Monday, November 7, 2011

Who, What, When, Where, Why, How...


This is what my fireplace resembled when we moved in...first thing I did when I got the keys is change the molding, tear off the glass doors and paint it!
This is not my fireplace.  It merely resembles my fireplace.   I did not take a before photo when I moved into this home.  I was in too much of a hurry to get the brick painted. Here is the single photo of this room, taken by the real estate agent before we moved in, with the fireplace in it.


This is what I really wanted...



This is where my money went instead...500 one gallon boxwoods do add up! LOL!



This is what I saw on Atelier de Campagne's blog...and saved because I loved it so!





This is what I made in 30 minutes using a FREE cabinet door, a wood swag applique from Lowe's and Annie Sloan Paris Grey with Dark Wax.  The door was formerly part of a built in  from a Chicago condo my brother lived in. Initially it was  painted cream and used as a tabletop in my sunroom. I had no idea where I was going to use it after I painted it grey... I just wandered around the house with it until I spied a screw hole in the fireplace where I had hung something, hated it and forgot to fill in the hole!




This is the finished fireplace.  Since Annie Sloan paint is so simple and quick to use, I also had time to add linen toile to the back of the reproduction children's fauteuils!


I found this image of the family room from the real estate brochure. What a difference a little bit of paint makes!



Before and After.  Sorry for the distorted image of the original mantel.  I had to enlarge it quite a bit!




Close-up of toile.  I purchased this on ebay five years ago with no idea what I was going to do with it!  I just loved it.  A yard cost more than my first car!



These were the pulls for the fireplace screen curtain.  Um, no. Just no.



I replaced the pulls with this ormolu from a table I refinished.  It took an hour to get them just so...



This small change made all the difference, I think!

Added Craigslist urns, flanking either side of fireplace...The windows offer lovely views of the neighbor's swingset.  Any ideas on how to cover that?  I love the swingset.  The kids have so much fun on it, but does it have to be so, so...blinding?


New favorite design book,  The New Eighteenth Century Home by Michele Lalande. Each page is truly an inspiration!


I am really pleased with the way this room is shaping up!  Atticus, here, agrees!  Then again, he is a gentleman and a most agreeable cat!


Have a wonderful week friends!



I am linking to Susan, at Metamorphosis Monday,
Amber and Brad at Shades of Amber, Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Party
Domestically Speaking, Power of Paint Party
Sherry, at No Minimalist Here, Open House Party
Miss Mustard seed, Furniture Feature Friday
My Romantic Home, Show and Tell Friday
Courtney, at French Country Cottage Feathered Nest Friday
Honey, at 2805 Potpourri Party Friday
Kathryn, at The Dedicated House, Before and After Wednesdays!

43 comments:

  1. I love it all!!! You did an awesome job. The panel is a perfect addition. I'm drooling over the lions, and the candlesticks. I love those guys at Atelier. Great place for inspiration.

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  2. Andie....You amaze me every time!! Well done hugs Colette - Afrique du Sud

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  3. You've got to be kidding me??? AMAZING!!OMG this is incredible! This needs to be in a magazine.
    What a difference Andie!
    You are a wicked artist.
    Pamela xo

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  4. You turned a real vugly (very ugly) duckling into the most magnificent swan! You are a magician, my friend! x Sharon

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  5. Amazing!! I love it!!

    Mayby a reindeer skin on the ground?
    I go often follow you.

    Greetings from Holland!

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  6. Andie, there is no way of stopping you once you get an idea in your head. Great result!
    P.S. I'll see what I can do about the fountain from my last Saturday Postcard from Poland for your garden. The only problem - it might be a tad too heavy to mail ;-).

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  7. You are the smartest. I hated the fireplace the way it was, looks so dear now. What a foresight. Keep it up and designers will weep. I have to come some day. I am so glad you are working for all the dog babies out there. I just went to a house yesterday to deliver something and she had a huge beautiful dog, tied with a huge log chain, standing in his own waste, full of mats, I have cried ever since. I am serious thinking about going soon and getting him in the night. I just do not understand. Why Lord, why. I just hate these people. If you don't want to care for your animals, please, just don't have them. What the hell is wrong with these idiots. I love your fireplace. Richard from My Old Historic House.

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  8. Honestly, that is INCREDIBLE...great job! Just amazing!

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  9. Oh my gosh Andie this is wonderful. Even though I understand about the boxwood taking priority this turned out great and you were able to get both projects completed. Well done! The toile is of course to die for. Have a great week...

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  10. You do this fabulous blog post THEN there is the cat at the end? I faint.

    Don't know what your windows look like from the outside. I do know they must be consistent. Not exact but consistent.

    With this. Perhaps shutters at the bottom. My girlfriend did it down the street in her older home due to views. About to do it for a client with a 1940 cottage.

    Each job different but just maybe.....

    XO T

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  11. Gorgeous transformation Andie! Looks so chic and classy now.

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  12. Oh wow, that last picture shows how everything works so well together. It's a magazine picture!! Especially with the cat posing so regally. And the before and after of the fireplace is remarkable. Just goes to show how something so average can be turned in something stunning. (And I love the name Atticus for a cat!)

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  13. Wow! You did a beautiful job and your room looks gorgeous! As for the swingset how about planting a couple tall arborvites from your side of the swings. Love the lions and the candlesticks!

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  14. Wow! That is one beautiful fireplace, Andie. I love the lions and candlesticks. This is a gorgeous room.
    Hugs,
    Sherry

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  15. JAW DROPPING Andie!

    what a transformation, all is perfectly lovely. have to get that annie sloan paint.
    what about slender trees or hicks yews outside to conceal the swingset?
    debra

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  16. Andie, the transformation you did on your fireplace is amazing!!!!! You have just shown me there’s hope for our ugly fireplace and now I’m feeling brave enough to tackle it. I love your living room it’s stunning and you put things together in ways I’ve never thought of, even the husband loves you’re your living room and he’s picky.

    Atticus looks very comfy lying on the chaise, give him a kitty kiss for me!

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  17. Hello Andie,
    Thank you so much for your comment on my blogpost! I am so pleased to meet you!! What a wonderful blog you have! I am browsing through it at this moment!
    I already subscribed to it!
    I will visit you here often!
    xx
    Greet

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  18. Genius... you are a total genius! I really like this look.

    Looks like kitty does too! :-))

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  19. Hi Andie! How gorgeous! You are truly the smartet one and I love how your fireplace looks! You've got such an elegant touch.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  20. Dear Andie, I actually like your Fireplace better than the Fireplace that Inspired you! Seriously, you outdid yourself on that transformation! I recently saw a Child's Fauteuil and didn't realize what it was until I just saw this Post explaining it! *Winks* It was a fab Antique Chair but so small I knew it couldn't possibly be for a normal sized adult. See... Blogging is also furthering my Education! *Smiles*

    Thanks for stopping by... yes, a LOT of effort goes into the Styling of my Friend's two Shops & I for one really appreciate all their hard work and effort to transform it into the Inspirational Seasonal Wonderlands they become. I'm not sure I'm quite ready to roll into Styling for Christmas... I will likely keep the Halloween/Harvest Decor up until after Thanksgiving... and by then I'll be working 6 days a week for the Salvation Army so I'm wondering when I'll possibly have the time to decorate for Christmas??!!? Well, at least I've been Inspired to... before the Seasonal Work consumes me... *He he he*

    Blessings from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian

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  21. WOW!! what a great insight you have girl..I would love to live in your head ha ha!! Hugs and smiles Gloria

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  22. So many things to comment on this evening, Andie!
    LOVE your new masthead....my favorite of all of yours so far!
    Your mantel transformation is amazing. You got the scale perfect -- those candlesticks are beyond fab. Where did you find tHOSE, and pls don't tell me Craigslist! You are something else!

    I think a couple of well-placed fluffy pines would hide the neighbor's swingset nicely and they will compliment your small boxwood plantings, maybe?

    Otherwise a French sheer window treatment might work?

    LOVE that toile fabric... a feast for the eyes there in that room!

    Love it love it love it.
    A

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  23. The fireplace panel is just brilliant, I love it. If you figure out how to hide the swingset let me know, I have some neighbors with unfortunate taste in plastic patio furniture!

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  24. Holy moly! Your living room looks like something from a vintage French manor! It's seriously beautiful! GREAT job, girlie! :)

    xoxo laurie

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  25. Absolutely stunning trnsformation of your fireplace, and the room is so dramatic!

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  26. How did the hearth get higher?

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  27. Wow this is wonderful and I simply adore your room. I am swooning over those candlesicks and urns bigtime.com!


    Veronica
    Tassels Twigs and Tastebuds

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  28. To Anonymous,
    If you look you will see it is not the same hearth. I chose an example that best resembled my fireplace when we moved in. I was not blogging when we moved and I did not take a "before" photograph. If you wish to see the exact fireplace I recently came across the realtor's photo of our home before we bought it. Look for "Fun Before and After" and you will see it!

    Andie

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  29. Wow! What a transformation!! You are so clever to use the cabinet door. It's my first time here, and I'm looking forward to catching up on what I've missed!

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  30. Oh my, I can't believe it is the same fireplace. Your home is beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

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  31. Beautiful. But PLEASE turn the music off your site.

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  32. So so beautiful!! I just love how this turned out!! Well done!! Love the little chairs too~ thanks for linking up this week! :)

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  33. Wow! What a gorgeous transformation! It's stunning!

    Thank you for sharing your terrific ideas at Potpourri Friday!

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  34. Andie, this is just gorgeous as is the whole room. Love what you did with the door. Perfect.

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  35. Did you have to build up the hearth? It looks a lot higher than the "before" picture.

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  36. Why not invite your neighbors over for afternoon tea? They could sit on the couch

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  37. Why not invite your neighbors over for afternoon tea? They could sit on the couch

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