G'day girls, I hope your weekend meant you could sit around with your feet up drinking tea. My Saturday certainly did not provide that, I was the beachside taxi driver from hell but yesterday with a beautiful day forecast we headed down the beach at about 11am, stumbled into a few friends and mooched on home at about three o'clock. Mr Beach Cottage and I thanked our lucky stars for our new life in the sun, by the sea and although things here are sooo far from perfect with lots of real life pressures, being able to take time out at the beach really really does re-charge.
So, anyway, this coffee table, I am almost embarassed to tell you I picked up for zero, yep that would be nothing. I spied it outside the back of an old junk shop that likes to call itself an antique junque shop, but we all know that really it's proper junk mixed in with a tad of antique. Don't ask me what I was doing around the back of this shop but it has to do with paint and children and walking.
This old table was kinda propped up and looking very forlorn and sorry for itself, BUT it was just what I had been looking for for a long time – I had been harbouring romantic notions of a bistro we once had morning coffee in right down in the south of France, a few years before we came out to Australia. The outside area consisted of heaps of white painted furniture, truly chippy and shabby and dripping laid-back elegance. We sat at a table similar to this, strewn with cushions and throws. Rattan or wicker or whatever it is, criss-crossed to the sides and with the little wrapped corners, just like this one.
So when I saw it I really wanted it. Like really wanted it. I thought this old girl had just the right mix of beachy/rustic and vintage to sing once it got the beach whitewash.
I popped my head through the back door (in my running gear and errrm quite errrm sweaty and not attractive).
'Scuse me, is this old table for sale?
What, that old piece of junk?
Yep.
Nah, that's not for sale love, no-one will want that.
(What you mean no-one would want to buy a piece of junk like this from this junque shop?)
Errm, well how much do you want for it?
It's not for sale.
Oh ok but I like it?
Sorry I'm waiting for the boys to get rid of it for me, no use to anyone.
But I'd quite like it.
Whaaat??? You want that old piece o' junk? !
Yep.
Lady, you can have it!
Hoorah. So I scooted it into the back of the Beach Mobile before he could change his mind and think it might be a piece of junque rather than a piece of junk.
It's been sitting in the whitewashing studio, *wink forever and waiting and just recently it finally got some treatment as I'd found a chair while not the same, I thought might tie in quite nicely with it.
So I brought it into the cottage as a place for books and magazines (not that I have that many, of course not, ho ho ho) and just a place to sit and flick. Because I sooooo like doing that.
And if you like to sit and flick too, while I can't provide you with a vintage table from a junque shop, I can give you a chance to win my new favourite coffee time browsing.
Easy Elegance, from Atlanta Bartlett – easy to dip into for a little bit of somtimes unrealistic but fabulously inspiring ideas to fill your home with laid-back charm, and make you dream of the easy elegance of a French cafe somewhere in a former life…
For a chance to win, just leave a comment anytime this week on any post. Oh and yep I'll ship anywhere.
One comment = one entry, so if you comment 102 times you'll get, yep you guessed it 102 chances to win.
And if you subscribe to my feed I'll make sure you're entered lots of times.
Kelly from Design-Ties is the winner of last weeks' giveaway, congrats – two beachy stripe cushion covers will be winging their way over the oceans sometime soon!
…stacked to the brim full of white inspiration – pictures and things I've found to keep in an online portal to inspire me
Blogged for Susan's event over at Between Naps on the Porch, where on Mondays you will find a whole heap of creative and inspirational gals in the real world making over…and Rhoda's thrifting show and tell, here
If you enjoyed this post, sign-up for the Beach Cottage email updates (just up there on the top right of the bar) for more chances to win and to access more from the Beach Cottage….unplugged!
I love your table and I like the story of how you found it. I love to treasure hunt and free is better than cheap! You have it accessorized so nicely too. I would love to enter in your drawing for the book. goodday! Mary
your coffee table is great! I just got a whole bedroom suite this weekend for free!!! I hve no where to put it and I need to do sme wor to it butit was FREE!
I’d love a chance at your book and thanks for visiting my blog! Yours is fun!
I just found your blog. I must say your home is beautiful.(as well as your blog)
I love how crisp and clean all the white looks. I currently have a 9 year old and a 21 month old so even the dark colors show stains!!! I also subscribed. Can’t wait to see more.
(zippieee@msn.com)
Thanks so much
Love your table,i had a similar experience with my cane coffee table,its amazing what some people throw out and the guy i got it from obviously thought i was a looney,kept shaking his head at me,no imagination clearly, now it sits beautifully restored in my lounge room.
Thanks so much for the cushions!! I can’t wait to see them in real life — they’re going to have the perfect home in our cottage by the lake It’s not quite a beach cottage, but almost
The table was a great find — can’t do better than FREE!!! It looks great freshened up with its new coat of white paint
BTW, I’m still including your badge and May giveaways in our sidebar — not to win again, I just want to let our blog visitors know about your giveaways
I think the table and chair look gorgeous, what a lucky find, that never happens to me! I love Atlanta Bartlett – I spend ages drooling over her houses
I wish I could leave 102 comments so I could win this book, but I would sure hate to resort to leaving insubstantial comments as I really can’t think of anything really to say. I hope you had a safe trip.
Found your blog last week thru Southern Hospitality blog; spent an entire Saturday night reading through! Love it, love your taste, love your adventures. This latest find, both free and fantastic (table) provides vicarious, ‘boom-boom’ thrills! Reminds me so much of my now-departed grandparents’ cabins down on the Texas Gulf Coast. Keep up the wonderful work (words and photos).
You scored! What a fantastic find. And for free! Every time you find something that’s blah and transform it in to something lovely just with white paint, it makes me want to paint every piece of furniture in my house white.
ur story is so much like mine, we r leaving Boston and moving to Flordia in 9 more days, the moving truck comes monday, I live in a 2 bdrm condo and bought a 4 bedrm house, I have been buying things off craigslist, I was misdiagnosed 4 yrs ago and had bilateral nerve surgery on my feet, I was left with severe nerve damage, I am now disabled, this is the reason I am moving to a warmer climate, so I can swim and try riding a bike at night while my dog walks beside me, I can go to the ocean whenever I want, I needed to do something to change my life, for I was bed ridden for 2 yrs, I was on so much pain meds just to try to walk to the bathroom, I was only married for 1 yr and 4 days when this happened, my husband is moving with me and does not even have a job down there yet, but I know in my heart all will work out, you know what I mean since you did this yourself, I have been praying so much and it just seem to all come together, so I am ready to go, been living with boxes all over the place, I came upon your site by google, I entered decorating with white furniture which I have. I want my living room to be different, my style is cottage, shabby chic, french country..I love, love your site so happy I found you, do you make any of your furniture? I would like to try and make a country coffee table, I like to pick up old things and paint them new, I have not had much luck since I am moving, but I have found so many places in Flordia that sell this stuff, just so excited, thanks for allowing me to write to you, your moving story touched me soince I am going thru this now, I look forward learning from you, Kindly, Janice Power
Do you sell items? and do you have a store, it must be very hard to give away items and pay for this, no one does this, you are amazing to make people happy like this and to share your story and knowledge of decorating, you respond so fast to my email how exciting is it to chat with you on another part of the world, I have seen so many pics of Australia and it is beautiful, boy do I wish I could of gone there, getting my husband to move to Flordia was extremly difficult, but we will be on our way in days, the beaches there are so beautiful, what part are you in? sometimes I read the news in Perth, Western Australia, and I look at pics on http://www.earthcam.com this is my only way to see the world, I love it, nice to dream of these places, when I was bed ridden my husband bought me a laptop, this saved my life, I was so active before all this so it was very difficult not being able to do anything, I found help thru another person online at wellness resources, I have alot of vitamans for nerve pain and it helps so much, I walk almost everyday now, I know Flordia will change my life for all good things, I will be so much stronger swimming everyday, ok enough now back to your vintage work I LOVE IT….thanks so much for being you….Kindly, ~janice power
G'day! I'm Sarah, I live in a tatty old cottage, near the sea in Australia with a battered old deck & a big old fig tree out the back...stripped wooden floors, old sash windows & a jumble of vintage furniture. [Read More …]
Well G’day Beach Cottage ladies. Of course some of you guessed correctly, no flies on Beach Cottage gals are there? A Summer House window dressing, beach vintage style. One that I got very wrong. I’ll keep this short and sweet The vintage crochet patchwork curtain? Love. Pure love. But, put it this [...]
G'day ladies, let's have a Too Easy Beach Cottage recipe yeah? The original place for Too Easy Recipes on the web ;-)
So, after my last salad went down a storm in my inbox, that's here if you missed it, I had to do this one seeing as I make it most weeks.
There is a problem with this salad and kiddos though...it looks, well, it looks, kinda yucky...but once they try it, they'll ask if and when they are next having it....at least that's what happens in this ratty old cottage...but I must interject here that my kiddos are 'good eaters'? ...they didn't get a choice in that ;-)
Now, stop, don't start running and hitting that next on your blog reading list, pulses are your best friend in the Too Easy Dump & Go kitchen for the busy mum, or busy anyone for that matter...that reminds me I must blog the garlic canneloni Go To for when you forgot to do dinner, feel like a bath but have three ravenous young Beach Cottage Kiddos on your hands...another day.
I am almost embarrassed to tell you how easy this is, we have it so much that I always have a couple, make that six, cans of lentils around and a jar of goat's cheese in the fridge...the great thing about this is that it's all too easy to get ready in just a few minutes, but it looks, tastes and seems like you did oh so very much more than that.
You can obviously too change it up a bit depending on what you have to hand in your kitchen, and I must say that is how I settled on this version...because one day when I made it I didn't have enough Parsley in the garden and so I chucked in some basil too, and liked the Summer feel it added.
I think of this as being a rather posh salad, not sure why, because it couldn't really be further from the truth...the great thing is that it works so well for an average run of the mill day, (when I did this for this blog post, it was a hot Sydney Sunday and I did it just simply to go with Rosemary & Garlic stuffed pork, you can see that pork here),
...but just as easily it works on a regular old Wednesday night when you have lost all enthusiasm for rustling up yet another meal, or indeed on Saturday night, when your friends are on their way over for dinner and you my friend, are in your new vintage inspired clawfoot bathtub (that's me in a few weeks time, k?) without any clothes on, a tipple and no idea what to cook for dinner...
I have a complicated and ever-changing relationship with goat's cheese...it never fails me in its performance and it never fails to impress me (you can find out a bit more on what I like in food here if you like) and I kinda collect it...because it's very easy to collect and has a fairly long fridge-life, I love trying out different ones and there's not many things I love more than goat's cheese on sourdough...but I think the best thing about it is not thinking about it exclusively in the toast/salad department...I've stuffed it in chicken and all sorts of things as a last minute and it's been fab.
But let's get down to the nitty gritty of this super salad that makes you look like an angel who has been on her knees all day scrubbing the front step when really you are in the digital world and spent most of ...
G'day Beach Cottage ladies, howdy, howdy howdy today for a Beach Cottage Too Easy recipe.
If you like cake, cream, sugar and chocolate, make this.
This is, rather than a recipe, a putting it together...as you know I am no dessert maker, but, I do make quite a few sweet things, because, somehow I have ended up with kiddos, who in their roles as offspring, believe that part of the deal, is that not only do I feed them a home-cooked meal with a few homegrown ingredients in there, yes, they also believe that dessert and not the kind that comes out of a packet is included too in this All-Inclusive Deal they call Parenthood.
So, this, for sure, is no culinary masterpiece, but if you are looking for something that is so very easy, dump-able, uses everyday ingredients and at the same time makes you look like you spent hours pulling things together plus tastes good....well, then this is for you.
Best though, you don't make this for yourself, if you have spent the most part of your week sitting on your derriere reading blogs...this my friend ain't low in the calories department...if, however, you are treating yourself to a delight in a mason jar, this is so for you.
I first had a version of this when at dinner back in Old Blighty with a girl, I once, in another life, caught the train up from our village to London with...she was a funny thing really...I am not quite sure how we got on...she was kinda prissy and a bit bothered by too much...I would run to the train flustered, having got up late, and she would have a spreadsheet on the train times, if you know what I mean.
Anyway, a few years later when we both had bambinos, I bumped into her again and we met up for playdates and dinner sometimes....this particular night, after a lovely meal she served up little bowls of creamy, cakey fruity stuff topped off with chocolate flake...it was delicious!
She didn't serve hers in little jars like this, hers were in a champagne glass and not quite so layered as these ones, plus she used tinned fruit not fresh or frozen.
Years later when said offspring kept requesting dessert, one day I wangled together somehow these from what was around in the fridge and they've been with us ever since.
Most likely, if you ever come here for dinner, and shock horror, you dont' bring the dessert with you, this, if you are lucky, will be what you will get.
Throw it all together, sprinkle a lil bit of chocolate on the top and the blog reading past-time you so rudely left in order to make this, is my friend, your oyster.
Beach Cottage Too Easy Layered Raspberry, Cream & Sponge Dessert
1 small maderia or butter cake or a pack of cupcakes (or of course make your own)
1/2 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
8 tbsp fruit
1 x chocolate Flake or chocolate bar for grating
1. beat the cream cheese until it is soft
2. whip the cream until soft peaks form
3. combine & add the sugar through
4. cut your cake into portions
& layer into the bottom of your jar
5. add a tablespoon of fruit
6. layer on top the cream combo
7. repeat
8. grate chocolate or Flake on top
*Beach Cottage Recipe Notes : this is just a guide really, you can use any cream that you have on hand...I have made this with clotted cream (don't even go there unless you want to seriously get these babies on your thighs), with double cream and I have even, in desperate times squirted in that, ...
G'day Beach Cottage ladies, well I thought it was time for some blogging tips here today, alongside a few nice flowers and shells ;-)
I was recently part of a blogger discussion group over at Kidspot and a couple of hours later had a few questions from girls who couldn't make it to the live chat, one was on my Facebook page and one via email, the Facebook one I will deal with in another Real Girl Blogging Tips post...the email one asked me what essentials do I think every blog needs?
Well I have been around here for a while now doing the blogging thing, so I should know this, yeah and I mused this on my walk by the sea this morning I thought well what do you only need?
...I think it is really very easy when blogging, whether or not you are blogging up there in the lofty heights of the Super Bloggers or you are just dipping your toe in the water, to get side-tracked by 101 million different things that are 'essential' to your blog and if you are someone like me who actually gets a thrill from reading blogging tips then you are in an even worse place because you will find yourself literally buzzing with these essential things to add/do/implement on your blog.
However, walking along, gulping down that brisk sea air today (no sunshine & clouds) I thought you actually don't need any of that professional blogging stuff to be successful...but there are a few things that are pretty much crucial ...and once I started to think about it I got it down to about 5 - these are the only things that you need to concentrate on...once you have read through take a look at some of the big girl's blogs...you'll see that actually they don't have bundles of stuff on their blogs...but they do have all of these...
So here are my top things that your blog must have
1. About Page
There are all sorts of About Pages out there, and if you search on it there are many different tips and ideas for what to have on yours
Whatever blogging platform you use, adding an About Me Page is easy, quick and simple and will do everything to grow your blog.
I like a long-ish About Page, I am inherently nosy and I like to know a bit more about the person but at the least you should have on it your name and where you are located. I also think a photo is good too...over the last year or so I think this has become more important in blogging - if you are hesitant about that as I was, you can try using sunglasses or a behind shot until you get comfortable.
There is nothing worse than stumbling upon a new blog and going to find out more to only be faced with a piddly little one liner About Me Page...well there is something worse, not having one at all!
2. Contact Page
The chances are someone, somewhere will want to contact you and you will be surprised what lands in your inbox once you put yourself out there on the world wide web with a blog.
Many bloggers also use this page to include details for PR's/brands that may want to contact them and some bloggers put their stats on there too.
A short, to the point and simple Contact Page works really well...whenever I have wanted to contact another blogger I am often very busy and have limited time so I don't want to hang around sifting through information looking for an email address, so concise and clear ...
G'day lovely Beach Cottage lovelies.
So, yeah, so on a roll people, so on a roll.
I feel kinda home accessory wired right now.
I am always telling people, if anyone ever listens, that blogging is all about passion, not that sort of passion, but about passion that makes one tick.
Things like this make me tick tick boom.
I love finding things that suit my budget and let me treat my home but look amazing too.
So without further adieu I introduce you, ladies of the beach, to the blue vintage glasses that I have been stroking for about a week or two now...
These glasses are from a little boutique I sometimes happen upon, this boutique sells also pet accessories, carpet cleaner, bras and compost...it's quite unique though.
And, thanks to my friend Marnie (she blogs over here, go take a look at her praying position, interesting), who just so happens to be one day having me over for a lil' Greek dinner, has let me in on the fact that we call Kmart....The KMart...with an accent ....as in 'I love The KMart'...just like her MIL does. Oh yeah. Love that.
So I have had my eye on reproduction vintage glass blue wine glasses and being trying to find real true vintage blue glasses for like ever.
Oh yes I have spied them in Frenchy boutiques, I have lusted after them in stores that I shouldn't even enter and I have put them back pretty quickly in those shops with the hand-written price tags. C'mon, you know the ones.
And, though all of the above have tempted me, muchly, really, even with my wardrobe stashing skills I just thought that, actually, I'd rather be saving that casherooni for our next trip overseas..
Hello The KMart.
Tick Tick Boom
Vintage style blue wine glasses.
Do not come to my old place and think you might pick up one of these and smile with pleasure at their handblown quality, their weight, and be secretly jealous that my wine glasses cost more than your car...friend, that would not happen...these do not feel like that...indeed these in a funny way reminded me of my baby girl, she was a tiny little thing, with stick legs, the tinsssssssiest ankles and wrists you ever did see, she slept sideways in her cot wedged in between rolled up blankets and would only settle attached to Mr Beach Cottage or I or a (dirty) pj top of mine scrunched up under her nose...the first few times I picked her up to cuddle, being used to Honeymoon Baby who weighed in at 9lbs at birth and has never really stopped growing, I nearly threw her little bird-cum-rat down covered body over my shoulder.
These glasses are like that...be careful or you might lose your wine down the front of your shirt.
But oh baby, we are not talking picking up here, we are not talking quality, we are not talking house accessory snobbery.
Beach Cottage ladies, we are talking aesthetics.
And this is what I need in my cottage.
Blue vintage style glass, paired with coastal / nautical / beach stuff on my deck.
It's The KMart.
Tune in tomorrow, tomorrow, I have more budget foofing for your home, or maybe it will be the dress that wraps me up in supermarket-chic and makes me feel like me again.
Good Day to you my friends, wanna come hang out on my deck, talk house accessories, The KMart and drink some wine from blue glasses?
Sarah
I love your table and I like the story of how you found it. I love to treasure hunt and free is better than cheap! You have it accessorized so nicely too. I would love to enter in your drawing for the book. goodday! Mary
I love that…and you have bottles in your burlap tote! LOVE it and love them.
gosh, great story and the usual amazing photos and project. have you considered writing a book? it would be beautiful!
xo
Really like your new table! Thank you for the chance to win the magazine.
Blessings,
Marie
blog: http://emmacallsmemama.com
email: marie@waltercom.com
Love your find!!
Love the table. I think it’s adorable.
I wish that I could escape away to the beach, even for an hour.
Sarah, you are my inspiration! free table amazing….
LuLu
Great find!
your coffee table is great! I just got a whole bedroom suite this weekend for free!!! I hve no where to put it and I need to do sme wor to it butit was FREE!
I’d love a chance at your book and thanks for visiting my blog! Yours is fun!
I just found your blog. I must say your home is beautiful.(as well as your blog)
I love how crisp and clean all the white looks. I currently have a 9 year old and a 21 month old so even the dark colors show stains!!! I also subscribed. Can’t wait to see more.
(zippieee@msn.com)
Thanks so much
Love your table,i had a similar experience with my cane coffee table,its amazing what some people throw out and the guy i got it from obviously thought i was a looney,kept shaking his head at me,no imagination clearly, now it sits beautifully restored in my lounge room.
I really enjoyed your story about the little table-and I would love to win the book.
What a great little table!
That table is lucky to have found YOU!!! You saved it and gave it a charmed life!
I came over from Rhoda’s. The photo and the table are great! I love the way you wrote out the experience of getting it.
Kelly
Love a free treasure find! – lucky little table to be given the beach cottage overhaul. Yay for flicking material!
Thanks so much for the cushions!! I can’t wait to see them in real life — they’re going to have the perfect home in our cottage by the lake
It’s not quite a beach cottage, but almost 
The table was a great find — can’t do better than FREE!!! It looks great freshened up with its new coat of white paint
BTW, I’m still including your badge and May giveaways in our sidebar — not to win again, I just want to let our blog visitors know about your giveaways
Thanks again!!
Kelly @ DesignTies
You’ve done it again! Great score!
LOVE FREEBIES
of course I subscribe
I think the table and chair look gorgeous, what a lucky find, that never happens to me! I love Atlanta Bartlett – I spend ages drooling over her houses
I wish I could leave 102 comments so I could win this book, but I would sure hate to resort to leaving insubstantial comments as I really can’t think of anything really to say. I hope you had a safe trip.
You always seem to be in the right place at the right time! Great table.
Clare x
Free things make the best type of treasure!
I love your blog….that shabby chic table is what I would love too. Lots of character and charm.
Excellent find! Love the coffee table…perfect for a beach cottage. White seems to be my newest obsession and this vignette is just lovely.
?, Susan
I live in a coastal cottage in Maine, USA. Your entire site is such wonderful inspriation to me! I can’t get enough!!
Found your blog last week thru Southern Hospitality blog; spent an entire Saturday night reading through! Love it, love your taste, love your adventures. This latest find, both free and fantastic (table) provides vicarious, ‘boom-boom’ thrills! Reminds me so much of my now-departed grandparents’ cabins down on the Texas Gulf Coast. Keep up the wonderful work (words and photos).
Hi! I just found your blog and I am in LOVE !!!
You scored! What a fantastic find. And for free! Every time you find something that’s blah and transform it in to something lovely just with white paint, it makes me want to paint every piece of furniture in my house white.
I’m really enjoying the shades and textures your white on white decor. Nothing like painting old furniture too! I love that.
ur story is so much like mine, we r leaving Boston and moving to Flordia in 9 more days, the moving truck comes monday, I live in a 2 bdrm condo and bought a 4 bedrm house, I have been buying things off craigslist, I was misdiagnosed 4 yrs ago and had bilateral nerve surgery on my feet, I was left with severe nerve damage, I am now disabled, this is the reason I am moving to a warmer climate, so I can swim and try riding a bike at night while my dog walks beside me, I can go to the ocean whenever I want, I needed to do something to change my life, for I was bed ridden for 2 yrs, I was on so much pain meds just to try to walk to the bathroom, I was only married for 1 yr and 4 days when this happened, my husband is moving with me and does not even have a job down there yet, but I know in my heart all will work out, you know what I mean since you did this yourself, I have been praying so much and it just seem to all come together, so I am ready to go, been living with boxes all over the place, I came upon your site by google, I entered decorating with white furniture which I have. I want my living room to be different, my style is cottage, shabby chic, french country..I love, love your site so happy I found you, do you make any of your furniture? I would like to try and make a country coffee table, I like to pick up old things and paint them new, I have not had much luck since I am moving, but I have found so many places in Flordia that sell this stuff, just so excited, thanks for allowing me to write to you, your moving story touched me soince I am going thru this now, I look forward learning from you, Kindly, Janice Power
Sarah,
Do you sell items? and do you have a store, it must be very hard to give away items and pay for this, no one does this, you are amazing to make people happy like this and to share your story and knowledge of decorating, you respond so fast to my email how exciting is it to chat with you on another part of the world, I have seen so many pics of Australia and it is beautiful, boy do I wish I could of gone there, getting my husband to move to Flordia was extremly difficult, but we will be on our way in days, the beaches there are so beautiful, what part are you in? sometimes I read the news in Perth, Western Australia, and I look at pics on http://www.earthcam.com this is my only way to see the world, I love it, nice to dream of these places, when I was bed ridden my husband bought me a laptop, this saved my life, I was so active before all this so it was very difficult not being able to do anything, I found help thru another person online at wellness resources, I have alot of vitamans for nerve pain and it helps so much, I walk almost everyday now, I know Flordia will change my life for all good things, I will be so much stronger swimming everyday, ok enough now back to your vintage work I LOVE IT….thanks so much for being you….Kindly, ~janice power