Well hello!  I found another free bench that I liked and just couldn't leave all forlorn…  I had vague plans in the back of my mind to paint it white but to be honest did little but plonk it in the shadiest plot in the garden thinking how nice it would be in the heat of the summer to sit on under the shade of the huge fig tree that we really are very lucky to have at the Beach Cottage.  I had other ideas too that this part of the garden would be all perfect, full of old David Austin roses, ivy and, oh, you get the picture.  That side of it certainly hasn't happened (and if you look closely you can see the ugliest breeze block bbq in the world behind) but I'm pleased with this old bench, it's rickety and wonky and kinda tatty.  It feels like it's got some memories and is certainly worse for the wear, something you just don't find when you buy something new from a shop…

The Beach Cottage kiddos are still on holiday so life is ticking along nicely and today after a truly gloriously hot day, sprinkled with sparkly sunshine and filled with surf lessons, beach coffee meet-ups and gymnastics runs I thought I might like to go out there for some afternoon tea, with a pile of mags, my new bag, some old linen and while away an hour before real life begins again anytime soon. 

There was a certain teenage question.  "Mum, why are you sitting with a tablecloth?"  "Beacause it's old, soft and I love the hand emroidery". 

Shake of teenage head, raise of teenage eyebrows.  "Errr, right, here's your tea." 

I've been making over furniture for a while now, but I still pretty much wing it and hope for the best.  Mixed with my perfectionist streak this technique has proved quite successful.  My very first furniture conquest was the cupboard in the Beach Cottage entrance hallway.  I remember exactly where I got it, a wonderful, true junk shop in a market town in the middle of England.  I loved it's bun feet, the little pattern running along the top edge and the glass panels.  The old gor blimey guys I bought it from were surprised I wanted it (I bet they wished they'd said more, and back in those days I probably woulda still bought it…), that day was the first time I experienced Thrift Thrill & the first time I did the happy thrifting dance.  Ooooh yeah.  I still have that cupboard, filled with dvd's now and the glass panels lined with a gorgeous Amy Butler print…

I can't over emphasise how much I love searching for old furniture, suddenly spying a rickety old piece that's in serious need of some magic.  First I check the price tag to see if it's do-able then I stand back and imagine.  Mr Beach Cottage sometimes rolls his eyes to heaven and doubts whether what I've bought will look nothing other than the piece of unwanted junk that someone else has given away…he's often proven wrong, shakes his head and says I've 'got the eye'.  Not sure what this eye looks like but I'm so pleased I got it.

So this year I have had errrm rather a few projects that could make it into Rhoda's Before and After Party, make sure you go visit to get heaps of inspiration…I just love love love before and afters, they rock, just so amazing how you can take something and make it special with a tiny bit of effort and not just that, to be honest, it gives me hope that yes I can have a really nice home, without having to walk into a store and spend a fortune. 

The desk and chair are my favourite, kinda hard to decide considering just how many beauties I found this last few months, but takes first place because just so much of a complete transformation but together with very practical as Mr Teenage Beach Cottage bagged them for his room for his homework .  This desk I picked up for a song in a sad old state, crying out for some Beach Cottage love…I spent some time cleaning, I like to vacuum first, then wipe clean with a rag and some detergent, then go over with some disinfectant, before all the painting and new look (you can see how I paint etc, here)…it looked like this before

Then the vinyl lined chair and orangey varnished desk…

There was a very gruesome little brown table that I made over with some icy blue paint (and see more of it here) , that sang to the heavens and sat happily in the family room

And a few others that went well…(you can see more projects, how-to's and makeovers here)….I'll leave you with a few of my fave pics and say to you, if you are, like I was, a bit hesitant, have a go, it's cheap, easy, weirdly therapeutic and of course, kind apt in these economic times.