Our radiator afterthought ... kitchen renovation 2019

Details are everything. The more my reno project moves towards completion the more obvious this is. Knobs, fixtures, grout color these choices really define the overall feeling you get when you walk into a room whether you realize it or not. I can only compare it to the feeling Goldie Locks had when she sat in Baby Bears bed, when you’ve chosen the right finishes it feels jussssst right. Same goes for spacing on a gallery wall or the amount of antique versus new items you place in a room to get the vibe just right.

So you’d think knowing this, I’d have prepared for every single detail in advance of my renovation. Lol. No.

After we ripped everything our of my kitchen, I realized everything was going to be beautiful and fresh when it went back in except my radiator. This thing weighs around 250 lbs and I’ll tell you it had seen better days. Rusty, dirty and dirty. Did I mention dirty?

So what are our options? Well with planning- powder coating would be a great option, though pricey and the logistics of getting the 250lb radiator to the facility adds challenges and further expense. Also did I mention we completely forgot about this detail in the planning phase?

So this leaves me with only one option, and not a bad one either. Spray Paint! My trusted old friend. 2 cans ran me around $14, I had a wide variety of color options to choose from and even some with a splash of metallic material to mimic the coating on vintage radiators. I chose a “black stainless” tone as it would match my appliances and meet my black knobs and pulls somewhere in the middle of the rest of the grey tones in the room.

First we sprayed the radiator with a can of air and knocked loose any dust hanging on using a swiffer. Then we scrubbed the radiator with a brush and hot soapy water to get all the years of grime as cleared off as we could. Rinsed with the hose and then let it fully dry in the sun. After it was dry I sprayed each individual section from every angle ensuring full even coverage. The key with spray paint is to stay the right distance away so you don’t get drip marks and let it dry in between coats for the best possible adhesion.

I think the results are really great. If I didn’t know it was spray paint I would have thought it was powder coated. Hopefully the longevity of the paint meets our needs in the long run. We don’t plan to move this piece ever again unless there is a need to repair something. Stay tuned for the final reveal of the kitchen to see the radiator in place. Till then here’s a couple of after shots of my handy work!

You said 2 weeks left... I knew it was too good to be true... but we are getting there.

Who doesn’t love a terrible before and a satisfying after?

I know I do.

This will not disappoint. How many home reno befores include a pit in the middle of their kitchen… MINE DOES.

Don’t be jealous… well be a little jealous of the afters maybe? I hope… we thought there were only 2 weeks left when I posted on the 5th… thinking we are again at the 2 week mark. Not sure EXACTLY how this time hole I am living in works with the larger fabric of the universe but I am trying to roll with it.

In the mean time- for those of you who have not been following along with the progress on my instagram (feels free to stop on by and click the - Kitchen Renovation! - story if you want the full rundown of where we came from and where we are at- updated daily)… above is a little peek at the pit…

Enjoy with the relief of knowing we can again walk across our kitchen... and in fact our cabinets are in. For anyone else in the middle of their own renovation journey, breath in, breath out… it’s going to be worth it.

Tactile memories and layers of light in a Greenpoint apartment

When Victoria Mier and Trish Andersen first met at SCAD 15 years ago, they never knew their journeys would parallel for so long. Roommates on and off through their 11 years in NYC, the ladies spent time in a loft in Williamsburg with 2 other roommates and then several years apart before finding themselves together again in this Brooklyn apartment.  I’ve had the pleasure of knowing these two for almost as long as they have known each other. There is an overwhelming sense of welcome and optimism from the moment you step foot into their home. Both were raised in the South and hospitality was one lesson they didn’t miss growing up. Their apartment is filled with items that represent a time or a place they have been and wish to remember. There is something special about having a tactile memory. Touching that cloth or seeing that image remind us, with a smile or a tear, of moments passed. They are both always moving forward, motivated and driven, but neither forgets to live in the moment.

Victoria works as a fashion designer in Manhattan. She takes a dress line from design all the way to fulfillment for a major fashion brand. In her off time Vic loves an adventure. She tries to get out of the city almost every weekend, spending time with friends at the beach, upstate or a town wide yard sale, she’s up for anything. She also does beautiful calligraphy for invitations, place cards or anything else that needs a hand lettered touch.

Trish is an installation artist, really she is a wearer of many hats, from designer to fabricator she does it all. Trish is very hands on and manages teams that create both large and small-scale wonders. Often creating huge pieces for large event venues, Trish likes to experiment with different materials and utilize them in ways others might never dream up. With a fibers background, Trish is always incorporating textiles and new techniques often taken from the world of fibers. If you look through her past projects there’s weaving, tufting, wrapping and shagging, amongst other things. Trish is a unique voice.  A little of both these women shine through in their home.

Trish travels alot in her line of work and brings back treasures from all over the world. On this wall are two large prints she found in a French brocante (flea market) outside Lacoste last summer. The gallery style wall is filled with one conversation piece after another including a drawing by folk artist Howard Finster, that Trish acquired as a child while visiting “Paradise Garden,” his massive installation piece in Summerville, GA. Trish attributes much of who she is as an artist today to this life changing visit from her childhood

Living in the Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn keeps things both convenient and exciting. Trish’s studio is just a few blocks away and Victoria (seated on the left) has an easy commute into midtown. Most importantly many of their friends live right around the corner, they all get together frequently taking advantage of all the great bars and restaurants in the area.

This corner of the living room features marionettes from Java and a geisha from Japan. Trish recently created décor for an event in Tokyo and can’t wait to go back. Of course, what living room is complete without a giant black apple? Floor mats from Domestic Construction, a company Trish helped found, ground the space. Though no longer a part of the company, her patterns adorn both her space and homes around the world.

Plants are a huge part of the girls’ space. This wall installation of textile collage and living plants makes an incredible focal point in the space. Herman Miller chairs provide a neutral base for an afghan and a crazy quilt, both vintage and colorful. A large statement lamp brings a modern touch to the wall.

Victoria added some interest to a group of built in shelves in her bedroom. She brought pattern and color through wallpaper and keepsakes. Victoria believes in positive thinking, and loves a good mantra. She adds handwritten and found phrases like “we do not remember days, we remember moments,” and “strive for progress not perfection”.

Bright colors make this bathroom just as cheerful as the rest of the house. Patterned foliage wallpaper emphasizes the deep love for plants, clearly, a theme throughout the apartment.

Black and white stripes line the main hallway of the apartment. This little moment outside the bathroom brings us a phrase that epitomizes the mentality of two Southern raised girls making their home in Brooklyn.

In contrast to the rest of the house Trish’s bedroom is filled with muted colors. It has a relaxing vibe and is the perfect place to end a long day. She attached lace yardage to the ceiling, and created a geometric accent wall with string, paint and wallpaper pieces.

The girls call this the chill room. The whole room is draped in a vintage olive green parachute centered in the ceiling. It’s layered with additional textiles, making it a cozy place to hang with friends.

Trish loves to play with scale. The oversized tassels make a big statement in a small space and vintage textiles add color to an otherwise neutral room. A palette of red and white bring all the elements together.

Credits: All photos by Courtney Dawley, Styling by Trish Andersen and Courtney Dawley Calligraphy by Victoria Mier