Even though it stood 8' tall, it looked odd not reaching as high as the top of the windows in the room.  So a good friend and neighbor volunteered to construct an oak riser and rounded tread to bring it to a height that seemed more balanced.

But, of course, it could not just stand on it's own.  It needed to be anchored to a wall that was plaster over brick.  So I enlisted my very helpful brothers who are experienced in things of this nature.  Together they determined a safe system to secure my lovely mirror to the wall.

Once in place, it definately took command of the room which is what I had hoped for.  Originally there had been a fireplace in this location but that too was removed by a previous owner.  Although I had restored two of the missing fireplaces on this floor, I felt this room would benefit from something different.

The metallic gold frame lasted through the Victorian phase with the East Lake furniture but when I shifted to a paler color scheme and a more deco look, I felt the frame would blend more easily in another color.

It has managed the transition of many furniture changes while remaining the focal point of the room.

This regal garage sale piece still reigns today from the same throne.

Although the frame has wonderful detailing, I think the simple color allows it to work well with my changing style and decor.

Craze became the Rage

It  seems I was infatuated with the possibilites of Crystal Craze after doing one window so I began looking for other places to use the product.


Because the pantry had four glass doors and a lot of mismatched china and glasswear, I thought obscuring the glass with Crystal Craze would be a practical solution to the cluttered look.

I noticed a Sears ad in the Sunday paper that consisted of a stylized fruit arrangement.  Fruit at Sears?  I think it was around the holidays and was more of a sponsorship thing than an ad.  But I saw how the pattern could be embellished to cover the eight panels in my pantry doors and I was off and running. (Yes, that is Cookie Monster hiding in the shadows.)

This was more ambitious than the window on the stairs.  By the time I got to the seventh panel, I was questioning my commitment, but I persevered and the results were worth it.

As with all such results, they last as long as the next whim.  When the kitchen cabinets were switched to white, the pantry went white as well.  Fabric behind the glass keeps the contents private and some beads snapped up at a garage sale complete the look.

EYESORE TO EXQUISITE

When I purchased my house in 1977, a few of the original items had been removed from the house by a previous owner.  One of these items was the large stained glass window that overlooked the staircase.  The opening had then been divided into four parts and fitted with amber colored plexiglass which was --no kidding--the ugliest thing in the house.

The best I could do at the time was to replace the plexiglass with clear glass panels. Obviously there was no "view" so leaving it like this was not an option.

Then I discovered a product called Crystal Craze.  It was a thin paint for glass that crystallized as it dried. I removed one panel at a time and used liquid lead to outline a pattern on each one.  The design was then filled in with various colors of Crystal Craze.  It takes a fair amount of pressure to squeeze liquid lead from a tube so it is not something you work at for long periods of time.  The glass also has to be squeaky clean or the lead will not form a bond and the paint will seep under the lead to the ajoining section.  What I'm pointing out here is that this took some time to complete.

As time went by, the colors started to fade and the paint began to flake from the heat and light of the sun.  I had always planned to find an art glass window to replace this one but other things seemed to take priority.  One day I came across a pattern in an old library book and it just clicked with me.  I took the pattern to a glass artist who altered it slightly to fit the size of my window opening.  Next came the fun part of selecting the glass in colors and textures of my choice.This was a little more difficult than you might think as there was not a good way to lay it out before making a decision.  I had to trust the image in my head and just go for it!

I was very pleased with the finished product except for the fact that the reinforcing rods had been positioned horizontally on the back which detracted from the design of the window.  With a little persuasion these were removed and replaced with vertical support bars that were "hidden" within the design.  THEN IT WAS PERFECT.

The Luxury Of Two Baths.

 Even though I grew up in a one bathroom house with 3 brothers and 3 sisters, and know it is doable, I now had the space and, well, why not? As you know from the post about the main bathroom,(the only one at the time) there was a water closet next to that bath.  Once a toliet was added to that bath, it was no longer necessary to have access to this one from the hall.  Thus began the process of adding another full bath backing up to the main bath.

As you can see from this shot, a wall had divided these two windows.  The window on the left was over the toliet in the water closet and the one on the right was at the end of a deep, narrow closet.  There were shelves along one wall as you can see by the paint marks.  I can't believe these windows were originally divided in this way but guess I will never know the answer to that one.

Obviously, a gut was required but as a result all new plumbing and wiring was simplified.

The entrance to the water closet was eliminated which allowed for a shower against the new wall.  The toliet remained in the same location.

A vanity was added on the closet side of the room.  Coordinating wallpaper with a border. although dated now, looked spiffy at the time.  A traditional window treatment completed the look and now the second floor boasted two full baths.

Then came the idea to change the tile and run it up the wall behind a pedestal sink.  The wallpaper lost out as the faux finish bug was in full swing.  The walls and ceiling were lightly washed in a pale apricot and the wood trim received a rubbed back distressed green finish that matched the color of the shower.

And here it is today.  Adding the shower all those years ago was a great move as I am definately not a bubble bath kind of gal.

This mirror was part of the bedroom decor for some time until it dawned on me how perfect it was for this room.

The twin windows add a lot of interest to this small bath and have been accessorized with a variety of fabrics.  The cream and mustard toile has lasted the longest so obviously one of my favorites.

A few decorative elements changed over the years but the basics have been left intact.

Movin' on

Recognize this?

Recycle? You bet!

That old sink that came with the house has a new life.  It now resides in a snappy new loft apt.  The legs are gone and the faucets are new but it's the same sink...no refinishing necessary.

A bathroom begs for transformation.

When I purchased my home some 30 plus years ago, the bathroom on the second floor consisted of a sink and a clawfoot tub.  The toliet was in another room referred to as a "water closet."  My favorite things in the room were the porcelain towel bars and the sconces on either side of the medicine chest.  Which, by the way, was slightly high for someone 5'2" tall.  That explains the stool you see next to the sink.

As we know bathroom rehabs can be mighty expensive.  So the bathroom stayed as it was for a while until I decided a little paint and wallpaper would be a cheap fix if I did the work myself.  Although blue is not my first color choice, I thought I should pick up the color of the floor tile and incorporate it around the room.

Additional storage was created by adding a cabinet beneath the sink.  This served the dual purpose of concealing the plumbing.  An add on shower and rod made the bathtub more versatile.

As time went by, I met a neighbor who made his own stained glass windows.  He agreed to tutor me and together we created a 3'x3' piece of stained glass.  I chose a pattern I thought would be good for a beginner without giving much thought to where I would put it when it was completed.

After some thought I decided the only place was the bathroom and so began the next demo and planning session.

The medicine chest was lowered and centered on the wall.  A recessed area was created above the medicine chest where back lights were concealed.  The stained glass was framed and hindged.  Then it was attached to cover this recessed pocket.  The hinges allowed light bulbs to be changed easily.

Then a light bar was added.  A stub wall created a partial divide and concealed the plumbing for the new vanity.  The tub took a 90 degree turn to end up under the medicine cabinet.  This arrangement allowed the toliet to be hidden behind the stub wall and no longer secluded in the water closet.  (That closet was destined for greater things which will be revealed in the next post.)

This lasted until I was so done with decorating around the blue and grayish white tiles.  Although charming and authentic, I just could not incorporate it into another redo.  And yes, I had had it with the ducks now and forever more.

A switch was made to 18" laminate squares in a marbelized pattern of tans and creams.  The sconces that flanked the medicine chest when the house was built have remained at their post.

The tub and toliet area was surrounded with beadboard 3/4 of the way up the wall.  The remaining walls were treated with  a plaster like finish in golden tones.

The light bar disappeared.  The vanity was replaced by an amoire that opens to reveal it's own sink, mirror, lighting, and towel storage.

Puck lights in the top of the amoire provide adequate lighting for this application.  The small lamp light is for ambiance.

Crown moulding was added at the ceiling and painted along with the ceiling in black.

A six armed chandelier with golden pleated shades topped all this drama.  The room has survived to this day because it was a very tight squeeze getting the amoire into the room and I don't have plans to reverse that process.

BEFORE & AFTER

Let's face it. I'm addicted to transformations and nothing satisfies that craving like a quick fix of before and after photos. It's the first page I turn to in a magazine. I devour every detail and scrutinize every change. So it is no wonder I kept a few of my very own B & A's. Although there are many, I have selected just a few that are featured in my bedroom to this day.

This cabinet nicely filled the space between two doors of my bedroom. The shelves are perfect for folded clothing and also provide storage for bins of socks and such. The color, however, was a bit dismal for my taste.

So I applied what is called a seven layer peel. The "peeled paint look" is achieved by applying a substance tinted to the desired color and then removing parts by lifting the substance with paper towels. This process is repeated with different colors to resemble layers of paint that have chipped away to reveal the color beneath each coat. It is quite time consuming but rewarding if you have the patience. (Normally not my strong suit but I can overcome for the right goal.)

I bought this screen sight unseen. A friend insisted I needed it and convinced me she should grab it before it disappeared. I was a bit surprised when I saw what I had purchased over the phone but I rallied and came up with a finish that worked for me.

I painted the entire piece a rather brilliant yellow and then added several washes in varying shades of yellow and peach. Although it has remained this color for several years, I doubt I will part with it in the move. I see another makeover in this little treasure.

I cannot remember how this chair entered my life but I could not wait to give it a facelift. Although the fabric was in good condition, it was "not me." But it is comfy and the the potential was there.

I started by doing an eggshell crackle on the legs and wood base. Then came the fun part of selecting the upholstery fabrics. Yes, as in plural. There are a total of four fabrics on the chair: a toile, a stripe, a solid, and a check. Having an upholsterer who is happy to follow directions no matter how convoluted is the key to success. The stripe and the solid are both used for piping and the back is finished in the green and cream stripe.

Then we have the low bench I purchased from a neighbor when they moved years ago. What is it about that brown? The cabinet shown earlier was not from the same sale but does look like it met the same fate. I guess I saw this piece and knew it too needed rescuing.

I opted to try a few finishes on this piece

including decoupage and stenciling. Although
it is low to the floor it works very well under the

double windows and is another keeper that will

most likely see a reincarnation at some point.



Although I quote "Leave the details to God"

I couldn't resist adding a few of my own.

That's it for now but rest assured, I have stumbled upon

a few more pictures that will be ripe for the next post.

The Big Discovery

The process of getting my house ready to market continues. I attacked the basement with renewed vigor today pushing aside cobwebs and reaching into the darkest and most remote corners. I poked into places that I have not looked into in 20 years. I made thousands of decisions in a matter of hours. Is this trash? Will it sell at a yard sale? Is there a spark of potential left in this? What is the shelf life of windshield washer fluid? How long does a 2x4 have to be to warrant saving it for a later project? Then there was the debate over flyswatters. How many do I need? (Never mind that I haven't used one in years) As soon as I throw it out there will arrive a pesky fly to drive me crazy. But do I need one for each hand?



It all gets a little overwhelming. BREAK TIME! Call a friend, laugh a little, have a beer and then get back at it. Today there was a bonus for my fortitude. I climbed onto a stool to scope out the top shelves of the dark and dirty storage lockers. I motivate myself to do this by envisioning myself opening a cigar box full of $100 bills. Come on. It happens sometimes. I found a stash years ago behind a partition in this very basement. There was an unopened bottle of Rum, a wrapped cigar, and an unloaded handgun. None of this was of much use to me but it was some one's treasure and it was hidden.



But today I found a strip of the vinyl flooring...the very one I spoke of in my first blog entry. At the risk of it being anticlimactic, I show it to you now.

This is the pattern I so had my heart set on for that first kitchen. Can you believe I still have a piece of it 30 years later?