G'day bloggers! I had an eventful weekend to say the least, ending with a 3 hour trip to the hospital with Mr Teenage Beach Cottage. He's safe and sound though shell socked and very bruised after a nasty accident involving scateboards and concrete. Need I say more. Boys and their toys eh…
Anyway I did get around to giving this old ladder a whitewash. While out treasure searching recently I came across two of these vintage wooden ladders…not so easy to come by and then I find two at once. So delicious. I love them for display and thought this one might look quite nice in the ensuite.
Hmmm, now the ensuite, when we renovated it was not an ensuite at all, it was the original main bathroom to the original part of the cottage, however we don't believe it had actually been in use for years. So we blocked up the original door and put in a door into our bedroom. We didn't really plan this enough, at the time we were making 500 hundred decisions a day on what to do and what not to do. I *wish wish wish we had put a bath in, because it's tucked far enough away to mean it makes a good sanctuary from the stresses of the day and is a good hiding place from the kids.
So I've literally done nothing decor-wise in there – it is very plain, white tiles, white paint, white vanity, you get the picture, no fittings to the walls, I wanted those left clear, hence towels piled up on the floor with no place to live…it certainly needed a bit of depth and some texture so I thought a ladder would give me just that, stacked with towels and the odd shell or two.
I painted it using my usual Beach Cottage method though added just a touch of water to my paint rather than making a very watery mix as I wanted it to look quite white with just a hint of wood showing through. Then I sanded the edges with two different types of sandpaper…
I stacked up my towels, yes aren't I sooooo slovenly to have been keeping them piled on the floor, and added the old painted fishing basket to keep my cleaning products in
I'm so pleased with it, I feel like it looks so much better and I am sooooo pleased I didn't plunge ahead and buy the rather nice, rather pricey shelf-cum-ladder-affair that I recently saw in a rather lovely shop…
Oh and talking of shops and buying things I went to the beachy boutique today and oooh yeah they had some new lines in. So how about a Beach Cottage Giveaway?
I couldn't resist some of the napery so I gave myself a little treat – well ya know I do* have my bloggy friends to keep happy don't I? *wink…but also I decided it's time for a little bit of fun round here, what with all the doom and gloom about money and swines and flu left right and centre, so I bought two sets (actually I bought three) one for you and one for me.
I'll be posting the goodies on Thursday with a tablescape but I'll be drawing the winner from all comments, all week from Monday 04 through Sunday 10th.
Simple little rules, who wants those complicated ones? Here's how you can win
1. Just leave a comment and that's it (just remember to leave your email!)
2. If you link to me from your blog I'll double all your comments all week – you can just do a regular old link or copy the code below and add it to the html section so you get the Beach Cottage button.
<href=
http://abeachcottage.com><img alt="swing by the Beach Cottage Giveaway" src=http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo10/abeachcottage/beachbutton.jpg border="0" />
3. Tweet on Twitter about this giveaway (just let me know, http://twitter.com/abeachcottage so I can triple-up your entries)
4. Subscribe to my feed, just click on subscribe at the top of the page or click here and I'll add you soooo many times…just shoot me an email at abeachcottageblog@gmail.com with one of the secret little words…oooh yeah gotta love me a bit of espionage
happy days!
blogged for Susans Metamorphosis event over at Between Naps on the Porch
taking part in Kim's Giveaway Event – head on over and get yourself in the running for some breat bloggy prizes!
Dont hold your breath for the kirstie allsopp programme for you. not a hint of white in sight! In fact get your sunglasses on.
Hope you are well and doing fine.
love emma
Just found your blog…you make me want to go out and buy 25 gallons of white paint…LOVE EVERYTHING!
The ladder is perfect — it doesn’t take up much space, and the towels and shells on the rungs create a lovely display
Sorry to hear about your son’s skateboarding accident. Bumps and bruises are all part of being a kid — makes us tougher when we’re adults
Kelly @ DesignTies
Love the ladder. I have one and have just hung onto it waiting to find a picture to show me what to do with it. I will definitely be doing this.
Teresa
Just Fabulous! Thanks
Wow, that ladder looks amazing! I really wish I had one for my bathroom. Thanks for the idea and the giveaway.
-Desiree
Your white on white looks so refreshing!
I love LOVE love your ladder… oh my I want to come to your cottage to drool over your ladder! charming and perfect!!!
LuLu
Love this ladder idea! wouldn’t consider shipping the other one overseas would ya?
xo
Love that look!!!
m ^..^
Oh, my goodness – I’m so happy to have discovered your blog tonight! It’s beautiful…you have great style!
Thank you for letting others know about the Cottage Charm Giveaway event! Just let me know if you have a giveaway you want to add to the list. It’s growing larger by the day!
Ok…I’m off to add your site to my blogroll. It’s so inspiring!
~Kim
Pick me! Pick me! I’ve linked to you…come and see….and have a margarita while you’re at my blog–on me! Happy Cinco de Mayo! And, speaking of swines….so scary! We’re in San Diego. It’s spreading everywhere! Everyone’s in face masks! Adios!
Thank you for visiting my blog!
You have a beautiful bathroom, the ladder is lovely!
Have a nice day!
Lena
love the ladder and love your blog!!
chasity
I just recently found your blog…. and I love it. Your simple but lovely white decorating makes me want to head out for vacation by the beach. I look forward to each new thing you add.
Blessings!
Jennifer
i love your style. it looks so simple, clean and comfortable. i’m sure it takes lots of trials (for me, YOU have it down by now)to achieve that easy look. but i have your snaps to guide me. i always feel like i’ve been to the beach when i read your posts, but i actually live 1/2 hour inland…jkj
Hi Sarah,
How does it count with both Kelly and I entering?? Do we both benefit from having a single link on our blog?!
Love the ladder transformation, by the way! And the way you’ve displayed your linens with shells and starfish on top… so beachy!! But of course that’s the intention! Haha!
Victoria @ DesignTies
I just adore the ladder! I think I have the world’s smallest bathroom so this would be an amazing idea for my towels and linens.Maybe I can luck across a beauty like yours.Keep your fingers crossed.
The ladder looks fab! I love that look and its really quite a practical shelving idea. If my kids were not climbers I would consider it to but god knows what they would get up to if we had a ladder in the bathroom!!
add me in…anything you do is is ok by me! lol, cherry
Love your blog. It’s very inspiring. Your home is so beautiful.
It’s nice to find a great blog to follow and it’s an added bonus that you are Australian too.
My email is – melissa@pixelplus.com.au
Thanks,
Melissa
The ladder looks great in the bathroom..its very chic though… I love ur ideas as to how simple when well placed can look really great…
OMG Sarah have just realised did the Twitter thingy, posted your giveaway on my blog etc & forgot to make a comment…. so here it is, LOVE the look of your bathroom & am keeping my fingers & toes crossed. Have a great Mothers Day
Lyn xxxxx
That’s it! I’m bookmarking you! I hope you know how high an honor that is, and I’m sure you do as you’re a busy mama yourself! Your blog is just lovely and how you find such beautiful things and make them even more beautiful is inspiring. Thank you!
I love the ladder idea!
mj.coward@gmail.com
The ladder looks great…Your photos are lovely, crisp and inspiring.
I would have never thought to use a ladder that way! Thanks for the giveaway!
I proudly added your banner to my blog.
A ladder holding towels smart idea now to find an old ladder
I just love it when you find a cast off and turn it to a treasure!! You seem to have the talent! Another joy is to have you in my inbox…Go Girl!!! and have a delightful day!
just finished making over my daughtes study nook, similar to yours complete with hand made vintage bunting… she loves it…. next the bathroom… if only I had a cute ladder…hmmm…sending out the positive thoughts…