Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Freshen up









As much as I love Christmas Bits around, I'm totally ready to get rid of them promptly, and I actually love the sparse freshness when all the accouterments are removed and stowed for another year. This year, I could hardly remember what I had in the way of Bits to fill the spaces. One thing that I have done is removed the curtains in the living room. They needed a good cleaning, plus with the new sectional sofa, they were a bit squished in behind it, and didn't hang well. Once they were down, the window didn't feel right. It looked far to small behind the weight of the big sofa, and a bit unbalanced because the sofa went right into the corner on the one side.

I started searching for a pair of old French paneled doors or antique shutters to use instead of curtains, however the prices of such items (around $450) was just way too much money for me to spend. Trolling through Home Depot the other day, I happened on a bi-fold paneled closet door in clear pine. It was $59 and I thought it would make a good pair of shutters for my now bare living room wall. So, I unhinged the pair, dry brushed on some paint called Pigeon from Farrow and Ball that I had in a sample tin, then a coat of flat white, and then took my mama's old camping style tin opener and bashed it full of little holes to take away the newness. Since they weren't authentic old shutters, I decided not to go overboard on the distressing, just enough to take away their freshness. They balance the space behind the sofa quite well, and are much tidier and simpler than the curtains there previously. 

Above my old pine cabinet, I've hung an old tin ceiling tile that has been framed in some old wood. I like it there with the books as it doesn't compete with the stacks of books that are housed here like the painting I had here did before.

Today, I'm going to purge at least 25 items. Yesterday I gave away a painting that I bought on a whim and shouldn't have. My kids, who are furnishing their own homes, like it when I do that.

13 comments:

  1. The shutters look fantastic. When I saw the images I thought immediately of an old apartment in Paris. Your place is so gorgeous!

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  2. I love the shutters! How great that you found them for an affordable price. Your room is so pretty, love how the stacked books look too:)

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  3. That looks so pretty! Well done. I love your stacks of books too. Nice way to freshen up and get ready for the new year ahead. Merci, for the inspiration ;)

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  4. Having moved from NY to Florida to Oregon to Argentina, we did a bit of purging along the way.
    Now ... I am not letting Anything go .. I am hanging on to every little thing.. I know there will be a place for it in our new old house in the US .
    I love the ceiling tile idea. The shutters look lovely.

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  5. That looks excellent Chania! I know what you mean. I love the Christmas decorations, but it was good to pack them away and have the space again!
    x

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  6. I've been doing the same..I'll send pics. :D

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  7. I love the shutters . . . it makes the windows look larger and the sofa "fits in" just right! You continue to amaze me with your ideas. 25 item purge, huh, great idea . . .

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  8. I love that purging feeling after Xmas when all the glitter goes away for a year. And things look all tidy again. Your room looks mighty comfy.
    Brenda

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  9. those shutters are perfect. i love the clean pared down look they give the room. refreshing!

    we must be on the same wavelength again b/c i've been purging since the 1st. how and where does all this stuff come from?

    xo

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  10. great idea! love the shutters! I'm always glad to clear up after Xmas too and move a few things around :)

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  11. The first thing I saw in your picture was the shutters. Perfect! I always love them on the inside side of a window. You would never know yours weren't old ones. I purged a lot with the move so I'm not in that mode this year, but I am in the mode to make this rental we are in more homey and hope to bring out some more of my "stuff" that I've stored in the garage. The challege is how to fill up a room with a vaulted ceiling without permanently attaching anything to the walls??? Your shutters have given me an idea.... Ann

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  12. Beautiful! and refreshing. Now, how do you manage all that white with Frenchie and the kitty around? That's a feat in itself.

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  13. Love this look! I so want a clean palette in my home! First the purge then I can re-decorate!

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I love to read each and every comment and are thrilled that you take the time to send one. Thank you so much. Chania