OFFICE - "BEFORE"
Will's Office (before)
It was tough keeping the debris picked up while steaming wallpaper, repairing wall cracks, two skim coats of drywall compound, and sanding woodwork smooth . . . . all in preparation to apply paint finishes of gray and cream.
Will Admires His New Office
Will and his son Dylan worked hours and hours to remove wallpaper on the office ceiling, and skim coat drywall compound to smooth. More hours for the fine finishes involved to scrape paint flakes off the window trim and hand sand to smooth, then meticulous taping the 4 beautiful stained glass window in the office. Repeat again--to prepare baseboard and wainscotting.
Will and his son Dylan worked hours and hours to remove wallpaper on the office ceiling, and skim coat drywall compound to smooth. More hours for the fine finishes involved to scrape paint flakes off the window trim and hand sand to smooth, then meticulous taping the 4 beautiful stained glass window in the office. Repeat again--to prepare baseboard and wainscotting.
Here's the south window, scraped and ready for hand sanding and taping prior to painting
Before photo of the windows showing flaking paint to be scraped.
Just remember: every job has a beginning, a middle, and an end.
BEFORE
South East Corner of Office
View from the living room, looking into the office as wallpaper was steamed away, and white Durabond and webtape wall repairs.
After those repairs, two skim coats of drywall compound applied and smoothed to perfect blemish free walls. Then two coats of primer and two coats of Cloudy Today Gray satin finish. The woodwork received two coats of semi-gloss in Pale Quartz.
AFTER
Southeast Corner of Office
A portrait of Benjamin Franklin greets visitors. Notice the turn of the century stick and ball magazine rack.
Presently I'm making lined drapes for the 4 stain glass windows, and soon we'll have the rods hung ready to install the drapes. The reason for the drapes is function first. The winter sun penetrates the bay window and can be annoying.
The drapes are simple panels, hung with ring/clips--easy to open and close. The lining protects the drapery fabric from sun light fade. And the lining keeps cold air out during the winter, and diminishes the heat in the summer time.
After the window seat cushion is installed, then I'll have the right length (hem finish measurement) for the drapes.
The drapery fabric is a Jacobean print, that compliments Will's antique Jacobean Style desk with its thick decorative legs and carvings in dark oak. Check back with Will later--to see his drapes and window seat finished.
Dark oak furniture looks great in this room. There is a small library desk (located at the south window) to hold Will's printer and WiFi.
Will was careful to protect his new carpet with pieces of cardboard--on the feet of his desk. As I took this photo--he had just cleaned his beautiful old desk with Old English furniture polish. Makes it shine and hides scratches.
On his desk is a salvaged old lamp, rewired and fitted with a new but old looking glass shade. It will be topped with a custom shade.
I love to cover lampshades. Here is a fancy one I made for my 1893 Victorian Farm House in Scandinavia, WI. (I'm Will's sister Linda).
Antique Lamp on Will's Desk--waiting for a fabric shade
On this day we were pulling tape off the windows and trim, and Will moved furniture into his office.
"Before Photo" of Wall Repair above the office cabinet
Cutting Away the Crumbling Area . . . to make the repair
This repair required cutting away a large rectangle of loose plaster. Replaced with 1/2" thick drywall rectangle and screwed into the lath. Webtape and Durabond to repair, and two skim coats of drywall compound to smooth. Prime and Paint. Done.
"After Photo" Repaired Wall - like brand new
View from Will's Office--looking into the living room. Believe it or not, the living room is more finished than it appears.
The newly sanded, stained and sealed original floor is beautiful, but covered for the moment. The walls and ceiling--all receiving last bit of skim coat drywall compound. Almost ready for sanding woodwork, priming, and painting.
The living room walls will be the color of coffee with cream. The ceiling and woodwork in Pale Quartz the creaminess of a vanilla ice cream cone.
The Living Room was once the hub of Dr. Alfred Carey's medical practice, post office, and his home in 1892 until he passed suddenly from appendicitis in 1899. He no doubt loved his new home and wife Della who gave birth to their only son a month after his death.
Here's a photo of the Will's Wild Rose house. Quite possibly it is the original exterior as it was built in 1892. The photo image was provided by Ann Garber who lived here with her siblings and parents. Recently, I ordered a print and framed it--a gift for Will and his home.
16 x 20 framed print - Wild Rose House
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Here's to 2017, and many great memories to come, as we roll up our sleeves and restore this old house.
Stop by and visit us when you can. We'll keep you informed when we open the doors for a tour during Wild Rose Days in the summer.
