dalma darling I'm inspired!! Thank you so much for the great article. I have a vintage high chair that I'm painting for my little darling and have been hesitant to start for some reason. Your tutorial has given me the confidence to go for it.

renochickee I too, don't like the idea of painting beautiful old wood pieces but anything mass-produced since the 50's is fair game. Those particular chairsare probably just crappy, fruitwood or pecan-finished with the phony worm-hole markings and such or that faux French-provincial look that was popular when my Mom bought her set. You know when they bought everything all matchy-matchy chairs/table/buffet and hutch.

renochickee When you consider your landscaping please bear in mind proportion--a dinky little bed next to the house and running parallel with the exterior walls will look silly. You do need something with height against that expansive portion of the brick wall but I would choose a fastigiata type evergreen, like a cephalotaxus harringtonianum rather than espaliering a bush or vine so that you have winter interest. Your beds should project at least 1/3 the height of the wall out and then layer your foundation plantings (either deciduous or coniferous evergreens) so that you have an undulating flow from higher to lower plant material. Rather than a fountain in the round-about why not choose a grouping of stunning smaller trees and shrubs that play off each other in terms of shape and colour. If the front of the house looks to the setting sun an acer like a coral bark or an acer griseum will look spectacular back-lit summer or winter when you look out from the house. A fountain is OK but it's so predictable when you can paint a scene with foliage and interesting bark and tree forms and a few well-chosen rocks. Even a large and imposing house like yours can improve immensely in appearance if it looks well-grounded and comfortably nestled into a beautiful landscape.

Helga Simmons Interior Design LLC I agree with Patti.

mugsy1703 The home is beautiful and has a lot of potential but it is very underwhelming right now. It needs more architectural detail. I would add trim around the windows (not shutters) and make the entrance more grand. Right now, the door seems hidden. The driveway is cool ... but needs to be defined with brick or stonework. I agree that a fountain is a must in the middle of the circular drive. I have attached a picture for inspiration.