Wednesday 18 June 2014

Fox Manor

Ground Floor - The Dining Room

Hello to everyone who takes the time to read my blog.  I would like to welcome The Grandmommy and Simon as my fifth and sixth followers.  Thank you all sincerely, it means a great deal to me to hear your comments and thoughts on my work.

Now, the Dining Room is situated to the left of the Entrance Hall and has double doors.


 
 I had planned to floor this room with this parquet patterned flooring pictured below, I don't know what I was at, but it didn't look right the more of the floor I did.  So I trimmed the floor back to what did look right, stained it, and, as usual, put some beeswax on it - so it is now going to be the floor for the Gent's Study upstairs.  There, problem solved.





Fancy floor for a study, but, waste not, want not!

This is the maple flooring I settled on.  The border configuration was being decided upon here.

This is the pattern I settled on.  Again, it was given a light sanding and a coating of beeswax.



As I want my ceilings to be decorated too, I have to do the three ceilings of each floor all at once before the piece is placed into the house.  This was terrifying.  I longed for a red dining room, but getting the red I liked was very much trial and error.  I didn't want a deep red - burgundy, but I also didn't want it too bright and look like a t**t's boudoir!  That's a roombox for the future :)  I also painted the ceiling rose white and highlighted areas of it (it's huge, more like a medallion) with my favourite old gold paint.  I also centred the hole in the ceiling for the light as well.  It seemed way off.



First fitting of the floor.
 
 

I used Sue Cook cornicing.  I painted it white and highlighted areas in the gold paint.  I did find that size of cornicing very hard to cut and match, so don't look too closely at it in the room :)


Decisions, my choices of paper for the panels.  I think I made the right choice :)

That was down right dangerous!  The skewers would spring out every now and then...



I loved this fireplace, but as everything was either red, white or gold, the cream surround of this fireplace had to go.  So I repainted it white and added more gold highlights.


My little wainscoting, I painted it white and then inserted some gold highlighting.
 

 
I love the red toile paper by Brodnax.  I painted the plaster panels white and edged with gold paint.  I think I need new glasses and a steadier hand for this type of work.  But it looks well.  It took me an age to do these little fellas!

I put double candle lights at the rear of the room.  The mirror was a wooden one, which I painted with my trusty gold paint.  The flooring looks very effective, even if I say so myself.  I tidied up the joint in the wainscot at the back of the room, even though I'll have a big display cabinet there.

In this photo, the wainscoting isn't fixed in, but I had just made the black floral ornaments and couldn't wait to see them in place.  I think there's something elegant about them, yes, I'm very pleased with the way the turned out :)
 

I am loving the red/white jar on the mantle by Stokesay Ware - I bought that at the NEC Miniatura exhibition in Birmingham in March.  This was the first ever miniature show I went to, and I did spoil myself.  I also bought their dining set in Jubilee as well.  After all, my birthday was coming up in April, and a girl deserves to be treated, even if she has to do it herself! :)

I am going to try to make a central chandelier for in here.  I want crystals and gold fittings.... I have spent a long time figuring out what I would like, but this could take some time...
If I'm really snookered, I have a magnificent plain chandelier that I might be able to bling up (and another smaller crystal Heidi Ott chandelier on standby!) but I really want to try one myself first.


 
 
I made the bell pull from a chain, a porcelain bead and jewellery findings.  I like it, although I don't know if they would have ever been made like this, but there you go! I also made the two crystal candlesticks on the fireplace.  I'm telling you, I'm on a roll :)  I probably won't keep them here; my bits and pieces will move around the house for a while I'd say, until I'm happy with their placements.
 

 My little black floral ornaments have found a new home...for the time being!  I also made the crystal candelabra on the table too.  The sterling silver candlesticks were a present to me from me from the Birmingham NEC.  Boy, did I do damage that weekend.....:)

 
 So there we have the Dining Room as it stands at the moment.  I do have china for it, but haven't put it out yet, and I have the cabinet to fill as well; and I still have the main chandelier to make....
I wasn't sure if I like the chest of drawers in here, but they're growing on me, what do you think?
I have a picture of daughter number two on the chest, I must enlarge it and put it on my next blog.

I have been working away on my chandelier, since I started to put this blog together, so I will put a picture up of it when I get it in place, and hopefully I will actually like it.....yes, I have said it before, I am a fussy and fickle woman :)

All the best for now and take care.
 
Vivian

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


5 comments:

  1. Hello Vivian!
    Your Dining Room is gorgeous! Remember....I said I love your style and this is another example of lovely talent. Can't wait to see your chandelier!
    Warm regard fom your new fan!
    Ray

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  2. Hi Vivian, I have just found your blog and just love your room, it is so impressive. I must now go and explore more of your goodies.

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  3. Hello Vivian,
    The dining room is stunning. It hink the red is the perfect shade. Very grand and elegant. The floor is terrific and I love the architectural detail int he room. I have that same Sue Cook Molding in my Ballroom and I know what you mean. It was horrible to cut, but well worth the work because it looks beautiful. I can't wait to see the chandelier you will make. I love the rooma nd the accessories you have are wonderful.
    Big hug,
    Giac

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  4. Hey Vivian
    I really love what you've done so far. I have always had a soft spot for this dolls house so I'm watching along with much enthusiasm. And what you have done so far is superb! I can't believe you've not been doing this for longer!!
    Keep up the great work
    Hugs
    Si

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  5. Hello Vivian, you were as busy as a bee ;)!! You have done a lot of work in your dollhouse, it is really stylish and very beautiful!
    The floor is excellent work. The back wall of the fireplace has such a warm color.
    Did you ever know that decorating a dollhouse can be dangerous, regarding the out jumping skewers, take care :D LOL!!
    Hugs, Ilona

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