Time Worn Style

Painting things white PART 1

You know I've been looking back through my blog and noticing a common thread 

Wanting a change

Mentally I've been exhausted which manifested itself in being physically exhausted

It started with the rather horrific car accident I was involved in a bit over 12 months ago

and now I'm in the process of a somewhat involved compensation case which in itself is exhausting...

and it's been steadily building since

so I decided to take a break

 

although you might not believe it 

I still am taking a break

but because I am a creative soul

I run on creative energy

so my sort of break is not one that involves sitting on a beach reading magazines and sipping pop..

My sort of break involves doing...

Currently its painting things, 

painting things

white...

because we are thinking about perhaps making a bigger change,

so it's time to get the house ready whilst my darling boy and I scheme a bit about where life is taking us..

I have started with a rather large project in this room..

(photo by Mikkel Vang for country style magazine)

Those dark heavy beams have always bothered me

I have a slightly uneasy feeling that one night a beam may drop on my head

just randomly...

because that's what they do..

particularly when they are situated above one's bed..

I don't like them

so I figure if I paint them white they wont be as heavy and drop on my head

method in my madness you see..

I like even less the murky cream paint on the ceiling.

Sooo 1980's darhling...

First a good scrub with sugar soap (it was actually quite filthy)

then a good sealer and undercoat - I really like ZINSSER, its a little more pricey but it does a really good job, I can't fault it (and no they didn't give me a free tin to say that, even though I would LOVE a free tin - seems that my bloggy is not one of those that gets product placement damn it, although some US company offered me some dodgy ceiling lights a while back..how do you get to be one of those blogs I wonder? hmmm..)

anyhow I digress..

You need a really good sealer like this to stop the stain from the wood leaching back into your final coat of paint. And if you are using white this is particularly important..

Hence I'm happy to pay a little more for a can of ZINSSER (still looking for my free tin just sayin'..)

Next I dragged in my super tall metal ladder with wooden steps

it's the coolest ladder ever, found it at a garage sale for $10

and my even cooler husband got it home for me..

it rocks because not only does it look cool it also reaches our very high ceilings..

I might also mention that it weighs at least one tonne give or take..

To move it I have to step it along like a disabled elephant...

But you have to admit, if you are going for the vintage industrial look it does nail it...

I've been documenting this stage with instagram so they are a little grainy but you get the idea..

At the moment I'm tackling this roof in sections

because I have too much stuff

and I need to rearrange the room to get to everything so I'll be having to move the bed shortly..

Once started there was no going back...

This is a good way to tackle life really..

You can see how well the undercoat goes over the original glossy paint and stained beams...

Then onto the final coat

with

GASP

oil based paint!

I LOVE oil based paint, it goes on so deliciously smooth

mooshes off the brush and self levels itself on the wood

It reminds me of my uni days surrounded by printers ink and oil paints in my studio

specks, smell and smooth ooze

love it

I don't care what they say, acrylic is NEVER as good as an oil based paint

And if you really hate the clean up side of it, just buy cheap brushes and throw them out when you have finished

the oil paint; she don't care cause she's busy being smoooth and hard wearing..

So this is where I'm at so far..

I did wonder if this white is a little 

well

too white - Taubmans "vivid white"

but I'll paint all of it before I decide

I didn't want a cream based white so let's see the end result before deciding..

oh

and I'm also tackling my youngest cherubs bedroom too

so her lovely glass topped vintage Queen Anne chest of drawers is for sale here

So you see my "doing" break is going quite well

 

The out takes from THE Country Style magazine photo shoot

Well it has been a while now since the magazine article came out in Country Style magazine

February 2012 to be exact and the photos themselves were taken around three months before that..

Country style kindly sent me a disc of the photos

which I promptly lost..

I spent a good three hours looking for them this afternoon

My husband found them under the record player with all the CD's...

don't ask me how it got there...

My husband has a real knack for finding things I lose...

anyhow..

when I look at the photos now

I can't believe how much the house has changed in that small amount of time

It's evolved

it's like the house has lost a little weight from all that extra stuff

I have too (which is good but that's another story)

all photos were taken by MIKKEL VANG 

I absolutely ADORE his work

Styling by Rachel VIGOR

a joy to watch at work

enjoy...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and last but not least...

a beautiful portrait of my showroom here in Olinda..

Antique French Doors

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Not sure if I have mentioned before..

but our bedroom has the most gorgeous Antique baltic french doors..

they open out on to the verandah and are oh so lovely for catching a breeze on a hot summers night...

Unfortunately rather than celebrate the natural wood

the previous owners took it upon themselves to STAIN it (not paint so I could strip it back) the most hideous shade of red stain the hardware chain sold...

Clashing violently with the yellow cream architraves, it mocked us with its ugliness every time we entered the room..

Even the photographer who shot our house for COUNTRY STYLE MAGAZINE did his best to crop it out..

I felt his pain...

I spent a lot of time cropping it out of my photos too I can tell you..

So I finally took it upon myself to paint over the stain

Used ZINSSER 1 2 3 UNDERCOAT SEALER

brilliant stuff (no they didn't pay me to say that but they can if they want)...

I've found it absolutely top notch in sealing out dark colours for a light top coat..

there's been no bleeding of the stain what so ever

not even a smidge....

SO

here's the BEFORES and AFTERS below 

 

The BEFORE shots....

 

 

The AFTER shots...

 

Now to tackle the ceiling next..

I've decided to paint the beams too

there I've said it..

no going back..

Our bedroom from shabby chic to .....

I'm a little tired of all the roses..

there I said it

and I've clamped my hand over my mouth 

because I never thought I would say that 

but sleeping on a bed surrounded by roses is not what it used to be..

 (Country Style magazine February 2012 - photo Mikkel Vang)

I've already sold off the blanket box at the end of the bed..

and I've taken that picture off the wall..

Those hat boxes are heading to my youngest cherubs room to go on top of her wardrobe..

And I've been playing around with a few displays..

toned down ones that are more about texture and bling..

 

I like this look..

but I actually am going to sell the mirror..

its in my ebay store tonight..

and I found this gorgeous old piece of advertising that I wanted to display..

she's just the prettiest thing..

and I'm enjoying the textures of white and neutrals currently..

 

soooo did you spot it?

Yes, ok, the little girl is holding a rose..

I mean you can't give roses up completely can you?

and now..

for the rest of the room..

Lazybone quilt alternative...

I don't know about you but when its school holidays

I seem to spend a lot more time at shopping centres than I would normally...

Down side is I spend more money than I should..

Upside is that even at a shopping centre I like to sniff out a treasure that doesn't cost much..

So I thought I might share this particular find with you..

Now don't think for a minute that I wouldn't prefer this gorgeous gathered up Rosette quilt by Lazybones Australia

(Source:dishofdesign.blogspot.com.au/2011/02/lazybones) 

(source: http://www.lazybones.com.au/at-home/quilts/rosette-quilts)

(source:www.paintingtherosespink.com/bedding/quilts-comforters/organic-rosette-quilt--twin)

 However I thought this lovely set wasnt a bad make do for the price..

Not exactly the same but a nice alternative if you dont have the $300 for the Lazybones quilt

This one was only $39 from Kmart Australia for a Queen Size doona cover and two pillowcases..

Its called Angelina...

So you see, you really can treasure hunt for a bargain anywhere!

White bedlinen

Loving the beautiful light and the warmer weather

around the hills at the moment...

Time to bring a bit of fresh crisp white into the home

now things are warming up..

Am also loving the ruffles and gathers of fabrics

that I'm coming across lately too..

and I especially love them as part of the bedroom..

so when I found this complete set

at a bargain price

I snapped it up quick smart.

love how it lightens up the room..

 

I love colour too much to have an all white house..

but I do love some touches of crisp white

and the textures and layers of fabric..

just

like

this

School holidays here at the moment so am busy with my daughters

Will have some wonderful new treasures available at my online store very soon however so do check back..

French Linen shoot

Firstly don't forget to come and say "Hi'

at the Shabby Vintage Junk Extravaganza

coming up REAL soon..

oh my the treasures I have for you

and if you buy an early bird ticket you get first pick!

See you there!!

I love taking photos of treasures for my ebay store..

Its good fun to "style" them and get the shot just right..

and sometimes they turn out just how I want..

like this one..

 

Nice and simple

straight from the camera lense

 

 

And I get to play with my French linens too

from Metisse here in Olinda..

and you know how I love old mirrors...

layering more treasure on top of treasure..

I love these rainy, cold days where you get to play around the house..

Alicia

 

by the way, the mirror and stand are available for sale in my ebay store

along with this..

 

and these...

 

Vintage Wallpaper & boxes

Was chatting to some lovely friends on the weekend..

and the conversation came around to vintage wallpaper

and the pretty things that can be made from them..

I've started a little collection on top of my wardrobe

Of boxes that were covered many many years ago in luscious layers of vintage wallpaper..

Showing off in the last bastion of rosey girlishness in this big old home..

Our bedroom..

 

I can store away some not so pretty things inside..

and still have those gorgeous designs on show..

That little square box is a recent Wallpaper box with Vintage paper

made by Kirstie over at Adeline Country Cottage

she has the most stunning collection of Vintage wallpaper..

 

I think they do look a little better than a stack of plastic boxes..

 

Don't you?

Alicia

Not long now to the big event, hope to see you there!

Painting....

I don't know what it is but as soon as I get a paint brush in my hand

I have to keep painting

I've told the kids not to stand still..

they could be next..

heaven knows there is a child like shape somewhere against a white wall..

So as I mentioned in my last blog post, I painted me a large bedroom..

with all that bead boarding..

It took a while

Lets just say..

which didnt help me get over my Autumn flu symptoms..

But I had the brushes out so thought I might turn this..

 

 

Into a little French Shell Grey number...

 

Holds a stack of books

and a cuppa

and of course rather than clean the brush..

I thought I might finish these as well..

 

Two of them infact...

I think they would look perfect next to a white slipcovered sofa..

You do share my vision don't you?

 

Both are available in my ebay store

if you are wanting a little French Grey in your life..

Now..

what else can I paint...

Alicia

 

My summer painting project..

At the end of last month I realised I was posed with a problem

You see, each summer I set myself a large decorating task

This summer just gone was to paint out the red in our bedroom.

Great idea..

Then suddenly I realised that there were only two days of summer left..

so I had better get cracking

I've never liked the red

Its a large room our bedroom ~ used to be a seperate cottage to  the house ~

with large french doors to the verandah

but the colour made it dark..

And it is lined completely ~ roof and walls ~ with wooden panelling

(the name of which escapes me, do remind me someone!)

~ Tounge and Groove ~ thanks Sue

So painting with a roller was out of the question

It had to be by hand

I was going to paint it a lighter colour

this maroon red...

so it would take several coats to cover it

So with only two days of summer left

I got stuck into it.

 

Decided to spend a little more and use my favourite undercoat sealer

Zissar ~ and the oil based one at that as didnt want any of this red seeping through

I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone (small tip though, get them to mix it for you at the paint store on their shaker machine first as otherwise it is very runny initially)

 

All the grooves painted first

(note my special painting technique of leaving treasures in place till the last minute ie. laziness)

then the boards themselves

I can't believe the difference in light it makes by doing such a simple thing..

The room has always had big windows but the colour just swallowed it up

So now it looks like this...

 

with the light streaming in...

 

 

Its so nice to be in here during the day now...

I still have to do the trims and the french doors which are still in a red "stain"

however I did do the walls..

which is what I promised myself this summer..

 

It was a lot of work...

 

 

and it did involve a lot of ladder climbing...

and a few coats to cover that red...

 

Will share some more "after" photos soon..

I'm still deciding which treasures I will put back in..

Some I am moving on through my ebay store such as these..

 

and this...

 

so do check back for more "afters"

as I'm not quite finished yet..

 

Linkity Linking with Miss Sarah over at ....