Settling in...
I'm sort of a freak when it comes to unpacking and settling in. I don't want to take my time. I want it done now. I want my home to feel like a home as soon as possible. The children are with their father this weekend and this has allowed me some time to sort through boxes, set up rooms and hang pictures. Of course the magic doesn't happen over night, but it sure is nice when the empty spaces fill up with your possessions. Below are a few pictures of how things stand at the moment.
Where these two dining room chairs are standing will be an antique secretary that will serve as my desk and office space. I'm moving from a 4,500 square foot home into a 1,500 square foot home. I have to learn to be creative with the little space I have. The main family room will also serve as office space. Tomorrow's project (after I unpack more boxes!) will be to start stripping the old secretary of her dark green paint. I'm painting her an antique white (Benjamin Moore) to go with the walls. I'm thinking of painting the inside coral to go with the striped settee that I have that will soon be reupholstered.
And back to Marcy's flowers and the front hall table which is still a work in progress...
Where these two dining room chairs are standing will be an antique secretary that will serve as my desk and office space. I'm moving from a 4,500 square foot home into a 1,500 square foot home. I have to learn to be creative with the little space I have. The main family room will also serve as office space. Tomorrow's project (after I unpack more boxes!) will be to start stripping the old secretary of her dark green paint. I'm painting her an antique white (Benjamin Moore) to go with the walls. I'm thinking of painting the inside coral to go with the striped settee that I have that will soon be reupholstered.
Below is a large black frame that I found on the street in Greenwich when I lived there years ago. It was waiting to be tossed into the garbage. It needs nothing other than a good cleaning. I may find a print or photograph to frame or I may go ahead and attempt a little sketch myself... I think this will look ever so handsome hanging next to the secretary.
Below is a shot of my kitchen. (Forgive the randomness of these photos. The order was all messed up when I uploaded them from my iPhone.) I just love the exposed brick in the kitchen. As you can see I have unpacked all my cookbooks. My grandmother's are those in white. My dining room table now sits in the kitchen. In the background, hanging from the brick is a black and white photograph of my grandmother's last great project before her death - her villa in Umbria, Italy. (I'm hoping to have permission to tear down the wallpaper and repaint the kitchen in the same antique white the rest of the house is painted in.)
A screened-in porch sits just off the kitchen. I suspect we will spend a majority of our summer out there.
Below are the beautiful flowers that Marcy from
Stylesson brought over today. My favorites!
Sorting through photographs to figure out what goes where...
Back the family room... (I'm laughing at the background...Sandra Bullock in The Proposal!)
I didn't get most of the furniture so I had to be creative. A tray on a luggage rack makes a good interim side-table showcasing old issues of Maison et Jardin featuring my grandmother's homes in Cannes and Paris.
A beautiful oil of coastal Maine... I'll need some help hanging this one over the mantel!
An old wooden trunk from an antique store in Rhode Island fitted with a customized piece of glass makes a perfect coffee table!
Another view of the kitchen. The wrought iron candelabra will be moved to hang over to the table. Here I would like to hang a pot rack for my copper. I think it will look lovely!
The two end chairs would have made the dining area in the kitchen too cramped. So, for the time being, they are being used as extra seating.
Here's a full view of the settee. She'll be reupholstered in the same fabric which is much more coral in color than the faded salmon you see here. I will move the settee over to the window area. I'd love a white sofa in her place. I've traded my passion for all things bright for white with a splash of color. I think it suits our small space much better.
Another view of the back wall in the kitchen. This was the first piece of "art" I hung up. It's my chalkboard in a frame my ex-husband and I found at a garage sale and painted black. Can you see what it says?!
I've just started the boys' room. They've never had to share before, so it'll be an adjustment for both. I bought new beds - spent a small fortune as I wanted good mattresses that will last as long as they live with us. I'm now tempted to replace my own mattress!
The boys have matching Ikea duvet covers. I can't tell you how soft they are and how inexpensive they were! The lamp and chair/ladder are both older Pottery Barn items. This room will have a nautical/Americana theme when it's done.
I'll keep you all updated as we go along our merry way here at our new Entertaining House!
XOXO
Jessica