We are at Week 5 and getting down to the wire. It is going to be a busy weekend, let me tell ya.
We got this darn heating vent installed, thanks to my husband! You have no idea what a relief it is to have a new one. Our old one was so beat up.
FLOOR VENT
He salvaged this from another old house
It was too long so he cut a larger hole in the floor.
Then he had to create a sheld for it to sit on.
At last! It fits.
ANTIQUE CAFE CHALKBOARD
I saw this a month ago at the Portland Flea Market and have been thinking about whether or not it would work. I called up the owner at LOOKS & BOOKS in Milwaukee, OR and he still had it! He said he bought it at an auction in Pennsylvania. He came down on the price so I went for it. I’m really kind of excited about it.
I am going with a standard charcoal gray chalkboard paint form Benjamin Moore and using a large salvaged chalkboard that our neighbor a few doors up was coincidentally getting rid of. How these things happen is a curious wonder. We just have to trim it down a bit and paint it.
ART
I am also getting a few works of art framed from I’VE BEEN FRAMED in Portland. They are close to my house and I use them a lot for re- framing vintage art. You’d be amazed what a nice frame, or a fresh matte and glass can do. Not sure they’ll be done in time for the final reveal, but sure hope so. They service artists a lot in the neighborhood and are a very reasonably priced, old shop with lots of artists working there. Always glad to support small businesses.
As you can see I have this old artist’s proof – an abstract, silk screened print of horses running, in browns and blacks. It was in a really heavy silver frame which I re-used for the upstairs GUEST ROOM. I never really appreciated it all that much but now that I am trying to bring out browns and blacks in the space, I reconsidered it. It has the original matte here below which I don’t really care for.
I taped it up there without the matte to see if I liked it better. I think it will add some interest and height to the room.
My husband added that wifi UFO thing to the ceiling for better internet service…
So those are the kind of details we are dealing with.
CURTAINS/SHADES
We are installing the blinds and curtains this week, too. One of my extraordinary seamstresses is bringing them tomorrow and I cannot wait.
As you can see, I taped the shade and the fabric up there so I could see how it looks before I pulled the trigger. IKEA for the fabric on the leading edge of the curtains and the brown woven shades since they blend with the woodwork. Basic, I know, but they will have to do until I can upgrade.
To see what all the other frenzied designers are up to at this point, you may click on the two squares below:
We will see you next week for the final reveal. Let’s pray for some sunshine so I can get some decent shots.
Have a great weekend!
