By SZInteriors, on April 11th, 2012
Some of you might remember waaaaay back in December that I was the lucky winner of Marcus Design’s giveaway, ‘Postmodernity’ by Nancy Marcus! If not, you can read about it here, or check out Marcus Design Inc on Etsy.
Since then I have bought 2 frames, a replacement piece of glass, Rub ‘N Buff, Pearl Ex Pigment powder, and Krylon Matte Finish spray! There is a story!
Here’s the first frame I bought.
But I decided the black overpowered this piece. So I prepped the frame to spray out in a metallic silver.
I had my make-shift spray booth all ready to go and was giving the frame a quick dusting before spraying, and it broke apart in my hands! No kidding.
I couldn’t find another one like it or a metallic frame to fit, so I ended up with this black replacement.
It’s wider with more detail, and since I already knew black was too much, I got the frame prepped for spraying.
A light sanding…
And then the first coat of paint.
And a second coat to finish it off.
I decided I wanted to try Rub ‘N Buff on the frame to dull it down a bit, and give it a more aged look. But the Rub ‘N Buff was harder to get than I thought. The Victoria store was out, and so was the warehouse! I ordered what I needed, but in the end I should have tried ordering online for how long it took my order to arrive at the store!
I wanted something bronzy-gold because of the fleck colour in the background of the print. It was hard to tell the actual colour online, and in the end I ordered European Gold.
I’ve never worked with Rub ‘N Buff before, so was surprised at how fast it dries!
After I started buffing it, I kind of liked how it looked, but wasn’t convinced.
You can see below where I’ve buffed the frame.
I wanted a gold sheen, but wasn’t so sure about how much silver was showing through.
I decided to keep going with this look, but as I buffed away, some of the original black started to show through from the frame!
And when the print was placed in the frame, the frame looked way too rustic. Also, the silver that was showing through now looked too blue for the print.
So I decided to go over the frame and dust it with Pearl Ex ‘Antique Gold’ pigment powder.
This is a close-up before applying the pigment.
Once the pigment was dusted on, I used Krylon Matte Finish to seal it in place, and then let it dry.
I did this in 3 layers before I finally got the frame to start taking on the look I had in mind.
Can you see how there’s more of a gold shimmer now, and how much the black spots have been toned down?
I finally decided to leave it, place the print in the frame and live with it for a while before deciding whether or not to do anything further.
That’s when this happened!
When I was carrying the glass over to the frame it flexed in my hands, cracked and broke! Definitely crappy glass! Trust me, the replacement glass is much thicker!
After living with the print in the frame for a few weeks, I decided it needed one more thing.
Annie Sloan Clear Wax finish.
See where the wax has been rubbed on to the right?
What a difference it makes in the finished look.
And here’s a peek at where ‘Postmodernity’ has been hung in the office.
The frame looks slightly darker in this photo than it actually is, and the gold highlights shimmer more than you see here.
But remember where we started?
I’ll admit, I would’ve liked another frame that had the clean lines of this one, but do you think the black frame is too heavy?
There’s more to come, styling to be done, I’m working on another Rub ‘N Buff project… and I’m trying to find some specific vintage pieces that will keep pulling the look together, but for now…
‘Postmodernity’ is finally in place! Thank you again, Nancy!
So tell me. Do you use Rub ‘N Buff? What’s your secret to success with its application?
I hope your week got off to a great start. Can you believe it’s already Wednesday?
THANKS FOR STOPPING BY AND READING!
xo
It’s about coming home… and home is a remarkable space that tells your story!
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Photos: Sheila Zeller
By SZInteriors, on April 10th, 2012
Easter weekend is over, but what a great recharge it was! How about you? Did you have a good break?
Here’s a little recap of our last four days…
Friday was my hot cross bun baking day…
Whew. They turned out better than last year’s!
I gave my Dad a pan, too!
And we painted a dozen eggs since none of us would be home on Saturday to do it.
Focused and hard at work!
But I was able to get a quick smile from all three 
Kaleigh, Robbie (K’s boyfriend) and Clemens (aka hubby) 
Here’s a look at the good old fashioned masterpieces…
I even had a few eggs in there, too.
On Saturday hubby and I popped down to Sooke to visit our good friends, Steph, Mark and their boys.
Loved this walk along the beach. It was breezy and a little cool, but just so awesome to be out in the sunshine with friends!
On Sunday I got to be the Easter Bunny and hide the eggs. Remember, I wondered about bribing the teens with chocolate to hunt for the eggs?
Well, these got hidden beside each egg.
The bribe worked! The teens indulged me, and went searching for the hidden treasure
Then I set to work on the dinner prep.
Twice baked potatoes…
Honey & mustard glazed ham…
And hubby was on chocolate mousse for dessert!
I had fun setting the table and playing with my camera taking photographs of it…
I made sure everyone got a chocolate bunny, too!
Along with their Easter cards!
This got a smile from Dad!
I hope you had a great Easter weekend.
Now that it’s over, are you recharged and embracing this week, too?
We really enjoyed our weekend. It was a lot about slowing down and just taking this time. We stayed away from our computers, and opened our books instead. And it felt seriously amazing. My only set-back was a nasty burn when I was making the glaze for the ham. I splashed scalding hot honey all over my thumb… and yup, it’s blistered from knuckle to cuticle, no joke. Fun, right? Now it’s all bandaged up and latex gloves are my new best friend. Can I just say being all thumbs has taken on a whole new meaning!
THANKS FOR STOPPING BY AND READING!
xo
It’s about coming home… and home is a remarkable space that tells your story!
If you would like some help with your space contact me here.
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Photos: Sheila Zeller
By SZInteriors, on April 6th, 2012
Today is Good Friday, a day for reflection… And for many of you, I’m guessing hot cross buns are part of your day, too. They always have been for me. Last year my buns weren’t exactly a fail, but let’s just say, they weren’t as good as Mom’s always were!
Anyway, on the note of reflections…
Have you ever seen a Mid-Century Modern bunny?
Source: Alyssa Sukas
Isn’t this guy just awesome?
He’s a stylized German Osterhase, aka Easter Bunny, hand painted and made of teak. I couldn’t find any details on who actually designed him, but according to my photo source, Alyssa Sukas, she thinks this bunny looks like a very early Erzgebirge. After looking into Erzgebirge pieces, I would agree. Check out Erzgebirge’s Easter creations here.
What do you think?
Tomorrow we’re off to spend the day with close friends in Sooke, and on Sunday I’m looking forward to having my Dad join us for Easter dinner. I hope you have a great weekend planned, and you get to spend it doing the things you love to do with the special people in your life.
Wishing you a Good Friday, and a Happy Easter!
THANKS FOR STOPPING BY!
xo
It’s about coming home… and home is a remarkable space that tells your story!
If you would like some help with your space contact me here.
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Feature Image Source
By SZInteriors, on April 5th, 2012
When the tulips are out, I know Easter is right around the corner.
And since this weekend is Easter, I thought a few quick decor ideas might be fun…
With tulips, of course!
When I saw this…
Source: Lux Interior Design
I was instantly sold. Relaxed, a little different, and easy to do!
You just need to make sure the stem ends are fully submerged in the water, and enough leaves are left to keep the tulip heads out of the water!
If you haven’t got a container to do this… stop, don’t panick.
A tin can will do.
Source: Pinterest
The stems will definitely have to be cut shorter, and that’s not a bad thing if you want to have them displayed on your table. Showy, but not too tall to see over. And don’t you think the cans make the tulips pop?
Or how about this rustic berry tray?
Source: Delish
Chances are a berry tray won’t be on hand, but you can improvise this idea with little containers set onto a tray. For full impact the key is the mirror in behind. It doubles the impact of your display, so if you can place your tray in front of a mirror you’ve got a winner!
Have you heard of a brown bag lunch? Yah, me too.
But I bet a bagged bunch of tulips is something new?
Source: Gather and Nest
If you’re giving the tulips as a hostess gift, just make sure you place them in a plastic bag inside the brown bag. But if you want to do this for your own home, place the tulips in a container of water inside the brown bag so they’ll last longer. They’ll have to stand upright, but will be a nice, casual touch in the room.
For a more involved DIY… and you still have time… why not build this wooden tool box and fill it with tulips in a jar?
Source: Crafty Sisters Blog
The great thing is you can adjust the size to suit your needs. Click here for the tutorial. I’ve been wanting to plant up a wooden tool box, so this is one I’m tempted to try!
And for those of you who aren’t as keen on tulips as me, here are a few ideas just for you!
Try filling hurricane vases (or any clear vessel) with coloured candy eggs…
Source: Holidaysville – Williams Sonoma
That’s not really new. But to really set your hurricane displays apart, set the eggs on a nest of greenery, too. Do you think the ferns set these apart?
And last…
Source: Delish
Try this quick and easy DIY (tutorial here) for an Easter table of candlelit cheer!
Do you decorate for Easter?
We haven’t done any ‘decorating’ yet, but we do have tulips in a vase, and I’ll be putting a few more things together. On Friday we’re going to paint our Easter eggs. I know it’s a day early, but they’ll keep until Sunday… Did I mention Kaleigh (she’s 17) and her boyfriend (he’s 19) are game? That’s what makes this so much fun! I’m pretty sure they won’t be keen on hunting for eggs, but maybe I bribe them with a chocolate bunny
Source: Pinterest
You’re only as old as you feel, right?
THANKS FOR HOPPING BY
xo
It’s about coming home… and home is a remarkable space that tells your story!
If you would like some help with your space contact me here.
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By SZInteriors, on April 3rd, 2012
Have you heard of the Vancouver Island Stagers, Stylists and ReDesigners group? Just think, VISSR!
VISSR is a group of business women on Southern Vancouver Island who meet once a month as colleagues and collaborative professionals. VISSR is a mix of home stagers, interior stylists and redesigners, and many offer a slice of all three services.
Recently VISSR initiated a volunteer redesign project for the Bridges for Women Society in Victoria.
Bridges for Women is a not-for-profit, charitable agency focussing on employment services for women with a background of abuse or trauma.
Source: Bridges for Women Society
Bridges mission, taken directly from their website, is this:
Bridges is a gutsy, innovative community agency. Our employment training and supportive programs inspire women impacted by violence or abuse, to reclaim their lives and build economic security. Bridges draws on its extensive knowledge of the impacts of abuse on employability, to provide education, training and consulting to community agencies, employers, and government.
As VISSR members, we volunteered our professional skills to redesign two classrooms along with support from our clients and local businesses who donated materials and/or trade labour. We had a narrow budget to work with, which had to stretch far… Without the unified support of VISSR members, our clients, and participating local businesses, the scope of these classroom transformations would not have been possible.
Imagine taking a classroom setting from this…
BEFORE
Photo: Diana Zinck
to this…
INSTALLATION DAY
Photo: SZInteriors
to THIS!
AFTER
Photo: Diana Zinck
From this…
BEFORE
Photo: SZInteriors
to this…
INSTALLATION DAY
Photo: SZInteriors
to THIS!
AFTER
Photo: Diana Zinck
And from this…
BEFORE
Photo: Diana Zinck
to this…
INSTALLATION DAY
Photo: SZInteriors
to THIS!
AFTER
Photo: Diana Zinck
And all on a dime.
What went into the redesign?
- Two new paint colours
- A chair rail around the whole room
- Custom made bulletin boards
- White board paint (dry erase) painted directly on the wall to replace wall-mounted white board
- Oak cabinet, baskets and decorative boxes for organization and storage
- Artwork and incidentals
- A folding screen room divider in place of empty storage lockers acting as room dividers
- Privacy film over the windows
- And of course, volunteer time and energy
Here’s a closer look…
The custom bulletin boards were a huge part of this redesign. Collages made by the students are a significant component of the Bridges program, and displaying them is equally important.
So the collages (blurred for confidentiality) went from being displayed like this…
Photo: SZInteriors
To this…
Photo: Pauline Dueck
On walls like this!
Photo: Diana Zinck
The frames are painted in the same blue as the Bridges for Women Society’s branded blue! All have been prehung so they’re ready to feature each collage as a presented work of art.
The bulletin boards were definitely the pride of this project with their functional form underscoring the significance of their presence!
The wall of windows was another key consideration. Obtaining privacy without the loss of natural light was the hope, and to accomplish this, opaque film for the windows was the solution. But our budget was the obstacle! And thankfully, in the end donations came through.
This is a closer look at the windows before the privacy film was installed.
Photo: SZInteriors
The existing blinds provided the privacy function, but with them closed, the natural light was lost. And even with them tilted open, the light was still filtered out a lot, leaving the overhead fluorescents in charge!
Here’s a look at the windows AFTER the privacy film was installed.
Photo: SZInteriors
There was no leftover film to spare, and even the little scrap pieces didn’t go to waste. The birds were drawn free-hand and made with the leftover pieces!
And here, some (but not all) of the VISSR members who came together, and brought this vision to reality.
Photo: Pauline Dueck
(Back Row, L to R): Michaela Starling, Carell-Ayne Whalen, Diana Zinck, Tracey Jones, Josée Lalonde
(Front Row, L to R): [Me], Stacey Kaminiski, Pauline Dueck
For a list of all VISSR members, click here.
Bridges for Women…
Photo: SZInteriors
Break the cycle. Build the future.
Photo: Pauline Dueck
Thank you so much to Bridges for Women Society for the opportunity to give back by doing what we do best!
And a heartfelt thank you to these local business for their invaluable support. Without you these transformations just wouldn’t have been possible:
You made it possible for us to change up this space…
Photo: Diana Zinck
To look like this!
Photo: Diana Zinck
And the second classroom to look like this…
Photo: Diana Zinck
And this!!!
Photo: Diana Zinck
And thank you to SHAW TV Daily for the coverage! For those of you who missed the news clip, click here to view. It only takes a few minutes to watch!
To see more photos of the project you can visit our VISSR site here, and The Stage Coach here.
Have you pitched in on a project lately? I’d love to hear about it!
It’s always so gratifying to lend a hand, and I really enjoyed being a part of this project. I hope you enjoyed this overview and got to feel for a moment how incredible it was to be able to give back in this way.
THANKS FOR READING!
xo
It’s about coming home… and home is a remarkable space that tells your story!
If you would like some help with your space contact me here.
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By SZInteriors, on April 2nd, 2012
Way back in June of last year I posted about the wool duvet we bought, and wondered whether we would end up wishing we’d of stuck with a down duvet instead. You might remember that post, and if not, you can catch up on it here.
I have to say I’m surprised at how much interest that article got, and continues to get. So I decided to weigh in on our decision now that almost a year has passed.
But first, here’s a little DIY revamp I made to the duvet cover.
See the rings on the corners?
Well, I sewed those onto the duvet. There’s actually 8 in total including the ones sewn onto the middle of each side.
The cover came with ties sewn to the inside, which you’re supposed to tie to the duvet to hold it in place.
But when I tried this it didn’t work that great.
The duvet wanted to bunch up in some sections, and then there seemed to be more cover than duvet in other sections, even though they’re both the same size.
So I decided the rings would be the perfect solution to hold the duvet in place inside the cover.
The corners and middles were secured on 3 sides, and then the whole ensemble had to be flipped right-side-out so the last 3 ties could be secured as well, and the duvet cover zipped shut.
No more bunching or extra fabric in all the wrong places!
Don’t mind the wrinkles! The cover just came out of the dryer… and I didn’t quite get to it in time
But once it was on the bed I gave it a quick touch-up with the iron.
See, not bad for wrinkles now!
After the rings were added, the duvet and cover fit together perfectly… and stayed that way. What’s really missing with the wool duvet is the fluffiness of a down duvet, which is why the cover seemed so much bigger at first.
So weighing in on the apparent pros (as mentioned in my first post):
- Naturally hypo-allergenic
- we read up on this, and it appears to be so
- Provides relief from allergies
- we don’t have any allergies, so have to trust this one
- Has a natural resistance to dust mites
- sure hope so, but we are careful to stay on top of laundering, etc.
- Breathes to control body temperature, humidity and comfort
- Transfers moisture away from your skin, to maintain an even body temperature throughout the night
- Warm in the winter and cool in the summer
- true, but I like more covers in winter, so added a throw for myself at night – hubs did not
- Fire resistant
- Renewable, sustainable, 100% natural and biodegradable
In the end, we kind of miss the cozy look and feel of the down duvet, but we don’t miss the down itself. No more feathers flying around every time we wash the cover!
So would we go back to a down duvet? In one word, no. We are super happy with our wool duvet.
How about you? Have you got any of your own feedback to share?
I hope you had a nice weekend. Ours seemed to go so fast, but it was good. We got outside for some fresh air… and the sun was even shining! No work in the yard, but we enjoyed a quick trip out to Blue Grouse Estate Winery, and a little stroll around Cowichan Bay. And now we’re ready for what this week has to bring!
THANKS FOR READING!
xo
It’s about coming home… and home is a remarkable space that tells your story!
If you would like some help with your space contact me here.
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Photos by Sheila Zeller
Feature Image: Source
By SZInteriors, on March 30th, 2012
The last time we were in Vancouver we took a little time to wander and check out some different shops… from Thrift Stores to a Mid-Century Modern specialty boutique.
Have you ever been to Attic Treasures on Commercial Drive?
The Saarinen tulip chairs and table are the first clue to what the inside beholds!
Source: Google Images
As you step through the door you are greeted with MCM eye candy that doesn’t quit!
From George Nelson inspired starburst clocks, retro table-top fans, to whimsical kitchen pieces like this apple canister set…
SZInteriors Photo
And lighting, lighting, lighting galore.
Look at all those fibreglass drum shades. And the fab pendants. We could easily have brought the plain white one on the far right home with us!
SZInteriors Photo
How about that funky dome shaped stereo? I didn’t investigate, but I think it’s a Bradford radio/record player. Doesn’t it remind you of a space ship?
As you turn the corner you are drawn in deeper by the collection of furniture before you.
SZInteriors Photo
Look at this wall-to-wall mix of teak and leather!
Squirrel!
Seriously. Everywhere I looked, I darted off to!
SZInteriors Photo
It was just way too hard to stay focused on one thing… And did I mention the lighting? Oh, right. I did.
SZInteriors Photo
Oooo, and I love this coffee service. Hhhhh.
What’s a girl to do? I just had to touch
SZInteriors Photo
The colour and grain in this teak ice bucket was so beautiful… but it didn’t come home with me.
And then there was this wall of pottery vases. Temptation, much! Oh, I was so dying to touch…
SZInteriors Photo
But did dare?
Of course! I couldn’t resist!
SZInteriors Photo
Alas, the pottery, too was left behind
Being in this store was like being in the middle of a Mid-Century exhibit, only better because we could touch! And even better, because we could buy any piece we wanted, if we wanted to (of course, that’s if money was no object!).
So for this visit we made our way back to the front, and back out the door… but happy to have made this discovery.
And since then, I’ve had a chance to soak this store in. Now I can’t wait to return. Who knows what we’ll discover next time? Maybe our home will become the new home of a another treasure we find inside
Have you been to Attic Treasures? If you don’t live nearby, do you have a spot to head off to for a little MCM shop?
Happy Friday. I hope you have a great weekend in store. We’re not up to much, but we are planning a quick trip out to Blue Grouse Estate Winery. Hubby’s dad has reserved some limited ‘white’, and we’re picking it up for him. Next time we head over to Vancouver we’ll be delivering the wine to his doorstep
THANKS FOR READING!
xo
It’s about coming home… and home is a remarkable space that tells your story!
If you would like a little help with your space, maybe there’s something I can do. Contact me here.
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By SZInteriors, on March 28th, 2012
I was feeling a bit at loose ends looking for a mini project, but not sure which one to tackle. And then I found my inspiration over at Decor Adventures. As soon as I saw Jessica’s photo of the garden orb lights, I knew what to do!
Last year when we moved in we bought this set of solar pathway lights from Costco to help transform the new yard.
But we didn’t realize at the time that the sub-terrain was solid rock! You might remember our landscaping sagas from here, here, and here! And so the lights stayed in the garage, unopened, as we tended to a million other moving-in things instead.
Since then we’ve had a chance to work around outside a bit, so now I have a better idea where there’s slight forgiveness in the landscape… and according to the Feng Shui workshop I took not too long ago, lighting the pathway to our main door can be a good thing. Especially since the house numbers are mounted in a Feng Shui what-not-to-do way… did you know house numbers should always be mounted reading across? You can get away with them placed on an angle heading upwards, but never top to bottom with one number over the other, or going down on an angle.
Here’s a look at our main entry.
I’ve blurred the house number, but do you see how it’s mounted? That’s the what-not-to-do according to Feng Shui!
So here’s how I lined our pathway with the solar lights.
I wasn’t sure how to tackle the edge at the foot of the stairs because it’s kind of narrow, and I was worried about people stepping off the cement and onto the lights. Also, right in the corner at the edge of the cement is a sprinkler for the underground sprinkler system. So I was torn between placing too many lights, or possibly not enough. I went with the ‘maybe not enough option’ so I could keep the area at the foot of the stairs free. I have more lights in the landscaping around the side of the house if I change my mind.
Here’s where I placed those lights…
There’s 6 in total. Can you see all 6?
I would’ve liked to scatter them vertically a bit more, but trust me, that ground is ‘rock solid’ underneath!
Lucky us, the lights charged enough that I was able to get a shot of them in the dark
Much easier to see now, right?
And here’s the ones out front.
Our weather has been on and off since the weekend, but I’m smiling because it was ‘on’ enough to get this little job done!
So what do you think? Would you put more lights at the front, or leave them the way they are?
THANKS FOR READING!
xo
It’s about coming home… and home is a remarkable space that tells your story!
If you would like some help with your space contact me here.
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Photos by Sheila Zeller
By SZInteriors, on March 27th, 2012
So here’s where we left off yesterday with the DIY BBQ pad project.
Day 2 started with a quick trip for a few bins of gravel, while Dad handled the sand and the last block to put into place. You see, the block needed to be cut on an angle, and he has all the tools for that kind of work!
See the last block?
We set it into place, and then built up some rock under the steps. This is just a border to help keep the gravel in place.
Because next we pulled all the large rocks out that were bordering the gravel driveway and pad area.
And this is where the bins of gravel came in.
We flattened out the edges of the landscape fabric, and then poured gravel over top.
Raked it to spread it around evenly, including up where the hose reel sits.
The new gravel is a bit larger than the driveway gravel, and here it’s wet, so is a lot darker, but it will help keep the slabs in place.
The next step was pouring sand into all the cracks, and sweeping it into the edges.
With the sand pretty much topped up in all the cracks, the excess landscape fabric was trimmed off. In case you’re wondering, the landscape fabric is just to help keep the inevitable weeds down!
Then the sand was gently saturated with the hose to pack it down into the cracks.
This is what the pad looks like with the sand packed down into the cracks.
Can you see how much it sunk down? This is what was anticipated, and the point of saturating the sand.
So on hands and knees, more sand was shoveled into the cracks.
Until the pad looked like this.
And was left to dry. We’ll have to add more sand here and there, but for the most part it’s packed in flush with the slabs. Notice how the gravel is already getting closer to the colour of the driveway gravel as it dries?
We didn’t put the BBQ on the pad the same day we finished it…
And you’ll see the weather decided to change on us by the time we did!
No more bright sun shining down on this project!
Here’s a little look back at the very beginning ‘Before’.
And the ‘After’ now.
With the BBQ ‘Before’…
And ‘After’. Well, it’s a new BBQ under the cover. Remember, the wind did our last one in! See how much closer we can snug it up to the house now?
My hubby just laughed when I said I wanted a new cover now, too! He said he predicted that! But I guess it’s not a huge priority, just an aesthetic indulgence
Now with the pad complete, as all things go, one project leads to another.
Did you notice the broken step?
Let’s just say an ‘N’ driver was backing up So we’re going to replace the step, and take this opportunity to repaint the whole porch, too!
As for the heat pump ‘yard ornament’… well I have something like this in mind, but with diamond shaped lattice instead.
Source: Home Depot
And I’m hoping Dad will help us make this happen!
And then of course, plants. I want to put a bunch of potted plants all around to soften the gray of the concrete and gravel, and bring in a little green. This area gets full sun all afternoon (when the sun actually shines!), so I’ll need some help to select the right plants.
Do you have any favorites you’d recommend? For this gardener the plants have to be hearty, and semi low maintenance. Geraniums and I get along! Does that help?
THANKS FOR READING!
xo
It’s about coming home… and home is a remarkable space that tells your story!
If you would like some help with your space contact me here.
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Photos by Sheila Zeller
By SZInteriors, on March 26th, 2012
At last, a stretch of sunny weather that allowed us to get back outside and work on the BBQ pad I wrote about here. But ‘we’ actually turned out to be my Dad! Dad loves a project and this one was right up his alley, so he took it over for us… I was his ‘helper’, and hubby made sure we were fed!
Here’s a long ago ‘before’ shot when we first moved in…
The area has definitely been cleaned up since this early photo, but I thought you should have a true ‘before’ perspective.
After checking out our local choices, and then some back and forth discussion we opted to go with textured 20″x20″ concrete slabs.
For the small area we have to work with, these slabs create a nice, even surface, and blend well with the rock that’s already in the driveway.
The first step was to level the area out.
There’s just a shallow topping of soil over solid rock, so the levelling was pretty straight forward.
Then we did a test run with the slabs, laying each one in and tweaking the level.
Normally you would spread a layer of sand first, but we bypassed this step as the slabs went in without a lot of hassel.
After fitting and levelling all the slabs, they got pulled back out so we could line the area with landscape fabric!
But first a little break… and a photo op, meaning my only chance to coerce Dad to look at the camera!
He wouldn’t smile… hates posing for the camera, even though I warned him he was headed for the blog!
And then back to work laying the landscape fabric, and installing the slabs.
Notice how we left extra fabric?
That’s because we wanted it to come up the sides of the slabs.
And this is where we left off on Day one.
If you pop by tomorrow I’ll show you the reveal!
And how about you? Did you get to play in the sun this weekend… maybe tackle a project or two?
THANKS FOR READING!
xo
It’s about coming home… and home is a remarkable space that tells your story!
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Photos by Sheila Zeller
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Meet Sheila  Hi, and welcome to SZInteriors! I'm a decorating enthusiast, and here you'll find a collection of all the little details that help make a house a home. I feature Mid-Century design, decor inspiration, and I even dare to share my DIY projects with you, too! I hope you like what you see. Thanks for stopping by - Sheila |
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