THE BEST OF 2012

In reality this should be titled

"MC'S BEST OF THE BEST FOR 2012".

After going through all we did  at The Bucket List House in 2012, I really don't have a favorite! We really did more than I thought !

 BTW, I did read that Bucket List House is a "term" that the literal world wants to eliminate.....I'm still using it!

Of course one project stood out as the most Dramatic.  The one that changed the entire feel of the house! That being,  our painting the Kitchen and both Baths with Annie Sloan Chalk paint!  This was a project that we both had our hands in!!!  MC did the painting and I did the waxing.  Lighting and our camera don't reveal these to their fullest.

In no particular order here are some more of our Outstanding accomplishments !!!

Considering that both MC and I are "retired" living in a community described as  "AN ACTIVE ADULT  COMMUNITY", it strikes me in a very ironic way, that two of our largest projects were MC's Office and my Office.  Neither of us WORK!  We don't need one office, let alone TWO!!  But we have them,  and MC did all the work!

 MC'S OFFICE

MC built the bookcases, made the drapery panels  (with iron-on tape), and framed meaningful photos, using frames from the Dollar Store....That project was the cheapest for the year!  $8.00

My Office!

MC and I do have our Breakfasts here.  Great morning light and view!

I had seen picture after picture of elegant entries and decided our Front Door needed an UPGRADE.  MC came to the rescue and presto our Foyer now looks like a million!  All it needed was painting the door BLACK!

You have a view above at one of the few purchases we made this year.  Yes, our Animal Skin rugs!  These are not most of my readers' favorites, but we love them!

In this Epiphany, MC added mirrored tiles  above the doorways to mimic the windows around the front door.  Before, the space was just a framed white plank of wood.

THE COCKTAIL TABLE

I must say this has EVOLVED!  It has had three different finishes and we are still discussing changes!!!

 In March,   MC using the iron-on tape made new  drapery panels for the Great and Dining Rooms!  The gold damask silk added much needed color and texture to both rooms.  I am sorry about the color quality of these photos.  We need a professional photographer!!!

 A change we made that was subtle but very effective,  was switching out our kitchen and dining tables.  My "Office" would never have been conceived if the tables hadn't been switched.  The glass,  60" round table works so much better in the Dining Room.  MC and I thoroughly enjoy our "diners" at this table nightly! We have also done a lot of entertain with wonderful friends.  We sat 10 here at our New Year's Eve party.

MC did quite a few of his MC Little People this year.  When he constructed the built-ins behind his desk, he dedicated a shelf just for them.

There was one other "Event" that occurred during 2012.  I was one of 10 Bloggers who were published and featured in the May 2012 issue of Traditional Home Magazine!  So much fun....

Have no clue what's next. ????????

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM MC AND PATTY

MERRY CHRISTMAS

A SPECIAL GIFT

A very dear friend visited us this morning.

  Russ came with a very SPECIAL and  PERFECT GIFT!!

Right before Russ came, MC and I were just about ready to start taking the "Reveal Pictures" of the latest......the Guest Bath!

Russ makes beautiful stained glass pieces.   I featured a Post all about his fantastic talent about a year ago.
Check  it out below....
HERE

 He knew us, (or me) well enough,  and my love of black and white decor, so that's what he went with...BLACK AND WHITE.
.  

....... But Russ had no way of knowing how PERFECT his gift was!!!!.....

Wait until you see the pictures !!!!!

Meanwhile.....MC has fallen in love with Annie and her Chalk Paint!  He has never worked with anything so easy, and  fast,  that also has IMMEDIATE REWARDING features!!  

As soon as the kitchen was dry, he couldn't wait to start the Guest Bath.  In a day and a half it  was DONE!

BEFORE

 BEFORE

MC painted with Annie's Graphite and I buffed with the Dark Wax.  Compared to the scope of the kitchen,  this was a breeze!

The room is now Bucket List House Quality!!!!

SEE HOW PERFECT THE HAND MIRROR IS!!!

the picture below was taken before Russ came!!!  Note old makeup mirror! I'm adding this picture because it's a good shot of the  large mirror. It has a Story to Tell!!!

My Kenneth Brown Mirror has finally found a place where it fits,  as I imagine Kenneth would approve.   The story of the mirror goes way back..  Long story--- short......years ago, I bought it on One King's Lane when Kenneth's items were featured. When he found out what I had bought, he immediately  wrote and told   me that this mirror came from his previous home's Master Bath!!  Now that mirror has HISTORY!

We hung it over the generic builder mirror that MC made a thin black frame for.  Kenneth's mirror has a wonderful faux animal skin, and chrome frame.  I think it weighs over 40 pounds...reason for chain!

NOW....
We have 3/4th can of French Linen left  (out of 3 cans) and 7/8th can of the Graphic!!!!
MC IS RUNNING AROUND LOOKING FOR THINGS TO PAINT!!!

 MC AND  I WISH TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR.
WE WISH YOU THE BEST CHRISTMAS IN YOUR LIVES AND CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT'S UP FOR 2013!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS
MC AND PATTY

JUST ABOUT THE MOST DRAMATIC CHANGE..EVER

AMAZING.....SIMPLY AMAZING

First .....MC and I wish to thank Pam, the Author of Simple Details  HERE
 for introducing us to Annie Sloan's Chalk Paints.  This product has proven to be a Miracle Worker! 

I have been dreaming of painted cabinetry for almost two years.  Never felt the "standard" contractor cabinets were what I wanted.  There was nothing, and I mean nothing wrong with them!.....Perfectly good, acceptable wood cabinetry.....Just not what I wanted.  With the open floor plans we love  and live in today, the kitchen becomes a main focal point in the house!  The cabinets just didn't "fit" with all our furnishings.   I felt it was insane to have them removed...they are new-well almost-two years old! And, most sane people don't touch wood ----with Paint of all things!!!  I am sure every dyed in the wool wood fan is screaming at me!  But, remember these cabinets are not 100 year old oak antiques!

As per the "Work Order", the cabinetry in the Bucket List House is "Landen Maple Fawn".  We were restricted to one cabinet choice for the entire home.

BEFORE

It "washes" into the wood floor which is Oak Natural Harrington 3" Hardwood Factory finished flooring.


MC was very clear, on many occasions,   he was NOT REFINISHING them.  We looked into all the products and  I agreed, the work involved was overwhelming and way more than I would ask MC to take on.

Then, one morning I was reading all the morning Posts from my wonderful world of new Blog Friends and there.......it was!   Pam had just put up a post about refinishing a hutch with chalk paint.  It didn't require STRIPPING, SANDING, OR ANY PREP,  before application of the product.  It required two coats of paint, with a quick drying time of 20 minutes.  The second step was the application of a wax.  The wax, after many research links, proved to be flexible in it's application.  Each "tip" I checked out was different.  I came to the conclusion that no matter how it was applied, it would work!  Now you know by this time I was jumping up and down and ranting about this miracle stuff to MC.!

He didn't believe me!

After much persuasion, he gave in and read the link I sent to his lap top!! He read it and ANNOUNCED,

"WE CAN DO THIS"

I had already checked where it was sold and as I wrote about before (when we practiced with our Master Bath Vanity),   all we had to do was drive to Senoia to a lovely shop, Twist on Main....love that place!  WHO NEEDS ATLANTA?

I believe we were there the next day and practiced on our Master Bath     HERE.  That was all we needed!  We were believers!  This stuff does what it claims!

 After the bath successfully was finished we immediately attacked the kitchen. 

We developed a WORK PLAN!

MC PAINTED

I WAXED

A FULLY JOINT EFFORT!!!

 

 We had to take two breaks in the process.  The first was to tend to the 2012 Holiday Tour of Homes and the second was when our Daughter, Son in Law and Granddaughter came for a visit. There was a "slow up" when I  was hit with a nasty  sinus infection.

Tuesday we were back to work!!!!

Last night the finishing touches were added......a few pictures of wonderful buildings in Germany were attached to the back splash.

I chose French Linen for the color.  It pairs perfectly with everything we have!!  I also chose not to do an "Antique" finish.  I wanted a clean look. The counter top, a Gallo Victoria granite and the tile of the back splash have lots of "movement".   In my eye, I didn't want to add  more, and doing an antique finish would have added a great amount of movement!  I'm also thrilled with the color against the stainless appliances!

I guess we're ready

  THE REVEAL!!!!!

 .....my favorite Erica piece is the PERFECT ACCENT!!!

The KNOBS......NOW STAND OUT!  EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM

 I feel the kitchen now belongs in the Great Room!


My Goldilocks Chair has a "new" side table!!!  Added "Dolly"!  Right at home...........

and.....last night was the first night in almost a year that I didn't experience upper arm pain!!  Definitely a smart move on our part!

  A Painless Patty is

 A HAPPY PATTY

WE KEEP SAYING, "WHAT MORE CAN WE DO HERE?"

THE GUEST BATH!

  

A GOLDILOCK CHAIR!!! "FITS JUST RIGHT"

Yes, the chair was definitely worth the work and and wait!
Right on schedule it arrived this morning.

I have been "testing" it out ever since  it was placed in the room,  and it  has over exceeded all  my expectations!
Just the right SIZE, PROPORTION,  COLOR and TEXTURE!!

I especially like the stitching and pleat detail.  In the end, it's always in the details!

I have it placed so that I can easily see the TV and I can also be part of any conversation taking place..  The ottoman is very "light" and very easy to move..  It will make a fabulous "extra" seat when we have company!

 

 Love the stitching down the back and sides

 The fabric is very tightly woven with a spec of metal thread worked in. The texture is perfect with the other fabrics in the room!

 

The design of the ottoman pairs perfectly with the chair!

IT WAS MEANT TO BE!

BTW....The cabinets are almost finished....