TYPICAL DAYS AT THE BLH

You have to be kidding.  I have been in the house too long.....

First, I get this  idiotic  idea to move around some furniture.  Bad idea...Ended up putting it all back..   A lost day!
The next day,  I get the urge to move MIRRORS....all of which led to a massive disaster area here for three days. 

WHY???

?????

 JUST ME

MC has been working on a project for a long, long time.  No big thing, just taking forever.  It has been in the garage for over a month,  and BTW he has touch up painting and some finishing detailing to go.   

We have a  faux marble useless "seat" attached to a  3/4 wall separating the shower from the tub.    Some of you are familiar with these wonderful "features" !  

 "They" are described as seating! 

Real world,  there is no way anyone can "SIT" on them to perform any task or hygiene routine !!!!  I have tried for years!  Forget it!  No room to sit,  position oneself, or  place necessary items, etc.

  We decided MC could construct a shelf unit to rest on this "space".  He's becoming a Pro at shelf units, so why not another one?  This one  would actually have a purpose and improve it's appearance.

   We carried it in from the garage to make sure it fit!  Can't imagine what would have happened if it hadn't?  It will be finished "In Place"!  There is no way we are going to lug that  back into the garage.

There was a picture where it now sits,  and of course that had to be moved!  Thus the beginning of... "What in the world are we doing?

Another factor contributed to the movement! I was reading about a home and the designer mentioned how fantastic a  family Ceremonial Dress looked in the home's Foyer.    
WOW!
Where I have seen that before?
..... Except many moons ago it was moved out of our Foyer.

I thought maybe I should  get our "Ceremonial" Christening Dress  back,  front and center!
 For months it has been out of the main area of the house.   Actually as things  progressed, I found an even better place to "display" it,  other than the Foyer......that's later.... Really out of the box!

A few  days ago,  I actually thought I had a plan where each piece would go!  Somehow that "plan" got lost?

 Between hair appointments, which we all know, are of the HIGHEST PRIORITY, meetings, etc. I finally think we are finished ....for now.... 

The mirrors and paintings  have moved at least two or three times......The Morning Test Thing!  Oh boy do we need to fill in holes,  and touch up some paint!

Poor MC, he has been up and down step stools with nails, levelers and hammers!

As of this moment .......

The leather framed round mirror (fondly referred to as the "Spare Tire" ) is  over the mirrored Lady's Desk in the Foyer.
The Zinc table was moved to the TERRACE....So far so Good

Moved the black framed mirror that was in the Foyer and put it over our black painted Hope Chest.   They look like a set, but in reality refinished 20 years apart!
Plan B or C or whatever is still good!

WOW THIS PICTURE NOT MOVED!

 Erica's Bow fabric piece over M. Bed......Looking good...real good!

 Moved the large gold framed mirror that was over the Hope Chest, into the bedroom over the glass and iron console table, again although they look alike,  they are completely separate items bought and refinished in different years........we are still on a roll.....

 And Finally

OUR CEREMONIAL CHRISTENING DRESS

 The Dress is now the focal point of the room!  The first thing you see when entering.  The View , not disturbed....still there!!!

 

PS....MC painted the frame black.....big difference!


When the wall unit in our bath is  finished, I will have the pleasure to pretty it up!

Till "WHATEVER MOVES NEXT/"

Patty

I MIGHT HAVE A COLD, BUT I'M NOT DEAD...YET!

Boy I have been sneezing, etc for four days.  I don't think it's allergies, I do think I have a head cold, but I'm not sure at this point!
I slept for three days.  It has taken me hours to catch up on all you guys!  You have been busy while I have been sleeping!

But.....

IN MY FOGGY STATE I did come up with a change I wish to share!

I noticed a lot of posts about Art over the last couple of days.  Thus the Post on my Brother! 

Then on Thursday, the first day of my cold, while still sober, I saw a great picture on Kristy and Beth's Blog,   My Design Chic   http://www.mydesignchic.com/

They were showing fabulous pieces of Art in different settings.  When MC and I finished our Kitchen cabinets with "Annie" I wanted so to have the one piece Erica did for us somewhere in the room.  It had the perfect colors to accent our new cabinets.  I actually gave up, until Thursday!!!!!

Then the following appeared on My Design Chic

WOW, THIS WAS THE ANSWER!!!!

I had thought of hanging Erica's piece over the shelving, but was afraid it would be too much.

UNTIL

THURSDAY

So in between naps and sneezing I convinced MC to hammer two nails for me !  He did and look!

Entering the space....Get the idea?

 Closer

IT'S JUST WHAT I IMAGINED.....

A very special Thank You to Kristy and Beth for their inspiration.  

Patty
buy Kleenex Stock!

Bobby Wihnyk THE ARTIST

OTHER THAN MC....WHO IS THE MOST TALENTED

I wish to do  more  family bragging.

My brother, Bobby, AKA PATCH, in some parts of the country,  has been creating some very impressive Art!  He was showcased in their Florida Community of Pelican Preserve, Fort Myers, Florida last month.
He actually sold many pieces.....so he is a PRO!

He is registered on the site below...
Check it out...


 https://artistsregister.com/artists/FL81


 I have two brothers, Bobby, THE ARTIST
and
 Henry,  AKA Happy,  who is a highly acclaimed ACTOR!
Over the past 10 years or so, he has been in many performances and Starred, in  productions of the Gainesville Community Theater.    He has won Many Many of their awards....

 VERY PROUD

.  Bobby, Henry, Erica

and

I can

 MOVE FURNITURE AND CLEAN!
but I do not have an AKA

AMAZING!

Patty

WE ARE FREE AND OPEN!....

CHAPTER 2
DAY 2

For 2 1/2 years I lived with the Iron Curtain!  I hated it from Day One!  In reality it was a small feature, but one that drove me nuts!   To be honest, none of our friends who have one in their homes are bothered by them!  It's just me....I am weird!  MC knows that and loves me all the same!

David and his assistant arrived early and got to work!!!

Trim work beginning!





A little paint!




The wall on the side of the upper cabinets created a discussion,  and a decision was made on the spot!

 David decided to create a great trim effect!



Attached and painted!

 

THE ADDED TRIM REALLY GAVE IT THE NEEDED  FINISHED LOOK

 PERFECT!

 

 Now we wait......to have the Drywall......Dry,   before final paint can be applied!

The secret to no Mess!!!

MC WAITING

CHAPTER 3
 DAY 3 


Yesterday, David seamed the granite together with Silicone.  He decided to wait and  see how it "set" overnight.   He wasn't 100% sure it would buff smooth.  He would make the decision in the morning....

First thing this morning he decided he would return on Monday and remove the Silicone and replace it with Epoxy.  He wasn't satisfied with the Silicone.   He wants the surface to be as smooth as possible and feels  Epoxy will do a much better job!

He touched up the now "dry"  Drywall and trim.....Job COMPLETED

THE REVEAL

BEFORE

AFTER

 NO IRON CURTAIN......OPEN AND FREE

CONCLUSION....

 SMALL DETAILS CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD

Patty
I wish to add that David was a joy to have in our home.  What I have failed to mention is that the first day he came he had a 4:00 Dental appointment.  Early on the Second Day he had 6 ---YES,  6 teeth pulled!  But he came, on time,  before 9am. and did a Great Job!
Although he was  in great pain, he came on Saturday, Day 3 and worked on touch ups.  he was back this morning to replace the silicone with the epoxy.   He had been to the dentist twice over the weekend for emergency work.   We have one small detail left.....which he will take care of on Thursday.

OUR IRON CURTAIN.... TORN DOWN !!!

CHAPTER ONE
 What you ask, is the IRON CURTAIN?

 Pictures say it all!

BEFORE

The "Iron curtain"  is the 8" BAR shelf separating the Kitchen from the Great Room.   This  "THING" has resulted in broken crystal, red wine, cell phones, and goodness knows what else landing on the counter, and or,  the floor!   It is too narrow to be an Eating  Bar. 

 ....I have no idea

WHAT

IT'S PURPOSE 

IS

Any item placed on it.....has fallen off,  or better put, IS KNOCKED OFF!

I imagined a flat surface extended by those wasted 8 inches.   Resulting in a true 

  Open Floor Plan!  

The desired design for the 21st Century!

 The first thing this morning MC and I "prepped" for the Big Removal!!  We moved everything out of the area, including the  sofa, chairs, rugs, pictures and accessories.  The space was ready for the work to commence!  

MC  CONTRACTED..

DOUBLE D & D  REMODELING 

 There was no way MC was going to tackle this job!

 DAY ONE

  

DAVID COLEMAN Jr.

was in charge!

HE AND HIS CREW 

UPON ARRIVAL

(BTW...ON TIME!)

IMMEDIATELY ADDED DROP CLOTHS.....

AND A HUGE DRY VAC WAS CARRIED IN

    this all made me a very happy "client"!

 ALL READY TO GO

 

 FIRST TO GO..

THE TILE BACK SPLASH

 As the tile was chipped away, the dry vac was used to vacuum up the debris.  It reminded me of a Dentist working with his Assistant.

 THEN THE REMOVAL OF THE GRANITE

 Granite off

This was when I  could peek through and actually get an idea of what was to come!

 There had been two power outlets on the tile back splash.  These wonderful men suggested putting them under the extended counter!  Genius!

 Now...the frame of the old shelf.....going out!

UP

 UP

AND

 AWAY

 These men were the neatest workers I have ever had in our home!  The dry vac immediately was used to vacuum up debris as needed!
Of course, MC, commented on how glad they were doing the work and not HIM!

 The SHELF IS GONE!

NOW....THE "OLD" SHELF TOP WILL BE THE EXTENSION OF THE EXISTING COUNTER.........

FINISHING TOUCHES

TO COME

 

 TOMORROW

AND

THE 

REVEAL

Because of their professional workmanship and courtesy I had very little clean-up after Day One !

Patty

one of the first times, MC, sat at his lap top and enjoyed the day, while the BLH was being transformed!

A Blog To Check Out for Sure!

A few weeks ago, a "Comment" was left by a new reader!

 ....LOVE IT!........I love to receive comments and this one was from someone new!
I could not help but notice that Patricia also had a Blog.

I immediately went on to the Blog, PVE written by Patricia van Esshe.  I figured she had to be good, we shared the same name!

http://www.pvedesign.blogspot.com/

I loved her  Art and her Talent!    I dug further and realized that she sold pieces on Etsy.  That's the same site Erica uses for her Art.  

 http://www.etsy.com/shop/pveshop

Once there I found that I could have a "piece" at an affordable price!   She made note cards with sketches of the larger pieces.   I'm always looking for note cards and these were not only beautiful but.....affordable. I ordered the Florist Note cards.

 I wrote Patricia and told her that it was my FIRST Etsy order,  ever!  I also mentioned that I was going to Frame one of the cards......

In no time I heard back, ( I love that) , and Patricia was as excited as I was about what she referred to as my Virgin Etsy Order.

(I don't need to use Etsy to obtain Erica's work!  She's in the family....you know what I mean!)

The cards arrived in the mail yesterday!  I was amazed.  I ordered them Friday!  and this was regular mail!

MC got his FIRST PAY CHECK!!!!
THIS AFTERNOON WE WENT TO SAM'S CLUB AND BOUGHT A NEW CAMERA.

Just in time to show Patricia's Piece!

Oh I love it!

   Yesterday,  I pruned the bushes in the front yard.

Inexpensive "Flowers"?

I think the camera works pretty good and the pictures are much better than the old one.....  With a little practice they will only get better.


 MC has two projects in the garage.  As soon as one is finished, I will share.   Promise....but I need to get him in the Garage!

Patty