Tag: double parlor

The Built-in Bookshelves and Rolling Ladder in the Library

The library project is done! The shelves are in! The ladder is up!

Well, it’s 95% done. Those three panels beneath the window seat are placeholders until the ones that match the rest are ready, and we need a cushion for the bench top. I haven’t decided whether I’ll add hardware to the doors yet (they have magnetic push latches inside), and I’ll probably switch out the outlet covers for wooden ones. The important thing though is that the shelves are in! The ladder is up!

Our carpenter did great work and has solid craftsmanship, but I made some stupid mistakes by not being as hands-on during the design process as I should have. It was not a fun learning experience. I can get nitpicky and tell you what I don’t like — mainly proportion/scale issues that I should have been more mindful of — but overall I’m happy.

The rolling library ladder was provided by Custom Service Hardware, and it definitely makes the shelves. Brandon and I love it! Even our carpenter was impressed by its quality. The wheels brake automatically, and each kids’ weight is enough to engage the mechanism. August likes rolling the ladder, but he won’t climb. Eleanor would go to the top if we let her.

It arrived in pieces and unfinished (in our choice of wood, oak), but smooth and ready to finish. Those pieces, along with the rest of the wood for the library, were stained with Minwax Wood Finish in Early American to match the home’s existing trim.

I chose vertical roller brackets so that the ladder’s hardware could be supported by the vertical supports of the bookshelf, since the shelves are all adjustable. For finishes, I was between the hammered antique brass and oil rubbed bronze options. Brass would have been a better match to the existing metal finishes in the house, but I’m not a big fan of the hammered look so I went with bronze. Mixing metals doesn’t bother me when they’re complementary, and I think the almost-black color looks nice and is more understated than brass may have been.

Our ladder is nine feet tall. It doesn’t stick out too far into the room and I like the look of the ladder in the climbing position, but its rolling hardware gives us the option of storing it upright when not in use.

The shelves were finished on Friday and on Saturday morning, we quickly unloaded about 40 boxes of books onto the shelves. We had two parties this weekend so I haven’t had time to take more photos yet, but just like that, this house felt much more like our home. I’m so glad we put these shelves in, mistakes along the way and all.

May 5, 2014
Looking for a Round Table for the Library
I want to do something like this in the front parlor/library. Not the style, but the idea of a table with four chairs in front of the bookshelves.

We’re planning on storing board games and some toys in the closed storage of the built-ins, and because one needs an aesthetically pleasing place in which to play Hi Ho! Cherry-O and build LEGOs, I’ve been on the hunt for some furniture. I’ve wanted a round table from the beginning, to echo the round wall with windows, so that’s what I’m focusing on.
1. Dawson Pedestal Side Table, Pottery Barn
2. Deeda Chair, Jayson Home
3. Milo Baughman 1188 Chair, DWR
4. Saddle Dining Chair, West Elm
5. G-Plan Teak Dining Chairs, Chairish
6. Stockholm Chair, IKEA
7. Docksta, IKEA
We already have a Docksta (IKEA’s ubiquitous knock-off of the Saarinen tulip table) — it used to be in my stationery shop’s studio. I tried it out in place here and while the size is great, the style isn’t the best fit with the rest of our furniture for the space. Something dark, to tie in with the black walls of the adjacent room, and something with a bit more heft to it would be better. Either that pedestal table above, or something like the antique gateleg table below.

I’d like four chairs around it (and we can pull up either a stool, occasional chair, or dining chair if we need a fifth for our soon-to-be family of five), but I don’t want the set-up to look like a randomly placed dining table. I think upholstered chairs would look and feel best, and I’m not so worried about the combination of fabric seats and little kids since we won’t be eating there.

Of course I like the two most expensive chairs of the bunch (#2 and #3), and both would work with the color palette I’m going for. So perfect! So not in the budget! I’m going to concentrate on getting the table first — one that I know will work with a variety of seating options — and then new chairs can always come later. Which would you pick though, if price didn’t matter? One of the ones above, or do you have a different favorite?
April 23, 2014
The Color Palette Inspiration
You’ve seen the built-ins starting to take shape, but what I’m really looking forward to is painting the front parlor and getting everything back in place. I came across the top two floral images below on Pinterest the other day, and they’ve stayed with me. This is the direction the color palette is heading, I think.

Images: 1 • 2 • 3 • 4

You’ve seen that bottom image below here, and I’ve been thinking of picking up a few blue and white porcelain jars or vases like this since using a similar one in the design of this room.

I haven’t really made a conscious effort to keeping things to a palette yet (although it’s been kicking around in my mind), as I’ve been enjoying the process of collecting and taking my time. Happily, everything does work pretty well with the above inspiration, and here’s how the furniture and accessories between the two parlors are looking so far.
1. Black Beauty Paint, Benjamin Moore
  You can see the second parlor from every other main room on the first floor, and the black walls give fantastic contrast to the surrounding spaces
2. Pink Ikat Polka Dot Pillows, Jayson Home (Warehouse Sale)
  I picked up two of these pale peachy pink pillows.
3. Gold Suzani Pillow, Jayson Home
  Expensive, but huge and luxe and worth it.
4. Twin Beacons Brass Lamp, Anthropologie
  I waited and waited, and was able to finally grab it on clearance. It’s a heavy, substantial lamp that looks vaguely insect-like, and I love it.
5. Winifred Sofa, Anthropologie
  The most expensive piece of furniture we’ve ever bought (even with it being on sale when we got it), but it’s perfect. It’s also the most comfortable we’ve ever had.
6. Dog Rose Botanical Poster, The Evolution Store
  I cashed in some credits on Fab to get mine a couple of years ago, and now I think I like it even more in this house than I did in the old one!
7. Built-in Bookshelves, Krieger + Associates
  Those are fantastic. I hope mine will be, too.
8. Antique Striped Sofa, Chairish
  I was looking for a smaller striped settee, but this sofa was so perfect that I went for it.
9. Tufted Pink Ottomans, Target
  I like the dash of hot pink these bring.
10. Pale Pink Table Lamp, Robert Abbey
  I used to have two of these, but alas, one of the kids broke one shortly after we moved here.
Of course there are a few outliers that will probably show up in the two spaces too, like my Emily Rickard painting and the crazy floral Blythe chair.

Our carpenter did a lot of work installing components yesterday, and the bookshelves in the front parlor are up on both sides of the window now. He’ll be taking next week off and returning the week after to finish up some of the details, but the bulk of the project is in place! I’ve been trying to stay mindful of the sightlines in this house, and the wall of shelving looks good in context and in relation to the other rooms. The house is an oak-stravaganza (shall I never use that word again?), and I’m good with that.

Now, what color should I go with for the walls in there?
April 17, 2014
The Second Parlor, Painted Black

The painting of the second parlor — it is done. Huzzah! And Emptying out the room to paint has been really good for helping me figure out how to arrange the furniture. The corner fireplace has been throwing me off, and the room has so many windows and large doorways that figuring things out took some trial and error. I think that the way I had it before, with the sofa, an armchair, and plans for two additional chairs felt a little crowded. (Good thing I was just using placeholders for those two chairs near the fireplace.)

The color is Black Beauty, by Benjamin Moore in a matte finish. It’s a soft, warm black with more of a brown base than a blue one. I think it modernizes the house and all of its oak woodwork without fighting against it, and I love the way it turned out. The room’s three huge windows face south, so even with a dark color, it feels bright.

I ordered two tufted pink ottomans from Target, because when you see something good and cheap there, sometimes you have to just go ahead and buy it before it’s gone. (They are, of course, already sold out now.) I figured I could return them if I couldn’t find a spot for them, but that if I did find a place, I’d want a pair. They’re here and they’re cute, and I think I like them along the wall that previously had a very narrow console table against it. Actually, a console table over the ottomans would be great, but the one I had there won’t work — too narrow, and the base gets in the way.

The rest of the space is looking a little empty right now because I’m trying to bring in only what I know is going to stay. (This is a departure from my “let’s shove everything everywhere because I have a big, empty house to fill!” approach. You like?) The coffee table that was here is currently upstairs, and the rugs (two that were lined up end to end to seem larger) are rolled up temporarily. I think a really beautiful mirror could be a good addition to the room, either above the fireplace or in the adjacent corner. I just put together a collection of my favorites over here.

Below, either the floral chair or the colorful painting are staying, but not both. One or the other will move to the library-to-come, in the front parlor.

Speaking of the library, the shelves are not in yet, but I am liking the view in so far with the black stripes of the antique sofa tying into the black walls. I also found a spot for my large botanical print, so more black, yay! Ha. Although I do have to say, I’m not minding the lack of color on the walls throughout the first floor as much now. Contrast is satisfying.

I’m even more excited now to get those shelves going. A wall of books is going to look amazing with these two spaces!

March 5, 2014
Black Beauty

I’d hoped to have a painted room to share today, but I underestimated the ability of my right arm to paint and paint and paint. I’ve primed, I’ve put a first coat on, and I’ve done half of the cutting in for the second (and final, I hope) coat of paint, but I still have a few hours of painting ahead of me before it’s done. Such tall ceilings! So many windows and doorways, and a fireplace to cut in! Such strong shoulders I will have! (On the right side, at least.) Luckily my legs are holding up just fine with having gone up and down the ladder all weekend, and I’ve finished all of the up-high work.

I liked the range of blacks that Benjamin Moore offered, so I stuck with them for my samples. I tried Soot (so close), Almost Black (too light), Polo Blue (pretty and nuanced, but too blue), and finally, Black Beauty (the winner!). It’s the warm black I had been looking for, and it makes the wood trim in the room look amazing. The three huge windows are South-facing, and the room is flooded with light, so it can take a dark, dramatic color. I can’t wait to see it with the furniture back in place!

Now, off to paint.

March 3, 2014
The Second Parlor

It will be painted eventually, and some of the furniture is temporary. Let’s have a look though, shall we?

The blue sofa is 98″ long and perfectly suited to that spot. The coffee table is a bit dwarfed by it though, so that may change eventually. One of the rooms downstairs will be getting inky/charcoal/black walls, and I’m leaning toward it being this one, but I’m not rushing into it. The first parlor is going to be turned into a library soon, so I’m going to hold off on painting until after that’s done. The entry, both parlors, and the dining room are all connected, and I want to choose colors for each room that will be complementary.

Erin Loechner had a small launch party in Chicago for Clementine Daily a few months back, and Hayneedle was a sponsor. They had generously supplied product to be used in decorating, and I was then kindly offered a few of the pieces afterward. That’s how I came to own the new pink rug!

Actually, it’s two small rugs. I thought about splitting them up and using separately, but I decided instead to line them up instead to make one larger area rug. Argh, that angled fireplace though! I love it, but I’m not a huge fan of arranging things on a diagonal, and it has been a challenge. I first tried the rugs running parallel to fireplace, but after living with the placement for a few days, it wasn’t doing it for me. The rugs are flat-woven, so they’re fairly thin, and I just tucked one corner under. It’s probably not the best long-term solution, but it’s working for now.

Erin was also planning to use the same metal chairs that I had in my dining room, so I was able to get a few more to match the existing ones. They’re fantastic with kids, because they’re fairly indestructible and easy to clean (though they can be cold if they touch bare legs). I have enough now to flank both sides of the table, and we can fit 10 comfortably when we need to.

The head chairs from the table are in front of the fireplace as a placeholder. They’re not quite right in the room (they very clearly look like they should be over in the dining room), but the extra seating in there has been nice.

The room would benefit from a pair of boxy, low lounge chairs (with leather and/or brass, ideally). The creamy white walls are inoffensive, but a little boring, and the scale of the coffee table is off. Those are all things that can be addressed over time though, and I feel like the room is at a good place for now. Tomorrow, I’ll show the first parlor and talk a little about our plans for it!

February 5, 2014