If you live anywhere within a couple hours of the Finger Lakes area of New York State, you might want to get some decorating inspiration by taking a day trip to Aurora, New York and Mackenzie-Childs. I have provided a link here and also on the right. http://www.mackenzie-childs.com/
Dave and I have been to Mackenzie-Childs a couple of times, the last time in February. Now that we are closer to decorating it was great to go there for ideas. If you go you MUST tour the farmhouse where they have used their decorative items throughout. However, don't just look at the decorative pieces, but also look at the wall treatments, faux wood painting and staining techniques, flooring, etc. It's really quite a treat. If you go during the Spring or Summer, you will also love the grounds with all the flowers. It's beautiful. I have included a picture, above.
Once the upstairs bathroom is complete, finishing our stairs is the next priority. Dave and I have been considering different finishing options for the stairs. We definitely want newel posts but realize they are very, very expensive. We simplified the design and hope Dave can build them. We thought we would most likely make them from oak and finish them. The cost is high. When we went to Mackenzie-Childs we came up with another idea that was very, very cost effective and would be easy to do. And, we could use a less expensive species of wood, like poplar. I think on the third floor of the farmhouse at Mackenzie-Childs they have used a faux staining on a stair handrail. It was perfect. We've already done some faux staining on the doors so we are familiar with the process and we really liked the way it looked - very different. Our thought is we would do this faux staining on the handrail, the newels and the steps. We anticipate painting the barley twist spindles and the risers white. I have included a picture of the garden balls above and while we think we might want to do the butterfly one, I'm a little on the fence about it. We'll see as the time draws nearer.
The other idea we came up with at Mackenzie-Childs was to use garden balls for the decoration on the newel post. We knew we wanted to do something different on the bottom two newel posts. What we came up with was to use the Butterfly Garden Ball from M-C on each of the two newels. The colors on this ball include colors in our home.
Dave and I have been to Mackenzie-Childs a couple of times, the last time in February. Now that we are closer to decorating it was great to go there for ideas. If you go you MUST tour the farmhouse where they have used their decorative items throughout. However, don't just look at the decorative pieces, but also look at the wall treatments, faux wood painting and staining techniques, flooring, etc. It's really quite a treat. If you go during the Spring or Summer, you will also love the grounds with all the flowers. It's beautiful. I have included a picture, above.
Once the upstairs bathroom is complete, finishing our stairs is the next priority. Dave and I have been considering different finishing options for the stairs. We definitely want newel posts but realize they are very, very expensive. We simplified the design and hope Dave can build them. We thought we would most likely make them from oak and finish them. The cost is high. When we went to Mackenzie-Childs we came up with another idea that was very, very cost effective and would be easy to do. And, we could use a less expensive species of wood, like poplar. I think on the third floor of the farmhouse at Mackenzie-Childs they have used a faux staining on a stair handrail. It was perfect. We've already done some faux staining on the doors so we are familiar with the process and we really liked the way it looked - very different. Our thought is we would do this faux staining on the handrail, the newels and the steps. We anticipate painting the barley twist spindles and the risers white. I have included a picture of the garden balls above and while we think we might want to do the butterfly one, I'm a little on the fence about it. We'll see as the time draws nearer.
The other idea we came up with at Mackenzie-Childs was to use garden balls for the decoration on the newel post. We knew we wanted to do something different on the bottom two newel posts. What we came up with was to use the Butterfly Garden Ball from M-C on each of the two newels. The colors on this ball include colors in our home.
What an exciting project in Hardy House. I can see why you love it. We've been to Mackenzie-Childs, and now I'm sorry we did not visit the farmhouse there. All the best with your efforts. Thanks for stopping by my blog..I'll be watching you and you'll be watching me! Spring can't be far off now.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nancy! Maybe you'll get back to M-C again. It's worth a second visit. I'm glad you stopped by, please stop again.
ReplyDelete