First Lights in Ariel!

And they are in the kitchen and servant's hall.   The Victorians would be scandalized to have electric lighting in lower regions FIRST.   It is nice and bright as the dowager countess (Maggie Smith - I love her) says in Downton Abbey, "it's like opening night at the Gaiety."    This is an "overall" light which is what I wanted since I really can't afford the specialty lighting and don't want to mess with it even if I could.  I like the romance of this, I can turn on or off each room as I wish.
These are C-4 single lights and I have figured out a way to even leave room to easily change the bulbs.   The cords which for these two rooms are hanging out the side to the left, will be hidden in a downspout eventually or something similar.   I also got the flooring in the kitchen extension put in and in this lit photo, it was varnished.  The match is close enough for me although you can see the front bit is a wee bit darker than the back.

  You can see it in the raw state here and also you can see the ceiling doodad that houses the light.    I also cut the pass-through a bit wider by an inch (or one foot in mini-folks measurement).    There will possibly be a door or window on the left wall, I am pondering just how and what form it will take.



















In the servant's hall, since I cannot find more of that fine tile floor (it was a cut-out from a DHW magazine) I have put down, for now, this reddish bit of mat board and we will see what happens.  There is another door to come in this room on the right hand side somewhere, I haven't determined it's site yet.
So many delicious bits yet to finish and furnish...the copper boiler to the left of the stove being one of them.
I'm also thinking of have the coal furnace in the process of being installed in the basement.

First set of STAIRS in Ariel!

This set of stairs was worked on from Dec 22 through a couple of days ago and still needs it's 2nd coat of varnish and a few tweaks.    I got in the look at least of 2 drawers and it is enough to make me happy.

There will be a pretty elaborate floor (one my my cheater styles) and doors and maybe a fireplace in the hall.  I can't wait to hang pictures and put in the tiny details that make a house a home.

The plinth in front there needs a coat of varnish.

Things done & found

I have been busy!   I cleaned and rearranged mini-working stuff inspired by the AIM magazine articles showing artisans work spaces.   Came to light many an item I don't even remember making yet there it was.  One of those was this blue chair (from a kit).  
The push pin and pony bead glass I made six dozen of after learning, at last, how to get the pin out of pushpins cleanly and neatly.   You hold the pin over a candle flame for 8 seconds and pull it out with pliers - easy-peasy.   The glasses aren't fabulous but they will do.

The crystal ball thing is just some bits I glued together which I simply couldn't resist.   It is a curiosity and will go into someone's library or the pawn shop should I ever get that built.

The wonderful plinth with flowers comes straight from an AIM magazine project.  I am working on a second one right now.  

A demilune table

This demilune table was part of the big order I just made.  It was on sale I think and will be just right for...somewhere.    I had never heard the word demilune table in my entire half a century plus of life but now I know. 

Clearing up in Ariel

I'm doing some clearing up in Ariel prior to some serious work done on the place.
I've placed a large order with Hobby Builder's Supply and can hardly wait to get going!
Meanwhile, here are some pics of Ariel looking in areas better than it has for well nigh on a year I think.
In this picture I was glad to get the first picture hung in the parlour.   There will be a picture rail there and the hanging ribbon will eventually be very fine but for now....
And the baseboarding is on order, very, very exciting.....

 I just wanted to put up the wall pocket too.  It needs some sheet music in there or at least a magazine or two of the period.

These 3 fellows are simply everywhere!

Few Merebrick pics

Just a few pictures of Merebrick rooms.  I do like how the popstick floor in this room, now 15 years old, looks nice and aged and surprising real.

A nice crowded gentleman's parlor.

 The laundry room which needs a bit of work and here has been rearranged by a 9 year old.  The laundry rack on the floor has got to be attached to the ceiling.

I've been busy

 I got the bedrooms papered for a start.  I don't have an overall picture of the edifice yet but I was going for a certain balance of colors and patterns in the rooms.
  
I plunked down beds in the rooms which may or may not be there when they are "done" - whenever that will be, if ever.

I can't believe how smoothly it all went but maybe it's because I spent an awful long time picking what papers were going to go where.

Ten interior doors are necessary to continue work on these bedrooms and I am hoping to order them all today.  There is still a LOT of work to do on the halls which won't be seen much but I am doing them up to make myself happy about it.  The dado will be painted a dull brown over the shiny nonsense on the paper and floors have to be added as well as doors and a picture or two so they can be "glimpsed" from the doors.

 The green washstand goes with the green bed just as I planned.

Where the ladder is will be a hall with light green striped wallpaper (and a frieze), a staircase and a bathroom behind the door.  A bedroom is above the hall.

And to the right of this set of 6 bedrooms will be this bit with a tower room yet to be built on top.

 The slanted bit on the left upstairs is the underside of the stairs leading to the tower room.