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Tuesday, August 2, 2011

East Room Revisited

I pass by the East bedroom every morning.  As a guest bedroom it is spacious and comfortable.  Decorated with some personal items from the previous owners.

Above is the entrance to the East bedroom (from the hallway, I'm currently working on).
The entire house has same woodwork style--a sawtooth crown with a spoon carved daisy.

Let's go in, and take a look.

A walnut dressing table holds some vintage and antique items.  A statue of Chattelaine found in an second-hand bookstore caught my attention.  I walked by her for three years.  I asked about purchasing her over the years but she was not for sale. 

If you ask, sometimes you receive.  I must have asked about the statue at least 10 times.  The last time, the clerk felt motivated to call the owner about my request offer.  She shows a bit of attitude--that must be why I like her.


Toile fabric for sewing the drapes and pillow shams.

Cheap and Free
Good Bargains

I purchased the comforter at a second hand store for $25.

Then I found a bolt of the same fabric at Hancock, $6 per yard
and made the drapes and pillow shams.

The Cream and Black Toile comforter was the jumping off point for decorating the East bedroom.
I selected a dark charcoal wall color, and painted woodwork in cream.

Things I love about this room:
The winter white antique bedspread from St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Shope - $49 barely covers pale yellow sheets.   Grandma Eva's hall phone still has her number imprinted on the dial, Dickens 35-123.  The scalloped bedside table $10

Detail of the antique bedspread


Another thrift shop find--an antique foot rest.  For me, a short person hopping up on to a tall mattress, the foot rest is THE BEST.  I didn't recover it, even though the ivory fabric is stained. 
I like it stained.  I appreciate its function. 

The sleigh bed sits on a large off-white area rug over an expresso painted floor.

On another treasure hunt, I found a pair of old lamp shades in such ragged shape, I forgot about photographing them before ripping off the tattered stained remains of what used to be ivory satin.

Using left over drapery fabric, I covered one of the shades in linen, a cream and black toile.
It took forever to hand sew this shade.  And truth be told, I covered it first in white brocade and didn't like it--and tore it off, to start all over again with the toile. 

I always have good collaboration with Hancock Fabrics employees, and they helped me pick out two layers of fancy black trim.  We get serious when we get down to the details. 

You know, I had nice toys when I was a kid.
BUT, now I have awesome toys at age 60!


 My friend Kathy and I found a little whole in the wall shop during one of our weekend treasure hunts. 

In a corner sat this dusty vintage lamp base.  And the lamp base said to me, "come here, we need to talk."

The price was $25.  I almost didn't buy it because $25 is twice what I usually pay. 

Then I rubbed my hand over the high relief design on the glass base.  Yup, gotta have this one. 

Washing it up, adding missing crystals--its just a fabulous piece.  That's why I fussed over it, pairing it with just the right shade, fabric, and trim.

Check out the scroll work on the base holding the glass.

This 9' x 12' off white area rug was $99 at . . .
wait for it . . .
Fleet Farm, Stevens Point

What a shocker.  Quality on the Cheap.
Believe me, this rug has a sumptuous feel on bare feet.
A great bargain

I purchased more of those large area room rugs in different colors
at Fleet Farm for the other bedrooms.


In the corner is a rather fine looking floor lamp, purchased in a  Poi Sippi thrift shop for $35.
I'll attached some detail photos.

I love the walnut 4-drawer dresser, won at auction (holding my breath) and getting it for $100.  The drawer operates without flaw, and the finish is remarkable.


Ragnhild Bertine Quien's teacher's briefcase sits on a chair in the East bedroom (her room when she lived in our house). 

It was quite a surprise to receive an email from Laurie, owner of Reflections Antiques, questioning me about a briefcase she had acquired with intials R.B.Q.  I jumped at the chance to buy it and bring it home to Ragnhild's room. 

I found a couple of Ragnhild's handwritten letters and keep them inside her briefcase.

Above and Below are details of the floor lamp.  The base reminds me of a decorated cake.

The bridge of the lamp is way cool. 



The Smith Corona typewriter - do you have an idea what year it was manufacturered?
This Westinghouse electric fan has original paint.  The fan works great; I gave it to Jon a year ago (gift).  Someday the fan will leave the East bedroom and make its home in Jon's man cave.

Isn't it wicked how heavy the old typewriters were?

Beaded shade.  I call it a hula shade.  Is there a special name for this type of shade?


This is Ragnhild Quien's sister.  Her name is Bessie Pauline (Quien) Pasternacki.  Bessie married Leon Pasternacki a dentist, and known as the youngest mayor ever of Stevens Point, Wisconsin.
Bessie married Leon Pasternacki in 1914.

I was in a local antiques store.  The shopkeeper told me, "I believe I have a couple photographs of women who used to live in your house."  I was happy to see they were a 1906 Scandinavia Academy graduation class photo--students with their teacher Miss Ragnhild Quien,
and 
The other photo was this very lovely photo of Bessie Pauline, probably taken around 1915 after she married Leon Pasternacki.  I keep it in the East bedroom where the light is low and I can shelter and display her beautiful portrait.

15 comments:

  1. The east room...sounds like the white house! Well, it is so pretty and the bedspread is gorgeous! Love the phone with your grandmother phone #, I have a dial one..not that old in the basement with my grandparents # still on it!

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  2. Well, I'm ready to make an extended visit if I can stay in this room! I'll fix my own breakfast and do the dishes, too.

    I like your color scheme and how you've married so many wonderful pieces, and I'm sure that if there are any ghosts in the house, they're very happy ones.

    I learned to type on my grandfather's Remington, which looked like yours, though not quite as high. I'll bet yours dates back to the 1920s.

    Thanks for a great tour!

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  3. Hi Ann,

    Bring the old phone up from the basement. Blog about it! Do you remember your grandmother using her phone? Tell me more.

    Mrs. D

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  4. Hello Mark,

    Thanks for noting the typewriter is 1920s. Can you tell me more about the S written to the left of the brand name LC Smith & Corona? And can you tell me about ii written to the right of the brand name?

    Is ii the model number of the typewriter? I see on ebay, one can purchase typewriter ribbon for model 3LC Smith & Corona.

    I'd like to buy a typewriter ribbon for my old typewriter, but need more information. Got any clues?

    Mark, you are welcomed to come visit. It is so quiet here on this property you might need the old Westinghouse fan to create some "white noise" so you can sleep.

    My husband Jon laughs and tells people he wants to open up a B & B, but the catch is--the guests have to make their own Bed and Breakfast. Ha. ha. Do you think that will fly?

    The old wood cookstove in the summer kitchen still works. It is a 1915 South Bend Malleable.

    We spent a year working on the old Victorian prior to moving in and used the 1915 cookstove during the winter months.

    The old cookstove is fun to cook on, and we've baked bread in it too. You'll have fun making your breakfast on the old stove. Let me know when we can make a reservation for you and yours.

    Ghosts?
    Google--"One Haunted House; Batteries Not Included"

    Mrs. D (smiling)

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  5. Hey Linda, I'm wondering what paint you used on your floors. According to Home Depot (the lady I spoke with in the paint dept) the only option I had for my floors was to go with a gloss oil paint. She did have another option which would have needed a special primer, but it would have been flat. I literally had to pick flat or gloss. I went with the gloss, but I have a feeling I might not like it once it goes down. We'll see. The existing paint on my old t-g is oil.

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  6. Hi - Mark again. The "S" on your typewriter is actually an "8." In the 1920s, Smith Corona made the 8-11 Secretarial model, and here is a link that shows exactly what you have:

    http://www.typewriter.be/lcsmithsecretarial.htm

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  7. Youn arelucky to have such a lovely house! the tutorials are very interesting, thank you.

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  8. Mrs. D,
    Oh my gosh, words cannot express how moved I am by your lovely home! I just looked at your beautiful East Room photos and was in awe of all the lovely and meaningful items it holds. I'm not sure if I can pick a favorite, but that lamp with the toile shade is simply to die for! The phone, foot stool, typewriter, photo of Bessie... such wonderful touches. It's Saturday and you've inspired me to get out and go "treasure hunting"! Thanks so much for the posting!
    Laura

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  9. Hi Laura,

    Welcome to the old Victorian. Thanks for your kind words.

    We're having a terribly hot, humid summer here in Wisconsin. Trying to keep the lawn mowed between thunderstorms.

    Are you enjoying your summer? Where are you located?

    Mrs. D

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  10. I am just discovering your blog - great posts. I'll be back!

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  11. i do adore your east bedroom...and that saucy statue? sublime...what a lovely home you have...just discovered your blog and am enjoying nosing around...we live in a 130 year old folk victorian in a civil war town...stop by and visit if you get a chance!

    alison
    http://www.stuff-and-nonsense.net

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  12. Oh Linda,
    What a great jog you have done on your guest room. Few people can fully appreciate the amount of work involved in creating it. You are amazing.
    Anyes
    XX

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  13. What a beautiful room!! The lamps are fantastic and what a spectacular lamp shade!! it is stunning!!

    Hugs,
    Debbie

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  14. Your artist's eye has really done well, with your uncanny ability to spot treasures and arrange them in appropriate ways, using just the right colors and fabrics to pull it all together. It must be a joy waking up every day and living in that great house, with all you've done there in such a short time! :-)

    -Pam

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  15. It was great hearing from you, love the woodwork in your house! and everything else in there too

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