dress in my minds eye. The top was velvet.. My sister had a red one just like it. My father always put the tinsel on the tree. He would start from the inside and work his way to the tip of each branch. Laying them carefully.
Happy Holiday Dore.... Enjoy, and see you next year.
I am blessed to know you.
fondly,
Penny

the gardener's cottage said...

i just adore your style! xo

A Joyful Cottage said...

The coco velvet birdcage hat displayed as a wreath is delightful, Dore. It stole my heart immediately. Thank you for the very sweet comment you left on my blog. Your Jeanne d Arc living comparison was a great compliment, however it is YOUR home that is to be compared to that gorgeous magazine. Your home is so charming, so romantic, and so beautifully photographed. Happy New Year to you and your loved ones. xo ~ Nancy

The Reed Warbler said...

Just LOVE your tree with the beautiful birds! Happy New Year, Anita xx