Archive for the ‘simply good info’ Category

Hey, Hey, My Stuff is in A Beautiful Mess!

Sep 27th, 12 / 4 Comments

For all of you locals, my reclaimed home accessories can now be found in a fabulous shop called A Beautiful Mess. It is located near the Canyon Club in Agoura Hills.

It’s a really groovy store that is decked out for Halloween. The super talented Kymberly Fraser is the owner. Don’t tell her I snuck in this picture of her!

My drift wood candle holder with vintage tea lights.

Love the linens and light fixtures about the bed.

Numbered Birch Thumb Tacks – adorable, you need them. :) only 10 dolla a pack!

Birch place card holders. Can’t keep them in stock! Sending out orders of 100 for weddings!

Birch pedestal with white platter. Great for the holidays.

Give stylish gifts with these eucalyptus tags.

Here’s all the stuff that we delivered. Come shop! or if you are not local you can shop here.

simply good info

Easy Eco Stain

Aug 1st, 11 / 0 Comments

Here is a stain that takes only a few items and a few pennies to make and has a lovely warm tone that only gets better with age. I am transforming a $5 garage sale chair but this recipe is awesome for a large job, like a fence, so make extra!

The items needed are: 1 bag of steel wool from the hardware store, old bucket, water, 3 cups vinegar, old spray bottle and a funnel.

Put the steel wool into the bucket and cover it with water. Let is sit for a week so it is a dark rust color. Stir occasionally. Add more water if it evaporates. After a week, add the vinegar and let sit overnight.

Toss the steel wool into the trash and pour the rusty stew into an old spray bottle.

Simply spray on the stain! I gave the chair two coats.

Just add cushions!

simply good info

Gettin Ready for Easter Eggs!

Mar 27th, 11 / 0 Comments

It’s time to start blowing out your eggs to decorate for Easter. I gently tap the ends of the egg with a pointed knife to make holes. Then you take a toothpick and stick it in the egg to break the yoke and make the hole a bit bigger. Next you blow out the egg. Wash them out and start saving!

What can you make with your eggs? Well, there’s scrambled and quiche, you can use them to make a cake or bread but here is what we made!

Cheese Monkey!  I usually make this for Christmas morning because you assemble it the day before. You can use whatever you have in your fridge. The basic ingredients are eggs, milk, day old bread and cheese.  I used mushrooms and bit of crumbled bacon in this version. But I have made it with spinach, broccoli and turkey sausage.

Ingredients

Enough bread to cover the bottom of a baking dish ( I used a french baguette)
1 box mushrooms or 1 cup veggies
1 lb. turkey sausage, cooked and drained (optional)
1 c. cheddar cheese, grated ( or whatever you have)
2 c. milk
1 tsp. mustard
1/2 tsp. salt
5 eggs
Layer bread in bottom of large casserole – top with drained sausage. Cover with cheese and veggies. Mix milk, eggs, mustard, and salt. Pour over other ingredients. Let set in refrigerate overnight, covered. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Makes 6-8 servings. .
simply good info, simply yummy

Los Angeles Green Building and Salvage Yards

Feb 4th, 11 / 12 Comments

You know about the Flea Markets and Swap Meets in Los Angeles, but sometimes you have a bigger project that might require some building supplies. For instance, lumber, doors, lighting, shutters or garden accessories. Here is a list of used building supplies in Los Angeles and surrounding areas. Using salvaged architectural pieces not only helps the environment but it adds history and a “one of a kind” feel to your project.

I recently moved to a new/old home and we are updating it using salvaged pieces. This is my list of favorites and I am attaching my friend Ryan’s list as well. Ryan and his girlfriend used mostly salvaged materials when updating their North Hollywood home. Their really cool kitchen island made from bowling alley floors. He has documented ALL the cool places to search. Happy hunting!

Santa Fe Wrecking Company

1600 S. Santa Fe Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90021, on the corner of Santa Fe Ave and Olympic Blvd in downtown Los Angeles, (213) 623.3119.
They have a large supply of doors, cast iron tubs, toilets and sinks.

Silverlake Architectural Salvage

1085 Manzanita St, Los Angeles, CA 90029, between Sunset Blvd and Santa Monica Blvd, (323) 667.2875
They have furniture, built-ins, light fixtures, a large supply of doors and over sized windows, hardware, and bath fixtures. They will negotiate on price.

Pasadena Architectural Salvage
30 S. San Gabriel Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91107, ph: (626)535.9655
Inventory includes mantels, lighting, stained glass, iron work, plumbing fixtures, door & window hardware and furniture representing the Arts & Crafts, Spanish Revival, Art Nouveau and Victorian periods.

Freeway Building Materials
1124 S. Boyle Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90023, at Opal St. between 7th and 8th Streets (323) 261.8904.

This place was featured on season 2 of “Top Design” and is a favorite of Hollywood prop masters and set designers. Large supply of doors, stained glass windows, door knobs, old brick, flagstones, lumber and unusual objects. The prices are negotiable.

Olde Good Things
1800 S. Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90015, (213)746.8600.

Architectural antiques, artifacts and oddities. It is worth a trip. I go here if I am looking for something out of the ordinary to decorate a room. I find their prices on the higher side.

Big Daddy’s Antiques

13100 S BroadwayLos Angeles, CA 90061 (310) 769-6600

A good website with photos of their inventory. They have an 18,000 square foot warehouse filled

with custom cabinets, furniture, lighting, garden treasures, doors, iron work and lots more.

I have purchased things from the Rose Bowl from them, too.

This is Ryan’s extensive list: Green Building & Salvage Nov 2010 check it out!!!

The bowling alley lanes recently removed from Cougar Lanes in Omaha, Nebraska. There’s more of these lanes available now through Resource Conservation Group, a salvaged and reclaimed lumber company. Their contact info is:

Douglas “Fir” Stoutenburg
Resource Conservation Group,  LLC
www.resourceconservationgroup.com
www.reclaimedwoodmaterials.com
213-278-2815

simply good info
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