As the name of my blog indicates, I spend a lot of time thinking about home. Of course, my Heavenly Home is the one that is eternal, so that’s where I need to lay up my treasures, and that’s the one I’m striving for. But in the meantime, I have been given this tiny piece of the here-and-now—this home on the edge of town, this family, this neighborhood—in which to serve Him. And, though this is in the earthly realm, I want the things that happen here to be investments in the Heavenly realm.




Tuesday, February 11, 2020

That Pesky Wall


There is a wall in our dining room that we just can't seem to get right. 

Try #1
When we first moved in, we hung the wall cupboard that Ron had made for the bathroom at The Farmhouse.

Problem: The cupboard was visually "heavy." It looked like it was floating on the wall. A piece of furniture beneath it would have solved that, but there was no room for furniture on that wall considering the length of our dining room table. Also, the cupboard jutted out into the space a little too much, into the walkway towards the hall/bedrooms/bathrooms. 



The wall cupboard ended up in the library over a desk where it lives quite happily holding greeting cards and stationery.


Try #2:
We tried using the three botanicals that had been over the sideboard in The Farmhouse dining room. 

Problem: The Pineapple House dining room has tan (Linen White) woodwork and, as a totally interior room, no windows and no natural light , so the subdued prints and gold-toned frames did not have enough oomph. They didn't make a statement like they did at The Farmhouse.



Try #3:
This was my favorite! I found a folk art portrait of a colonial girl for ten dollars at an antique store. I ordered two primitive tin wall sconces to flank it . . . and I loved that look.

Problem: The amateur decorator who lives at my house pointed out that there were two girls in my dining room. And that was one too many. "Mom, you don't want two girls in one room."

I knew she was right. But I loved that wall. 


(You can see both girls in this photo.)

When we decorated the new guest room, Bekah grabbed the girl off the dining room wall and hung her over the pineapple post bed. We both liked her there.

But then I was back to Square One with that pesky wall.


Try #4:
We hit on the idea of a seascape and began searching, online and in local shops. The ones we loved were not in our price range. Until one day I found this affordable print in an antique store. Sold!

Problem: As much as I have tried to love it, it just feels out of place. It's the right size, but it doesn't seem to mesh with all of my other primitive/colonial pieces. 




Try #5:
Between Christmas and the New Year, we visited one of our favorite local antique malls and found this print, "Peaceable Kingdom," by colonial artist Edward Hicks. We have Hicks' "Noah's Ark" hanging above our mantel in the living room. As it is, it is too small for the wall, so we took it out of its frame. We plan to have it matted at Hobby Lobby and then Ron will make a frame for it. We may hang the primitive sconces on either side of the print. Or maybe not, because this print is horizontal  (the girl was vertical) and that may create too "long" a line across the wall.


I am hoping that Try #5 will be the one that works on this pesky wall!

We'll see . . . 


Note: It may take a few weeks or more to get around to this project because we are headlong into our first big house project of the year! 👀  Stay tuned for the post about our House Project Goals 2020! 


21 comments:

  1. I see what you mean. Nothing seems to work on that wall. I hope the Peaceable Kingdom brings peace. ;)

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  2. A difficult problem for you. I think one day you will hang something, step back and feel it is just right.

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    1. Thank you for your vote of confidence! I am hoping for "just right"!

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  3. This is a fun post! I do love that girl painting but I love where she has ended up in the guest room.

    Is the ship in the painting a Narnian ship or a Jane Austen era ship? Its a lovely painting, and I hope you find a spot for it to be in your home.

    Can't wait to here what project is beginning!

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    1. Thanks for coming along with us! I, too, love the girl's new home! I am not sure how to answer your question about the ship. I was going for the idea of a New England/Early American look, but I am really not sure if this is it. Bekah does like the painting, so I'll probably pass it along to her for her future home.

      I'm working on the next post and I'll tell all!

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  4. Haha, you and we are in the same conundrum. I've been moving things around our country bungalow and stepping back and thinking...nope, that isn't right. It will be fun to see what you finally end up with on the wall that will click for you and your resident designer.

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    1. It's just not a matter of bringing all of your stuff from your old house and plopping it in the new house, is it? Having only moved one other time in my adult life, I thought the process would be simpler. Wrong! (But I'll keep trying!)

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    2. (Or should I have said, "We'll keep trying!? 😊)

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  5. This is a great tutorial on how to analyze and see things in a different light! I loved the girl with the sconces but it also looks perfect in Becca's bedroom! Can't wait to see what the Hicks print looks there - one of my favourites!

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    1. There are so many things to consider . . . and much of it is trial and error! (I'm glad you liked the girl and the sconces. It was my favorite!)

      I hope the Hicks print is just right!

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  6. Hi Cheryl,

    I totally understand your challenge with this wall. I've had parts of our home, too, that took me several years to get right (we've been in this house 24 years). It sure feels good when you get it right, though, and you'll know it when you do. :) I really like your home; the interior reminds me very much of the 17th and 18th houses in our historic community of Old Salem, N.C. Your primitive wall sconces are lovely!

    I like that you and your husband do House Project goals each year -- that's a great idea. I think we need to try that here. Have a good week, Cheryl!

    Hugs,

    Denise

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    1. Thanks for your encouragement and kind words, Denise! I think you're right that we'll know it when we finally hit on the right thing!

      I am blessed to have a husband who loves house projects!

      Blessings on your week, Denise!

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  7. I enjoyed following along...that is not only a pesky wall, it is a pesky room. There’s at least one in every home. In my home there are several. One thing is sure...you will hang with it until you get it just the way you want it.

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    1. Indeed, this room has challenges! On the plus side, it is a good size and it flows into the living space quite nicely. But the lack of natural light . . . whew, that is a real challenge!

      And, yes, we are bound and determined to get that wall right! (Are we determined . . . or stubborn? Not sure. 😉)

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  8. It was fun watching the evolution of the pesky wall. I, too, am confident that you're going to get it just right eventually. :)

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    1. Glad you enjoyed it . . . and thanks for your vote of confidence, Becki!

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  9. Cheryl, love this post! I can't wait to see #5 framed and in position! Though I really don't see a problem with having two girls in the room. If this latest one doesn't work, I'd just go back to the second girl and the sconces.

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    1. That was my favorite too! And the girls really did seem to get along well. 😉

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  10. Can't wait to see the final project. If this one is not a good fit, have you thought of a lovely mirror of some sort? I have no doubt whatever you decide, it will be awesome!

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    1. Fabulous idea! A mirror was on the list of possibilities (added benefit: a mirror adds light and depth) before we found this print . . . and, who knows? If we need a Try #6 . . .

      Thanks for your encouragement!

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