i was thrilled to find this pair of vintage cement swans recently while junking around!
that's right...a PAIR!
they survived all these years together.
i believe swans pairs mate for life.
i have a serious LOVE for white birds right now,white birds and water.
as reflected in some of my art.
shades of turquoise remind me of water and somewhat fills my yearning to be near the sea.
my swan lovers rest on the hearth for now.most likely to be relocated later.
love to change things around you know.
i filled them with old insulators.
together forever.
i just love all you creative and insightful bloggers out there.
i do, i do.
and i know you give great advice.
advice, i need.
i'm hankering to paint my fireplace mantel (i'm thinking white).hubby isn't sure.
he is my mate for life.
together forever.
i'd love your opinion on this serious matter.
to paint or not to paint...and what color?
walls are white and beams in ceiling i have painted white.
and because i KNOW you will be giving the best advice...
here it is...
my little present to you...
my little present to you...
kitty porn.daisy absotootly LOVES the swan on the left!!
time to get her fixed, i guess.
Hmmmm, I understand why Hubby doesn't want it painted. Men like stained wood. On the other hand, it would blend better with the rest of things. It would look good white washed like your beams. I love the swans, especially with your painting.
ReplyDeleteLove that turquoise bottle! Not sure about the swan and your kitty - maybe the previous owner had a cat!?! :-D
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!
You know what I'm going to say!
ReplyDeleteWhite!!! but I'm thinking it might look fantastic with an undercoating of turquoise. If that doesn't work you can always just cover it over with all white.
Love the kitty porn. We have a little of that going on around here too.
xx
Carole
How funny is that cat. What's wrong with the swan on the left?
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I would do it pure white, I think a light sandy white, sandy enough to not look dirty if held up to the white you have, but enough to complement the stones and not look stark against it.
what a great find!
ReplyDeleteas for the fireplace, i like the idea of painting it white.
p.s. LOVE your whitewashed ceiling beams! ah. may. zing!
Hey Erin
ReplyDeleteThat kitty porn is hilarious!!! thanks for brightening my day!!
Well I think Carole is right on the money... white over turquoise.. then if you don't like it you can always go all white.. I understand your dilemma .. In fact I currently debating whether to pain an antique folding chair white.. it has a very red/brown stain.. I know i loved the red/brown many many moons ago.. but now it just isn't my thing.. It's just I don't want to have to sand back and start again if I change my mind.. way too lazy for that.. hahaha
Oh.. you know perhaps a black/brown [more black] stain would look great on your mantel .... more work of course..
Well good luck with your decision.. xxx Julie
My first reaction was 'yes go for it ! - white!' but actually, you could never unpaint it, and there is something about stone and I like the different sandy colours. I guess the problem is not the colour but the random shapes - you probably wouldn't think of painting it if they were smooth cut blocks...so now I'm not sure...
ReplyDeleteLet me totally confuse the issue. I like the sandy, more grey white as Chania says but under a pale slight dry brush of the turquoise. like Carole suggests maybe just in the horizontal crevices?...BUT only if you have the turqouise colors frequently in the room?
ReplyDeleteSo I have not helped at all....think I'll go sleep.
BTW loving the peeks into the house. Your home really reflects you I think....which I maintain is the sign of an honest soul. No pretense.....
It's not porn, it's love, a hungry kitty noshing swan noses....
night!
xxx
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
n
I shall not paint the fire place...i love that colors of the stones that's pure...nature !! don't do it !!....hahahah!! your husband must be proud of me......what a beautiful colored bottle...i reallu like that !! ..wishing you a a happy week.....love Ria....
ReplyDeleteHola Erin, great find, very lovely swans.
ReplyDeleteI have been admiring your blog for some time and would love if you drop by anytime!
cariños,
maria cecilia
The swans are gorgeous! So funny that Daisy is in LOVE! I wonder if you switched the swan on the left with the one on the right, if she would still love the same swan. Love is fickle. :)
ReplyDeleteThe instant you mentioned painting the fireplace mantel, I thought white. But guys do like the natural wood!
Hi Erin, what a great find - the swans! Love the blue bottle too (with the wine corks, of course!) Promise I didn't see yours before I put corks in my basket. You know what they say about great minds. LOL! About the mantle, I say paint it. Love your decor, girl! :)
ReplyDeleteOh those swans are soooo wonderful! And being a cat myself, I have a similiar appreciation of them ;) Of course "she" also loves them...simply for their look! AND a pair?!?! You are some kind of lucky!!!!
ReplyDeleteRegardng the fireplace mantle...since the beams are already white, I vote for white.
Have a wonderful evening!
Romeo and "her"
Hi Erin, I recently made a huge mantle with lots of carvings on it for a client and I used a process that I think would work great for you on yours. Glazing. I used stains but the same would work great with paint. What you do is paint the mantle white as a base coat, use latex paint if you like, and let the paint harden or "cure for a day or so. During this time go to your local paint store or hardware store and buy some colored glaze (burnt umber works well or a dark color like walnut, Minwax sells a gel stain that works also, but I prefer paint glaze)then just smear or brush over the the base coat with the glaze and be sure to fill all the little nooks and crannys dents and joints. Let it set a few minutes and just wipe it off. The glaze stays in the cracks and such and the final look is the look of an aged piece of furniture with real character. You will love it, and so will hubby.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you've gotten lots of advice on the painting. Based on your decor and your beatiful painting in the previous post, I have no doubt that whatever you decide will be absolutely fabulous! Best wishes for a beautiful day. Tammy P.S. Kitties are so funny when they come upon a smell that just totally turns them on.
ReplyDeleteWhat a pretty room! I always hesitate to give decorating advice... regretting it the next day with "What was I thinking?" But here goes.
ReplyDeleteMy first thought was a driftwood gray, very natural & easy on the eyes. But oh the finish on that little chair... maybe strip the mantle, paint it aqua, distress, dark wash it & distress some more.
I'm enjoying looking at your work. Your composition of the bottles is intriguing. And I adore white birds.
Every time you show your place I want to redecorate mine! Seriously!
ReplyDeletehihihi silly cat!!! What a beautiful fireplace love it!!
ReplyDeletehave a verry nice and sunny week
Yolanda
Yep, get that kitty to the Vet. and quick. Wonder why the one on the left? On second thought, never mind.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely paint it! White sounds perfect. Men never want to paint anything. He'll get over it. Mine did!
I adore the little chair on your images!!!
ReplyDeleteTurquoise is one of my favorite colors, too. And just as you, it makes me think of the sea...
Wonderful images, sweet friend.
Have a great day!
Hugs/
Luiza
Love your swans...what treasures.
ReplyDeleteI say go WHITE!!! Your home is lovely as is but I am a white girl..so I say go for it!
Hugs my sweet friend.Hope your summer is going well. xoxoxoo
Two cents- paint it! White!
ReplyDeleteLove your insulators (and they don't need to be fixed)!
Me again.:D Thanks for stopping by. It will be my daughter keeping a kitten, not me. I had to give up having cats, due to allergies. Nice job on the mosaics - Like your new header. Be careful in the heat - it is so dangerous.
ReplyDeleteErin, these swans are amazing – what a terrific find! My Mom has a great collection of insulators that her mother picked up – now that they are so collectible again, I may have to "borrow" them from her.
ReplyDeleteI say WHITE on the mantle. No doubts.
And I love your new header. Hope the weather is cooler and you are spending time outside. xo