By the way, I’ve just removed the Love Mae decals and they are still super sticky, just like they promise Value for $$$, love that! I can’t wait to put them up in the boys new room.

So, without further ado, here is the living room, finished.  And not a sign of Thomas the Tank Engine (hooray to packing, we are on a Thomas and Friends holiday).

One of the major selling points for me, when we purchased this house, was these windows.

I wish I had more time to add to it, I think living in a space for a while gives it time to evolve and feel a bit more lived in. I am really happy with it though, particularly the paint colour.  We are so crazy about it, we’re giving serious consideration to using it again in our new home.

Now, for the details:

• Paint : For the walls, British Paints ‘White Albatross’; for the trim, Dulux ‘Vivid White’.

• Curtains – Ikea Aina, $89.95 a pair.

• Tall Lamp – remember this lamp?  Yes, it is, the very same.  I tried a Signature Prints wallpaper, but it just wasn’t working.  I think the Ink and Spindle fabric is just the ticket.

• Bentwood Chair – I blogged about these chairs a while back.

• White Mirror – This was a 50% off Target find, painted in an awful cream and gold finish.  Hello white spray paint.

• Doily Rug – A perfect example of how purchasing home decor magazines may lead to my financial ruin.  As soon as I saw that rug I was… hooked.  Crochet Lace Rug by Hooked Design, available at Gallop Lifestyle

• Cushions: Signature Prints

I wish my house looked this neat all the time, alas this was for the benefit of our real estate agent…

Things to do on a rainy day #65: Get Your Groove On

The boys are settling in well, and their Grandparents are (of course) very excited to have them here.  The weather has been lovely, and although it is drizzling today, it makes for a nice change from our constant sunny days in Western Australia and I don’t mind one bit.  We made the most of the first couple of sunny days by getting out and about in my Mum’s beautiful garden…

I wasn’t quite quick enough to join in with Kate’s ‘Where Do You Blog?’ party – but it’s been a lot of fun looking at everyone’s blogging spaces.  I thought it would be nice to share though.  This is my little set up.  I have a desk down in the spare room, but it’s way down the other end of the house, and it’s generally covered in craft and/or sewing stuff and I really dislike being surrounded by clutter, it drives me a bit batty.

You might remember my wallpapered desk from this post earlier this year.  If you want to have a go at something similar, but you’re not sure how to go about it, you can check out my tutorial over at Crafty Nest.  The lamp may look familiar – Belinda over at the Happy Home posted a great DIY how-to on painting a lamp like mine (a thrift find – bargain!), I so wanted to paint it yellow but the store was all out and I was too impatient to wait. Hopeless!  The mood board you can also see in a little more detail here.

I do have another blogging spot, snuggled up on the couch in front of the TV.  I’ll save that spot for another day, when it’s not covered in a big pile of washing!

Do you have a favourite blogging spot?

Before

Now, I know the ‘Before’ isn’t at all offensive – but I was just not feeling the love for that two-tones-that-doesn’t-quiet-mesh-right look, and you all know I’m all about the grey walls at the moment. 

After

 Now, the details. 

• Paint for the walls is British Paints ‘White Albatross’, the trim is Dulux ‘Vivid White’.

• Curtains – Ikea Aina, a bargain at $89.95 a pair, I’ve decked out the lounge and dining rooms with these, and they are great!  I couldn’t buy them online at Ikea Direct and I tried to get them from Sydney, they don’t do shipping.  Finally, after weeks of shopping around, and with winter setting in, I revisited their online store in the hope of finding something else… and low and behold, there they were.  They are lovely.  They’re thin, but I love the way the light filters through them.  I’ve seen a few people use the unbleached – linen look, and they’re gorgeous, but I wanted more white so I took a (small) risk and went with the unseen bleached. I couldn’t be happier.

• The cute little cruet set was an ebay find.

• I’m totally over our dining setting, but it is staying… for now.

 One more project down.

Today I’m really excited to join Pin It Forward, hosted by Victoria of sfgirlbybay and the team at Pinterest, where 300 bloggers are sharing their interpretation of “What Home Means to Me”.

I’ve lived in such an array of houses during the past 15 years.  From this cold and dingy student flat, to this incredible historic treasure; from our first little miners cottage, to our much-loved family home.  They’ve all been “home”, even if just for a short time, forever stamped with the memories created. 

When we purchased our current abode, it took months before I felt like I could really call it home.  It’s a beautiful house with gorgeous bones, but all the memories we’d created as a new family – spending our first night in our own home; the day we adopted Wilson; bringing Noah home for the first time; his first smile; first steps; and even the mundane day-to-day stuff, we had left behind.  We had to start over. We have painted and shifted and shuffled things and built and cooked and laughed and loved.  And at some stage, during all that painting and shifting and shuffling, and more mundane, boring day-to-day living, this house has become our home. And I love it.

But(!), there is still so much I long to do.  Here is my interpretation of What Home Means to Me.  It’s a dream rather than the current reality – but you have to have goals, right?!  You can check out my full Pinterest board here, but here is a little preview:

 

Be sure to check out Michelle at Sudio Surface, who kindly pinned it forward to me, and stop by and visit Jess at A Life So Peachy who will be adding her post tomorrow.

Image Source: please see my Pinterest board for image credits.

I managed to clear out my diving gear and various bits of junk that were stored in the hallway at the back door, and get the sanding done, so I’m ready to paint this room this weekend (in between loads and loads of washing that are piling up!). This is a bit of a problem area. It serves as the back door to the house, as well as the entrance to both the laundry and spare bedroom. I was thinking of putting it to use as a mudroom but I’m having second thoughts, will it make people feel as if they’ve been shoved into a service area?

One thing I would like to do is hang a curtain in the laundry doorway (the one we’re looking through in the second and third images) so it doesn’t have to be the first thing you see when leaving the bedroom.

Looking towards the hallway and spare room (left)

Looking towards the spare bedroom and hallway (right)

Looking towards the spare room and back door to left.

I’m curious to know what you would do with this area? I’m feeling the need for a rug and definitely a new light shade. It’s a low roof and a sloping ceiling – just to throw in another challenge.

Thoughts?