We’ve lived in this old house for 33 years, 10 years full-time. One section is 100 years old. Although there had been updates before our takeover in 1993, we have made it unrecognizable to previous owners and builders.
Absent a powder room, the first-floor bathroom serves as the guest bathroom. When our daughters are here, we call it the “girls’ room.” I’ve painted it a few times and added decorations, but I was never proud of it. Until now.
Inspired by a friend from high school, George Vondriska, who published a book called Woodworker’s Guide to Live Edge Slabs (Fox Chapel Publishing 2021), reading it finally showed me the way.
George is a rock star in the woodworking world. He is the managing editor of WoodWorkers Guild of America and has also been the tools and new products editor for American Woodworker Magazine. According to his bio, since 1986 he has taught woodworking courses for shows, schools, retail stores, the Peace Corps, the Pentagon, Northwest Airlines, and Anderson Windows. He also makes guitars for veterans. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2la4zUuNZAQ&feature=youtu.be
My young neighbor, a woodworking apprentice under his father-in-law, knows George from his YouTube videos and he was totally impressed that I owned George’s book. “How do you have this?” he asked. “You know this guy?”
Vondriska Works is located in Hammond, Wisconsin near the St. Croix River. It is 30 miles east of the Twin Cities and about 135 miles southwest of Sandy Point. I contacted George just after the new year, telling him I was interested in doing a live-edge counter, and briefly discussed the project with him. Two weeks later, to my surprise and delight, he sent a photo of what turned out to be the perfect walnut slab for our new counter.
As luck would have it—and this was right about when the planets were in alignment—when he contacted me we were in Minneapolis to watch the Warriors beat the Wolves (NBA). Vondriska Works was conveniently on our way home.
George was friendly and kind. His studio is super impressive. In a brief visit, he told us stories and provided a full lesson on my next steps. He mentored me throughout the project and praised my success. Thank you, George.
From my heart, I recommend checking out his book(s) and videos for all your woodworking needs and interests. Find him at vondriskawoodworks.com or @vondriskaworks on the socials.
The second person I need to thank, who was equally important to this project’s success, is my friend and neighbor, Loren Wilcox. Loren took over the epoxy adventure to fill a fallopian tube-shaped knot, cut the slab for a perfect fit, and provided walnut “scrap” pieces from his stash for the backsplash. In his modesty, Loren might never refer to himself as a master woodworker; however, he is. He’s both an artist and a teacher and is the above-mentioned father-in-law to one cool dude. Loren added to the fun of it all.
Everyone should have a neighbor like Loren Wilcox.
So, how did I manage this project for a mere $820? Number one, I did not account for time. It’s our off-season—vacation time if you will—and a time for indoor activities. Creative and DIY work pays me invaluable mental health maintenance. It’s one reason my shop is full of new and beautiful creations each spring.
Also … We did not replace the bath/shower unit or the toilet, and the floor tile we put down some 30 years ago is still going strong. The veneer cabinet exteriors flanking the sink desperately required a cover-up (green paint color: “Birch Forest”); but it would have been a crime to paint the oak cabinet doors. So I only needed to use a minimal amount of paint. We had the brushes. I kept my vintage Hadleyware (M.A. Hadley Pottery) door pulls to honor my mother, aunties, sisters, and cousins, and replaced the brass cabinet handles with faux antlers. They are as much of a nod to our beautiful Northwoods surroundings as the choice of Birch Forest green from a copious number of swatch cards. I must thank Loren’s daughter, Molly, for her design consultation. She encouraged me to keep the Hadley knobs and go for the green.
Finally, big thanks to Mike—the man who can fix anything. He is my perfect business and life partner. Mike continues to do the heavy lifting around here and can definitely handle the plumbing.
Walnut Slab: $300
Riverstone Sink: $282
Faucet: $85
Plumbing parts: $46
Cabinet/Wall Paint: $20
Gleam Marine Varnish: $49
Epoxy: $0 (Donated)
Walnut Backsplash: $0 (Donated)
Tack cloth/tape/steel wool: $15
Antler Door Handles: $23