Time Worn Style

Black and White Bathroom

Our main bathroom here at Greystanes still has its original Bath /shower and bead board walls and roof.

We havent had to do much to it really, although the antique vanity was a mess which you can read about

here

Will do an update on that very soon!

This is how our bathroom looks currently...

I've added a few things and given them a lick of white paint.

The ladder I found under the house (along with the grill of a vintage ~ and I mean 1920's car ~ will have a think about what to do with that)

and that old towel rail at the front of the picture I found at an op shop posing as a plant stand in a strange mustardy green colour...

Slapped a bit of paint on the ladder to give a slightly worn look, the towel rail I was a bit more careful with the finish, undercoat and three top coats of gloss enamel.

My ever wonderful husband knocked the nails and tidied up the ladder a bit so the towels wouldnt catch on it..

I think they already look a lot better just with the undercoat (above)....

The picture you see on the wall I have had there for some time now. Its a favourite vintage "Sheridan" fabric which I stretched onto an artists stretcher and stapled to the back. Instant art work!

The gold towel rail is on the "get rid of" list. Am waiting to track down some antique hooks which I will put there instead. The freestanding towel rail doesnt hold enough wet towels for all of us!

This old cast iron industrial stool I had sitting in my EBAY STORE for ages without a bite.

Why I didnt think of putting in the bathroom earlier I do not know, perfect for resting clothes or a towel on. Or a glass of wine whilst soaking in the bath!! I'm keeping it now....

This is an old doctors surgical cabinet I found in Country Victoria some time ago.

It didnt have a bottom shelf so I added an old vintage mirror instead

 

Great for holding old Chemists bottles...

Next step is to sort out all that old stuff inside the cabinet...

Above is my favourite leadlight window in the house, a bit hard to see from this side, this is how it looks from the other..

 
Feels good to know one room is nearly finished, yay!!....

I've joined a party!

Vintage White Bead Board Bedroom

I'm just so very pleased to have my Ruffled Slipcover featured on

Pink & Polka Dot

Some amazing slipcovers and tutorials too, do pop over for a look!

When we bought "Greystanes" we also purchased the previous owners choice of wall colour.

Two of the rooms were purple (both since painted white)

One of the rooms was green (still living with it)

And our bedroom a deep red maroon..

But I've found some lovely items for our bedrooms makeover (all on a budget too!)

So here's a little sneak preview of what is to go over our vintage bed...

 

And on the dresser next to the bed..

The fireplace I have already painted a lovely white...

From before (the old hearth)...

 

To after...

But that wall colour has to go....

Our bedroom was originally a seperate cottage on the property, since joined to the main house.

I wonder if it was the original kitchen as a lot of these old Australian houses had their kitchens quite seperate from the main house.

All the walls (and roof) are original bead boarding...

AND the roof is held up by heavy dark wood beams...

Its going to take a LOT of work to paint but it will be so light and airy when done.

I dont think I will be able to show the AFTERS for a while..

but it will happen....

So do check back wont you?

My very first MOSAIC MONDAY at Little Red House

Of course I have joined Cindy's Show and tell Friday, come and see!

AND

there is a super dooper fantastic giveaway over at

You will LOVE me for sending you over for this one!

Chalkboard Doors...

No April fools jokes from me but have a chuckle over here
 or be appalled but I would go with the chuckle option ;0)

I've been lookin' and searchin' 

 

Down in our old stables and found these...

 

Covered in dust...

 

and weighing a ton...

They did wash up ok, I do love that farmhouse green..

 

and chippy white on the other side....

 

and this one has a cute little boarded base....

 

and there is something about the rippled glass on this one...

That would come up beautifully 'cause I really want to make one of these...

(decorpad)

or these....

(decorpad)

So the kids can leave a message when they go out, or a reminder before that trip to the supermarket.

Even one of these for each day of the week would be great...

(apartment therapy)

I could just paint the fridge I suppose.....

(newnique news)

Nope, it has to be one of those doors...

All I need is a trip to Bunnings and a can of CHALKBOARD PAINT..

Now which door should I choose??

Wonderful weekend and roadside collections..

Its been a beauty this weekend, lovely warm weather and a house full of people.

And now its still warm and raining, aaaah the serenity...

Anyhow have been very busy this weekend with one thing and another but never too busy to find some treasures.

Some of these lovelies were just waiting for me on the side of the road, unloved and unwanted.

Happy to give them a home....

I think this old banded suitcase has travelled enough already, will make a great storage item for extra clothes on top of a wardrobe.

But really why would anyone throw out such a lovely old table?  Besides a few knocks to the top, its in great condition. Its going to make a lovely desk in my daughters room..

And that antique mirrored cabinet, I'm hoping that's going to fit on our ensuites wall cause I am a sucker for bevelled mirrors...

and then of course there was this little chair in a pile of junk on the side of the road, all green sponge effect and1990's fairy fabrc BUT as solid as a rock..

 

My favourite staple gun (I've had since art school days and I wont say how long ago that was!) and some nice natural cotton duck...

A little "how to" on fitting fabric to drop in seats:

1. place seat on freshly ironed (and preshrunk/prewashed fabric) and cut around outline with enough room to fold over the sides and underneath for stapling.

2. Staple each side in the centre

3. Turning the seat around as you go staple outwards from the centre whilst slight pulling the fabric taut  ie. staple one on one side, turn, staple on the next side, turn, staple on the next side. This way the fabric is evenly "stretched" across the seat.

4. Fold under the corners as you would fold a "hospital corner" on a bedsheet. Gives a nice neat finish to each corner. Use a few staples to keep corners in place.

5. If you dont like the edges of the top fabric looking raw underneath, get a plain piece of calico.  Iron under the edges and staple neatly on the underside of the seat insert. Or you could use small tacks if you prefer that look.

It sits nicely with my op shopped French provincial table...

So you see ~ Antiques and second hand furniture ARE the ulitmate recycling!

Hope everyone had a lovely weekend too!

I've joined Funky Junk Interiors Saturday Night Special

Pop over for some wonderful inspirations!

 

AND check out the THRIFTY TREASURES over at Southern Hospitality

Windows....

Thanks everyone for all your lovely feedback regarding my French Provincial style table makeover, I really appreciated hearing from you all.

I have a matching set of drawers coming up soon so stay tuned...

Took some photos around Greystanes today as it was such beautiful autumn weather here on the mountain but I kept being drawn to the same theme, can you guess?.....

The French shutters outside our bedroom windows look so pretty against the blue hydrangeas...

The lattice windows around the side....

The little box window tucked further around....

A platoon of sash windows across the front........

My favourite bay window further on.......

To a window with a view........

Around to our sweet French doors that open on a hot summers night.....

And our girls little cubby house sad and neglected....

I am thinking this little house would make a lovely garden shed, the girls dont play in it anymore and its starting to be covered by ivy and holly.

Will have to make some plans.....

Currently in my ebay store

and.....

When a Houzz is a Home

Just had to share ~ one of my favourite little spots to land on the world wide web has used one of my photos in a featured idea book on their home page ~

traditional patio design 

This is a picture I took of our lovely Australian backyard verandah last summer (I think) before we had some friends over for a Barbie (BBQ).

It was a lovely warm day so threw the French doors open and set the table. The girls played a round of cards before the guests arrived.

You can view the "Denim" idea book here

Not that nice balmy weather now, the maples are starting to colour up ~ Autumn is in the air!

Chandeliers...

Here are my chandeliers all lined up and waiting. They are not on those bird cage stands anymore, more pics soon.......