The Back Patio- I should have known...

The back patio "leads" to the in ground pool.



The pool is at the bottom of a decaying set of blue stone stairs with a railing that has rotted out at the bottom.



Nicely painted with safety stripes. Missing a step is the least of your problems.  Cartoon characters have accidents like this not  humans...grab the railing to save yourself from falling down the faulty step the railing gives way. During your decent you will roll through poison ivy, then hit a chain link fence topped with barb wire. Men with combat training have been felled by this.



 Bucolic Jersey. The house is up the hill behind the trees. If you look closely you can see the clothes lines that were also located at the pool. Who did the laundry here contestants on Survivor?



Yes, it could all be fixed but it is far from the house and would require the demolition of the existing shed and a  new pool house to be built. The pool is 1' thick  concrete reinforced with 2" thick re-bar. The pool will be broken into 3" pieces have all the re bar pulled out them dumped back in and leveled.

The back patio is close to the house, has views of the city in the winter and is large. Larger than I thought when I started 30' x 22'.  Previously it was covered in chicken wire to keep the turkeys out of the basement, tree stumps, and embedded metal rods to line dry clothing, the house had no dryer. No dryer but, a heated pool. Everyone's priorities are different....

 Everything is conspiring against me. The weather, bad math, supply issues and no motivation. I should have known it was going to be a long haul following the bonding agent episode. Old concrete sucks the bonding agent up, the roller sucks the bonding agent up. One gallon appears  to cover one square foot. Grimy, sticky and annoyed I  grabbed the container and dumped it and walked off. If the stuff actually helps only time will tell. I can say for sure the stuff is sticky and impossible to get off skin. 

All that will get us to where we are going.

Here is the inspiration.











The paint selection.

Monitors show different colors. These are actually soothing shades of green not muddy beige.

Field Color

Bher Garden Lattice

Stencil Color

Bher Terrace View

The stencil

Palette Paint

The current status.

Tons of pollen. Three weeks left to get it done. It is go time.

"A dieu for now"

Calling it Home's  One Room Challenge was a great incentive to just get this room done and here is The Breakfast Room Week 6. Week 1 to refresh your memory. 

Everything is bright and fun. 

Custom braided trim from Theo. Merwitz Textiles. Hot pink French piping from Samuel and Sons.

All of the soft goods were fabricated by La Mel Designs. Big Momma's needlework seasoning guide was given new life.

Rather then have everything new I wanted the room to look as though it had evolved over time.

I wanted pieces that had a  history and showed some age and if something did not have a story the fact that "I like it" is enough.

The vase is inspired by the book and made by the author and illustrator of  The Dot, Peter Reynolds

The place mats are by Deborah Rhodes. The glasses are a One Kings Lane score.



I will take any monogram any day. The set of 12 luncheon napkins with the hand work were a double score. My initial and a large set from the local antiques mall.

The silver, we use it everyday and yes it goes in the dishwasher, is my grandparents wedding silver. Every day is precious there fore nothing is too precious to not use every day.

The chairs have all the knocks and dings of life.

Chair detail.

Seat pad ties lace around the legs.

The bulletin board is from LG Custom Accessories. Only flattering pictures are allowed.

 Original art birthday wishes from the talented and oh so clever Leo H.

The house has the best doors and the best dinner bell.

The forged bronze hardware through out remains in tact and functioning. Hinges, strike sets and keys.

Split set hardware. The kitchen side of the door is milk glass and chrome. The brass base metal is showing where the chrome plating has worn off.

A French 19th century iron door bell from Great House by Bonny Neiman is our dinner bell and good luck charm.

The seed catalog prints along with a rotation of photographs and children's art work lines another wall.

We bid you "a dieu" from the house that was once covered in vines.

A patio, side porch and birthday party all need attention, my own foolishly self imposed timed challenge. I hope you will come visit. I finally got the bonding agent off my hands to type.

 Wondering where the baby sits? One of the best bits of baby gear ever. Phil and Ted's "Lobster" clamp that baby right on to the table.