Unbelievable!

Okay. Murphy beds are awesome. They make so much sense if you live in a small space but often they are kind of rickety and the cladding is just okay. This video about an Italian furniture maker, Resource Furniture, who makes compact multi-use furniture is amazing. I'm ready to become their Seattle sales rep. Seriously.
Click here to be amazed.

Valentine's Day Brunch + more table talk

On Valentine's Day we had some neighbors, Jesse and Eden, over for egg-in-the-holes.
And, just look at that table. I am so happy with it. We love having people over to eat because our table is so comfortable and beautiful. I was just up visiting my Uncle Paul and Aunt Rhonda (the responsible party) and there is now an amazingly beautiful bench crafted to match the table. So, one side will sit bench style against the wall and then they also got some walnut chairs to match which will be on the non-wall side. We are SOOOO spoiled!

New chairs + home-made cushions

Our neighbors Mike and Jenny generously gave us two darling, vintagey wire basket chairs that they don't need. I was immediately enamored with them and thought they would work great upstairs as loungers when we get the next phase built. But, wire chairs are not the comfiest and they leave a wire grid on your booty, so the last day or two I set on making little cushions to soften the seats. I bought the fabric at a stoop sale in Copenhagen--it is some really sturdy natural fiber and the gal I bought it from claimed that they were hand-printed--or at least from a small, local factory from a long time ago. Something like that. Anyhow, I didn't have foam, so I took a really springy, cotton mattress pad and layered it 3x to make a soft, sleek pad for the inside. They work great.

Sometimes this how the place feels--all dreamy and gauzey. And, the two little buddies side-by-side. Awww jeeez.

trestle table arrives to cheers, oohs and ahs!

I feel so spoiled right now. My uncle Paul (with the coordination help of my Aunt Rhonda) built Tyler and me the most beautiful trestle table. About a month and half ago Rhonda called and broke the fabulous news that she and Paul wanted to make us something for our place and we sent them pictures of Shaker-style trestle tables, among a few other trestle tables and they basically duplicated the picture in naturally-finished black walnut. I am dying. It is so gorgeous and shiny on top, amazingly sturdy but still delicate. I guess walnut is a strong, straight wood and it's possible to build things with a light frame and it will hold up very well. And, if you look closely, the legs are attached to a little rail that runs the length of the table about 3 inches off the ground so if you are naughty and lean back in your chair, you can put your feet on the cross bar--so comfy. Not to mention that little cross bar is attached to the legs with a wooden wedge-shaped peg that can be removed and the whole table breaks down into a flat pack. Yes, it is collapsible! ahhhhhh! BE STILL MY BEATING HEART! I love it. Tyler loves it. It is by far the nicest piece of furniture I/we have ever owned and we are so lucky. SO, thank you Paul and Rhonda! You've made our mid-century-modern-timeless-functional. (That is nonsense, but I am a bit delirious just looking at the table!)

This was the tables maiden culinary voyage. Paul and Rhonda ALSO brought crabs because they had gotten their fill and couldn't finish their catch. So, Annie and Kevin came over and helped us crack 'em! This is also a good shot of how the place is right now. Still lots of boxes, but that table put a fire under us to do some more organizing!