82 Queen

 

I’m in Charleston, SC celebrating a birthday and our 34th wedding anniversary. It’s so lovely and reminds me so much of New Orleans, The architecture is so similar in the historic downtown.

 

Here is 82 Queen where we celebrated my birthday yesterday. It’s in the lovely  historic French Quarter and is gracious Southern hospitality combined with low country cuisine.

 

The courtyard was exquisite. Doesn't it look just like New Orleans?

 

 

 

 

One thing about Charleston dinning out, if you don’t have a reservation, you don’t eat downtown. I got some great help from son’s beautiful friend and made all of reservations using Open table.  Fleet Landing on the waterfront tomorrow night, Anson on Saturday back the historic district, trendy Husk on Sunday, a few down from 82 Queen and voted 2011 Best New Restaurant by Southern Living. Still need to find somewhere for Monday.

Chalk painted buffet

I’m so glad I decided to paint this buffet using Annie Sloan chalk paint from Southern Institute of Faux Finishing. It has made such a difference in the hall.

I left the design on the top for a little contrast. It seems to make the dark mirror not so out of place.

Here’s the before picture. Even though I love this buffet, the color has always bothered me. Everything looks so wrong, together I think. Here’s the link to the beginning process of painting.

Here’s after with a pair of lighter lamps.

I used the Louis Blue on the base, Old White on the trim and the Hannant’s clear wax followed by the dark wax. The dark was makes it look aged and not so bright. These wax products are so easy to use and dry quickly to give a low fume aged finish.

I really like it now.

I left the design on the top to see if I would like. I think I do, it is unusual and breaks up the large top. And those triangles of mahogany relate so well to the mirror that I might not have to white wash it like I thought I would.

Miss Mustard Seed was so right about this chalk paint. It is so easy and forgiving. It took very little time to complete this large piece. I love instant gratification and chalk paint really comes through. Now I’m eyeing what to do next. Order here.

Nita from Mod Vintage Life asked what I thought about the overall finish and the Hannant's wax finish, will it hold up, etc? Well, only time will tell for sure but here are a few observations: The finish is very smooth, no bubbles, or lumpy spots. It feels dry and hard enough for dusting. I did use my fingernail just now to see what would happen from a scratch. The first time I scratched my nail gently, no problem. The second time I scratched much harder and sure enough, I pulled off the wax and the paint. This does not bother me since I want the buffet to look distressed. I if were to do my kitchen cabinets in this chalk paint and wax, I'm sure there would have to be an additional step with some other type of harder finish to prevent the nicks and scratches. Does anyone else have info on how this finish will take wear and tear?

Dear Miss Mustard Seed…

Thank you so much for introducing us to Annie Sloane’s Chalk paint. It is truly amazing. I bought mine from the Southern Institute of Faux Finishing, here in Mississippi.

Remember how you debated over painting your lovely dining room corner cabinets? Then you did, and I fell in love with them. I have long battled the same question over this buffet in my front hall.

It’s a new piece from Drexel, and holds tons of party supplies, wrapping paper, serving dishes and extra goblets. It has beautiful details.

But I just never liked the total look in the entry hall.

It’s got great details that are perfect for adding a second color.

First coat on, now starting second.

I like it already even though it’s not finished. It makes the entry hall look so much lighter. Debating if I should paint the top.

I loved your video Waxes 101. Can’t wait for the wax to go on, but I’m taking it slow as you recommend. Thank you so much for all your inspiration.

Love,

Lamp Tramp

In LARABAR Heaven!

Yes, I just died and went to LARABAR heaven. I can’t believe that I doubted these bars for so long. All my RAW, VEGAN, and Gluten Free friends have espoused the deliciousness, the benefits, and the ease of Larabars. I did not believe them, I thought, just another nasty packaged bar with too many added calories and preservatives.

I was so wrong. I should have listen to the RAW FOODISTS! LARABARS have no preservatives, no additives, all raw fruit and nuts. I have no clue how they do this. They are so moist and naturally sweet from the fresh fruit… yes…heavenly!

What is left from my LARABAR combo that I bought this morning….

only 15 left from an 18 pack combo….

LARABARS have so many new exciting flavors that I can not wait to try.

If you read their background history, Lara Merriken started making fruit and nut bars for her hiking adventures in Colorado. Go NOW and buy LARABARS for you, your children, and anyone you love, they will thank you for it!

Through March 31, LARABAR is giving a 20% discount for online orders.

Back from wonderful Okaloosa Island Beach vacation

Just spent the most wonderful week on Okaloosa Island, Florida. It was a family reunion of sorts. As ya’ll know Liz and Dave live there in Ft Walton Beach now, and we have been planning for our Chicago family to visit. Chicago family has not seen Liz and Dave since their wedding (06/07/08), and have prayed and wondered about how they are doing since Dave’s Afghanistan accident (05/11/09) that cost him his leg as well as other injuries.

Here is the gorgeous condo at Bella Riva , Okaloosa Island that we stayed at. It was so amazing. Our Chicago family has 2 Graduate college students, a friend also came. We had our 82 year old Mother or Gammie as the kids call her.

a beach view…

Great living room area looking out to the gorgeous Emerald Coast

The kitchen was amazing, Viking appliances and lots of room for multiple cooks

dined in every night buying high quality seafood from SEXTON’S SEAFOOOD!

All 10 of us could sit down to eat, which is rare for beach condos on the Gulf Coast

Master bedroom with balcony overlooking the Gulf…

balcony…

view of master bath…

queen bed guestroom…

Ole Miss media room…Hotty Toddy!

3rd guest room with twins…

pool…

We all had a wonderful time….the fresh seafood from SEXTON”S SEAFOOD in Destin was amazing. Go now, to Bella Riva #407, you will thank me forever!!!!

Hugs and kisses,

Lamp Tramp

More Oyster Shell Mirrors

I sure hope you are not tired of my posts about oyster shell mirrors, it is all I seem to be doing lately. I do love making them and it is such a soothing hobby.

Below is daughters that we delivered and hung last weekend in their home in Ft Walton Beach, FL. It looks amazing over their Aiden Gray buffet.

This round mirror turned out to be over 47 inches in diameter, but they really needed a huge piece to fill up the space. What a job my husband and I had getting it of my kitchen table and into the back of our SUV. Only 3 shells came off. We ended using a suction cup handle that glass companies use for large sheets of mirror and glass.

Here’s the rectangle one that I have finished. My husband wants me to sell or give it away to someone. I’m not so sure I can part with it.

I’m working on some more as well as a different type that is going to be stunning. I am going to have to make a decision as to what I’m going to do with all these. I wish I had someone to market them, marketing is not my forte. Artistic creation is my thing to the point that if I’m not creating, I go crazy. Son, I paid for your degree in marketing, why did you have to move away to Charleston, SC?

Can you market them from there? I miss you much!

Bath progress

Back before Christmas I posted about our Master bath redo from Katrina screw-ups. It’s still a work in progress with 3 steps forward a couple backwards.

Shower seat in the old tile, grout all cracking and full of holes caused leaking. Before:

Old tile and grout torn off and new cement board installed.

Since we didn’t have any leftover origanal tiles and not wanting to have same issue, we decided to buy new marble to match the Breccia Oniciata on the tub surround and sink vanity. I love this marble, it even has veins of turquoise green running through it. Step up that glass surround will sit on:

New seat and step up:

Close of marble Breccia Oniciata:

The day before Christmas Eve, the glass company installed the glass surround and we were instructed not to use it for 48 hours. Not fun having all that mess, workers in and out constantly, and cleaning up the days before Christmas.

The tub had plenty of issues too. For one, it was floating, not on cement. See below:

The original installers left this gaping hole in the marble and never put the silicon around the tub. New contractor sprayed about 10 tubes of foam that hardens rock solid under the tub. Cute Brazilian guy cut out a piece of Breccia Oniciata leftover from shower marble fixes.

My other 2 bathrooms desperately needed new faucets, nozzles, etc. Bath 2 looked like this:

Now looks like this: (colors are all weird and not true)

and this:

Bath 3 before:

After:

But the bad thing is, it’s difficult to find these three faucet fixtures since the new plumbing codes. I searched forever to find them online in oil rubbed bronze. And the really, really bad thing is I ended up with this:

and this:

Yes, the plumber had to cut holes behind these 2 tubs otherwise we would have to tear out the shower/tubs and start all over again. Way too much money. I hope that tomorrow the sheetrock/painter guy can finish up. I’ve had it with the mess, the crap they drop, the in and out of my house tracking in dirt and leaves.

But I love my new bathrooms!