Mid summer decorating

While most people are off on their jolly hollies I've been turning the cottage upside down and inside out.  It seems to have become a yearly thing.  As soon as the summer camps are over I'm in "let's get ready for Christmas" mode and know that once August is over that's it it's busy season for me!!  So I always do my big jobs in August and this year it's re-decorating the bathroom and kitchen.  The thought of it has been awful for the last few weeks but I started at the weekend, and with the help of my mum, launched into it with gusto.  

The bathroom was first, you can see the last update here when I added the wallpaper.  Don't get me wrong I LOVE that paper but, despite everyone's warnings about this happening I ignored them and damp and mould set in (see top picture, top right hand side) and it had to come down so I could treat the walls properly.  

Even before it was down I planned to just buy the same paper again but once it was all removed I decided I'd go back to basics and live with it plain for a while.  

I painted it all white, this time I went totally crazy and opted for something other than Brilliant White.  I used Sail White by Crown Paints.  Wooo ... living on the edge !!

I painted the skirting, window ledge and bath panel a light grey with paint I already had. 

I'm currently on the accessories.  I had this basket set that I liked for shape and size but not the colour so I thought I'd try painting it.  Just needs another coat but it's looking good. 

I added a simple lace voile to the window as I'm lucky not to be overlooked so I can get away with that.

I'll be back later in the week to show you progress as I got side tracked ....  In typical Michelle fashion I started another job before I finished one !!

I'll show you the finished pictures hopefully by Monday :O) 

Have a great weekend peeps xx

In Progress

In case you haven't noticed I love quotes.  One of my many favourites is  ...

"Begin with the end in mind"

Like I've often said here, I have a real problem with going to car boots and charity shops as I see potential in everything!!  There's always something that can be 'done' to rejuvenate an old piece of furniture or clothing.  But before I buy something I always 'begin with the end in mind'.  I will know exactly what I'm going to do with it before I part with my money.

When I bought the chair below, originally shown here, I knew exactly what I was going to do with it and it's almost there.   Here's a few pics of my work in progress ...

I started by giving it a good wash and scrubbing it down with some disinfectant (you never know where these things have been stored!).  Then I removed the old fabric and seat pad with a stanley knife.

Then I ripped up a brown bag and used it to make a pattern for the seat.

I'm using the pattern to make a patchwork cushion for the seat pad

and finally I'm painting the chair.  White ... of course!

Finished pics to follow, hopefully over the weekend.

In the meantime ...

"Do not let what you cannot do

interfere with what you can do"

John Wooden

Home - Kitchen

I know I promised these weeks ago but I'm still having probs uploading pics on blogger so it takes longer than usual and I get a little (ok a lot!) impatient half way through :o)

So here you are, the final pics of my kitchen.  Here it is before ...

 and after ...

(this was taken before I made the curtain here)

This is my sewing/crafts corner

Well there it is, all done, at last. 

Next project - the spare room!

The love affair continues ...

 Sorry it's been so long.  

I would love to say I've been shopping all this time but alas not.  I'm back at college and this term is pretty full on (totall understatement) so between that and a trip to the dentist (two fillings - ouch!) and doctor (sinuses getting worse despite the op this time last year) the sun coming out and making me spend more time outside than in and general day to day stuff I've taken an unplanned mini blog break.   But I'm back ... for now.

I didn't shop too much last week but I did get a few things - I'll show you them over the weekend.  I've also got to share my lovely charity shop finds from weeks ago and my latest crafty makes and makeovers!!  In the meantime here are a few shots of the kitchen.  There's still bits to be done but I know you're all keen to see it.  Thanks so much for all the lovely comments in the meantime.

So here goes, just some pics taken from just about every angle possible :o)

The heart and bird hanging on the window are tea light holders from Town & Country.  The polka dot teapot & white tray are from Tesco. The No Smoking & Cafe signs were gifts from my mum.

I wonder how long that space under the sink will remain so clean and clutter free!!

I love my plate rack - do you know how long I have wanted one of these - like forever !!!   My heart print plates take pride of place - my lovely Auntie Pauline bought them for me a few years ago from TK Maxx.  The other ones with the green trm  I bought in a boot sale.  The large polka dot plate at the back is from Carraig Donn

The polka dot jug with all my cooking utensils is from Vobe Interiors, same place I got the lovely floral tins (on the window ledge above). The blue polka dot breadbin in the back ground was bought a couple of years ago in Laura Ashley and the grey damask lamp was from Heatons. The egg holder is from Town & Country (link above).  The drawer unit in the background was free!!  It was left in the field after a boot sale so my aunt and I picked it up and gave it a home :o) I love it - everytime I look at it I imagine that day and being so mortified at taking it but at the same time so excited. 

I have conveniently on purpose not included the right hand side of the kitchen.  I'm waiting for the carpenter to come back and build me some benches and put some shelves up ... so maybe in a month or two (this is Ireland) I will be able to share them with you.

So there you go the affair continues ... like all affairs though I'm now 'comfortable' with my kitchen and don't get all excited everytime I walk in the door and think how lucky I am ... I now think how lucky that kitchen is to have moved into my home and be taken care of and fussed over so much :o) 

Hope you're all having a lovely weekend and thank you again sooo much for all the lovely comments.   x

Paint used on kitchen - B&Q Colourways - Antique Grey

Kitchen Catch up

It's coming along nicely

I really like the grey

How foolish I was

Thinking it would all be done in one day!

Just waiting for the plumber to come back and sort the oven/cooker and the carpenter to fix a couple of shelves.  I had hoped for a 'big reveal' this weekend but I'm not sure that's going to happen ... maybe, let's wait and see :o)

Red, White, Grey or Blue???

Help!

I just can't decide what to do.

I have two doors in my kitchen still to be painted and I just can't decide on a colour.

As some of you will know my cottage is called "An Teach Ban" (Irish for the white house) due to the fact that I paint literally everything white!  However, after this VERY white christmas I'm in need of some colour and really tempted to paint these doors red.  Well not red but summer pudding.  What do you think? I think I'm just in love with the name.  I'm also loving the Crown website ... I suggest you grab a cuppa before you head over there!

Otherwise I could play it safe and go for white or I was thinking of a really light grey ('crochet' or 'cashmere' by Crown) or a duck egg blue.

Ooooooh what to do?

I thought I would have come to a decision after my coffee and croissants this morning whilst delving into this months' magazines but not only am I more confused I am now adding to my already massive 'to do list' for 2010, not to mention my 'i want one of those' list too :o)

I love this clean look.  The following pics are all taken from Country Homes & Interiors January issue.

How fabulous is this !!  A snip at £9,999 from Emma Bridgewater.

These mugs in jackets are just gorgeous.  I think I'm going to try and knit some myself.   In the meantime I think I'm going to go and make a hot chocolate and continue adding to my lists.  It's bitterly cold here.  I can't wait for Spring.  As much as I loved having a white christmas I think i can honestly say I've had enough now.

The Bathroom

I've been busy busy busy but it's all been worth it.

The bathroom is now also complete.

Actually not really, there I go again, I think it's wishful thinking. The wall on the right needs to be re-painted (hence no picture).

It started out like this on Monday morning. What a difference one roll of wallpaper can make !

The bedroom - completed

I've finally finished the bedroom.

Well, almost.

I still need to decide on curtains and blinds, or curtains or blinds :o)

And whether or not to paint the bed?

However, the main part is done and finally all my clothes are folded away on my new shelves in the alcove and in my new wardrobe.

I hope it stays like this ....

not sure about the ring appearing in the mirror. I'm hoping it's something to do with the flash and nothing to do with a ghost in the cottage !!!

Still decorating

I spent all of last night just standing in the doorway admiring my bedroom ... yes I'm that sad. I love love love it :o)

I'm so sad that this morning when I got up and looked at the role of blue paper as I walked into the bathroom I couldn't help but think "that would be fab in here" while brushing my teeth ...........

You guessed it ... before I even got dressed I started papering.

I haven't tidied it all up yet as my mum came round to help with the fiddly bits around the window and she isn't too long gone home so

I'll be back tomorrow with finished photos :o)

It's amazing what a difference one roll of wallpaper can make.

In the meantime the shelves have had their third coat of paint and are up and ready to go in the kitchen and bedroom ... more pics to come :o)

Got to go ... so much sorting out to do :o)

In the meantime ... I have had a couple of people say they are having problems leaving comments on my blog. Can you let me know if you are too? You can email me direct at michelle@michellemadethis.com

Decorating

With the help of my lovely mum the wallpaper was finally put up today :o) I was so excited I couldn't keep the camera still.

Actually my mum did it all, I basically applied the paste to the paper.
Not only that but she did it in just one hour!!


I'd like to say it only took me an hour to organise everything in the room but it's now after 10 and I'm still not done so here's a sneak peak of one tidy corner.

Actually, the only tidy corner.

The paste is still a bit smelly so I've lit some scented candles.

Now all I have to do is make new curtains, or blinds or both.

I was also thinking about painting my bed white or even red ... what do you think?