This Old Porch

Shortly after I moved into my house, a couple stopped by to welcome me to the neighborhood. They had just become empty nesters and they had considered buying my house to downsize and they had a lot of renovation ideas. Their plan was enclose this porch to make a huge new kitchen downstairs and master bedroom suite upstairs..

Cambridge has some pretty strict building restrictions but one little loophole--if you could call it that--is that any porch with a roof over it already is considered indoor space; therefore, it could be enclosed and used and indoor space.

I'm really indifferent for a few reason. I love having the downstairs porch on weekend mornings and when friends come over for weekend barbeques but it has a mainly southern exposure and the sun is unbearable most of the day. I never use the upstairs porch at all. Also, as we know from the 1876 survey of my house...

...there was no porch there at all. So I haven't reconciled restoring it to its original condition vs. updating it for modern use. These porches were added to the house in 1940 according to the former owner's daughter and, in my opinion, they look a little tenement-like.

If you'll notice in the 1876 drawing the real el of the house was 37 feet long. The present day kitchen and bathroom only take up about 17 feet.

It seems, according to an 1885 map, that there was an attached structure, probably some kind of barn or wood shed. Maybe that el could look a little like a barn.

But maybe with a lot more glass so it would look like this....

...and maybe opens all the way up if I want it to...

...but set up like this inside for three-season use.

And then maybe have some french glass door from the kitchen so it brings in lots of light and expands the living space part of the year.

I've asked The Architects to consider how I might use this space and I look forward to seeing what they come up with.

This Ain't Devine Design

I used to like HGTV until all the shows turned to house hunting newbies who won't buy a $600,000 house because it doesn't have stainless steel appliances. But I still love Candice Olson's Devine Design. I love everything she does but, let's face it, she makes it look too easy. She just opens drawers and pulls out all the perfect finishes and fabric to make the perfect room. I wish it were that easy. Every choice seems so difficult.

I ended up deciding to go with the muslin and black velvet curves for the roman blinds because it think it will be a perfect counterbalance to the art wall I want to put on the other side of the room. When my friends came over to help me put down the rug, I was saying I thought the fabric looked like an abstracted or minimal zebra print. And one of my friend pointed out the hobnail table legs look like an impala's antlers.

Holy Cow, he's right! And now, with the mountain grass rug in place, I've got a total "Out of Africa" theme going on. So I headed to the fabric store with the idea that I'd try bringing in an accent color to soften the look.

I thought this mossy green color would be a nice accent to all the neutrals so I picked up a sample of this fabric to try out.

I think it would be nice to lighten up the dark gray sofa with some pillows. This is a grain sack and another mossy green basketweave pattern. I don't know that I love the print but maybe used as a welting cord on a pillow would be nice.

And then just for fun, I decided to play with the "Out of Africa" look and I brought in this old chippy black chair I bought in Vermont for $5 several years ago, an old kuba cloth I remembered I had in the basement, a grain sack (on the chair) and an ornate gold frame that adds a little shine. I don't know...but I don't hate it. It's definitely masculine.

Here's a shot of the new rug, the new fabrics and a few grain sacks I had purchased a while back (from Wendy Lewis of the Textile Trunk, a/k/a "Loodylady" on ebay) and never used for anything. I kind of like the combination of colors, patterns and textures. And I'm viewing grain sacks in a totally different way all of a sudden.

Here's Zazu checking out all the new stuff. She's wondering, "What are you doing now?"

So here are the fabrics again on the chair next the Impala table, my antique Thai wagon wheel and a vase that suddenly looking like ostrich skin.

I'll live with these for a little while and see what speaks to me.

Candice Olson, call me!

Salon Style Art

The new living room rug arrived yesterday so I had a few friends over today to help me move some furniture around and get it down on the floor. The convex mirror I ordered...

...like the one in this favorite photo I posted earlier, will take a few weeks so my thoughts are turning to creating something like this black and white, eclectic salon style grouping of artwork.

Collecting art is a huge passion--well, okay, problem--of mine so I already have a few pieces that would be perfect.

I think these these salon style hangings require some sort of order. Whether it's color, theme, shape, subject matter, etc., unless they're hung in a perfect grid like these, I think pulling them off successfully can be pretty tricky.

Although the colors are wild, I think it's the unusual shape of this grouping that makes this display so exciting.

Imagine the planning it took to get this large group of photographs into a perfect rectangle. P.S. Another thing I noticed only after posting this is that the "pattern" of the arrangment mirrors the apothecary cabinet below it. How cool is that?

This is an arrangement of MissPrint wallpapers that's quite fun.

This kitchen filled with B&W photos, although a little dizzying, makes me think of Paris for some reason.

Here's another grouping of black and white pieces that fit into a rectangle. But I think the internal negative space is also an important part of the success of this arrangement.

I have a feeling that creating these arrangements is harder than it looks and I'm sure it's something I would be tweaking for years to come.

Sources: 1+3) Martha 2) Domino 4,5) ? 6) MissPrint Wallpaper via Apt Therapy 7)?

Quilts as Art

I went all winter long without a sniffle and now that spring is around the corner, I've gotten a terrible cold. It's going to be cold, rainy weekend so I'm stocking up on chicken soup, wrapping myself up in a nice, warm quilt and I'm going to enjoy my Nyquil buzz.

Please enjoy these beautiful African-American quilts while I recuperate. I always hated quilts until I discovered these. They're great abstract art! I have a lot more images so maybe I'll share some more over the weekend.

Do you love?

Living Room Ingredients, Part 2

My living room rug has been shipped and I'm eager to get it down on the floor so I can move forward with setting up the room and figuring out what else I want/need. In the meantime, I've selected a few more things that I'll put into the room.

The earlier peek-a-boo photos of the barley twist table didn't really do it justice so here's a glamor shot of her showing off her gorgeous legs.

I got a lot of questions and comments about the convex sun mirrors from my Charles Street post and about their price. They were "quite dear" as my grandmother used to say. The smaller two were about $2400 and the large one on the mantel was about $4800. I think it's great to study the characteristics of these genuine beauties so you can choose a good reproduction or identify one at an auction or garage sale.

I ended up choosing this convex mirror framed in black with a silver accent from Mitchell Gold. I think this will be a great anchor for a salon style grouping of artwork as I showed in my earlier inspiration photos. They come in three sizes. This 18" model was $175 and they were having a 12% off sale this past weekend.

I bought this floor lamp for $10 from Sam who lives down the street from me. Sam is an 80-ish-year-old neighborhood fixture. He knows everyone (especially the "gals") and everyone knows him. He probably gets invited to 20 different 4th of July picnics and he probably stops by all 20. He was a boxer in his younger days and he claims he taught the Affleck boys how to box. Except for the bleakest days of the winter, he always seems to be outside where's he selling "treasures" out of the back of his van. He rewires lighting fixtures and always seems to have a few in different states of disrepair. This one seems to be in great shape except for the crushed shade.

Here's a close-up shot of the lamp. I think it's a great lamp for $10. Thanks, Sam.

And here's a vintage fan I bought from High Street Market on etsy. Kelly always has some fantastic vintage items and I immediately connected with this piece. It's totally refurbished/rewired and I thought would be a handsome addition to the living room.

Not only is the base beautiful, almost like an overturned flower, the inset name plate in the center let's you know this is the real deal.

Next, I need to put together the grouping of black-and-white framed artwork, make a decision on window treatments and maybe a few more lamps. Pulling it all together will be the fun part.

Roman Blind Comment

I wanted to share this comment from "Anonymous. " First I'm amazed and honored that anyone would take the time to write such a thoughtful comment. Most comments I see on blogs are very supportive which is great. We all need a few cheerleaders behind us. I had wondered what I would do if I ever got a negative comment and I decided I would always publish whatever comments I got (unless they were vulgar) This isn't by any means a negative comment but it's a very honest one. It's obvious from the comment that "Anonymous" has read "most" of my posts in detail. I'll respond after you've all had a chance to read:

Anonymous said...
"Roman Blind Options...or Not?"

Maybe not?

And when you say "or Not?" I'm not sure if you mean that you're committed to roman blinds, but not necessarily to one of those fabrics, or if you mean that you're not necessarily committed to roman blinds at all.

You have exquisite taste, and anything you choose will be great.

But I'm suggesting that you reconsider using shutters. More specifically, one set of shutters for the top half of each window and a second set for the bottom half.

Some arguments against roman blinds and for shutters:

1. If your windows are easily visible from the outside, then the cords on the back of the roman blinds also would be easily visible from the outside.

Frankly, I think that those cords are unattractive, especially with an older house.

Granted, this isn't much of a problem when the blinds are up, but it does become a problem when the blinds are lowered. (Even when lowered only part way.)

Your house has a small setback from the street, so the backs of the blinds (the side of the blinds facing the outside) would be easy to see from the street. (By the way, I think that small setbacks are one of the charms of many older neighborhoods.)

Also, you've talked of adding a porch to the front of your house. (A great idea, especially because your house probably had a front porch originally.) If you do that, you may be sitting on your beautiful porch only inches from the back of the roman blinds inside.

In my mind, interior shutters look good from the outside, especially for an older house.

2. With roman blinds, you can't close the bottom half of the windows and keep the top half open.

When your windows are close to the street, as yours are, there may be times when you want privacy, but you also want to admit light.

With shutters, you can close those on the bottom half for privacy and keep the top half open for at least a partial view and for light.

3. With roman blinds that are made from a patterned fabric, it would be difficult to redecorate later without replacing the blinds.

With shutters, you could redecorate and keep the shutters.

4. Shutters work with almost any decor.

They work in a casual setting. (As seen in many of Kelly McGuill's interiors.) They work in a more formal setting. They work in a contemporary interior. (As seen in many interiors by the contemporary architect Hugh Newell Jacobsen.)

5. They fade into the background to let your furniture, artwork, and mirrors shine.

(And I'm so excited to see the round mirror that you plan to purchase!)

If you did decide to use shutters, they could be the same color of white as the woodwork, or they could be stained to match the wood floor.

A side note. In an earlier post, you mentioned the possibility of making the first floor windows bigger. (Or, more specifically, taller.)

If I remember correctly, I believe that you said that you probably won't do this. But if there's any possibility that you may make the windows larger, then you probably wouldn't want to spend a large amount on getting window coverings now that would have to be replaced when the windows are enlarged.

Again, I'm sure that whatever you decide to do with the windows will look wonderful.

By the way, so happy to see that you got the table!

And sorry for such a long comment!

Okay, Let me respond.

I'm not so sure that I mind the look of the cords in the back but now you've got me paranoid. I can recall walking around places like Beacon Hill, where the million-dollar townhouses are right on the sidewalk, and seeing the back sides of some pretty fantastic balloon shades. I do admit to having a little OCD when it comes to such things as whatever portion of a window treatment that's visible from the street being white. And all blinds should be raised or lowered to the same level. But I don't think the strings ever bothered me....until now.

I did consider shutters--Kelly McGuills windows all had no window treatments or shutters--but I have three cats who rule the house and I didn't think they would let me get away with it. They have to keep track of all squirrels and all times. They also like to check up on noises they hear outside at night. I'll talk to them about it but I've learned not to cross them because they always win. I have to pick my battles.

You are also correct that it was my intention of lowering the front windows to the floor when I add the porch. It's a detail I quite like on Greek Revival homes. I had thought that if I do lower the windows to the floor, I would add shutters to the lower part. This would give me privacy and still allow the cats to see out from the back of the chair or a table in front of the window. I'm reconsidering the choice to lower those windows because it's pretty clear from the trim on the interior, they are now the way they have always been. It's also very costly to recreate the trim and I really need to find places to control costs. My dream kitchen awaits.

So, I thank you "Anonynous" for all of your thoughtful feedback and the time you took to comment. Stop by anytime to challenge my thinking. I really don't mind.

Roman Blind Options...or Not?

So here are four options I brought home from Freddy Farkel's, a discount fabric warehouse. They let you take these sample home for a $25 deposit each but it's really nice to live with them for a few days. Behind the sofa, the lower one is kind of a ticking or awning stripe. It's okay. The colors match perfectly and it's classic but I think I should be more excited about it. The upper one is a gray-brown tweed (detail below) which is masculine, and matches the sofa, but--YAWN!--excuse me.
So let's switch them around and put the other two behind the sofa. The lower one is another awning stripe that brings an olivey green in to the mix (impossible to see in the photo) and the other one is is an unbleached muslin with black velvet curves. It's definitely more modern and not as safe. It's my favorite out of these two. So let's take a look at my favorite two a little closer.

Here's a closeup of the sofa and chair with the larger awning stripe behind the -- WAIT, what's that? It looks like the barley twist table from Charles Street. Yes, this is the piece that made its way home with me.
When I went back to the store, I saw a woman standing in front of my table and I overheard the salesperson saying that she could take 20 percent off. But then the woman left. So I said to the salesperson, "I'm interested in this table." Her jaw kind of dropped and she said "Well, that woman just went home to measure and see if it would fit in her den."

"So....is it for sale?" "Well....uhm....yes, I guess so...she didn't ask me to hold it." So I asked, "And did I hear you say that you could take 20 percent off?" So there it is. I think it's a little big for in here and I'm not in love with the color, but that can be tweaked. It might not stay in this room but I love it and I'll find a place.

But, I digress. Back to the awning stripe. It's okay. It matches perfectly, it's got some nice texture but I think it's kind of boring.

Remember I was kind of going for this look and I don't think this room would have this fabric.

And I wanted to do something like this on the other side of the room. The stripe in the material sort of emulates the striped wallpaper but it's a different feel. So I don't think so.

I could see the room above having blinds in this fabric; in fact, the curves kind of remind me of the deer atlers that WON'T be finding a place in my living room so this pattern could create the Bambi-free version of the room.

Here's a same fabric behind the chair with a different "hobnail" table that was originally in the room. The color of this table works better but I still don't know about the fabric. I had friend come over and I asked for an opinion. "ANYTHING BUT THIS ONE!"

Do I really need to copy another room? Can't I come up with one on my own that's just as nice?

So I haven't ruled the velvet curves out but I think I need to go back for another try. I think I'd like to try something with a little color this time.