Slipcovered armchairs, part 3: Getting there

When I last posted about sewing slipcovers for the armchairs in my reading nook, I was struggling. Only one skirt was tacked on, and even the throw pillows were unfinished.

Where am I today?

I'm happy to report that TWO skirts are now tacked on, and both throw pillows are complete. I still have to actually stitch the skirts on (I don't know why I am dreading that step so much), and I also need to attach the piece of fabric that goes underneath the seat cushion. You won't actually be able to see this piece, but it will help keep the rest of the slipcover in place. See how the arms are kind of saggy baggy elephant?

Poor elephant. At least the chairs only have to deal with my scornful looks and laziness. There are no laughing parrots to deal with.

Sundays of Yore: 1954 Magic Chef Gas Range

Whoa, this has to be in Texas.

(Source)

Let's talk about this picture. First of all, I love the buffalo checked dishtowel. (My love for checks is documented here, if you're interested.) It makes me laugh that the dishtowel is hanging off a set of bull horns ... over a big hunk of meat ... on a floating butcher block? This is an intense, manly scene going on here.

We can talk about the stool a little, too. It's pretty cool, don't you think? And what exactly do you call the object to the right of the Magic Chef Gas Range ... is that a free-standing salad bowl? A produce stand? I honestly can't decide if something like that would be convenient or useless. I'm guessing more of the latter since they're not really around today.

A project question and a pretty bedroom

In November, when I had very few readers, I posted pictures of some vintage pharmacy labels I picked up at Brimfield.

I still haven't done anything with them. I guess I'm kind of frozen from all the possibilities. So ... does anyone have any thoughts? I'd love to hear them. You can read the original post here.

And, just because it's not a true Friday if my mind is not wandering to thoughts of cozy bedrooms and reading by the fire, here's a picture to help keep the vision alive:

(Phoebe Howard, Southern Accents)

On the auction block: Beacon Hill Row House

Yesterday, the Boston Globe real estate section featured an 1860s Beacon Hill Row House that developers paid $2.25 million for four years ago. It's city living, but with five bedrooms, four baths, three powder rooms, and seven fireplaces, space is not really an issue for this property.

The article notes that the couple did not cut any corners in their $4 million dollar renovation. The luxury market was still booming!

Hence the marble bath

(which you get to by way of this hallway, lined with mirrored closet doors),

the gorgeous (albeit poorly photographed) kitchen,

the wine cellar,

the green house,

and the library with the adjoining wet bar (because every library needs a wet bar).

It obviously needs a little decor, but doesn't this space make you dream of all the possibilities?

To give an idea of the layout, the desk on the left in the picture above is seen in the picture below, on the right.

The property is just sitting there, and it seems the developers are ready to move on. So, to the auction block it goes, with a minimum starting bid of $5 million. Do you need a little more convincing? OK, here's a view of the street from the window.

I lived in Beacon Hill for a couple of years and loved it, even though my studio was the size of the marble bathroom pictured above. It really is one of the prettiest neighborhoods in Boston, so quaint and filled with character.

It's an added bonus to have a roof deck from which to enjoy the view!

Look, books!

I love this doorway-turned-library, although I think I'd prefer a more comfortable chair by the shelves.

Books look good in a bedroom, too.

I was thinking I'd like to use magical powers to put bookshelves around this velvet bed,

and then I found that Anna at Absolutely Beautiful Things was thinking similarly. There are like a hundred thousand million and thirty bloggers out there who are all posting the same pictures and saying different things about them. That's what makes it kind of fun. But it's also fun when thoughts align!

Cream, white, blue, gray, lavender - Dreamy!

What is it about this picture?

(Elizabeth Dinkel Design)

I don't really know. I've definitely been into lavender lately. That lampshade is just perfect - so soft and subtle. And crisp white sheets are always on my list of things that make me oh so happy. And then the blue and the gray ... and the upholstered cream headboard! And the cream nightstand! I haven't seen a room that I've wanted to copy (emulate?) this much since these little twinsies caught my eye in January 2009:

So, what have I learned from this little post? I love: white sheets, upholstered headboards, crisp nightstands, blue floral patterns, and gray.

Monday take me away

On any given Monday morning, there are scores of places I'd rather be. Drop me into any of these rooms -- all photographed by Jean Randazzo (whom I discovered via Deliciously Organized) -- and I would pretty content.

I love each of these rooms from Jean's photography portfolio. I haven't yet attached each room to its designer, but Jean's clients include Peter Dunham Design, Mary McDonald, and Elizabeth Dinkel, among others. I'll be doing some more investigating when I return home from work.

For now, Monday morning obligations are calling.

p.s. In case you didn't notice, Filed For Later is on Twitter now. If you are too, please follow me? I haven't tweeted a single thing yet, because it's too sad to tweet to an audience of zero. But I'll start tweeting soon ... it will be fun! I hope to see you there!