Saturday, April 14, 2012

Grand Salvage Operation


Today I would like to introduce you to a couple of Salvage Artists, Glenn and Kris Gibertini...    
The Gibertinis buy old wood from barns and other salvage sources
 and create wonderful custom furniture with the reclaimed wood. 
Tables and benches and hutches and more.
I met Glenn and Kris when I was looking for someone to salvage the windows in our cottage. 
The windows were original, they were charming and we loved them 
but they were in very rough condition. Cracking, peeling, rotting, lots of issues. 
Not every window had every problem, but years of neglect took a toll on the windows 
and they had to be replaced. 
Plus we wanted to winterize the cottage and the old windows were not insulated. 
In a previous post, I talked about how Mr. Grand had spent an entire weekend
 stripping and painting one little window and declared that project finished... 
New windows were a must.

Below you can see the cottage with new windows installed.  
And here you can see the cottage after most of the renovations were completed.
The old windows were carefully removed and are leaning against the front porch.


Off I went to the Kane County Flea Market, where I searched for sellers
who made furniture out of old wood. There I found Glenn and Kris and they were interested!
They also lived near the cottage and could pretty easily pick the windows up. It was a match.
And did I mention that they make wonderful furniture out of old salvaged wood???
Naturally, I needed some of that!
Glenn builds the furniture and Kris paints, stains, glazes and finishes the pieces.
Here's the first piece they made for me- a buffet with big chunky drawers and big chunky legs. 
I needed some more counter space because the kitchen, which would be large for a dollhouse, 
 is tiny by any other standards...
This table does double duty- it works as counter space in the kitchen
and as a buffet for serving.
I looooove it. 

I found the shelf unit above it at a garage sale years ago 
and it had been hung in various rooms in our house 
but was languishing in the basement until I brought it to the lake.  
The color was a perfect match with the special green Kris uses on her pieces.  
It was meant to be!
I seriously need a design editor for that shelf unit, though.  

When we decided we needed even more storage, Glenn built this trunk for us- 
it's full of games and puzzles for rainy days and quiet nights.  
I asked him to add the scallopy valance at the bottom, 
cuz you know how much I like things scallopy!

 

The legs on the tables and the bun feet on the trunk are new, 
but the tops and sides of all the pieces were made from old salvaged wood.

I love the soft edges and the smooth, imperfect, distressed wood on the tops of these pieces. 
I like to think about what they were in their previous life- a barn, a shed, a chicken coop?
And then when I needed a certain sized dining table, Glenn made this one for us....  
Kris stained it to go with our floors and the black chairs.


Darling daughter painted the fun modern art on the wall above....

Here are Glenn and Kris in front of their truck, filled with a load of wood they had just picked up.  There were some massive pieces of wood in there.... Wonder what they'll make with it?


Can you see the huge piece of wood on the bottom of the pile?  It was pretty impressive...



There was some very nice wood in that pile.  
I'm sure they'll make some amazing things from it.  Maybe something for you?
You can contact them at Gibertinioriginals@comcast.net.




They set aside one of our windows for a future project for me.  
I think a pie safe style cabinet with the windows used as doors would be perfect....  
just need to buy a bigger lake house to put it in...
Shhh.  Don't tell Mr. Grand!



Linking to:
Funky Junk Interiors -Saturday Night Special
It's Overflowing
The Shabby Nest - Frugal Friday 
My Romantic Home - Show and Tell  
At the Picket Fence - Inspiration Friday
The Charm of Home - Home Sweet Home 
Under the Table and Dreaming - Sunday Showcase Party 
Metamorphosis Monday at between Naps on the Porch
DIY Showoff Project Parade 
From My Front Porch to Yours - Treasure Hunt Thursdays 
Farmhouse Porch - Cowgirl Up Party
The House in Roses - Show us your Cottage 
Tuesdays Treasures at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style
Transformation Thursday at Shabby Creek Cottage
Furniture Feature Friday at Miss Mustard Seed
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Through Life
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21 comments:

  1. Thank you Erin - amazing what can be done with an old dirty piece of wood! Very gifted artisans. cw

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  2. Love, love, love, love, love, love, love - did I say LOVE?! that buffet and cabinet. OMG - I want it!!!

    Had to pin it, it's fabulous.

    xox

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  3. Love it all! Love me some old wood out of the barn!!

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  4. How wonderful! Love aged barn wood.

    Hope you are having a great weekend.

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  5. How talented these folks are and what lovely pieces!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  6. Love the pieces that were made out of old wood. I especially love the coffee table trunk, and the green color. Thanks for visiting my blog. I am one of your new followers.

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  7. So cool. Love their creations and I love recelaimed wood. Great post.

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  8. This is a great idea to recycle those windows! What a talented couple, and what beautiful things they make.

    Love your lake house -- really cute -- I know you enjoy it.

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  9. I love recycled furniture! Yours looks fabulous!

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  10. What wonderful creations!! Isn't it great that they can work together like that. That little buffet/table is tooooo cute. Do you know what the color is??? Would like to use that on something/anything.

    Im now following you and hope you'll come visit me at http://PickinandPaintin.blogspot.com and maybe you'll decide to follow back. THANKS.

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  11. I love the idea of anything salvaged. So much life and every piece has a story. Thanks for sharing, liz

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  12. Nice to meet you Erin.

    Love most anything salvage,
    Laura

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  13. I need a couple like that! I would love things built the way I want them. Your treasures are beautiful! Thanks for sharing!
    Blessings My friend,

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  14. Wow what a talented couple to have as friends! I love the chest/coffee table especially the scalloped edges. Thanks for sharing.

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  15. ooooh! lucky you to find nearby talent! can't wait to see what happens with that set-aside window!

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  16. Love, love, love the shelf unit and the shade of green and the vignette you have created. I need to find something like that for my entry way.

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  17. Just found your blog, I'm so glad! I'll be following you.

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  18. Gorgeous! Love salvaged wood! Thank you for joining me at Home Sweet Home!
    Sherry

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  19. Buffet and cabinet - so incredible lovely :)

    Greetings from Australia♥
    ~Pernilla

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  20. Lovely! Thanks for sharing I am newest follower!

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  21. Love those transformations! I hope you'll link up to Frugalicious Friday next time!

    Jane
    Finding Fabulous
    www.findingfabulousblog.com

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