Peacock Blue Leather

<center></center><center></center>I got to thinking about <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/09/new-john-widdicomb-louis-style-chairs.html" target="_blank">the new Widdicomb chairs</a> and what I want to use to cover the seats. I like the <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/09/new-john-widdicomb-louis-style-chairs.html" target="_blank">gray bonded leather</a> I got at Home Fabrics - the color was nice and neutral and the material would wear really well. But I think the gray is probably too close to the floor color and I don't want the space to get too neutral (most everything else in our kitchen will probably be a neutral color other than the red lanterns and the accessories). I was looking through inspiration images and I came across this oldie-but-goodie from David Jimenez.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo davidjimenezbedroom.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/davidjimenezbedroom.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Such a great space. And the blue leather was calling out to me as a great option for the louis chairs. I thought ideally I would want something a little more on the green-blue side to work better with the lanterns and the gray floors. A quick eBay search later and I found this beautiful peacock leather.</div><a name="more"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img alt=" photo zzDSC_0434.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/zzDSC_0434.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><br /><img alt=" photo zDSC_0457.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/zDSC_0457.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Whenever I'm trying to imagine the way a fabric or leather will look on a piece of furniture I just search online for images of chairs or sofas or whatever in that general type of fabric. "Peacock Blue Leather Chairs" brought up a couple of chairs in the exact shade of teal that I'm considering. I think the color is really nice!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo Interiors-Chairs_N1808L-b.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/Interiors-Chairs_N1808L-b.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo HCH4K1K_mx.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/HCH4K1K_mx.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I like that it is definitely not a neutral, but it isn't too in-your-face either. And I think it will pair beautifully with the red lanterns I'm planning on in the dining area.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aDSC_0463.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/aDSC_0463.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I ordered a sample and used it to conduct a little testing with a bit of ketchup, some soda and a dripping-with-condensation cup. I left everything to sit for a couple hours and I was surprised that it all wiped off without so much as a shadow of a stain.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7217.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_7217.jpg" /><br /><br /><img alt=" photo IMG_7224.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_7224.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If I order the hide or two that I'll need for the six chairs, I might be tempted to change the finish a bit on the chair frames. I'm committed to living with the chairs as-is for another week or two while I get the leather ordered, just to really give it a chance. But the last two days we've been using the chairs at the table and I'm sad to report that the finish is not sitting so well with me in here.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aDSC_0437.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/aDSC_0437.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">(but doesn't the whole set fit the space perfectly?! I love it)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aDSC_0460.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/aDSC_0460.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>The finish is just a little to bespeckled and glazed. And upon close examination, there are some chips in the caning that would help justify my cause a little too.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aDSC_0486.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/aDSC_0486.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If these were antique chairs, I definitely wouldn't touch the finish, but these are mid-century chairs and the finish just screams "bad vintage paint job!" to me right now, but I know I'm being overly critical.</div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aDSC_0482.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/aDSC_0482.jpg" /></div><br />If I do paint them, I'll lightly go over the green with a pale gray paint and then dry brush the whole chair white, just to brighten up the glaze. I still want an antique look to the frames though - and I think the combo would be so pretty with the new leather color.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aDSC_0471.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/aDSC_0471.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div>

Peacock Blue Leather

I got to thinking about the new Widdicomb chairs and what I want to use to cover the seats. I like the gray bonded leather I got at Home F...

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Trim Designs

<div><center></center>Remember how we pulled out the front door and bumped up the pass-through in the entry that goes into the living room? The new eight and a half feet tall entries felt great - so much more in proportion with the high beamed ceilings.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 1DSC_0357-1.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/1DSC_0357-1.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_6523.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/IMG_6523.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_6785.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/IMG_6785.jpg" /></div><br />The challenge was to give the entries a little more horizontal presence, especially for the pass-through to the living room.<br /><a name="more"></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo 1DSC_0352-1.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/1DSC_0352-1.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The new taller entrance was still getting a bit lost on that wall.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_6521.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/IMG_6521.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo vDSC_0448.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/vDSC_0448.jpg" /></div><br />So I went to the hardware store and I played around a bit in the trim aisle of the lumber section and found a couple of combinations that I liked. I wanted something about eight inches wide.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_6667.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/IMG_6667.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_6659.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/IMG_6659.jpg" /></div><br />The piece of trim that I kept wanting to use over and over again was this casing moulding. I loved the profile and the chunky proportions.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aIMG_6652.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/aIMG_6652.jpg" /></div><br />I ended up buying a handful of short sections of the pieces I liked best, so I could keep playing around at home.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_6787.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/IMG_6787.jpg" /></div><br />Then I saw this photo on Houzz while I was looking for kitchen cabinets inspiration and I remembered my Architecture 101 teacher talking about eared architraves and how they help visually widen and open up a passage surround.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo ScreenShot2013-06-18atcopy.png" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/ScreenShot2013-06-18atcopy.png" /></div><br />I wanted something a little slimmer than the kitchen inspiration photo, and I wanted to incorporate the casing trim I was liking.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7192.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_7192.jpg" /></div><br />Jason helped me come up with this layered series. My favorite casing is on the very inside, layered on top of a primed pine plank, which we just made wider at the eared part, and capped off with a pine plank turned sideways with a smaller piece of trim set inside the elbow.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo sDSC_0457.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/sDSC_0457.jpg" /></div><br />I love how the pass through and the front door look together now from this angle:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7197.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_7197.jpg" /></div><br />And what a pretty frame for the view into the new fireplace that will hopefully be finished this week!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7199.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_7199.jpg" /></div><br />We did a taller version of the eared architrave for the big pass-throughs that go into the library and the music room.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo zDSC_0460.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/zDSC_0460.jpg" /></div><br />They are far from done - there are hours of prep work ahead of me (spackling, sanding, filling, sanding, repeat) before we can paint, but I'm actually pretty excited to start that work. I think it will be one of those completely satisfying before and afters that make it worth the prematurely arthritic hands. :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo ssDSC_0463.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/ssDSC_0463.jpg" /></div><br />We are using the casing by itself on all the regular doors too, so I think the moulding all around the house will really look cohesive and really pretty. Trim is not exactly cheap, but wow, what a difference it has made in the feel of our entry space, even now before it's close to finished!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7210.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_7210.jpg" /></div>

Trim Designs

Remember how we pulled out the front door and bumped up the pass-through in the entry that goes into the living room? The new eight and a ha...

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More Fireplace Demo and Plans

I mentioned this on Friday, but we had to do a little more demo on <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/07/updates-on-demo.html" target="_blank">the fireplace surround</a> in the living room than we had <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/07/valley-house-tour-living-room.html" target="_blank">originally planned to do</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7140.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_7140.jpg" /></div><br />And by a little more, I mean the whole thing came down. Literally every brick and piece of faux stone:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7145.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_7145.jpg" /></div><a name="more"></a><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/07/updates-on-demo.html" target="_blank">You might remember</a> that I was hoping to have the firebox in here replaced with something a little bigger and that would reach all the way to the ground. I got a couple of bids for a new firebox and ultimately it just felt like a waste of money. So my new plan is to repurpose the existing box with a little paint and find some pretty, dark stone to surround it on all sides. In order to do that, we had to demo just a small row of stone to the right and the left of the firebox (only about six inches on either side). It was clear as soon as we took the jackhammer to the stone that the whole thing was not structurally sound enough to take the strategic demoing, so the whole facade had to come down. It was a big (heavy) mess.<br /><br />Luckily my family came over and I bribed them with ice cream to help clean up the bricks. They're like me and will do just about anything for a little bit of Blue Bell (<i>have you tried their Peaches and Cream?!</i>).  A few short hours later, we had a clean living room again, less one fire place facade.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7147.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_7147.jpg" /></div><br />Saturday morning, Jason came over to start framing out the new surround.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7162.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_7162.jpg" /></div><br />He used 2x6's to build up the general frame and tomorrow we're going to work on the details - the trim, the paneling, the mantel, the electrical work.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7166.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_7166.jpg" /></div><br />Last night I woke up in the middle of the night, thinking about the fireplace and couldn't go back to sleep (happens more than I'd like to admit, but I don't mind - I'm so glad I still get a kick out of home design after all these years of day in and day out). So I plopped down in front of the fireplace in my pajamas, graph paper pad in hand and drew up some new sketches. The old glass doors were giving me the stink eye the whole time, so I pulled out my mini drill and took them both off.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7174.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_7174.jpg" /></div><br />Ah!!! So much better!! Why had I waited so long?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7180.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_7180.jpg" /></div><br />I was even happier with my middle-of-the-night-handiwork the next morning. Getting rid of those dated doors made a huge difference in the look of the old firebox. I'm planning for the whole fireplace area to be different shades of black and charcoal, so I think I'll paint the brick black and that will help clean up the look even further.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo cDSC_0436.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/cDSC_0436.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_7202.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_7202.jpg" /></div><br />Also, I know some of you were really against the idea of hanging the TV above the fireplace, but we're going for it. It's what works for the room and for us, and I'm actually in a good place with the idea. I think my plan of making the whole fireplace surround shades of black will help to hide the presence of the TV when it's not on.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo xxDSC_0441.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/xxDSC_0441.jpg" /></div><br />We're going to have paneling above and to the sides of the TV box, so there will be a lot of dimensional depth to the surround. The firebox will have the stone surround like I mentioned before (basically all that space around the firebox inside that first square of wood). And then we're going to do a chunky cast stone looking mantel which will take up most of the rest of the width of the surround.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo zDSC_0445.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/zDSC_0445.jpg" /></div><br />I've had this style of mantel in my brain when I imagined the room. Something very simple and modern.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo hbz-veronica-beard-4-092711-de.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/hbz-veronica-beard-4-092711-de.jpg" /></div><br />(Both of these images are from <a href="http://www.harpersbazaar.com/fashion/fashion-articles/veronica-swanson-beard-manhattan-home-photos-1011#slide-1" target="_blank">Veronica Swanson's home feature</a> in Harper's Bazaar)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo hbz-veronica-beard-6-092711-de.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/hbz-veronica-beard-6-092711-de.jpg" /></div><br />But then I stumbled on this photo of a magazine in one of my many google searches and I forgot to save the source info. But I'm really loving the lines here and it might be better to do something a <i>little</i> more on the trad side of modern.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_5835.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/IMG_5835.jpg" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Update: Thank you Jenn for the link to the original source (<a href="http://houseandhome.com/design/photo-gallery-2011-princess-margaret-showhome?page=6" target="_blank">Canadian House and Home Princess Margaret Showhome</a>). Check out those floors! That's almost exactly what our library floors will look like - it's a sign! :)</i></div><br /><img alt=" photo showhome-study.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/ALBUM%2011/showhome-study.jpg" /></div><br />Busy weekend! How was yours?

More Fireplace Demo and Plans

I mentioned this on Friday, but we had to do a little more demo on the fireplace surround in the living room than we had originally planned...

Read more »