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You have a lovely home.

I just wanted to chime in about your artwork. It's lovely. Would you mind sharing the history of your pieces?

Thanks.

I just began viewing your beautiful home when I had to stop and ask you about your breakfront. Is it made by Henkel-Harris (Virginia Galleries?) If so, I had the same one (unfortunately lost in Katrina) - I love that piece. Now, "back to the show...."

Just beautiful.

Jan

It's just beautiful.

Jan

Looks great. Thanks for sharing your photo's.

Your home looks wonderful. My favorite thing is the monkey on the bed in guest room 1. Goes with the theme.

Lovely! I truly enjoyed the photo tour of your home. You have gorgeous heirloom-quality furniture pieces. I love all of your art work and how you have the pieces displayed. I loved every room. Great job on everything you and DH did.

You have a lovely home. Your efforts show - and what a nice change once the wallpaper was gone!

Thank you all for your compliments. When one is so close to an effort, the opinions of others reinforce a result. I am still hopeful someone will guide me about the possibility of Plantation Shutters in the LR and if the DR should be similarly treated. And, Im curious about chairs to flank the LR windows should they match or be different.

flowermum: Our artwork little history to share. A majority of ours is nature themed. Not by design, just happened. We have purchased from furniture stores, galleries, auctions and art shows even on a cruise ship - for at least 30 years. When we see something which fits our interests and if we can display it, then we do. At least one is from Bombay Company. Some are oils, some watercolors and others are inexpensive prints which we have framed. A tapestry in the LR is quite old and came from DHs great grandparents. It is woven using partially metal thread, with an interesting perspective - its location allows it to be best viewed from the second floor bridge. The only collectible framed pieces would be the large oil in the LR and the Benfield original above the clock in the Foyer. I use to move art around frequently but believe pieces have found their home. And DH does not like holes in the walls. Perhaps our favorite piece is the bronze in the LR niche. It is by Mark Hopkins and entitled Mountain Overlook. It is so graceful.

wodka: No, the breakfront is from Fancher. So sorry about your losses from Katrina. Have you rebuilt, or relocated?

As far as the plantation shutters, I think they'd look great for your somewhat sparse DR windows, although if you added them to the DR it would be wise to follow through with the connecting LR.

As for the chairs, I don't see anything wrong with matching chairs. Since you have all pieces in the Queen Anne style, I'd probably just continue with that styling. Also, you say that the cabinet between the chairs is necessary, but could you perhaps move it against the wall between the window and the sofa and place the smaller table between the chairs? This is just a thought because I can't truly realize the scale of your pieces from photos.

Again, your home is truly lovely. My favorite art piece is the framed tapestry. How interesting that it is an antique family treasure.

fnmroberts, thanks for your concern. We are moving forward, are in a new home, away from the water.

You would not believe the similarities of our breakfronts. I even googled to see if Henkel-Harris and Fancher were related, but no such luck. I wish I still had a picture of mine on the computer that I could send you. Even the small details are the same. We purchased ours when we were newlyweds, back in 1972 or so. It really was a beautiful piece, just like yours.

I'm a fan of plantation shutters and think they would add to the beauty of your gorgeous home.

Lovely home! Looks so different with such nice, warm colors instead of the white walls that were there before.

How do you keep a "wet edge" when painting such tall walls? We, too, have a 2-story foyer and great room, and I just can't imagine painting it, although I'd love too. I also love how you used paintings high up on your walls. We haven't been that brave :-)

Where did you get those 2 paintings/prints you have on an upper wall as seen from your 2nd story bridge? They look like angels w/ musical instruments?

Thanks for sharing.....you did an excellent job.
Tracey

amcofar/wodka: Appreciate your input about the plantation shutters. I do have bronze panels on order for the dining room. The windows won't look so barren when they arrive. DH is the one suggesting shutters and I guess they will look fine but somehow I am concerned having them in both rooms but know they won't be right in only one of them.

amcofar: The server cabinet in the LR window is 16" wider than the cabinet pictured between the window and sofa. I did try it but it looked crowded, and a chair really restricts access.

Appreciate your thoughts about matching chairs. I've looked at some with open, black distressed arms and legs, upholstered backs and seats (linked below). I may give in and order them. By the time they arrive the room might already look dated LOL.

tracey_b: I thought I might miss the wallpaper - even considered repapering the same walls - but glad I didn't.

We purchased the paintings of the angels in Miami several years ago. Was a Cuban artist. We thought a "stained glass" effect in that high space might be interesting. The artists' name may be on the back but I have no way to remove to them to check. DH used scaffolding to hang them - very heavy.

As to the wet edge, DH isn't traditional. He cuts the corners and ceiling either first or last. He began rolling at the top and reached down but did not fully cover at his end point. Then he was able to work from the floor using an extension overpainting the partially covered area and working to the bottom. His edge was no longer wet when this happened. Everything is 2 coated and there is no indication of this break. He was using a scaffolding to work at the top of the foyer. He also has a Little Giant type of ladder he purchased for this project.

Thank you again to everyone for your comments and questions.

Gorgeous and warm! Your secretary is to die for!