New Pieces for Alameda Antique Faire,Sunday Feb. 7, 2010

Quite a few photos here. All pieces shown are available except for safety sign cabinet. Top series is a glass double door piece. Original Victorian brass hardware, the window catch used as the cabinet lock is especially cool. I don't run across these often, very rare. The blue fluted pilasters are from a Hayes St. Victorian remodel. (SF) Repurposed wood thoughout. The next piece shown has an old cast iron medallion built into the door. I found this at Alameda several years ago. Way in the back, at one of those booths that was nothing but rows of dusty cardboard boxes, RUSTY JUNK! YEAH! All I could see was asses and elbows, so I knew there must be some really great stuff, just dig in! I have done some internet research, this piece was from an old butterchurn, probably a counterweight. There are some serious collectors out there, the website I found had dozens of butterchurns listed. This medallion is from the "Boss and Acme Bail Churn" made by H.H. Palmer of Rockford, Ill., and there are many patent dates displayed. The article was fascinating history, all about these companies ripping each other off for their patents, some things don't change! I just thought it looked cool so I made it into a cabinet. Next piece shown is a double door cabinet found at Alameda. I built new doors and completely went through it, new shelves, back, top, etc. Great piece. Next is the "Safety sign", very cool. Found the sign at Allemany, (small SF flea), I just loved the graphics, especially the part where somebody could write in chalk the number of days.This piece has already been sold. Next is "Blue Table." Found at Urban Ore, a great store in Berkeley, Ca. You never know what you might run across there. This is a remnant of an old bin table, the bins are long gone andI had to rebuild the drawers,etc. I loved it because of the colors, there is green under the chipped blue paint, just look at the wear on the drawers. I created a very "Beachy" colored top, greens and blues! More Text below. Remember to click on any photo to enlarge.

Custom Planters, 100% repurposed old growth redwood.

Small box

Coatracks

This small nightstand type table is steel. Found at Alameda, I cleaned some of the rust off, then sealed with a clear finish. The chippy white paint is original. The inside of the drawer is cleaned and repainted. The top was too far gone, I made this wood top, and added the glass knob.

CURFEW!! Cool Sign, handlettered on fiberglass laminated ply. From 50's ? ...or maybe 60's ?. Made this into a cool little side table, with balusters and old beadboard.





Small stool, needed a new top, lots of color!

The base of this is an old enameled hot plate. I found it at a junk sale, I loved the color and appearance. Very small cabinet built on top, maybe a bathroom piece?














This is an old bed end, bought at Alameda. I had these old mirrors, they seemed to fit nicely, and I built a coatrack out them. I loved the color of the bed piece, especially the basket of flowers. (looks hand painted) Antique cast-iron hooks on old beadboard complete the piece.





The next few photos are of a new product. Small boxes for keepsakes, jewelry, whatever! I collect so much old hardware and other little tchotchkes(SP?), not everything works into the furniture. I have a lot of fun doing these, and I get to use up alot of smaller cut-offs from the cabinet making process. I think they will make excellent gifts, starting with Valentines Day!! There are a few more of these shown on the previous post, just scroll down til you get to it. Thanks for looking at my stuff and I hope to see lots of old and new fans at Alameda on the 7th. I will post my booth number beforehand. Enjoy!, Bryan:)

New Product, New Cabinets, NEW YEAR!!!

Happy New Year to All!! 2009 was a rough year for many of us, I would like to extend my gratitude to all who supported Bryan Appleton Designs throughout the year. I have big plans for 2010. More shall be revealed!! The first cabinet shown is avail. at this time. The glass insert is a beveled glass panel purchased at Allemany Flea, it is in extremely good condition for it age, solid in the lead borders. The butterfly hinges were obviously hand forged, very old. Amythyst crystal knob, cast iron window catch and old beadboard throughout complete this piece. The next two cabinets are shown as displayed in Abode, a store in Half Moon Bay. Very nicely staged. The series of photos below of the boxes are prototypes of a new product. I made these and distributed many to friends and family as holiday gifts, the feedback was quite positive. I was able to incorporate many interesting bits of salvage that I have collected over the years, lots of fun to make. I also like that I now have a use for many of the smaller cut-off pieces from the cabinet making process. Enjoy!

New Cabinets, Mirrors, Custom Pieces

The first set of photos here are shots of a victorian cast iron fireplace surround I incorporated into the faceframe of a cabinet. The back of the surround is marked Geo H Tay & Co, SF. Through a google search I have discovered that George Tay left Newark NJ in 1849 for the Ca gold fields and opened George Tay & Co. stove parts & tin goods on Battery St. in SF soon after. He became a prominent SF business owner, mentioned in an 1856 roster of the SF vigilance society, also in the first publication of a telephone book in SF in 1876 and numerous other historical documents. The detail in the casting is amazing, I have included several detail shots. A very cool piece of San Francisco history. Th next photo is of a cabinet made with an old shutter as a door. I remodeled an Oakland, Ca. Craftsman Bungalow several years ago and saved the shutters that flanked the original exterior windows, now they are being repurposed as furniture! Next up, this small cabinet has legs from an antique cast iron stove. The door was made from an architectural fragment off a Santa Cruz, Ca. Victorian, I framed some old ceiling tin 4 leaf clover designs in the holes. The first mirror pictured is framed by the top half of an antique entry door, from a SF victorian. Second mirror was a custom piece, as was the small shelf piece incorporating some old fence pickets. The jelly cabinet has a green and yelloow door purchased at Alameda Antique fair, the door came from a old Lodi, Ca. farmhouse. The tall chimney cabinet has a door made from an old 4 panel Victorian door, cut in half down the middle.

New Pieces, Beautiful Doors

Here are photos of a couple recent pieces not posted before. The first set of photos are of a small cabinet. The door is a leaded glass salvage piece, the brass window lock is very cool, and the fancy brass knob is from the locking mechanism I removed from a set of entry doors from an old SF Victorian, they were 10' tall!. The front feet are cast iron, from a stove I believe. Repurposed wood throughout. The second set of photos are of a small nightstand/table. I purchased an old(square nail const.) schoolhouse type desk at the Santa Cruz flea. The legs had been chopped off in the past. I had worked it into another piece but it just didn't work so I started over. Here I added some angled pieces of wood to the sides to make the top sit flat when closed. The detail shot of the cast iron inkwell holder shows a Star of David embellishment. Perhaps this desk is from Hebrew School? The cover was so crusted with old paint I had no idea this was here until I cleaned it off. Very Cool! The body was constructed with some very nice balusters and some old porch brackets I got from a friend in Conneticut. The front feet are actually some old brass doorknobs, really a fun piece. Finally, I have posted some photos of recently acquired salvage, some entry doors. These doors date to 1860, they came from a SF Victorian. I will post photos of what I make out of them soon.