When we first started the farm remodel, I knew it would be a lengthy process. I also knew that in order to endure a house that was always in a state of chaos, I wanted to have ONE room that was an "after"...one room that I could show visitors and say "someday it will all be nice like this". One room that would give me hope, and keep me going. That room was/is the parlor. Come on in...
The parlor is 16' x 16' and has 11 foot plaster walls that were covered in wallpaper...peeling paint and cracks everywhere. I spent almost a month stripping the wallpaper, then hired a painter who specialized in plaster, to come and repair and paint the walls. Here it is "BEFORE"...
a very long during...
and finally...all the wallpaper GONE!
The walls and ceiling were repaired, patched, sanded, primed, sanded again, and painted. We added crown molding, and a decorative plaster medallion to the large plaster ring that was already around the light fixture (bulb!). The walls are linen white, and the ceiling is ballet slipper pink. All the trim is high gloss white. I am keeping all the original windows in this room, and re-glazing the antique wavy restoration glass. I am having storm windows installed on the outside of the house to help with insulation.
Then came the mantle...first I tried stripping off all the layers of paint, then I decided to paint it with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and use a clear wax finish. Here it is "BEFORE"...
during stripping...just couldn't get all the paint off...
starting with Annie Sloan...
waxed and finished...
the floors still need to be sanded and refinished...
a crystal chandelier makes the room sparkle...
another before and after...
I partially stripped the door, then sanded down the layers of remaining paint with sandpaper and steel wool to expose the different colors. I added a clear coat of matte polyurethane to prevent chipping. The outside of the doorframe still needs to be painted...
I added a gorgeous antique crystal doorknob from a friends great-grandparents home that was built in Virginia in 1840.
the back of the door was left rough as well...
I'm not furnishing the room until all the messy work is completed, but I can't resist bringing a few accessories in:)
I am trying to document every step of the restoration...thanks for letting me share it with you!
