If you are anything like me
and love to decorate
then you will find that you amass a good collection of magazines
and interior design books..
I like the idea of a reading nook..
and this little half single bed
to me seemed to be the perfect answer
a nice place to relax..
and an extra bed
for that extra guest
if required..
So its finally done (mostly)..
that horrid green and cream room that was very dated and tired
even though the room itself gets lots of winter sun
and has big Victorian windows and French doors..
it really is a lovely room to be in
but it was.. well.. a bit blurk..
BEFORE:
So we brought the painters in..
We do normally paint the house ourselves
but this was a big job ~ high ceilings, strapping, staircase, Victorian windows
it would have taken us half the year
So here is our big room reveal..
We love it!
This mirror was purchased at Tangerine Vintage
One of my favourite mirrors..
Black slipcovered couch ~ Ektorp from Ikea
Stripe cushions from Target Australia..
and of course the mirror wall above the stairwell..
which used to look like this..
Now looks like this..
and this..
Nice, white, streamlined and less clutter..
Just the way we like it..
Alicia
and to continue with the decluttering
do pop over to my Ebay store
Finally its happened..
that little thing that I blogged about a while back..
so I finally got to take a pic like this..
now I just need the schmansey camera strap and I'm there
heaven...
I have to say I did start with some trepidation..
but my lovely friend Ava gave me a push in the right direction..
so I put that lense on, installed the software and gave it a go..
Can't believe the difference in photo quality, have taken my first few pics today for my ebay auctions I am listing tonight
I'm absolutely loving it..
and thats with everything set on auto..
Cant wait for the weather to improve so I can try some outdoor shots..
Sniffing that special aroma of oil based paint around Greystanes currently..
Painting is nearly finished
It does look amazing..
Originally it looked like this..
Now its looking like this..
too dark and green...
now much lighter and brighter..
I really am looking forward to getting the furniture back in!!
Alicia
I'm going to blog more
I need to 'cause I like it and I also want to keep a record of the changes going on here at Greystanes..
And there is a lot going on lately.
My downstairs show room is coming along nicely
the doors should be in at around 3 weeks (fingers crossed)
and then the landscaping outside will begin..
In the meantime
the old TV room (as we call it) at the top of the stairs is getting a bit of a makeover too..
Here's a few befores..
Remember the mirror wall?....
that green is going as are the green trims and yellowy cream ceiling..
here are a few "durings"..
patching the walls..
creating a special stand across the stairwell so the large window between the two rooms can be painted..
and then the undercoat begins..
There are high ceilings and lots of strapping on the walls and ceilings
so not an easy job..
but its coming along nicely
can't wait to move the furniture back in..
there is going to be a lot less stuff too
so easy to clutter when you are a "Vintage merchant"
Will share the "afters" once its all back in place.
Alicia
Help me declutter
there are a few lovelies in my ebay store!
I love my job.
Just love it..
cause I get to go find wonderful things
in piles of junk
and bring it home to play with
some I keep
some I put into my ebay store
some I keep for a while and THEN put into my ebay store
because I find something I like better...
'
This little cupboard I found at a market one early Sunday way out in Country Victoria..
I did buy it to sell..
but for now
I love it
because it fits perfectly in this spot
next to our black Ikea Ektorp two seater..
it might stay for a while..
because it has a nice wide top to display treasures on..
and big drawers and doors to store things in..
So when I found this gorgeous old picture of Antique Royalty..
Well I had to add him to the mix..
Turns out after a bit of googling that this fine gentleman
is His Majesty King George V
in full Navy dress uniform..
Don't forget to check out my ebay store
for some beautiful Buy it Now items..
I will be listing some new treasures tonight too ~ oooh you are going to love these.
oh and take a look up on the side bar there..
yes it's on again for 2011..
would love to see you there...
I'll be having a stall full of treasures..
Alicia
As we head into Autumn here on our Mountain
Our hydrangeas are cheering out their last hoorah...
So I picked you a bunch..
I hope you like them
all in white..
As I've been busy trying to get this house organised
between phone calls to insurance companies
and quotes for repairs...
I thought it was time to get a better messaging system going for this family
but of course it had to look good
and fit in with our houses aesthetic...
What ever that means, but it sounds impressive like I know what I'm doing don't you think?
I hope you are impressed.
Anyway, I didnt have a door that I could paint like Sarah at the Beach cottage as basically there is no where to lean it where it could be read
And I sure do love that door she has rockin' that cottage...
But I had to think of something else...
My friends already know this, but I am actually an artist by trade, studied at Uni for three years so needless to say I have a bit of a collection of artists bits and bobs around the house...
Including this easel
which had been sitting in a corner
not doing much
because I havent been doing a lot of art work lately..
So I thought I would put it to use and add this very old School chalkboard to it..
I gave it a couple of coats of blackboard paint first to freshen it up..
and it was ready to go..
Tried to think of something clever to write on it but that was all I could come up with sorry..
Its the best I could do..
I'm tired from cleaning up flood damage..
Anyway I want you to be impressed with the chalkboard not the message :0)
Currently it has "Buy Rabbit Food" on it
Which we have
So job done, its a great message board me thinks.
And just to be super efficient I added this old wicker trolley in the space next to it..
Which is now our new recycle bin,
the kids can wheel it out to the big recycle bin.
I'm so glad I didnt listen to those people who told me to paint it white.
I love the old worn French Provincial look about it, just as it is...
So there you have it,
efficiency with no huge effort, just using what I had around the house
Next time I will think of a more impressive comment to put on the chalk board..
I promise
Alicia
Linky linking with..
super dooper treasures all the way over here in the land of Australia and my ebay store
The sweetest Murano lamp in pink and gold...
The sweetest little chippy white ballerina pictures...
can you not feel the shabby sweetness ooozing through this photo?
I sure can..
Can you believe it
Australia is heading into Autumn already
Not that we have had much of a Summer this year
The plus side of that is we didn't need to be concerned with a Bush Fire season
and thats a big plus...
The Autumn flowers have started in the garden
showing their pretty heads first are the Japanese Windflowers..
Love pretty pinks against a blue..
So when my eldest daughter spotted these Baby Cowgirl Boots at an op shop
Well I knew they wouldnt fit any of my three girls...
But they would take a little vase inside full of water
and pink blooms..
They are probably the most adorable little boots I have ever seen..
Made in the USA too, where the real cowgirl boots come from..
In all their blue leather glory...
And the best thing about them
When I walk past them, they give me a smile
and
sometimes........ a laugh
What do you use to put your flowers in?
Alicia
Great little furniture items in my ebay store this week.
A very vintage chocolate box..
a petit point footstool..
Once upon a time there was a young girl, young mum, heading for middle age woman,
who wanted a nice white slip covered sofa
and not just any sofa
but an ** Ektorp ** (cue harps)
to sit in the centre room and look pretty darn nice.
cause of the slip cover vibe..
Being a Vintage Merchant
and super bargain hunter
she didnt want to pay full price at Ikea
so tracked one down for a pretty good price..
only problem
BLACK SLIPCOVERS
not white
no problemo, will just buy some new ones at Ikea
still saving dollars even with that
So she collected that black Ektorp
that opposite of slipcover heaven
the black sheep of the Ektorp family
and put it in "the spot"
with her white slip covered ottoman..
"Crikey" she said
that ... well.. it sort of.. it sort of works.
that "Idemo Black"
Her daughter duly plonked herself down and started scoffing an icy pole..
The woman prepared to lunge..
to delay that dreaded day that comes to all slip covered Ektorp owners
** Washing Day **
the horror and strained muscles of fitting the slipcover back on once dry
But then pulled back...
Tis' slipcovered and ...... BLACK
so..
even though that woman is now the pariah of white slipcovers
she has come to know and appreciate
the joy, the drama and the practicality of
a... black... slipcover.
THE END
* Please note this is a fictitious story based on absolute truths. All names have been changed to protect any shabby chic affiliations the authour has with other multimedia outlets and lovers of white Ektorp slipcovers*
and the tree is finally up
all 7 foot of it's glorious greenery
Just no decorations yet
Wore myself out putting up the tree.
But I am feeling the ~ Joy ~
Cause I do love Christmas
Not just because of its real meaning
but also because of all the tradition it involves...
We put up our advent calender
and filled it with wrapped milko lollies
cause I don't like the idea of chocolate melting in the summer heat
and dripping out of the bags
cause they are just little burlap bags with numbers on them
stringed across the window with twine
I'm tempted to leave them there all year cause that cute factor is happening
Mind you, with the speed at which I pack up my Christmas decorations,
well I just might!
Alicia
Again, shamless I know but you really will want to check out my ebay store
cause there are some real delights sitting in there..
gorgeous scrolly wire planter..
Antique mirror frame..
I'm going a bit mad with this family room of ours lately...
keep changing it around
Is anyone else like that?
Now I'm swapping the pictures on the wall to match the blue stripes and ticking I found for a song at Target...
I needed to match the colours a bit more..
So brought in one of my Antique "Sunday afternoon" paintings..
One of those oil paintings on milk glass that early 1900 ladies delicately put together on a Sunday afternoon..just for something to do..
instead of reading a book.. a more artistic pursuit..
I'm a bit of a sucker for these "Sunday afternoon" paintings..
these are Campanulas I think..
But I do love the roses ones the best..
A nice soft blue to match the cushions...
Hang on who snuck that other cushion back into the photo..
I meant these ones..
Now I really should make a start on the other rooms..
Hang on, who didn't put the cushions back on the couch the right way..
yeesh
Alicia :0)
Shameless plug for my ebay store that you have come to know and love..
Italian boudoir mirror...
Super beachy clam shell currently living on a mountain..
French Ticking curtains, can't get enough of ticking!
