How do you take a piece of furniture and make it better? Make it a built-in. It is the proverbial cherry on top. Built-ins fit the space perfectly, offering increased functionality and aesthetics. In a small home with limited square footage, every inch counts, even vertical space, so custom built furniture that maximizes utility that is also visually minimalist is perfect. The … [Read more...] about A Built In Bookcase
Refinishing Found Furniture
Jeff and I lived in Brooklyn for quite a few years, and during that time we made many excellent “street finds.” For those of you who hail from places where it isn’t totally normal to source your coffee table from the sidewalk, let me explain. In densely populated urban areas, particularly those filled with liberal and idealistic young people, there exists a culture of … [Read more...] about Refinishing Found Furniture
How I Built A Ground Level Freestanding Deck
So, you want to build a ground level deck. First, question: why build a deck? Is a patio perhaps more practical? After all, a patio will last a whole lot longer and require a lot less maintenance. Ah, but a patio involves more labor to install per square foot, especially if you’re starting with a less than optimal site. Deck or patio? I grappled with this question for, I … [Read more...] about How I Built A Ground Level Freestanding Deck
How To Make Wild Grape Jelly
A few years ago Jeff and I were backing out of our driveway when something caught my eye in the rearview mirror. Did my eyes betray me or was it… grapes? Growing along the state highway where our little house is located? The answer was yes, and now I recognize that various wild grapes grow all over the roadsides near where we live. The vast majority seem to be Vitis … [Read more...] about How To Make Wild Grape Jelly
A Built In Desk For A Small Space
As a family of four living in 1200 square feet, we have no room for a dedicated office. Until March 2020, there hadn't been much need for an office since my wife and I both worked in NYC and we were only at our "weekend house" on - well - weekends. Somehow we had made do during COVID with both of us working from home in Connecticut. I often used our little guest cottage and … [Read more...] about A Built In Desk For A Small Space