Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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A Hutch for the Studio

October 10, 2010 at 7:15 pm by Claudia

Thanks for all your supportive comments on the newly painted table! I’m really loving the change. Since the kitchen and living room are open to each other and I have 3 darker pieces in the living room, this lighter version of the table makes a big difference. After the table, I moved on to touching up all the chips on the kitchen island. It definitely takes a beating. I’m throwing a couple of coats of Varathane on it, as well.

When I posted for Where Bloggers Create, I mentioned that I was on the lookout for a cabinet for my little studio. Today, via Craig’s List, I found one – just down the road from MHC. My thought was to find a kitchen hutch like the one I already have in our kitchen. Made in the 30’s and 40’s for kitchens without much storage space, they are compact and don’t take up much space. And that is a real necessity in my upstairs hall aka studio. This little hutch is quite interesting. My neighbor told me that it had been in her family for at least 60 years.

It needs cleaning up – and perhaps a new paint job? Husband rather likes the way it looks now. I’m going to scrub it more thoroughly tomorrow. There was ugly contact paper on the shelves, which I removed. Gosh, it is so hard to take a photo in this part of the hallway. I have to hang precariously over the stairway and it ain’t easy for this tired woman. Here’s a close-up of the funky handles on the drawer and doors.

Funky…but I rather like them. I’m going to paint a couple of pieces in the bedroom, too. Yes, I am on a tear. Something about Autumn and the crisp air brings the Supernester out in me. I also think it gives me a focus and keeps me from dwelling too much on other ‘worrying’ things.

Thank goodness, Don is rather good natured  about the whole thing. One minute he’s relaxing, the next we’re in the car on the way to buy a hutch. Later, he’s watching baseball and suddenly he finds himself helping me maneuver the hutch up our stairway. Tomorrow, I will ask him to help me move the craft table out to the shed. (Don’t tell him yet.) I’ve decided there isn’t enough room for it. I can pull the sewing machine out of the sewing table and use it as a craft table when necessary. Have a wonderful Monday.

Filed Under: kitchen, studio 29 Comments

Reveal of the Painted Table

October 9, 2010 at 11:52 am by Claudia

First, the before:

It was lovely in it’s original dark wood finish.  But the finish itself was damaged and every time I looked at it in our light-filled kitchen with white cabinets and white kitchen island, it began to look like a black hole that sucked up all the light. So here is the reveal – I played with simple vignettes to ‘stage’ the new look.

As I hoped, the details of the legs and the curves show much better in this color. All of those touches were lost before. Don said he just now saw the beauty of the legs. I’m still not sure about these chairs…do they look right with the table? We’ve decided to use just 2 of them and store the rest. 99% of the time around here it is just the 2 of us. Don’s a big guy and having only 2 chairs makes maneuvering around the kitchen easier. Plus, the beautiful table legs are on display this way.

Since I really can’t use it for another 48 hours, I carefully placed some pretties on the top for the photos and then, very carefully, removed them. The wrought iron thingy will move elsewhere. It’s rusty finish is too rough and I don’t want it scratching my paint job! I’ll have some more photos next week. I’m sitting in the den right now and I can see the table from here – it is so much lighter and prettier!

Hope you like it!

Filed Under: decorating, DIY 53 Comments

Just Checking In

October 8, 2010 at 6:51 pm by Claudia

Just thought I’d check in and say hello. I’m still in the midst of finishing the “Painting of the Table.” I’ve put on 2 coats of Varathane poly and have 1 more to go. Although I’m not supposed to resume normal use for 3 days, I hope to snap a few photos and post the before and after this weekend. I am very happy with the new look!

I took this photo of Miss Scout a day or so ago. I was impressed with her ability to arrange herself just so. I think she knows she’s pretty, don’t you?

Filed Under: DIY, Scout 21 Comments

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Welcome!

Welcome!

I live in a little cottage in the country with my husband. It's a sweet place, sheltered by old trees and surrounded by gardens. The inside is full of the things we love. I love to write, I love my camera, I love creating, I love gardening. My decorating style is eclectic; full of vintage and a bit of whimsy.

I've worked in the theater for more years than I can count. I'm currently a voice, speech, dialect and text coach freelancing on Broadway, off Broadway, and in regional theater.

Thanks for stopping by.

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The Dogs

The Dogs

Scout & Riley. Riley left us in 2012. Scout left us in February 2016. Dearest babies. Dearest friends.

Winston - Our first dog. We miss you, sweetheart.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

Thanks for visiting! Feel free to browse, read and enjoy. All content is my own; including photos and text. Please do not use anything on this site without permission.

Disclosure/Privacy Policy can be found in the Navigation Bar under ‘About MHC.’

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