Small Excitements

The vase in place. The all-important scale is perfect. I like the asymmetrical arrangement topping the VERY symmetrical mantel. I am weird that way. I am now looking for a pair of blue candlestick to the right of the Kenny clock. The picture rail is not yet installed.

I installed the shelving in 2015. But the base was never installed, so the shelves kinda floated. Uncomfortably. Say hi to the Obamas!

Y’all have never really seen the north wall of the library. Base installed…AT LAST! Yes, I have books on Hitler. Note door to right. After MUCH ado, it is back…almost…to its original location.

I had to shift the door a bit to the west to accommodate the shelving on the east wall. You can see the plaster infill to the left, revealing the original door location. The top trim is oak, meaning that it was originally IN the stairhall. The only possible location was the original north library door (this door). The vertical right trim is ‘cherry’, so it is from the library originally, possibly from the original location of this door, library side.

A huge huge huge focus was to assure that the right trim and top trim met PRECISELY. The perfect kiss. I am so proud of this. I will do an ‘oak’ faux bois finish on the right trim.
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What a lovely kiss!
A good kiss is important, Anthony!
From your project list, what is next?
Getting the vanity in my bathroom installed. But I first have to finish repairing the wall, priming the wall, and then papering the wall.
I have been silently watching the transformation without comment. But the reveal deserves applause! It really looks amazing. Congrats Ross – you should really be living there to enjoy all that you have accomplished.
Thank you, oh silent watcher!
Stunning! I love it!
Wonderful progress. I would love to have a library card for the CRoss House Library.
The whole room has really come together. All the details are perfect. Job well done! Of course!
Ah, the raw plaster – brings back many memories of restoring my 1893 Victorian. It spent too many years without door casings, while I laboriously stripped the ( pink!! ) paint from the woodwork. Well worth it, though. Here in the Pacific NW, they actually used cedar for trim, as the old growth stuff was finely grained and denser than the 2nd growth stuff available today. The baseboards were 9″ high – I removed all the woodwork and doors on the first floor and had them dipped in tanks of stripper – much easier than by hand ( which I did on the 2nd floor, as dipping was no longer an option ). Of course, I only finished up the house ( after 25 years ) in time to sell it! :>(
You are my hero, Jon!
It is like the vase was MEANT to go with the wallpaper! Then add in the clock-WOWZER!!!! The glass shields are purrfect on the fixtures! So well put together!
Small accomplishments add up to big impact. The vase is perfect, it goes so well with the clock and wallpaper. The scones look really nice with the shades.
The library is so fun and the decor is so elenctic!
The attention to detail is impressive. Why are you not world-famous yet, Ross? In my book, you are amazing!
I have two blue glass candlesticks that I would give you but I suspect they are small for your scale. 7 and 3/4 inches. They don’t go with anything I have I just liked them.