French Replica - Limestone Fireplace Mantel Surround

Once upon a time, what seems like a very long time ago (actually, just about nine months ago), I embarked upon the conversion of the ranch house living room to the farm house dining room.  To say that there have been a few twists and turns along this road would be an understatement. Thankfully, I had planned for most of them.

French Country Light Fixtures for the Farmhouse Dining Room

In case you missed my little "confession" on the Serendipity Refined Facebook page this week, I hugged my UPS driver. Yes, I did.  I hugged him because he brought my new French country style chandeliers and sconces for the farmhouse dining room.  I admit it. I hugged him...with both arms...right outside of my front door...in broad daylight...over light fixtures.

                                                                                                        I think that I startled the poor guy.

At least I waited for him to put the boxes down before I broke out my very best "I don't really know you but I'm hugging you anyway because a happy dance just isn't enough" bear hug.

After all, I hadn't completely lost my mind. I didn't want my lighting to end up damaged six feet from my front door because I was so darned excited that I couldn't contain myself.

The reason for my temporary loss of composure was that it took me a long time to decide on lighting for the dining room and I was over the moon when I finally ordered them and had them in my hands in less than a week.  Lighting for the dining room was a big decision for me because it involved three chandeliers and two wall sconces all in the same room.

You see, the farmhouse dining room used to be the ranch house living room in a prior life.  I wanted a space large enough to seat twenty to twenty four people for holiday dinner and this room fit the bill (after a few minor renvoations).  My new dining room is 29 feet long and 17 feet wide so space is certainly not an issue.

Heck, there's enough to seat twenty with room left over for a couple of small seating areas and the piano.

                                                                                   

Yes, there will be a piano in my dining room because the farmhouse won't have a formal living room and most of the other spaces that I'm creating aren't meant to hold large groups of people excepting the kitchen (because I love to cook and my friends tend to congregate there) and the dining room.

You probably remember the largest chandelier from last year when we moved to the farmhouse and I decorated it with bittersweet.  It has been relocated to the new dining room and now it hangs directly above the table as it will about 85% of the time when we're not entertaining. 

However, when the table is fully extended,  and occupies 2/3 of the room,  the large chandelier will be over one "end" of the table. This didn't seem right to me so I added two smaller chandeliers hung closer to the ceiling, one at each end of the room for balance and to provide light when we have a large number of guests for dinner.

If you've noticed that there is no crown molding in the room, you're correct...there's also no base board and the windows will be replaced next month.  Those yellow pieces of tape in the photo above are the outside marks for the limestone fireplace surround that hopefully will be delivered today.

There's still a lot of work to be done in this room  but I love my new French country light fixtures. You may also be relieved to know that I was much more reserved yesterday when the UPS driver delivered the package with the last of the drapery hooks.  He was a little hesitant as he handed me the package but I just smiled politely and thanked him.

I sure hope that he recovers by the time my new bed linens arrive in four to six weeks!




Resources:
Large chandelier: Horchow Salento 6 light
Sconces and small chandeliers: Lighting direct Quorum International Salento

Gray and Ivory Dining Room Area Rug

After the new hardwood floors were installed (read about them here) in the farmhouse dining room two weeks ago, the search was on for a new rug. The dining room rug from our last home is my "new" bedroom rug so I was needed to find someting new.

I made the decision not to have carpet in the farmhouse due to the fact that I have allergies and we have a dog. I decided that it's easier to maintain hardwood and area rugs (of course, I may change my mind at some point but for now, that's the decision....hardwood throughout the house with the exception of bathrooms, the laundry room, the mud room and the stable hall.

Where was I? Oh yeah, the dining room rug.  I knew that I wanted grey and ivory. I knew that I needed 8x11 feet. I also knew that I was not going to purchase an "heirloom quality" rug since we'll rarely be in this room and I want to "save" the money for other things....like plumbing.

I made a quick trip to HomeGoods where I found the perfect rug...well, perfect except for the fact that it was 5 x 8 feet. I wrote down the name of the manufacturer and the style name from a label that I found on the back of the rug. Then, I went home and searched for it on the Internet and found the rug that I wanted, in the size that I needed at a place called, "Rugs Direct" for under $400! (This is not a sponsored post, I wasn't compensated in any way for mentioning this supplier. I'm just sharing my resources with you.)

I placed the order on line and the rug was at my home and on the dining room floor with a big yellow lab on it,four days later!

I'm happy to report that I was able to convince the dog to move long enough to put the dining room table and chairs on the rug as well! The dining room project is moving forward. I still have lots to do but I found a rug that I love at a price that I could afford...and it's "Piper approved", too!

How to Choose Hardwood Floor and Finish

The new hardwood flooring was installed in the first room at the French farmhouse last week and I couldn't be happier! I chose 4 inch wide, rustic grade, white oak with dark stain and a waterborne finish. When faced with choosing the material that will cover 80% of the floors in my home, I wanted to be sure that I loved it, that it would fit the style and feel of our home, and that it would hold up in high traffic areas like the kitchen a and family room.

Before going through the trouble and expense of installing any new floor, it's important to know that the underlayment (base over which the new floor will be installed) is sound so that the new floor will be level and won't squeak.  The prior owners had taken what I call the "lazy man's approach" to flooring. They simply glued and nailed layers upon layers of flooring, one on top of the other.

Have you ever torn out three layers of flooring in a 14 foot by 25 foot room? In case you haven't, let me just say for the record, it's highly overrated.....Necessary, but highly over rated. It took five evenings and the better part of a Saturday to do the job. It required a steel wrecking bar (in addition to a pry bar and hammer) as well as almost two full dumpsters to dispose of the debris, but I feel better knowing that I won't be living with layers of petroleum coated tar paper, wood that had black mold on it, and old linoleum buried beneath my beautiful new floors

Once the old flooring was removed and disposed of, the flooring installers took over. I've found that on a rehab of this scope, knowing when to call in the pros is a good thing. It actually saves money when I let a pro handle the parts of  the renovation that I'm not good at.  A new layer of 3/4 inch plywood was glued and screwed to the original 1x8 subfloor.  This was done to stabilize the floor and to allow for the electrical conduit which runs on top of the floor joists in many homes which were constructed prior to 1955.

Then it was on to the flooring! I chose white oak because it's the most cost effective of the hardwoods that are readily available in my area.While I love bamboo, walnut and hickory, the cost for them was two to three times that of white oak. Oak was also in keeping with the vintage farmhouse feel that I'm trying to achieve and 4 inch wide planks are perfect for the scale of my home.

You may notice from the photos that my floor has knots and check marks in it. This is because of the grade of wood that I chose. Here's what I learned:

Wood flooring comes in several "grades"which have an effect on the characteristics and cost. This grading system applies to all species of wood.  The names may vary slightly based upon your supplier so always make sure that you know what you're getting before you order.

• "Premium" (also known as "clear" or "select"). This is the "best" grade. The planks come in longer lengths and contain some of the characteristics of the wood like minor variations in color and small knots.
• "Natural" (also known as "Grade 1" or "common"). The wood  has color variations but has a slightly shorter average plank length than premium. It's normal for these boards to have some very limited minor blemishes.
• "Rustic"(also known as "Grade 2" or "cabin grade"). This type of wood contains the full range of coloration, mineral streaks, worm holes, knots, checks and other imperfections other than those that would impair the serviceability of the floor. The boards are shorter than either of the two "better" grades.
• "Utility" (also known as "Tavern grade"). This is the least expensive grade.  It contains mis-manufactured boards, split and rotten ends and a host of other defects that in some cases, result in the wood not being usable.  The average is 20% to 25% waste using this grade and there are usually no returns allowed once you purchase it. 

• "Reclaimed flooring". This is flooring which has been previously installed at another location. I would have loved to use reclaimed oak but found that it was the most expensive oak option which meant that again, for me, it really wasn't an option.

The hardwood was glued and stapled to the plywood using 2 inch staples and construction adhesive. Once it is in place, it is sanded and buffed. At this point, the finish is applied. I chose Antique Brown stain. Above is a photo showing the "turn board" at the opening to the dining room. A turn board is used to lock the flooring in the dining room into position because we're not ready to do the floors in the other rooms of the house.

Note: In an effort to keep this project as eco-friendly as possible,  I looked into alternative methods of staining and finishing our floors including using milk paint as a floor stain and hemp oil or wax as a finish. I chose not to use them for the following reasons: 1) I discovered that the finish is not as durable as I need  it to be. 2) A "brown painted" finish is not as clear as stain and would not allow the character of the wood to show through as well as traditional stain does. 3) The floors in my high traffic areas would need to be recoated far more often than I'm willing to deal with..4) Hemp oil takes 24-48 hours between coats and up to twenty eight days to fully cure. (My green certified water borne finish is dry in under 4 hours and cured in 24 hours.) I gathered this information from the MMS website as well as Homestead House and Apartment Therapy's answer forum.

My floors are finished using the Bona finishing system. (I was not compensated in any way for this post. I'm sharing this information because I happen to love this product) It is a Swedish, waterborne cross linking polymer that is greenguard certified for indoor air quality that is safe for children and pets. They continue to work toward sustainability and greener solutions which I look for when choosing products that I use in my home. I used this finish in our last home 12 years ago and I still love it today! 

The floor is damp mopped (to open the grain so that it will better accept the stain) and then the stain is applied. It dries in only a couple of hours and the sealer is applied. After the sealer, the floor is buffed, vacuumed and the first coat of Bona "Traffic" is applied. 12-24 hours later, the floor is buffed and vacuumed again and the final coat of Traffic is applied.  It's dry and ready for furniture in just a couple of hours but I decided to allow it to harden for 24 hours before we moved in the large pieces.

I can't wait until I have these wide plank oak floors installed in the rest of my home! I love the way the dining room is coming together....of course, I also love being able to watch television in the TV room without having to look past the dining room table!  You may have noticed a little peek at the new rug that arrived yesterday in the photo above...if you'd like to know more about it, visit my dining room rug post (here)! 

French Farmhouse Update: Livingroom (Diningroom) Demolition

I've been really scared excited to see what was behind the wall in the living room (which will be the dining room when Phase 2 is complete so I'm just going to call it the dining room from now on, okay?...Trust me, it will be easier because the current dining room is going to be the master bedroom.)

As I was saying, I couldn't wait to see what was back there for several reasons:  First, it was pretty apparent to anyone with even marginal eyesight that the inside of the cabinet had been hacked up by someone and it was probably because of the kitchen "renovation" that happened within the last five years.

Second, when we attempted to attach the mounting bracket for our television to the paneling last fall, we quickly discovered that the studs had been randomly cut off and didn't go all the way to the ceiling...odd...but maybe there was a reason.

Third, I'm looking forward to having all of the outlets on the same breakers and having the switch on the wall control something in the room...currently, it appears to control nothing...unless it's the lights in the garage on the other side of the house...that's always a possibility.

Last but certainly not the least of my curiosities was why the ceiling height in most of the house is 8 feet 4.5 inches.  I know, right?!   I've been perplexed for awhile but I had decided that whatever the reason was, it also likely had something to do with why the fireplace hearth was 3/4 of an inch below the flooring.

On Monday and Tuesday, all of those questions were answered when we finally removed the last of the maple paneling along the fireplace wall in the new dining room.  The inside of that wall was a hodge podge of framing, plywood and, in some places, just drywall (with no studs) that was apparently re-muddled during a kitchen renovation that I can only assume by the quality (Yep, that's sarcasm) of the workmanship, was done without a permit. On the other side of the wall is my current kitchen. That mess was holding up my kitchen cabinets.

Fortunately, when the ice maker sprung a leak this winter (causing it to rain in my basement at 6 in the morning), I uncovered long term damage to the floor and the wall so it was going to have to be taken out anyway but yesterday I became fully aware of just how thankful I am that the kitchen is being redone during Phase 2. Black mold on the wall and the first layer of flooring.

I also found out that the reason for the odd ceiling height is that there are four layers of flooring which I am removing to the original underlayment and "sleepers" and over which I will be installing one layer of hardwood . The new ceiling height will be 8 feet 6 inches!

There's still a long way to go but these are steps in the right direction. As of Tuesday afternoon, the framing is complete.  Up next:  new wiring and electric in this room then drywall (these will be done by the pros). Then, I'm going to learn how to install the new hardwood floor (at least that's the plan as of today)!

The fireplace mantel and hearth will be handled by the pros. Due to the condition of the brick and the fact that there was no way to get electrical into the wall, I decided that it was best to cover the brick and have a limestone surround made (even though it broke my heart). Window replacement will also be done prodessionally. Finally, I'll be installing crown molding and trim and doing the painting.

Please keep in mind that none of this will happen over night as I still have a full time job and a family (as well as some new retail adventures that you can read about HERE).  I'm DIY'ing  this project on nights and weekends as time permits.

Thanks so much for joining me on this journey. Your support and kind words get me through the crazy parts of this renovation and if I can help even one of you to avoid making the types of mistakes that the prior owners made in this house or to correct mistakes when you uncover them, then all of this is worthwhile.

French Country Inspired Christmas Dining Room

I kept Christmas decorating in my dining room simple this year.  Just a couple of  wreaths, a length of garland, and red ribbon.  It's certainly much more simple than our snowy, winter wonderland dining room decorating from last year ( see more here).

Spring Break, Nesting and A Moss and Butterfly Wreath

I decided last week that recently it feels like all I've done is write tutorials.  Have you noticed?  Does it feel that way to you, too?  For me, it started to feel like that brief period last summer when I turned into a food blogger or at least I thought that I did.  

Vintage Valentine's Day Dining Room Decor...and a Love Story

I'm a hopeful  romantic.                
                                            I have been, for as long as I can recall....

Yep, all the way back to the first time that John Fowler arrived at the bus stop on my very first day of first grade.

Snow(white) in the Dining Room - Christmas Tablescape

Have you ever wondered what it looks like when Snow White and the guys sit down for holiday dinner at the castle?

Do you think that she has her staff turn the dining room into a wonderland that reminds her of her days back at the cottage in the woods?

I'll bet that she does. She always was kind of crafty...even when she had nothing to work with but a white table cloth, a burlap runner, a few bowls and some things that she gathered in the woods...including a six foot long birch log!

Dollar Tree Holiday Chandelier Makeover

My chandelier is getting ready for the holidays.  Like every girl, she's getting dressed up, putting on a little make up and sporting some "bling".

Pumpkins, Ironstone and Copper - Fall Hutch

I'm happy to say that I'm finally getting a little fall decorating done around my house but,  you know,

decorating with Martha Stewart just isn't what it used to be

                               You've got to remember that while I do live with Martha Stewart, she's 14 now. In

yellow lab years, I think that's ninety-two. Unlike her namesake, she doesn't really have an opinion when it

comes to decorating. 

                                         Heck, she's only awake for about four hours a day.
                     

Burlap Wrapped Chandelier Mini-Tutorial

When I casually mentioned that I was considering spray painting the 9 year old, solid brass, chandelier that hangs in my dining room, let's just say that the idea "wasn't well received". The fixture is huge, heavy and, unfortunately, in beautiful shape. I chose it. But that was almost ten years ago, back when I thought that I could be "formal" (insert the sound of people laughing and rolling around on the floor, here).

Several of  you have asked for details about the chandelier makeover that was featured in my dining room reveal.  I didn't take photos as I did it. At the time, I was too busy burning my arms and hands because I tried to wrap it with the lights turned on.  Yeah, I know, don't say it.  So, if after the confessions above,  you still want to try to wrap your chandelier (without needing burn cream),  here's how I did it.

Materials to wrap one huge chandelier: 

• 2 spools of  Burlap Ribbon ($4.99 or so from Michaels in the aisle where they keep the wire wreath forms)
• 2 spools of wire and vine "ribbon". (I found it in a bin near where they keep the moss, it comes in two sizes. I don't remember the price but I don't think that it's more than $6 or $7 a roll). 
• Wire Cutters.
• Pencil sized pieces of twigs that you pick up from your yard after it rains for the fourth day in a row.
• Straight pins
• 4-6 inch grapevine wreaths (Michaels $0.49 each)
• Leftover moss from some project  that you probably did in 2008
• Enough common sense to turn the light OFF before starting.

 DISCLAIMER: Some of these photos were taken tonight when I remembered that I promised this post, they're a little dark and a little yellow. Sorry about that.
To make the cages:

• Unroll and cut a 10 inch (give or take) piece of  the "vine ribbon". Weave a stick through one end and form into a circle. Twist the wire from where you cut the other end around the stick (the first one off of the roll will have the stick on it because that's how the roll comes).  Don't worry if they aren't perfect. "Rustic" is seldom perfect. 

To wrap the Chandelier:

• Start by pulling a thread from the center of one end of the burlap ribbon. This will cause it to "ruffle".  Make enough ruffled burlap to go around the ceiling plate a couple of times. Fasten it by sticking a straight pin through the ruffle and sliding the point of the pin between the ceiling plate and the ceiling. Be careful. I happen to know that the wires in my chandelier were capped and taped so I felt okay about doing this. If you're uncertain, thumbtack it to the ceiling then fluff the ruffle to cover the tack.

• Using the straight burlap, wrap the chain and the main body of the lamp until you get to the bottom  (or any other part of the body that you want to "feature"), when you get to a "feature", simply pull the thread, make more ruffle and use the ruffle to wrap that section.  I made a ruffle part to cover the cap where the chandelier meets the chain and the bottom "ball" of the main fixture. For the bottom ball, I simply made a long strip of ruffleed burlap and wrapped it around the ball several times weaving it up and  then down between the arms fpr one row and then down followed by up in the next row (like figure 8's). At the bottom, you may need a couple of straight pins to hold it in place then, cut it off, tuck the end up inside of the ruffle around it, pin it and you're finished!

To finish the candles:

• Add moss around the candle base, top with a grape vine wreath and slide the cage over the candle. 

That's it. I made over a huge chandelier for under $35. It's not permanent and no one had to wonder if I had finally gone over the edge...at least no more than usual.  
If you still have questions about it, send me a message.

xo,

S

Linking to:
Freckled Laundry
Chic on a Shoestring
The Shabby Nest
Strut Your Stuff Saturday - Six Sisters
AKA Design 

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