Hi everyone. I feel a little like I am nearing the end of the French house reno. Was planning on finishing the stair handrail this weekend but it was a bit overwhelming. So it didn’t get done. It’s currently in the too hard basket. I am wanting to take this house off my worktable but I am worried I just won’t finish those last few tasks.
Anyway, I started putting furniture and accessories back in and having some fun with it. Here is where I am with it.
So this is the entry with the unfinished stairs. A little touching up of skirting and paint, some accessories… but so far I like this.
The shop, which looks like an earthquake hit. I have made this as basically a studio space, an old shop that is no longer open but used by the owner as work space.
The reading room. The stairs from the ground floor come up behind that door in the centre. The spiral stairs is a metal kit I got from the UK. To the right is a little enclosed balcony which will have plants in it. This room needs furniture, including a bookcase.
The door on the left goes into the salon.
On the top floor, the ante chambre. Curtains need tiebacks. I love this little room.
And the main bedroom, through the curtains in the ante chambre. I have a few ideas for in here, but need a couple of bits and pieces.
And the guest bedroom. A little touching up and some bits and pieces.
This little pillow I got a good few years ago off Etsy. Can’t remember the seller. She does very sweet lingerie too.
As you can see, some finesse required still. And every room needs a rug or two. Hopefully will be able to show you some more soon, as I sort through my things and find the right bits of furniture (uh oh, might need to go mini shopping!).
Hope you are all staying well. We are very much into winter here and I do not like it…
It looks so pretty so far. I really love that bed and the sweet little pillow.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sheila! I didn’t change anything about the beds, other than adding that pillow. It’s so cute. I think it was earmarked for a different project, but I liked it here, and it’s hard enough getting things “just right” that I didn’t want to mess with this! X
DeleteThe French house is coming together beautifully, Shannon. I love that hallway - even with not quite finished stairs. And the workroom-in-an-old-shop idea is fabulous. I have always dreamt of a workroom like that in RL.
ReplyDeleteHave a good week.
Anna
Thanks Anna! I like it being a little bit higgledy piggledy, like so many old homes that get changed over time. I like to think the home owner purchsed the building as is, with old shop stuff still stored in there. I will need to figure out some fun little things to display in the windows now. X
DeleteQue bonito se ve todo! los muebles conjuntan tan bien con el ambiente de las habitaciones, que es muy agradable ir viendo todo en su lugar.
ReplyDeleteBesos.
Thanks Pilar! I hope it has the feeling of things being added over time, gathered from lots of different places and times. And I look forward to adding lots of little details, mini finds, over time! X
DeleteMe encantan todos los espacios, son elegantes y preciosos !!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Eloisa! It feels better to me now than it did originally. And has some really fun details now. I have had fun!
DeleteGood Morning Shannon, I have a “too hard to handle” basket as well. There comes a moment of inspiration and suddenly it is done! My Swedish House bathroom remains in that state!
ReplyDeleteI need a consultation from StudioE as Elizabeth can usually kick start a stalled project! BC is coming out of a third wave of covid so perhaps we will get together again soon.
Your French house has such character and I look forward to seeing the book room stacked with books - the curved staircase was such a great find. The bedroom is lovely and such a lot of space to fill! We did not see the kitchen..... or the bathroom!! Get busy Shannon, it’s wonderful!
Regards Janine
Hi Janine! Augh… COVID huh? So frustrating. Our government does not seem to be handling things well, which is crazy given we are past the initial problems and should have worked a few things out by now….
DeleteI do hope you get to see Elizabeth and the other Miniteers soon. And yes, I know if I am patient, the idea for finishing the stairs will arrive unannounced. For now I will wait. I think i will need to make a bookcase. Not much around that is what I have in mind. And as for the kitchen and bathroom, I haven’t changed anything in the bathroom, but may add a couple of small details. And the kitchen I did blog about when I had it done (it was the first room, and didn’t need much done) but, it needs to be included in an update. The only reason it wasn’t is that it had all the kitchen accessories and furniture shoved in worse than the shop/workshop! So will get to them soon, plus an overall summary showing the layout.
Take care and stayed tuned! Xx
Hi Shannon, I searched back into your blog but I did not see the kitchen. I imagine I will recognize it the minute I see it.
DeleteThe railing of the stairwell in the French House was made using a length of speaker wire .... believe it or not!
I am enjoying being in the garden. B is frustrated that we cannot access our boat due to restrictions. Our family is well so we just have to ride it out!
Take care Janine
Hi Janine. It’s not furnished but the kitchen is shown naked here: http://shannonsminiblog.blogspot.com/2019/05/this-blogger-did-bad-bad-thing.html
DeleteI will go check out your French stair rail too! Thanks for the tip! I did think about wire but the piece I started with was too stiff and I got frustrated very quickly! Haha!
It is such a beautiful house, Shannon! I know what you mean about putting it away and then not getting it finished! That seems to be my M.O. but I lack the discipline to force myself to work on something I have no excitement for. No matter it's potential. Those stairs are so pretty, but do look complicated with the bending hand rail. I know you can do a beautiful job, when you're ready to tackle it! Until then, put whatever has you inspired on the work table.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jodi. I agree that if there’s no excitement then there’s no point forcing it, but it’s so close to being done. I might write a list of the main blockers and devise a plan to have them done in a day. Usually once they’re done I realise that it was quicker and easier than I thought. And it is supposed to be a hobby, an enjoyable one!! And it will be satisfying when it is done. Thanks again and take care.
DeleteI love dollhouse pictures with sunlight shining through the windows...your house looks so warm and welcoming. I am the Queen of unfinished projects so I can't help you there. I must say that this is such a charming house it would be a shame to leave it undone. Take your time and curate just the right pieces and you will be done when it is done!
ReplyDeleteThanks Carrie. I always tell people don’t force it, you will finish it when you do. I guess because it is just so close….this weekend is a long weekend so maybe I’ll put in some time to just get the last few things done. Or at least the most niggly things. Thanks again for the reassuring words.
DeleteWow! Shannon, this all looks Wonderful! What lovely views with the sun shining in! I love all the furniture you have and the wallpapers too! The Shop that is no longer is an intriguing idea! If it is now a studio... what will the owner be making? I Can't wait to see more!
ReplyDeleteFor the handrail, there is a tool that graphic artists used to have - a rubber flexible "guide" for making spiral ink lines... it might help you shape the handrail because it is bendable but holds the shape you bend it to. I wish I could remember the "official" name of the tool! I would cut a lot of cardboard templates to try and get a sense of the curve that is needed. Good luck! :)
Hi Betsy. Thanks for the suggestions. I am intrigued to know more about that tool and will look it up. Thanks!! When I started rehabbing the house, I wanted to keep a lot of the original papers I used and retain the overall ‘feel’ and I am happy I did.
DeleteYour house has a fine backbone and I can see that you will have fun adding small touches to it for a long time. I have a friend who built a real life house. They lived in it for years going up and down a hazardous staircase without a handrail because they wanted a certain wrought iron banister and could not afford it immediately. Sometimes it is worth setting aside a part of a project until you have the money or the skill to get exactly what you want, in dollhouses and in real life! Carry on with something else and one day you will know, now is the right time!
ReplyDeleteHi Megan. Thanks for your kind and reassuring words. Yes I know. Patience! I need to stop stressing and know I will get it done. I do have a long weekend this weekend so maybe I’ll make a big push towards finishing off a few little jobs and will feel better about it. And then for now I will move it off my work table. Take care xx
DeleteI am LOVING your current renovations on your French house,Shannon but then I've ALWAYS admired both your (de-) construction skills as well as your decorating taste. The main entry and the curved staircase are simply lovely and the balustrades are the ideal style and very French looking. I also like the way you've laid out the floor plan along with the proposed furniture arrangements- everything is Really Looking Good!
ReplyDeleteelizabeth
Thanks for your lovely comments Elizabeth! I really didn’t want to change too much but moving the stairs and adding the reading room make it feel more realistic to me. Now if I could just muster the necessary motivation to make a handrail, that will be the last hurdle! I hope you are well. Xx
DeleteOhhhhhh! What a lovely, charming dollhouse ! I love this style,cozy and smart. Minihugs, Shannon
ReplyDeleteThank you! I love how it is shaping up. I do need to get back to it, to add a few bits and pieces here and there. But all in good time!
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