I hope everyone had a wonderful fourth of July! Mine looked promising…a block party, awesome food and good people. Before the burgers hit the grill, my dad was riding a bike around the circle, letting the neighborhood kids spray him with squirt guns. At one point during the fun, he had to slam on his brakes and went over the handlebars and face-first into the pavement. My mom stayed with my boys and I took my dad to the ER. He had a busted chin, a large gash in his hand and two severely broken fingers. Despite not being able to see my boys witness fireworks for the first time and not eating a hot dog until midnight, it was a nice time spent with a my dad and a way I could repay him for all of the times he sat by me when I was injured. He’s a tough guy and has a great attitude (and is pretty stubborn), so he’s already on the road to recovery.
So, I’ve had this bare wall just outside my kitchen that’s been a revolving door of furniture, pictures and signs. It’s an awkward space, because it’s between cabinets and a window, so I’ve never known what to do with it.
I’ve had a tobacco basket in my stash that I decided to hold onto instead of sell, which is rare for me, but I just had a feeling I was going to use it somewhere in my house. This ended up being the perfect place for it.
I found it last Thanksgiving at an antique store in North Carolina for $25. I’ve always loved the texture and design of them, so I couldn’t resist.
All I did was vacuum off the dust and cobwebs.
It even has some cool typography on the side.
Another thing I selfishly kept for myself was this over sized tool caddy I purchased from an antique shop in Pennsylvania for $40.
I filled it with platters, vintage cookbooks (that belonged to my grandmother) and a few other decorative kitchen items.
It was filthy, so I literally hosed it off. It looked almost black when I bought it, but the cleaning revealed a beautifully warm wood and a little bit of original red paint.
Some things just need to be kept.
65 Responses
Auggh…your poor dad! Hope he recovers quickly and completely.
I love the items you 'selfishly' kept. I feel the same way about some of my treasures, but really, who better than the one who recognized their worth in the first place??
What great choices you made in deciding what to keep!
Hope Evil Knievel is soon recovered! Tell him to stay off ramps. 🙂
Your Friend,
Deborah
Aw, I feel bad for your dad, that's the worst to have to go to the ER on a holiday! Im glad he's doing better. The tobacco basket is huge and amazing! I think it was meant to be in that space! Love your new kitchen as well 🙂
Julie
Hoping your dad recovers quickly. I always admire your creative talents, and your willingness to share your ideas with us. I am extremely happy that you are taking time from your very very busy business ventures to make your home comfy for you and your family. We get to enjoy both as readers!
I hope your Dad is okay. That sounds pretty scary. Poor guy.
Love your basket. I love all your ideas. Thanks for sharing so many wonderful things.
Looks like you have a perfect place for your basket. Love how it looks with your newly painted kitchen cabinets. Hope your Dad has a speedy recovery.
You found the perfect space for your basket and the perfect item for your space all at once! I have a similar space and enjoy changing it out! Praying for quick healing for your dad. Boys will be boys!
Your kitchen counters look great ~ I love the tool caddy! It's the perfect home for your platters and cookbooks and the perfect inspiration for a old piece of history that I've been trying to figure out what to do with!
I pray your dad has a speedy recovery!
Your daddy sounds like a very good sport! I love the textures and natural finishes on the tobacco basket and the caddy…old patina {real or created} just adds so much character to a room.
So sorry to hear about your Dad. Your so optimistic,even though you were in the ER you still found a way of enjoying your time with him.
I love the bee keeper you have on the bench.
Mary
RENONFL@YAHOO.COM
lovely pictures, your dad sounds like a whole lotta fun to be around!
Oh no! I cannot believe your Dad got hurt so bad! I hope he recovers quickly. I'll add him to my prayer list.
Love that caddy and love your tobacco basket. You find the neatest things and always seem to get such great prices!
Hope your dad recovers quickly. If he is that stubborn I am sure he will 🙂
I would not be able to part with the tool caddy either! I am always looking for good background for my food photos and what caught my eye was the bench under the tobacco basket! Very nice! I have found an antique junk yard in Charlotte, NC and I am thinking about paying a visit soon to find old table tops!
Love your tobacco basket.
I have always loved the shape and the geometric patterns of those great old things.
Your kitchen photos are glorious!
Love it all.
xx
Alison
Yes! some things just need to be kept. They both look great in your kitchen.
love your finds. the basket is perfect where you've placed it! really feels like an art piece and so organic. so sorry bout your dad's injuries but am sure further down the road he will laugh at this chapter and holiday.
love.
michele
Now I want a tobacco basket. I absolutely love its texture and form.Simple and elegant.
Hope this finds your Dad on the mend!…Great tobacco basket & love the tool caddy!
…I use mine for cutlery!
I like your tobacco basket – nice form and texture :o)
Agnes
Oh, your poor Daddy! I pray he heals fast. That was so sweet of you to stay with him. I miss my Daddy, he's in heaven now! You'll be blessed for being such a caring daughter.
Now, I love your tobacco basket on the wall of your newly painted kitchen! And I'm just drooling over your tool box. I want one too. Just a little one will do! 🙂
Be a sweetie,
Shelia 😉
Must be in the water. My husband had a bicycle wreck last week. He was riding with our son and hit a loose patch of gravel. He has a broken collarbone but no surgery so we praise GOD for that! Your dad is on my prayer list!!
Wishing your dad a speedy recovery! I love antique tool caddies.
Saying a little prayer for your daddy! 🙂
I snagged a tobacco basket a couple weeks back for $20! YAY! It also has some sweet typograpy. 🙂 Maybe you can come for tea and help me decide where to put it. I'm sure our boys would have a blast! heehee xoxo
Ow!! Well wishes to your dad! You will definitely remember this 4th.
Both the tobacco basket and tote are beautiful classic pieces that will always have a warmth in whatever way you use them. I love that you put your grandmother's dishes in the tote. Was this the first time your parents saw your newly painted cabinets in person? What did they think?
So true– good choices to keep. 🙂 Hope your dad is mending well!
Heidi @ Show Some Decor
So glad that your Dad is okay !! And, love your tobacco basket … perfect for your wall. And, your repurposed tool caddy is awesome !! Thanks for the inspiration !!
Love them both. Hope your dad isn't in too much pain…ouch!
i love it all! hope your dad isn't too sore today!
youre poor dad! What a way to spend the holiday… hope hes feeling better this morning.
love the wall- the basket with the bench underneath is fabulous! I have a HUGE empty wall in my dinning room. HUGE. still tossing around what to do with it…
Wow your writing is so very much close to my heart. Impressing blog and lovely pictures, congrats.
Hope your father is feeling much better today. Basket is a good fit for your space.
~Michaela
Well, that's a holiday you and your dad won't soon forget!
Love to see you grow and blossom in your business and nice to know that you still have that instinct that tells you something is a keeper!
That tool caddy is just like the one I have here that I found in my dads barn. I think he or perhaps a relation a generation before him made it. Very special.
Poor Papa! Sending healing blessings his way. It is the start of summer and I hope everyone stays happy and healthy for you! Patty/BC
Oh so sorry for your dad! That is a horrible story, poor man, doing such a fun thing, and getting so hurt in the process. Wishing him a very speedy recovery.
Love the Tobacco basket and the little caddy. I have seen those large baskets before and I never knew what they were! Thanks for clearing that up!
First of all, you must have been mortified when your dad had the tumble! He'll probably enjoy telling the stories with all of his scrapes on view!
I love the basket on the wall. Perfect spot for it! I can't tell you how many times I've sold or given away things that I've regretted afterwards. But then, I probably have a few of someone else's treasures they wish they still had. Besides, one can only keep so much, or need so much stuff!
So sorry to hear about your dad! Wishing him a very speedy recovery!
oh I am so sorry to hear about your dad! Sounds like we both had chin divers this weekend! My 4yo dove chin first into the hardwood floor-busted his chin open-they actually used liquid stitches to seal it back up. So glad your dad is ok-falling off a bike is scary in general-but being an adult is much worse im sure.
And LOVE LOVE the basket-its like that wall was made for it!
AND so sorry to hear about the haters writing you comments. May the Lord convict their hearts. or at least strike them down—kidding 😉
You are a very precious, creative woman and there is nothing you do or say that deserves ANYTHING negative said about you. *hugs*
Best Wishes to your father for a speedy recovery!! I'd call that a sports injury!!!
Love the tobacco basket, I'm regretting not getting one at an antique mall last month…they were $35 which is a pretty good deal. Hope your Dad feels better.
Well wishes to your dad…such a bummer.
Love the basket.
Megan
Sounds like it was a blast, until the bike wreck. I had to smile though, a grandpa that rides his bike and let's the kids shoot him with waterguns? Now that's a grandpa! Hope he feels better soon!
gertie @oldblockhouse
ugh! I cringed when I read about your dad. I hope he heals quickly and is pampered while doing so! Remember, you are not 'selfishly' keeping things. Afterall, why are you in this business? To make money, yes, I'm sure that's necessary, but also because you love what you do. You'll be happier and more contented if you save a little for yourself in your own home, and I'm sure it will give you inspiration and keep those creative juices flowing!
Marian I just cant stop looking at your cupboards!!
Love, love, love them!
And that spot looks great with the basket and that bench!
Love the weathered box…its perfect along with the cookbooks and treasures.
Loverly!! 🙂
Deborah xoxo
Yikes! Your poor dad! Glad he is on the mend. 🙂
Love the basket on the wall! It adds just enough warmth to your space. Well done!!!
I know how your dad feels, when I was young I did the same thing. I was trying to learn to use "handle-bar brakes" and couldn't get them to work and went over the front of my bike. Hope he will be o.k. LOVE the tobacco basket, have had my eye on one….you got it at a very reasonable price!
aww…poor guy 🙁 bless his heart. I've done that, go over the handle bars and it hurts. I also hit a tree once and ran into a car. My dad took my bike away after that. Believe it or not; I'm a good driver.
Love the basket and tool caddy and you're so right, some things need to stay with us…that basket rocks!
Sorry about your dad! That sounded like a bad fall – glad to hear he's on the mend. I have on of those tool boxes on my porch table – it's so handy! I used it for napkins, silverware etc at a recent party. Love your kitchen!!
O.K. I am coveting your tobacco basket! I too had one years ago and it hung over my mantle in our 100+ yr. old home. I DID sell mine:( So sad…..it is one of the few decor regrets I have! Maybe I need to find another one!
Wow, what a bad accident, what a trooper! It brings me back to the days of yore flipping over a few handlebars myself. Gives me the shivers just thinking about it. That basket is really cool! It's kinda neat when you get to keep something out of your inventory you really like. 🙂
Oh, bummer about your Dad! Aw. I hope he recovers quickly. 🙁 Love the tobacco basket, especially the fact that it's slats are broken in some places. Such character. I adore the little beehive (cloche?) sitting on the bench as well. It's nice to see you get some time to work on your own house. You deserve it!
Oh, that must have been so scary, poor you, and your poor dad! Glad he's on the road to recovery, and that you eventually got a hot dog!
LOOOOOVE the tool caddy!! I just love old wood pieces!
OUCH! Your poor dad. It makes me cringe just to think about it. As for the basket and tool caddy, they are great. I don't think it was selfish of you to keep them, after all you have the perfect spot to display them!
Hope your dad recovers quickly! Love your blog. Since starting to read it just a few months ago, I bought my first cans of chalk paint & I am creating my own French trumeau mirror.& just painted a flea market cane chair. Thanks for sharing & educating others on your process!
Janea
Glad your dad is ok & hope he heals fast. Love your tip about vaccuming the basket that never occurred to me lol. Your kept treasures are wonderful love the blue platter in the box. Keep enjoying the sun & if FL is a fireworks friendly state (can't remember) maybe you can light some for your kids & pretend it's their first time again.
Big hugs for your dad. Your tobacco basket looks perfect there and really makes it stand out so you can admire its beauty. Love the tool caddy too 🙂
Love the tobacco basket! I also have a tool caddy like that from (someplace?)… thanks for the inspiration, I think I'll put it out with something in it, it's also too awesome to hide!
Susan
Hope your dad has a quick and complete recovery! Love that basket by the way, perfect location!
Norma
Love that tool caddy!! It's gorgeous! I've been looking for one for ages, but haven't found one I had to have yet. And the tobacco basket is beautiful against your wall color – it shows the patina off. I was driving back roads through Eastern NC several weeks back and saw one hanging on the side of an abandoned old tobacco barn.
Love the caddy! I hope your dad gets better soon!
Help!! I have been looking all over for a bench like the one in this pic under the basket. I would prefer a creme or white chippiness, but at this point, I would consider whatever. I have researched this using words like barn wood bench, etc. Do you have a source for these benches??? I need one for my master bathroom. thanks
That tool caddy is great in and of itself, but the stuff you've added are just so perfect.
Sending good and healing thoughts to your dad. Oh, I just cringed when I read that.
What is the name of the color of your kitchen walls?
LOVE that tobacco basket and am TOTALLY inspired to hang mine up now! 😀