Thursday 11 April 2013

Putting pretty back




Hillbilly Bella

Living with a grey sitting room is like living in a thunder storm. Well that's what I've decided anyway. hmmmm...bald bloke is not pleased with me. Fussy mare that I am.
It looked lovely when the sun shone (and when the brightness of all that snow shone through the windows) but who am I kidding? I live in England for goodness sake, by a big hill that makes its own micro climate that consists mainly of rain. We get a lot of  rain here.
So commences the process of putting just a little bit of pretty back.

 It has to be Celadon green. I LOVE Celadon green and it goes nicely with calamine pink and grey and funnily enough that olivey-yellow colour. Plans are being made.....
In the meantime, now that the stinky boys have both gone, along with the gadgets and remote control cars, pairs of crutches (found under the bed) and the general stinky stuff older boys seem to hoard, I once again have an empty house. Just me and the furry ones.
It's quite strange to start with I think I had 'empty nest syndrome' and although it was a relief to be shouty, stinky and untidy boy-free, I had that strange feeling wash over me that all of a sudden I was all alone.
It was the exact same feeling you get a few days after you give birth..but for the opposite reason. Funny that.

Inbetween a nasty chest infection and hacking cough that has lasted at least a month and looks like its got no intention of leaving just yet..oh and another dog bite (the perils of working outside in damp,sub-zero temperatures...and walking other people's dogs) I have been sanding and painting and planning and buying stuff I shouldn't on ebay..oops.
 

This was stinky Georges room.I couldnt believe the state it was in when he moved all his junk out, walls had to be re-plastered and the carpet cleaned 5 times! They're an 'orrible lot these boy creatures.Festering in their lair infront of the x-box.
It's going to be the guest bedroom, so all those visitors we couldn't have to stay before, can.
 Calm pale duck-egg walls and a pretty wardrobe filled with pretty pastel coloured 1950s hangers...both eBay bargains.
 
Our lovely old, but rather knackered looking, black metal bed has gone back in here and they'll be some other old bits and bobs added too.


 Bald bloke sprayed the fireplace with barbeque paint and it came out a treat. Looks like new.
 I remounted this beautiful iridescent vintage butterfly and added a little label.


 I need to track down The Laundry lady to purchase some of her gorgeous 40's style bedlinen, I've been hankering after some for a very long time.

 I still plan to sort out the loft and put some stuff in my shop or on ebay but the whole house seems to be in some kind of 'state' at the moment, once its sorted out a bit more I'll have some space in my brain free for the next mission.I find it quite therapeutic de-cluttering and simplifying our lives. All the curtains are being replaced with simple linen roman blinds.All the walls are being painted in calm ethereal colours and my hoards of 'stuff' are being relocated. Even the peace lily in the lounge is finally flowering after years of just leaves.


As part of the simplifying process,my Beastie truck got sold. I had been worrying myself silly about the MOT in July as it needed a heap of work doing and an even bigger heap of money to pay for it.A mountain of money almost. Scary. A young man came up to me in a car park on Valentines day ( ooh I thought my luck was in !!!) when I was walking the dogs, asking if I wanted to sell it. I was quite attached to my old truck and my heart was saying nooooo and my head screamed a sensible yes, a deal was done a few days later and he bought it for great price, in good knowledge of all the work it needed.
I'm now the owner of a boring old Ford estate, very economical, comfy and with a working radio. woo. (the enthusiasm is overwhelming there dont you think?) It's not going to seduce me with it's fancy gadgets and shiny finery I'm afraid, but it'll do for the mo.
Unfortunately the bloke who sold it wasn't as honest as me and the second day of ownership the blinking thing wouldn't start. Aaarrgh!
This was the snowy sunrise view of the hills out of the window the other morning. They were far more pink than they look in this rather bad photo and the moon looked like a glowing silver orb.
It was silent but for the birds chirping away. So pretty.    Roll on Spring....

Cheerio for now x

20 comments:

  1. The guest room is looking lovely very calm. I used to have empty nest syndrome everytime the kids went back after the holidays. I hated it.

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    1. Thankyou Louise. I couldn't wait to get mine back to school they seemed to do nothing but scrap in the holidays! I did secretly miss them when they finally did go back though! x

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  2. Oooh, your new guest room looks great. Really nice wardrobe. Your last photo is far from bad - it's lovely - it would make a nice print (?for your new room!). x

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  3. I'm doing the same with eldests bedroom now she is in London. Really disgusting. Irks me that she takes pride in her new place and still treats here like its the local tip. Love her. Sorry you regret the grey was going for that myself .... Might get out the f & b chart again x

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    1. I love the grey it just doesnt love the room! George had that colour in his room but he had modern furniture and orla kiely bedding, it looked lovely, really fresh. I just think we had toooo much grey in the lounge .Know what you mean about them being house proud in their own homes, its like a delayed echo when i hear george moan about other people leaving a mess in his house!!

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    2. I meant to say Els,that Cornforth white is a lovely grey, a tiny bit lighter than pavilion grey but still a nice warm colour x

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  4. Love all the coat hangers they are gorgeous. Was that a Vernon Ward painting I spotted by the fireplace? xx

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    1. Yep, Vicky! Im quite partial to a Vernon and have a few in the roof, I wasnt going to use them but the colours were perfect. Glad you like the hangers, its the best £2.20 I've spent in a while!

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  5. I cheered out loud when I saw you were back on your blog. But I see now how busy you have been. Having worked in an art museum for thirty plus years I have experienced more than my share of grey walls as it was the standard gallery color scheme. I shy away from it at home so as not to be reminded of all that. Celadon is an excellent choice. Happy decorating!

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  6. P.S. Would have titled my museum memoir Fifty Shades of Grey but someone beat me to it. Just my luck.

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    1. Thanks Kathleen..for the cheer..that really made me smile!
      I've literally just bought the paint for the lounge so wish me luck!!
      I'm sure there will be a whole heap of memoirs released with 50 shades of something in the title..never mind hey ;)

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  7. I have just discovered your blog and though you haven't posted for a while (hope all is OK)I have spent my whole evening going through your blog posts - right to the very beginning!
    Don't call me a stalker...! You have such a lovely, warm tone to your writing that makes me feel like I really know you - aren't blogs wonderful?!

    I am now a new follower and can't wait to find out what's been going on with you recently...

    K x

    p.s you have settled our family argument about whether to go for a brown or a black lab for our first dog. Adorable Bella's eyes won my other half over to my side!

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  8. Hello K, thanks so much for your lovely message, I've done that, going back over someone's blog, many a time!
    I'm a bit tied up with family stuff and work at the mo but I will be back ( just like Arnie!) as for the Labradors, I would say chocolates are a little more loopy than the others, Red is as chilled out as they come and luckily Bella picked up his good habits.. But she can be a little minx!! I'd like one in every shade, they are such lovely, loving dogs and fun to walk. Have fun with your new pal when you get her or him! X

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  9. Hi there you know it is amazinghow many blog entries I have read in the last couple of weeks where people are starting to de clutter their stuff - even vintage - I am going the same way. We have tirfed stuff out to the charity that hasnt sold at the few fairs we do and packing stuff from our own rooms to sell off. Is it something in the air............. Have I missed whre the stinky boys have gone? hasn't one gone in the Army?
    I have one 27 year old daughter left who is paying her debts off this year and then moving out in 2014, but wants her bedroom makeover now! believe me girls are not clean and tidy either!!

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    1. Hello Mrs A, thanks for your message, sorry for this late reply.. The boys have indeed left home, 21 years have gone by in a flash,but they still cause me endless worry! It's quite reassuring to know girls are just as bad!! Well done you for de- cluttering, I didn't get very far at all!! X

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  10. Hillbilly Bella, you look darling! Tell Mum please I very much enjoyed visiting and will be back!
    All the best,

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    1. hello, like a good girl , Bella passed the message on and we both thank you very much :)

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  11. Just popping in to see your shades! However lovely to see your new decoration - I like grey too as it goes with all sorts and is inoffensive don't you think. Good to hear that you are busy - I know that feeling, something has to give and often that means the pleasant, crafty things in life sadly. Did you catch my hanger post? Daft loads of all cods really
    Best wishes
    Jenny

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    1. Hello Jenny, Yep, I really should pull my finger out and write a new post to show and tell my lampshades! I did see your post about the hangers, you lucky thing! They painted them such lovely colours back then, I keep meaning to cover some modern padded hangers with old fabric. Do you think that's cheating a little?!
      Ps the lounge is still grey but a much more agreeable grey, you're right it's a good neutral and a good backdrop for some of those fifties colours. I'm on the hunt for some more spinners fabric in mustard now for a footstool. Its like looking for hens teeth!

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