Cindy I have just found your website through French country cottage blog. I have followed Courtney for a while. What fun to find you too! I love your style it’s beautiful! My husband and I used to live in Edinburgh but have bought a country Croft out near the coast. A far cry from our modern apartment in the city. We are adjusting to country life and although I am a school teacher interiors is my passion. I found your site yesterday after what was a day of ‘oh my god what have we done taking on this big project of bringing this 1860 Croft back to life’ I found you at the right time as realised come on Trish you can do this!!! I woke up this morning with enthusiasm and gusto and as so many of your readers say you really are an inspiration to many. Sharing your ideas advice and beautiful pictures. Thank you for the inspiration and it’s been a real positive day here at the Croft. My head is brimming with ideas!!!
You absolutely can do it, Trish! I’ve tackled renovation projects that I didn’t think I could do and it is possible! I’ve found that there isn’t much you can’t do with the right tools and a youtube video!! Your home sounds amazing! Thank you so much for following along!
Wow! Such nice ideas! I was looking for some ideas to make a unique stylish bedroom. Your surprising ideas has made it easy. Thanks for such great job!
Love your ceiling idea ,. I have a home from 1902 and the ceiling is pretty much done ,. So I am 100% using your plank ceiling idea ,,. thank you so much
I love the transformation of the fireplace and hope to something similar to ours. Did you paint the mortar as well? It appears darker than the brick and really pops. It makes for a VERY clean look. Thanks!
Hi Linda! We painted the mortar in the same color as the brick. I think it looks dark because it’s recessed a little bit which creates a bit of a shadow. Thanks for commenting!
Hi, can you tell me what color you used on the brick and mortar? It’s beautiful.
Cindysays
Hi Lory, the paint color on the brick and mortar is Sherwin Williams Pavestone.
Rosemarysays
Hi Cindy,
Just came upon your site through Pinterest. Fabulous!! Your home is beautiful! Also, after reading some of your responses to various inquiries you seem so generous with your wealth of information. I have a French style 72″ buffet and a dining room table that I want to update by painting both pieces. Can you tell me about your dining table and the gray/white trimmed hutch. Were they professionally done? If not, can you share what colors you used and your process for painting them. I love DIY projects but have yet to tackle chalk paint projects. Thank you for your time.
Rosemary
Thank you Rosemary! The dining table was painted in two coats of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in color Old White. I lightly distressed it with a sanding sponge and then gave it one coat of clear wall. The hutch is painted in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in French Linen (two coats), and the trim is painted in ASCP Old White, lightly distressed and clear waxed. Chalk paint is very easy to use so don’t be afraid to try it!
Hi Cindy, I really appreciate your response. Thank you! Can you tell me what clear wall is and did you use a wax on the table as well?
Rosemary
Cindysays
Hi Rosemary! I always use Annie Sloan Chalk Paint clear wax, and I use the clear wax on all of the painted furniture that I do, including the dining table. After the last coat of paint is dry, I cover the entire piece with a coat of clear wax. I use a soft cloth {like an old t-shirt} and gently “massage” the wax into the wood. Then I let it cure for a minimum of 24 hours. Once cured, I take a clean soft cloth and buff the entire piece to a soft sheen. I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions!
Elizabeth Rodericksays
I’ve never known anyone to give out the information you share about your projects. That is so kind and gracious of you. Blessings!
I have just finished planking my kitchen ceiling with inspiration from you! I would like to know how you applied the white wash stain brush or rag did you wipe it off right away? I to did not stain before I put it up because I was not sure of the finish I wanted, so a little hesitant abt how to put it on, Please let me know how you applied it. Thanks so much for your help and inspiration and DIY ness!! Haha Jackie Goodman
Cindysays
Hi Jackie! I applied the pickling stain with a brush. I worked a section at a time, brushed on a coat of stain, and then immediately wiped it back with cloth. I didn’t want lots of white, more of a pickled look, seeing the wood through it, so I wiped the stain back immediately after applying it. If you want a bit more white, then let it sit just a bit longer before you wipe it back. If you have some extra wood left over, you can experiment with it to see what you like the best…..hope this helps!
halleluia! I have stumbled upon you!!! YOU are an inspiration to us all..do it your selfers(me)…junkers(me)..am always searching and looking for that elusive french piece.your home is beautiful and a guide to all of us! I find that I cannot seem to tear myself away from your pins and site!
Ijust love you and yours!!
Plank pickled ceiling beautiful! What type of tongue / groove wood did y use for the planking? In process of remodeling have cathedral LR ceilings, would like to do the same. Thank you, in advance
Thank you Jenny! No, I didn’t fill in the nail holes. Using the nail gun, it counter sinks the nails into the wood, and they are so tiny that you can’t see them when standing on the floor, so I didn’t bother with filling them!
Hi Cindy have been a fan for sometime now and love everything about your home.I have seen your DIY about the ceiling but do not recall how you finished them. They look like a white wash please share the paint that was used. Thank you!
Thank you Cindy, did you white wash it before you installed or after?
Cindysays
Jeannie, I whitewashed after it was installed, only because I wasn’t sure of the finish I wanted. The best way would be to whitewash before you install.
Good morning and Happy Valentine’s Day Cindy! Thank you for you quick response.I am going to try to paint my hutch in those colors hopefully will look as beautiful as yours?
Hi Cindy I absolutely love your home! It is exquisitely lovely! Did you painted the beautiful blue buffet near the breakfast room? It is the color I have in mind to paint a french hutch I have
Thank you so much Brigida! Yes, I painted the blue buffet, using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. I layered several colors, starting with Aubusson Blue, and then Provence, Duck Egg, and Paris Gray.
Lovely! Designs after my own heart. Love all the changes you have done, and how consistent you have stayed to the French country design. I am wondering how you completed the seam between the wood floor and the brick circular floor under the breakfast table. Also, was tiling the back-splash and moving the switch boxes on the wall forward (so switch plates fit over the tiles) a difficult task? Thanks for sharing.It gives me such an inspiration.
For the seam where the wood joins the brick, we filled in with cement grout. Hubby moved all the switch boxes forward so they would be flush with the plate, and it wasn’t difficult at all.
Hi – What color did you use to antique your cabinets – I saw on pinterest it say the valspar antiquing glaze – we are halfway through our cabinets – painted them SW antique white and wanted the glaze but we had trouble finding the right one – found the Valspar and we are trying that with our contractor today – fingers crossed :\
Love, love, your beautiful kitchen and home….found you yesterday, and subscribed…that planked ceiling has me itching to copy it( but too old to do it ourselves) Wow…colors and design , just yummy..looking forward to the finished bedroom. Thank you for sharing such inspiration!
Your home is truly lovely and it is the feel & style I am slowly trying to incorporate into my own home. Could you please tell me where you have purchased the sisal area rug, it adds such great texture to the space?
Thank you for graciously sharing your sources of your furnishings and paint colors! I stumbled across your site and love your taste/style. I have you bookmarked now! Lovely!
Cindysays
Thank you so much Becky!
Elenasays
Cindy – I am new to your site (thank you, Pinterest!). Your home is lovely and so welcoming. Perhaps you have answered this previously, but can you tell me something about your white slipcovered sofas in your family room.
Cindy I have just found your website through French country cottage blog. I have followed Courtney for a while. What fun to find you too! I love your style it’s beautiful! My husband and I used to live in Edinburgh but have bought a country Croft out near the coast. A far cry from our modern apartment in the city. We are adjusting to country life and although I am a school teacher interiors is my passion. I found your site yesterday after what was a day of ‘oh my god what have we done taking on this big project of bringing this 1860 Croft back to life’ I found you at the right time as realised come on Trish you can do this!!! I woke up this morning with enthusiasm and gusto and as so many of your readers say you really are an inspiration to many. Sharing your ideas advice and beautiful pictures. Thank you for the inspiration and it’s been a real positive day here at the Croft. My head is brimming with ideas!!!
Enjoy
Love Trish from Scotland
You absolutely can do it, Trish! I’ve tackled renovation projects that I didn’t think I could do and it is possible! I’ve found that there isn’t much you can’t do with the right tools and a youtube video!! Your home sounds amazing! Thank you so much for following along!
Wow! Such nice ideas! I was looking for some ideas to make a unique stylish bedroom. Your surprising ideas has made it easy. Thanks for such great job!
Thank you so much, Rebekah!
Love your ceiling idea ,. I have a home from 1902 and the ceiling is pretty much done ,. So I am 100% using your plank ceiling idea ,,. thank you so much
I can not get enough of your photos! What lovely things you have collected! And this home is amazing! Keep the pics coming!!!
Thank you Nancy!
The tour of your home is so beautiful !
Wow!!! Awesome
Just found your blog! Beautiful, what color did you paint your kitchen walls?
Hi there! We painted the kitchen walls in Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray!
I love the transformation of the fireplace and hope to something similar to ours. Did you paint the mortar as well? It appears darker than the brick and really pops. It makes for a VERY clean look. Thanks!
Hi Linda! We painted the mortar in the same color as the brick. I think it looks dark because it’s recessed a little bit which creates a bit of a shadow. Thanks for commenting!
Hi, can you tell me what color you used on the brick and mortar? It’s beautiful.
Hi Lory, the paint color on the brick and mortar is Sherwin Williams Pavestone.
Hi Cindy,
Just came upon your site through Pinterest. Fabulous!! Your home is beautiful! Also, after reading some of your responses to various inquiries you seem so generous with your wealth of information. I have a French style 72″ buffet and a dining room table that I want to update by painting both pieces. Can you tell me about your dining table and the gray/white trimmed hutch. Were they professionally done? If not, can you share what colors you used and your process for painting them. I love DIY projects but have yet to tackle chalk paint projects. Thank you for your time.
Rosemary
Thank you Rosemary! The dining table was painted in two coats of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in color Old White. I lightly distressed it with a sanding sponge and then gave it one coat of clear wall. The hutch is painted in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in French Linen (two coats), and the trim is painted in ASCP Old White, lightly distressed and clear waxed. Chalk paint is very easy to use so don’t be afraid to try it!
Hi Cindy, I really appreciate your response. Thank you! Can you tell me what clear wall is and did you use a wax on the table as well?
Rosemary
Hi Rosemary! I always use Annie Sloan Chalk Paint clear wax, and I use the clear wax on all of the painted furniture that I do, including the dining table. After the last coat of paint is dry, I cover the entire piece with a coat of clear wax. I use a soft cloth {like an old t-shirt} and gently “massage” the wax into the wood. Then I let it cure for a minimum of 24 hours. Once cured, I take a clean soft cloth and buff the entire piece to a soft sheen. I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions!
I’ve never known anyone to give out the information you share about your projects. That is so kind and gracious of you. Blessings!
Thank you so much Elizabeth!
I have just finished planking my kitchen ceiling with inspiration from you! I would like to know how you applied the white wash stain brush or rag did you wipe it off right away? I to did not stain before I put it up because I was not sure of the finish I wanted, so a little hesitant abt how to put it on, Please let me know how you applied it. Thanks so much for your help and inspiration and DIY ness!! Haha Jackie Goodman
Hi Jackie! I applied the pickling stain with a brush. I worked a section at a time, brushed on a coat of stain, and then immediately wiped it back with cloth. I didn’t want lots of white, more of a pickled look, seeing the wood through it, so I wiped the stain back immediately after applying it. If you want a bit more white, then let it sit just a bit longer before you wipe it back. If you have some extra wood left over, you can experiment with it to see what you like the best…..hope this helps!
halleluia! I have stumbled upon you!!! YOU are an inspiration to us all..do it your selfers(me)…junkers(me)..am always searching and looking for that elusive french piece.your home is beautiful and a guide to all of us! I find that I cannot seem to tear myself away from your pins and site!
Ijust love you and yours!!
Oh my goodness, thank you Cheri! And welcome!
Plank pickled ceiling beautiful! What type of tongue / groove wood did y use for the planking? In process of remodeling have cathedral LR ceilings, would like to do the same. Thank you, in advance
We used EverTrue pine tongue and groove wood planks from Lowe’s. Thanks so much for commenting!
Absolutely beautiful! The planking on the ceiling–did you fill in the holes from the nail gun before staining?
Thank you Jenny! No, I didn’t fill in the nail holes. Using the nail gun, it counter sinks the nails into the wood, and they are so tiny that you can’t see them when standing on the floor, so I didn’t bother with filling them!
Hi Cindy have been a fan for sometime now and love everything about your home.I have seen your DIY about the ceiling but do not recall how you finished them. They look like a white wash please share the paint that was used. Thank you!
Thank you Jeannie! I used Minwax Pickling Stain in White, from Lowe’s, to whitewash the ceiling.
Thank you Cindy, did you white wash it before you installed or after?
Jeannie, I whitewashed after it was installed, only because I wasn’t sure of the finish I wanted. The best way would be to whitewash before you install.
Good morning and Happy Valentine’s Day Cindy! Thank you for you quick response.I am going to try to paint my hutch in those colors hopefully will look as beautiful as yours?
Hi Cindy I absolutely love your home! It is exquisitely lovely! Did you painted the beautiful blue buffet near the breakfast room? It is the color I have in mind to paint a french hutch I have
Thank you so much Brigida! Yes, I painted the blue buffet, using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. I layered several colors, starting with Aubusson Blue, and then Provence, Duck Egg, and Paris Gray.
Lovely! Designs after my own heart. Love all the changes you have done, and how consistent you have stayed to the French country design. I am wondering how you completed the seam between the wood floor and the brick circular floor under the breakfast table. Also, was tiling the back-splash and moving the switch boxes on the wall forward (so switch plates fit over the tiles) a difficult task? Thanks for sharing.It gives me such an inspiration.
For the seam where the wood joins the brick, we filled in with cement grout. Hubby moved all the switch boxes forward so they would be flush with the plate, and it wasn’t difficult at all.
Hello, Love everything in the room! Wondering where to purchase the chairs. Thank you, Donna
Thank you Donna! Which chairs are you referring to?
You are doing a wonderful job so Beatiful excited to see the rest when you have it done An thank you for inviting me to join your page I love it
Everything is beautiful and inspirational!
Thank you so much Danette!
Hi – What color did you use to antique your cabinets – I saw on pinterest it say the valspar antiquing glaze – we are halfway through our cabinets – painted them SW antique white and wanted the glaze but we had trouble finding the right one – found the Valspar and we are trying that with our contractor today – fingers crossed :\
The glaze is from Lowe’s. It’s Valspar Asphaltum. Here is a link to the exact glaze that we used: http://www.lowes.com/pd_98278-4-007.0098278.003_0__?productId=3087555
Love, love, your beautiful kitchen and home….found you yesterday, and subscribed…that planked ceiling has me itching to copy it( but too old to do it ourselves) Wow…colors and design , just yummy..looking forward to the finished bedroom. Thank you for sharing such inspiration!
Your home is truly lovely and it is the feel & style I am slowly trying to incorporate into my own home. Could you please tell me where you have purchased the sisal area rug, it adds such great texture to the space?
Thank you Liz! The rug is the fringed jute rug from Ballard Designs!
Thank you for graciously sharing your sources of your furnishings and paint colors! I stumbled across your site and love your taste/style. I have you bookmarked now! Lovely!
Thank you so much Becky!
Cindy – I am new to your site (thank you, Pinterest!). Your home is lovely and so welcoming. Perhaps you have answered this previously, but can you tell me something about your white slipcovered sofas in your family room.
Thank you Elena! The sofas are from IKEA! They are the Ektorp sofas with white slipcovers. We love them!
Everything is beautiful – would really love to know the wall color in the kitchen.
Thank you so much! The wall color in the kitchen is Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray!
the color of the cabinets are stunning did you paint them yourself? what color did you use?
Thank you Bree! The white cabinets are painted in Sherwin Williams Snowbound, the gray cabinets are painted in Sherwin Williams Pussywillow.
Love the wood flooring! Would you share the name and manufacturer?
Thanks Gwen! The wood floors are wide plank, hand scraped oak floors. We purchased these floors from a local manufacturer, Versailles Hardwoods.
We love this ceiling !!! Have hated our popcorn ceiling for years so this is our new project