Uploader now closed, thanks for all the photos, everyone! When Peter asked for ideas about decorating the beautiful stone fireplace in his 1957 house, we promised to power up the uploader so that readers could show how they have decorated their fireplaces. Above: A lovely, glowy fireplace perfectly punctuated by a mysterious, smallish, painting — contributed by reader sugarshellandbutterknife when we had our 306 reader living rooms uploader. And oh my, what a coincinkydink: A story in the UK — just Sunday! thanks for the tip, Gavin! — about the background of this famous 1950s painting by Vladimir Tretchikoff: “Chinese Girl”, popularly known as “Green Lady”. So: Get snap happy — light up fire, get some glamor shots — and share them here — it’s easy –>
Tips to view slide show: Click on first image… it will enlarge and you can also read my captions… move forward or back via arrows below the photo… you can start or stop at any image:
Betsy says
April, your living room makes me want to come over for a cup of coffee. I promise I won’t leave with your swag lamp…Betsy
April says
HaHa! you’re welcome any time 🙂
Gavin’s in Scotland – I want to go to there
Betsy says
Indeed! Then we’re heading to Janice’s living room for egg nog. These rooms are so lovely!
Janice says
Betsy, are you referring to the Janice who had a picture of a lit fireplace at Christmas? If so, that’s me, but for some reason I can’t see it on the list of pictures. Have I been banned from my own home? haha
Betsy says
Yes, Janice. I’m seeing your room #33 out of #42 right now. I just love everything about your space, especially the lamp. I just bought a fabulous Lane Surfboard table today at the Salvation Army – spectacular condition ($30) – and so yours really caught my eye.
Janice says
Thank you Betsy! Yes, I see it now. I’m such a dunce, I was looking for it to post at the end of the string of pictures and had already looked through all of them once. Don’t know how I missed something that I should have immediately recognized. Thanks for your kind comments and congrats on finding that steal of a deal on the coffee table!
Michael says
Had to chime in with more praise/admiration for April’s living room and fireplace. You’ve set up such an inviting vignette. I absolutely love it!
April says
Thanks so much Michael 🙂
April says
Betsy, Yes to the egg nog at Janice’s. I love your living room Janice! Fantastic furniture and those hanging lights are to die for!
Janice says
Thank you April! I remember the day I won those lights on Ebay and thinking I was the luckiest girl alive to have found them at a price that I could afford…which isn’t always the case anymore. It’s been great fun seeing people’s fireplaces and living rooms today!
Maryanna says
I agree that the checkerboard floor living room with the Marimekko above the fireplace is an amazing room! Making me rethink my standard-issue mirror above my fireplace. 🙂
MikeD says
Thank you for the kind comments 🙂
If you look toward the bottom of the comments in Pam’s recent feature on our bathroom you, you can find a couple links that will show you that fireplace before
https://retrorenovation.com/2013/01/28/vintage-pink-master-bedroom-remodel-combining-vintage-modern-save-1400/
Maryanna says
Ahh, yes! I remember quite well being so impressed with your pink bathroom reno! I somehow missed the before and after links you posted though. Fantastic job all around, I love it. 🙂
Diane in CO says
MikeD, I just looked back at the “before” of this stunning room of yours, pictured above. That has to be one of the most impressive before/after comparisons I’ve seen! Bravo! 🙂
It did, I notice, have a checked floor originally but in different color. Did you completely replace the floor?
MikeD says
Thank you much Diane.
We did not touch the floors, exactly same same as in the before pictures. It is really surprising how the floors can take on a very different look when put against a different color scheme and decor style. The black and white checkered went from country to vintage.
Besides the kitchen and baths, most all of the renovation is simply paint, fixtures, furniture, and decor. You don’t have to gut a house to make a drastic difference. Even in the kitchen we kept the floors and counter tops, saving us thousands and thousands.
Janice says
Mike, your house is lovely and retro in all the right ways! Can you tell me the color name and brand of paint you used in your living room. I’m doing a grey and orange master bath and I like the color you used. Is it grey or light blue?
MikeD says
Janice
The paint color is wet payment (or maybe its we cement). A Valspar color from Lowes. Definitely has some blue in it, but changes with the light. We spent several weeks trying to pick the right “gray” color and ended up with this one. All grays have either blue, purple, or green tones. if you are wanting a “pure gray” then I don’t suggest this one… but at the same time, if you find one let me know lol
Janice says
Thanks Mike. I’ll take a look at the color you used to see if it will work in our bathroom. Thank you for following up with me!
Diane in CO says
But it’s curious that the lighting makes the checked floor look BLUE and white, not black, in the photo above. That’s why I asked.
Yes, half the battle is often won by the seller moving their stuff out! 🙂
Jeanne says
Ah. Maz. Ing. MikeD! I hadn’t looked at your photos before. Your home is gorgeous! I see you have the Giraffe art from Pete Campbell’s apartment! I love your wall shelving unit! Thanks for sharing.
char says
that’s the chair that’s still at my parent’s house and my dad won’t part with it
Jeanne says
Wow – the room with the blue/white checkered tile floor and the ceiling fan is gorgeous! I love the way the wood fireplace surround is built to incorporate the brick that goes all the way up to the ceiling. Looks like a professional photo, as well.
Laura E. says
(The green faced Chinese lady. Most reproduced poster in the world.)
Jenny A. says
It’s funny about that picture. We found that in a little thrift store in Bardstown, KY (while we doing the Bourbon Trail) for $13, I believe. Neither one of us had ever seen that picture before and thought it was “unique”. In fact, we had two different people stop us on the street with it to take a look because it was so different. After I got home and researched it, I found out about it’s popularity and how it appeared in movies. It even has a Wikipedia page. We still have guests that come to our house who’ve never seen anything like it before and think it’s really cool. Also, we bought the picture with nowhere to hang it because we hadn’t purchased our house yet, but knew we just had to have it. When I saw that fireplace, I knew we’d found our home 😉
Diane in CO says
I had never seen it before and it’s very cool. Looks great over your fireplace. Who is the artist?
Laura E. says
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Tretchikoff
Diane in CO says
Thank you Laura – I always learn so much on this blog. Was horrified by what I learned on yesterday’s post! You all kept mentioning Jere sculpture and I had never heard that name before. Googled Images. Gasped in horror when I saw the large bronze sailboat wall sculpture – the very exact same piece that hung in my late mother’s condo in FL, that we GAVE to the THRIFT SHOP (!)
Yes, when we sold her place last year, we had to empty the contents quickly and I had already shipped so much stuff (china and crystal, family albums etc.) plus my husband didn’t like it that much and it would have cost hundreds to ship to Colorado…. So, “thanks” for educating me about Curtis Jere yesterday and that I gave away a $1200 sculpture. DH was apologetic, needless to say. 🙂
We just hope that find made someone’s day and is hanging in an awesome MCM home!
Jay says
Yes, interesting! I was not familiar with it so when presented with something new, I like to get the “story” behind it and being lunchtime, well let your fingers do the walking through the internet. The different articles I read on-line were followed by quite nasty comments. It appeared to be very popular in the UK let alone the US.
I must say, hung by itself on the brick surround, the picture makes quite a statement.
Jenny A. says
Yes, I just found a UK article about the original going up for auction and a lot of the comments are really negative (and hilarious)! I don’t know – she makes me happy every day, but then I didn’t have to grow-up looking at her either, so maybe that’s why. Perhaps it will be my children leaving such comments in another 25 years, ha ha.
Jay says
Now that’s funny, tell them it’s their inheritance. I like the story of how you found it and truly, it does look stunning – it has been elevated to high art in that setting, much like a prized picasso or monet.
Jody says
Those candlesticks are AMAZING, Kate!
Kate says
I purchased those a few years ago from Crate and Barrel. I think they may have something similar still available…
Laura E. says
By the way, the original of that Tretchikoff poster is up for sale at Bonhams in London March 20. It’s expected to make up to $800,000.
Gavin in the UK says
I noticed an interesting article in the (British) press today about the painting and its model, who (unsurprisingly) didn’t get a penny from the paintings massive success other than what the artist paid her to pose for him.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2013/feb/09/green-lady-monika-pon
pam kueber says
Wow — what a coincidence!!!! I did not know the background on this painting, thank you!
Emily says
I’m confused; I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a model earning royalties from a painting. Why would she? This article makes it sound like she was cheated. Can you imagine trying to make it as an artist if you had to pay out to your inspiration every time you sold a work?
I love the painting, but for the shock of colors and the glow of those tones on that neutral brown, not for the particular person posing.
linda h says
This is the first time I have noticed that Kate’s fireplace is in it’s own little corner. I need to pay closer attention! So many details in these pictures, I can hardly take it all in.
Kate says
Oh yes, the corner fireplace! That plus 4 doorways (directions to exit), 1 pass through from the kitchen, and a built in bookshelf make furniture placement tricky!
Jenny A. says
Oh my goodness! Thank you for using my picture! I came to your site and saw my fireplace at the top of the page. You’ve just made my day!!
Annie B. says
Does the fireplace in photo #2 belong to “our” Kate?
Kate says
The pink-y colored one with the Shag print hanging over, why yes — that is mine. 🙂
Annie B. says
LOVE the soft modern elegance of it!