Fairfield Kitchen ~ Part I

I mentioned in a previous post (or two) that I'd built out a new small wall in the kitchen which eliminiated the kitchen pantry/closet.  I didn't find it necessary to have that element in the kitchen due to the large pantry piece going into the room. 

I got that all glued together and filled in, then I realized the side closest to the dining room needed some work.

Here's the "Before" shot...

 The wall is very crooked to the main wall, that needed to be altered before I could continue, as I didn't want the wallpaper or anything else to mess up because of this one little section...

The "After" shot...

I used some trim-stock that I had in my stash to fix the wall.  It looks odd like this, but it will be covered with wallpaper so it doesn't really matter...

I also mentioned in previous posts that I cut the wiring channel for the kitchen light, and that I found a new ceiling paper, it's by Mini-Graphics and I really like it.  It's just plain white with a small texture design to it.  I installed that permanently and then installed the light... (the light at this point is still remove-able). 

When I install my ceiling paper, I make little laps/ridges that come down the side walls, (you can see in the above photo), to help ensure that I haven't missed any spots with either bad measurements or crooked walls or what-not. 

I then got to work on the kitchen floor.  I used the embossed paper-backed tile floor sheets that I got from Earth and Tree.  These were a quite easy installation.  I used a template for the floor and marked where I needed to cut, and cut to fit.  Being paper-backed I glued it on with wallpaper mucliage. 

I definitely had to piece together the floor in a couple spots, I know that I was left with a seam, but I'm really happy with how it came out overall.  I cleaned it and covered it with my favorite finish, Varda protective glaze by Ikea.  It came out beautifully in person, (this shot is before the cleaning and glaze), I am hoping that once the cabinets are in, the walls are up and the decor is finished, you won't be able to tell where the seam is...  We shall see!

I then tore it up...

I kept going back to the seams, (three of them) and finding them each and every time I looked at the floor.  I knew that wouldn't do.  It also kept screaming to me "STERILE!"...it seemed soo sterile for my design direction with this house... I hated to do it, (because it was pricey), but I will use what I have left over for the bathroom...I think I can warm it up in the bathroom...

I opted instead to carry the wood floors that will be in the rest of the house into the kitchen...

The entire floor will be stained to the darker color that you see, (I had stained some pieces for color reference), (the entire house flooring will be this color also), the stained pieces just happened to be the right length so after ripping up tile I figured waste-not-want-not... :P



Close-up

If you can tell my little pattern design in the floor.  I have yet to see this design in miniature, (at least to the level I plan to take it), and I really like it.  A visual effect for the eye... I got the idea from another Fairfield in a blog and on the Greenleaf forum.  I saw it in her attic around the chimney stack and thought it would be really cool to do it...I have some ideas of where-else I will take this design also. 

I thought I would leave you with one last image...I keep saying "shabby-chic"...here are some of my design ideas/decisions... you will have to wait to see where and how these items are though...

A Post Re-Traction...

So I'm taking back part of my last post!!!

I stated in the post that I used only 10 sheets of Houseworks siding to side the house...that is incorrect.  I cut the siding too short (on ALL the pieces and now have to go back and purchase another package of Houseworks siding to fix it!).  So really in the end, it really will take only 10 sheets to cover the house, however, I have had to purchase 20!  :P 

In waiting for the kitchen wallpaper and the siding to arrive, I started work on some other tedious type tasks.  I also started work on the crown moulding for the kitchen, and got pretty far, but decided to stop until I can purchase more...(I want to make sure the patterns match!). 

On a side note - I just LOVE crown moulding!  I like it in every room of the house!  I was very inspired with crown moulding when I first saw it in another miniaturist house, it's German, and I do not have the link, but it's my all-time favorite!  (I will look if I get the requests).  It took me a while to figure out how to cut it, especially with my easy cutter...but now that I know how to do it, I will use it all the time!  I do not love the "shortcut" (I call it), where there are squares in the corners...I find that it takes away from the overall look, especially in a period piece... I prefer to do the corners the way that I like them...

I made a journey out to Earth and Tree Miniatures...I really like that store, it's so pretty and there is so much more inside than there is on their website, if you can ever make it there, please make the stop, it's worth it!  Here are some of the treasures I picked up...

Half Scale Tile Floor...

 The flooring was more than I would have liked to pay for it, but I have enough to cover both the kitchen and the bathroom.  Plus, I really liked it and my only other option, (because I didn't like anything else), was to do wood floor in those rooms...so this worked for me!

 Beadboard and chair rail... 

I've worked with this exact product before and I really like it.  The sides interlock so there is no seaming, unlike others that I've seen, I also really like the chair rail moulding as I find it completes the look. 

Wood Turnings...

I found these and loved both of the patterns, so I decided that rather than chose I would get both.  The pattern to the right will go to the two downstairs fireplaces, the pattern to the left will go to the two upstairs fireplaces, (these will all be used to help make mantels/surrounds)...the middle pieces I love and have a plan for also.