Time Worn Style

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..

A corner to read in...

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..

 

Family room reveal...

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

 

What a difference a Canon Kiss makes...

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

Renovations continue....

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!

 

Antique Royalty and a typewriter...

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

 

Blackboard message boards and easels

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..

 

 

 

 

These boots were made for walking (and carrying a flower or two)

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..

 

The Pariah and the Black Ektorp...

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*

 

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

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..