Friday, February 15, 2019

A painted chest, chair and a kakelugn.

A chest, a chair and a kakelugn.


View of the hallway - doorway to left to bathroom, red French doors to upper deck, door entry to bedroom to right. 



The chest/trunk began as a Asian-motif lacquered box. You may recollect seeing them. They are highly glossed black painted with gold.


It was crying out for conversion. A good sanding removed most of the lacquer so that I could paint the box. I am using small sample bottles of milk paint on a lot of the furniture.  The sanded box took the paint well leaving the impression that it had been around a while and well used. 



I had been looking at Swedish marriage chests and thought I could paint a primitive motif on the box but found I had some laser cut pressed wood images. (Linda, I think they came from you?) I cut them into a shape that fitted onto the chest and painted it a different colour. I know it looks the same but the two colours I am using are both a blue grey.


The vignette on the top of the chest.
I painted a small plinth and put a piece of marble in the centre before adding Elizabeth's bead bottles to a round mirror.  The tray is a pendant backing with a doily reduced to size, books, flowers and stacking bracelets.

I had made a tray to match the size of the top of the chest but I did not like the look of it on the chest.. .. so that will find its way into my storage drawers.


In the picture below I am also working on making a pattern for a sweater. I knitted a rug for the day-bed in the living room so plan to try and continue knitting and I am working on the vignette while talking to #1 son on the speaker phone. Who said I could not multi task?


I painted the edge of the circular mirror gold which finished it nicely. #1 son also said it needed handles and a lock. Now looking for something that will give the impression of  a lock.



No doubt the display on the top of the chest will undergo many changes before I move on.



Linda of http://lindasminiworld.blogspot.com makes the most wonderful cushions and slippers in petit point. Actually she is adept at most things mini. Please go and have a look at her blog and be inspired!  These slippers have the Swedish crown on their toes. She had also made me bee slippers for the Empire room in the French House.


Anyone perusing extreme shabbiness might like to try the following technique.
I did not care for the mottled sateen upholstery on this ugly reddish mahogany wood chair.
When I was bemoaning that I did not think I could do a good job of changing the upholstery on this style chair Elizabeth said. "Why don't you paint it?"
Good idea Elizabeth! I did paint it with the milk paint. The seat went all lumpy. Never mind I thought I will have to pull it off in any case ... so I painted it again and then stuck a Swedish crown motif on the back and painted over that. Then I sanded the edge of the seat where it was all lumpy.... then I painted the wood and wiped it off a bit.....


Then I made a rough linen cushion (below), for those winter afternoons reading beside the kakelugn stove. Ones slippered feet resting on the embroidered footstool of course that Linda made for such occasions.  Thank you Linda!
I must say it felt quite liberating to shabby the chair. I can see that it could lead me down a different path altogether.



Almost last, but not least, above is the kakelugn. The metal wood basket is a napkin ring.



Now B. has finished the stove he can go out and play!





Anyone like to guess what the eyes are made of?


In this snowy weather I am busy in the workroom!

Hope you are having fun too.

regards Janine

21 comments:

  1. Wow I love your swedish Gustavian look, my favourite too, along with French of course. I have missed so much in blogland and too much to catch up, but enjoy seeing your progress!

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    1. Hi Margaret, I was happy to see your post recently. I did not know you had moved down to Tessie. So lovely down there but can be fiercely cold in winter..... next stop the Antarctic!
      I do notice a stirring of interest in all things Nordic, especially Gustavian. For those of us who like the French style it seems a natural attraction.
      I look forward to seeing more of your work now you are settled.
      Regards Janine

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    2. Margaret, That should read Tassie as in Tasmania. Automatic spell check often catches me out.
      J.

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  2. Hi Janine
    Your Swedish house is looking great. Thanks for the plug for my blog but of course I am ashamed that I haven't put anything on there since you helped me many months ago! The kagelugn is fabulous, as is the wood basket. So glad you could let Bruce out to play!

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    1. Hi Linda, I am on a roll here. At last I am able to reply. I do hope people will visit your blog and that now that you have posted that you will continue to share your work with us.
      Talk soon. Janine

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  3. I'm so glad to see another post from you and so many great things in it. The chest is wonderful, the decoration on it is perfect and it's a great idea to use it as a bedside table. You say you may change the display on the chest as far as I am concerned I would keep the vase with flowers and the books with cup. Linda's slippers are stunning. I like the crown on the chair. Lovely big snowman, are its eyes made of kiwi? the only thing I could think of because of the colour.
    Geneviève

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    1. Hi Genevieve, Good guess on the snowman’s eyes. I tried to match the scarf and all I could find was the slices of broccoli stalk - when I pushed them into dried apricots (non sulphured so look rather brown) the colours were a good match.
      Second grandson earlier in the week when he built a snowman on the pond requested chocolate for the mouth, nose and eyes.
      He built it on the pond and then smashed the ice so the snowman would slowly sink into the water. I could not quite see from the kitchen window but I have a feeling that the snowman did not go down sporting any chocolate features. He is full of good ideas!
      Thank you for noticing the flowers and the cup on the books. I think they pretty well describe my RL bedside table!
      Take care Genevieve.
      Regards Janine

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  4. Janine, I believe that you are on a roll! :D
    These photos are Really Lovely and the crown chair turned out Beautifully!
    Love the look of marriage chest and the kakelugn as well as the aged wood basket AND of course Linda's Amazing Crown slippers which also helps to keep those little feet warm in the winter.
    As for eyes of the snowman; my guess, (knowing you) would be walnut shells or bread and slices of broccoli stems ;D

    elizabeth

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    1. Hi Elizabeth, Firstly good eye for the broccoli stems!
      As I said to Giac I found the most “charming” little crowns today. I wish I could turn them into a light! Thinking, thinking!
      I hope that Linda will post a tutorial of that domed light she made.
      Talk soon.
      Janine

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  5. This is all looking so pretty! I love what you've done with the chest and the chair is lovely, too.

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    1. Hi De, All of a sudden things have taken off on this build. I have been waiting for some time to make some progress.
      I am happy with the way things are going and soon I must commit to the kitchen. I have lots of ideas but not yet settled on one.
      Thank you for visiting.
      Regards Janine

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  6. Hello Janine,
    You have done some great work. The transformations of the chest and the chair are fantastic. you do shabby so well and so realistically. The crown was a great touch. The vignette is lovely and I very much like the perfume tray...and I cannot forget those gorgeous slippers. As for the kakelugn, it is absolute perfection.
    Big hug
    Giac

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    1. Hi Giac, It is so nice to see your face appearing again. Today I was at my local thrift store and found the sweetest little crown charms. I bought all of them at .25 cents each. I will use them here there and everywhere.
      Re the slippers. The bee slippers that Linda made are really lovely too (in the Empire room of the French house) as are the cushions she made for Elizabeth, Fatima and me.
      We are so lucky to have the encouragement of our fellow miniaturists.
      You are one of them and I am very grateful that you take the time to comment.
      Regards Janine

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  7. Hi Janine. Today I can comment! Yay! The bedroom looks fabulous. I love the chest you repainted and it makes the perfect bedside table. And the chair and stove are fantastic. B is a good and talented man! I love the grey chair too - the darker grey adds some contrast. And completely agreed re the wardrobe needing extra height. I bought a fancy wardrobe at a show a couple of years ago and when I put it with my other 1:12 Bespaq furniture, it looks so squat (which would be fine for a simple wardrobe perhaps, but not an ornate one). So it is going in a future 3/4” scale house. Scale is a funny thing at times. Take care. Hope spring comes soon for you guys. X

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    1. Oh Shannon, The frustrations and inconsistency of being and not-being able to make comments or reply!!
      I cannot work out when and why I can or cannot post.
      I am glad that you liked some of the work I have been doing of late.
      Buying a Bespaq wardrobe that was not quite the right scale for your space must have been very disappointing at the time.
      Spring seems far off today but robins have arrived and also some ducks that seem to be heading north. Nature generally recognizes the passing of the seasons so we live in hope that I can plant the sweet peas soon!
      Take care.
      Janine

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  8. I love your Swedish Gustavian look and also French style.I like the wood basket and the work on the chest is ingenious, its display on top is delicate .Great work ! love your room. Lovely snowman, I thought the eyes were cucumber ....
    Big hug, Janine

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    1. Hi Luli, Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment. I enjoyed a long visit to your blog. I also appreciated that you write in Spanish and English.
      Regards Janine

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  9. Hello, Janine - I love the chest makeover; the finish is beautiful, and I like the addition of handles. I also like what you've done with the chair - it looks wonderfully shabby, and so comfortable! Although I've never before seen a kakelugn, this one looks amazing; it's a perfect companion for the comfortable chair. They make a cozy pair. Your fat snowman is delightful; his eyes seem to be made of slices of broccoli stems surrounded by chocolate syrup! He's very cheery, at any rate.
    Marjorie

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    1. Hi Marjorie, I was surprised to read that you also have snow in your region. Just goes to show how little we comprehend of conditions where our fellow miniaturists live.
      The eyes were slices of broccoli on the snowman ... set into dried apricots. The apricots swelled alarmingly as they took in moisture and the poor snowman had very poppy eyes.
      Thank you for leaving a comment. It is always nice to get some feedback on ones work.
      Regards Janine

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  10. I love, love, love everything about the bedroom but especially the wallpaper....and the bird picture and all the little accessories.

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    1. Thank you Brandy. The wallpaper in the bedroom is scrapbook paper. I bought single sheets - not a book!
      I avoid looking at the scrapbook paper books as if I should discover just one sheet I like I am tempted to buy the whole book. My experience tells me I will never use them!
      I loved all the “miniature inspirations” you found and posted for us to see on your blog.
      All the best. Janine

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