Tops and Bottoms!

I found this little chest at SuzAnna's, with Linda's help of course. Those great gals allowed me to cart it home to see if it worked ~ it certainly did! With an interior shelf and divided into four cubbies for storage, it's the final piece I'm adding to the guest room. This useful chest stands beneath the mirror, a perfect fit..........tailor made for the space.

The paint finish requires no additional work which is great. Managed to find a key which fits the lock ~ must have something from which to dangle a tassel.

I brought this really old ~ weighs a ton ~ iron urn from the front porch, added the woven sea grass balls which had been in another urn on the dining room table, and placed all upon this frothy lace doily made by my cousin Sue in England. Love how these hard and soft textures all work together.

You know how plans change - well this is one of them. This very dark chocolate velvet fabric (which I really thought was black when I purchased it ~ shop lighting can be deceiving ~ but chocolate works better here, and of course we know how good it is for our health!!!), with great French style, was for the other chair. However, I decided to stay with the original choice for the white painted chair (show you that later). Instead I used this lovely fabric to make a squishy little cushion for the antique chair. Couldn't find a round pillow form so had a round of foam cut and covered it with poly batting to make it softer. To keep it looking informal I made the ties from old cotton tape which I aged by dipping in strong coffee.

Sitting comfortably at the desk now.

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Will you be my guest?

This little guest room makeover became more involved as time moved on! What was just going to be fresh paint and a few French inspired decorative items kept growing until I almost felt like it would never be completed.....................and it isn't, yet.

However, as I promised some photos I've decided to give you a glimpse as to what's been done so far.

My painter scraped off the ceiling texture, then painted it along with the walls giving me a blank canvas. I painted and distressed the pine bed, head and foot boards, also painted and hung the old wood shutters.

I added this small table with a drop down front, already painted and bit chipped - perfect in place of the cumbersome nightstand which was moved into the closet to be used for extra storage as it has two good sized drawers. I added the antique metal French styled bow.

For years I held on to this magazine page because I love the old French rope samples. I mounted it on a red and aqua scrapbook paper and stamped the mat with French words.

Some of the old books I purchased recently ~ the crystal, silver lidded powder bowl on the left was a 21st Birthday gift to my Mother (c. 1932), the other one a gift to me from a dear friend on a visit home to England.

The closet doors got their new painted finish ~ and yesterday I installed the wall writing.

Aimez, riez, revez ~~~ et allez dormir

(Love, laugh, dream ~~~ and go to sleep)

The pine armoire has not been revamped yet ~ a project for another time. This mirror is now crowned with a painted carving.

The French wire basket holds old books and rolled sheet music.
Another shot of the recently purchased secretary which took the place of the pine chest of drawers. This piece is certainly the biggest change in this room. The antique chair will soon have a new seat cushion.

The newly painted attic storage door on which I hung an old oval picture frame which I painted and glazed ~ it looks like molding and adds some decoration to an otherwise utilitarian door.



Above and below, my precious photos of my Mother and her siblings, and my Grandmother.

I'm now working on the items requiring fabric, trim, thread and the sewing machine........will show you these later. Last but by no means least, awaiting the chandelier...................that, I believe, will be the finishing touch for this room.

~ Shopping List ~

SuzAnna's Antiques, Raleigh, North Carolina
Shutters
Ballet slipper used as blind pull
Bedside table
French style metal bow
Vintage books
Oval wall mirror
French wire basket
Antique Secretary
Picture frames

Fetch Treasures for the Home, Hillsborough, North Carolina
Antique chair

Michael's
Small lamp on desk
French style glass bottles

Homegoods
Waste basket
Toile storage boxes on armoire

Home Depot
'Shabby Chic' style switchplate

Lowe's
All paints by Valspar
Wall color ~ Cincinnatian Hotel Hannaford
Doors and Bed - Lyndhurst Stone

Wisedecor Wall Lettering
Typeface 'Handwriting' ~ Color Tan

Almost There

Still pulling the guest room together ~ hope to have pictures for you later this week.

The shutters are up! Today I'll crank up the sewing machine and tackle the sheer panel for the window.

This is the look I'm going for, just a simple flat panel which can be folded back to let light in.

I will attach it to the window casing with the decorative tacks, no rod. I have blinds also on this window which can be used at night for privacy and room darkening.

Then on to mirrors, art, lighting. Still looking for a small chandelier!

Have ordered 'wall words' ~ will show you when they are flowing across this little French inspired room.