STENTON AVENUE PROGRESS...

Stopped at the Stenton Avenue project this afternoon -- WOW, in just one day the framing has really advanced -- looks like we'll be ready for carpeting and window treatments in a week or two...NOT!!!

THIS SECTION WILL HOUSE THE MUD, LAUNDRY AND POWDER ROOMS AS WELL AS A WALK-IN CLOSET



THIS PORTION OF THE ADDITION WILL HOUSE THE SUN ROOM




LOOKING INTO THE UTILITIES AREA



STENTON AVENUE JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER...

Stopped by on Wednesday to see what progress has been made.  Wow, in just 2 days the new stucco has been completed, all the trims have been primed and even some trims have their final colours applied.  I am so thrilled with the subtle, mono-chromatic colour scheme of the exterior.  The palette we've selected really brings out all the original terra-cotta ornamentation.  Also, the framing of the new addition is coming along like gang busters...take a look at the photos taken on Wednesday...

SORRY, FOR SOME REASON I'M NOT ABLE TO "FLIP" MOST OF THE PHOTOS TAKEN ON WEDNESDAY, BUT YOU CAN SEE THE COLOURS...



SMALL KITCHEN WINDOW...



FRENCH DOOR ONTO SIDE PORCH -- THE DOOR WILL BE THE SAME COLOUR AS THE TRIM...



STENTON AVENUE PROGRESS...

Wow, stopped today for a status check-up.  The place was buzzing with activity.  The addition is well on it's way, the new replacement windows have arrived, the windows and trims have all been scraped and are having their primers applied.  There are holes punched everywhere for the new heating and air conditioning and electrical wiring.  The two 2nd floor baths have been knocked together to make one luxurious master bath and the new 3rd floor baths have been framed. 

Here are some pix...



REAR OF HOUSE MINUS OLD PORCH, BUT WITH NEW ADDITION IN PROGRESS.



FRAMING HAS BEGUN...




ROUGH COAT OF STUCCO AND PRIMED ENTRY...




SCRAPED AND PRIMED ENTRY...



INCREDIBLE DETAILING FOUND UNDER LAYERS OF OLD PAINT...

  

MORE DETAILS...UNDER THE PAPERS ARE BEAUTIFUL LEADED GLASS WINDOWS...





FINISH COAT OF STUCCO SHOWING BEAUTIFUL CONTRAST WITH ORIGINAL GLAZED TERRA-COTTA TILE PILASTERS...



TWO BATHS BEING KNOCKED TOGETHER TO FORM ONE LARGE MASTER BATH...



FRAMING OF 3RD FLOOR "NORTH GUEST ROOM" -- BATH ON LEFT -- ENTRY ON RIGHT...



SHOWHOUSE CLOSURE...




ROOM #4 - "THE LIBRARY" - CHCE 2011


Well, after weeks or preparation, and a month of being opened, the Chestnut Hill Designer Show house has closed.  Now, it's a matter of sorting thru items, accessories and furniture which have been deposit at my office/home -- the description "Bomb Site" comes to mind.

I think the show was a great success for almost all involved.  Many of the participants look forward to the possibility of another house in the future. 

Aside from the professional/business success for me I am thrilled to have acquired some really lovely new friends.  I look forward to many years of friendship.  I think the 4 bottles of champagne, opened the second the doors closed for the last time, helped to lubricate some of these new friendships -- you know who you are -- N.N.!!!!!

I think I speak for almost everyone involved in this new venture when I say thanks to all who helped to make it a true success.

See you in September!!!

THE "MOUSEMAN" OF KILBURN, NORTH YORKSHIRE...

Finally made it to Robert "The Mouseman" Thompson's of Kilburn.  If you should ever find yourself in North Yorkshire the Mouseman Workshop and Showroom is a must.  It's tucked away off the A19 and is such a wonderful cabinet shop in a perfect "English Village".  Every piece, no matter how large or small, will have a mouse carved into or onto it.  All pieces are of English oak.  I will admit, I did a little Christmas shopping while there.


Here are a couple pix of Kilburn...unfortunately it was not the best day...



Main Street of Kilburn...




The "Mouse Man" showroom...

 

Looking North on Kilburn's Main Street...




Here are some pix of the wonderful pieces and the interior of the showroom...

A beautiful server -- notice that this piece actually has 2 mice -- just beneath the top overhang...





A storage chest, "milk" stool and a corner cabinet...

A close-up of a "Mouseman" mouse...



Another section of the showroom -- the paneling is all "Mouseman"...



And here is my latest best friend.  Meet 'Sally' -- Sally is 18 years old and is a wire-haired Jack Russell.  Sally is a fixture at the Mouseman visitor center and particularly a fixture of the tea shop.  Sally and I shared a slice of cake...who could resist!!!!! 



Sally performing for another morsel...

 



HAREWOOD HOUSE...

After a lazy morning and a wonderful breakfast we were off to Harewood House -- some pronounce it "Hairwood" some say "Haarwood".  This is one of my all-time favorite homes.  It's the home of Lord Lascelles -- a first cousin to the Queen.  The interiors of the home are almost all designed by Robert Adam with much of the furniture made by Thomas Chippendale the elder and the younger.  There are rooms with the original Adam designed carpets (which almost always mirrored the design of the room's ceiling) -- really just breath-taking.  After touring the house we stopped at the tea shop on the terrace and had a late afternoon tea with cake.  A short drive back to wains road and a little updating of the blog before I tuck in for a quick nap.  I hear John and Matt are preparing a lovely Indian meal for this evening's "Tea" -- which is Yorkshire for dinner -- don't ask!!!!

Here are a couple PIX of the terrace gardens at Harewood...

OIY, WHAT A TRIP ON THE TRAIN TO YORK...

Thursday, the day of my arrival, was the hottest September 29th since 1890.  Above 80...

Anyway, Friday arrived -- had a wonderful "Full English" breakfast then made my way to Kings Cross station for my 2 hour train trip to York.



THE 11:23 "GRAND CENTRAL" AWATING DEPARTURE...


Got on the train early -- sat there for about 15 mins -- no AC -- assumed the AC  would come on once the train engines started.  11:23 arrived, engines started, NO AC.  I booked 1st class to be comfortable...the train travel was 2 hours long and we all roasted in our coach.  Arrived into York at about 13:15 -- picked up my rental car -- drove to Wains Road.  Had a chat with John, looked at all the little "JOBS" someone had lined up for me, then took a wee nap.

John fixed a wonderful meal of Shepard's pie -- made with fresh Yorkshire shepards -- cooked carrots, PURPLE cauliflower and fresh runner beans (string beans) from the garden!!!  Wow, what a meal!!! 

Was still suffering from jet-lag, so turned in early.

All for Friday...