Tom Hanks, The Money Pit
Over this holiday weekend I've been gathering together ideas on exactly what I want to do with the rooms in our house. Finalizing ideas. I've been selecting so many draperies over the past few months I resemble Carol Burnett:
I have draperies for every room. But then, I'm also a girl who changes her draperies seasonally. A carry over from childhood no doubt. My grandmother would bring out her lace curtains in the spring, launder them and then I'd help her stretch them out on curtain stretchers, outdoors. Seriously, one of those things no one does anymore. I don't even think you can purchase stretchers these days, but I could be wrong....
I'll be at Dave and Erin's on and off over the next few weeks, but after that, the fun begins here. Jeff and I have been resting up this weekend as we're both, or were, ran down. Although, I feel my energy level is back up and running. Which is good as I'm going to need it.
So, I've been going over some of my fav designers to inspire me. One of them, Stephen Shubel, a Bay Area designer, has given me a very simple solution to a minor issue of placing two chairs in the soon to be new dinining room. This room is going to have art, books and a sitting area, in addition to hosting holiday family gatherings. The solution was turning two chairs away from the dining area, so simple, and while I've thought of that for the living room, somehow, I didn't for the dining room. I don't know why. Basically, it's kinda like this:
I have pretty much the same lay out with a built-in credenza, I don't have the upper bookcases. The bookcases will be going on another wall. My chairs are armless but wonderfully comfy for chatting over. I think, of things I already have when putting a room together. The dining area will be behind the chairs.
I somehow want a sisal rug. I've never really been in to sisal that much but this room is calling out for it. I can place an area rug over it for color. While the color in this room is a sunny yellow. Ours will be in persimmon, browns, taupes and white. I have a giant piece of artwork that will go over the credenza. The Italian chandelier will be going over the dark oak farm table. I needed a large, ornate chandelier to balance out the art. There will also be a pairing of rattan chairs around a garden seat. Commerical metal utility bookcasings. Very boho casual.
I love living in a well built home that is as old as I am, which is scary, as the house has arrived at a stage where assitance and updating is needed. I can somehow identify with this...
This morning, Jeff and I will be gearing up to work on the front section walkway near the over-sized bowler bay living room window. Jeff will rototil while I rake the weeds up. We'll be placing large rock slabs so the area can be used for outdoor seating.
Lots to do.
