Progress Report #4. Harrisburg Symphony Decorator Show House

This week work on the Library became a two front effort.   At the Show House and fabrication in the Studio.

At the show House work was begun getting the room ready.

All the wood work and bookshelves were thoroughly sanded.  Latex caulk was used to fill cracks and smooth corners.  Today (Sunday) I put both coats of paint on the ceiling and one coat on the crown molding.

Last week at the Studio work continued on preparing furnishings and window treatments for the Library.

Lining the same width of the fabric was marked and cut for a pattern.   In doing this and pleating the lining the way I wanted the Windsor valance to look I found I would have a seam showing.  This was compounded by the fact that the embroidered patter is a drop match on the fabric.  This makes it harder to get the pattern to appear where you want it and to hide seams.

The fabric was cut to the pattern so I could determine where the pattern was going to be in the final product.

The fabric was cut to the pattern so I could determine where the pattern was going to be in the final product.

After much thought and manipulation I decided the only way to get the pattern the way I wanted it was to cut a separate panel for each side of the pelmet center so I would have the same pattern showing on each side.   This  as you can see in the picture causes a mismatch in the seams which ill be hidden in the pleated parts.

This change required 1 1/2 yd. more fabric but will be well worth the extra expense and trouble.

Also last week I made the hardwood frames for four foot stools that will be placed near each of the Library shelves.  They could be sat on when working on the bottom shelves and stood on to reach a higher shelf.

Plans were drawn for the design and work began.

The hardwood frames were screwed and glued together.  Eight side pieces were made and eight end pieces.  These were then corner braced and assembled.

Hard wood panels were added to the bottoms to accommodate the attachment of decorative legs.

Decorative panels were cut from 1/4" ply board which will be covered with fabric and attached to the frame latter in production.

Tonight I finished the painting and gold leaf trim on the leg parts.  They are now being lacquered.

Progress Report #3, 2015 Harrisburg Symphony Decorator Show House-Library

This week my goal was to distress paint the Duncan Phyfe drop leaf table for the Library.

The table was sanded and the dust wiped off with a damp cloth and allowed to dry.

It was then primed with an oil based primer to be sure none of the old stain would seep through the paint.  The table was coated with distressing medium and was allowed to dry for an hour.

Because I did not want large cracks in the paint on the top surface the blue latex paint was sponged on .  The legs and other parts were brushed.

I should also mention here that I made two leaves to replace missing ones.  They were put in place and finished so they would match. 

When the top was totally dry three coats of sanding sealer were applied.   The build up of sanding sealer allowed me to use a sanding block to smooth the surface without changing the distressed painting.

Stencils were cut for a gold leaf design.

The gold leafing adhesive was stenciled to the surface.

After the adhesive developed enough tack the gold foil leaf was tapped into place with a medium stiff brush.

Two border stripes were masked and painted in green.   The stenciled images were touched up by hand and sealed with 3 coats to spray lacquer.   The entire top was then given 3 coats of satin lacquer.

The end caps on the legs were corroded and their brass plating gone.    They too were gold leafed.

I am still debating on whether to add a floral image to the large gold element.

Otherwise the table is finished.

Progress report # 2, Decorating the Library at the 2015 Harrisburg Symphony decorator Show House

Last week the basic cornices were cut out assembled and primed.  This week the ornamentation was added.

On the right you can see the first of the decorative trims being clamped and glued in place.

When the large top moldings were dry the thin molding to run along the top needed to be added.  To get the sharp curve at the top, hours of relief cuts steaming and filling would have been necessary.  By using the plastic molding it was done within two hours.

Holes were pre drilled in the molding. The first nail attached the end of the small molding.  The hair dryer was used to heat the plastic molding and gradually it was shaped and nailed in place.

When the molding cooled it held the shape.

The shaped molding was removed, construction adhesive applied and it was nailed back in place until the adhesive dried.

Once dried the nails were removed and the holes filled with caulk.  Caulk was also used to fill any cracks and provide a smooth transition molding to wood.

A crackle medium was applied to the wood only, not the moldings and the cornices were paint green.    The wooden floret elements were primed  and painted green.   Gold leaf was added to part of the plastic molding and the floret element.

After a spray lacquer was applied to the gold leaf the blue trim color as added.

When the paint was dry a few coats of spray lacquer finished the project.

The mirror purchased for over the mantle was entirely gold leaf.  The blue accents were added.

Two important elements for the room are completed.   Next week work should begin on the  Duncan Phyfe drop leaf table.

Designing and Fabricating a Room for the Harrisburg Symphony Decorator Showhouse

The first step as in any show house and many jobs was to come up with a design concept for the room.

My plan for this room was to honor the Georgian style of the home but not be a slave to it.  All the period style pieces will be painted rather than have the dark wood finishes typical of the period.

As I often do, I started looking for a feature fabric from which I will pull the color pallet for the room.  A beautiful embroidered Robert Allen fabric was selected named Great Hopes.  The floral design is appropriate for the period.

With the main fabric selected  wall color and furniture colors were selected as well as subordinate fabrics.

Window treatments were designed.  A floor plan decided upon and appropriate furnishings located.

With this complete a story board was made showing concept sketches, colors,fabric swatches etc.for presentation in the design competition.

I was successful in my bid for the library.   In all the years I have been doing Show Houses this only the second room that was not a bedroom and the first on on the first floor.

My plan was for the room to be multi functional.  It would serve as a Library/Den, a Gaming Room  and a room for intimate Dining.  This made the Ducan Phyfe drop leaf table critical.

Since the table was to be painted I didn't want to purchase a new or expensive table.  The table was found on Craigslist.  It isn't much now but when I am finished with it its value will increase significantly. 

Another important element in the room is the mirror I planed to hang over the mantle.  The door into the room is arched as is the door to the Living room  across the hall.  The two doors reflecting in the mirror should give a very interesting effect.  After checking all my sources  and unable to find a new Georgian mirror I decided to look at a local antique mall for an old one.  Like the table it was my plan to paint it so I didn't want a mirror of great value.  I hadn't walked 20 steps inside the mall before I saw my mirror hanging on the wall.  SOLD.

While other things remain to be ordered I am relieved that two important elements have been secured.

This week I made the pattern for the wooden window cornices, cut them out and assembled and primed them.

Progress was also made on the design to be painted on the drop leaf table. 

Hopefully l next week I will have another progress report.   I hope you will enjoy this series.

Bill Gantt

Spring arrives early at Gantt's Decorating

The winds may be howling outside and the ground hog may have called for 6 more weeks of winter, but you can push your Spring forward inside.

You can buy Orchids and other blooming plants and arrange them in the house.    Rather than scattering them throughout find a focal area in the living room,family room or kitchen and create a spring display of several colors and shapes of blooms.  If the maintenance and potential  mess of real plants is an issue, you can do essentially the same thing with silk flowers.

Select spring flowering silks.  Stems of cherry blossoms, forsythia and orchids allow height in your arrangement.   For the best impact buy at least of each flower.  Six or eight daffodil or six or eight  , tulips in the same color .   Look for colors that are as close as possible to the real color.   Don't try to coordinate the colors in the room .

Lighting your spring display is crucial.  If it is possible to locate it under a bright ceiling light great.  If  not you might be able to find a temporary spot light to shine on it.   Real or artificial you want enough light to give the illusion the plants are growing.  In this case I started with a large glazed terracotta planter.   A flood light was put in the bottom with the wire running out the drain hole.  In order to get the wire through the hole the plug end of the extension cord was cut off.  After going through the hole a new plug was attached.  If you already have a glass topped table put a free standing up light or two under it.  Be careful not to get the lights too close to the glass.  The heat can cause the glass to break.

A table lamp with a 100 watt bulb can be added as well.  In this case I used all three methods to light the display.

Choose a variety of containers.  In this case the crystal bowl full of glass marbles virtually sparkles in the light from inside the table.  A bowl of artificial fruit and feathered birds kept out from Christmas adds more color and interest.  

The floral investment may be substantial but some of the flowers can be used elsewhere in the house when spring actually comes.  Most can be put away and used every January  or February for years to come.

All silk flowers are 20% off the entire month of February at Gantt's

Bill Gantt