Random photos in French Country

 What bedroom isn't complete without If you give a moose a muffin" or "cat in the hat" or a slinky?

Much happier with smaller newel posts on these railings. I also added the finishing baseboard and white trim to cover the spot between floors where wallpaper doesn't meet.

Potential picture, and will need to start filling the bookcase with all those books I made a couple years ago.

What do you think about the parsons chairs here?

Need to figure out what I want above the LR and DR fireplaces - I have some resin mantel frames...I should get them out to see if they work.

Kitchen from the actual front of house. Think I want to put some plants on top of the cabinets and have vines hanging down. Any other ideas? Maybe a picture? Would that look odd?

Interesting view.

I gave up on my idea of a shower curtain - I am terrible at hand-sewing, and this was silk, not easy to work with. I used a different silk as a test...I have the silk that is the fabric match for the wallpaper but am really not looking forward to trying it. I may try with a cotton to see if I get better results.

I am starting to think about draperies for this house. This rook would look good with beige silk that would blend and pull out the silk in the headboard. Something very simple - draperies and a cornice probably. Wouldn't have to worry about sewing rings like the dreaded shower curtain and could hide edges under a cornice.

Maybe light pink draperies for this room?

Living room and Dining room - something neutral - beige for draperies again?

Finished backing on needlepoint rug.

French country work done

I now have the 3rd floor hall papered and at least the chair rail added. Still need baseboard and crown. I spackled the window space today and will need to follow up with sanding and paint touch up.

The study also got lighting today. I drilled holes through the beams and the ceiling for this. Then I glued down the attic to the first floor - no longer have a fear of committment! Tapewire was next, followed by eyelets for the electrical connections. Finally wiring the Lighting Bug lights! 

Challenges with French Country Manor

I've been stalled for a while on this house, I think its been some challenges I've had and haven't figured out how to handle them.

Doors
The doors and the fanlights have presented some challenges. The doors fit from inside the house (unlike most other houses) and then there are 2 fanlight pieces - one for outside and one for inside. The inside width of the fanlight is slightly wider on either side than the door width. I will have to add a strip of wood to the door frame...maybe a 1/4 inch or so?

Then, I will also need to add a small strip of threshold to the exterior so it fills the small gap between the slate out on the terrace. This is mostly due to the use of cardstock I used on the arch walls for my wallpaper, just enough thickness to cause this. 

Windows

I've been debating on color for the windows. I started out with white, and was fine with that, until working on the Study. White looked too stark and I chose a more tan color (Folkart Linen) for the beams, crown and baseboards. I also did paint one door this same tan...but I'm undecided. 

There are a ton of windows (thirteen), so I have lots of work ahead of me.

Kitchen

Deciding on the cabinets, which, and the placement, and finish is a big one. I just repapered the kitchen for the 3rd time and like it so I'm starting to consider the finish. I'm thinking about lightly distressed cabinets, a cream over a darker stain/paint and the distress would show the darker. I have the pieces I bought from M&R Miniatures so I need to do some test finishes. 

Kitchen lighting

I love the look of the Study ceiling beams and crown and think that this is how I will do the kitchen. ceiling. As for lights, I'm not sure yet what to use. 

Study lighting

While I have the lights for this room and know the placement, I haven't yet done the work of wiring. The 2nd floor wing is removable and I haven't committed to attaching it. Its been a fear of committment! 

I have to wire the 2nd floor, and while I have a lead up there, once I add more tapewire and do the eyelets, I have committed. 

Making Books

I decided to try my hand at making a large quantity of books for my study bookcase. I did some research and bought the Mini Mundus kit. I used a fellow blogger's advise on how to make the books look more realistic  - color in a band around the inside edge of the paper.

Study

The study floor got ruined when I tried to add a second coat of stain, so back to square one. I have had success with Brodnax parquet so I went that route. It turned out very nice, almost too shiny. 

Here you can also see the ceiling beams I put up, and baseboard I've cut. I decided white was too white for this room, so I went with a tan color. 

This picture shows the beams and crown and they are painted tan. You can see the lights I temporarily placed to get a sense of what the finished look will be.