The Library: One Room Challenge Week 3

  • April 20, 2017

It’s week 3, and if I stop for even one second to consider this project-in-full, I will implode. There, I got that out, and now I feel better. Truly, my life does not suck. We have a little money to spend on this project, everything is coming along well,  and so far, we have not given ourselves lead poisoning.  That third item on my gratitude list is a real thing. Cheers to us. Safety first!

If you are just joining in today, you might want to catch up on week 1 and week 2.

This past week, I struggled to keep up due to being sick. Andy said that my cold seemed almost as bad as the Man Flu, so I know it was pretty serious. I have no sarcastic retorts, but wearing a lead respirator when you have a stuffy nose is absolutely miserable. I know that for sure. It felt like I was suffocating.

Sticking to our separate tasks, Andy and I made good progress despite the fact that I was not at my best. Andy worked on the first stage of plaster repair, and I made a real dent in the window restoration after I got the top sashes unstuck from 125 year’s worth of old paint and caulk.

And this one just because she’s so cute.


(Don’t worry! She’s safe. The respirator was merely a precaution.)

Another big win this week is that we now have a ceiling!

The ceiling is a project that I hired out because I could not imagine Andy and I doing it without me crying a whole bunch, and I hate crying over stupid stuff. I would rather use my tears on The Best Moments from the 2017 Boston Marathon.  (Buckets of tears! Buckets!) In two hours, two guys accomplished what would have taken us two weeks. They will be back to complete some finish work, but I will be painting by the weekend.

The Design Plan

In other news, during the quiet moments, I ordered almost everything to decorate the library, and today, I can finally share the general plan.


(Sources: Rug :: Lamp :: Grasscloth Wallpaper :: Poäng Chair and Footstool :: Chalkboard Paint :: Bar Stools)

And there will be plants, lots and lots of plants.

The overarching goal is to make this a neat and tidy room that also feels like a happy and inspiring place to work. The library will be kid-friendly and flexible since we will use it for a variety of purposes.

Wallpaper Again?

We are using grasscloth wallpaper on three walls. I was still trying to decide what to do with the walls when we visited the Castle Gallery two weeks ago. The gallery is located in a restored Victorian, and they used grasscloth on the walls. Jody, who owns the gallery and restores old houses, said that since they move the art around all the time, grasscloth is very forgiving. They aren’t stuck patching the walls all the time. I realized that it made sense for our library too. Our kids are prolific artists, and I want the flexibility to change things up as often as we want without the hassle of repairs.

Speaking of art, we are reaching for the chalkboard paint again for the fourth wall. We are still so pleased with the chalkboard wall in the kitchen. We never tire of the possibilities. The library is bathed in natural light almost all day, so a dark wall will be appropriately dramatic vs. gloomy. The kids can draw to their hearts’ content.

Everything Else

I originally bought the lamps for the guest room, but I might steal them for the library. They look a little too tall in the guest room, but they are perfect for the library.

We already own the Poäng chair and footstool from Ikea. However, ours are chocolate brown leather which is no longer available. I put the black version on our mood board, but the brown will coordinate just fine. Eventually, I would love a comfy overstuffed chair for reading, but that is not in the budget this time around. The kids sit in the Poäng chair all the time to read, so I know it is comfortable enough.

The bar stools will tuck under the custom work table that I still have to make. Yikes! I can’t even think about that right now. Somehow, that is going to happen. You’ll have to trust me. (I’ll have to trust me!)

Week 4 Goals

Week 4 is going to take some serious dedication. By our next update, I intend to have the ceiling painted, the floors refinished, and the walls ready for paint and wallpaper. Writing that down makes me want to start day drinking. Fortunately, my health goals will win against that temptation.

It’s your turn to weigh in. Do you have any opinions or feedback on our plan? Keep in mind that my specialty is tearing things apart.  Putting it all back together is a skill that I am still developing.

Please head over to Calling It Home to take a look at all of the One Room Challenge™ rooms from the featured designers and the other guest participants too. I have so many favorite projects that I am following this year. I could easily lose a day or two each week catching up on everyone’s projects. I am pacing myself and reading a few each day. If there is a specific ORC project that is inspiring you during this challenge, feel free to post a link in the comments.

Also, we post real-time updates all week on Instagram. Head on over to stay in the loop between posts.

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Blog Comments

What exciting progress, and the new ceiling looks great. Can’t go wrong with Poang! I have one in my studio, and it’s always comfy. With books, colorful rug, and Poang it will be a dreamy library. I can’t wait to see the grasscloth!

Thank you, Andrea!

Oh, you’re moving right along! Wonderful progress. I loathe wearing respirators of any kind when not stuffy, I can’t even imagine the torment of wearing one while sick. I hope you’re all better now, and can’t wait to see the finished product!

They aren’t great. I often feel like I’m choking. The alternative is much worse, though!

have you tried sitting on those stools for any length of time? They look wonderful! and I recently visited a new friend at her brand new super expensive house that looks like a barn and they had two massive tables with those sorts of stools at both. My 57 yr old amply padded bottom was aching pretty quickly and all I wanted to do was squirm. Maybe try sitting on them before committing? Congrats on the hard won progress and looking forward to next week’s update!

I actually don’t want anyone to sit for long. I’m making standing work stations. ?

Stay the course! It’s looking great!

Thanks, Sarah!

Did the house ever have picture rail? If you change the artwork really often that might make even more sense than wallpaper.

That is an idea worth considering. Thanks! I’m pretty sure there was not a picture rail in any of the rooms. I have not found any evidence, so far. I don’t have any big objections to adding one. 🙂 Because of the funky shelves, the balance would be kind of a challenge in this room. I’ll give it some thought.

I don’t see any problem with it. It would go either just a bit below the ceiling, or in line with the casings if you wanted to create a frieze area. But I think I’d only do a frieze if I were trying to do a historic restoration or if I had massively high ceilings.

It is looking so bright and full of opportunity! Ceiling is a major improvement, you guys took on quite a task and are doing great 🙂

Thank you, Karen!

Your demo skills are still intact! And you’ve always put rooms back together quite well, so I have total confidence in this. Look at how much you have accompished, despite travel and illness. The design plan says, “workspace/library appropriate for casual living in an old house.” You don’t seem to need it, but time for midpoint cheer:
Two, Four
Six, Eight
Who’s rockin’ progress?
B.H.H. !!!

I’ll take that cheer! 🙂 Thank you! <3

I’m right there with you on Day Drinking! LOL I have so much to do it’s not even funny…I just cringed… lol love your design plans!

http://www.raisingafarmhouse.com

Ha ha! Let’s put some seltzer in our wine glasses and pretend, ok? 🙂

I love this!! I restored an over 100 year old house many years ago so I know it takes you 3 times as long to do just about any step along the way – kudos to you for taking this on in 5 weeks! I did a Library two ORC’s ago and it has black walls, etc. We still love it! I love your inspiration board and think your assistant is pretty cute in a respirator!! Looking forward to following along as I work on my own snail’s pace ORC.

Thank you, Marcie. 🙂 I don’t know what I’d do without my little assistant. I’m going to look up your library. It sounds beautiful.

Props to you–my spring allergies are horrific this year and I’m basically just schlumping around the house instead of getting stuff done! Love the rug in the inspiration board and can’t wait to see the grasscloth wallpaper. When we were house hunting we saw a house with the most gorgeous grasscloth entryway that I will never forget!

Since we have only lived here for three years, every spring, we wonder, “Is this a cold, or is this allergies?” LOL So far, it always goes away which means it’s a cold. I know allergies can come on at any time. I’m sorry that you suffer. 🙁

I’m crossing my fingers that we can pull off this grasscloth paper installation.

Stacy,
We had grasscloth wall paper in a house long ago. I loved it! When contemplating grasscloth in a different house many years later I was told that you should rotate the direction on each panel you hang (basically turn it upside down). Have you come across this advice?

Hi Anne! I have not heard about alternating the pieces, but thank you so much for bringing it up. I will do some research before we install it. I have noticed that the pattern on grasscloth is often staggered. I do not know if that is because the pieces are alternated or if it is the byproduct of a pattern that does not really repeat.

Congrats on getting stuff done while sick; I’ve been fighting something too and I’ve been very tempted to chill on the couch instead of work. It’s exciting to see your plan. Those lamps look perfect for a library!

Thank you, Laura! I hope you feel better soon, too. 🙂

I just checked your latest IG post. That light, natural floor is gorgeous. I’ll have to check back with your design plan, but again, those light floors are gorgeous 😉 Great recovery from your “downer” day recently too. Can’t wait until Thursday post! You are doing so great!! Rah!

Thank you, SH! I have been wanting to make the floors lighter for a long time (downstairs too!). The undertones are red, and when I put the clear poly on top, I suspect they will look a bit darker and more amber. However, I am hopeful that they won’t revert completely back to the old color.

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