Extreme Coathooks

In Los Angeles, any old coat rack or a few hooks by the door would do. Most of us would just toss a jacket in the back of the car in the winter months. But here in Vermont we need a little more. Many of the vernacular farm houses I visit have about a half dozen hooks per person lined up in their mud rooms. Leanne and I each will have several different coats, jackets and vests in play all winter long. Add to that assorted scarves, hats and gloves, several of each for both of us, and your average coat rack doesn’t stand a chance. The bench by our door spent the whole winter covered in coats hats and gloves with the overflow often spreading to the back of the sofa in the living room.

Extreme Coathooks

Before we moved in I’d hoped to acquire a half dozen of the many well aged rural mailboxes I’d admired on our frequent trips between North Adams and Ludlow. I’d thought I might be able to convince a few of the owners to trade a brand new mailbox for their thoroughly seasoned and character laden older ones. Unfortunately when I compared the size of our entry with the depth of a mailbox it really was not a good fit. Then I came across these never been used 1 gallon paint cans at a local hardware store.

With Bonus Functionality

At less than a foot deep they they are the perfect size. They’re deep enough to hold several hats or pairs of gloves without encroaching on our entryway. Their generous diameter is easy on scarves and sweaters and anything delicate. Even the wire handle serves as extra storage space for scarves, leashes, umbrellas etc.

…and Lots of Storage

We also have doors now on the guest room and downstairs bathroom. It’s good we live deep in the woods because up ’till now, you could sit on the john, lean forward a little, and see who’s at the front door! My parents visit finally forced the issue and I got these up just in time for their visit but not soon enough to get them polyurethaned. Then Elizabeth and Sandy LaPrelle were visiting for a house concert in my living room. I thought I had time to get them coated but the temperature dropped and it started raining for a week straight. With the help of 2 electric heaters I finally managed to coax a single coat to dry. Now, if the weather ever improves I’ll remove them again for 2 more coats and reinstall them a third and hopefully final time.

I’ll post more on our house concert after I get the video sorted out. In the mean time, feel free to schedule a visit of your own and help force the completion of even more projects! ;-)

Charlie and the new bathroom door.

Charlie, ever vigilant, stands at the ready just in case I should put down this camera and try to sneak out the door without him. ;-)

Flowers for Elizabeth & Sandy

One of my custom designed bathroom counters formed from 1/8 hot rolled steel. The wild daffodils and forsythia make it look so civilized you might think my parents lived here. ;-p

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