Parlor

This was the before, and yes according to the date stamp on the pic, it's been almost a yearsince we started. I'm gonna hold on to that date in my mind so I can finish up all the minor details on our punch list such as trim that goes on the inside of the window sashes which is original to the house. I was able to save it but I still need to strip, sand, stain, and install.

Same wall, new insulation well there wasn't any insulation to begin with. New wiring & outlets, drywall, primer, paint, refinished baseboard. Far top left hand corner of pic is speaker wire awaiting a cover. No we don't speakers per say but I thought it would be a good selling point in the future. Or who knows I may make enough swagbucks one day to buy a new t.v.

Mirror is one of my collection from either curb or antique shopping. I've been asked to limit my mirror fetish.

Early 1900's Standard treadle sewing machine given to me by a good friend here in the hood. The last person to sew on it was her daughter for a home ec project in the late fithties. There's extra feet for buttons & pleats, along with a belt.

The carpet cost us only $40 as it had been a retrun due to the wrong color. Not my 1st choice but I'm happy with the results.

Almost directly across is the side window in our front parlor.

Still working on the medallions that go in the upper corners of the window moulding. After 100 + years of curtain rod thingies hammered into them they are proving to be complicated in refinishing. I could buy new but dimensions are exactly the same. I'll give it til October them if I can't come up with a decent refinished look I'll admit defeat.

 This is the front window overlooking the street.

I bought these (other sash needs repair) from an antique store in the Buffalo area. Both will eventually hang inside each of the parlor windows.

I'm thinking of cafe style curtains in white lace hung just below where the stain glass window.

I have wooden rods that I stained to match.

Opposite wall that faces the window in the above pic.

On the other side of that wall is the staircase. I don't have a pic but when I bought this home there had been a odd geometric shaped cut out where the mirror is now. Made for an interesting descent since the stairs were built to 1900 standards - narrow treads, steeper incline, narrow width of staircase.

Mirror belonged to Woodsrunner's Maternal Grandmother. Frame is plaster and @ one time came with two wall sconces which have long since been lost.

Hanging lamp was a curb find in an upscale burb of Buffalo. It was a dull gray metal so dd#2 spray painted it black and I stained the two wooden accent pieces to match. Original shades that cleaned up well. Hubby rewired it & added the black chain.



Since the room is only 12.5' x 10.8' I went with a monochromatic color scheme based on my huge couch. When you have children & everyone wants to sit near Mom this is what you end up with. A sectional that seats 6.

Little did I realize that I was really designing the parlor to match my red headed step son Hunter.

He has claimed his area and even dragged the couch cover up & over to give himself a bed.

The shelf behind the sectional is just a piece of pine that hubby mounted with L shaped brackets and I stained.

It's main purpose is to keep the couch in place. Unfortunately the sectional doesn't fit in due to the bump out (heating duct added in the '50's) there's a tendency for the corner section to be pushed up against the wall while the corner is smashed up agianst the bump out. 

It's hard to see but I wall papered this wall with a textured pattern.



The entrance of the parlor which originally was square with moulding & two doors. Sometime in the 1920's putting in these rounded doorways was all the rage.

We briefly thought about reinstalling moulding but then I priced it out @ a salvage store.

Not to mention there would be no room for the doors. Since we now heat primarily with wood being able to close off unused rooms is a must.

The curtain rod we made with a wooden closet rod, found wooden finials, and wrought iron plant hooks.  

Having a curtain will allow the parlor to be used as a guest room and close it off to redirect heat from the wood stove.

Which btw is in the pile of remodeling supplies somewhere in that far corner.

~~ pelenaka ~~