It’s cooler this week, with temps in the 60s. So refreshing! It was very cold when we got up this morning and I reminded Don that we have to get used to it. Our thermostat will be set quite a bit lower this year as the price of heating oil – because of this foolish war – will be higher than ever. We are just going to have to wear layers. I don’t like it, but we are on a fixed income and the price of oil is really going to hurt us.
I will probably mow the corral today – it’s way too long. The lilac side of the front lawn will be next and then, in a few days, the two of us will tackle the front lawn.
Little changes in the Beacon Hill:
I got another battery operated lamp for the bedroom. It’s the kind that I can touch with a magnetic wand and it will light up. I’m pretty sure I’ll paint the base of the lamp and maybe do something with the shade.
I made a mirror for the living room from a House of Miniatures Kit that I had in my stash. It’s a Chippendale style mirror. It was more ornate than this, but I eliminated the side pieces They were very fragile and a bit of a pain. I had to do a little bracing on the back of the mirror, as well. I stained it, then added bits of green. You know I like to create ‘aged’ looking pieces and that’s what I did with the mirror. I love that it picks up the green in the pottery and the big cabinet, as well as the wallpaper. (That blue you see under the pottery on the left is part of the blu-tac that secures the pottery. I hadn’t noticed it until I took this picture! That’s why it’s a good thing to take some close up photos of a dollhouse. You notice things you might not notice otherwise.)
And finally, the bathroom wallpaper arrived. I spent a few hours cutting, measuring, and applying it on Tuesday.
I decided to go with pretty and slightly exotic. The fixtures will be basic and elegant, I think. I still have to decide on them. I’ve ordered ’tile’ for the floor. And there is one of my favorite little Petite Princess pieces – the chest of drawers – that is now in 3 of my houses. I had to find a place for it in the Beacon Hill. It picks up the gold tones in the wallpaper. The background on the wallpaper is gold with a very slightly pinkish tint.
Thankfully, that is the last of the already installed windows that I have to wallpaper around. That has been a huge pain in the tush. And none of the cut-arounds are perfect, believe me. Far from perfect.
Wouldn’t it be fabulous to sit in the tub with this beautiful wallpaper surrounding you?
I cannot say enough how much I really, really, REALLY love the way this house is evolving. I wanted it to be a big deal (for me and maybe for you?) and I think it is.
Stay safe.
Happy Wednesday.
Oh Claudia! That wallpaper is So wonderful!!! Well Done! I just love the soft but overscale feel of it! Yes, a touch exotic! Really REALLY superb choice! Sigh. I can’t wait to see the rest of the furnishings! I am not usually much of a “bathroom decorator” in my mini houses… they don’t usually interest me much…. (with the exception of the “old” bath in Rose Thorne Cottage…)I still have not completed any of them! (Maybe I should try gorgeous wallpaper as an inspiration) Oh, yeah and The Tree House Bathroom which is in a whole other league anyway. But now I want to see the tub and fixtures you will add! This house is becoming so so beautiful, you really have a wonderful eye and I love your style!
Thank you so much, Betsy. I, too, find bathrooms rather boring. I eliminated one in Dove Cottage because there was so little room to spare and a bathroom eats up space. And, to be honest, when I saw this wallpaper in place, I briefly considered not making it a bathroom. But a bathroom it will be.
Thank you for your kind words and encouragement!
Stay safe, Betsy.
it (the beacon hill and what you’ve done for it) is a big deal! a very charming and lovely big deal. you are making a home of/for old, maybe abandoned and still-wonderful, usable things and, in more ways than one, that’s important. i don’t have a dollhouse, but i like small things, miniatures, and so enjoy seeing your progress on things and learning more about the choices you make for them. thanks for sharing, claudia.
best wishes on all that lawn-work!
it is 51 degrees, making for an extra-nice walk here and i love it! as much as i love cloudy, rainy days (quite a lot … my favorite weather), i admit the sun felt good, too. i’d rather keep walking or knit right now, but it’s time to cross some things off my to-do list.
happy, safe wednesday!
kathy
oh … i subscribed to your substack, but for some reason i can’t post a comment there. ???. will add figuring that out to my list.
You should be able to post a comment but, yes, you’ll have to figure that one out! You might have to click on the title so it takes you directly to Substack.
Thank you for subscribing!
Stay safe, Kathy.
I really enjoy following your progress with Beacon Hill. The furnishings are so charming, even more impressive that you’ve made some yourself. I especially love the wallpapers, and the bathroom one is Wow!
Oh, thanks so much, Lynda! I’m so glad you like it.
Stay safe.
What a fantastic wallpaper you found. Very exotic, and perfect for the Beacon Hill. While I am not a dollhouse collector, I find myself admiring them more and more. Especially when someone like you is so enthusiastic about the project. I can’t help but get excited, too.
Seems like only a couple weeks ago we were hot in the 80’s, and now we are cold in the 60’s. I don’t think our bodies have gotten used to the temperature changing so quickly. But, I am definitely enjoying the cooler temps.
Enjoy your day! ;)
I don’t think I’m used to it yet, but I sure like it. Especially when I’m mowing the lawn!
Stay safe, Donnamae.
It all looks fantastic! I love that bathroom wallpaper so much! Can’t wait to see it with the tile. The mirror is lovely and I really like that lamp. The pottery and accessories are wonderful!
The tile will be white, as I don’t want a competing design.
Thanks so much, Jeanie!
Love the wallpaper! So pretty.
We’re still trying to catch up after a time away, celebrating our 60th—as we have been doing for a few months now. Moving very slowly on unpacking, laundry, and grocery orders. Old age tiring me out. Pffft.
Happy 60th, Shanna and Fred!!
Old age does indeed tire one out!
Stay safe.
Thanks so much, Claudia. Fred recently told someone that we were born married! Ha ha ha. Just about.
xoxo
Love the bathroom wallpaper!
Thanks so much, Mary Ellen!
Stay safe.
I enjoy the Beacon Hill make-over. How much time elapsed between acquiring the house and starting work on it? I admire how you throw your whole self into your miniatures, balancing and accepting the balance of perfect and not so perfect. As I get older, I find not so perfect to be ok; laissez-faire is much less stressful for me.
Probably 4 1/2 years. I’ve only been working on it since March.
Thanks so much, Wendy.
Stay safe.
I really like your wallpaper choices. I once had a similar paper to the room with the mantelpiece.
Weather is very autumnal and temperatures have certainly dropped.
A new series of All Creatures Great and Small has started recently so that for me always signals the lead up to Christmas.
Happy Wednesday
We’ll get that series in January. We have to wait to see Babylon Berlin, too – I think, next February.
Stay safe, Dee Dee.
You have indeed made a beautiful house. It is worthy of a spread in Architectural Digest. You have chosen wallpaper that is just beautiful.
I, too, am concerned about heating this winter it is going to be challenging. I heat with natural gas and the company is Enbridge which is a Canadian company. I am glad it is not an American company who are making money hand or fist
Take Care,
Kaye
Thank you, Kaye.
The cost of heating oil is always high. But now, it’s going to be unaffordable. Very nervous.
Stay safe.
Looks like the beacon hill bathroom is bigger than my bathroom! Ours is puke green, so its probably next on our list.
There’s enough family stress. The last couple or 3 yrs I’ve gone to the hills to ‘recharge’ in the fall, but I dont have money, and im not driving.
Loving all the work on your little house, and the joy of reading your blog!!
Thanks so much, Irene.
Stay safe.