So I'm getting through each room slowly but surely. Who knows, by the end of the year you may have seen the whole house!
Best laid plans go out the window on a daily basis at the moment, and just when I think I'm on track and getting through things, the baby decides not to sleep for several hours and wants to be carried instead, so the half made cushion, the half finished blog post and half fed children get put on the back burner - and I pour myself another glass of wine!
BEFORE
Poppy's bedroom started out with this navy spotted wallpaper and dark painted cupboard doors. So we had the painter strip the wallpaper, which was an expensive and time consuming process. I think we would have been better just re-papering over it, because it was a huge hassle stripping it off, then they had to replaster a lot of places because there were big chunks missing and it was uneven. Lesson learned.
The old doors were hollow, flimsy and the door handles too high. So we replaced them with new panelled doors which meant we were able to replace the hardware too, and reposition it in the right place. My husband was against this expense, but again I think it was money well spent. One of those details you don't notice, but which make a difference to the overall quality perception.
We also replaced all the skirtings, (got rid of those horrid bullnose skirtings) and the architraves, which I replaced to match those downstairs. Again, an expense that wasn't necessary but worthwhile, so now all those architectural details from the downstairs and upstairs match, and it gives an overall sense of quality and substance that I think is important not just for us living there, but for prospective buyers in the future.
TIP - I think the bigger the better for timber details like that, as it makes a room look more solid, substantial, spacious and gives a more quality finish overall. My husband thought it was a waste of money as nobody would notice, but I know it makes a big difference even if it's a detail you don't consciously notice, it impacts the overall look of the space.
DURING
When the painters were painting the house I couldn't decide what colour to paint the room, and although I had found the floral fabric I just couldn't get a nice pink. They were all too sickly. So with the pressure on I just opted to paint the room Dulux Antique White USA, which I have never used before because I find it a bit too creamy. But for this room it was perfect.
Once the cupboard doors were painted white it made a huge difference too. The room faces east so it gets plenty of lovely morning sunshine and then is protected from the westerly sun in the afternoon, but the light walls keep the room bright all day.
When I was 8 mths pregnant and trying to get the room finished before having the baby (yeah, right!) I decided the room needed a lift, and having been inspired by lots of DIYers on blogs who painted their own stripes, I thought I could save on the expense of wallpaper and do it myself. I found a pretty Taubmans pink which was like a pale shell pink which I matched to the softest pink in the fabric.
My husband went away for a week, and I got busy with the blue tape and paint brush. I thought I would just do one feature wall behind the bed, but it really needed the whole room done, and made such a difference.
Painting the horizontal stripes made the room appear much bigger and more spacious. It was well worth the two days it took and all the prep and fussing involved - and you know how much I hate that!
AFTER
DETAILS
I made the valance using scraps of leftover fabric used in the roman blind. I bought the pretty polka dot at Bargain Upholstery Fabrics in Seaforth, but they sold out when I went back for more, so had to make do with what I had left.
See
here for the tutorial on making a cheat's stick-on valance.
The gorgeous apple green scalloped edge Matouk bedspread was one I bought in New York last year at
Gracious Home. They have a stunning range of bed linen including their own range, and you can buy online too.
The bedhead fabric is San Lorenzo in Sky by
Westbury Textiles. I love that it's girly and pretty, but not juvenile, so something that will last as she grows up, and while it has all the lovely feminine pastel colours, the background is a gorgeous blue, so it's not too much pink.
I designed the shape and had the bedhead custom made. I love statement bedheads, but I think you have to be careful they aren't too tall and end up looking like a tombstone.
All the bed linen bar the white bedspread on the end of the bed, I bought at Gracious Home NY. It's a combination of
Lulu DK,
Matouk, Souleiado and the Gracious Home brand.
I just love the scalloped detail on this little boudoir pillow. That's the kind of thing they do so well in the US, stunningly pretty and well priced bed linen.
The
Cath Kidston bunting was my husband's contribution, which he brought back from the UK after visiting during the Jubilee, where every building was covered in bunting. Luckily it matched!
This is the lampshade I made with some of the leftover fabric. You can see the tutorial
here. The pink bobble trim I also bought at Bargain Upholstery Fabrics at Seaforth. They have a great selection of trim, tassels and the like, as well as hundreds of discounted fabrics.
I couldn't have a room for Poppy and not have some! The white tray I bought at Bed Bath n Table recently. It's only plastic, so it's perfect for kids or a bathroom. They also have it in silver which I bought for our bathroom.
The personalised name I had made when we lived in Bowral, through a lovely children's boutique called
Little Steps. It was white, but just disappeared on the white wall, so I painted it pink.
These gorgeous prints I bought recently from Kerri at
Driftwood Interiors. She has a store on Etsy and on
Down That Little Lane (a fabulous online store selling beautiful, bespoke homewares), where you can buy her beautiful prints. I thought the colours in these interiors paintings were perfect for the room, and again not too childish or twee. I think it's really hard to find nice artwork for kids' bedrooms, that isn't too themey or obvious.
I bought these simple white frames from Target for $30 each yesterday, but the prints were so pretty they demanded something a bit more special. So instead of having them custom framed with a coloured mat, I added the ribbon trim on the border which I think looks fabulous and now they show up on the wall. I'll do a tutorial about that later so on.
The bamboo lantern I bought online last year during the renovation from
Shades of Light and had it shipped over using
My US Shop n Ship. I had it converted here for about $100. I was going to paint it either pink or green, so it pops against the white ceiling, but haven't had a chance yet.
This cute little dress I bought in Noosa last year. The door knobs are from
Recollections.
This little dollshouse bookcase I bought at
Treehouse last year. It's supposed to be hung on a wall, but we don't have any spare wall space.
I had one of these made for Charlie first
here, so we did the same for Poppy and will have to get one for Amelia. They are a lovely memento board of that very special time.
I made the curtains using leftover fabric from the bedhead. I hardly had any left and didn't want to buy more, so could only make end panels rather than drawing curtains. But they make such a difference to the room. It looks bigger, the ceiling looks higher and it just feels more substantial and of course cosier. I had never made curtains before, so it was a complete make-it-up-as-I -go-along job.
The curtain rod is from
Spotlight. I tied the pink ribbon for a bit of fun and colour.
The cushion I made last week, again with remnant fabric and will show you the tutorial on that next. I am such a short-cut sewer, and don't even know how to do piping or zips or anything that doesn't involve sewing in a straight line. The bobble trim was a great idea from Katie at
Fig Interiors, which I glued on!
The pink velvet chair is from
Shack. I'm still not sure if I should paint it white as I wonder if the black is a bit grown up for a 3 yr old, but not sure I can bothered with the effort.
Here's the replacement cedar panelled door - much nicer than the hollow original, with new handles at the proper height. I bought them online and had them delivered.
This pretty personalised jewellery box I ordered from
Pottery Barn Kids. Hopefully they will have all that gorgeous customised homewares when they open here next year.
Here I go again with my covered tissue boxes. See
here for a tutorial on how to make them.
The cross-stitch bedspread folded on the bed (below) I bought recently at
Adairs.
All images by Melinda Hartwright for Georgica Pond Blog.
There you have it. Hopefully it was worth the wait! If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at mel@georgicapond.com.au.
