Comments : 47

Good morning! Wishing you all a happy, productive and great Thursday. ?Well, I am once again “on the outs” with Blogger!!! First I have gotten about six emails from people telling me they are having a problem commenting. THEN I prepared this post in its completion only to wake up to see that half of it was gone!!!!! So I frantically pulled it together again but I must say I am not very happy and feel like I am just waiting for the other shoe to drop with Blogger….very frustrating indeed!! On top of that, after I was able to complete the post, blogger wasn’t allowing me to publish it! Whats up with that??

?Deep breath and moving on……this weeks post is house heavy. A lot is starting to happen…yippee!! Lots of finishes which I show plenty of pictures of. Exciting, a little overwhelming (actually make that a lot), fun, adventurous and stressful all rolled into one. That is precisely how I would sum this up. But I really do see light at the end of the tunnel and that right there, is incredibly amazingly wonderful.?





HOUSE UPDATES. So this week they are finishing up all the trim upstairs (and with the exception of my master) all other bedrooms and hallways are done! Started putting in plumbing fixtures into bathrooms and we got our first trickle of real running water…a thrill!! Floors in library are nearly done, family room paneling is well underway, breakfast room is basically done but the baseboards. They just finished the beams for kitchen and now are staining them, planning to put them up ?next Friday! Painter has started, limestone arrived for covered porch, so plenty going on…..I will let the pictures do the talking!

Inside breakfast room

Our master finisher, made these “antiqued” beam samples, he is AMAZING!! (for kitchen beams)
Look at the all the detail he put in this new wood!
I am so impressed!!
The reclaimed floor…got the last small batch for laundry room…love it!

The Library chevron/herringbone in white oak

Our first plumbing installed in guest room!! We chose polished nickel
Latest round of beams ready for family room
Love this paper for my master, its a gray/blue and its quite beautiful……
Started putting it together with some fabrics (at the play stage) but will do the bed in all cream…thoughts?

Rocco at it again with stain samples for breakfast room, so many good ones to choose from!
The bottom are the stains with a limed oak finish

Inside of family room looking into kitchen
Kitchen powder room, has white and gray basketweave honed on floor with mini brick on walls
Our architect blows up different railings to “try” them on back stairs
Family room in full swing!
Beams in family room getting installed
I marveled at the workmanship behind the way they finished the bay in breakfast room

The stone has arrived for porch…after 4 months of waiting!
Patient Teddy on one of our many visits to the house (take note of the leash)
Here hes wondering why I dont’ give him free reign to run and play…WE all know why!
That face is hard to resist though!

I like this paper, love the yellow gray and white its so fresh for the back powder room, thoughts?

Family room progress

NEWEST FABRIC I AM LUSTING AFTER. Love love love this. I am coveting it in two colors, the rich blue and elegant pinky red. Would love it on a pair of chairs, an ottoman and would even settle for a few pillows. I just love it and its even prettier in person. I have the samples in the blue and the pinky red and trust me its exquisite!! I am determnined to find a place to use this. It is so rich and luxurious, a gorgeous cut velvet too pretty for words! (It is Scalamandres Falk Manor House)

How gorgeous is it here? I know this is a very popoular picture in Blogland

SANGRIA. Yes, one of summers best drinks. It is the perfect summer drink, you can get creative wtih as much fruit as you wish and it is pretty (bonus points for being pretty) This is great to serve for a party, a small group or just treat yourself and make a small pitcher to indulge in! I was given this fabulous recipe which is really really good, in case you are interested. Again, there is no wrong way, just add however much fruit you like, I added a lot of peaches, as I love peaches and it was fantatic. 3 full glasses fantastic πŸ™‚



  • 1 Bottle of red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Rioja, Zinfandel, Shiraz)
  • 1 Lemon cut into wedges
  • 1 Orange cut into wedges
  • 1 Lime cut into wedges
  • 2 Tbsp sugar (some people like to add more) add to taste
  • Splash of orange juice or lemonade
  • 2 Shots of gin or triple sec (optional)
  • 1 Cup of raspberries or strawberries or peaches, or whatever fruit you like
  • 1 Small can of diced pineapples (with juice) I like fresh
  • 4 Cups ginger ale

Preparation:

Pour wine into a large pitcher and squeeze the juice wedges from the lemon, orange and lime into the wine. Toss in the fruit wedges (leaving out seeds if possible) and pineapple then add sugar, orange juice and gin. Chill overnight. Add ginger ale, berries and ice just before serving. If you’d like to serve right away, use chilled red wine and serve over?lots?of ice. However, remember that the best Sangrias are chilled around 24 hours in the frig. – allowing the flavors to really marinate into each other


MACAROONS. I practically consider myself an expert, to me the best are from Laduree then Bouchon bakery and a close contender is Payard. The great thing is they ship (overnight) and they are not only delicious,but pretty too and they make a great gift. Who doesn’t smile receiving a box of these? A good friend was kind enough to send me a box recently and lets just say that it was the best kind of therapy for a rough week that I could have asked for:) Click here to treat yourself to some sweet therapy or someone you care about to some sugary sweet goodness!

A FABULOUS CANDLE BY FARROW AND BALL. Come again. Yep you heard right, its a match made in design and decorating heaven. Farrow and Ball has teamed up with scent goddess Jo Malone to come out with some of their own limited edition signature scents. Each scent has been matched up with a coordinating Farrow and Ball colored candle. Got my hands on the Pomegranate Noir and the signature scent, Lime basil and mandarin which was really wonderful smelling and burned for a heck of a long time.
A FABULOUS TRIP. You know I love my trips though my travel lately as only been of the virtual variety, not totally my kind but its the next best thing to actually going:) Went to New Orleans about three years ago and have daydreamed about going back ever since. We actually had gone for a funeral and stayed a few extra days to explore this Grand dame of a?city. I have to say despite the devastation from which it is not totally recovered from, there is still some serious magic happening in this city. It is a food lovers HEAVEN. Seriously some of the best food, best meals I have EVER eaten. We stayed at the gorgeous newly done Ritz Carlton which was fabulous with a capital F. Walking down Royal St. and peering into (and visiting some) of the fabulous old world antique shops was incredible. And just absorbing the charm that is distinctively New Orleans was something I hope I can repeat again very soon!!?

This is one reason on its own to go….the heavenly beignets from the French market…yummy!! We became mighty good friends:)
So thats what I am loving this week. How about you? What’s exciting you this week??I always love to know. Hope you have a wonderful Thursday!

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Hello Tina,

Loving your house as always! Who’s your architect, by the way? He’s amazing!

The wallpaper are great. I think cream is a great choice for your bed with that wallpaper. It will look luxurious.

Thursdays are my favorite day to come here. I always feel amazed by your house!

Have a Gorgeous Day!

xo

Luciane at HomeBunch.com

Hello Tina:
This is all so very exciting. We are sure that, if we were you, we should have great difficulty in containing ourselves and would be wanting to move in tomorrow! So much seems to be happening.

The library floor is an absolute dream, as is that very lovely blue-grey wallpaper which will look so elegant once hung. Cream for the bed sounds wonderful and we are sure that you will link in with the wall covering to complete the effect.

Teddy is adorable – such a lovely face.

First let me thank you and Safaview again for hosting the wonderful kilim bench giveaway. I already thanked Tina by email, but I also wanted to do it publicly. I don’t know how she found the time to do that while dealing with the million details of her house. Can’t wait to get my wonderful bench!

Now your house. Major swooning here! You have great craftsmen, creating all these samples to give you a proper visual. I loooove the herringbone floor in your library, it totally seems like the floor of choice for a library. And your picks for your master are beautiful and muted, which I’m sure will create an oasis of peace and elegance.

Thank you for your sangria recipe, I will make some next time I entertain!

And yes, someday I hope to go to New Orleans too, it’s definitely on the list!

Tina, I have been having a time with Blogger as well. Not only do I have problems commenting on others blogs, it won’t even leave me logged in to comment on my own (with my google profile anyway)

Gorgeous choices for the master suite! I am a sucker for silvery blues.

Love the chinoiserie for the powder room too…at first blush I thought the yellow might be too strong and overpower the marble, but on further reflection I think it would work! You have to be just thrilled to see all the “fun stuff” finally coming together at your house. Is that library mantle the one from the old house?

Your home is fabulous. The degree of craftsmanship is breathtaking.

I’m loving your choices. The pale blue velvet pattern near the end is one of my favorites.

I bet your bautiful dog doesn’t understand why he can’t have free reign. Ahhh soon enough.

Have a wonderful weekend.

– The Tablescaper

Thursday, sweet Thursday….
I look forward to all of your posts, but these are so exciting! Could be that although my humble abode might fit in your kitchen…. πŸ˜‰ the attention to detail, color palate and all you do, both remind me of what Kenny and I did when we built our home many years ago, and then the decisions I had to make alone when we put the addition on the main house.
The wall paper you have chosen is truly a work of art. The fabrics are so rich.. Grey blue and cream is the color palate I find most soothing. I do agree that a cream bed is the way to go. If things get too busy, you might lose the beauty of the details…. Just a thought.
Bathroom wallpaper…. really brings out the marble? in the powder room.
So many other exciting things to comment on, but Kenny is calling, so I will leave it by saying…. look at that little Pupper face…. he looks so dejected… we have two pups who are under “house arrest” as the landscapers are working like crazy, and they are prancing around pulling things out…. Do I really have time in my life for this?!?
Keep posting… it is such a joy.

It’s those incredible herringbone floors that get me…if I ever get to replace the awful prefinished ebony bamboo I have, that’s exactly what I am putting in. Love the hit of sunny yellow for your powder room, perfect against all that serene grey.

Good morning Tina, The chevron herringbone floor is over the top. So beautiful! With everything happening so quickly you must be getting butterflies in your stomach anticipating the big day. You have such an amazing eye for detail. When you get back down South. We must get together!

I love your posts about the home progress! Such beautiful craftsmanship. I love that herringbone floor, the tile work, the paneling….everything is top notch and will be so fabulous when you move in. Your wallpapers are gorgeous!!!!

So much to say about your House Progress, it is looking so amazing! I LOVE the floors in your laundry room, and am excited to see the beams installed!

I really want to purchase one of those Farrow & Ball/Jo Malone candles it sounds like they smell heavenly!

oh tina, so much to fall in love with here!
first off, your home is fabulous in detail. reminds me of the older manors in europe. so fun to follow the progress….cannot wait for the decor!
the wallpapers……..to die for and great choices

on the docket this weekend…..sangria’s!
best
debra

Ahhhh, Such a beautiful house. So many decisions to be made, what fun. My dream house has limed floors I can see it in my mind. I will be excited to see which floors you choose for the breakfast room. I tend to lean toward golden tones instead of gray tones but I love the two end samples in the middle. So many wonderful choices.
~ ~Ahrisha~~

Tina, I am in love with the powder room wallpaper. The yellow and gray with the marble is perfection. I love that it is classic and yet it has a fun side to it. Perfect choice. The fabric for the ottoman is amazing. It is so stunning that I agree with an ottoman or some pillows. Cream on your bed will be the perfect elegant touch to go with the wallpaper.I was thinking that if you use a bed skirt maybe a touch of the pretty blue somewhere in the skirt would be striking. I love my visits to your new home. I am getting so excited and it isn’t even my house. I just love when people get to do what they want with there homes to make them so beautiful and yours is beyond gorgeous, Kathysue

Tina, you’re home is coming along fabulously! So exciting to see the beautiful colors and wallpaper designs you’ve chosen. Love the fabric on the pillows! My favorite, and most captivating photo image is the one of Teddy with that gorgeous tree in the background and the greenery all around him! Stunning! Also, I love New Orleans! Your images bring back memories! Lovely city of architecture, culture history, and delicious foods! xo

As a New Orleanian born and bred, I always take great pride when hearing visitors enjoyment of the city. I haven’t lived in my hometown now for 24 years but will always call the magical city home!
Love the home your building and all things pertaining to it you share on your blog!
I do have photographs from when my Grandmother was a young girl growing up in New Orleans on my blog if you care to peruse. They are in the first year I believe of my blog, perhaps the second. Sprinkled throughout are many photographs of the Crescent City!
Hugs~

Wow – a lot of progress this week. The details are looking great. Love the chevron herringbone and the polished nickel (my favorite) in the guest bath. And thank you for the heads up about the Farrow & Ball candle – had no idea. Had fabulous macarons last night at an opening – have no idea where they were from but can’t wait for Laduree to open in NYC!!

Ok those herringbone floors in the library are to die for!!!! I mean, I would just sit on the ground and rub my hands all over them. Sooo stunning! I love your choices for the master bedroom. That color scheme is going to be so relaxing! I love the wallpaper for the powder room too! It’s just so fun to watch somebody put together all things that I love into a house!! I’m totally lusting after that scalamndre fabric as well. I’ve loved that pink room for so long now (I think it’s been on my blog a record number of times), but I never knew what the fabric on the ottoman was, so thank you for alerting me to it’s name!!!! Your house is going to be so amazing! I think you need to make a book when it’s all done, like Charlotte Moss’s Winter House. I would definitely buy it!

You may get another message. I tried to post, but went out.
I know that you are so excited, Tina. Love how things are coming along.
Beautiful.
Why did you have to show those beignets, lol? Look wonderful. I love New Orleans.
have a great day.
Teresa
xoxo

This is a wonderful post, I adore all of the updates. I am in love with the guest bath, the tiling is exquisite. And the fact you were able to do the laundry in those incredible reclaimed tiles is just the bee’s knees, what a coup.

The wallpaper is stunning, yellow and gray together for that room is going to be beautiful, I just know it, and the chevron herringbone flooring is some of the prettiest I have seen.

The beignets…bliss on a plate. I took my mother to lunch last week at a restaurant that *always* serves them and does a fabulous job for a place in Michigan; they were off the menu for the summer. We were crushed.

Hope the rest of your week is as lovely as this post!
tp

Your ‘House Update’ posts are getting REALLY GOOD! πŸ™‚ What an exciting stage. Everthing looks exquisite. The reclaimed stone flooring is to die for and I can’t wait to see where you use that beautiful cut velvet fabric. Poor Teddy… I bet he somehow knows the leash is for his own good. Thanks for sharing.

Oh my hat!! My son an I were just chatting about New Orleans…and what has happened since the devistation..I do love that gray wall paper. It is so subtle and you can add so much to it. I was also the recipient of macaroons on my birthday from Laduree. they are just the best, so pretty, you feel hard pressed to sink your teeth into thwm . I always admire the colours! Your home is looking gorgeous and looking forward to that room you want to send me when you find it!
Veronica
http://www.tasselsandtwigs.blogspot.com

Once again I am amazed at all of the beautiful finishes you have chosen – I don’t know how you could have made all of those decisions – I’m very impressed and it is coming together beautifully! πŸ™‚

Tina, wow….each update outdoes the previous….you must be in HEAVEN. Love the wallpaper for the powder room….I look forward to these updates and it is fun to start seeing your decorating decisions too! And sorry about that photo issue on my blog….my web guy is completely stumped as am I. I use Safari on a mac too and we cannot replicate the problem. So frustrating!

What an exquisite post! I hardly know where to start with it…the house is a beauty. I can see it shining through all the constructionn phases and know how very wonderful it will be to have it done. Do you have a completion date in mind yet? I’ll bet you just can’t wait!!!

Love New Orleans too~although I haven’t been there in years. It’s a world unto itself, isn’t it?

Pretty darned good post for just “pulling it together”-;>) xo Diana

Tina darling! WOWOW…woman, where are you going to live? What town is this? OMG We added on to our home and I am loving my little castle, but YOUR HOME IS A MANOR! I am so happy for YOU!!! THIS IS SPLENDID MY FRIEND! I need to put you on my blog list so I can follow the progress and I want to thank you for being faithful to come visit me. It is so hard because there are so many fabulous blogs to follow! But I so appreciate someone who comes regularly, and besides, I like you! AND TEDDY! teeeheeee…he is darling.

Thank you for referring my post to a friend! Oh, let her stay in Provence so you can INDEED go visit her! THEN YOU won’t want to come back…but I don’t know, that house of yours is looking pretty heavenly! THOSE ARCHES DOORWAYS…I would want to play all day…I am having fun in my home too.

THANKS AGAIN and off I go to put you on my blog list…Cheers! Anita

Tina,

Home updates are looking really really fantastic. Breakfast room, kitchen beams, reclaimed floor for laundry room, library flooring chevron herringbone in white oak, plumbing in guest bath, and the beams for the family room.

Master bedroom wallpaper is really yummy in a regal and historic way and the color creates a modern vibe. Love the thought of an all cream bed for sure!

Stain for breakfast room helps when thes stain coordinates with the outside especially when you have big views of the outdoors and drastic color changes during the year, as in, snow and greenery. It will absorb the light and look different all year long…nice.

Love the kitchen powder room basketweave honed marble for the floor and mini brick walls so artistic!

Nice scale on the railings for the back stairs and it sure gives you added confidence in your decision when you see a mock up.

Beams in the family room are a good feel in this space and the bay window details will please you as you enjoy them for years to come.

Aww stone…love love love it for the patio! My sweet Teddy…Aunt Bette will sit with you. He’s is just so cute and really has the best calm disposition yet still very interested in the activities. Huge hugs for him.

Landscape is loving your weather and looks filled in and growing nicely too. Love the yellow and gray wallpaper for the back powder room with this scale of print it will fill the room nicely too.

I’m in aggreement with the colorways of the Scalamandre Falk Manor House velvet fabric: Those pillows are really nice too.
~ Jackie Blue on Ivory
~ Shrimp on Ivory
~ Taupe on Ivory
I could see a wonderfully tailored man’s vest for a formal occasion in the rust on copper of this velvet fabric also.

I’m familiar with the sangria recipe and just added to my iPhone list of recipes to remind myself when I party plan for summer occasions. Great hostess gift those macaroons thanks for the tip. Farrow & Ball candles…who knew! New Orleans…never been…some day.

This was really fun Thanks for posting so many goodies…harder to resist all the fun stuff in the land of creativity and endless possibilities!!

Bette

Oh. My. Someone has to live like this, and I am glad it is you!! I have to say you always leave the nicest comments that make me feel so great~you have an excitement that comes through your words whether it is a post, an email or a comment. So thankyou! Now back to your house!!!! I just can’t believe my eyes on how wonderful everything is, and you don’t have to worry about making the wrong choice, because everything seems perfect so far. Even your Teddy is perfect! So I will test out your Sangria recipe, and hope it is as perfect as everything else Tina!

Love coming here Friday morning (Australia time). Wonderful progress on your house! Your herringbone floor reminds me of our last house. We used French Oak (imported from France to Australia) with a soldier border and it was stunning. I love your wallpaper choices too!

The basketweave marble mosaics in the bathroom set my heart racing the first time I saw them on your blog (over 2 months ago). I couldn’t track them down in Australia so I’ve imported them from China. The shipment arrives today and fingers crossed, I should receive them next week for our current home that is in progress. Very exciting for me!

With the staircase, have you considered wrought iron with an oak hand rail? Or are you going with timber? I can’t wait to see your final choice.

Looking forward to next week’s house update!

Your master bedroom wallpaper is a knock-out! Love all that going on at your home and am anxiously awaiting each next phase/step. Thanks for the sangria recipe. And, I’ll have to try those macaroons & the candles. Thanks for sharing.

Your. House : amazing! Teddy: Adorable!! Love the herringbone floors. The wallpaper choices are gorgeous, where did you find them? Also have you. Decided on your paint colors? I have to decide mt colors for the entire house within the next two weeks. You have made so many beautiful decisions, would you mind sharing paint/wallpaper as well? Thanks.

OMG… LOVE seeing the progress in your home! the arched doorways are amazing and i am seriously envious of all of your beams. they are aged to perfection. everything looks fantastic so far… can’t wait to see more updates!

ps… i’m sending you an email about guest posting soon!! πŸ™‚

Again, Tina, thank you for the visual updates! Can’t wait to see it all together. Your choices are classically beautiful and will stand the test of time. So nice.

That herringbone floor is making me weak in the knees. It is absolutely gorgeous. So is the laundry room floor! Watching your home come together has been so exciting. BTW, I’m in love love love with the yellow chinoiserie wallpaper. I hope you end up using it. Where is it from?

I love these house updates, and I can really see the progress you’re making. Now, about New Orleans. I don’t think anyone doesn’t like N.O., it is slowly returning to it’s former grandeur and we all have to support the city and it’s businesses to help them along. I have been so many times I cannot count and each time I come away with wonderful impressions. xx’s

Wow, wow, wow! I’m loving everything! I actually gasped at those floors – they remind me of the herringbone floors we used to have in Paris. πŸ™‚ I say yes to that wallpaper. I think it would be stunning in the powder!

You are making such progress–I love the beams for the kitchen, the yellow wallpaper for the bath and the brushed nickel fixtures in the guest bath! I also am liking the grays for your bedroom–they will be quite dramatic, and hmmm..I’m not sure how I feel about a cream bedspread–you have fabulous taste so I’m sure whatever you decide will be gorgeous, but I think a pale pink would really pop with the gray or maybe even a pale blue!

PS Yes, I was here during the 1993 blizzard, Denise, but I don’t have any memory like the one you have, of Pat’s and Ge;8&#o217ns. Your description of that is so great that I’m now picturing it almost as if it’s a memory of my own.

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