Author name: Karla Nathan

Well, I’m moving in!

The new space is approximately divided into two areas, the back is my regular stuff while the entrance is jewelry.

With a larger space, I realized I needed bigger furniture so it would feel more to scale.  This cabinet had to be pilfered from my studio so I’d have a solid “anchor” piece in the back.  The door was placed next to it for the same reason.  I didn’t want to use too many white tables stacked up.  That worked well in my half space, but a full booth required substance.

This felt like it gave the room more balance.

Small, white tables were definitely used a lot, they work great.  But before I brought in the big cabinet, that section needed more umph.  

I still need to get a clip light for that top shelf in the cabinet, then this side is ready to roll for First Friday weekend.

I love, love, love, love, love the pergola/entryway Rich built for the doorway leading to Beth’s space next door!  So much so that I told myself I would leave it empty to show it off.  

Hmm, it seems to have some things hanging on it.  Oh well, I tried!  At least it isn’t completely covered.  You can still see the structure.

Not quite the entire front half is jewelry. One wall is still stuff.  I think this area is complete too.  I’m still working on the jewelry spaces and will show that later.

Despite the harrowing cold, I bundled up, then we filled the truck with wood, paint, and power tools to overhaul bare two by fours into making my new booth feel cottagey and welcoming.

In a week, we faced two walls with tongue and groove.  This one got distress painted.

This one was painted a soft, green/blue.
And columns were added as trim.

Two other walls were crafted from a rougher lumber, some with a live edge.  I liked the look so much, I decided to leave them raw and natural.

One got an iron shelf and the second, a hand painted garland of roses.

We also hung clusters of chandeliers to block the sight of a big vent, added more lighting and some decorative pieces.  I wrapped the giant metal pole in vintage wallpaper and crushed velvet, and will use it to display necklaces hung on magnets.

Oh! And look at this!  I love this walkway to the next door neighbors!  (Although from the look on that neighbor’s face, she seems a bit judgey)

Seriously, I love it all.

It was sooooooooo much work, but exhilarating to do, because I was extremely excited about how each area was turning out.  I love every square foot of my new cottage at Juju.  We had such lucky timing to be gifted truckloads of attractive lumber.  Those various textures and sizes of boards add so much more character than the plywood we would’ve had to use without the freebies.

We worked so hard, that I wasn’t even cold.  I actually pulled off a couple layers because I was getting overheated.  The temperature inside the building is set just high enough to keep the pipes from freezing and it’s always chilly inside.  I surprised myself by not even being bothered by it.  The worst part was unloading the truck in icey snowdrifts.   The outcome was worth the effort.

Much of it is more than I really needed to have done.  But we had the week to do it, the free materials, and to me, having a wonderful back ground will bring joy to me every time I go into work.  I’m already filling it up, and it hurts a little to cover up my pretty walls.  Still, I’ll know they are there, peeping out from behind my piles of stuff, and it will make my heart happy,