Wiring the Den
We’ve made a lot of progress getting the den wired up. For the most part, the power is where it needs to go and the data is where it needs to go. We had a little too much fun designing the wiring plan and we have all sorts of handy upgrades in place.
First off, we are planning on using this awesome sound system wiring plan.
We’ve even got one already wired up but we’re waiting to install most of the wall plates etc until I’ve painted but we had to see what the right rear speaker plug would look like. So polished!
And, while we were pulling wires and had the appropriate tools and mess already set up, we made a last minute decision to install power and data for a projector. It is the appropriate distance from a stud for mounting the projector and we have ethernet run from the “TV Center” area up to the ceiling. We are planning on using HDMI over ethernet since the run is longer that what HDMI cables are capable of handling.
They even make face-plates that include the necessary hardware for HDMI over CAT-6 (ethernet cable).
Or you can just use these handy converters.
Click on the image to visit the Monoprice website where they are sold.
So much fun wiring! I hope to have some of it up and running by Christmas but we’ll see. I’ll be happy with functional lights and switches!
Sarah
Pulling down the moldings
In the first floor entry, dining room, and piano room, we are having the ceilings re-done. We have a plaster guy that is going to put up 3/8″ blue board and plaster over it to tighten up and clean up the ceiling. Before we can get that crew in, the crown moldings needed to come down. The crown in the entry and piano room was a picture rail molding that wasn’t installed or stained particularly well. We’re planning on upgrading the moldings to something a little more substantial. Here are the picture rail moldings stacked up on the porch.
You can see they were in rough shape and would have needed a fair amount of work. Since the ceiling is being re-done, it was a good excuse to ditch them and start new.
I pulled them down in the Piano room first and I notices some odd brown paper under the moldings. It wasn’t until I moved on to the entry that I realized it was the original wallpaper. The paper in the Piano room must have been a different type because it looked like kraft paper and I couldn’t descern any original pattern. In the entry however…
There is the neat hand painted forest/tree paper. Very much back in style and great colors!
In the dining room, there was a painted moldings that really was quite pretty.
I do think it’s time to upgrade to something a bit more substantial to show off my tall ceilings but it really is sweet molding. Under that trim, was this bold graphic pattern in navy and gold.
Again, very much in-style with the stenciling craze these days but decidedly too dark for the room. If the entry still had the trees, I might have kept it but that navy print would have had to go.
I’m still working on scheduling the plaster guys but I’ll keep you posted!
Sarah
Porch Swing
We finally got around to installing a porch swing on the front porch. It’s a bit chilly to use it but next spring it’s gonna be awesome! We were waiting until we had a chance to put in the overhead light so that we would have a hole to find the studs. After we found the appropriate stud for hanging the swing, it assembled and went up lickety split.
It really adds a healthy dose of charm to the front porch. I’m a big fan.
Sarah
Downton Abbey Finds: Season 2 Episode 3
I’ve got a lot of cool things to show you for this episode. We take a trip to London and see Lady Rosamund’s parlor and some more of her fabulous clothes, we find Bates in a pub, and the Abbey is being converted into an army hospital.
Bates’ pub has some lovely woodwork.
Lady Rosamund’s parlor is stunning
and I love this velvet trimmed blazer of hers. I could so wear that!
They’re setting up beds in the parlour. I love Lady Grantham’s outfit and the room with the large-scale paintings is beautiful.
And there are some more gorgeous shots of the grand entryway at Downton.
Anna has a super cute black leather purse. I have a collection of these myself. Though I must say that hat is not flattering at all!
One other detail that caught my eye in this episode was the lace wall hanging behind the Grantham’s bed.
It’s a very large piece of cut lace. It is stunning.
Again, if you’ve never seen Downton Abbey or you just want to watch it again, you can watch it for free with Prime using Amazon Instant Video. If you don’t have Amazon Prime, I can’t recommend it enough. It’s $80 a year and includes free 2-day delivery on tons of products and unlimited free streaming from the Amazon prime streaming library. To get a 30 day free trial of Amazon prime, click the link below!
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Sarah
sheila zimmermann
11/1/2013 | 9:33 am Permalink
If walls could talk.