Chateau fireplaces

 I bought these Lawbre fireplaces years ago in anticipation of using them in the Chateau. They are not identical but I'm alright with that. They fit perfectly and have the chimney breast all there as one unit. So I've been thinking about applying gold accent to the designs, much like Jim Coates work. I know I will never be that steady but if I could apply just a bit of gold, it would be perfect.

I grabbed a photo of one of his so I could have an example. I then bought about 6 colors of acrylic gold and got started. I am pleased with the results - just enough accent. OK so I only opened and used a tiny portion of 1 bottle of paint...but hey, I may go back to other things and do this!

Jim Coates work:

I was also playing with sconces. I don't really like the ones I have for this, I think I will just get simple ones just the candlestick ones. 

Chateau work continues

I have begun working on reinstalling the first floor ceilings. You may recall my last post where I worked out how I was going to attach them by gluing and nailing. I took the plunge yesterday and it worked out pretty well.  I was able to drill some pilot holes for the living room ceiling and then glued and nailed that one down. 

Before doing the dining room, I wanted to close up the extra door opening into the kitchen, so I got out my jigsaw and cut that. It is now glued and spackled. 

Here's the dining room side...

And the kitchen side....

Next up was to pull out the fireplaces I had purchased and see how they will fit. Dining room:

 

Living room below. 

I've been thinking about the crown molding as well. Why, you ask? Well I have some Falcon crown that I had ordered by mistake some years ago and am thinking I might use them here. 

I have a problem of course. I only have 6 pieces, which is what I need for Living Room and Dining Room, but not enough for the Foyer. Anyway, that's what you see below

Finally it was time to attach the exterior door frame! I've been anxious to get that done, it felt like the house front needed to look more complete. I love it!! I pulled out the Lawbre sconces and tested them, found out one is defective and I've ordered a replacement.

Looks like its time to get the dining room ceiling attached next!

3rd Floor Bedroom Has a Character

The 3rd floor bedroom has been eluding me for quite a while. I had to have a chair rail since the angled walls are longer than even Brodnax papers. Yesterday somehow it all came together. I still have to do a chair rail, and crown.

I also hung and wired the light. Looks cozy.

French Country Design Resources and Notes

Keeping track of colors, sources, how-to's is something I'm not very good at so rather than keep a paper notebook, I'm going to post here.

Wallpapers
First Floor
Dining Room: Brodnax 1AC105 Michaelmas
Foyer: Mini Graphics English Rose Beige
Living Room: Brodnax 1VT304 Peregrine, World Model white embossed wainscoting
Study: Itsy Bitsy Mini Equestrian Red - Plaid
Kitchen: Itsy Bitsy Mini 1222 cottage acanthus pink on ivory

Second Floor
MBR: Brodnax Gathering Red
Foyer: Itsy Bitsy Mini Woven Damask -Ivory 1294
Guest Bedroom: Brodnax 1VT303 - Patina (stripe)
Bath: Broadnax 1VT311 - Ravenhurst

Third Floor
Girls Room: NC871.07 Dark Pink Toile - New Creations, World Model Molding 34903
Bedroom: Brodnax IVT302 - Morocco on top, 1VT314 - Damask on bottom
Hall: Jacksons Miniatures - Tulip Arabesque Pink H62

Flooring
Kitchen: Romney Miniatures - Terracotta Square Quarry Floor Tiles
Foyer: Tid-Bits Alabaster with black dots
Study: Brodnax Lille Parquet, Cherry
Strip Wood - SH Goode - Cherry Flooring strips 3/8" x 1/16" x18"

Bathroom - World Model Faux Marble Floor Tile, diamonds.


Built-in Items
Trim in first floor - Falcon Molding #3685
First Floor - Sue Cook Doorcases OD7S

Second & Third floor -Sue Cook Doorcases OD8S
Third Floor Ceiling Roses - Sue Cook CR25

Furniture

BB Miniatures
Bespaq
JBM
DeCava Interiors

Paint/Finishes

Quoins (Jackson Miniatures)

Lighting
Study - Lighting Bug
Foyer- Lumenations by Mr K
Dining Room - Lumenations by Mr K
Living Room - Lighting Bug
MBR - Clare Bell
Bedroom - Clare Bell
Girls Bedroom - Clare Bell 3 arm

Kitchen - Clare Bell 4 Arm short Hurricane chandelier

Bathroom - Cir-kit?

Chateau is The Latest

I have just acquired a Lawbre Chateau - smaller sister to the French Country Manor.

French Country Exterior Work

The exterior stippling has been done - 2 or 3 coats of colors. I feel like its now where I want it to be, so I've moved on to the shingling.

I filled in the remaining areas of shingles and now have 2 coats of color wash on the shingles. I'm also happy with this. I may add some light stippling of streaks, simulating worn areas on the shingles.

French Country Manor

I am the proud owner of a Lawbre French Country Manor! Its a house I've always wanted, and had resigned myself to never owning one. The purchase price from Lawbre is out of this world and so when a partially completed one showed up on eBay, I grabbed it!

The exterior was partially painted with multiple colors, but not the way I would have finished it. The colors were the colors Lawbre recommended - based on their demo. But it needed a lot of work to get the blotches of paint to blend in.

I got my stipple brushes out and began to see if I could salvage it or if I would have to wipe the slate clean and start from scratch. I was able to work on blending the colors, and just added a 2nd color with the stippling technique. I think its where I want it to be now.

Original finish (no flash)

Original (with flash):

Stippled with 2 colors (using flash):

No flash:

Here's the back of the house - huge, isn't it?

2015 Miniature Finds Placed in House

I finally got all my furniture back out and placed it in the Thornhill, along with my recent finds from the Bishop Show and the Estate sale.

Here's the JBM tapestry chair I purchased at the show.

Here's the 3rd floor bedroom - with the cabinet and needlepoint I purchased from the estate sale

And in the game room, the JBM leather tufted chair and the Bespaq leather chair I got from New England Miniatures.

The dining room has the newly replaced Bespaq chairs (due to disintegrated foam), and the custom built stained brown corner cabinet I snagged at the estate sale.

The bath has a shelf bought at that estate sale, and needlepoint rug I got at the Bishop show. 

In the man's study, the Rocco chair and stool I got from New England Miniatures are tucked in by the fireplace, and a rifle/gun waiting for a rack on order.

This chest is from BB Miniatures - hand painted - she does beautiful work.

I got 2 of these palm trees from the Bishop show - they are Bill Lankford. They are placed in Lawbre urns.

Here's a Jeanetta Kendall  cane, and a waste basket. I've been filling up the bookcases with books etc. 

Staining

I spent time today staining the interior doors cherry, the first coat. I'm pleased with the results, and know that staining takes time. I did the pre-conditioning and then the first coat of cherry stain. So far so good.

I also fiddled with the chandelier for the 3rd floor - its black. I experimented with a gold rub-n-buff and love the finished effect. Its kinda bronze antique. I think it is just the thing for this room. I've been obsessing (yep...obsessing) about the lighting for this room. I would like to put a billiard light in but the angled ceiling  prevents that...all the light fixtures along that line have solid poles, not accommodating for an angled installation.

Here's the chandelier's finish now. It was black before.