Hi Friends!  I hope you are having a wonderful week!!  Well Round Top Antique Fair is right around the corner so I thought I would pay tribute to the hunt for reclaimed elements and how one special client built them into her home!! Although these elements have come from many sources, many were found treasures from Round Top!!!

We are still in the planning stage, but I have so enjoyed seeing how homeowner Lisa creatively has incorporated so many unique items into her home! She and her husband actually are doing much of the work themselves and Lisa has been collecting for years.

The kitchen itself has 6 different reclaimed elements. Can you spy which ones?

She has built others to mimic the reclaimed ones which we shall finish to match!

#1: Beams and headers from an old barn. #2 & #3: Antique corbels and fire back inset into the stone.

#4: It is hard to miss the ends of the island which are……

……..reclaimed alter pews from a New Orleans church. Loving their natural integrity these will stay as is with their original finish!!

#5: These antique doors purchased from Chateau Domingue, used to cover a hidden pantry, have reclaimed hardware and appear to have an old limed natural finish.

As you can see on the opposite side of the kitchen, the shape of the newly made refrigerator panels mimic the shape of the reclaimed pantry doors across.  Wanting the finishes to mirror, we will use primer washes to mask the different colorations of the woods and match the finish.

#6: Notice the two blue doors on the range wall of the kitchen.

Found in Roundtop at one of the antique fairs, they have a slight curve to them and a beautiful finish.

You really notice it here but what is truly spectacular is the authentically constructed  shelving was made to honor the period that they are from.

Their carpenters did an amazing job on these new drawers to replicate the old side doors in style!!!

Ok now that you  know the 6 reclaimed elements what is the best option for blending them all in a natural cohesive way?  We decided that plastering the walls and ceilings would soften the new sheetrock and produce a structure that authenticates the age of the older reclaimed items.  Pulling the color from the mortar in the stone, this was an easy decision.  We also have established that the refrigerator panels to the left will be the same as the antique doors on the right as well as the cabinetry above them.  But what about the wood pieces that connect these elements over the pathway doors to the back wall? Because these wood pieces are there for a support of a tall ladder and not focal points of the room its was decided to paint them the same tone as the plaster to make them recede.  Now the island and the back wall of built ins.

We decided to start, a plain paint color which has the tones of the reclaimed doors would be painted.  This would allow the old doors to be special without adding a totally different color and keep the budget in check.  If after the room is complete, it seems necessary to finish them to match the old doors at least it would have the proper basecoat to start, eliminating any unnecessary expense of repainting.

Found Antique paneling was applied to the walls in the living space which is open to the kitchen. The baseboards will be finished to match the paneling, and the walls and ceilings coated with plaster as a continuation of the kitchen.

I love this study!  The architecture was drawn around an old barn that they purchased.  The beams and headers in the main home are remnants from this same barn. I like the way the posts are set on top of columns made from the stone used in the rest of the home.  Brilliant!

Look how fun this is!!  It is an outdoor bath!  Love the water can shower head and the antique Moroccan decorative pieces uses as soap and shampoo holders!!!

What you can find in the fields of Round Top–this makes the perfect wash basin!!

There are many other elements, each unique. All personalize the house, many are budget friendly options to custom cabinetry and doors. The above curved doors would cost over $1000 if new.  These at $75 were a bargain!!!

I will update you on this house as it progresses.  I love Lisa, the owner, and all of her creativity! I hope you all have a wonderful week and send me your amazing finds from this Fall’s Round Top adventures!!  It’s fun for all to see how uniquely these pieces can be incorporated in so many design styles!!!

I won’t be there this year signing but my sweet friend Ashley Radack who owns Renouveau Antiques will have some books in her booth at Marburger Farms.  She is in tent FA3. Go by and say Hi!  You will love her beautiful things!!!

Till next week!

If you are interested in hosting an event or carrying the book  please don’t hesitate to reach out! Email Karly@segretofinishes.com for all inquiries! We love to visit new cities!!!