I'd gotten some paper/cardboard trim from Miniatures.com to embellish the trim on the first floor of the bookshop. I got it painted out the way I had the wooden trim and finished and glued it up.
I also measured out and glued in the baseboards after I did another test of how the bookshelves would fit. Now that the baseboards are in the bookshelves are fixed in place.
I also got the trim up around the second floor windows.
Saturday I cleaned a bit. Not because I wanted to but it was sort of necessary. And then I made books. My husband printed up a bunch of book covers for me so I modge podged them and got to work.
Lots and lots of books... I started with these.
I took the ones that don't have covers out. And then I took out the ones that looked very fake. I can put some of the covers I have on those and make them look more like real books.
This is what I ended up with.
A little more realistic.
Sunday I worked on the Loft kitchen again. This took most of the day.
I needed a front for the cabinets and the cabinet doors. So I did that. And I made some cabinet uppers. I want to do open shelving between the fridge and pantry.
I also made myself some double oven doors.
I'd ordered a stove top which came on Friday and it's perfect.
I really love it. It'll be perfect.
I still don't have any clue about what color I want the cabinets to be. But I made sure I cut all the cabinet doors with the wood grain going the same way in case I ended up using a stain.
So far I think it looks pretty good. For color... I'm thinking maybe something slightly darker than the walls? Or maybe go with a medium brown. I'm planning on using the same countertop as I did in NOLA House since it's earth tones and it would go nicely with the walls.
The other option is using the dark blue from the feature wall on the cabinets with natural wood open shelves and some pale uppers?
Argghhh! I'm still not sure.
Any opinions? Here's a picture of the feature wall to give you an idea
I like the idea of adding color because I've seen some really funky mid-century kitchens lately but I'm trying to do a slightly modern take on it.
I'm still debating. Not sure.
How are the rest of you doing?
It's amazing how many books one needs to fill a dollhouse bookshelf when in RL bookshelves are always stuffed and we're constantly looking for more space. You're faced with some exciting color choices. I like the idea of blue, it's one of my favorite colors and I also like the contemporary look.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I'm not getting nearly as much mini-ing done as I would like. I thought that I would have lots of time on my hands while in Germany; after all I'm away from home and freed from daily chores. Unfortunately, my father in law (who is very elderly) has let things slip quite a bit and I'm going through the house like a tornado to clean it up. Between cleaning and twice daily visits to feed my mother in law in the care facility where she lives, I feel as though I'm faced with a demanding new family that has two large messy babies. No complaints though, I do it with love, and I'm laughing at my mini progress every day when I see that all I've done is six polymer clay dollhouse eggs.
I know the feeling! Seems like I can't ever do much during the week with everything else that goes on. That's why I do so much on weekends.
DeleteBut I'm glad you're getting to visit loved ones.
Sheila, you always plan to do your work at miniatures and most of the time you do it, that's so clever of you!! I love the paper/cardboard trim for embellishing the trim on the first floor of the bookshop. I've never seen this sort of trim before, but it looks so realistic and detailed after edited with paint/stain.
ReplyDeleteYou've made lots of books, they now look just like the real books, great work.
But your kitchen is fabulous already, personally I just don't know what color you could use, sorry. The feature wall has warm, gorgeous colors, I think that they all are suitable in using them for the kitchen.
Can't wait to see what you'll do next ;)!
Thanks! I might have to work up some samples of stains vs paint to see how I feel about it. Maybe a mini project for tonight.
DeleteLots of books and lots more to go! It's craziness with the book making here.
I really like the trim you got, especially those baseboards! I might look into using those in a future build, they're such a nice style.
ReplyDeleteAnd the kitchen! You got so much done this week and it's looking so fabulous already! I really like the stove kit, I haven't seen that one before either. And having all those tall cabinets are so great to change up the shape of the layout. Really excited for this!
I love the idea of dark blue cabinets. What colour is the floor? Stain is such a nice option too.
Thanks Kristine! I keep comparing my efforts to your gorgeously finished kitchens and thinking it's going to look awful! I'm going to have to use a lot of wood putty to make sure thing fronts look smooth.
DeleteThe floor is a flagstone paper, more taupe than yellow. I think I put a picture up somewhere, back when I was picking colors for the feature wall.
Oh Sheila it's going to be great!!! And honestly I think if you use wood putty like you said the results will be fantastic. I think that's where people slack a bit and then it doesn't look as polished. And paint will really help too. It's going to be soo nice! I'm interested in seeing the doors and hardware :)
DeleteI love the extra trim detail and you got the color perfectly matched to the wood trims. You'd never know it wasn't wood! Getting the rest of the trim finished and the bookshelves installed is a big task off the To-Do list. So many books finished, too!
ReplyDeleteThe kitchen is going to be a showstopper and the bank of cabinets with their fronts laid out are awesome! I always need to paint a piece of card with the colors on so I can hold them up in the space to visualize. Even then sometimes I am so indecisive! Hopefully, your moment of clarity will come this week! What are the accessory colors you are considering? That might help push you in one direction or another.
Thanks Jodi! I think it helps that I used the same paint technique on all the upper trim and the support beams in the corners. That way it's uniform.
DeleteThe bookcases still come out, but their placement inside the shop is set now that the baseboards are in. Everything is fitted within an inch of its life so I can't goof it up once I wire the shelves.
My fridge I'm cheating and doing matching cabinet panels for its front, The stove will have the black grill and front but the ovens are stainless. I need to do some tinted glass windows for them.
I'm thinking if I do the dark blue I could have some pops of cream and light brown for jars and things. And a cream colored backsplash with a granite countertop.
Cuanto has trabajado!! los zócalos me gustan mucho,quedan tan bien contrastados con el resto de la habitación!
ReplyDeleteY la cocina es fabulosa,esos colores combinan muy bien entre sí,por lo que elijas el que elijas quedarán bien,ya lo verás.
Un montón de minilibros maravillosos se exhibirán en tu librería,se verán perfectos!
Besos.
Muchas gracias. He estado haciendo libros constantemente y parece estar dando sus frutos.
DeleteMe preocupa mucho esa cocina, pero estoy reduciendo mis colores.
¡Que tengas un gran día!
It is amazing what a difference adding the detail to the trim makes. Even being dark brown it looks so elegant and dainty.
ReplyDeleteAnna x
Thank you Anna! I think adding a glossy finish helps to pick up the details with the 'wood' being so dark.
DeleteImpressive cornice Sheila, it looks great. As do your cabinets. I think they should be a lighter version of the cream/tan. Otherwise it feels like it could be a bit monotonous and blend in too much. But it can be very hard to tell before it all goes together. And could you try aging the books a tiny bit? Scruffing them up to make them look older? Just a thought, but might be more work than just replacing the covers. You had a busy weekend!
ReplyDeleteThanks Shannon! I was thinking maybe dark blue lowers with an off-white upper but I only have the corner cabinet uppers and I worry they'll look odd. Unless I do the upper portion of the oven cabinets and over the fridge in the same off white. I'll have to test it out.
DeleteThe books need to look fairly new since they're being 'sold' in a shop, but I plan to have some worn looking ones in the living quarters.
You have become a wonderful builder! The trim on the book shop looks fantastic, it´s a wonderful feature. Same about your kitchen, all the cabinets are looking good, I admire your commitment to make almost everything yourself, I wish I was like that *smile*. I am sure when you choose your colours and add all the finishing touches that kitchen will look very realistic, modern, professionally made and a beautiful. No doubt. Looking so good Sheila. Great job.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I've been worrying over that kitchen for nearly a month now. It's good to have the end in sight you know?
DeleteThis is my budget/scrounging year so I'm trying to use up what I have rather than buy more. So making it myself is...necessary. I'm glad it looks good though.
The trim on the bookshop is amazing! It is so beautiful, and the wallpaper with the wood--lovely! Great stove and wall oven, too. I would go with wood cabinets. I really liked Shannon's suggestion of cream, but I looked at the countertops in the NOLA house, and I'm not sure they would go with cream cabinets. Whatever you decide, I'm sure it will be perfect!
ReplyDeleteThank you! My only issue with wood cabinets is hiding all the joins of the cabinet boxes.
DeleteO those books so many already and... Yes I like the modern feature wall!
ReplyDeleteHave a nice day,
groetjes van Marijke
Thank you! Lots more books to go!
DeleteI am Enamoured with all of your Marvellous Books Sheila and I know that they are going to look really impressive once they are installed upon the shelves!
ReplyDeleteAND I think that your kitchen is coming along splendidly! The gas stove top elements and the double wall oven doors indicates that this occupant loves to bake- and the aroma which will permeate the book store will no doubt have all the patrons mouths watering as they turn the pages!
elizabeth
Thank you Elizabeth! I need to make a lot more books slowly but surely.
DeleteThe kitchen proceeds cautiously.
The quantity of books already finished is amazing. The kitchen also looks like it's on the way to be finished. Fantastic work!
ReplyDeleteHugs, Drora
Thanks Drora! I need so many more books! It's amazing.
DeleteI really like that molding at the ceiling! it adds so much charm and character. I can only imagine making a million books is boring, but I know it will be worth it when they are all sitting on the shelves. Lots to see in this post - it all looks great!
ReplyDeleteThanks Troy! I wanted to make the walls look a bit less bare and that did the trick. And the ceiling molding I couldn't resist, I've had the wood cuts forever.
DeleteThat's a lot of work again! Second version of book covers is perfect. They look much better.
ReplyDeleteAbout kitchen colours - I like the version with blue a lot. It will look great with the walls you have made.
Thanks Kamelia! I'm slowly accumulating books.
DeleteI'm going with blue for the kitchen with some exposed wood open shelves.
Hi Sheila! I LOVE the decorative trim you added to the book shop! That is a great technique to add paper trims! I think the book covers are looking good too.... I am still hoping to make progress on my books for Hardwick Hall soon... I will watch your methods closely! LOL! As for the kitchen... I love color and I would say go with the dark blue! It would be distinctive and modern and would set it apart from the ordinary, and the rest of the room too. But I am sure that whatever color you choose will look wonderful! I can't wait to see what you have done this weekend.... since I always seem to be so late to getting here for comments! :):)
ReplyDeleteThank you Betsy! I was really happy with how the trim turned out. Books books and more books!
DeleteGoing with the blue for the kitchen. I just like it best.