So, what’s that expression?
How does it go?
Oh…” the best- laid plans of mice and men, often go awry.”
(Adapted from a line in “To a Mouse,” by Robert Burns.)
Simply put, the translation states that “No matter how carefully a project is planned, something may still go wrong with it.”
It seems my plans have “gone awry” for the time being.
I’ve chosen my dining room wallpaper, actually quite a while ago, and I was hoping to have it finished before Christmas of 2022. That did not happen.
Since the very first day when I saw this brick home, with its arched windows and large columns holding the porch roof high, I thought it had a sense of “the South” to it!
So, as I stepped inside, thinking, “I want new double front doors, to accent the windows’ arch above,”” already “changing” what I didn’t like and knew it was possible to do so.
To my right, was the formal dining room, open to the living room, hallway and entry on two sides, bordered by ornate, white crown moulding and millwork around the wide, open doorways. It wasn’t grand in scale but could certainly make a “grand” statement with color or wallpaper and millwork. It was large enough for a buffet or hutch, and a table to seat 8 or more people, which is perfect for us!
I noticed that the ceilings were quite high, “ten feet”, said the Realtor, which I believed it when I saw the stretch between the standard height chair rail and the crown moulding above. Tilting my head up to the ceiling, I decided to “flip” the proportions, by raising the chair rail and adding a board and batten look, or moulded picture frame blocks under the chair rail.
I knew I’d wallpaper the entire room, and this would decrease the amount of paper needed. When I chose my paper, it was so costly, that I was even more determined to use less of it, with more wood trim below. The ratio would be 1/3 paper, chair rail, 2/3 wood, down to the floor.
I asked my cousin, who is a professional Master Finish Carpenter, if we could remove the chair rail, and still use it. I simply wanted to raise it.
Well…he thought about it.
NO.
Followed by, “if it’s an MDF, we could probably save most of it, if it’s manufactured, it will break in pieces and pull your drywall off with it, so, we can try, but it’ll be expensive.”
“We’d have to replace the drywall and all or most of your trim, before we add more.”
I looked at my pretty trim and changed my plans…
It’s hard for me to say that friends, I’m rarely willing to “give up” on a plan, because I get so excited…I can SEE IT as a finished project, and that just spurs me on!
Here’s a happy note: I bought the new chandelier and chose the drapes to order!! The chandelier is sitting with me in my office, watching over my shoulder, probably wondering when she’ll be out of the box, and the star of the show!
I promise to keep you all posted, if you’re interested. I’m so tempted to pull off a piece, just to see if I can…can you imagine the mess, if I can’t?
I have to wait.
I have to “do it” right.
And I’ll take you along, sharing the process and progress as I go.
I think you’ll love it, at least I hope you do!
I. Can’t. Wait!!!
Stay close, and I’ll keep you posted on updates,
xx,
