Oh So Moving

 Doesn't everyone want to write a moving post?

"Why, of course," you're probably saying.
But I'm sure this isn't the kind of
 moving post you're thinking of {lol}!

If you're a reader of my blog,
you know I'm in the process of moving.
Let me put it this way ...
I'll soon BE in the process of moving
{as in the week of June 25-30} after some

much-needed projects are completed FIRST!
For the last four weeks,
since we purchased a lovely historical {1877}
Italianate home on a waterfront lot,
life has been c-r-a-z-y busy!
I've either been in the studio
or at the house working on projects,
then back in the studio,
then back at the house working on projects ...
well, you get the drift.

If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram,
you've seen some of the photos.
If not ... here's a quick review.

First, we toasted with our friends on the wrap-around porch
on the day of the purchase ...


Oh, did I mention the lot is lovely?  I envision lots of relaxing
weekends reading books under shady trees someday soon ...


I could look at the sparkles on the water all day, I think ...
I literally have to pull myself away to
complete the house projects ...




I soooooo wanted to join the kids next door
and fly through the air on the rope swing over the water ...
(I also sometimes want to run after the ice cream truck,
but that's another story) ...


If this sounds like paradise, it is.
{If you overlook the ten or so flower gardens that
have weeds growing in them, but I digress.}
I'll get around to pulling those ... someday soon.

But first, let me tell you a little story about a house with
 Good Bones.
In that story, Chapter One is called
 "Vision."
As in ... you have to have it when buying a
historical home.

The story begins when a starry-eyed couple
{I've always wanted to be the heroine in a novel}
fell in love with a home with attributes such as ...
these TALL doors ...


That little latch on the left door rings the doorbell
when pressed down (I die).
{These doors will eventually be a glossy black}
In fact, I quite love the lacquer finish
of  No. 10 Downing Street,
what do you think?


Back to falling in love ...
then we fell in love with, yes,
the wrap-around porch and
the oh-so-charming side porch
perfect for two swings facing each other.
{Can't wait to purchase sleek black porch swings.}
My heart beat faster as I looked up at 10' tall ceilings.
And at two very tall dramatic archways between main rooms
on the first floor.
Okay, yes, there were some things
 I DIDN'T LOVE.
But in this Chapter, called "Vision,"
you have to overlook those things.

Let's move on to Chapter Two.
It's called
"YUCK."


In this chapter, the starry-eyed couple
realize the taupe walls in the living and dining room
are actually ...PAINTED-OVER GRASSCLOTH WALLPAPER.
Not that grasscloth is bad.
It's just that I didn't want SOMEBODY ELSE'S
 painted-over grasscloth wallpaper.

SO ...
after the purchase papers were signed and champagne drank,
I twisted my hair up and armed myself with
 a vinegar/hot water solution in a spray bottle
like the brave girl I'm not ...
{I hate chemicals, so I opted for a natural way}.
And, yes, that IS left-over wallpaper backing
 stuck on the plaster walls of my
 future breakfast room below.
Which, I must say, took MUCH more elbow grease
than the actual removal of the paper
(my elbows are really very tired and so need a vacay) .
To the right of the window you see below,
there is a door that leads to the side porch
and then another duplicate window to the right of that door ...


Oh, yes, I almost forgot ...
all of the doors throughout the house will be painted a glossy black,
rather like the doors on the cover of Jonathan Adler's book,
Happy Chic Colors ...
oh, and the doorknobs on the black doors throughout will be crystal
{rather like sparkly cocktail rings, don't you think?}


Okay, so currently, all signs of wallpaper are GONE.
And the plaster that wasn't perfect in the dining and breakfast rooms
has been perfected by my wonderful husband.

But, like all good adventures, it doesn't stop there.
The second YUCK was the ugly carpet
that adorned the living and dining rooms.
It was fairly new, but ... well.
Need I say more?

Never fear ... it was removed post haste.
Much to our chagrin, however,
 we then discovered another YUCK.
The floor under said carpet
 wasn't the beautiful hardwood
that we were hoping for.
Oh, it was hardwood alright ...
but, let's just say we'll call it our
 SUBfloor
to lay new chocolate hardwood down on.
Hardwood ordered? Check.
To be installed this week ... hopefully.

Oh ... did I mention ...
the living room had some oh-so-1950's-like
 pickled knotty pine panelling on the walls?
No lie ... I absolutely promise.
I crossed my arms and said it had to GO GO GO.
 And when it went {via my very handy husband}
we then discovered the plaster under the
now-gone pine panelling was ... well,
not so pretty like the walls under the grasscloth were.
So ... husband is now in the process of drywalling the living room.
{Did I mention he's VERY handy?}

So, you see why this is a 

"Moving" Post.
Did I bring you to tears?
I hope not ... it will be fabulous!
I'll share more photos later
as various projects are completed ...
and it will be truly delightful when all the "tweaks"
are made to the things marring the vision ...
{did I mention gutting the kitchen will be involved
after we're in? Ohhhh yes, indeedy.}

Because of the closeness of the move,
I'm forced to say au revoir for a short few weeks, darlings ...
so that I can pack some boxes and
get ready for the big day ...
I'll be back in July after
we're all moved in and my new studio is set up ...
and internet is ordered ...
and coffee and a croissant are on my desk.
And pink tulips.
I'll let you know when I'm back
on Twitter and Facebook.
I'll still be tweeting and instagramming and facebooking,
of COURSE ...
just won't be blogging for a few weeks.

Sooooooo ...


This blog is written by
artist and illustrator and founder of
Ooh La Frou Frou
Sandy M

For custom illustration,
drop Sandy a line here.

All photos of the home and yard 

were taken by Sandy M.
The source of the photo
of the girl with heart sunglasses is
from photo files and is unknown.
No. 10 Downing Street door
via google.