Monday, March 19, 2012

Bedroom Update


I had to call an end to the plastering and sanding.  I could really obsess about how perfect things need to be.  I was pretty sure thigns were in pretty good shape but there's nothing better than a coat of primer on the walls to see what things really look like.

Plaster dust makes a pretty good hair product really.  Just add a little water and you can shape it any way you want; kind of like Play-do hair.  I'm sporting a faux-hawk today.   

See how the turquoise floor color bounces color up on the ceiling and ceiling fan?  It's really throwing all the color off.


My manager was on the lookout for holes and cracks.



The reason the wallpaper failed in here is the old (pink) paint surface actually split when the wallpaper paste dried so I had these gaps every 22 inches around the room.  (In the front bedroom, I painted the walls before I decided to put up wallpaper and that layer of latex paint seemed to have prevented that problem.)

I got most of these cracks filled but this is one I couldn't see until everything was primed.


My new ivory leather tufted headboard (from West Elm) is my "Barcelona chair" from the inspiration photos.  

Even though I had the intention this room would be very light...


... I thought it would be nice to see a dark value behind the headboard to highlight it.  This is the BM Fairview Taupe that I used on beadboard in the dining room bookshelves.  I'm not sure about it.


The draperies will be Pottery Barn Peyton linen in oatmeal and I'll be using a bamboo roman blind underneath.  I'm stealing them from the living room.  Not sure what I'll do in there.



Here's the headboard up against the taupe wall with the light fixture I bought.  I decided the fixture needed to be something old.  This will be a little "brooch" for the ceiling.  I like it all together but might have to live with it for a little bit.  I also need to get a coat of white paint on the floor because the turquoise floor is affecting the color of everything.



I've also been working on getting the door hardware and hinges off so I can strip everything. 



I chipped away at the paint to get at the screws.


I can't even begin to guess how many layers of paint on this.

And when I popped the plate off...



This was underneath and fell on the floor.  Is it a fishing fly?



I'm going to strip the hardware but wanted to make sure the door knob wasn't wood before I soak it for a few days.  I'm pretty sure it's porcelain or glass.  Hopefully it will be a nice surprise.

53 comments:

  1. Wow! Look at all that paint on the doorknob! Looks like at least 5 coats! I love painting, but I think chipping off/removing paint is my least favorite job. No, wait - removing wallpaper is my least favorite! In other words, you are really impressing me with your obsession with doing things RIGHT. And as usual, I can't wait to see what you do here. I know it will beautiful.

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  2. how many layers on that knob? would you believe I have a chest almost just like that one?

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  3. Wow, that is a hunk of paint on the door knob. I love the headboard! Can't wait to see it all put together.

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  4. Ooh, that light fixture is fabulous. Love the jewelry for the ceiling.

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  5. Steve, it's looking great. I do like the taupe wall with the headboard and suspect it will be very light when you get the floor done.

    The light fixture is almost exactly the one we had in our 1918 house. Yours has a bit more frills on it, but they are definitely the same family. We also had decorative light bulbs that we left with the house. (Husband's father had saved bulbs for 80 years - wonder how many they bought originally?)

    Can't wait to see the finished product, but do not envy you cleaning that paint!!

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  6. oh man i have one interior door and the hardware needs stripped. i can't believe i've been here 4 yrs and have not gotten around to it. can't wait to see what it looks like when done. maybe that'll motivate me. love the headboard!

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  7. You have had a couple of nice surprises with this project! I really like the taupe wall idea thought with the blue light bouncing around it is certainly difficult to appreciate the subtleties. Good thing the cat is onto it.

    What will you do with the fly?

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  8. I love the old ceiling fixture you chose. It makes a great contrast with the modern style of the headboard. (Tension seems to be the popular word in design land, so I avoided it.) Can't wait to see the wall color.
    Best...Victoria

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  9. It's all looking great. I am glad you put that taupe behind the bed to show off the headboard/ Your cats colour goes very well with the whole scheme.

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  10. I'm having nightmares about your hardware...been there done that and I'm so done doing it! Why people paint hardware is beyond me. Love your new headboard, the paint color and the ceeiling fixture and I can't wait to see it all come together. Your manager looks like he/she doesn't tolerate slackers...;)

    XX
    Debra~

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  11. Steve, a yeoman's effort there! It's amazing how color shifts and reflects, isn't it? Are you going to use a deeper toned white on the floor to ground the room as opposed to all the same color?

    Those feathers are not a fly. Maybe part of a decorative pin or broach once upon a time???

    Stripping paint feels like such a thankless job. Sally and I are doing some painting in our house right now. Pulling/stripping painted in hardware and cutting in small window panes while painting are the worst in my book!!!

    Cheers,
    John

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  12. I've been swooning after that same exact headboard for nearly a year now. Love it.

    Any tips on how to strip old paint off of hardware? I have numerous knobs that need this treatment in my apt. A tutorial would make me eternally grateful! :)

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  13. first image;
    find myself thinking "huh, the ceiling fan blades are pale blue?!"

    ahhhhh, the adventures in remodeling. when we were faced with 12 heavily painted door knobs i went out and purchased the vintage knobs that are tortoise shell like......but you only have one.
    all looks splendid!
    debra

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  14. John,
    Yes, about the floor color. I just need to have the turquoise gone to make that decision. I think you're right about the feathers. I looked at old lures and they're bound differently. Perhaps just a little decoration from an old man's hat.

    miamoe,
    Here's my post on stripping paint off hardware. Easy and nontoxic. Just let it soak until it will peels right off. http://anurbancottage.blogspot.com/2011/03/stripping-paint-off-hardware.html

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  15. haha, your manager looks like he/she has been staring at a few to many cracks!.

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  16. wow, your house is one surprise after the next. that feather is a serendipitous find - i love that someone stashed it there.
    i really like the combination of the taupe and the new headboard (very modern for you, no?!) and that great fixture. what a lovely combination...

    seeing that light fixture brings me back to mustard yellow (which i suggested for your living room about 2 years ago). a touch of it would be a pretty accent with that combo but i know you don't love it. :)

    good work. can't wait to see that knob once it's soaked.
    xo terri

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  17. oh, how could i not mention the kitties. they have great faces. serious faces. like they have opinions and you are not listening...

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  18. Love the dark wall with the white headboard - it will be gorgeous. That door knob looks like a Peanut M&M with the shell peeling off - try to let us know the number of layers - isn't it funny how people just paint over and over and over, seriously? Thanks for sharing - and eagerly anticipating the end reveal! Jalon

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  19. Oooee! So excited that you are going dark. Can't wait to see it all work together. I love the "brooch" with your more modern headboard. Nice tension as they say...
    Fingers crossed for a ceramic doorknob. Will you paint the trim and door dark too?

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  20. WHat do you use to strip you're hardware and how long does it take? Im just as guilty as sin about painting over a metal door knob (but hey it was painted over before i bought the house) and now you've peeked my curiosity... and have also got me thinking about hardware in the addition we will be building onto the house.

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  21. So, you didn't paint the blades of the fan light blue? My jaw dropped when I saw it! It's really very beautiful against all the other colors in that shot.


    Taupe walls + white tufted headboard + brooch = Perfect.

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  22. What a project! I can't believe how many time that doorknob has been painted. Love your headboard and the "brooch". One of my clients has some white Barcelonas and they are sooo sophisticated. Really love your new envelope.

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  23. Steve, love the old ceiling medallion and the way it relates to the tufted headboard and yummy taupe paint. Having a very old house, I can appreciate the thought that goes into making decisions on the smallest details. A labor of love! Love the kitty cat. My two dogs and 24 lb. cat supervise me during my projects too. Shiree'

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  24. I absolutely adore the juxtaposition of the headboard with the ornate light fixture and the paint color pulls it together perfectly! Can't wait to see what happens next!

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  25. I love the idea of that headboard up against a muddy wall....and all that modernity tampered down with the light fixture and linen drapes.....I can see it now, and think it might be shaping into my soon to be favorite room of yours.......you do have vision...k

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  26. The headboard is a wonderful translation of a Barcelona chair. I hope you will return the feathers to their hiding place--with a note about when you found them and perhaps a small memento of your own.

    I've been visiting This Old House daily to vote for your house. Hope everyone remembers to vote often.

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  27. Love the headboard and think it will look great on a darker wall.

    Today I removed layers of paint from my door hardware. I put the hardware into boiling water and baking powder and let it simmer for 20-30 minutes. The paint literally slid off under running water.

    Tery

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  28. Very very nice wallpaper scraping guy! Very nice. Cannot wait to see that door handle all "undone".

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  29. Wow, the work you're doing on this home is amazing! I can't wait to see your final decisions on this room all brought together.

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  30. Geez how many layers of paint does that poor hardware have on it? I love the way it is coming together for you and I ADORE the light fixture you chose! I am a sucker for barcelona chairs too so I think the headboard is a nice twist.

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  31. Steve,
    I absolutely never tire of reading about the things you find in your fabulous home! I always love the way you mix a little modern in with fabulous traditional!
    xo Melissa (Seagrass Interiors)

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  32. Ok. Do you where a mask when you do all this work? You know there has to be lead in them there layers. I think the Barcelona chair looks great against that wall. The light fixture rocks. And the window treatments are going to be great with that leather. And stop with the great photography. You make us look bad out here. lol. you know I'm kidding :)

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  33. I am eaten up with envy over that headboard.
    THAT, white floors, dark walls and your brooch, I don't see how it could be any more perfect.
    Can't wait to see what painting(s) you will hang.

    love those cats. :)

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  34. Love the whole thing-the colors, the light, the way too cool headboard-but that fly fishing lure is the best!

    You could put it in a shadowbox frame and then get a Ikat/kilim/pendleton-ish type of blanket/fabric and do pillows with those same colors :)

    When we took some of our ceiling down for a wiring job, we found empty booze bottles and 1970's vcr tapes with content that cannot be discussed in polite company, LOL

    Good luck with the doorknob. I just did our front door, polished up our cool doorknob-lots of work but worth it in the end, as all of us DIY peeps know.

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  35. I love the way your room is shaping up. It will be beautiful.

    That sweet feather - I can just see some child living in your house ages ago pushing it through the keyhole...

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  36. this room is coming together with such love! Your manager really keep you "towing the line."

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  37. Great headboard and awesome light fixture for the ceiling. I can't wait to see the finished room. I'm especially curious to see how the doorknob will turn out!
    Claudia

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  38. That taupe looks quite lovely all dry with the ivory in front of it. We'll look forward to seeing the final results... and maybe a glimpse of the faux-hawk?

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  39. I'm a fan of the dark taupe, Steve. Our master bedroom is Martha Stewart Monks Cloth - which is more of a chocolate, but with a warm gray base. I love it - so enveloping and perfect for sleep! Plus, I think the white floor, and the headboard will look perfect against the taupe color. Love the direction you're headed - can't wait to see the finished product.

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  40. I admire your patience and your attention to detail, and your home is a testimony to how it all pays off.
    I've loved everything you've done in your home - even when you've shown us what you were intending and I've been unsure, the end result always proved perfect.
    I'd love to have an eye for colour and detail like yours - and your patience :-)

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  41. I am just gonna say it looks like chocolate brown, not taupe...I am thinking I would love it a medium value, not sooo dark. Other than that, I love the plan and the elements you have in place. My mother was constantly stripping door and window hardware in glass jars of stripper when they rehabbed our English Tudor. They looked amazing when she finished with them.

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  42. What a nice surprise to find that feather under the door hardware! I went back and read your post on stripping door hardware and laughed out loud at the reason why you can't use a Crock Pot. So funny!

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  43. Goodness that's a lot of layers of paint on the hardware! I always enjoy that though - seeing glimpses of what colors the room has been over many many years. The feather is a neat surprise, will you be putting it back in its spot for someone else to find?

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  44. I'm loving your "Barcelona chair" headboard from West elm with the light fixture from a previous post...i think you called it the "crusty triplet" and the paint color...it looks beautiful. I was loving your turquoise floor, but now I can see the direction your heading...and I'm with you on the change. It's going to fabulous and much more in with the rest of your home. Don't you love that your windows are all the same size so that you can take from one room to another?
    Oh, and I love a manager of few words. Although that stare might get to me after a while.
    xo
    annie

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  45. So pretty. I am a new follower to you lovely blog. You inspire me! That little feather, be it a fishing lure or a remnant of a toucan (read with sarcasm) you should place it in a tiny little shadow box and set it somewhere in the room. A wonderful pop of color and history of your darling home all in one!
    Blessings.

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  46. Looking great Steve! You have a lot of patience to be stripping off all that paint, but I'm sure it will be worth it!

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  47. I still am zany for your blog the cottage... I don't mean to alarm you, but there appears to be a pussy on your bureau.

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  48. Annie, you're right! It is the crusty triplet.

    Cute Beams, Thank you and welcome!

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  49. Ohhoh! Quite a many layers of paint indeed:)

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  50. All your choices look great, and I'm happy that you were rewarded with that surprise of the feather. For that very reason, I always make a point to leave surprises and rewards (and sometimes written statements) whenever I open a wall in my house.

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  51. Hi Steve, I adore the light fixture you chose. It will always look "right".
    Painted hardware is so unattractive. Sometimes it's the work of lazy painters who don't want to remove the hardware or mask it off.
    In other cases, people painted hardware back when shiny metal was expected and they tired of endless polishing. Now that we appreciate patinated metal it's nice to get all that paint off and just let the metal tone down as air, life and time happen.
    Appreciating what you're doing,
    Ruth

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  52. I think this room is going to be great. I've always wanted a pr of white barcelona chairs so I think using that as an inspiration for the headboard is brillant. However, I'm concerned about you using the light color leather...can hair dye rub off? Plus the plaster dust hair gel faux hawk I'm worried...

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  53. No one painted the knobs but I do have plaster walls and they can be very disrespective at times. Why do they have to crack? Was it something in their childhood? Fairview has been a go to color for years.....

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