"Every house where love abides
And friendship is a guest,
Is surely home, and home sweet home
For there the heart can rest."
~ Henry Van Dyke

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

By the fireside.....

After a busy weekend, I can finally show you the end results of our work in the living room. Some work was done over Jos' vacation and was redoing the damaged walls from our leak. We did, however, have another wall redone. It has become a souvenir of our few days away in Limburg.


While we were there, we bought some handmade bricks. They are burnt in what is called a ring oven which is coal fired. It results in each brick being different. This gives an old worn effect.

For Jos and I, the woodstove is an important part of our living room. We love to sit by its warmth on a cold day. This Norwegian woodstove has moved with us from our previous house to here. For years, we have had this wall painted in ox blood red which I always loved. But I really liked the idea of having a real fireplace built around the woodstove. Jos however did not want a fireplace so this was a way to compromise. The color of the wall had to be changed to compliment and bring out the bricks. We are really happy with the results. It has given our living room a much more cozy farmhouse look. And yes, I dream of a farmhouse...

We took our picture rail and sawed it into 4 pieces. It has now created pictures ledges which gives me the chance to keep changing my samplers on the wall. It will be wonderful come Christmas when I bring out all my framed Santa postcards.

"Don't you stay home of evenings? Don't you love a cushioned in a corner, by the fireside, with your slippers on your feet?"

~ Oliver Wendell Holmes


My Turks turban squash come out beautifully against the brick. If you enlarge this photo, you can get a better idea of how the brick looks. Please excuse the dusty woodstove. I had not realized until I used the photo that I had forgotten to clean it. It's clean now! *grins*

So I sit here in my cozy living room on a Tuesday morning, stitching in hand, longing for next week when we can once again build a fire. The grout will have to have a week to harden. But for now I am enjoying seeing the work done. Bring on the cold winter days.....

17 comments:

Elizabethd said...

I can imagine you sitting in your cosy room. It looks very attractive, calm and elegant.

Anonymous said...

wow Heidi wat zijn jullie weer druk geweest maar wat ziet het er geweldig uit. Complimenten voor Jos. Had ik ook maar zo'n handige man :)
Groetjes Elly

Tracy said...

Oh, so cozy there, Heidi! I just love these crisp evening with a fire going...we're just started using our fireplace too. :o) Happy Day ((HUGS))

Roberta said...

Hi Heidi, love the brick wall behind the stove, so quaint and charming the whole area looks.

In a previous post you asked what one likes about October - well to me it is the color of nature and the coolness in the air. The leaves are falling here in Georgia and we have the window open and the air cond. off!!

I am finally able to get back to my blog reading which Ihave been away from for several month.

Will pop in often - take care my friend.

Roberta

Nancy said...

Ok, my mini computer jumps so bad, I had a hard time seeing the pictures, but I finally did it.
I love the brick wall. You did a great job of choosing the brick and the cut rail now looks so good on each side. Great job you guys. I can't wait to sit in the room with you and knit. Have to wait for now, stupid treatments.
Love you both,
Mom

Tammy said...

Beautiful Heidi, what a great idea using a "ledge" for your pictures...I'm thinking I will share that idea with my hubby, I just know he would prefer that to all the holes in the walls ;-)
We have had our wood burner going also....just love it and the kitties do too!

angelasweby said...

Heidi, your new wall makes the whole room look totally different. It seems much more open and spacious somehow. I love the new look and can imagine some very warm and cosy evenings. Your stove has so much character and plays a huge part in the decoration of your room. I love the new version picture rails too, so much more versatile. A great new look altogether :>)
Hugs Angela

Fluitenkruid said...

Zo'n lekker knapperend haardvuurtje maakt het echt heel gezellig. Leuk aangekleed ook.En een handige partner is echt goud waard.
groetjes Jannet

Kaaren said...

Everything looks so comfortable and inviting, Heidi. Is there anything more peaceful than sitting by a fire on a cold day?

Makes me want to light a fire right now!

Rhondi said...

Hi Heidi
I love the look of the brick. It has a rustic but warm look to it. I know you'll enjoy many cosy evenings with the fire going.
Hugs, Rhondi

Saskia said...

O, that looks nice! It makes the room bigger, or not? and I like what you did with the fireplace.
Was that the news??
or is there something else that you want to tell me?..

Blessed With Four said...

luv what you have done to your living room, it turned out very nice - well done, Heidi!!!

Ginny said...

The bricks look like they've been there for ages. I love how the room looks! Nice job.

Happy@Home said...

I can picture you sitting by the woodstove as you work on your needlework and it is a cozy picture indeed. The brick is very nice and so are the picture rails. Perfect place to showcase your beautiful work and how nice to change it for the seasons.

It was so nice to hear from you recently. I hope you are soon feeling all better.

Anonymous said...

Hi Heidie,
Indeed a woodstove is fantastic... especially this time your year (my favourite) we cannot do without :) !! So hope you will share a lot of cozy moments around your woodstove !! By the way i am working on a new collection of autumn-deco for a sale at my house again. I enjoyed it so much last year so i thought i would do it again :))!
Groetejs, Janneke.

hazel c UK said...

Hi Heidi, I simply love the brick wall and can imagine it in your room, I bet it is nice and cosy, weather is turning colder here in the UK. I was proud to see my sampler on your wall.
Keep well,
Love Hazel

Terri said...

Your livingroom looks so nice, Heidi!

I miss a wood stove. We have a coal stove and a pellet stove here. I would love to convert the pellet stove back to a wood fireplace.