Guess what I've got on one small wall of the cottage?
Hip hip hooray, a line of panelling.
And please don't be put off by the word project (I so hate the way that conjures up horrid school tasks and mammoth undertakings), this is a project for the DIY challenged…a fairly easy job, even for us!
I know it's not for everyone, and yep I would prefer the real McCoy tongue and groove panelling that's oh about 100 yrs old, but for now, in this cottage, it is fandabbydozy.
We have been out most of the day, catching up with some friends from the Old Country at the beach (sneaked in a treasure hunting trip on the way home and found a treasure to makeover, hope to get that done soon), so when we came back and I walked in I was firstly pleased to see that it was still up and secondly very happy with how it is turning out…
As you know, the Dining Room (more on that here) is in the back of the house, the lovely 80's extension that has little character (and you must know by now those lovely patio doors) so it has been severely lacking any detail.
This magical beading gives it a kind of depth and a tad more character I suppose, and now, even though only two panels of it are up, the feel I was hoping for…a little bit Scandinavian is there already.
Of course it conceals the plain 80's feel to the wall and whispers nautical, hinting at the inside of a beach hut…or ship decking and exactly what I've felt has been missing and have been waiting for ages to change (I don't suppose I need to mention here how much I whined about that *wink).
I'm unsure as to what colour I will paint it, as I said, I fancy a new look and have thoughts of something other than white. Don't laugh. It certainly won't be very far from white, just a hint...wondering what your thoughts on that might be? Please feel free to leave them
I was thinking along the lines of a very frenchy pale blue and I mean very pale, or perhaps a putty, and then I thought about a touch of stone…but I bet in the end I'll end up with Dulux Whisper White, just like about everything else in this old place..
Anyhoo, tonight is round two and the other wall.
There is only one problem with this here Project.
I want it everywhere and you know what that means!
Cheers
if you would like to see more pictures and Step by Step Instructions go here
Hi Sarah
It is looking great. And you have achieved the hardest part- getting started:)
Not white, OMG I had to pick myself up of the floor.
I love the pale grey but I am partial to stone. How about Dulux Hogs Bristile 1/2 strength or if that is too much for you try 1/4 strength?
Good luck. I can’t wait to see the finished project.
Hi Sarah,
For the moment stay with white…because you may gradually do more walls.
Meaning if eventually you have all of your walls in panelling, it would look much better in white or off/white, because then you won’t feel the need for colour, because the interest and texture is in the panelling itself.
Personally I think a colour such as blue would cheapen it. If your are hankering for a colour, go the rich neutrals as you mentioned, for depth, and more of a statement.
Yes…and I know what that means so you may want to take your time anyway then!!
Hello back again with comment/suggestion no.2
What do you think about this??
Leave the panelling white/off white, as suggested in comment above. Then if you have only a couple of walls done in the white/neutral panelling, paint the plastered walls a colour of your choice, say the blue or whatever.
Then if you get tired of the painted plastered walls in time, you may be ready to panel over them.
OK now, what do you think, of all that?
love the panelling and I think JMHO that a putty or off white would be the go! In our house we seem to have gone mad on Hogsbristle a colour by dulux I think…. anyway all the walls are now shades of this… I find it quite restful!
wow this will look fab ! well done !! I think white is right … and agree that the panel profile itself is enough to show the differece – espec once you top it with a rail – chair or otherwise – best le
Looking good! I’m stumped on the color, too. Been loving pale blues and greys these days. I do know, no matter what you choose you will make it beautiful!
I LOVE light grey blue. My living room is grey blue and everything looks beautiful against it. I would say go white for the paneling, though. And if you want color, paint the wall above it. I think if you end up painting the paneling a color other than white, you will not like it, and will end up painting it white anyway. But then again, it is just paint, and you can always repaint it. No big deal! Can’t wait to see what you decide!
I love the white as it is although on saying that I did think of pale blue before I read the full blog….great minds. There is another colour which would be good – a very pale yellow!!
I like the way it looks in the photo. On my computer screen it shows a hint of grey. Just enough to contrast but not stand out. I think the grey would go great with your color scheme!
hahahaha! you will be so tired!! anyway, it looks great and is worth every favor. still grinning! in that vein, i’m inspired to use beading in my guest bath. AND i’m going to slipcover my two wing chairs in white of some shade in my living room. let’s hear it for projects! jkj
I agree with Beth, leave the paneling white and if you desire color – do it on the wall. I agree that a whisper of blue or stone would be wonderful…but like someone else said, if you painted the paneling a color and changed your mind (as “we” tend to do) you could paint right over it. You have great instincts so go for it!
Hello Sarah,
It looks brilliant! I’d stick with the white, in my humble opinion. But I also agree with the others who suggest that painting above the panelling is the way to go for a colour shot.
It looks lovely so far, Sarah! I like the idea of painting it a very pale blue, as you mentioned. Maybe even a pale gray? Whatever you decide will be lovely!
How about a very pale duck egg blue? Personally, i love white or off white, but I recently saw a beautiful colour of duck egg blue with white trim that looked sensational. Whether I’d actually do it though is another matter.
Then again, you could always get the paint man to do a sample pot of double strength Whisper White, which would stay in the tone, but give it a bit of depth. That way you wouldn’t be changing it, just adding a bit of interest. Do you plan to put a chair rail along the top edge? If so, give it an undercoat before you put it up, that way it seals it all and is less fiddly to paint later. It’s all looking terrific! Well done.
Lesley
Looks great! And adds to the whole beachy look. I love this sort of beading and always hanker for a bathroom clad in it and it would be white, white and more white.
However I must agree with a previous poster sue, I also think it looks great in the pale putty sort of colour that it is right now (well thats how it looks on my screen) it is just enough to set off the white around it and would tie in with the stripe of your tablecloth ( you know the blue and pale putty colour stripe one).
cant wait to see what you come up with, I’m sure it will look great )
Hi from Russell & Mackenna! We love your blog and we also LOVE bead board! Check out the bead board in our “Bethany Beach Bench Locker” which can be found at http://www.russellmackenna.com. We especially love it in our special coastal colors- Blue Bayou & Mojito !
I just Love bead board… and it looks so great in your room… the hardest part is just getting started with it,, then it is easy… are you going to put up a chair rail? what style will you use….. can’t wait to see it all done.. . have fun and a great week.
It looks glorious! I was just thinking this morning after flicking through an interiors mag that I would love something like that in our family room – you have given me more inspiration
I love it, but going against the grain and saying not white…certainly nothing bold bold either, putty colour strikes my fancy. It would pick up some of the other natural wood tones you have around the place beautifully….just MHOP lol
Love the panelling Sarah – it makes the dining room pop without being in your face. If it was my room I’d be leaning towards putty.
It’s funny how colour starts to creep in. Our beach house started with all white and a little bit of blue but then came the putty. Just a little hint here and there and then some more and slowly it is creeping into every room. LOL
Can’t wait to see the finished photos of the dinig room.
Hugs ~ Kerryanne
Hi Sarah. I love this panelling. Can I ask where you found it? I’m in Australia (Melbourne) and am having trouble locating bead board. I love all of your photography. Cheers.
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
Hi Sarah
It is looking great. And you have achieved the hardest part- getting started:)
Not white, OMG I had to pick myself up of the floor.
I love the pale grey but I am partial to stone. How about Dulux Hogs Bristile 1/2 strength or if that is too much for you try 1/4 strength?
Good luck. I can’t wait to see the finished project.
Hi Sarah,
For the moment stay with white…because you may gradually do more walls.
Meaning if eventually you have all of your walls in panelling, it would look much better in white or off/white, because then you won’t feel the need for colour, because the interest and texture is in the panelling itself.
Personally I think a colour such as blue would cheapen it. If your are hankering for a colour, go the rich neutrals as you mentioned, for depth, and more of a statement.
Yes…and I know what that means so you may want to take your time anyway then!!
Hello back again with comment/suggestion no.2
What do you think about this??
Leave the panelling white/off white, as suggested in comment above. Then if you have only a couple of walls done in the white/neutral panelling, paint the plastered walls a colour of your choice, say the blue or whatever.
Then if you get tired of the painted plastered walls in time, you may be ready to panel over them.
OK now, what do you think, of all that?
It would look great white as the panelling gives it a slightly different look to the pwhite of the plain walls
Alison
love the panelling and I think JMHO that a putty or off white would be the go! In our house we seem to have gone mad on Hogsbristle a colour by dulux I think…. anyway all the walls are now shades of this… I find it quite restful!
wow this will look fab ! well done !! I think white is right … and agree that the panel profile itself is enough to show the differece – espec once you top it with a rail – chair or otherwise – best le
Looking good! I’m stumped on the color, too. Been loving pale blues and greys these days. I do know, no matter what you choose you will make it beautiful!
Go for the color. It’s paint you can always paint it white.
Happy day to you!
Love it!! Looking absolutely amazing. And you found another treasure? I swear girlie – you are the luckiest. I never find anything.
Gorgeous, it looks wonderful already! Hugs, Cindy S.
I LOVE light grey blue. My living room is grey blue and everything looks beautiful against it. I would say go white for the paneling, though. And if you want color, paint the wall above it. I think if you end up painting the paneling a color other than white, you will not like it, and will end up painting it white anyway. But then again, it is just paint, and you can always repaint it. No big deal!
Can’t wait to see what you decide!
It looks beautiful! If you didn’t want to paint it white, I would go light grey but that’s just me. It’s fantastic in any color!
~Michelle
Looks beautiful already, can’t wait to see it painted, no matter what color you select. Isn’t it amazing what a little beadboard can do to a room?!
Kat
that will look so lovely when you’re done. mr. BC is doing a fab job. my husband always says “happy wife, happy life”.
kathi
I love the white as it is although on saying that I did think of pale blue before I read the full blog….great minds. There is another colour which would be good – a very pale yellow!!
I like the way it looks in the photo. On my computer screen it shows a hint of grey. Just enough to contrast but not stand out. I think the grey would go great with your color scheme!
hahahaha! you will be so tired!! anyway, it looks great and is worth every favor. still grinning! in that vein, i’m inspired to use beading in my guest bath. AND i’m going to slipcover my two wing chairs in white of some shade in my living room. let’s hear it for projects! jkj
I’m for the idea of keeping the paneling white and painting the walls. My first choice would be cranberry.
I agree with Beth, leave the paneling white and if you desire color – do it on the wall. I agree that a whisper of blue or stone would be wonderful…but like someone else said, if you painted the paneling a color and changed your mind (as “we” tend to do) you could paint right over it. You have great instincts so go for it!
Shades of white really show how pretty and golden your floor is.
Hello Sarah,
It looks brilliant! I’d stick with the white, in my humble opinion. But I also agree with the others who suggest that painting above the panelling is the way to go for a colour shot.
Did you say blue??? Wow! (heehee!) I can’t wait to see what you decide!
It looks lovely so far, Sarah! I like the idea of painting it a very pale blue, as you mentioned. Maybe even a pale gray? Whatever you decide will be lovely!
Smiles,
Rachel
A light, light grey or tan would look fab along with all your other pretties. Can’t wait to see where this goes…
I hope you remain with your faithful white. It is why I love your blog so much.
How about a very pale duck egg blue? Personally, i love white or off white, but I recently saw a beautiful colour of duck egg blue with white trim that looked sensational. Whether I’d actually do it though is another matter.
Then again, you could always get the paint man to do a sample pot of double strength Whisper White, which would stay in the tone, but give it a bit of depth. That way you wouldn’t be changing it, just adding a bit of interest. Do you plan to put a chair rail along the top edge? If so, give it an undercoat before you put it up, that way it seals it all and is less fiddly to paint later. It’s all looking terrific! Well done.
Lesley
Either way you go with the color, it is going to be a lovely new addition!!
Looks great! And adds to the whole beachy look. I love this sort of beading and always hanker for a bathroom clad in it and it would be white, white and more white.
However I must agree with a previous poster sue, I also think it looks great in the pale putty sort of colour that it is right now (well thats how it looks on my screen) it is just enough to set off the white around it and would tie in with the stripe of your tablecloth ( you know the blue and pale putty colour stripe one).
cant wait to see what you come up with, I’m sure it will look great
)
O Sarah it is looking wonderful….cannot wait to see it painted!!
I also love the way it looks right now, so I’d go with a grey or grey with just a hint of blue! Gorgeous against the white walls!
Hi from Russell & Mackenna! We love your blog and we also LOVE bead board! Check out the bead board in our “Bethany Beach Bench Locker” which can be found at http://www.russellmackenna.com. We especially love it in our special coastal colors- Blue Bayou & Mojito !
I just Love bead board… and it looks so great in your room… the hardest part is just getting started with it,, then it is easy… are you going to put up a chair rail? what style will you use….. can’t wait to see it all done.. . have fun and a great week.
Hugs;
Alaura
I agree with the putty colour – and a light chair rail on top! It’s looking great!
It looks glorious! I was just thinking this morning after flicking through an interiors mag that I would love something like that in our family room – you have given me more inspiration
I love it, but going against the grain and saying not white…certainly nothing bold bold either, putty colour strikes my fancy. It would pick up some of the other natural wood tones you have around the place beautifully….just MHOP lol
Love the panelling Sarah – it makes the dining room pop without being in your face. If it was my room I’d be leaning towards putty.
It’s funny how colour starts to creep in. Our beach house started with all white and a little bit of blue but then came the putty. Just a little hint here and there and then some more and slowly it is creeping into every room. LOL
Can’t wait to see the finished photos of the dinig room.
Hugs ~ Kerryanne
Hi Sarah. I love this panelling. Can I ask where you found it? I’m in Australia (Melbourne) and am having trouble locating bead board. I love all of your photography. Cheers.
I love the color white too because my rooms wall is color white.
Deirdre G
That looks great so far. And i am with Sue (think it was Sue), the putty grey it comes out in the photo looks good.
Sarah, love the gray..I have the new book, Pale and Interesting….lots of gray used with white, of course. You’re right on with your beadboard!