ZHUHAI TOUR MARCH 21, 2013

Yesterday we had beautiful weather - with clear skies and a slight wind that kept the temperatures perfect. I was lucky enough to have a full van with and many came along as a single. 

At customs I told everyone to take out their fruit before going through the x-ray conveyor because last year they confiscated the item and wrote them up on the computer.   No Fruits or Vegetables are allowed to be brought in. So one of the girls started eating her banana and apple while in line - only to walk through the control scan while still munching on the them.   To our surprised, no one stopped her - I guess they figured she wasn't actually bringing them in at that point. 

THE SHOPPERS

So far we have seen 4 buildings and finishing on our 5th at this factory - so we stopped to take a group photo.  

Julie, Alex, Hallie, Angie,Gina, Joan and Staci

ITEMS WE SAW - and some we purchased

Sorry the photos are from my phone because I forgot my disk for my camera.  

Everyone needs one of these...

Thai Statue

Under consideration!
She purchased the middle one after she got home. 

I'm sourcing a bench for a bedside for a client who could not make the trip. 

Another under consideration. 

Sometimes it's difficult to make a decision so quickly - so the nice thing is I'm wired up with the factories banks and we can transfer money later if they decide it's a must have. 
Purchased!

I'm thinking about some very tall doors - to enclose a closet in the dining room. Linen fabric can go behind the open weave - or a better yet a mirror. 

We are being watched....

 

I'm purchasing the pair of benches above and will add some padding and fabric myself.  

The wheels are turning.  Can they actually make this item below out of this pair?
Actually I think we may go with a reproduction at another factory who has the know how of Silver Leaf technique.  

I'm on the hunt for some medicine chests for a client while in the factories. 

Beautiful blend of color

Great Lamp and it comes in a pair.  

Here's a fine example of an antique Medicine Cabinet.   The factory says she sold 10 to one container last week. They are now getting difficult to find. 

This Medicine Chest is just starting it's new life.  It's ready for the stain and hardware.

This is such a unique piece with a few drawers and loads of carving.  Seems it may have been part of an alter.  We are asking to strip the top only and create the brown stain technique that is on this table. This will 'warm' the piece up a bit. 

This alter table sideboard is also under consideration but again - it's very long and it has to fit the elevator door height.  Let's keep our fingers crossed. 

PURCHASED

Adding a slab of marble on the top

to be placed in-between 2 horseshoe chairs with a dark brown stain. 

honed - not shiny

I was thinking just a wood top - but when I put it all together - there is so much wood and the marble breaks it up. I also like idea of  a clean contemporary Horseshoe chair mixed with the rustic table.  

the look......

Purchased

Purchased for a husbands office. 

This unbelievable aged sideboard is under consideration if it will fit her stairway! 

Another table under consideration and maybe some chairs to go with.   We also love the brown patina of the stain and use it an an example for other items. 

a pair of small screens where purchased

several pairs of silver garden stools were purchased.

MAKING OF A KITCHEN TABLE

The leading retailer in the USA is making this rustic raw wood table in about 8 different designs. The difference is they are using reclaimed Oak where we use reclaimed Elmwood, which is easier to get because it's regional and much less expensive. 

They retail for about $15,000 and up depending on the size.  

Restoration Hardware

shows all the knots and spits.  It's usually the natural wood with a light wax finish. 

OUR FINISHED TABLE

55" x 55" x 31"

and 4 matching stools

This factory specializes in this finish and ships container loads to Europe for several years. I've had success with them with similar tables that were round or a trestle table 10 feet long. 

These tables are meant to be irregular. The reclaimed wood is selected and sanded by hand, the wood is left unfinished, so that the knots, nail holes, cracks and other vestiges of its former life remain gloriously visible.

As described by RH:

By their nature, unsealed salvaged wood planks may be somewhat uneven, and may cup or bow slightly over time, further enhancing their rustic one-of-a-kind character; cracks may be present

This item is artisan crafted with meticulous care. Given its handmade and hand-finished nature, variations in the wood or metal work are to be expected and celebrated. Each item is unique and no two are exactly alike.

Original request

But 

1.no drawer

2. no marble top 

3. no shelf underneath

The wood cannot be identified - the stain cannot be identified. It's just a very old badly soiled table from this photo. 

My interpretation is to use old wood and create a 'old and very used' table - using refurbished old wood.  

For everyone who is reading this:

If you don't have an exact item to copy - the factory cannot 'interpret' and neither can I.  To get apples to apples - you need the original apple. 

 I try my best to communicate your concept to the factory but you must keep an open mind and not set the bar too high or else you will only be disappointed.  This is a discounted business working on small margins to keep prices low for you - there are limitation. 

Color of wood I'm asking for when finished

*Note no knots - but then 'no knots' make for a very new contemporary table. This is a contradiction of the warn out warm 'look' you're after. 

concept with larger planks / less planks

This is hard to do because it's square and not a rectangle. 

Planked top to stop movement

 Planked down and across - the color is light - I'll try to achieve the above. But note there are knots.  There will be knots. 

I'm asking them to bleach the wood before they stain to lessen the intensity of the knots. 

 The look asked for

Concept

RESTORATION HARDWARE TABLES

To have a solid center piece - and planked edges - means the center piece has to be a veneer over plywood otherwise you risk the piece shifting and seams showing. Especially for this size of table. Then you don't have the old used look. 

Originally we used Cypress for a lighter colored wood with less knots - but I've found out it's also a very soft wood and didn't take the stain. 
I don't like using other woods other than Ash (harder wood) and Elmwood.  It's what the factories know - and it keeps the price down. 

Please remember these are made in 3rd world factories the old Chinese way.  They haven't seen the retail market. 

The factory!

MATCHING STOOLS

TV CABINET
Note:  it's not the same as the kitchen table finish.
This is heavily sanded to a contemporary finish. 
Also please notice the photo you sent is heavily 'knotted' 

BEL AIR REVAMP

Here everything is brown - brown leather sofas, brown coffee table, side tables,  dining set... etc.   You get the idea.  The husband took a trip to Shenzhen before the family arrived.  Now we need to soften the look. 

BEFORE

 

SUGGESTIONS 

Add the color blue and get rid of the clutter. Small spaces can have large pieces but keep the trinkets hidden and away from view and away from the baby. 

Above was my original idea from a photo - to add a tan shaggy rug and some blue and white. 

Collection

After visiting the flat I have some other ideas. 

GRAND Looped and cut pile Nylon in a light teal

12 ft width

100% StainMaster Tactesse Nylon

12 x 10 = $6440 plus delivery

dining rug was 9.5 ft x 7= $6340

I wouldn't do an oriental - it's dated in the look and again more pattern.  Keep it simple and clean.

These paper lamps are from Ikea

SÖRE

Floor lamp

$249.9 

Height: 100 cm
Shade diameter: 30 cm
Cord length: 275 cm

I would sell off the glass coffee table and make something rustic and warm.  A different color wood. 

DINING ROOM AREA

I would go for large bold artwork - only 2 for each area to anchor.  Keep the artwork in the colors.   Nature will make you feel refreshed. 

Simple linen over-sized pillows on the sofa.

Ikea has the 26 x 26" down fillers for very inexpensive - make the covers 24 x 24". If the linen is light weight - line them. 

I did do a soft gray shag with a brown leather sofa. 

I'm still looking for the right blue and white collection above the china cabinet. 

If you don't like the side table - or need to add some color - cover it! or better yet paint it!

But they should be a storage item - not a simple open shelf. 

If you changed the coffee table to a rustic raw wood - you could use a gray body and a raw top on a cabinet like this.

SHOE CABINETS
to flank the existing cabinet

I'd like to keep the dark brown stain around the cabinet and not introduce a new color.  Then paint up the front. 

Cranes on a antique gold leaf for some shine in the background.