A Sign from Susie

Remember when I said I wanted to put a long, old-looking sign above the Reading Room?
Well, last week I drew a rough sketch of the sign I had in my head using Photoshop and sent it to my friend Susie Harris.
I envisioned a large sign on top, with the name of our favorite book store, "Page & Palette", on it. (Click on the link to read about our inspiring experience there!) I pictured a second, smaller sign, suspended from little hooks on the botton edge of the bigger sign. Here is the rough sketch I sent Susie...




When I say that Susie is a signmaker extraordinaire, I mean it.
We received our handmade sign from her today and we LOVE it!
Here it is, hanging in its new home...



Her lettering is amazing...



She even used the exact kind of trim around the edge of the sign I told her I loved. Her attention to detail is second to none.





Every time we walk by our new (old) sign we'll be reminded of that stormy night in Fairhope. It taught us a lot about following our dreams, and embracing our creativity.
Thank you so much for sharing your creativity with us Susie! Now our memories of "Page & Palette" will also include the wonderful & talented you!
:-)

Kevin & Layla

PS...If you're ever in the Fairhope, Alabama area, make sure to stop by
the shop that inspired the creation of our sign!

Deck the Hall

Follow your heart. That's just what Kevin and I did when it came to this hallway. The discovery of the tongue-and-groove wood planks in here thrilled us so much we could hardly wait to uncover them!

What once looked like this...



...now looks like this...



...and it feels like this area has finally exhaled after all these years.

The transom opening that Kevin cut has a lot to do with the lighter, airier feel in here too.
Here's what the doorway that led from the living room to the hallway used to look like...




...and here's a photo I took today...



...it's like the room finally got to stretch after all these years.

The view into the reading room has changed for the better too.
What once looked like this...



...now looks like this...




It's like the house finally smiled back at us. :-)

My friend Susie is going to make us a long, old-looking sign to hang on the wall above the doorway to the reading room. I sent her these photos to use as inspiration...

Photos: Country Living

We can hardly wait to see what she creates!

Remember when Kevin left me a message on the wall to the left of the reading room?

Well, here it is today...



...anxiously awaiting accessories. I was thinking of doing a vertically-hung row of vintage plates. What would you do?

Here's the last part of the hall...



We're thinking of adding two custom-cut pieces of mirror to the skinny closet door in the middle. We know a guy that can cut it for us and he can even trim them out with unfinished wood trim so that we can paint it the same color we paint the door. We're not sure what color we'll paint the door yet. Any ideas?

And last, but not least, we're kind of thinking the door on the left and the door on the right need transom openings above them now too. (Yes, we're cuckoo for cut-outs!) We also plan to replace the doors themselves with older doors to add even more old-fashioned charm to this space.

I really look forward to the challenge of decking out this hall of ours. I also can't wait to read through any ideas these photos might spark in the talented minds of our creative readers!

Have a great weekend y'all! :-)
Layla

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Trials and Trim-ulations

Hello!

Well, unfortunately trimming out the hallway has turned out to be a bigger job than Kevin originally expected, so it's taking a little longer to finish. It's not the end of the world, I'm just impatient and can't wait to see the finished product! :-)
Turns out this old place has a few less-than-straight walls and some not-perfectly-level ceilings to boot. I guess that's to be expected in a 60 year old house. The good news is, I think he figured out a great solution today, and now that the situation is under control, he should be able to finish all the trim work tomorrow. (No pressure though honey) :-)

While Kevin worked on the opposite side of the hall today, I seized an opportunity to push the linen press into place, just to see what it would eventually look like. We had no idea when we bought it that we'd end up using in the hallway, but it does seem like the perfect spot for it now!



Of course I couldn't stop there- so I asked Kevin to help me hang a big, wood-framed mirror on the wall above. It was left by the previous homeowners, and it just happened to be the perfect size- I love it when that happens!
Before we attached it to the wall, I painted it with leftover paint I had from another project and lightly distressed the edges to give it a little character.

Once the linen press and the mirror were in place I couldn't help but mess around with some accessories.



I clipped some branches from out back and stuck them in a $8.00 jug I got at HomeGoods a couple years back...



I brought in the small, silver trophy that I bought for $2.00 on the Endless Yardsale, and filled it with a $5.00 bouquet from Walmart...



And because every tabletop needs at least one book, I stacked a few of my favorites here. I bought them at an antique store years ago...



I love buying ones with sweet titles like these. :-)
I covered the top book with a piece of an old piano roll I had.
I love that you can see the lyrics on the edge.



I got a whole box full of piano rolls last year at a flea market in Montgomery. They cost between $2.00 and $4.00 each, and they make the cutest little book covers!

We've got an exciting giveaway to blog about tomorrow, so if you're feeling lucky- make sure to stop by and enter your name! :-)

Have a great week!
Layla

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Hall Walls - Sneak Peek

I realize the photos don't really show much of the hallway, but we're not quiiiiiite done. We're close, I swear! I just couldn't go to bed tonight without posting something!
As soon as everything is finished, you'll be the first to know! :-)

XO,
Layla

PS...The samples we showed in our last video only come in a satin finish, (my favorite!) and I've used them on walls and furniture tons of times without any trouble at all! :-) Oh! Also, there is insulation behind the wood planks, for those of you who were wondering. When the house was first built, all that covered the planks was wallpaper.

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One coat down, one to go!

We mixed up a custom color for the hallway today. Stay tuned for a video we shot about that whole deal! :-)

In the meantime, here's a sneak peek at the hallway after the ceilings and walls were primed...



We still have to add trim to the vertical seams where the walls meet up with each other. I believe that's on Kevin's agenda tomorrow.

Did I mention he's sporting a Kilz-tipped faux-hawk today? :-)





It won't be long before we can start decorating this new, little space- woo hoo! Who woulda' thought I'd ever be so excited about our hallway!?

'Til tomorrow!

Layla

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Ready, Set, Prime!

Thanks so much for all the nice comments you've left us over the past couple of days!
We get together for breakfast, lunch and supper and take turns reading through them while we dine. Those moments are highlights of our day and we sure do appreciate your support and motivation! :-)

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Mr.LC finished trimming out the transom window this morning. Then he pulled out nails and cleaned the walls in the hallway this afternoon.
Here's a 360 degree view of it...









And the award for the "Blurriest Picture Of The Year" goes to...........

(What? You never heard of the B-POTY's?) ;-)



We are so lovin' our handsome new transom!



We definitely need one over the office door on the right too.

(Oh, and our ceilings are nine feet tall for those of you who asked) :-)



Here is where the stove used to be....

It will now be home to our linen press.



Shortly after he started priming, Kevin realized that he needed to run to the store for some Liquid Nails. While he was gone, I wandered out into the hall to check out what he had done so far.

I found this...(sigh)

<3 (-:

(tip your head to the right- that's a little smiley face with a heart under it)

I'm a huge fan of leaving notes for your loved ones to find, but it always catches me by surprise when others do it for me. He made my day with his precious primed profession!

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It's now ten o'clock at night. Everything is still. I can hear our cat snoring underneath my chair.
I'm looking at the hallway.
It's completely primed now, and eagerly awaiting a coat of pretty paint.
I cannot wait to see what it's going to look like this time tomorrow night!

Layla


(If you missed the post about what "143" means, click here !)

And for more photos of transoms and all kinds of other gorgeous architectural details, visit Brooke at Velvet and Linen!

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Our Handsome Transom

Photo Credit: MosbyBuildingArts.com

I've always loved the look of a transom window above a doorway.
Their ability to create the illusion of taller ceilings makes them so appealing. I also love the way they instantly create an easier, breezier vibe by allowing natural light to keep on, keepin' on.

Last night, while sitting on the couch, eating my supper, I had an idea.

Let's cut an opening above the door that leads from the living room to the hallway!

Kevin thought it sounded like a cool idea, so he literally walked away from his plate and immediately popped off the trim above the doorway so we could figure out the best way to start the project...



We could hardly fall asleep last night we were so excited about it!

Today after breakfast, he went to town on the wall above the doorway with our reciprocating saw...





The paneling came out very easily...





Next, he had to cut through the planks of wood on the other side of the wall...





No problem!



(It's hard to believe he didn't even know what a reciprocating saw was two years ago!)

Just look at all that sunshine pouring into the hallway now!



Next, he started to trim everything out, all nice and neat...




Here's what it looks like as of tonight...


Obviously we still need to caulk and paint, but I can already tell I'm going to love it- especially when the planks are painted in the hallway!

Tomorrow Kevin's agenda includes priming and painting the hallway, and finishing up the transom. The trim and ceiling will get painted white (which will help make that big vent disappear) and the walls will be an off-white color, like the ones in the Guest Bedroom. Since there's no windows in the hall, I want to keep it as fresh and light as possible color-wise. I also have plans for a large mirror, to reflect some of the light coming in from the Guest Bedroom.

Tip du jour: "Do one thing every day that scares you." - Eleanor Roosevelt

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