@jill302

Thank you!

@dedtred

I don't think I want two shorter ones. I just happened to walk into Goodwill last week and there was the drum calling my name. They only had one, so that is all I have.

@jilly

You are giving me just half an ounce of hope that the shorter one might work. ;-)

I think I might be able to make the shorter one and try it out, then add to it if I think longer might be better.

Friday, I absolutely think it can work! And look great. We’ve seen the awesomeness you create!

@Jilly,

Ok. Now I am at .75oz of hope. ;-)

😂

@Jiilly,

BTW since you were following along with my other post, I didn't update that thread but I purchased these curtains because I like how they looked in the second photo, supplied by a purchaser. I was initially unsure of the color in the ad, the first photo. Plus they were on sale. It is my first Wayfair purchase so we shall see. They might be returned.

I like them! I’ve never ordered from Wayfair, either, hope you love them.

ETA: Oops, I did, sort of — I ordered fabric from Perigold. Great fabric, great experience. They made a mistake and quickly corrected it.

Can you do a mockup with just the one tall panel and the drum.

@localeater

Here it is.

I really like that.

I kind of like that too, and I am almost done with the first panel. All I just need is a couple of more hours of work and the first panel will be finished.

I also like one panel with drum. It looks like you have more room on the side by the couch. Maybe swith the panel and drum?

Obviously the panel is unfinished and I will add legs.

I would get the one panel in place and see how it feels. It’s going to be different in real life, but it feels more sculptural with a single panel. With two panels it felt architectural, which made it feel like it should be symmetrical. Cant wait to see the finished panel you are so creative and talented.

As someone who loves light from windows and eschews window treatments, I would probably try to find carvings that would be placed horizontally under the windows rather than coveing two of the windows.

@localeater

I agree, it looks more like art to have just one.

@cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)

The entire window on the left is completely obstructed by my neighbors house. You can see the brick in my photo. I can open the window and touch it. On the right, half the window is obstructed. Imo both of the windows are useless.


There was a post about a year ago on the other side discussing why builders do this . I live in an urban area. It does not seem to matter the neighborhood or price point, many houses in my area have useless windows.

I’m really loving the single panel, I came back to ogle it again. When if you do something for the other side, IMO, it should be different. What you have created is beautiful, and stands alone.

@localeater

Thank you. I was thinking of maybe trying to make something out of leather for the other side. I need to come up with some ideas. My curtains are scheduled to be delivered tomorrow. Perhaps they will help provide some inspiration.

The one panel your showing is awesome! Such a pretty room! I see your point about the view out the window...yep...city living can have it's drawbacks.

Hope you post more pics. Love seeing what your doing.

Nicole

Thanks! Yes, city living with the window situation is no good. The window behind my kitchen sink overlooks the weeds under my neighbor's deck. I covered the entire window with a mirror so I won't have to see weeds every day. I love the mirror.

I like that if you have a "problem" you handle it. Make it work! Love your style!

Funny you mention leather, I was also thinking textural as a good counterpoint. My mind was playing with knots, and colorful fabric, and fiber. Leather sounds yummy. Have fun!

I love the look of the single panel with the djembe on the other side. It's intentional, interesting, and very artistic.

@ida claire

Thank you. One panel makes life so much easier. I am going to try and get that one panel finished tomorrow. Then I will try to figure something out with leather.

@localeater, I have never worked with leather but a few weeks ago I purchased some leather working tools after watching a few YT videos. I convinced myself that I could make a bag. ;-) Perhaps this will be practice for the bag.

I've kept coming back to see what people are saying about the choices, but haven't commented until now. I think the panel is gorgeous, but I find it really detracts from the stunning portrait above the fireplace. Somehow the impact of the art seems diminished by having such a bold piece next to it.
Sounds like you're happy with the placement, but wonder if there is another place in the room where it could shine? My eyes go to the right of the right side window where there are 3 pieces stacked and wonder how one panel would look there?

YOU CAN DO IT! smile I've worked leather. Tooled it and sewed it on my home sewing machine.

@olychick

The portrait above the fireplace looks as if it stands out because of the angle of the shot I posted. If it were a stand alone piece, it would dominate the space but there are larger and more colorful pieces that draw the eye when you look around the room. So I don't think it really matters if the panel takes away from that particular piece.

@nicole,

I have been thinking of pulling out my sewing machine and trying it on leather. I read the best way to stitch leather is by hand but I don't need the best for what I am trying to achieve. I purchased a purse years ago on Etsy. I paid about $300 for it and the seller was in Europe. I like nearly all of her designs on camera. In person, the bag did not live up to the hype I had in my mind. After that experience, I am certain that I could do just as well, at minimum. Her designs are just awesome though imo. I was looking at her page recently and drooling over a bag. Then I decided to look around the internet to see if I could find other views of the same purse. Someone was selling one on Poshmark. OMG it looked NOTHING like the photos on Etsy...

Here is the version on Etsy

And the same bag on Poshmark. Lol

Just lately I got a FREE Bernhardt loveseat with a BIG hole in the leather seat....the other side was like suede from the dog paws, where he stood to dig. :0) $80 for a whole hide! Tandy's Leather is local. I had enough to upholster the ottoman too! I used my sewing machine, even piped the seams.

MY upholstery projects · More Info

I purchased a piece of tribal fabric, to make a purse with a leather bottom....but...don't have the time right now. Tandy's would have the rivets too....

I just recently saw an article about a woman ho takes old, worn out , leather sofas and makes handbags out of them.

What a great buy! FREE! I can't even see the hom.

My phone won't allow me to delete typos. Drives me nuts...

OK...so truth be told...I picked up the sofa with the intent of using the leather on the back of it to upholster my breakfast bar seats. Hubby and I are carrying it out...and he says to me..."you know THIS is Bernhardt, right?" ....uh nooooooooooooo......so I have a thang for high end leather...and couldn't just cut it up....😂 So my "loft" is now furnished with "free" things. I answered a CL add for a free bookcase....turned out to be kind of cool looking.....then @ Goodwill I found 2 Bernhardt chairs....

I mentioned on a different thread that you need to start a business. Do it!

You can paint like a pro...me...just lucky at finding things. 😂 I have enough scrap leather left over to make THIS bag...Link

Thanks, Nicole. You shop like a pro!

Thanks! I'm just trying to encourage you to let your creative spirit loose! I'm very enthusiastic to find another soul that wants to "let loose"!!!!! None of us wants "clients"! 😂 My worst nightmare...trying to please someone else!

I think this room looks perfect. I may have missed something, but in this mock up is the piece on the far right the second one you were thinking of making? I would put the one you are almost finished with in that spot and call it a day. Maybe move some of the small pieces that were in that spot over above the paintings on the far left of your window wall.

The windows, even without a view, provide much needed light! I think anything in front of them would look like you were in the midst of moving.

@Nicole

I think encouragement is good for both of us! Thanks.

@mtnrdredux

I did the mockup above just to show you what it would look like in that corner because you mentioned it being in that spot. There are two other windows in this room. It is actually filled with light.

I did work on the panel a bit more this morning. I need to put a few more figures on but for the most part, it is finished. I started searching around my house for something to put on the right side. What do you think of this configuration? This is what the room currently looks like. Maybe I will paint the candles bright red.

I sort of like this more but would need to come up with a statue.

Also, I am thinking about my bifold doors. I want them to be bold and colorful. Should I keep them this color or do you think I should change to something different? If I change the color of the bifold doors, I might also change the orange painting. Just for orientation, the bifold doors are facing the window on the right, the piano is facing the window on the left, and a kitchen mural is just past the hallway in the bottom photo. It faces the fireplace.

I did the mockup above just to show you what it would look like in that corner because you mentioned it being in that spot.

That must have been someone else. Anyway, still very much against the panel in front of the window.

I like the doors as is; what other color would you consider?

@mtndredux

I apologize. That was Olychic.

Some other colors I would consider are magenta, blue, red, or a more neon version of what is already there. Those are all colors that are carried throughout most of the artwork.

I think blue would be more of a change, but I think it looks nice now so really whatever sparks joy!

@ilikefriday, you may have said earlier, but what is your goal if placing the panel(s) in front of the window?

@lisaam

That wall seems a bit plain to me. The left window is completely blocked by the house next door. I can open the window and touch the brick. Urban living..... The right window is half blocked. These windows provide very little light. and are just placed in the wrong spot. That is why I have no problem covering them. I would even cover each one with two huge pieces of art so there is no indication that the windows exist from the inside of the house. I have already done that with my kitchen window. I completely covered it with a mirror. Otherwise, the view would have be weeds under my neighbor's deck. The alternative would have been blinds that are never open and therefore provided no light anyway.

Initially, I was thinking of adding curtain panels. Then @Jilly said she thought I could do better ;-) That is when I came up with this idea. This panel does not block any more of the window than a curtain panel would. I went back and forth on adding curtains to these two windows, as well as the two other windows in the room, along with the panel. That just didn't work. I have selected some curtains that should be delivered today. They will go on the other two windows.

I like craved panels, African masks, Kuba cloth, etc. I want to add a more ethnic vibe. I wanted the panel to mimic a Dogon door. If you are unfamiliar with Dogon doors, they are intricately carved wooden doors. Each carving on the door represents something important to the community. They commonly contain carvings of snakes, round mounds, turtles, people dancing, etc. Many of them are huge. Here is an example of one. I was trying to make my version of something similar to place in the room.

OMG that was long winded.

_________________TLDR version_______________

It all came about as an alternative to curtains on those two windows.

Following

I hung the curtains.

I just replied to your other thread thinking it was this one. 😄

No worries. I saw your reply. Houzz is so slow sometimes. That is why I decided to start this second post. It was not this slow a few years ago.

👍👍 on the curtains.

I"ve been away so missed the last number of comments - I like the mock up that localeater asked you to do with one carving on one side and the drum on the other - it's actually balanced by the three stacked pictures on the other side of the window.

I like to lurk on this forum but rarely comment. But I just had to say that I love love love your style and the panel you made is amazing!

I love your paintings and all the interesting and cool pieces you have collected.

I was drawn to the arrangement with the large chunky candle holders on the right.

I agree with you on adding color, so I tried painting the candles a brighter orange which I grabbed from the painting of the beautiful women. I also tried moving the two tiny paintings over to the right side just because it seemed like the left side was feeling slightly heavy and thought it might help balance out the assymetry a little more?

Thanks for the comments. @rebunky, @blfenton, @pat1250

I woke up this morning with the idea of removing the two short candlesticks and trying to make a red statue out of the tallest one. If that turns out then I might turn the other two candlesticks into statues as well. As you can see, the tallest one is in progress. This is my inspiration.

@rebunky

I tried actually painting those candles a brighter red. I want more of a punch though. I agree that the mantel is more balanced with the two small paintings on the right but the painting of the woman sort of looks like she is looking at whoever is on the sofa. That spot usually belongs to my dh. That man on the sofa is not my dh, he is clip art. It sort of amuses me that she is checking him out. The two small pieces to the left of her make me think of her looking at those two over her shoulder. That cracks me up.