G'day my lovely blog friends! How are you all holding up?
So glad you liked the boat, hee hee, to be honest I was pretty much psyched when we found that for free. Thanks for the suggestions and I had to smile at my lovely friend Pearl Maple, who it seems, is on my wavelength…'considering we are living down under, would it not work just as well as humungous esky?' – I mean the woman knows my penchant for a cold beer does she not? (If you're English you might not know what an Esky is – it's a coolbox, one of the greatest Australian inventions…)
Do you have those conversations in the recess of your brain, when perhaps you are putting the kids in bed or getting the dinner ready or doing the laundry? I do for sure and this is what I said to myself yesterday hanging out the washing
"C'mon, you don't do black, you've done black before and then you whinge and whine why oh why did I try black? Admit it you just don't like it…"
It all started with a trip to IKEA. It was a fairly productive trip to IKEA (pre-empted with a heads-up from Sea Cottage), though I was, in the end, verging on becoming the Ikea Witch – you know when you get to the end and realise not only are you ravenously hungry but that you have to get in line and queue up with other witches all just as hideous as you are?
Anyway I had seen, at almost every one of those little faux rooms that bare little resemblance to real life that I stopped in, all things in black. That I liked. Yep. Really.
I liked the way they'd teamed the table with silver and the white under the striped wallpaper and the country-ish rug and the little white frame contrasting with the black (and yep I got a weird look when I took the pic with my head turned away cos baby I was make-up free)
and this, I really liked – watch out Beach Cottage Family Bathroom…
And yes I know that black is the new chocolate brown, I mean goodness you can't go get a piece of gift wrap, a doona cover or a candle holder without being knocked slam between the eyes with black or visit a blog without a makeover of a piece of Goodwill furniture that looks stunning with a new lick of black…
Of course, as usual, the Scandinavians get it just right. And scorn it or not, IKEA has some of the top Scandi designers bringing it all on for us and I dunno but in there with all the black thing going on, I just thought it looked pretty nice and I kept bumping into this huge mirror, price tag $300 leaned up here and there against walls.
So (and I am getting there) I decided I would take the bull by the horns and create a do-it-yourself black leaning-against-the-wall mirror – I would paint the one from the Treasure Hunting Tour. I mean what would it matter if I didn't like it? Then I could paint it beachy white…
And so not one to errrm, wait around until I have the right materials and in my usual gung-ho manner I slapped and slid around with the chalkboard paint thinking actually that the matt black might just be what I was after.
I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed this, I think it turned out pretty nice and when it is up properly on the wall (it's very very heavy this old wardrobe door, I wasn't attempting that alone) it will work in well with the white.
But then again this thrifted treasure (and go see Leigh for more) it might end up at Vinnies quicker than it may think…
As I was taking these pics I caught a glimpse of myself, thought you might laugh ~ slippers and painting trousers, noice!
I like it with my new $4 rug…
whaddya think dear bloggers?
do you think I am a dreadful Turncoat?
heinously defecting from all things white 
blogged for Kimba's Do It Yourself Day
I love it, just a pop of color here and there–like the pink dresser! I keep thinking to myself, the beach isn’t all white. Pink shell, brown/black shells, tan sand, blue water and sky—a little color is like nature!
It’s fabulous!
I love black.
Come by for my GIVE-A-WAY this week by 10 pm Fri.
and then check out our newest addition.
Cheri
http://www.itssoverycheri.blogspot.com
I love the black. We came home from the ME five years ago and were given an old, i mean old and clunky “American Federal style” set of bedroom furniture. A friend suggested we paint it black, with a stained top. Looks gorgeous. One of these days I’ll post pics on my blog. We recently were given a round pedestal table, exactly what I’d been garage saleing for. Country chairs though. It’s going to get the black treatment soon. I love the white however and would love to do one room with all white furniture.
I like touches of black. I think it makes lighter colors just pop. I used black in my own beach house. My soapstone countertops and black round knobs atop of blue-green cabinets. You have a great eye, and, btw, I have a number of pants that match your paint streaked ones (smile). cheers, -susan
Girl, I liked the boefore and the after. I liked the charater in the before shot that it had and with the coat of black it has a whole differnt effect, very classic design. And I think it looks great in the cottage. It really pops, especially with your $4 rug fund. How I love that too!
I am so glad to know that I am not the only one that paints in my pj’s! HA!
LOve the mirror! Well done! Thank you for linking up to Thrifty Thursday this week, Sarah! Be sure and drop by to see what the other thrifty participants are showing off. Some really great finds!
Thanks again,my “English/Aussie” friend!
Leigh
Tales from Bloggeritaville
http://www.lbratina.blogspot.com
Love the bits of black! Love IKEA! And I think you look cute in your painting trousers and slippers.
Black they say is the new white…my husband makes furniture for a living and has been getting lots of orders for all things black,from tables to benches to sideboards….great post! All the best,Chrissy
great mirror makeover.
Hi Sarah…
I’m new to your blog…followed the Thrifty Thursday link to your place! What a beautiful home you have and your blog is absolutely delightful! Love it!!!
Girl, I love your newly transformed black framed mirror…it’s just gorgeous!!! It’s a lovely piece and so substantial in size! Love your new black striped rug too…it really ties the black into your beautiful cottage white living room!!! Now I think that adding that rug into the mix was a keen design move!!! Beautiful…thank you so much for sharing your lovely home!!!
Warmest wishes,
Chari
What a great job on the mirror. I’ve been told a little black can ground the interior. I think it’s good advice. And besides, you can always paint it white!
Janet
Sarah,
I love the black mirror and like how it changes the look of everything else. Good choice.
Gretchen
I love the mirror in black! Your description of the “Ikea witch” made me smile
You crack me up. I think it turned out gorgeous!
Love the mirror, it looks Awesome! Love the little rug too! Awesome redo!
This looks great! I am a first time visitor– here from ASPTL.
I am cracking up about the Ikea witch remark. I definitely get that way by the time I get to Ikea’s checkout. Maybe that’s why I ordered my most recent slipcovers by mail.
It works well I think. Whatever you seem to do works well.
Hi!
Ive never been here before, but you came to visit me and I wanted to come over here and see what you are all about. I just love your decorating! It’s really great. You obviously have a terrific eye for detail. I also see you are from Australia. I’ve never been there. Isn’t it amazing how we can connect from all over the world through blogging?
Thanks for stopping by!
Elizabeth
The rug is what makes the black mirror work, I think. Looks fantastic!
Love it!! You’re a very talented “designer”!!
Sarah,
You rock. Loooove it! Black just adds a certain something! Ikea is my new favorite place. Was there today. We just got ours here about 3 months ago. I’m afraid I’ve become an addict.
Jill@Cottagesisters
Love the mirror in its new “little black dress.” classic and chic.
Cass
What do I think? I think you are brilliant! laurie
Oo Love the black – nice contrast with the rest of the room…is that a matching black candle in the lantern on the coffee table? very nice!
Hey girl…I think this is one of your best projects yet. I love it. And like everyone else seems to think…that black is amazing and perfect for your beach home. Who would have thought black would be the right color? And yet it is perfect! I love it! I think you have gotten me going on a NEW project! I need a mirror too…and I think it will just have to be black!
Great post.
Debbie
I think you are one amusing creative girl, my dear Sarah! We don’t have an IKEA around here. Have to go to Dallas, and I hate traffic. So I haven’t shopped in one yet. But a lady can certainly change her mind. And what a mind you have! Full of fun, you are!
Brenda
I love it! It really does look beautiful with all of your white.
The funny thing is that I’ve always been the queen of painting things black. Lately, I’ve started adding white to my repertoire and I really love it.
Kimba
Black is a nice accent to frame up your tones of white-taupe-with touches of beach blues. A very slick urbane addition to the colour palette.
Too funny stories and photos of the adventures in Ikea land, I find it hard enough to get through the carpark let alone all the other temptations.
Glad you liked the sense of humour on the humungous esky
Happy SITS Saturday Sharefest” in your comment.
Hello Happy Saturday!
I remember when I was first married painting everything in sight white and scoffing at the idea that I would EVER want to change it. Now, I’ve recently painted my armoire black and I even bought a few natural wood pieces. GASP!! So I guess it’s true, what comes around goes around. ‘Tis the circle of decorating life.
Love your mirror!