A SURPRISE VISIT AND RENOVATIONS UNDERWAY
Posted 08-02-2010 at 06:22 AM by SummerSkye
Much to my horror, in the midst of all the chaos, my sister announced that she and my brother in law were unable to wait any longer and were planning a visit. Looking at the state of the cottage I realised that it would be a very long wait indeed until completion of the renovations. On one of our walks around the town we had noticed a gorgeous cottage in pretty gardens which flowed down almost to the lake edge, closer inspection showed it to be a B&B or rather a self contained cottage. Perfect solution, we booked it for a couple of days.
Inspecting that cottage had me mentally swopping homes or at least envisioning a fairygodmother, her wand ready to work her magic on mine. The owner however, knew my cottage from earlier times and assured me it was once a lovely home with prize winning gardens, and could be again.
Her cottage had magnificent lake views and at dusk platypus could be spotted if one was quiet enough.
Both native ducks and domestic ducks grazed along the foreshore making a very peaceful picture.
Those few days passed too quickly and all too soon we were once more saying goodbyes … at least in the interim the electrician had finished the rewiring and we could now start on some painting. Time to decide on colours.. yet again! … I love cottages in varying shades of cream and yellowish, clotted creams, white I find too stark, especially in a wet and cool area, however as this cottage was already painted everywhere in light yellow I felt something drastic was needed .. a touch of colour.
Preparation took longer than the actual painting. The ceilings were the original baltic pine but had been painted at some stage. They were very badly discoloured and large gaps had opened up between the boards. We bought the gap filler by the carton. OH painted a coat of 3 in 1 and then 2 topcoats of finish paint, even in a small room it was time and labour intensive but the finished result was worth it. Instead of white (for the ceilings and woodwork) we used “breadcrumbs” which became a different colour depending on where it was used but basically it is a white with a hint of grey.
The bedroom became the palest of peach. The hall likewise combined with a dado of Hot Spice to jazz it up. New light fittings were installed, curtains hung and at least I had one lovely clean finished room, a refuge from the rest of the cottage. Before and after photographs below.
Inspecting that cottage had me mentally swopping homes or at least envisioning a fairygodmother, her wand ready to work her magic on mine. The owner however, knew my cottage from earlier times and assured me it was once a lovely home with prize winning gardens, and could be again.
Her cottage had magnificent lake views and at dusk platypus could be spotted if one was quiet enough.
Both native ducks and domestic ducks grazed along the foreshore making a very peaceful picture.
Those few days passed too quickly and all too soon we were once more saying goodbyes … at least in the interim the electrician had finished the rewiring and we could now start on some painting. Time to decide on colours.. yet again! … I love cottages in varying shades of cream and yellowish, clotted creams, white I find too stark, especially in a wet and cool area, however as this cottage was already painted everywhere in light yellow I felt something drastic was needed .. a touch of colour.
Preparation took longer than the actual painting. The ceilings were the original baltic pine but had been painted at some stage. They were very badly discoloured and large gaps had opened up between the boards. We bought the gap filler by the carton. OH painted a coat of 3 in 1 and then 2 topcoats of finish paint, even in a small room it was time and labour intensive but the finished result was worth it. Instead of white (for the ceilings and woodwork) we used “breadcrumbs” which became a different colour depending on where it was used but basically it is a white with a hint of grey.
The bedroom became the palest of peach. The hall likewise combined with a dado of Hot Spice to jazz it up. New light fittings were installed, curtains hung and at least I had one lovely clean finished room, a refuge from the rest of the cottage. Before and after photographs below.
Total Comments 3
Comments
|
Wonferful Summerskye, what a difference a coat of paint makes. The pale colours will help with the summer heat also, you have both worked so hard. I have loads of pine to paint over, mostly ceilings and not looking forward to it. I should have said, several coats of paint!
|
Posted 08-02-2010 at 07:06 AM by Pippa
|
|
|
It looks lovely Skye! The bedroom looks very calm and peaceful. You really worked hard, my goodness, but it was worth it in the end. xx
|
|
Posted 08-02-2010 at 07:15 AM by Crocus
|
|
|
Its beginning to look lovely, Summer but I don't envy you all the hard work
|
|
Posted 08-02-2010 at 10:02 AM by cindy
|
Recent Blog Entries by SummerSkye
- A SURPRISE VISIT AND RENOVATIONS UNDERWAY (08-02-2010)
- The beginning ... start of the renovations .. (04-02-2010)
- RETURN TO TASMANIA .. a new adventure begins (03-02-2010)
- Counting down... 17 days to go... (14-10-2007)
- A New Adventure (07-10-2007)
