Linda {Calling it Home} 8/14/13 Linda {Calling it Home} 8/14/13

A Hamptons Cottage

Thank you for your lovely comments on my CL finds. I would like everyone to know that I will not be painting the Chinoiserie wood chandelier. I'm crazy, not certifiable.

As for the sofas....I never know what is more interesting...the CL finds or the CL stories. The short story is that the sofas were delivered to my home by two lovely gentlemen. We all met at the apartment, I paid the seller and then paid the movers upon delivery. The long story is that it took weeks in the making and a lot of emailing to make all of this happen. Everyone worked together, including the seller who lowered her price to help cover the moving costs ;-)

And now I want to obsess with all of you over this charming Hamptons Cottage. I think it is perfect...let's go stalk it.

All Photos Courtesy of Wettlig Architects

What do you think? Would you change anything?

Linda {Calling it Home} 2/8/12 Linda {Calling it Home} 2/8/12

One Room Challenge (week 4)

Hello, and thanks for coming back. Before I begin, I would like to thank Saved By Suzy and My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for featuring my china hutch. It is the best feeling to see your creativity on another blog!

This is week 4 of the One Room Challenge. In case you are new here, you can start the challenge series here. The weeks continue to fly by. It is definitely time to prioritize and let the small things fall off the list. Here is the progress in my dining room

My ceiling is finished

If you would like to know how I installed the planks, you can go here. Now remember, the final coat of paint was applied by a professional painter...and well worth it!

Remember this screen I showed you

Well, I decided to deck it out a bit. First, I primed the black frame and then applied a high gloss finish. Once that was dry, I decided to add gold highlights to the carvings

This became so tedious, I hired my daughter to finish it. She still has more to do.

I also applied gold leaf. It still needs touching up and the missing pieces have not been put back...but you get the idea

I also separated the two and will hang them on both sides of the china hutch as artwork.

There is progress in my corner,

It now looks like this

I love the way it glows at night. I decided to repurpose the original shades and just add a bit of paint to them

I may paint the top half another color...still not sure...OR just the edges with the blue I am using on the lanterns. What do you think?

Speaking of lanterns, I have run out of blue paint and am waiting for Michaels to get a delivery. So, I can't hang them...but here is a better look at them

I am not sure if they need a black glaze on them to tone them down. I need to see them in place before I can decide that. This is the direction my room is headed

I had no idea when I started that it would evolve into this...but I think I love it! Thanks for checking in with my room, now let's go make the rounds to the other rooms and see how they are doing. For week 5 go here.

Saved By Suzy   Nicole Scott Designs
Dutch.British.Love    Kim Macumber Interiors
Trapped in North Jersey Rue de Emily
The Pink Pagoda   refreshed designs
Nana Moon Shop    Taylor Morgan
insideways House Four
Living Savvy   (A Lifestyle Thing)

Linda {Calling it Home} 1/25/12 Linda {Calling it Home} 1/25/12

One Room Challenge (week 2)

Hello, and thanks for coming back. This is week 2 of the One Room Challenge. In case you are new here, you can start the challenge series here. This was a crazy busy week because it finally snowed in New Jersey. A total of 6 inches to be exact. That made running around slower than usual. Luckily, it snowed on Friday evening into Saturday...no snow-day. I managed to finish my china hutch. If you have not see it....check it out here. Onto my dining room...

This is how you last saw it

I started on the ceiling planks. First I took down the crown molding. As you can see in this picture, all of the uneven ends will be hidden under the crown once it goes back up

I did a tutorial for installing planks here. It is not hard, trust me...it just takes time. Here is a shot with the crown molding back up

I am curently working on the middle bay of the ceiling

Next, I hired an electrician to lower the sconces....and while you are at it (my favorite phrase) ...I had him move the lanterns closer together. The mirrors are in the garage waiting to be painted

And now for the "keeping it real" shot. This is how my room looks as I write this.

It always gets much worse before it gets better! If you have a second...go here and tell me which color to paint those lanterns. Be sure to check out the progress in all of the other awesome rooms...and I will see you next Wednesday. For week 3, go here

Saved By Suzy   Nicole Scott Designs
Dutch.British.Love    Kim Macumber Interiors
Trapped in North Jersey Rue de Emily
The Pink Pagoda   refreshed designs
Nana Moon Shop    Taylor Morgan
insideways House Four
Living Savvy (A Lifestyle Thing)

Linda {Calling it Home} 9/6/11 Linda {Calling it Home} 9/6/11

How to install V-Groove Paneling (beadboard)(plank)

I love the plank paneling look. It is everywhere. In fact, I have it on my kitchen ceiling.

The ceiling is made up of MDF sheets with a V-groove scored every 6".

I decided to give my basement entry the same treatment.

Here is the "before"

B-O-R-I-N-G...and a bit depressing. It was also too dark.

So, I purchased this

Packages of MDF V-Groove Plank Paneling. They are 8' long and over 5" wide. Since it is Tongue-and-groove, it will go together easily.

My tools

Other materials I used

1x1 & 1x2 MDF trim

First, decide where you want to start. I started in the most noticeable place. The first few rows are the straightest. Hide the imperfections of your walls or ceiling in areas that are not in your common sight line.

Next, decide how you want to handle corners, starting places and stopping points. This is where I used the MDF trim.

For a modern take, I decided to run the planks horizontally. Here is what I did

Attach the 1x2 trim to the wall

add a bead of glue

using a level, make sure it is perfectly straight

and nail!

Now you are ready for your first board

adding glue to the back of every board, place the board on top of the 1x2

check for level, and nail. Let the glue do most of the work, don't over-nail. This will save you time in puttying.

continue

checking for level every few boards.

Here is how I handled the unusual angles

draw a level line on the wall (notice handrail on right)

hold a scrap piece of plank up to the line. with a straight edge resting along the angle (handrail)

draw the angle. Make the practice cut, and test. When you are happy with the cut, use the real plank for the final cut.

Another look at the "before" & "after"

Oh yeah, I added a light fixture too! I think my dining room is next.

What are you working on?

Linda {Calling it Home} 8/1/11 Linda {Calling it Home} 8/1/11

Blue, the French way

did you catch the blue gimp on the settee?

one side of the interior door is blue, the other is white

blue plank ceiling

images Art & Decoration

Linda {Calling it Home} 6/14/11 Linda {Calling it Home} 6/14/11

Red Rover, Red Rover, please send Sarah Richardson over!

I love Sarah Richardson. I have been a huge fan of hers for over 10 years. I'm sure you saw her "Island Cottage" series that just ran on HGTV. She is one of the best things Canada has to offer....here is a glance at the inspiring cottage of hers