flea market finds

we started hitting the flee market scene this summer. we have a few things in mind when we are looking but we just enjoying taking the dog and looking for the next hidden gem.


the first find was an adirondack rocker bench, hand made from st. louis, mo. we thought it would be perfect for the sunroom. not sure if it is going to work or not yet but it will make either make the perfect bench or the best gift for our friends with the lake house. needs very little work. just need to clean it and then seal it with a clear coat. we are planning on putting a linen seat cushion on it as well.

not a month later, michele stumbled upon a great antique while walking the dog. no work needed and perfect for the guest room table. the brass mirror on the wall was found in our basement storage unit when we moved in. we now joke that the guest room is the free room as the 3 main peices were either found, given to us (my great grandparents brass bed), or purchased from the neighbor down the street for almost nothing.

sunroom (our happy hour room)

we have the most perfect sunroom. it is 8.5 x 7 feet with waist to ceiling windows that all open in. we are close to the lake so their is a great breeze that comes in. however, it is outdated, the wood is rotting, there is water damage, nothing is sealed (unusable this past winter), windows cracked, screens missing, etc. so basically we have an unusable space that really could be so many things. so where better to start. by the time we are all done it will be almost like we added on another room to the house.

we have grand ideas. our inspiration comes from one of my photographs that i took while at the Adirondacks. this place is where happy hour occurred every night to toast to the most amazing sunsets. my photograph captured the mood we want our new sunroom to embrace. a lake house within the urban condo. a resting place to a hard day at work, an indoor porch for dinner for two, star gazing, and a place to read the sunday paper in your slippers and robe and hot coco as the snow falls.

restoration plans:

• strip all brick to expose the red worn brick
• strip all wood and window frames
• replace rotted window ledge with leveled ledge
• replace all window hinges/latches
• replace all window screens
• scrape and repaint outside windows and seal
• re-glaze window panes and seal windows
• replace broken glass
• stain window and frame
• insulate and seal all possible areas
• replace false ceiling with insulation and stained wainscoting
• replace particle board wall with insulation and new dry wall
• replace all floor trim
• install carpet
• repaint and buy lounge/outdoor furniture, candle lanterns
• hang vacation photographs

of course we know that there is no way we can handle this first project on our own as the most i have yet to do is patch a hole on our plaster walls. so we talked to the best handy woman in the chicago area, our good friend Sally Beaumont. she has been extremely patient with us and understands that restoration is full of surprises, derailments, and ideas continually evolve as you get farther and farther in.

we will keep you posted on any got ya's, lessons learned, and the before and after photos.

post move in

here are some condo photos with our stuff instead of the previous owners...more to come.


Left --> Right: kitchen, guest bedroom

Left --> Right: pantry, utility room

Left --> Right: guest half bath, master bedroom