House Tour - Part 1 - DINING / MUSIC ROOM (Summer)

This is a really big week in blogdom for home tours, so

 I thought it was a fine time to begin 
 slowly sharing my nest with you all as well.

(I won't be sharing it all or this entire week, but as time allows.)

Today I begin by showing
 the current summer design

in the dining room/music room.


WARNING: HEAVY PIC & COMMENTARY POST!

The ceiling in the dining room is quite high

then slopes to normal height by the piano.

(a bit of piano showing on the left in this pic)


The Chestnut hardwood flooring we chose
 has a gently distressed matte finish
and we absolutely love it.


~~~~~*~~~~~


This faux painting was done by my pro painter who has painted nearly
every room in this house, but just finished her degree (with honors!) and
has given up her painting business now. Boo Hoo - Margie was an awesome painter and great person, I wish her well!

We were going for the look of old, worn leather-
 and she nailed it perfectly for what I tried to describe!

 You can spot just a tiny bit of the kitchen dining 
table chair off to the right in the background.

I know they say to never have lights on in pictures
 but I wanted to show how bright this one can get.

Hubs put it on a dimmer on the light switch for
both the chandy and pot lights-
nice for providing soft romantic dinner ambiance.

A lightly sculpted wool rug underneath the table is new.

We had hardwood installed in early spring 

and needed to ground and soften that area better.

I didn't want the rug to compete with the pattern
 on the Persian rug underneath the piano.

They play nicely together.

We did not get hardwood for the stairs - too noisy.

We like things very quiet here at our nest.

: - )    We left the berber.

Long simple ivory voile panel sheers 

allow for soft dappled glare-free light.

I wanted in the worst way to puddle them on the floor-
but you all met our extremely hairy beastie boy, right?

Not an option a wise choice to puddle drapes with all his fur!

Even with that bad haircut he's currently sporting
 dealing with all his long, thick fur is a losing & constant battle.

(Awl.... he's so danged cute!) 

I am sharing different pics of this space
 to show bright day/ lights on
and ready for dinner and also
dark rainy day with no lights on, no dinner pending
to show the differences.

These unique candle sconces on the wall were a fun
gift from hubs the first year we moved here.

They are made of clay. Note that the tops are smaller than the
bottoms and they are each slightly different.

That is because they are hand made in Italy
from wet clay mud formed on a person's leg
 till it dries in the sun.

Wisteria had them about 10 years ago. 

Fun bit of trivia for dinner conversation.


~~~~~*~~~~~


Here is the angle while standing in the kitchen.

Next to the dining table is my painted chippy buffet.
It holds our huge antique Bavarian china collection.

Look closely to what is anchoring
 these skinny wooden twig branches: little fragrant "rocks."

They came years ago as a hostess gift
from my sweet friend Rosann.

When one walks past there is a very pleasant whiff of perfume.

This old leather-wrapped glass decanter belonged to my father.

 His name was Leo, and was given this bottle with a lion on it from my sweet cousin Carol many years ago.

My father was named after HIS father
 and my little brother named his youngest Leo too,
 so this bottle will one day be HIS.


The tall glass oil burner bottle in front of the mirror
has a neat brass metal crest stamped on the front of it.

~~~~~*~~~~~



Over just to the left of the dining table is my antique wooden tea cart.

This is always changing, almost weekly.

I have a simple vignette showing some rare colour around here.

The floral arrangement I just made a few weeks ago.

Next to it is another of my father's leather-covered bottles.

In the corner to the right of the dining table 
we have a large tall rusty domed metal etagiere.

Here are a few of the displays right now:

A wood-cut M hanging around a topiary wreath.

Our monogram is three Ms!
(As in mmm)

: - )


Antique wooden carved horse
embellished with metal and saddle is made up of
small Mother of Pearl pieces.

The antique silver inlay bottle was a gift 
from my father about 20 years ago.

And over near the piano (which btw I play every day) is a treasured
thrifty find - our antique cherry china cabinet!

I have lighter pieces displayed in it for this time of year.

It changes as often as the mood strikes.

Oh, how I adore the original hardware.
Who doesn't love classic Laurel wreath oval pulls?

I originally intended to paint/treat the wood cabinet
 to lighten it up a bit but I don't know if I am able!

Still undecided, though.


 What are your thoughts on that?

The red of the cherry doesn't really match anything in that
room - was thinking black could look really neat, or perhaps even
a brown stain with no red undertones - ?

OK, this post is getting much too long. 

More to come. 

Stay tuned!

As always, your visits and comments
 are appreciated and welcomed.


Thanks for stopping by!

♥

~Michele

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