BUCKET LIST HOUSE UPDATE

"MADAM CHANDELIER" IS GOING CRAZY!!!

LOVE, LOVE, THE LARGE OPEN SPACE, OF THE GREAT ROOM, DINING , KITCHEN, AND FOYER.......BUT..................

FINALLY......after a 10 day delay, the latest....and by far, the most fabulous chandelier ever.....arrived!!!

We absolutely LOVE, LOVE it!!

PROBLEM....................

WORKING ALL FOUR CHANDELIERS IN "ONE" SPACE.

Each chandelier, in it's own right, is magnificent. My problem is "marrying" them.

Every night this week, I have sat at this new, fast and efficient, laptop and I have viewed over 10,000 different chandeliers. If there is a chandelier in this world, I have "seen" it. I am looking for the fourth one, the one over the breakfast table. I want it to work in the space, not detract from the others. I have gone back and forth with what to do. Do I find one that is similar to the dining room or the foyer, or do I look for one that compliments the new GRAND chandelier???

The foyer chandelier has a black cord shade. "Inside" are six chrome arms with crystals. It is approximately 18" in diameter. The dining room chandelier is an oblong chrome . It has six arms with clear glass globes. I have small black shades on the lights. The new GRAND chandelier is entirely different!!!.

WE LOVE THE GRAND NEW FIXTURE!

So .......which direction do I go in the kitchen area???

One night I just looked at iron styles that resembled lanterns. The next night I looked at silver and chrome. the next, shade pendant styles...and so forth. Every morning I would go through what I had bookmarked the night before and delete them all.................I thought I would go out of my mind!

MC was a big help. He was very definite on his "nos" and said so. His least favorite style was the lantern. I had originally thought that was the way I would go. He wasn't that helpful on the others. He just knew what he didn't like.

By Friday, I decided to "alter" the existing ones. I removed all the crystals from inside the foyer light, except for the one long ball that hung down the middle. I removed the shades from the dining fixture. Now I had cleaned up the situation, but I still didn't have my answer. How was I going to coordinate four fixtures into one great space?

This morning I hung back the small black shades on the dining room fixture and made a DECISION...................

I would have the GRAND new fixture the only fixture with "bare" bulbs. The black cord shade was cleaned up without all the crystals inside and the dining fixture had it's little black hats back. I found some unique black shade style fixtures that will work in the kitchen space. They are about 20" in diameter, but only 4" high. They don't take a lot of volume space. The one I like the best has a metal shade with crystals in bedded. Just gives off a sparkle. Nothing dangling or dripping.

VERY COOL

Not to confuse the whole thing, but......while I was browsing through chandelier web sites,
I figured this was a good day for MC to work on the window treatments. Way too cold for him to work on the built-ins....

We had decided that MC would not make the cornices. The fabric I bought last summer will find a home, maybe new seat cushions for the dining chairs. Not sure-- that will come in time.

MC spent the day rehanging the white panels in the dining room and great room. MC cut the 4 foot wood white poles that were in the dining room into four, 2 foot poles. He hung a panel on either side of the great room windows on the 2 foot poles. Looks great. Will do the same in the kitchen with the remaining poles. We took the rods that were in the office down to get the necessary finials and brackets for the new design. The panels in the dining room are now hanging directly under the crown molding. Did this in our other house and it worked great. The office and bedrooms will just have the panels hang from regular curtain rods on either side of the windows. Down the road we will come up with something else.....maybe......

I must admit there is hardly a dull moment around our Bucket List House......and that's the way we love it !!!!!

YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS.............

MIGHTY MOUSE SAVES THE DAY.......

MC actually is a genius .......and a little "crazy"

Here he is making it possible for us to EXIT our house. Our driveway has been a sheet of ice. Two hours of sunshine didn't do the trick......
But.................MIGHTY MOUSE DID!!!!


He is such a smart MC....Can you believe he made his ice scrapers all by himself? So clever!
and..............he only fell once smack on his belly!!!!!

WOW.....

ALL IS WHITE.....

We have ice, snow and we are HOUSEBOUND.....
It's as white inside as it is outside!!!

ACCEPTANCE

ADJUSTMENTS

Every now and then the anticipated is not attainable. It's what one does with these "Happenings" that either makes life great or depressing..

This week, two pieces to our Great Room that I was looking forward to, became unattainable.

First: The black flokati rug is no longer available.

The other piece of the puzzle was a large chandelier I ordered. I thought it would compliment the flokati rug. I received an email on Monday that it too was no longer available..

Funny how things turn out. If the chandelier was available it wouldn't have looked as spectacular as I had hoped...without the flokati rug, it would have looked lost.

So... back to square one!! Surprisingly, I am a little relieved. I was unsure of the quality of the rug. It was such a good price that I was beginning to doubt it's quality!!! Now, that worry is gone!

The chandelier, well that's a little different. I really was looking forward to it. But....now I can start my search anew.

In the last couple of days, I have looked at the space in a new light. I received the latest Ballard catalog and ....you guessed it.... an EPIPHANY .....there in a room setting was a look that I loved...and it was all built around a chandelier. Two weeks ago, this chandelier would never have caught my eye! The room in the catalog is so similar to what we have, and there in the center of it all is this steel chandelier with 12 lights, YES 12! All in a circle. Just wait till you see it! A complete different look, but I think it will work with all the pieces now in the room. The steel will be the common thread......the texture will be perfect!

But Wait....there is a small bonus. MC's library needs a ceiling light. He has two table lamps, but lacks good lighting at his desk. His desk is in the center of the room, which is great, but not great for table lamps! I had Epiphany #2 after deciding on the 12 light chandelier for the Great Room. We have a 3 light small chandelier over the kitchen table that really would look great, hung at the ceiling, in MC's library. It would give him all the needed light he needs.

You must be following me by now......yes.....now I get a third chance on getting the chandelier over the kitchen table correct!!! I will wait until the 12 light chandelier is up and then look for a complimentary one for the kitchen. That's so much more fun than buying a "typical" ceiling light for MC. This gives him a great, unique light, and gives me the opportunity to find the right one for the kitchen.

But a harder adjustment ....and one I can't fix....

As I write this Post, Steve, Angela, Isabelle and Sophia are flying back to Seoul. We are going to miss them very, very much. It was wonderful having the precious time we did, but it was by far not long enough. I envy all of you who have family close by.....
I can only hope it's not too long before we can see them all again................

A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS PRESENT

SOPHIA

Sophia is one great gal! MC and I had met her before and always knew she would be a joy to have as a house guest.

We were delighted she spent Christmas weekend with us. But.....when she presented us with the beautiful art work she had done, just for us, and the Bucket List House, I can't tell you how overwhelmed we were.

She is such a talented artist. We hope she can go on to great success with her works.

Now....We have TWO TALENTED ARTISTS IN THE FAMILY. How lucky is that!!!!!!

We decided to place her piece in the dining room. I think you all will agree that it "fits" the space perfectly! MC spent the week creating a frame and now it is hung!!

Now.......you all know that things can MOVE. I can not promise it will always be where you see it today. But, if it moves.....it will only be to improve it's importance!

Sophia, we thoroughly enjoyed your stay.....please come back soon.

CHRISTMAS 2010

FIRST CHRISTMAS IN THE BUCKET LIST HOUSE..

We are so blessed!!!!

ANGELA, STEVE AND ISABELLE

EVERYONE WILL BE WARM THIS WINTER

The best part..... meeting and getting to know, Isabelle. She is such a precious baby and we are so lucky and thankful we were able to spend time with her..... I hate the fact she will be going back to Seoul and we won't be able to share in all her "firsts"....

MC and I had a wonderful time getting to know our house guest, Sophia. She was going to spend more time with us, but due to difficulties with her Visa, she will be returning with Steve and Angela. She is a very talented artist! She is also amazing.....she was able to carry the painting, beautifully gift wrapped as carry on baggage all the way from Seoul .......not one tear or wrinkle .....

Sophia and Me

PLACE OF HONOR TO BE FRAMED VERY SOON

The days went so quickly.....and before I knew it .....they were gone. They have business and visits in North Carolina and Virginia. On their return , MC and I will meet up with them for dinner before they fly back to Seoul next week.

Last night I was TOTALLY surprised with a belated Birthday Gift. I am now glad I have reached the age of 70!!!! In Korea, living to be 70 is a big event and one is "gifted" handsomely.

Angela wasn't going to let this go by and I was "Gifted" last evening with a wonderful, great, new lap top.......I am writing this blog on it!!! Thank you so very much......What happens at 71?

Now back to our normal day to day existence. With "fresh" eyes from Steve, MC and I figured out a new approach to the design of the built-ins......We think ....even Steve....will think the changes are up to MC's quality of work....

OH.....IT'S GORGEOUS !!!

1968--------2010

Boy...... after 42 years it looks great !!!!!

The sofa has never looked this good...... I can't believe how GRAND it turned out!!!

Kathy Lockwood did a wonderful job transforming a faded, somewhat droopy sofa, into a very special integral part of our home!!!!!

MC and I are so pleased with Kathy's work. We never dreamed our old sofa could be magically turned into the piece that is now the focal point of the Great Room.

We want to thank Kathy for her very talented workmanship........

Kathy can be reached at:

lockwoodupholstery@gmail.com




Kathy and I have the "First Sit" test......."Yes, it's very comfy" .....

WHITE CLOUD
JUST PERFECT

oh.....it's easy to clean with just water........how great is that!!!!!

The Great Room...... ready for Christmas..... Well sort of! A Lot more layers to add.... in the future....

MC will be constructing cornices for all the windows in the rear of the house. I don't expect them by Christmas though. We are covering them in an ultra suede fabric, a shade slightly darker than the wall color. Looking forward to that addition! Erica and I went shopping last summer in Asheville. Great fabric stores and a great fun day!!!


A big, unexpected, addition will be a 6' x 9' "Flokati" rug in black (of course). I'm going to center it under the red ottoman. Thanks to, two dear friends,... who suggested this medium for the rug. What a great texture addition. I went on line and found a site that sells Flokati rugs and pillows....Stylish Shag & Modern Rugs. Just what the room needs to bring the white and black together......Will order the rug next week, just in time for Christmas and I will share it with a picture when it arrives.

Did some tweaking in the Guest Bedroom. We put the Darryl Carter Thomasville sofa in front of the windows. Need to hang the drapery panels and wait for the cornice. Then.....I will take a picture of our "Guest Suite"!!!

So much to do.....Oh I love it.......
We so Love Our Bucket List House......
Till next time....Enjoy....

A FUN SATURDAY AFTERNOON

.....AND WHAT DID I DO FOR FUN THIS PAST SATURDAY AFTERNOON......??

Boy did I have a BLAST!!!

Around eleven Saturday morning the Sales Center called and asked if I could help put some decorations up at the Sales Office. They were pretty busy making cookies for the Tour of Homes the following day, handling the traffic plus their other necessary work!!!

Didn't have to think about that answer.....
Now how long do you think it took me to get over there?????? Pretty FAST!!!
My dream afternoon was waiting for me!

Two years ago one of the model homes had been decorated from "Head to Toe" or I should say Wall to Wall...Ceiling to Ceiling!!! The decorations had been stored away for two years and hadn't been taken out until last week.

Arriving, I saw boxes and boxes of fabulous, to die for, gorgeous decorations. Everything from bows, balls, tree, wreaths.....You name it ....it was there. Heaven for any designer to work with........I hardly knew where to begin. All I could think of was "Patty, calm down ....move slowly... and do the best you can....."

They requested I do the tree and whatever else to make the large Sales Center main room look "Decorated for the Holidays"!!!

First I divided all the items by color .....It was then easy for me to see that one color dominated and that would be my "Theme".
. My first job was to adorn the large chandelier that dominates the center of the entire room. I found two beautiful glass balls! I knew they belonged in a"Place Of Honor"

Enter....MC .............
With MC on the ladder and yours truly giving "directions" we were able to hang them perfectly.



Now I could start on the Tree!
Russ was working the desk. He and MC handed me balls with the hangers, and I placed them carefully around the tree. I then finished with ornaments and bows I found in the boxes.



Across from the tree is a fireplace with a beautiful mantle.....Perfect place for the large wreath and garland.


Moving right along......two more spaces needed to be adorned!! The coffee/cookie serving area and the long shelf under the Monthly Activity Calendar.



Wow.......by 4:00 it was finished!!!! I have to attribute a large amount of the success to the GORGEOUS/MAGNIFICENT materials I had to work with.

BUT........The "story" isn't over...........

Sunday, when I arrived for the start of the Holiday Tour of Homes, under the tree was the BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT I COULD EVER RECEIVE........




The entire staff made this sign to show their appreciation. I can't thank them enough. I have never been so happy!!!!

THANK YOU .........YOU ARE ALL VERY SPECIAL

MERRY CHRISTMAS
HAPPY NEW YEAR
FROM
MASTER CARPENTER AND PATTY

We wish you all the BEST Christmas ever and a wonderful, healthy New Year! Thank you for reading my silly blog!! We hope you have enjoyed all our crazy antics.......and will continue to follow the journey into our future in the Bucket List House!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS
HAPPY NEW YEAR

FROM
THE BUCKET LIST HOUSE

THE TREE

MERRY CHRISTMAS
HAPPY NEW YEAR
MASTER CARPENTER AND PATTY

FINALLY

AT LAST.....

THE TREE HAS ARRIVED....

The day started early...Russ picked up MC and off they went for THE TREE!


ONE HOUR LATER....

AND NOW FOR THE

THE REVEAL......

BLACK

When Patti was here a couple of weeks ago, she suggested "black"!!! The more I thought about it....the more I thought...."It Just Might Work!" It only makes sense.......the house is basically BLACK AND WHITE!!!!


Many of you guessed that the Accent Color would be black! I think you are figuring me out !

.....previous years the colors have been Red, Purple and Tiffany Blue! Traditional, normal colors!! Again, I am pushing the bar......I am not NORMAL!!!!!



I called my "ribbon" source, Norfolk Wholesale Florist, and within two days I had my BLACK RIBBON!!!!





Now that it's set up in it's "final" resting place.....(I think?).....I can start transforming the tree into a Magical vision ..... Black, a little Silver and Chrystal and Lots of sparkle.

When it's in it's Gorgeous State......I will post a picture......

CHRISTMAS DECOR UPDATE ...

WEATHER SLOWS UP PROGRESS......

It is raining.... and.... that means......NO TREE PICK-UP....today!

Pikes Nursery is about a 45 minute drive. It was highly recommended that we pick up the tree on a sunny day. Any moisture could break down the "flocking" !!!!

We are now scheduled for Thursday, December 2nd !!! The forecast is for a sunny day in the 60's...
Perfect! Russ has graciously volunteered his truck and personal help to MC. I now will be indebted to him and his unmerciful teasing for months!!!! Seriously, he's a GREAT guy and I thoroughly enjoy his teasing....just don't let him know!

Any guesses on what the SECRET accent color is going to be????? Oh I hope I can pull this one off!

Check back on Thursday.........

THE BEST "BUY" OF THE YEAR!!!

"INDECISION CAN BE A GOOD THING".......

That's what I said when I decided to have all the knobs on the kitchen cabinets different. It all started in Norfolk. I was looking for new hardware, went to a kitchen custom cabinet store and found a table with odd knobs. They were discontinued items and were 25 cents each. I picked about 20 and headed home..... happy as a lark!

I have continued the "Tradition" ...... ONLY BETTER

This time was even more fun....

Remember ??

During the summer, I visited "Bubba" at his custom cabinet shop. I needed many more than the orginal 20 for our new kitchen. I asked him if he had "odd" kitchen hardware. He sent me into the back of his shop where there was a large cardboard box. Inside the box were knobs left over from his jobs. I choose about 30 and went to pay him........He said: "Oh they're .... FREE..... I was about to toss them.....are you sure that's all you want?"

Sane people would think this very unconventional......but I have never claimed to be SANE!!!!








I hope I never stop thinking......it's fun being A LITTLE ODD!!!!!!

THINGS ARE POPPING

VINTAGE SOFA AND CHRISTMAS TREE....

All in one weekend!

Patti and Mark arrived yesterday afternoon!!! There is my "baby".....the Henredon sofa from 1968!!!

The upholsterer came with her truck a few hours later and whisked it away to her workshop. The next time we see it it will be absolutely drop dead,.....GORGEOUS!!!!





This morning, Patti and I headed out for, Yes....... you guessed it Senoia and Peachtree City!! Patti did a lot of Christmas shopping in Senoia......that should keep a few of my readers interested and excited!

It was early, no reason to head home, so off to Peachtree City! I wanted to check the large nursery, Pikes, to see when they were opening their Christmas shop and when they would have the flocked trees ready for sale................

SURPRISE......................they started selling flocked trees last week!!!! Apparently once the tree has been "flocked" it is preserved for at least one year..... or longer. They have customers who use them for two or three seasons!!! A much improved process from the 60's! So, not to let the perfect tree slip me buy......I bought one!!! They are holding it until we can get it home.....I am one happy camper.

Of course the "bringing home THE tree" will be a great photo opportunity and hopefully I can show it. I can't believe I bought a Live Christmas Tree on Nov. 20th!!!

"Stay Tuned" ..... a LOT is going on.....

"OH WHAT FUN IT IS TO....."

DESIGN---CREATE---BUILD

Here we go....

STEP ONE:

First Bucket List House Project

Master Carpenter started last week, with the help of our dear friend, Russ. They traveled (via Russ' truck) to Lowes....one of Master Carpenter's favorite places.....and picked up two, unfinished cabinets. He will use one on each side of the fireplace as the base for the built-ins.... A new design...!!! Shelves will be built, above, in various sizes, to accommodate all our treasures.

MC (Master Carpenter) has been in the work shop (garage) sanding and painting all week and the first one was carried in this afternoon with Carlon's help (great neighbor!)

We are so, so, fortunate to have friends that are so gracious to help!!!!!! Thank you so much.







Stay tuned for

STEP TWO

PERFECT LITTLE GIRL

MY CHILDHOOD IMAGE.........

As I was looking at the pictures we took over the weekend this one caught my eye!!!

When I was a young girl .....(the "period" now known as "Mid-Century"!)......I had the idea that I would have a little girl who sat in a chair and looked perfect! She would never get dirty and always act like a young lady...

Well here she is.........

GIADA

ERICA'S EPIPHANY

A CHANDELIER BECOMES GLASS "ART"

This all began with THE unique light fixture!!! It's "life" started at the shop where Erica works. She and the owner, Connie, never felt it "fit" the shop's image. So, when they found a replacement last summer, I commented that I could find a place for it. They were more than happy to hand it over........

I was sure it would look great over our kitchen table .....and it did! But..... we had an electrical problem! As the electrician explained....the frequencies it threw off were so "loud" that it caused the circuit boxes in the garage to "pop"!!! The fixture was unusable!!

......Oh Boy.. I could buy another chandelier!!!! By now you all know how I love that!! It took hardly a day to find it's replacement.

I was determined to use the chandelier from the shop somewhere. A chandelier not finding a "home" is too hard for me to accept!!

Bobby, Carla, Giada, Erica and Adam were here this weekend. When I had a quiet moment (rare this weekend!) I asked Erica where we could "hang" it?? It didn't have to "work".....just hang!

Erica looked at me with those sparkling eyes of hers and said: "Grandma, I think I have it"!

Enter Master Carpenter.....we had to figure out how to hang it and not have it look like a chandelier! He remembered the "arms" were movable and placed them in a half circle. He then figured out how to hang it ...

Presto .......


I can't promise how long the "vase" will remain, but for today's photo shot it will do. The plant stand came from England on the ship Grandma's father traveled to the States in the 1800's.

The "Girls" did find time this weekend to do a little shopping. Saturday we ventured to Senoia. Erica found a hat! Just happens that Master Carpenter has one just like it !!

Giada looks better !!!!

(if you look closely, you can see the new chandelier over the table)

Master Carpenter is at work in his "shop" ......he started the Wall Units!!!!! Can't rush him, but I hope we have some progress soon to show........

YOU'VE GOT TO BE JOKING !!

MACYS PUT THEIR TREE UP.....on November 5th!

Now, that is too much!

But......when I got my Birthday present from our Son, Steve and his family, I started to "Think Christmas"!!!

Steve thought he was sending "Live" greenery and fruit for Fall. But, in reality, the wreath and garland are silks. He was so upset. I have reassured him that it got my mind churning and it is a FABULOUS gift!!

I didn't have enough ornaments to "decorate" our new home and a large tree. All the fabulous silk magnolias, greenery, and fruits I now have ......... well.........I can't wait to get to work!

I have no idea what I will do, but I'll have a lot of fun. I'm thinking of all the different ways I can adorn the live, flocked, white, tree we will buy. We haven't had a live tree since the Tacoma Christmases!!

This is going to be Great.......

Will start after Thanksgiving. With a live tree, I can't do it too early.

Stay tuned....I have a lot of work ahead of me.

WHAT TIME IS IT ?????

WE CAN READ THIS ONE......

We needed a clock......
We went shopping......
We found a clock.....
......and......
We can read it!!

Eventually the famous "Family Clocks" will be hung. That needs to wait until Master Carpenter constructs the valances. I have to actually "see" the valances to know the desired "height" of the clocks.

I will say one thing......we will know what time it is when we are in the kitchen......