Dreaming of decorating

I know I'm getting ahead of myself, but even though my new studio isn't even built yet, I'm dreaming of and planning the interior

White is going to play a big part...no surprises there...but I also want a few little splashes of colour....like pink.

These images are from Fiona Douglas of Bluebell Gray. The fabric is what caught my eye, not the blue walls, even though I think the whole effect is stunning!

I'm thinking something floral for some side curtains in my new little room.

Then, I saw this in this months Better Homes and Gardens magazine.

This is on page 39 of the October BHG.  The little lamp shades caught my eye as well as the art on the wall.

Then there's this...lovely, although a little jumbled

Apart from the studio, I'll also be re-decorating the spare room to make it a little more "kid" friendly when we have sleep overs here.

It'll be light and bright with a nice rug on the floor. I've been through the linen cupboard and found some bits and pieces that will be perfect in there!

This is the reading room from the Lettered Cottage. Great job!!

...and this...well this is just lovely. I've had it for ages and can't remember where it's from. Sorry.

Decorative Trims

Remember the old yellow chest of drawers I refurbished?

I used a piece of decorative timber trim around the top...

I bought it from a large hardware store...

....but I've since found you can shop for it and many, many more, online

This photo isn't the best reproduction but it gives you an idea of the types of trim available.

Here's the drawing of it

Or there's this one

There are a lot more too. All different shapes and sizes

www.jadenmouldings.com.au

It's nice to be able to browse through the site...addictive, if you like that sort of thing

Butterfly Cushion

Target

30% off

Who'd a thunk it?

Change in the air

This little silver and black contraption represents a lot more than just a door stop to protect the walls at Number 10.

It represents a big change here.

There are only 3 door stops in the house and, until yesterday, all were brass.

Now they are silver/chrome. I purchased new ones yesterday and MONT replaced them for me last night.

I also plan to change over all the internal door knobs.

At the moment they're just the run-of-the-mill passage sets with brass plates.

They'll be changed to chrome

I tried to buy new chrome backing plates, but was told they'd cost almost as much as complete new passage sets. Crazy huh?

I also plan to change over the brass rods on our light fittings, which may all seem like an unnecessary or even extravagant change, but I'm over brass and want to freshen things up a little and I figure this is an inexpensive way of doing it.

The brass fittings won't go to waste. I'll sell them (or try to) so they'll get a new life somewhere else.

Lucky?

Is it true they're only lucky if their trunks are in the air?

Two out of three aint bad then huh?

I've had these little beauties for a long time now. All of them bought in different places but they all go together so well....they look like a family

Tweaked

I got the tape and the drapery weight for the new and improved IKEA fly screen and it's looking pretty good.

I sewed the tape along the bottom

Threaded the weight through the bottom seam...

...and this is the result...

So far so good in keeping out the flies...and it appears the dogs are able to negotiate their way through it too, although I may have to lift it a couple of inches as they keep getting their paws caught on a couple of spots where I haven't cut it too straight. No problem though...looking good.

Project Finito

I've linked up with Sarah's Good Life Wednesday over at Beach Cottage, why not come on over and have a look see.

You can find it here

Happy Tuesday everyone. I was having some big problemos yesterday downloading photos, so here is the result of my very productive weekend.

While MONT was at Bonnie Doon, I thought I'd get stuck into my little drawer/cabinet unit

It now looks like this

After starting out like this.

This is how it looked "during" the refurbishment

I've trialled two sorts of knobs. I got some lovely glass knobs from Schots Emporium in Clifton Hill

...and some of my tried and tested standard fare from IKEA

I mixed up some paint to get the colour I wanted. It's sort of half strength Antique White USA. I had some full strength that I toned down.

I put this little unit in the front hallway just to see how it looks, but I think it's the wrong size for that spot, so I'm thinking the dining room will be it's new home.

What do you think?

...and which little knobs look best? I think the glass ones would look better in a bedroom, but that's just me.

I'll take some better photos when I get an honest to goodness camera again

Nice place to visit...wouldn't want to live there

Over the years, I've been fortunate to live and work right up the east coast of this great brown land of ours and even ventured south to Hobart for a year. But that was a long time ago.

Naturally, some places I liked more than others. Brisbane? Loved it. I felt right at home and even bought a house there, but eventually, I got transferred back to Melbourne.

Sydney? Not the place for me. I lived there for 2 years, and didn't really take to the city at all. Nice place to visit, etc....

...and so it is with some decor styles. I like to visit them but I really don't want to live with them.

Take Shabby Chic.

I like looking at it, visiting it at other people's homes/blogs, even like seeing how people put it all together and just "go with the flow" of all that deliberately distressed paint work. But living with it 24/7 would drive me bonkers. I'd want to get out there and start sanding and painting again. I like pre-loved, but not scraped and distressed.

I like all of these little cabinets, but I'm afraid I'd want to paint them because to me, they don't look finished.

Sure Number 10 has more than it's fair share of "footpath finds" and other second hand bits and pieces...but I just haven't been able to bring myself to "distress" them after spending all that time painting and restoring the darn things.

It's the same with modern  minimalism

It's stark and just doesn't look inviting - or warm. To me anyway. Too much emphasis on the style and not enough on the living.

I know everyone's different. My friend "G" doesn't like the idea of second hand furniture at all and she's is definitely not a fan of white. Her home is filled with new furniture and lots of colour...not a splinter of white wood to be seen.....

Is there a decor style you like visiting but wouldn't want to live with?

Design

You know, architects have always amused me.

I know they do some wonderful work. Great designs, innovative features, cutting edge stuff.... but really, do some of them think that it's all about "looks" and not function? What about the small stuff?

What's amused me I guess is that they don't seem to be really good with the "livable" aspects of a house...you know, the little things that you just expect would be a "given" in a home.

MONT's worked with quite a few and he tells me some of their expectations have been unrealistic because they sometimes want things that are not possible, they overlook things that should be a priority...and some don't consult with the tradespeople who have to implement their designs.

I have a friend who's had her home renovation designed by an architect. It's all quite beautiful. Really gorgeous in fact. Even her bathroom is top class!  Only thing is, she doesn't have a power point for her hairdryer/shave etc....

Actually, I'm wrong, she does have a power point, but it's tucked away in the back of the cupboard. You know, the one under the basin.

What's with that?

She said the architect didn't want a power point on the wall because it broke the clean lines and distracted from the "look" of the room.

Sorry, but I don't get it.

You can bet your bottom dollar he'd have a power point on the wall in his bathroom.

Wicker

I've been looking around for some wicker lamp shades to put in my dining room...something like this one below, but not necessarily exactly the same.
 

I've seen them around the internet, but they're a bit pricey and...they're overseas.

Does anyone know where I can pick up a couple in Melbourne for a reasonable price? They're for table lamps.

Front hallway goes Christmasy

I had some branches and twigs left over from my "Christmas tree" so thought I'd put them to good use and decorate the front hallway...to give it a bit of a Christmas feel...

I'd run out of white paint but had a little bit of silver left over, so gave the branches a good squirt.

The lights are battery operated ones from Ikea from a couple of years ago... The little birds on the tree are a couple of years old as well. The little silver George Jensen angels were a gift from last year and the crystals are from an old chandelier that MONT pulled apart.

Right, well it's back to the kitchen for me to start planning Saturday night's menu. The family's coming over with all the kids so it's time to get serious about Christmas food. Glazed ham, rib roast, seafood and to finish things off...a layered pavlova and a berry and white chocolate cheesecake.

I think that'll just about finish me off ! !

Coffee Table - Before & After

Remember that old coffee table base I found lying on the side of the road recently?

Not very attractive huh?

Well, here she is now.

I scrubbed and hosed her down in the garden, tightened up all the screws to make her a little more stable.... then gave her a good sand and 2 coats of undercoat, before a top coat of white satin.

I bought a ready made timber top for her and MONT used his router to give it a nice edge

I'm liking it....not too "shabby chic" distressed...just about right for Number 10 I think. So, there you have it.

 Before

After.

I still have to coat the top. I was thinking of white washing it, but MONT likes it natural...so I'll give it a couple of coats of tung oil and that should do it. It's going to look very nice sitting on the back deck.

PS. Yes, that is our new bedroom and no, we're not in it yet. But that's all about to change tonight. We finished the skirting boards and architraves yesterday afternoon and we start moving furniture in there as soon as MONT gets home. YIPPEEEE!

Good bye lounge room, hello bedroom!

Footpath Find

I love it when people put their discarded old furniture and bits and pieces on the footpath, because you know it really is true that one's man's trash is another's treasure.

Yesterday I was taking the dogs to the groomer to have their monthly clip and bath and saw this yellow peril just waiting for me on the footpath outside an old house. I checked her out and noted that, apart from the top, she was made of solid timber. No chipboard or melamine here. Solid wood.

Isn't she awful?! But oh my, how lovely she'll be after she's been given the Number 10 treatment, just like this one late last year.

She certainly needs some work. I'll remove the damaged top and MONT will make a new one for her. I'll scrub her and sand her back and then give her some TLC with a couple of coats of paint.

When MONT came home and saw her on the front porch he turned up his nose....our neighbour did the same when he came in for a drink last night, but when I reminded them both about the transformation of my my other beauty here,  they changed their tune..

Not sure yet exactly where she'll be going, but she's only 2'6" wide (760cm) and not all that deep, so my initial thought was a spot in the dining room....or maybe the spare room where she can hold some of my sewing patterns and fabric stash. Not sure...what I do know though is she's in a good home where she'll be loved and appreciated.