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!
My Mum (who has the most exquisite taste) has always said to me, a room must always have a touch of black. She is right, even if the rest of the room have just one colour or a specific palette, the room seems to lift once if has a “touch of black” – you go girl.
I love the black…gives it a bit of pop! But than I have always loved black. Congrats on the mag article soon to be out….you and I in the same one…too cool! cherry
A bit of black does ground a room… “keeps it from floating away”. (I think I’m quoting Lynette Jennings.) For me, a small dose goes a long way. I’d have probably chosen something else (loved the chippy mirror), but your experiment worked out great. Consider yourself grounded
Sarah, I agree…I have noticed the black(or dark choc. brown) at the beginning of the year and so we’ve started to add it here and there. Hollyhock has had the black furniture from IKEA for 1.5yrs. now, then the young carpenter got the black Malm(I can’t remember what it’s called and don’t have the catalog to look it up) queen bedset, and then English Rose got the black iron queen bed and long blk mirror in May from IKEA. And now I want to redo our washroom with the black accent. Sooooo, I love your mirror!!! it looks great in your beach cottage. I also love the color of your wood floors…that is what we want. Your beach cottage is so stylish that when I first began reading this post I thought the pics from IKEA we’re of your cottage! Always stunning.
and the reflected pic of you is fun…you are so adorable!
xoxo Fairmaiden
love the way you painted the mirror frame black! looks beautiful especially in the last photo with the lime washed candlestick..
i also made the treck out to ikea on the weekend!
I have fallen for black myself this year. I did a project for a client and found a cute little website called, “Black and White Delight” that has all things black and white.
The mirror is lovely in black but somehow I miss the beach cottage white. I’d love to see the mirror in bc white with maybe some wall words on it (www.wallwords.com) that say, “a beach cottage” along the top of the mirror in the same font as your blog. Now that would be very BC, if I do say so myself.
Love your blog, even if I don’t always comment. The canoe was wonderful!
Hi Sarah
I couldn’t believe your post, I am very slowly painting our living room dado walls white – I just happened to have some black 60′s style plaster head shapes sitting in front of one of my white finished walls – only because I’d moved them out of the way to start painting another wall – what a stumble it was, they look fantastic, I stood back and thought – yes that’s it! I just need to be careful not to clutter around them
After seeing the little sneak photo of you, I get the appeal of the print! You look very lovely
I think that you have done very well considering….that you didn;t have a counsellor standing by, as it must have been very traumatic for you….,are you O.K? …..did you need to lie down for a while after you had finished painting….don’t worry, they have medication for it now !!!!!
Joking apart , I think it’s great and adds another dimension to your cottage…I have the reverse problem re clothes….I can’t seem to buy any clothes that aren’t black !!!
Love it…as allways! I’ve got a thing for dark colours aswell…Not particular black, more dark wood colours…Dark just sets the whole thing in place…I love the rug!! Want one in jade green and white to match my kitchen wich is white, lots of green ginger pots (hence the jade colour..)dark rotan serving trays, cream serving bowls and dinner ware and sand coloured linnen curtains…I love your cottage!!!
Like the black touch – I remember reading somewhere, a quote from one of the famous interior designers, can’t remember who, that every room should have a touch of black – not something I have followed – although I do have a very white bathroom and kitchen that have very dark stained wooden floors which I think looks great. Working on the rest of the house – love the white and the thrifted furniture – have some in my house on the “waiting to be painted” list and others on the “dare I list”
I heard a designer say once that every room should have something black. And I think he is right. Black looks so dressed up and sharp I think. And I’m like you, wanting everything clean and white and fresh. But I have caved too, and I think yours looks great. Well done!!
The black looks fantastic on your mirror! I think that a touch of black here and there really completes a room. Also, I love your slippers. They are the cutest!
Looks fabulous! I just so happened to be doing the black chalkboard paint thing last night too. I still prefer all of your white but a touch of black here and there only makes your white stand out more!
Hey Sarah, the black is just right, you got it in one and the new rug, a perfect purchase. Love your place, so sunny and friendly, you have great taste, and you are not afraid to use it and try new things. Hugs Margie.
I think I must be the only one in blog land that has not used the chaulk board paint yet. But the satin black spray paint is now a good friend of mine.
Glenda
I love the description of an IKEA witch, yes, I have been one too, it is aweful! They need a midway point where you can rest and freshen up or something.
And forget it if you ever have to go to the bathroom while you are there!
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 …]
G’day ladies, oooh have I got a good Beach Cottage recipe for you or have I got a good recipe for you. Well it’s actually not Beach Cottage, I cannot claim that… So, a couple of months ago I met up with a couple of blogging friends, AllConsuming and Mrs W for a lil [...]
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 think black is good for the soul … can’t believe you have resisted for so long
You are so creative! I just love your rooms…
XOXO
PS. I love the black…right up my alley!
I like black, it grounds your lovely all white a bit, and you are very skinny!
I like it! It really pops.
I think you done good, Sarah ! I love black ,even in a beach cottage !
Hugs ~ Kammy
I love it!!!!
Your $4 rug is pretty fab too. 
Thanks for the visit! 
Looks great! Like the rug, too (especially the price!)
Looks wonderful! Your blog is great…love your rooms!
Nancy
Gorgeous! Love the contrast, it makes such a statement.
I LOVE it Sarah!
I looks so great with everything!
Hugs,
Rachel
My Mum (who has the most exquisite taste) has always said to me, a room must always have a touch of black. She is right, even if the rest of the room have just one colour or a specific palette, the room seems to lift once if has a “touch of black” – you go girl.
Ooo, very nice!
This Texan doesn’t know what an esky OR a coolbox is! ha!
I love black… everybody looks good in black!
michelle
It’s gorgeous!
I love the black…gives it a bit of pop! But than I have always loved black. Congrats on the mag article soon to be out….you and I in the same one…too cool! cherry
My momma says, “Black and white, always right!”
That black framed mirror is the perfect compliment to your beachy white cottage.
I love it, I think black really grounds a room and I have begun using it in almost all my rooms…watch out girl….this is only the beginning!! LOL!
Hugs,
LeAnn:)
I like the black look and since it’s chalkboard paint you can play around with doodles or notes whenever it suits you. Fun!
The black looks fabulous and you are so right. If you get sick of it just slap a coat of white on it
Alison
It turned out great! I love that you used chalkboard paint!
ooooh–where do you get that striped rug!! I loooove it!
It looks great. Very stylish!
A bit of black does ground a room… “keeps it from floating away”. (I think I’m quoting Lynette Jennings.) For me, a small dose goes a long way. I’d have probably chosen something else (loved the chippy mirror), but your experiment worked out great. Consider yourself grounded
Sarah, I agree…I have noticed the black(or dark choc. brown) at the beginning of the year and so we’ve started to add it here and there. Hollyhock has had the black furniture from IKEA for 1.5yrs. now, then the young carpenter got the black Malm(I can’t remember what it’s called and don’t have the catalog to look it up) queen bedset, and then English Rose got the black iron queen bed and long blk mirror in May from IKEA. And now I want to redo our washroom with the black accent. Sooooo, I love your mirror!!! it looks great in your beach cottage. I also love the color of your wood floors…that is what we want. Your beach cottage is so stylish that when I first began reading this post I thought the pics from IKEA we’re of your cottage! Always stunning.
and the reflected pic of you is fun…you are so adorable!
xoxo Fairmaiden
love the way you painted the mirror frame black! looks beautiful especially in the last photo with the lime washed candlestick..
i also made the treck out to ikea on the weekend!
Turncoat or not, it looks wonderful.
I am CRAVING a paint project. I need to re-do something. Hope my … whatever I find … turns out as well as your project!
It looks great!! A little black is a good thing.
looks awesome in there! i have that rug too!
I have fallen for black myself this year. I did a project for a client and found a cute little website called, “Black and White Delight” that has all things black and white.
The mirror is lovely in black but somehow I miss the beach cottage white. I’d love to see the mirror in bc white with maybe some wall words on it (www.wallwords.com) that say, “a beach cottage” along the top of the mirror in the same font as your blog. Now that would be very BC, if I do say so myself.
Love your blog, even if I don’t always comment. The canoe was wonderful!
Thank you for visiting. I love what you are doing with the lick of paint and isn’t Ikea a great shop.
Hi Sarah
I couldn’t believe your post, I am very slowly painting our living room dado walls white – I just happened to have some black 60′s style plaster head shapes sitting in front of one of my white finished walls – only because I’d moved them out of the way to start painting another wall – what a stumble it was, they look fantastic, I stood back and thought – yes that’s it! I just need to be careful not to clutter around them
After seeing the little sneak photo of you, I get the appeal of the print! You look very lovely
xo
Hi!!
I read your blog everyday and i have to say that I share your style. So nice pictures and a lot of inspirations.
Malin
I think that you have done very well considering….that you didn;t have a counsellor standing by, as it must have been very traumatic for you….,are you O.K? …..did you need to lie down for a while after you had finished painting….don’t worry, they have medication for it now !!!!!
Joking apart , I think it’s great and adds another dimension to your cottage…I have the reverse problem re clothes….I can’t seem to buy any clothes that aren’t black !!!
Love it…as allways! I’ve got a thing for dark colours aswell…Not particular black, more dark wood colours…Dark just sets the whole thing in place…I love the rug!! Want one in jade green and white to match my kitchen wich is white, lots of green ginger pots (hence the jade colour..)dark rotan serving trays, cream serving bowls and dinner ware and sand coloured linnen curtains…I love your cottage!!!
It’s fabulous! A-M xx
Like the black touch – I remember reading somewhere, a quote from one of the famous interior designers, can’t remember who, that every room should have a touch of black – not something I have followed – although I do have a very white bathroom and kitchen that have very dark stained wooden floors which I think looks great. Working on the rest of the house – love the white and the thrifted furniture – have some in my house on the “waiting to be painted” list and others on the “dare I list”
Love it! I’m gonna be on the look out for one of my own!
You are most definitely NOT a turncoat. Goodness I love the words / phrases you use.
I LOVE that pop of black. Truly LOVE it.
Love how black anchors things. An anchor is good for a beach cottage, I think.
Blessings
T
Black is so complementary to everything ! Beautiful
Ikea Rocks !!!
I love the mirror and the rug caught my eye in the first picture. It’s perfect and $4!!
I heard a designer say once that every room should have something black. And I think he is right. Black looks so dressed up and sharp I think. And I’m like you, wanting everything clean and white and fresh. But I have caved too, and I think yours looks great. Well done!!
The black looks fantastic on your mirror! I think that a touch of black here and there really completes a room. Also, I love your slippers. They are the cutest!
Great job! I love your house, it’s sooo well decorated!
I haven’t got into the ‘black’ yet… but after seeing your mirror, I might just give it a shot as well.
Looks fabulous! I just so happened to be doing the black chalkboard paint thing last night too. I still prefer all of your white but a touch of black here and there only makes your white stand out more!
I’m thinking about going black too w/ my front door. I love, love, love your mirror. Do you think my front door would look good painted black?
Hey Sarah, the black is just right, you got it in one and the new rug, a perfect purchase. Love your place, so sunny and friendly, you have great taste, and you are not afraid to use it and try new things. Hugs Margie.
I think I must be the only one in blog land that has not used the chaulk board paint yet. But the satin black spray paint is now a good friend of mine.
Glenda
I think the contrast is nice!
I love the description of an IKEA witch, yes, I have been one too, it is aweful! They need a midway point where you can rest and freshen up or something.
And forget it if you ever have to go to the bathroom while you are there!
I love IKEA and I love your “new” mirror. It looks GREAT!!! Hugs ~cindy s~