Iconic Axel Vervoordt

Axel Vervoordt is a Belgian artist/designer who creates and collects art or furniture for inspirational rooms that span ages. His work for Calvin Klein in a Miami mansion and his own 12th century moated castle for example...selectively simplistic, showcasing patinas and pure design in antiques or modern furnishings. The Best!   Photos via Pinterest.

Livingroom II

 

The old plaster walls and ceiling here have been repaired, spackled, sanded and primed white. A wallpaper sample came and is taped up for inspiration. Most trim will now be painted "Abbington Putty" which is a stronger color alongside such deeply colored wallpaper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The old iron cabinet door hinges were removed, stripped, polished and oiled which allows the doors to hang plumb & swing freely.

The Living Room I

Although the living room walls had a cool; dark deconstruction look after stained wallpaper was stripped, we are prepping it for new paint now. The dark green alcoves will get a final coat of the same color which matches the dining room fireplace surround while the bottom walls will be a similar brown. Luckily I have found enough removed chair rail from several rooms, to replace what is missing in this one. My foraging for missing moldings in this house is finally complete.

Paint colors will be "Boreal Forest" alcoves, "Seapearl" trim, "Linen" upper walls, with Ralph Lauren's vintage New England wallpaper "Yarmouth Floral Tobacco" below. 

Planning A Pantry

This farmhouse kitchen has a tall closet at it's end we have converted into a pantry. There are four shelves spaced a foot apart and nearly as deep as the space. The top shelf is thinner for easier access and a ceiling light. A new wooden ceiling which can be removed went in first. Shelves are 3/4" finished plywood with rolled satin finish paint and an electrical box near the repaired antique wooden baseboards has been added. I love the exposed antique framing above this pantry closet and the old painted wooden alcove and dining room door next to it.

Each shelf is trapezoidal in shape like the closet, and the ceiling light was installed right of center. A fine paint roller was used on the shelves like the cabinets earlier.

Sisters

 

 

My Mom's sister passed away naturally yesterday in her 90's; with her daughters by her side and not far from her sister. They were reunited after many years by my cousin since having an older sister still is special! Pictures: Mom and I with our sisters. 

Back In Boston

Alex and Nina are remodeling the kitchen and downstairs bathroom in their Charlestown town house. Luckily it has high ceilings and a view of the Bunker Hill Monument nearby, which makes it  worthwhile. Alex has gutted the kitchen and installed nine recessed lights, created a vent duct to the roof and altered plumbing for a stackable washer dryer moving to a closet. A peninsula will be added where the dining room opening has been enlarged, and will have a waterfall side of calacatta gold quartz. The bathroom will have a glass shower with custom white shaker cabinets made for both rooms. White carrara marble hexagonal tiles will be in the shower floor with larger quartz tiles elsewhere.

 

Below are two new kitchens in Charlestown which happen to have very similar components.

Painting A Side Door

 

Old farmhouses often have side doors which serve as a "main" entrance and this vintage; large pane one is used exclusively. I stripped it while Christian  sanded surfaces and glued joints. It is painted a high gloss marine paint from "Fine Paints Of Europe" called "Wooden Shoes" which will blend into the house color and stand out for it's remarkable mirror finish. 

The old brass doorknobs were polished with red rouge on a wheel.