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Posts Tagged ‘before & after’

Mid-century Modern Farmhouse

Posted in Inspiration, Tag Sale Updates, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 16, 2015| 3 Comments »

The Farmhouse is getting a facelift!

Yes, that adorable little (heated) house has new residents:   Barefoot Dwelling.   These girls had a vision immediately.  And what has inspired me so about this is that their vision was totally different from what mine had been.

I don’t know about you, but someone with a fabulous vision, totally outside my usual style, inspires me like little else can.  It’s what invigorates me every time I travel, and to have such a vision unfold right here in front of me is exciting!

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So here’s a little BEFORE & AFTER fun for you:

BEFORE, Room 1:  Let’s start in the first room, which was the kitchen.  You may recall how it looked when we first took possession of it in July 2012:

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After removing the contact paper ‘wallpaper’ and vinyl ‘parquet’ floors:

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Two and a half years ago, after applying Farrow & Ball’s Pavilion Grey :

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Now, with a fresh vision comes fresh color!  Using Farrow & Ball’s fabulous paint, Lisa and Mary, owners of Barefoot Dwelling, chose pure white, with contrast, feature walls.

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AFTER, Room 1:  In this first room, the color grabs you right away, it’s Farrow & Ball’s Charlotte’s Locks.  Such a great punch with the fabulous mid-century pallet they’ve collected.

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BEFORE, Room 2:  Then on to the second room, as we found it 2 1/2 years ago:

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After removing the rest of the contact paper covering the wanescoating, and  more of the vinyl ‘parquet’ floor:

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Then, after a fresh paint job (Farrow & Ball Pavilion Grey)  in 2012:

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AFTER, Room 2:  Now with a a fresh white facelift, complemented by a contrast wall of Farrow & Ball’s Churlish Green (yes, that’s a paint name, don’t you just love it??!!)

And check out the sleek mid-century aesthetic.

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This room has NEVER been so cool!

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More great stuff is being added through the week, and you’re all invited to come take a look this weekend, February 20-22, Fri/Sat 9am-4pm, Sun noon-4pm.  I hope you’ll find it as fresh, original, and inspiring as I do!

Thanks for reading,

Virginia

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And the winner is . . .

Posted in Inspiration, Tag Sale Updates, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 12, 2014| 2 Comments »

Yes, I’ve finally committed to a paint color for the Chartreuse & co barns!  The winner is:  Railings for the window and door frames, Cornforth White for the mullions – both from Farrow & Ball.

And here’s the really cool thing:  As I stood there, staring at the face of the barn, trying desperately to envision it painted grey, charcoal, anything, Rosanna (owner of Bella Villa shop in Aldie) approached me and asked what I was doing.  I explained my agony:

“See those silos and how they’ve weathered?  I love those colors and want that pallet for the barn . . . but how ?”

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Rosanna, gifted stylist that she is, offered this suggestion:  “Why not just sand it and seal it.  Keep the weathered look you love, and just freshen the paint on the trim?”

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I could have kissed her!

So where you see the dark green paint now, we’ll have the Farrow & Ball Railings.  The mullions (the inside dividers of the windows) will be Farrow & Ball Cornforth White, plus, because it’s an awesome part of the barn structure, the upper barn door (partially open in this picture), as well as it’s hardware and track, will be painting the Railings, too.  All the rest will be simply power washed, lightly sanded, and sealed to preserve that beautiful, natural aged, gray and white wooden appearance.  Can’t wait to see it complete!

So we lined up the paint, the painter, and a block of sunny days.  But, of course, nothing goes as planned.  As work began we realized that all the old wood framing around the windows was completely gone.  And by gone, I mean you could push your hand into it and pull out wood pulp!  I couldn’t believe it!  But as luck would have it, Rob, who was doing the painting, is also a gifted carpenter.  He is actually recreating the window frames exactly, to match the circa 1920s pieces.  Some of the painting is complete, but the whole project will be ongoing into fall.

NEWS FLASH!!!

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Beginning with our  August event (August 15-17), Farrow & Ball paint is available at Chartreuse & co!  Yes, that fabulous, best-in-the-world paint that I’ve been gushing over for years (Bedroom Redux, Color Happy, Before & After, Laundry Room Blues)  We’re working with Patrick Street Interiors, the local stockist for the paint.  You’ll find a seasonally edited selection of the 750ml cans (approximately a quart) to try on your furniture, or, as I have done, all over your walls!  Be forewarned:  Farrow & Ball paint spoils you for all other paints.

Thanks for reading!
Virginia

 

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Springing Forward

Posted in Inspiration, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 12, 2013| 6 Comments »

Think about Spring and what comes to mind?  Warm sunshine on your face.  A breeze carrying that kiss of warmth and promise of summer.  And gardens bursting into their own.

This Spring is bringing me the most spectacular garden I’ve ever had.  And it’s been such a rewarding lesson in being faithful to a vision.

Here’s some befores, some durings, and you’ll just have to wait a little on the full-on afters:

Beginning the Monday after our February sale, Jared Herman and his team arrived and began the earth moving.

Beginning the Monday after our February sale, Jared Herman and his team from Old Towne Historic Landscapes arrived and began the earth moving.

As the footers were poured, I began to see Jared's 2-dimensional design come to life.

As the footers were poured, I began to see Jared’s 2-dimensional design come to life.

I had tried over the years to create a pretty little shade garden along this wall. The only thing that thrived was poison ivy. Solution? A water feature!

I had tried over the years to create a pretty little shade garden along this wall. The only thing that thrived was poison ivy. Solution? A water feature!

The brick paving throughout is artwork, but what I really can't wait to see is the water wheel that's going to be hinged on the iron frame built into the pond's coping.

The brick paving throughout is artwork, but what I really can’t wait to see is the water wheel that’s going to be hinged on the iron frame built into the pond’s coping.

Around here, you either Go Big, or Go Home. Jared totally got that one. This spetactular outdoor fireplace was built straight, on a hinged base. Once it was set, Jared and his crew lowered one side to create a convincing 'ruins'. It appears that the fireplace, over the years, has pulled away from the crumbling house walls. Amazing.

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The irrepressible crew, who worked through wind, rain, and snow to finish this huge job inside of a month.

The irrepressible crew, who worked through wind, rain, and snow to finish this huge job inside of a month.

The crumbling wall.

The crumbling wall.

From inside the planting beds, accented with 'windows'.

From inside the planting beds, accented with ‘windows’.

The crumbling walls on the north side of the entry.

The crumbling walls on the north side of the entry.

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The plants are coming in this week. Can't wait to see! I'll be shooting pictures all summer long . . .

The plants are coming in this week. Can’t wait to see! I’ll be shooting pictures all summer long . . .

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This one’s of Jared, the mastermind and creative genius who saw our barns and could see the gardens they needed.

So there you have it.  Our work in progress is becoming pretty spectacular.  Jared’s planting a beautiful wisteria in that picture of him.  He planted it and trained it’s branches over the ‘ruins’ and up the fireplace.  The other plant he’s featuring?  Hydrangeas.  I almost cried when he told me.  I absolutely LOVE them.  And dogwoods, and magnolias.  Historic, timeless plants to complete the vision.

But what do I love most about the whole construction?  The stone and brick used in the walls and fireplace is all salvaged from toppling farm buildings right here in Frederick County, Maryland.  So in our own little way, we’re preserving something of those other barns that couldn’t be saved.

Happy Spring!  Hope you’re inspired to go out and create something wonderful in your yard.

Thanks for reading,

Virginia

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The Power of Paint

Posted in Inspiration, Musings, tagged , , , , , , , on April 30, 2012| 7 Comments »

I’ve been a bit paint crazy lately. The barn, the girls’ apartment, my bedroom, my laundry room. Chip, my husband, just doesn’t get why I’m so into it (or see the value of $85/gallon paint vs. $30/gallon paint).  But, frankly, I’ve become obsessed.

It should also be noted that we live in a 1898 farmhouse with some pretty spectacular wood trim that I’ve been itching to paint for 10 years. Chip is completely opposed. So I offer the following evidence of the positive power of paint. (from CuriousDetails.com blog)

BEFORE: an efficient, if uninteresting office.

AFTER: Add a little paint, and you've got WOW! I particularly love the contrast of the deep, rich blue doors against the clean white office space beyond. An inspired choice.

BEFORE: the broader view of the office space

AFTER: The amazing power of simple white paint. Wouldn't you love entering this office space each day?
Also note that by using the built-ins within arms' reach of the desk, a smaller desk became practical - allowing for the comfort of the pair of chairs in the room.

I hope this gives you some inspiration (it gave me loads!), and perhaps some ammunition as you carry on the to-paint-or-not-to-paint debate with your other half.

Thanks for reading!

Virginia

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