A Living Room Mantle Renovation

Most the original details in this 1925 Spanish home still reside but there are some recent interior additions that just don't really work

 The fireplace has been reimagined (I'm being nice) using stacked ledger stone with the TV 

front and center...ugh!

So off came the TV and we were able to see the old plaster work 

and the original outlets for sconces.  

The wiring was hot and actually buried behind the stone....

While starting this project, I actually came across this wonderful intact fireplace surround 

from the same time frame manufactured by Claycraft.  

Claycraft was one of the many companies producing scenic tile during California's Golden Age which included Batchelder, Cal Art and Alhambra Kilns to name a few.

  After taking a few more photos and all of the measurements back to the house

 it would have worked!  

I couldn't believe it.  

But after much thought we decided it would overwhelm the room so we went to plan B

We opted to completely re-plaster over the added stone and re-plaster the walls.  

All of the walls throughout out the house will need to be re-plastered so this gave us a glimpse as to how the finished walls will look

 After 3 coats the fireplace started looking like the original circa 1925 probably did

 Millie found this whole process boring and decided a little nap on the workers jacket was in order

 The fireplace looks a little pink here, but it has no pigment at all and will dry almost white 

 Before we could finish all of the walls (which were also a patched cobbled mess) 

the electrical needed moving and updating. 

 In order for the plaster to adhere the walls are sanded and then a layer of glue is applied

 The ceilings are quite high and the corners have a soft rounded curve which is really pretty

 Two coats of plaster was hand trowled on all of the walls 

and then burnished when almost dry

  presto! 

well not actually presto but pretty close 

The walls will dry much lighter and have a really natural patina and texture

Now for some sconce shopping....holy cow! 

 One of my favorite Antique stores in Pasadena is California Revival Antiques.  

They have an impressive collection of lighting (understatement ) 

as well as furniture, art and garden Antiques.  

The owner Marie is wonderful to work with and the staff was really a pleasure.  

 In addition to lighting I purchased this great rattan lounge chair and ottoman, as well as the two small bamboo end tables.
 Ironically these came from the Ford Estate in Ojai when the owners recently sold it.
 Marie helped them originally to furnish the home with period pieces, many of which she recently
re-acquired

 The fixtures and furniture in this store are incredible and most of their acquisitions come from homes and large Estates in
Los Angeles
 that are being demolished or remodeled.

The paneling along the very back wall is from Phyllis Dillers home in Beverly Hills.  

 I purchased some great little pots

 And a wonderful tiled side table, all

of which will go in the newly refreshed living room

The Television will be hidden in this cabinet from Restoration Hardware...if I ever get it!

I had some great pillows made from patched Japanese indigo and African Mali fabric

 And of course the fun chairs with patches 

The new/antique sconces are installed and the plaster has dried a nice creamy white.  

I hung my first piece of art over the mantle.   

Why is it so fun to hang your first picture in a new house?  Sigh ; )

I will share some more snap shots of the room as we get it finished....in the mean time....

you can find me in the garden ; )

Hope your summer is bringing wonderful things and happy memories

xo 

Kelley

Redesigned Online: This Old House Magazine Feature

A longtime blog follower and fellow lover of vintage 

requested a little help with her kitchen remodel.

Amber and I worked on some small items in the past

but the kitchen was a pretty big design challenge.  

I have been doing e-design for a while 

and this was the perfect project since we live over 100 miles apart.

 Our finished project was featured in This Old House magazine June 2015

Amber is very creative and was able to manage her subcontractors and control her budget which is critical to a great outcome using e-design as a roadmap for a remodel.

 The "before" kitchen was pretty dark 

and there was so much brown it sort of sucked the energy out of the room.  

The layout is open to the family room, which is wonderful

and the updated kitchen brought new life into the adjoining spaces as well.

 The entire bank of upper cabinets over the cooktop was removed and the island was reworked to add a cookbook and display niche.  

The pendant light locations were moved and a few of the recessed can lights
reconfigured to make more sense 

The cabinet doors were replaced with a more current shaker style front and the refrigerator was replaced with a model that would accommodate painted panels for a built in look

New tile and countertops were also a key part of the remodel

My approach to e-design starts with the client receiving a packet PRIOR to payment.  It explains the process, the fees and exactly what you will receive to create/update/redesign your space.  

I don't use questioneers and prefer one or two conference calls with clients prior to starting.

Pinterest boards for every client has been a huge help as well!

more on that later.... on to the great kitchen!

Ambers design was inspired by some bright and fresh design elements

jadeite green 

soft coral 

copper

wicker 

vintage

 reclaimed wood

The copper came into play

because Amber had purchased 

a wonderful custom copper range hood on Craig's list 

In anticipation of her kitchen remodel 

Amber also purchased the large verdigris pendants 

and the drawer pulls, all at reduced prices.  She wanted these to be part of the design, which was pretty easy.  The bigger concern I had was the hood because it was such a strong element.

And guess what else she found?  

Not one but TWO Shaws sinks on Craigs list

Can you believe it!!!!

Lucky

Here is Ambers new kitchen!

So fun and bright

 The copper hood is such a great element in this kitchen and now the dark floors add the perfect contrast to the bright white cabinets

 A new faucet set in copper with the Craig's list Shaws sink

 The counter tops are marble.  

Amber really shopped for the right stone, at the right price 

because it was such a huge part of the budget

The new refrigerator

 The open shelving with reclaimed wood is beautiful and so fun to style with 

 bright dishes and vintage finds.  

I received quite a few emails about the brackets 

which were purchased here

Traditional subway tile with a nice clean beveled edge looks much cleaner and current.
 Amber found a great source for the reclaimed wood in her local area and it was cut to her specifications for the open shelving

 Below is the cook book niche at the end of the island.  

All of the small details really add up to a wonderful bright space.  

Are you inspired?  I am!

Thank you Amber

&

This Old House

Styling:  Sunday Hendrickson

Photos:  Ray Kachatorian

more facts about Redisign Online to follow

A New Chair for Twister

Have you ever watched the BBC series Lark Rise To Candleford?

It ran for 4 seasons finally ending in 2011 

but you can watch it now on Amazon or Netflix.  

The series is set in 19th century Oxfordshire England with wonderful character actors, many of whom you will recognize from your favorite Masterpiece Classics such as Downton Abbey.

As with all BBC productions, the costuming and sets are wonderful.  It is worth watching just for that but the semi autobiographical story lines are charming, funny and sometimes a little sad

 There is love and gossip

 jealousy and envy, all of which make the series great
(and the hats are over the top great!!!)

  what I enjoyed most were the characters of 

Twister and his wife Queenie

 

Twister is a lazy lovable curmudgeon who sells nuts for a living and when he's not sleeping, complaining or hiding from Queenie 

he drinks away the rent money

then stumbles home to sit in his chair by the fire

 With no money for rent,

 Queenie decides sell Twisters chair to the Tallyman for 2 pounds....

just enough to get them through the winter

 Twister of course is furious and his way of punishing Queenie

 is to sleep with his feet at the head of the bed

A very clever idea I would say!
The tiny bed totally cracks me up too

 Queenie feels terrible and vows to get the chair back

 but alas it is long gone

They reconcile and all is forgiven but Twister is without a chair and now must be content sitting on a wooden box....his head resting on Queenies shoulder 

sigh.....

 I love old hand sewn linens and mismatched scraps of fabric and decided to slipcover

 two modern wing chairs 

in a manner fitting lovable Twister and Queenie

My awesome fabric guru Wendy 

sent me about 6 old French grain sacks 

all with hand sewn mismatched patches...much like Twisters britches

The sacks were opened up and placed on the chairs 

in order show old monograming and all of the interesting vintage hand sewing
as you look at the chair from the front

We also used plain homespun and some additional striped fabric 

to in fill in areas where we needed larger pieces.

The fabric is very old cotton, flax and hemp
with simple dye and lots of texture

The seats are down with extra fill
for a large crown at the seat

The sipper runs down the center back and is covered with a large flap 

which I think makes sense with a rustic chair cover like this.
 Why try to hide the zipper?

The sacks and fabric were washed twice and I always use lots of fabric softener.
 Any areas that started to unravel were repaired or hand stitched prior to sewing all of the pieces together
 to make the final slipcovers

If you are a good seamstress you could probably do this project at home 

but I used an upholsterer that I love and trust 

and 

they know how crazy some of my projects have been, so nothing really throws them.

The chairs are one of the first things I designed for our Santa Barbara casa 

and I think they look right at home!

The chairs were made by Van Thiel & Company 

and can be found at a variety of retailers...without the slips of course

I'm enjoying this little old house much more than I thought I would.

The garden is a huge mess but coming along slowly so I will share what I can soon

Have a wonderful weekend...I can't believe its already May!

xx

kelley