Saturday, 16 June 2012

Meanwhile, back in the Georgian House...

Can it really be over a fortnight since my last post?! Time rushes on, I have been rather busy with real life things, so the mini world has been put on hold for a while. I will get back to it again in the next day or so.

Meanwhile, I thought I would show you some new photos I took recently of my Georgian House. Some rooms have not really changed much since I last posted about them, but there are some that have new pieces of furniture and accessories that I purchased at the Kensington Dolls' House Festival back in May.

I'll just show a couple of rooms today, and do another post of more rooms soon.

The Drawing Room



I couldn't resist buying myself some John Hodgson chairs to match the sofa I bought a few years ago. I have wanted to buy some for ages, but they are quite expensive, and there were always other things I needed more. This year I bit the bullet! Originally they were going to go on the rug, next to the table, but for some reason didn't look right, so I kept the gold chair, and put the other chairs against the wall where I had had some Hepplewhite style shield-back chairs.

You'll notice the shevret from an earlier post in situ on the top photo too. I wanted a small desk for that corner of the room, and was pleased that Trevor's shevret fitted in so well. I also bought several nice accessories from David Iriarte, like the candle sticks and the little urns on the shevret, which can also be used as candle sticks when you rotate the lids!

The Parlour


For some reason it is hard to get a clear bright image of the parlour on camera. You have probably seen this room much as it stands in earlier posts. The lovely chair from Elga stands proudly next to the book case, other than that there isn't a great deal more to tell you about this room that I haven't mentioned before, but hopefully it is a little brighter than some older pictures, and you can see more detail..






And a new shot of the two rooms together. My next job is to work on curtains for the house, I'm still not sure whether to use a Pretty Pleater or go with knitting needles and pins, I want some Austrian style blinds in the bedroom anyway, so will probably have to get out needle and thread (YIKES!!).
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30 comments:

  1. El caballero Metabólico16 June 2012 at 17:34

    Se ve todo maravilloso, Andy. Tienes muy buen gusto decorando, se nota la elegancia inglesa. EL salón es una delicia con esos muebles tan delicados, y la biblioteca se ve majestuosa. ¡Enhorabuena por este maravilloso trabajo!
    ¡Un abrazo enorme!

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    1. Andy18 June 2012 at 20:39

      gracias una vez más Pedrete,

      De un hombre con tan altos estándares a medida que tienen, estoy encantado de que te guste mi casa!

      un fuerte abrazo

      Andy

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  2. Plushpussycat16 June 2012 at 18:53

    You're funny, Andy! "Needle and thread--YIKES!" That's how I feel about drills and saws. My answer: my husband does that stuff for me! I'll be interested to see the curtains you make--I'm sure they'll be amazing, like everything else in your houses. xo Jennifer

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    1. Jonquil18 June 2012 at 14:55

      You're so lucky - I have a fear of wood and saws, but unfortunately my man does too! what a pair!

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    2. Andy18 June 2012 at 20:44

      Hi Jennifer and Jonquil

      I did try and make some curtains using needle and cotton with ironed pleats, which are the ones in the parlour, they are ok, but took me ages, and if there's an easier way, I want to try it!! Sewing is not my strong point, and the cotton ALWAYS gets tangled up, or creates a big ugly knot somewhere!!! I'm not so worried about drills and saws though!

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  3. Ilona16 June 2012 at 20:07

    Hi Andy! These are gorgeous rooms, decorated very beautifully! About the curtains, pleaters are nice but perhaps too neat? In these rooms they have to hang neat, but not tooo regular! Perhaps the needles will work better?
    Greetings, Ilona

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    1. Andy18 June 2012 at 20:47

      Hello Ilona,

      Good to hear from you. Yes I had heard that Pretty Pleaters were a little stiff and rigid sometimes, I like the simplicity of them though, so am still unsure what to do. I guess I will just have to give teh needles a go and see what happens, I've been putting things of for too long!!

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  4. Simon16 June 2012 at 21:46

    Hi Andy
    It's so good to see a "full frontal", as it were, of the Drawing Room (my favourite room - I love the colour of the wallpaper) and the Parlour. They look perfect next to each other.
    I love the chairs you bought that match the sofa. The paint finish is so classic and classy.
    Have a great weekend
    Simon x

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    1. Andy18 June 2012 at 20:53

      Hi Simon,

      I've just noticed that you have a new post so will pop along soon to read it, sounds exciting!

      I've tried to photograph the rooms together before, but they didn't work out. Glad you like the new pics. The Drawing Room is one of my favourites too, it's a lovely colour, and I was thrilled when I found that wallpaper!

      regards
      Andy xx

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  5. Maria16 June 2012 at 23:33

    Hi Andy, Thanks for following me. I love your rooms, they are very elegant and classy.
    Hugs
    Maria

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    1. Andy18 June 2012 at 20:54

      Hi Maria,

      It's nice to hear from you. I am so pleased that you like my rooms.

      Andy xx

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  6. Iris March17 June 2012 at 15:22

    Hi Andy,
    Now, this is a style I really love—those new chairs in the drawing room are gorgeous and worth the money! They balance the sofa nicely, and I agree that they look best against the wall. I also love those mirrors over the consoles. The blue wallpaper with solid blue below just makes the room so, so elegant!

    The parlour (funny thing, MSWord picked on the British spelling!) is really nicely done also, except, my friend, the wine bottle is empty! Once again, I love the mirror (you find the greatest mirrors) and the choice of paintings is well chosen. Now those swags! Wow—did you make them? The material hangs so softly!

    Well, I think it’s time now to go down to the “Swan Inn” !

    Cheers,
    Iris

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    1. Andy18 June 2012 at 21:09

      Hello Iris,

      It's funny, I tend to spend more time rearranging furniture in my dolls houses than the stuff in my real house! I usually put most of it back again where it was too! The chairs are works of art. I was lucky that John still had some of the old damask fabric left to match the original sofa, or I would have had something mismatching (not that that is really a problem!) The mirrors are white metal kits from Phoenix Model Developments, based in the UK, they make some really unusual items, and have a weeb site www.phoenixmodeldevelopments.com

      The mirror in the parlour is from there too funnily enough!
      I know the decanter is empty!! I've often thought of filling it, but don't want to ruin it! I always imagine that the people have finished gambling and have polished off all the booze!!

      I did make those drapes, not terribly well, but they look ok! they are made of silk dupion, which is nice and light and keeps its creases well. They took so long to make that they have sort of put me off doing the rest!

      I shall have to be brave and get sewing again!!!

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  7. Drora's minimundo17 June 2012 at 15:27

    Gorgeous elegant rooms! Lovely display.
    Hugs, Drora

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    1. Andy18 June 2012 at 20:55

      Hello Drora,

      Thank you for your kind comments. I am pleased that you like the rooms. I hope to show other rooms in the house soon too.

      regards
      Andy

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  8. Daydreamer17 June 2012 at 15:28

    Hi Andy! The new purchases look GORGEOUS in the Drawing Room! I think this is my favorite room... so calm and Elegant! I am glad you bit the bullet and purchased those chairs... the Sofa was Lonely without them... Lol!
    I am so glad YOU were the winner of Elga's Chair! It is JUST PERFECT in your Parlor!
    As for sewing curtains.... even though I know how to sew...I have not yet completed any Mini Curtains.... so I have no advice other than to Try, Try and Try again!!! I am Sure that you will end up with something Perfectly Elegant!

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    1. Andy18 June 2012 at 21:15

      Hi Betsy,

      I guess I will just have to get on with it, the curtains won't get made otherwise! I keep hoping the curtain pixies will visit in teh night and run up a few pairs for me, but that hasn't happened yet! sigh!

      I love Elga's chair! I have sat and admired the fine needle work on the seat for ages! She does some amazing things, so tallented!

      Have you found any more of your marbles in the garden yet?
      ;o)

      hugs
      Andy xx

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  9. John17 June 2012 at 16:57

    Hey, Andy!
    I haven't had time to post much, either, for the same reasons as you...anyway, your new chairs are SO lovely, as are the rest of your new findings. I just made my first set of drapes with the Pretty Pleater (lol)! and I was worried they would turn out too 'perfect' so i took the fabric out of the pleater while they were still a little damp (with spray starch) and they turned out a lot more natural-looking. I'll have to post about them one of these days...
    --John

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    1. Andy18 June 2012 at 21:21

      Hi John,

      So good to hear from you! I thought you had get yourself hooked on Terrahawks!!

      I would love to see the results of your Pretty Pleater, I was impressed by the video clip that you posted a while back, with the woman showing how to use it.

      Those chairs were probably my 'cha-cha heels' I wanted them for ages, but didn't get 'em! (until now, so the Christmas tree is safe this year!)

      cheers
      Andy xx

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  10. Alexandra17 June 2012 at 21:33

    That looks gorgeous.
    Beautiful candlesticks, I was also surprised by my first encounter with David Iriarte
    All your master pieces are beautifully in the rooms.

    That soft blue is zo pritty on the walls.

    Kind regards Alexandra.

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    1. Andy18 June 2012 at 21:29

      Hello Alexandra,

      I noticed the candlesticks originally when you posted them on your blog, and so was pleased to see David Iriarte at the Kensington show, and get hold of a pair for my house too.

      I think David's candlesticks look so much better than the cheap ones I had in the drawing room originally, and had been looking for something to replace those for a long time
      So I thank you for bringing his work to my attention!

      regards
      Andy x

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  11. Fi.P17 June 2012 at 21:44

    Hi Andy,

    The drawing room looks lovely with your new chairs. I wonder if the reason they didn't look right on the rug was because georgians tended to have their furniture against the wall of a room. I'm sure I have read that some where. They are such a lovely colour, so elegant and you have so many lovely additions in there, I just love the tea set, the little cups are so pretty and I think the cake dish is just waiting for some pastries.

    I think regarding the curtains if you are using the pretty pleater do as John did as I too don't like the curtains looking too perfect. I bet once you get started the whole sewing thing wont be so bad.

    And yes John, please post about your curtains!

    ML Fi xx

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    1. Andy18 June 2012 at 21:35

      Hello Fi,

      Nice to hear from you again. What have you been up to lately?

      Yes, Georgian's did indeen keep most of their furniture against the walls of the rooms, certainly in the larger houses, that's where dado or chair rails come from, a way of preventing chair backs from marking expensive wall coverings!

      I must get some silver cleaner for the cake stand, which has become very badly tarnished! there are some tiny sugared almonds in it at present, not that they show up very well.

      SEWING! ARGH! we shall soon see!

      Ta-ra for now duckie

      Andy xxxx

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  12. Jonquil18 June 2012 at 14:53

    Hi Andy,

    I find the mini world so zeitgeisty - I am contemplating making Austrian blinds too, very authentic for the Georgian period!

    Your house is looking great, lovely to see more photos of it,

    Jonquil

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    1. Andy18 June 2012 at 21:39

      Hello Jonquil!

      perhaps I should wait and see how you make your Austrian blinds before going on to make my own? I do have a book on miniature curtain making (I feel a cold sweat each time I open it!! LOL) and it shows you how to make some blinds, so in theory it's easy, if you can actually thread a needle!!!

      I shall post more of the house post-haste!

      I notice you have a new post too, so will take a look!!

      regards
      Andy xx

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  13. Ray Whitledge-Burgess21 June 2012 at 12:42

    Hello Andy!
    Well, here I am at the bottom of the list again.......as I don't get caught up on looking at my favorite blogs. So better late than not at all, I want to say that your rooms are lovely!
    It is nice to see them in the context of their locations in the house. I think the colors are wonderful and accessory choices excellent. You CAN make the curtains! time consuming, yes, but worth the effort for the finish they provide to the space. Always a pleasure to read and see what you are doing.
    Warm regards to you my friend!
    Ray

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  14. Andy24 June 2012 at 13:26

    Hello Ray, good to hear from you again. Thanks for taking time to comment. I was very impressed with your recent post, the floor looks great! You give the rest of us a high standard to aim for!

    I will start on the curtains soon, I have another miniature project I am working on at the moment, when that is finished I can focus on the curtains, I will read your useful post on curtain making again before I start, and see how I go from there.

    Thanks for your kind words of support and encouragement; much appreciated!!

    regards
    Andy xx

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  15. elvira27 June 2012 at 20:40

    Ciao!! Bellissime stanze!!
    un bacio
    elvira

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    1. Andy29 June 2012 at 12:17

      Ciao Elvira,

      Grazie per il tuo commento gentile, io sono così contento che ti piacciono le mie stanze

      abbracci

      Andy xx

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  16. Giac16 July 2012 at 12:51

    Hello Andy,
    I LOVE looking at your work. every room is so realistic and every item is just perfect. You really have an incredible talent for reproducing period rooms and doing them well...impeccable. I can't wait to see more, I am always inspired by your posts.
    Big hug,
    Giac

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