Guess What I Bought......

This Victorian Settee!!

Hubby and I went antiquing over the Memorial Day weekend and found this lovely in an out of the way antique mall. Much to my surprise, it was on SALE (one of my favorite words)! I put on the please-please-I’ll-eat-all-my-broccoli face to hubby and he said “OK, we’ll go get the truck”

I must say, in all honesty, that I have wanted one of these for over 30 years. They have been either the cost of my first born child or in less than repairable condition.

Now, the dilemma…..where to put it??? Anyone who buys something new for their home either has a spot already picked or has to remodel the entire house to accommodate that “find” that they can’t live without. My problem was the latter.

I decided that the parlor, which had been done in a maritime theme because Hubby is retired Navy, needed a change. Soooooo...............out with the Eastlake Parlor set, out with the models of boats and ships, out with the big boat wheel, out with the maritime oil paintings and nets and buoys and IN with the new settee.

We aren’t done with this room yet. I need a new carpet in a lighter color. I need to put up the crown molding and paint some kind of a border on the ceiling. I’ll need to make new draperies in several layers. We’ll need to put shelves in the old window opening to make a book case. Hubby will need to move the wiring box to the center of the room, get a medallion and hang the new crystal chandelier.

I only need one more thing: A center table befitting a room of this splendor. And, I’ll probably be hunting another 30 years for that!

This is the antique pump organ I purchased at an estate sale for $100.00. It's solid walnut.

I always have a bouquet drying on the fireplace. This one is roses from Mother's Day. Hey, there's Fraidy Cat!!

Need a bigger mirror over the mantle.....
Here's where the built-in bookcase goes.......
The door to the front foyer......

And look in the doorway at how thick our walls are. Almost 20"!! That all needs trim.
Thanks for joining me on a little tour of our 1848 home's front parlor. Stay tuned for the improvements to complete it.