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Tuesday, April 18, 2017

The Finishing Touches Around Our New Home!

    
"MOLDING!"

In my last post I shared our entry hall with you all, and I mentioned I would share the rest of the molding we did throughout our living area.



To say we are happy with the results is truly an understatement. My hubby did a lot of molding work in our last home so this addition makes it feel more like home to us. Who says a small space (53"x93") can't look grande? 

We had crown molding added to the entire living area. Talk about a quick transformation! Once it went up they had it caulked and painted in no time.

Here it is in the great room, we also adding molding around the opening of the niche. Originally I had planned a frame inside the inset, but opted to wait and see if it needed it once all the molding was done. 

I have a policy that I use for myself, "When in doubt don't," and I truly wasn't sure if it would need further attention so I am waiting.

Update: Now that I have lived with the finished project I have decided I DO want to add the frame on the back wall. I think it will give more dimension to the area.



 (before molding was added)
You can also see the opening into a little hallway on the left side of the TV niche. Since it is a part of the TV wall we are also addressing that area with a new hanging light fixture to give it a finished look.



 This fixture ties in my use of black, white and aged brass that I used in my other light fixtures in our home. Repeating elements makes for a nice visual flow.



One of the nice surprises that came out of this project was how he treated all the curved corners.

We have two corners that were treated this way, one in the kitchen and a smaller one in the great room at the edge of the fireplace wall. I love beautiful detailing and this really is pleasing to my eye.




 He also used the same treatment in my kitchen area on the curved corners. This is a picture before it was caulked and painted.

A nice finishing touch to that one corner, it almost looks like a column.


 The opening from the kitchen to the great room is about 12 ft. I wanted it to say a little more than the other door openings, but not too much as to shout out, "Look at me!!" It had to have a visual flow.

I took my cue from my Dutch cushion mirror over the fireplace. (note, again repeating elements)...

I have seen this design in historical homes, including the White House, but I did not know what it was called. I literally spent the most part of one whole day researching it.

I found out it was called shoulder architrave. Can you see the shoulders, and the recessed part in the middle where the neck would go.

Since my area was over 12 feet I did not want the recessed part. I just wanted it to go straight across. I found that this was called earred architrave.

Here is a picture of the treatment I wanted. I knew that proportions were important so I worked with my contractor to get the look I wanted. This was the first time he had done this treatment. He likes it so well he wants to do it again.



Here is a closeup of the molding before it was painted and caulked so you can see the details.


Here is a closeup of how it turned out. It looks exactly how I had envisioned it. Simple, classic, says a little bit but not too much!!


Now that we are done it is time to review the project and make some final tweaks.

In the entry hall I originally wanted a very small pencil size framework on the ceiling in black, but let my hubby and contractor talk me out of it. I used my, "When in doubt, Don't," or in this case "When in doubt, WAIT!"

I have waited and once I saw the lighting going up I knew I wanted it in the design. So we are going to try it out. Here is inspiration picture...


The molding here is a bit wider than I envision for my project.

The other area my hubby wanted to wait on, that was in my original plan was to use one more of the over head lights that I have in the entry a bit further into our home as you enter. I agreed to wait, but I KNEW I wanted it, and  that it would look great.

The other light will be placed on the other side of the doorway

After it was all said and done, he agreed and the new fixture has been ordered and it is on it's way.



Items left to do:

1. Black pencil trim on entry ceiling
2. Frame molding back wall of TV niche.
3. Hang scalloped fixture on other side of entry doorway.
4. Hang light fixture in little hall next to TV niche. 

Then we will be DONE and DONE


I promise to show you all the final details in another post once we are totally done with this go around!! You realize there will be more projects in our future, but this was the big one for this year!! Thanks for following along on our new journey!!

 
 

13 comments:

the craftytraveller said...

This looks fantastic! I'm so glad you posted before photos, because it all suits the place so well it looks like it was always there (in the best possible way!). Well done. I can't wait to see all the finishing touches, as it is going to look very sophisticated.

My granny used to say "when in doubt, don't". It's a useful saying, and widely applicable. These decorations are a wonderful example of the benefits of following it.

Thank you for sharing with us!

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Everything looks amazing. I love all the detail and your lights are perfect.

La Vie Quotidienne said...

It looks great. Very nice indeed. Oh how I love molding.

Elizabeth "Libby" Day said...

The molding is exactly what you needed and it adds so much detail and interest to your home. He did a masterful job! May I offer one suggestion? Don't do the molding on the TV wall yet simply because you may want to add a solid piece of furniture to hold the TV. I see a high, narrow, lightweight solid piece of furniture there to compliment the mantel and fireplace wall and further balance the wall of windows. Just my eye. Thanks for sharing your transformation with us.

June from Oregon said...

Kathy Sue--

You are awesome!!!!! The molding and lights look lovely, lovely, lovely. I agree that your contractor produced a fantastic result. How wonderful that you introduced him to a new style, and he wants to do it again...That's such a compliment!

I'd be interested in a blog mention on how you went about selecting your contractor. Also on the paint color, brand and finish of your millwork.

Congrats on adding to your home in a most splendid way.

I admire your waiting to find out about the added lighting choices. You are a good wife.

Kathysue said...

Elizabeth Day, thank you for the comment and the suggestion. We have a tall narrow piece in my garage from our other home that use to hold a smaller TV, but since this TV is larger and he plans on yet another larger TV in the future, this setup is best for the room. I did not wan to create a wall by using a large piece of furniture in the room. Love hearing your insights so keep them coming!!

Kathysue said...

Hi June from Oregon, I live in a community that actually has a directory of recommended workers from car mechanics, to seamstress, to crafstman. I looked my contractor up on yelp, also made sure he was licensed and bonded, saw some of his work and moved forward. The paint for the trim is Sherwin Williams swiss coffee, which is the color of all my paint throughout the house, walls and trim. HOpe this answers your questions.

Sarah said...

Kathysue, I so enjoy the way you walk us through the process of a project. It is extremely helpful to me and makes me appreciate the project all the more. We are fond of moldings and have added them to both our homes. It is amazing what a difference and what impact the addition makes. Your project is perfect proof! The entry hall is stunning! As you say, "Who says a small space can't look grand?" Love the look of the ceiling and the front door.

Unknown said...

Loving all the new details and I agree with the addition of the black line accent in the room as well as the second light fixture. That will truly tie the space to the rest of your home. Would love to know where you found the light fixture for the small hallway.

In looking at the pictures it also seems like some color on your upholstered barstools would be a nice addition...black and white of course.

Thanks for sharing your home with all of us.

cindy hattersley design said...

I love all the pretty cabinetry details. One rarely sees pretty details like this anymore

Shirley@Housepitality Designs said...

The molding is amazing!....With the addition of the molding in the foyer, it truly makes a statement in the area and other than the painting and sconces, it truly is an area that needs nothing more. Love all of the molding and it truly has made things more spectacular...I am a believer in the details of the home. I feel the room should be just as pretty empty and all the architectural details shine! I am sure you are over the moon happy with the beautiful results!!!!

Mary said...

So pretty! I admire your skill of getting it just right. These are the things that make a house a home.
Please share where the light fixture is from that you plan to add in the little hallway. I love it!

Kathysue said...

For those of you who are interested in where the light for the little hallway comes from, It is the Brighton pendant from Robert Abbey. You can find it here....http://www.bellacor.com/productdetail/robert-abbey-3391-brighton-matte-black-and-brass-one-light-pendant-1740006.htm