THIS is The Last Addition to My Study.....(maybe)

Obviously you guys can't believe anything I tell you.

Sheesh.....

I thought I was done with my study.....

I REALLY DID!!!!!

The other day I was junk storing with my bidness partner Kris when I came across a little piece of furniture I thought would be a good candidate for redoing to sell in Amy's shop in Boston.

WHO KNEW

that finding another middle aged wack-a-doodle through the world of blogging would supply me with a venue for my creative escapades.

I sell some wonderful things at the Boston Design Center.....

But in my heart is the intrepid junker, looking for stuff to reinvent.

Problem is.....

I've run out of places to put my creations.

sooooooo.......

Amy is willing to be my pimp vendor!!!!!!

Sooooooo......

As I was saying, before I got side tracked,

like I always do,

Wasn't today ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL???!!!

The weather in the fall can be absolutely glorious!!!!!

Ummm.....

Wait.....

I was telling you guys something.

Sooooooo

the weather was really fabuloso, and I wanted to have my windows open, 

and my neighbor behind me had some stupid alarm beeping and beeping and beeping,

And he doesn't live there anymore.

So I had to call his cell phone to let him know.

MEANWHILE.....

I had to keep the windows closed.

OY OY OY!!!

Wait....

That's not what I started writing about......

OH YEAH, 

I found this little sewing stand.

This is how it looked when I was finished with it!!!!!

I am using it as a stand for my printer!!!!

HERE'S THE STORY.....

I had something to hold my printer.

I didn't really think too much about it.

It was something I've had since my early 30's, and we all know how long ago that was........

Not horrible, not great, nothing special.

SOOOOOO.....

This is what I found in the junk store.....

As usual, I forgot to snap a shot before I started working on it.

The finish was really pitiful.

But I loved the shape.

Very 1920's-Louis XVI...MY FAVORITE!!!

The square knobs were stuck to the drawers as if the finish had glued them on.

Pulling them off pulled off some of the veneer, so 

Elmer's wood putty to the rescue!!!! 

Then I mixed up some chalk paint colors to create the type of green that makes my toes curl.

I am slowly purchasing every Annie Sloan color, since I like to mix them to create my own colors.

I think I have bought all I need.

And then the next week, I realize I need 

just one more.....

luckily, Amy wants to come see what I've been up to in my house, 

so I have convinced her to deliver the next color.

Home delivery a la Maison Decor!!!!!

I mixed Antibes Green with Chateau Grey

 to create the soft green for my sewing stand.

Here's a shot of one coat.....

I added the second coat, and carried my new baby up to my study to see if I was going in the right direction......

I was liking it, 

so back down to the basement for the details to be painted.....

I used a mixture of Emperor's Silk and Scandinavian Pink for the accent stripe on the table's edge.

Then I dry-brushed some Scandinavian Pink over it again. 

 Did the same color pink on the balls.

Used old white on the turnings, then repainted with cream, which I liked better. 

I used painter's tape to paint the lines around the drawers. 

Being lazy, I just bent the ends of the tape down at the sides. 

I added Cream accents on either side of the red stripe around the top edge.

I was liking the direction it was headed.....

But it looked too newly painted.

Too sweet.

AND I'M NOT SWEET!!!!! 

So, this is when judicious distressing comes into play.

I find this very scary as I tend to go overboard.....

Then I waxed it.....

AND THEN I FINALLY USED

 THE DARK WAX CORRECTLY!!!!!!!

I have had a real problem with applying it without it looking streaky and too dark and splotchy.

So I did what any self respecting blogging old lady would do.

I GOOGLED IT!!!!!

I found out a really good technique.

first put on the clear wax.....

then set out a dab of both the dark and clear wax on a plate or in a glass, or 

somewhere.....

put a little of the clear on the brush,

then put a little of the dark on the brush,

then lightly apply it using circular motions, and it comes out 

GORGEOUS!!!!!

I replaced the square wood knobs with brass ones that I painted, 

'cuz they looked too new.....

So, now I have a wonderful little printer stand that can hold extra paper and ink!!!!!

And on top of all that, look what's under the top lid!!!!!

So,

I think.....

Now

 I'm finished showing off this room.....

Latah, Gatah

Partying at:

10th OY VEY!! Q&A Tuesday!!!!

First a pretty picture for the blogrolls.....

For those of you who don't know what I mean by that.....

When my blog is listed in someones reading list, the first picture is shown as a thumbnail, and I want it to be pretty so folks come visit my blog.....

ya know?????

So this picture has absolutely NOTHING to do with this post!!!

This is a perfect case of false advertising!!!!!

I am a font of information!!!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Welcome to the 10th answer part of my Q&A!!!!

This week I only had two questions!!!!!

(Yippee!!!!)

(oops, I mean...yippee!!!!!)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Unfortunately the first one from Melody didn't give me enough info to answer the furniture arrangement questions.

Also, Melody, I need a straight on picture of the wall the fireplace is on, so I can see the space around it.....

But your view is spectacular!!!!!

I will try to answer your other questions.....

Sooooo.....

Melody asks...

Dear Betsy,

Thanks for the chance to ask you questions!!  We are buying my husband's

Grandmother's home in Alaska.  It was built in 1961 and has not been updated

since (expect for a kitchen renovation in the 1980's that has to go).  My

first question is... How can I place furniture when TWO of the livingroom

walls are an expanse of windows?  The 3rd wall has a gorgeous rock fireplace

that is not having any attention drawn to it.  So my second question is...

what colors can be used on the walls, flooring and the ceiling to showcase

that beautiful fireplace?

I'm going to attach 2 photos of the livingroom to show you how many windows

there are.  Keep in mind, this is Juneau Alaska and it is a rain forest (a

lot of dark, dreary days) so we plan to lighten this room considerably with

paint.  I want to paint the ceiling some shade of white and leave the

support beams dark.  (Or am I making a huge mistake?)

All the dark paneling will be gone!!  Oh, and this furniture is

Grandma's..... It will be GONE, too.  This is the room before a complete

makeover!!

There are heat registers underneath all the windows but we are considering

putting in heated floors, based on the cool, rainy climate. (So don't let

the heat registers deter you) 

The view from this house is stunning.  It looks out onto the ocean and yes,

that is a cruise ship you see going past.  There are shades installed on

each window but no need for curtains or drapes as privacy is not an issue.

Would you put up window treatments in this situation?

I am going to send you at least 1 more email with more photos attached.

Sorry these are coming through so "big" ~ I don't want to create a log jam

in your mailbox.

THANK YOU ever so much!

Melody Sperl, a faithful follower of your blog & Air Force wife... currently

stationed in San Antonio, TX! (but retiring soon to this house in Alaska!)

 

Then she sent me a follow up letter.....

Betsy,

This is that beautiful rock fireplace that we would love to really showcase.

It's not a very good angle, but another problem you'll notice with this room

is that window sandwiched in at the far end of the wall.  That is the only

window in the whole house that looks down the channel in that direction ~

and it's a strategic window for light and for monitoring weather in that

direction so we don't want to take it out!  How in the world can we create

more balance on this wall?  I would LOVE to hear your opinion on this.  

This room has an expansive, open beam ceiling.  I'm attaching a photo of the

ceiling so you can get an idea the size and shape of the room.  The

livingroom is 17' x 15'.  In the forefront of the photo you'll see the 80's

kitchen... Well, that's coming out and will be placed in another area of the

house.  So, what is now kitchen will be the dining space (one big open room

combining livingroom with diningroom).

THANK YOU for taking a look at the photos.  

Melody

And here are her pictures.....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Okay Doke.....

let's get started with the ceiling.....

The finish on the beams doesn't seem to look too stellar, so I wouldn't be married to the natural wood.

The stain on them looks opaque and dull.

THIS IS WHAT I WOULD DO IF I LIVED THERE!!!!!

I would choose a color for the walls that makes me feel happy....

Then I would paint it on the ceiling and paint the beams white.

I would beef up the moldings around the windows and doors and paint them white also.

ORRRRRRR.......

I would paint the walls a color that makes me feel happy.....

Paint the ceiling white.....

and paint the beams a pretty color that is a nice contrast to the white.

I would still beef up the moldings and paint them white.

BUTTTTTT......

If you're married to the wooden beams staying stained, at least finish them off with some satin polyurethane  to give the wood some life and depth of color.

I don't know why someone went to the trouble of varnishing the boards if the ceiling but not the beams.......

10 to 1 it was some man's idea......

(gosh, I want to slap some paint on those beams.....)

I was racking my brain to think of colors that would be pretty with the stone of the fireplace.....

green????? I don't know.....

blue????? might feel too cold in all that dark rainy weather.....

I know you live with a solder, but then I got to thinking about warm colors.....

Earthy rose tones would be beautiful with the stone.

Your husband's goin' to kill me.....

AARRGGG.....

It's really impossible to suggests colors without knowing your style, or the fabrics you want to use.....

SOOOOOOO.....

I give up!!!!!

As to the question about window treatments.

With the length of the winter nights, I would definitely want some fabric on those windows for a cozier feel.

I would just have straight panels hung from a wooden rod.

Don't flank each individual window, hang them at the ends of the gangs of windows.

    Oh Kay.....

I admit

This answer sucked.......

Next.....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Betsy

I am a long time fan of your work and hope you will bestow your wisdom on my decor challenge. 

As shown I am a pattern lover!  And love color as well.  I have a red toile on my wall above my mantle.  I have white trim with the light wood mantle.

The fireplace is flat rather than jutting out and I haven't been sure how to give this a finished look.

And yes ...painting the room green but still looking for a volunteer to get on that ladder!

Thank you and be kind.  I'm fragile!!

JanetLea

So, I wrote her back and told her....

I had no idea what the @#$ she was talking about!!!!!

So, she very nicely sent me this letter.....

Oh I am excited! Gonna pee on myself!! Hey Betsy!! Its a thrill!! Ok... calming down....breathing slower. 

I love green. I love red. I want my fireplace to stand out. Or at least not disappear with all the pattern. I love pictures I have seen where the fireplace wall is painted a different color or decorated differently to show it off.These pics always show a jutted out fireplace and I am not sure how to best achieve this. 

Thanks again.

JanetLea

And then she expanded with.....

 Betsy,

Okay, now that I have been as clear as mud let me try again.

  I want fabric above the mantle. Either the red toile or maybe fabric left from drapes perhaps.  I don't know what type of trim molding I should use around fabric.  I don't know if I should extend the fabric wider over mantle and run it under the mantle to the floor.  I have seen fireplaces decorated with the wallpaper similar to this.  I have no money.  I need a cheap way to accomplish this!!

Always thankful

And she sent these pictures.....

so I say...

TURN THE TV OFF!!!!! 

Thank you.....

I can't believe there's someone out there with more pattern in a room than I have...... 

 Now, this is a BLATANT attempt to sway me;

 by using a dog as a prop.....

I'm going to show my big brother this picture.....

He makes fun of the number of toss pillows I have on MY sofa....... 

OK, I guess it's time to stop torturing you and try to answer your question.....

It's actually a fairly easy solution.

 The hard part is going to be matching the stain of the mantle. 

You could paint the mantle to match the woodwork I'm going to suggest you do, but I don't know if you are married to the natural oak.

If you are, the following needs to be the same type of wood as the mantel.

If you paint the mantel, you can use clear pine or poplar.

Take a 1x6

and three 1x4s

and make a frame to go on the wall over the fireplace.

The 1x6 should be the board for the bottom of the frame and it should rest directly on the mantel.

The 2 vertical 1x4s should line up with the outside edge of the mantel shelf.

The top 1x4 should butt up against the ceiling and you need to cut the crown molding to jut out and go over the top board.

So you will need to get some more crown molding.

The top board should look like the same dimension as the two side boards, so it should probably be wider to compensate for the overlap of the crown molding.

If you want a more finished look, apply a 1/2" quarter round, or a scotia molding to the inside of the framed panel. 

But you will have to use the same wood as the mantel if you're going for a stained wood look.....

THEN!!!!!

Install the fabric inside the wooden frame.....

What a pain in the @$$, are you sure you want fabric over your mantel????

How about just eating a nice piece of chocolate and sit down and watch some tv.

So go on.....

TURN ON THE TV!!!!! 

So, that's it for today.

I like having just a couple of questions.

I think this is all I'm going to answer in the future.

It lets me continue my very exciting exploits away from my computer!!!!

Latah, Gatah