Translate

Tuesday 17 April 2012

Before ... and After

I've been busy, busy, busy lately, and finally had my new windows fitted.  I was very unsure as to how I would feel, as I loved the old ones.  It was an original 1936 stained glass bay window as I mentioned in a previous post, but was damaged, leaking and costing us a fortune in heating bills. So with a heavy heart it had to go ...




View from outside, not so pretty!



There's no going back now ...


Oh, what have I done?


Now they're finished I love them, they really open the room up (need to do something with the bright orange fencing panels at the back of the garden!), but they do look a bit blingy and BRIGHT WHITE.  Now the decorating begins.  I can wallpaper, but not perfectly, but thought I would give it a go.  First of all my husband and I painted all the woodwork using Farrow & Ball Vert de Terre (my favourite at the moment), and as I was off work I set to with the papering.

A couple of months ago I visited a charity shop I hadn't been in very often as it always looked the same in the window and not very interesting, but I ventured in and found that I knew most of the ladies who worked in there.  One was a retired midwife and had actually delivered my firstborn son nearly 26 years ago!  Anyway, I rummaged around and then I noticed a little alcove in the back of the shop and asked if I could look in there.  "of course you can love, but there's not much in there".  But there was! A bag with 4 unopened rolls of beautiful Laura Ashley wallpaper which I knew would go perfectly somewhere in my home ... for the grand sum of £2 for the lot! And ... a pair of lovely long Sanderson type curtains for £4.  They have been stashed away until I decided where they would go.  Didn't have to wait too long ...






 Sorry about the ladders, not very aesthetically pleasing!


Now it's done I'm really happy with it as it looks like it's always been like that ... I know I'm strange but think I've mentioned before I don't like shiny, new things, I like them to look like they've always been there and even though the doors look new, they are blending in.

It hasn't all been hard work though, after the decorating me and gorgeous girl went on a jaunt to find treasure for the upcoming Village Vintage Hall fair at Greenodd.  On the way back, we took the scenic route along the Coast Road and passed the golden temple of the Buddhist Monastery.  My daughter said she had never been there, so after a quick u-turn, we quickly remedied that!


The Monastery itself is in a beautiful, old mansion, set in lovely grounds and woodland, with walks down to the sea, but it is so PEACEFUL, there is just such a lovely air of tranquility, even though there were lots of visitors that day


and the temple itself is very impressive


I'm sorry but I can't take you inside, but when you are in there, the feeling is of a complete detachment from the outside world, and you become lost in your surroundings.

On Saturday I was invited to lunch at the home of the lovely Maria (Rosey Tinted Spectacles) and we put the world to rights!  Lunch was delicious ... homemade Leek and Potato Soup, Prawn Sandwiches ... and of course nothing can be complete without tea in a china cup and saucer, and Fondant Fancies!


A lovely day, and nice end to a hardworking week!

Hope you have a happy, productive week ...


XXX



16 comments:

  1. Your room looks gorgeous Claire and think how cosy and warm it will be next winter ! very cute doggie too ! Gail x

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ruby definitely rules the household Gail, and thank you very much, looking forward to your next post! xx

    ReplyDelete
  3. Very Thrifty Mrs!! Room looks delightful.....Awww loving Ruby looking 'The Bees Knees'. xxxx

    ReplyDelete
  4. Haha, Maria, looks can be deceiving ... you know she's not that innocent really xx

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Claire, your room looks lovely and the windows do blend in. My daughter went on a Guide trip to the monastery years ago, it was at night so dark and the mansion looked like something from Harry Potter, but I will agree that the temple is stunning inside and very calm. Lunch looks delicious and isn't Ruby the sweetest thing ever. Julie xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Julie, bet that was spooky at night! I love how you recognise the places I visit xx

      Delete
  6. How beautiful it all looks, very homely and welcoming - sad it may be but I think you did the right thing with new windows, they keep the cold out!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I'm sure we'll be really glad next winter (don't say that word!) xxx

      Delete
  7. The room looks fab, what super bargains you found in the charity shop! Ruby looks lovely. Take care xx

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thank you very much ... Ruby is lovely, and doesn't she know it? Xx

    ReplyDelete
  9. Your room looks lovely, and the amount of light now streaming in must make it a really lovely room to be in. I love your vintage style and the colour palette you have used.

    Fleur xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you very much! Have just looked at your delightful blog ... unfortunately I can't knit, but love your designs, and have added you to my lovely list xx

      Delete
  10. Wow that is a transformation - beautiful pictures.

    Nina x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, all these kind comments mean a lot to me! xx

      Delete
  11. Your house is beautiful! I'm hoping my flat will look even a little bit like your house xxx

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thank you Hannah, that's a lovely thing to say!
    Am sure your flat will be gorgeous! xxx

    ReplyDelete

I love to hear what you think of my ramblings and value all your comments ... I will try and get back to you, but am sorry if I don't always manage this ... sometimes real life just gets in the way! Claire xxx