Trying outer walls

Busy, busy over here but the paper has arrived for dressing the two side walls and I have started to make an attempt on the ‘mausoleum look’ of this peek into the world of remembered deco emporia.

Stone blocks are approx one inch high and the panels of mock stone relief fit moderately well with the scale

Colour of the paper is
a little ‘sweet’
tasting for me
– too light and pinky(?)

So have toned it down and feel more at ease with it

I’ve promised myself that I’ll get back to this ASAP, before I forget what I intended, but meanwhile am trying to gee myself up for the spring clean-up in the greenhouse, before getting seeds potted up for the new season, which I think I can just about see over the horizon.

The very hot spells followed by this winter; cold/warm/cold, causing damage to all my remaining plants in there (ones I’ve had for many years) and so there’s a lot of ‘deep’ cleaning needed to get rid of any remaining fungus/rot that’s happened, I’m sorry to say.  However, I can have the fun of replanning and possibly buying the odd replacement ‘green friend’ –  if only I knew how to guess what sort of plant might stand a better chance in this changing environment.

 

An outside look?

There are still Deco shop fronts (or rather top halves) visible in many UK towns and cities: quite a number of those remaining were built for Woolworths or Burtons.

It helps that what I’m working on is, very obligingly, a box shape upon which, theoretically, it should be possible to add some Woolworth-style Deco hints.  I’m going to be leaning towards various features shown in the following buildings – and then go off ‘on one’ with some exaggerations of style here and there.

• Woolworths Aberdare – simplicity of line and skyline shape
• Woolworths Brixton for its simplicity and line
• Montague Burton tailors shop in Tunbridge Wells all of the frontage, partic Grecian look and vertical leaf motif trim
• Dumfermline (R.H.Motion 1936) formerly a gas department showroom and office, now a Christian Bookshop – for its border trim and stonework layering ‘pillar’ shape at side

So far – rough faffing and twiddling around

Started marking up stonework on lining wallpaper. Got this far and decided it was not my ‘thing’ for this mini piece

Working on making composite beading for pillar shapes

Possibilities:
fairly certain re mock carving panels
the two extended pillars probably staying
other pieces to be cut and inserted

The foamboard is cut higher than the roof line for three reasons:

1. to allow a hidden space for the wiring/lighting socket strip
2. to cut back various areas a little mimicking a bit of the style in the Dumfermline building
3. somewhere to possibly add a store name board

All to be painted and shaded for a stonework look.  I had intended to mark up my own paper (above) for the stonework but I’ve given in and bought some ready printed paper which I’ll probably re-colour a little.

From the start of this project I’ve had the Lewis’s store on Briggate Leeds in mind; in particular the atmosphere of the restaurant they had in the 50s with its luxurious woodwork and carpet, potted palms and general feeling of warmth and welcome – including, I seem to remember, a small fountain set in front of the reception/cloaks desk.  I also recall their superb high chairs and round tables!  Sadly I’ve been unable to find any pictures old enough of the interior look.  I’ve tried with the room box department store to reflect those memories and feelings with a suitable carpet and striking woodwork, but, sadly no fountain (✿◠‿◠)

The imaginings and memories covered the internals, but for the outside I’m thinking less of the Lewis’s mix of stone and brick and more of the Greco/Roman mausoleum-bathroom tile style stonework.  Perhaps, though Bath stone would be a preferred colouring, I reckon.  We’ll see.

 

Pillars and kites

Added an edge pillar to each vertical of the opening.
Still thinking about how/if to dress the outside of the box

Made two kites a-flying to give some height and a little more ‘welcome’ to the children’s display

Can’t hide from the decisions about the outside of the box, having got this far with the internals

Choices:

• The MDF box kit came with a shaped store front roof-standing name board – a bit curly looking for my taste and not sure if want to use that
• Also box front trim framing pieces were provided – neither the name board or these edgings seem to be usable if the perspex (also provided) is being used(?)
• Wall lights at the back are falling off again – drastic decision to be made or just play along with them?  Not exactly earth shattering but v annoying
• External side walls – use brick papers which are to hand and give least work necessary or make new stonework?
• Roof cover???

None of these are major (except poss those dratted lights) and may set the tasks aside to simmer for a while and turn to a little something else.

Lights, edging, perspex

Back wall lights reaffixed for the 4th time and battery lights tested – some batteries getting low?

View through perspex but no edging to box added at top yet.

Cleaned the perspex, moved my arm across it to get hold of the other edge, keeping my clothes and arm generally a good distance from the perspex sheet, and watched as a stream of particles spread across the surface keeping pace with the movement of my arm!  Sometimes my static charge needs earthing!

Painted top front edge of MDF box black and added a painted strip cut from heavy wallpaper. The wallpaper is an embossed design to be used for ‘real’ ceilings.

Where there is a cut-in on the ceiling (meant to be for recessed shop entrance and now internal) I’ve applied some silver card – all looks a bit like a cinema.

I’d like to make some kites or similar for the children’s section front display to hang above the miniature farm toys to give a bit of balancing interest when compared with the women’s display on the left.  After that I’ve quite a lot of work to do on the outside of the display box itself – firm up the position of the light control strip, conceal the wiring up on the roof and generally dress the outer walls one way or another.