We've put off home projects and I'm really wanting to jump in and get some of them completed. We're remodeling our living room with fresh paint, floor tiles, and clean windows! Our home was built in 1921 and has a lot of the original workmanship. We've always wanted to maintain as much original as we could so our upgrades are merely cosmetic. I'm slowly going around the room with a paint brush dipped in this color.
That's my go-to neutral color along with this one for trim. I have both in my home and at the shop. It's a white, but has undertones of taupe. I've always felt that when you find your perfect color you should stick with it.
As you can see by the picture I've started some prep work on the window trim. I often wonder how many coats of paint are on the trim? The yellowish splotches underneath are probably primer from the nineteen twenties or somewhere around this time. It's a heavy duty tough as nails primer! I'm sure that it is probably oil based and there is a good chance it's lead base as well since it's so old. Whatever it is, it's aged well.
My dad dropped this box of lily of the valley over awhile ago. MJ had it growing on the north side of the house and I mentioned that I'd like to plant some and she was kind enough to share her stock. We have a rock walkway on the south side of our home that my husband built a few years ago and I think it would love the shady rocky habitat.
Lily of the valley typically prefers the north sun.
My shop neighbors to the north, The Jesse James Bank Museum has this quaint courtyard on the north side of the building. I believe the story is that Jesse James's mom planted lily of the valley in this courtyard. I've always admired the tucked away spot and when the lily of the valley starts to bloom around the first of June and the wind is blowing from the south, I get a burst of their fresh perfume on my shop porch or while I'm getting out of my car in the parking lot. Little things...
The home projects are blooming. During our remodel I pulled a library table to the porch so that I can give it a makeover too. The antique table was my moms so it has sweet memories with it. It's oak and I very much want to strip it down to its bare oak wood. They make a wood bleach that when applied gives wood a raw effect. The surface must be free of stain and varnish to be effective. I have never used it, but I'm eager to try it and see what happens.
You know how you see some wood that has that natural raw look to it? That has been wood bleached. Here's a picture of the library table and I will definitely share after pictures with you.
On the store front...
Keep the faith.
Jill
