Keep on Keepin' On

Progress has been slow, but steady, on the manor.  Most of the trim is painted, except for the top trim around the mansard roof.  I have dedicated Friday as a "house day", so I'm hoping to get the trim painted and the shingles stained so Brian can shingle the roof on the weekend.  Fingers crossed!  The clapboard siding has arrived, so that will be painted as well and then installed.

I was all set to wallpaper the dining room, but decided that the wallpaper wasn't vibrant enough, so I ordered something different.  I'm much happier with the new paper.  It's a gorgeous red with gold peacocks.

New paper on top of old . . .

Having made the mistake of painting the interior of the window trim white in the parlor and breakfast room, I had to repaint with chocolate brown to match the dark walnut stain I'm using.  It turned out well, but what a mess taking the windows out!  Luckily I didn't break anything except for a small splice on one side of a window, which you can't see because I cleverly placed it towards the front of the house . . . on an angle in the breakfast room.  If I catch you peeking, I'll quickly divert your attention . . .

The breakfast room and parlor have been papered and both turned out pretty nice.  I'm not extremely happy with some of the papering in the breakfast room, but it was so difficult with all the angles and those windows!, I decided to let my perfectionist tendencies take a holiday.  All that's left is flooring and trim.

 The parlor . . .

I ordered a hobby size miter box and saw to that I can start on the crown molding and baseboard.  I purchased 1/2 inch crown molding (bigger is better!) so my Easy Cutter won't cut through.  I'm also going to be making 1/2 inch block squares for the corners so that I won't have to cut 45 degree angles (which is a pain!) and also for extra detail.

Since I didn't want to fuss with wiring the attic, I ordered a battery operated light.  It's amber and casts a warm glow.  For now I have the 144th scale Beacon Hill I built perched in here, but will be adding more later on.  I'm thinking of painting the little house all white . . . what do you think?

I've registered for a couple of classes next spring at the Tom Bishop Show.  One is making curtains and the other floral arrangements.  I don't particularly like futzy stuff, but I do like having lush drapes and floral arrangements in the house, and making them myself is the most cost effective way to do that.  In the meantime, it's full (or rather slow) steam ahead!

Formal Floral Arrangement with Paula Gilhooley

Window Treatment with Marcia McClain