Sunday, February 1, 2009

A Boring Hallway to a Mini Library and Doll Display

This is the second time I am joining in the Metamorphosis Monday fun. Many thanks to Susan at http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/ for sponsoring the program. Please visit Susan and check out the others who are also participating. I am sure you will enjoy their posts.
I got a little ambitious today and I decided to join Blue Monday also so please check out Smiling Sally at http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/. Sally was very nice to invite me to join. My contribution is right after my MM post.

This used to be a boring hallway leading to the home office and a powder room to the left and to 3 guest rooms straight ahead to the right. At the end of the hall is also a built in gun cabinet but since we are not hunters, I used it to store books and other collectibles for a while. There were no shelves so I just stuck whatever I could fit at the bottom. By the way, you can enlarge any of these pics by clicking on them.

The first thing I did was move the hall cabinet into one of the guest rooms.
This hallway is wider than most hallways so I decided to convert it to a mini hall library. I painted the walls a yellowish green color and added a narrow cane settee.
My husband found two massive monkeypod columns at 50% off at an Asian import store that was closing and we installed them on either side of the doorway into the office.
I found a Greco-Roman cherub & griffin plaque from an architectural salvage company on the web and placed it above the doorway. How do you like it so far? We varnished the monkeypod lightly.
Here is the view from the family room.
I replaced the mirror with 2 bird pictures. If you click on the picture, you will see that the birds are framed in alligator and leopard skin prints, which is an ongoing theme in our family room and home office.
We had glass shelves added so I could display my doll and Lladro collections. Here are some of them. The Lladro cherub playing the flute was personally signed by one of the Lladro brothers.

and more doll and Lladro collections. The Lladro Asian girl is also personally signed by Lladro.
I hung a wooden book pedestal which I found in an antique shop.
I searched and searched on Ebay until I found a small and narrow vintage bookcase to fit in the wall between the hall entry and the column.
And this is how it looks now.A little more interesting, don't you think?
Russian Vodka Anyone?
Just as I said, I am also participating in Blue Monday, hosted by Smiling Sal at http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/ Please visit Sally's blog and check out her neat post and the others' who are showing off their blue goodies!
I bought these Russian Czar and Queen jars filled with Vodka when I visited St. Petersburg, Russia last May.
Aren't the containers pretty? They're made out of porcelain. I packed them very well and luckily, they got home without any damage or I would have cried.

Thanks Susan and Sally, for hosting Metamorphosis Monday and Blue Monday. And I would also like to thank everyone who visited.
















45 comments:

Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer said...

Love the transformation of your ordinary hall into a reading room!

And the vodka containers....OH MY...they are GORGEOUS!! Lucky you. I love them!!

Have a great Monday!

Susan

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

As usual, Christine, you have done a wonderful job of transforming your hallway into a comfortable usable space! And I LOVE your Russian Vodka Czar bottles...gorgeous! Have a good week...Debbie

Kathy said...

Wow - an incredible transformation!

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Christine, I popped over for Blue Monday, but oh, how I enjoyed seeing your transformation! And your hard work certainly paid off! :-) Those blue and white bottles are wonderful! I can see why you tried so hard to protect them. They are just so neat! Wishing you...

Happy Blue Monday!

XO,

Sheila :-)

Kathysue said...

Hi C, Your home is so lovely .What a great idea. I remember seeing this before and thinking what a great use of space.Adding the architectural pieces makes it look so grand and yet cozy at the same time. You have an amazing talent of making everything so elegant and beautiful.I could sit here all day and read,Hugs to you my friend,Kathysue

Kat said...

What a wonderful transformation! The hallway looks so warm and inviting now and I love what you did with the gun cabinet, what a great idea. All of your architectural pieces are such a great addition. Just beautiful and I love any ideas for storing more books haha. Kathy

Unknown said...

What a lovely metamorphosis! Those vodka containers are really cool.

Heidi Pocketbook said...

Enjoyed both your MM and Blue Monday posts. You have some lovely and interesting items.

Happy Blue Monday :-)

Candy said...

Oh,My! The hallways are from two different worlds. The first was just a way to get from one place to the next...but now the trip will take twice as long. One will linger,explore, or maybe just sit and look at a book. Fabulous transformation.
Love it!!! Candy

Mojo said...

Definitely an eclectic makeover! Lot of work too I suspect.
Love the "vodka bottles". Very cool!

SmilingSally said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
SmilingSally said...

I like what you've done to your hallway. I especially like the shelf that looks like a book. The blue and white containers are extra special. Thanks for sharing. Happy Blue Monday!

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Christine, your hall is just gorgeous. I love how you use old architectural pieces to give all your spaces such an elegant and custom look. Very creative. This is such a perfect mini library. The bench and lamps make a very inviting place to sit for a spell. Your dolls are beautiful and so are the Vodka jars. Great job. Hugs, Marty

Dixie said...

Good Mornin' Christine... Your entry hall is wonderful... you did a great job transforming it from a plain jane to an interesting and welcoming space! Love you Lladro. I collect a little too... my first piece was a bride and groom... what was yours? I have several friends that started with a wedding couple and then got hooked!

Your Russian Vodka Czar bottles are beautiful... so... Russia will let you buy and take vodka but not fur coats... hummmmm... ;)

hugs. Dixie

Unknown said...

Your transformation it lovely! And your collections are great!

JudyBug said...

Oh, how lucky for you to visit Russia and then come home with such treasures. I know you were thrilled to get them home in one piece!

Unknown said...

Your hall is beautiful. What a fabulous idea to have a library. So cozy.

Carrie said...

Both of your Monday entries are interesting. The mini library is a great addition to your home and the two blue and white containers are fabulous.

Susan @ The Good Life! said...

I love your house. More tours of your house please!

Anonymous said...

How nice to have a hallway large enough to actually use for more than passing through.

I've never seen vodka containers like those. Very beautiful.

Kathy b

Chari at Happy To Design said...

Mornin' Girlfriend...

What a fabulous post for "Met Monday"...you totally transformed that lovely hall! I can see that you've added a few "new" items since I first saw this project! I love that little bookcase and you're absolutely right, it's perfect for that spot!!! I think you added a new rug too...that pretty animal print rug??? Anyway, it's gorgeous Christine! Fabulous transformation!!!

Have a wonderful Monday, Sweetie...
Love ya,
Chari
PS...Love those pretty blue & white King and Queen decanters!!! Just wanted to let you know that I commented on Saturday's Sight-seeing trip.

Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria said...

Oh Christine this is just what the Doctor order (pun intended) I love the great use of space here..and girl I would sell my first born for those bottles..hugs and smiles Gl♥ria

Rechelle ~Walnuthaven Cottage~ said...

Wow what a transformation from a blah hall to a wow! hall. It doesn't even look like the same place!
Love those vodka containers. They're beautiful!

Cindy J. said...

Dear Christine you took this space to another time and place, such imagination! So elegant, creative and just Christine! Oh and I do love those vodka bottles, they are gorgeous. Love, Cindy

Anonymous said...

The hallway does look a lot more interesting now. I love your Russian Vodka containers!! So very cool in the blue and white. I'm 100% Russian so they really caught my eye :0)

Bo said...

Your home is so beautiful Christine and the hallway now seems so appropriate to the rest of your house...great job. You have a marvelous doll & Ladro collection, but I'd like to talk you out of those Russian decanters! ;-) Bo

Missy Wertz said...

Lovely blue and white jars. Happy Blue Monday!

Lisa (aka) French said...

Great transformation......You always have great ideas and love your collections;) French

Cami @ Creating Myself said...

I love, love, love, love, love those columns framing the door! Happy Met Monday!

Tootsie said...

Outstanding! I love the columns!!!!

Tomarie said...

Hi C! I could stare at your dolls all day long!...and such a beautiful transformation of the hallway! Been outta pocket for awhile..hope you're doing well my friend! :-) L~

Beth at Aunties said...

I love your hallway and that you are participating! You really turned your hall into a special place to relax and read:) I love all your treasures!

nikkicrumpet said...

What an amazing transformation. I love the bench. And the woodwork around that doorway is STUNNING! You really did a wonderful job making that hall a show piece!!!

Salmagundi said...

What a change - it is so much more welcoming and cozy now. Congrats on a great job. Sally

Nicole ~ said...

It looks great! you have so many nice things. I really like the bench in the hall.

Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...

Christine...this looks so warm, cozy and inviting. Great place to curl up with a good book on these chilly nights! Your hall/library has a totally different feel now...I LOVE it! Great idea you had adding the glass shelves...love your collections! Thanks for posting this Met Monday...loved seeing how this developed and the steps you too to change it!
:-) Susan

Glenda said...

When is a hall no longer a hall? When you let Christine loose to do her magic. Beautiful job.

I think your vodka containers are exquisite.

Jewel Sauls said...

What you did to your hall is so impressive! What a difference!!!! I love the Russian bottles also! Thanks for your nice comment on my blog! :D Jewel

Chris said...

You did a great job on that hallway!

xinex said...

Thanks Glenda! You always have something nice to say and I truly appreciate it!...Christine

Anonymous said...

I so remember when you were doing this.You really made a difference.It turned out fabulously.You really got the hang of this blog stuff FAST.I am impressed...ann

Helen said...

Hello there! Your transformation is really amazing. I was touched when I saw the little 'nun doll.' My sister had one growing up - which she still has today.
P.S. I love vodka! With a twist of lemon, on the rocks please.

lvroftiques said...

Christine you already know how much I love this transformation! It looks wonderful!! And how fabu that you have Lladros signed by the Lladros!! I don't think I've ever seen one. And those vodka containers are COOL!!!I'm lovin' the blog girl! Vanna

Terrie's Lil' Piece of Serenity said...

Christine, I love the look of your new library. You are so creative. I especially love those columns. And your new seat/bench. Everything looks fabulous!!
Hugs, Terrie

mimi23 said...

ok, now i'm really jealous...and very proud of you! your very own blog....wow...it was only a matter of time! you are so creative and i will enjoy your journey with you. i love what you did to this hallway. i see you've made some beautiful additions. great job, as usual...wouldn't expect any less from you, girl.

love ya', linda
ps
maybe i'll get brave one day and try a blog...probably not...will continue to enjoy yours :-)

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