I finished the Entrance Hall! My very first room! I feel just like a parent must feel when their child graduates from high school. I have a photographer friend coming over in a few minutes to snap a few decent photographs. Its 'unveiling' I fear is going to be somewhat of an anti-climax, as you've seen most of it. All rather like that old Peggy Lee song, Is That All There Is? Let's have a listen, shall we?
Is that all there is to the Entrance Hall? Is that all there is? lol! I LOVE that song. Bette Midler does a nice version, too.
So, on to the next! The Drawing Room!
The Drawing Room is located immediately above the Hall. I chose to do this room next so that when the center component is open, it will look like the house is finished. Funny that I chose to start with the two mostdifficult rooms in the house! Maybe I should have practiced on a bedroom or something? Oh well, too late for that now... I have been busy drawing up some rough sketches of the new Drawing Room...here is a sneak peek:
That's my Sue Cook door surround in the center which will be flanked by two Corinthian pilasters. I don't think the pilasters are as wide as I drew them --(the catalog describes them as being 2" wide at their widest point so I was guessing at the width of the column part). Moving outward, two arch-topped niches will fit into the back corners of the room at angles. I'm not sure yet if there will be fabulous statuary in the niches or shelves for more gorgeous little things. I'd like to do curved niches with a scallop shell in the arch, but I haven't quite figured out how to make that idea work in reality!
That's about it for now...I'll post photos of the completed Entrance Hall in a day or so.
LOVED your entrance hall and CAN'T wait to see what you do with the new room! How abouit coming over here and giving me a kick in the butt to get going on my house again!! Like I said "you better get going" I need pictures! Love your work.
WELL DONE JOHN!!! I'm so pleased for you. The entrance hall to Merriman Park has been a fabulous teaser to all the new rooms you are about to tackle. I can not wait to see how your drawing room progresses. One thing I know is that it will be another inspired journey. Re your niches though, I made curved recesses using short lengths of cheap plaster or polystyrene ceiling cornice (used in real life houses, and pretty cheap) glued along one edge. You could always use real clam shells for the top, or the wonderful Sue Cook has one in her collection that, with a little patience and some filler could complete the inside top. I'm sure our learned friends will offer other suggestions. I can't wait to see the new updated pictures. Well done my friend, you are becoming a Mini legend ...
Hi John, Congratulations on your first finished room! The plans for the drawing room are promising! Looking forward to see the pictures of the Entrance Hall. Thanks
Hi Fi! I like the arches, too. I thought I would use the same arch over the fireplace with a mirror in it.
Love me some Peggy Lee!
Hello, Teresa! The photographer (my good friend, Eric) just left with some great shots of the Hall (as well as the exterior)...so stay tuned!
Simon, your words are so kind, thank you! OMG, I had to laugh when you mentioned the 'real' clam shell, because that's what I was thinking, too! After I'm done here I'm heading straight for your blog to check on your progress...
Thanks, Jeffrey! I was lamenting the fact that I didn't have a fab floral arrangement like the one you just made for your X-mas room box. But is a room ever truly 'done?' I'm sure one will show up there, eventually and I hope it's half as gorgeous as yours.
I look forward to the new photos John. Wonderful to have friends with such skills :) The design for the drawing room looks very grand. I was thinking of your arched niches and how to make those. I think I would probably try to sculpt them out of (paper)clay, using a cut down plastic ball (in the lead up to Christmas these should be easily available) as the basic shape for the top. No idea if that would work though, I've never tried it. I'm sure you'll come up with something!
Hi John, I love the design for the drawing room. I'm sure it will be every bit as wonderful as your entrance! In the past I've used plastic balls and easter eggs I found at craft stores. They're pretty easy to cut with a utility knife and pliable enough that ou can adjust them to your niche. I can't wait to see the drawing room come to life. Have a great day, Giac
Hi, Irene! The wiring was the worst part. But after hooking up a few lamps successfully, and generally getting the hang of it, even that wasn't as bad as I imagined it would be.
Hi John, your drawing room plans look great! You could try papier mache for the niches, ping pong balls are a good idea too, might save that one for myself (thanks Giac!). Aren't there cake tins that look like scallops? I'm sure I've seem them around, madelines or something, might be worth a try, especially if you do try papier mache, they'd be good moulds.
Without giving the game away, have you got a colour scheme in mind for the drawing room?
Hi, Andy! Those are great tips, too. I had thought of papier-mache, but whenever I have tried it, it always comes out rough & uneven --but you're right a smooth metal mold would probably take care of that problem.
As far as colors go, there is going to be a lot going on with moldings and things so I thought maybe something very monochromatic and neutral. Something that walnut furnishings would look good against. (Mrs. Thorne is leading me in this direction, lol)! Of course, being a Gemini, like Simon and Fiona, I could change my mind on a dime!
I was actually going to ask you what you thought, Andy --I do so admire your refined sense of color!
But wait until my next post...I'm cleaning up the sketches so you will get a better idea of the rooms proportions.
Ooops, Giac! I responded to your comment earlier but it didn't appear, for whatever reason. Your tip sounds promising...wish I had your skill level to pull it off! (I still can't believe you're hand-making all your own doors and windows).
I'm sure I am not the only one who aspires to Giac Greatness!
I Love it!
ReplyDeleteThe arches give the drawing room a great sense grandeur. I think it will be fabulous, I cant wait to see the process.
Love Peggy lee!!
LOVED your entrance hall and CAN'T wait to see what you do with the new room! How abouit coming over here and giving me a kick in the butt to get going on my house again!! Like I said "you better get going" I need pictures! Love your work.
ReplyDeleteWELL DONE JOHN!!! I'm so pleased for you. The entrance hall to Merriman Park has been a fabulous teaser to all the new rooms you are about to tackle. I can not wait to see how your drawing room progresses. One thing I know is that it will be another inspired journey.
ReplyDeleteRe your niches though, I made curved recesses using short lengths of cheap plaster or polystyrene ceiling cornice (used in real life houses, and pretty cheap) glued along one edge. You could always use real clam shells for the top, or the wonderful Sue Cook has one in her collection that, with a little patience and some filler could complete the inside top. I'm sure our learned friends will offer other suggestions.
I can't wait to see the new updated pictures.
Well done my friend, you are becoming a Mini legend ...
Hi John,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your first finished room! The plans for the drawing room are promising! Looking forward to see the pictures of the Entrance Hall.
Thanks
Hi Fi! I like the arches, too. I thought I would use the same arch over the fireplace with a mirror in it.
ReplyDeleteLove me some Peggy Lee!
Hello, Teresa! The photographer (my good friend, Eric) just left with some great shots of the Hall (as well as the exterior)...so stay tuned!
Simon, your words are so kind, thank you! OMG, I had to laugh when you mentioned the 'real' clam shell, because that's what I was thinking, too! After I'm done here I'm heading straight for your blog to check on your progress...
Thanks, Jeffrey! I was lamenting the fact that I didn't have a fab floral arrangement like the one you just made for your X-mas room box. But is a room ever truly 'done?' I'm sure one will show up there, eventually and I hope it's half as gorgeous as yours.
I look forward to the new photos John. Wonderful to have friends with such skills :)
ReplyDeleteThe design for the drawing room looks very grand. I was thinking of your arched niches and how to make those. I think I would probably try to sculpt them out of (paper)clay, using a cut down plastic ball (in the lead up to Christmas these should be easily available) as the basic shape for the top. No idea if that would work though, I've never tried it.
I'm sure you'll come up with something!
Hi, Josje!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the great tip --I was resigned to go with a smaller but readily available niche , but the ball idea has my head spinning!
Hi John,
ReplyDeleteI love the design for the drawing room. I'm sure it will be every bit as wonderful as your entrance!
In the past I've used plastic balls and easter eggs I found at craft stores. They're pretty easy to cut with a utility knife and pliable enough that ou can adjust them to your niche.
I can't wait to see the drawing room come to life.
Have a great day,
Giac
Congratulations on your first fully completed room. It wasn't that paintful now, was it? :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm now looking forward to the start of the next room.
Hi, Irene! The wiring was the worst part. But after hooking up a few lamps successfully, and generally getting the hang of it, even that wasn't as bad as I imagined it would be.
ReplyDeleteHi John, your drawing room plans look great! You could try papier mache for the niches, ping pong balls are a good idea too, might save that one for myself (thanks Giac!). Aren't there cake tins that look like scallops? I'm sure I've seem them around, madelines or something, might be worth a try, especially if you do try papier mache, they'd be good moulds.
ReplyDeleteWithout giving the game away, have you got a colour scheme in mind for the drawing room?
looking forward to seeing more soon!!
Andy x
Hi, Andy!
ReplyDeleteThose are great tips, too. I had thought of papier-mache, but whenever I have tried it, it always comes out rough & uneven --but you're right a smooth metal mold would probably take care of that problem.
As far as colors go, there is going to be a lot going on with moldings and things so I thought maybe something very monochromatic and neutral. Something that walnut furnishings would look good against. (Mrs. Thorne is leading me in this direction, lol)! Of course, being a Gemini, like Simon and Fiona, I could change my mind on a dime!
I was actually going to ask you what you thought, Andy --I do so admire your refined sense of color!
But wait until my next post...I'm cleaning up the sketches so you will get a better idea of the rooms proportions.
Ooops, Giac! I responded to your comment earlier but it didn't appear, for whatever reason. Your tip sounds promising...wish I had your skill level to pull it off! (I still can't believe you're hand-making all your own doors and windows).
ReplyDeleteI'm sure I am not the only one who aspires to Giac Greatness!