G'day beauties, so pleased you enjoyed our little trip to the beach, thanks for the comments, much appreciated.
Now look at that up there, isn't it just the most divine 1980's special you ever did see? Yes sirree Mr President, along with the lovely aluminium window frames, this bathroom is one of the things that I fell in love with when we came to view this old place. Not.
So, rather than do any one of the one hundred and fifty million other DIY-y chores that seem to be continually on our list for when we have a 'free day'…I decided to start moaning about this bathroom…again
Now, if you have been with me since the early days, you will know that this bathroom and this cupboard have already been madeover.
The makeover before consisted of painting the tiles and the floor tiles, adding mirrors, hooks, a shelf to stack towels and camouflaging the window with, yep you guessed it, trusty IKEA white wooden blinds and a faux linen curtain (read about all of that here) made by my fair hands. Later on I added a hanging candle thingy, also made by me (you can see that here).
Back then I started with a bundle of supplies and much enthusiasm, this is how it looked after Mr Beach Cottage and I spent a whole day cleaning the bath, shower, sink and floor – you can see the tiles were pink and the bath is a light blue, not too hideous but errm still hideous
So I painted the tiles in a stone colour to tone down the blue with tile paint (the one I used was White Knight, also used their primer)…and let me tell you this stuff ROCKS…after 18 months it hasn't scratched, worn, split or faded…including in the shower cubicle…so it now comes highly recommended
The floor paint however, was a different matter…the trouble is Mr Beach Cottage warned me he thought it wouldn't work, I of course was much more interested in aesthetics than practicalities and went ahead full steam and within days we were peeling mushroom coloured paint off our feet every time we stepped in the shower, ahem, not one of my better DIY stories.
So anyway although it was a VAST improvement on what we had when we moved in it irritates me about every time I go in there…and so I have been scheming for an old dresser/chest of drawers that is sitting in the garage to be put in the place of the 80's Queen.
However, once we investigated this option more we decided that firstly, Frank Spencer's, oops I mean Mr BC's skills may not be able to cope with plumbing and re-modeling a dresser as a vanity, secondly the dresser would have been a very tight fit and thirdly though not quite up there in my fave things actually this was beautifully designed to fit and work in this space…
Whereupon, my dear readers, I had a fabulous idea!! Why darling, let's cover it in beadboard wallpaper to make it look like cladding, paint it with enamel in white, add some lovely black pulls and see how we go…at which point I very nearly had to pull out the favours card seeing as the footie game was looming…
But somehow we morphed into our painting clothes and got to work…
though in Mr BC's case that didn't mean much…
and this is where we got up to before the footie started…
Next is fix the kickboard, paint it white, seal it, re-grout the floor, re-paint the tiles with WHITE White Knight Tile Paint, get some new white curtains, switch out the accessories for white ones and buy a stack load of new white towels…
And guess what kidlets? And do not breathe a word of this, I haven't told Mr BC this yet…
So far. I hate it.
And, that is how I will leave you today…to get away from beadboard wallpaper, old 80's cupboards and the like I am heading to the city, catching the ferry and spending a day in the Big Smoke
…alone…yum
See ya
Oh and I thought it was about time we had an episode of
Sarah – I can’t believe you hate it:( I thought it was a great idea and so creative. Yes an old dresser would look great but sometimes we just have to work with what we have got. Once the handles are on I hope you like it:)
Interesting that you were talking about the tile paint. A member of the Decorating Forum asked recently about bath paint. We got some interesting answers.
Glad to hear that your wall tile paint was so successful.
What about it is bugging you? It’s hard sometimes when you try to improve something that you just hate so much. It’s hard to let go of the hate! lol I hope you liked it better after your trip to the city for some solitude!
Wait until it is finished! You can never accurately assess a DIY halfway through. I am sure it will look beautiful when you have given it that Sarah magic touch.
i like it and think once those pulls are on you will too! and kudos to mr. bc for going along and doing it love the taylor swift playing in the back ground sooo cute and clever have a great day! Ü
I never like a job mid way through. Somehow I feel very sure that by the time it is finished and you have ‘styled it up’ ah lah Beachcottage style it will rock. (to kind of quote you)
Thanks for showing the mid way, it makes it all so much more real. Hurry up and finish so I can see the result please…..
I guess this is the right place to share that idea I’ve been admiring for so long. Find an old chest of drawers. Paint it white (in your case it’s a necessary step, I guess). Insert sink. Go.
Planning it in my own humble bathroom which is so much smaller than yours.
I have the most awful bathroom and I wanted to paint everything including the floor tiles but have been told it can’t be done. Are you suggesting you used White Knight tile paint on the floor and it peeled off, or did you use a different brand? Are you planning on attempting the floor again with White Knight if you used a different brand?
I don’t know how much longer I can stand aqua blue tiles but can’t afford to rip it all out yet. Oh the dilemmas!
Also, your cabinet makeover looks gorgeous, I bet you’ll love it at the end!
wow – it looks like real beadboard! i think the vanity looks good! once the bathroom is completely finished i think you’ll love it. i’ve been married for 22 years to a man who can fix & build anything & he’s a computer geek, a very handsome computer geek. i enjoyed watching the video of you & mr bc. it brought back memories of the 2 homes me & my handyman renovated. ruby
I think you will have to wait until you put yur handles on and dress the space. It is a great temporary idea for your 80′s beauty. Hope you had fun in the city!
Ness xx
Well Dear, you may like it when it’s done. We’ll just wait and see. If not, it isn’t like you ruined a favorite piece of furniture, you’ll just have to come up with something else. You never know until you try.
BeachTV-Mr. BC is so calm. There would have been so much colorful language by my Mr. Fixer Upper that all audio would be bleeped! Kudos for being resourceful and working with what you have when the major gutting is feasible.
Cute video. If you paint over the wallpaper and the whole cabinet, it will look more like what you want. Man, you have a patient husband! Lucky girl!!
He has nice hands too.
I had that happen to me once. My husband and I decided we’d like to paint the living room in our home a victorian pink. We had a new home and hadn’t painted the living room prior to that. So he spent a whole week of vacation, painting the white woodwork and trim and then paiting the walls this victorian pink. Well, I hated it. I mean, I tried to love it but I was a pastel girl and this color was too bright. Instead of victorian pink, I would describe it as the pink in a Mexican pinata. I hated it so much, that I didn’t want to open my blinds/drapes because I didn’t want people to see it. I tried to love it because he worked so hard. I felt hot everytime I walked into that room since the color just felt too warm for me. Everytime I walked in that room, I thought about how much I hated that color. I tried to talk myself into it at Christmas, etc. but a year later, I had enough. I painted it a pretty golden taupe (had it color matched to my sofa) and never looked back.
At this point, finish your project and put everything back in the room. Give it two weeks (Sometimes you have to live with it a little bit to see if you like it, but usually you just kinda know, lol!). If you still don’t like it, then just start over. I actually love the idea of a small chest in there. If Mr. BC can’t do it then hire someone to install it. It will give it a nice vintage touch. I kind of like that pale pink chest of drawers you have for the bathroom but I have no idea if it would fit in there or about the scale since I haven’t seen the place.
When my mother sewed a new dress, she said she was always the most discouraged right before all the last details were complete… You still don’t have the hardware on and all your pretties…maybe…
I agree with the previous poster–framing the large surfaces could really help. I have a small vanity with beadboard and will email a pic or two so you know what I’m talking about. I got the vanity cheap from a home improvement store in the States, but people seem to like it.
Maybe strip the paper off the drawers too? Best of luck….
Are you going to trim it all out with molding??? I think that is key when using it on a flat door or surface. That’s what I did with the ends of my cabinets & that is what makes it look SO good.
Trim is just the ticket! You’ll be amazed at what a little edge will do to your 80′s special. That and your paint and pulls and you will feel much more at home in your bath. I can hardly wait to see how it turns out. You will give it the Sarah touch and it will look like it was born to live at the beach cottage.
I think that once it is finished you will be pleased…and try painting it a taupe or grey to offset the white counters. If that doesn’t work you could always strip off the paper and add picture frame, trim molding to the door and drawers and then paint it all a dark base color. Then put butcher’s wax on the edges and crevices and and paint antique white on top of the base color. The edges that have the butchers wax, the white paint will not stick and it will look worn and have some patina all ready. Hope this helps
Hi Sarah! It’s been a while I don’t visit you! AS you, I’m still working in our bathroom here, and almost did something with the same wallpaper. But at the end, I painted the cabinets!
I can’t wait to see when it’s done!
But, I agree with some ladies: frame it! It will look awesome!
Have a good one,
Li
I think it looks terrific so far. I have a bathroom that looks quite similar. Anything would be an improvement! I wonder- as did Samantha- just what you meant re the painting. Will you repaint the floor tiles the same way? I would very much appreciate some info on how you approached the painting of tiles etc.
As for your bathroom. Stick with it. It will be your kind of beautiful before you know it!
Damn those Sydney Swans!
Donna from Brissie
It looks nice in the pictures…I agree, framing it will make a big difference. I love the old chests transformed with a sink and they are lovely too. You will make it work!
Oh well done, you know one of the things we appreciate about your blog is that you share the bumbles and tumbles as well as the projects that went well.
yep, bathrooms can be a nightmare because of the plumbing you cant easily move or change yourself… I have half a great new bathroom and the other half an ugly mess for the past few months arrgghh! Want cute curtain idea, check out my blog post.
I think the end product will delight you beyond measure Sarah!! Keep at it sweet friend!! You always manage to turn all your projects into such beautiful rooms!! And you always give me a shot of inspiration each time you send out your fabulous email updates. LOVE THEM!!! So glad I found you and that you are a part of my day!! You are wonderful and so giving and so absolutely amazing in my book!!
You and Mr. BC make a good team. I agree with all the other post that say to frame out the doors then I think you would like it better. Also the cup handles I would only put on the drawers and use your black knobs on the door…just a thought.
Good luck!
One of life’s greatest joys is a bunch of flowers from the market, the yard or wherever to separate and fill up my many flea marketed vases. It brings so much joy to me to look at the flowers, the vases and just enjoy!!! As for the million dollar dress, can’t wait to see it, must be fabulous. Great post on Decor 8, you deserve it!!! I love your blog though just as much for your sentiments as the lovely thrifted decor. What’s happening with that book thing you mentioned?
You may hate it, but do you hate it as much as you hated it before?!! sometimes DIY just bridges the gap from can’t stand to replacing… I think it looks loads better
I think its sweet! Im going to give it a shot. I did my back splash of my rental and painted it a pretty blue and LOVE LOVE IT.I got the idea from my good friend at Canadian Cottage
Love your blog Jenny
simple.casual living
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 …]
Beach Cottage ladies, we have some vintage linen and some wood/twig washed up on the beach today here in Beach Cottage Land….don’t say I don’t keep you entertained now will you . Â Come on in. So, yep I have posted about colanders on this blog, about things sourced from the side of the road, about [...]
G'day ladies, let's have a Too Easy Beach Cottage recipe yeah? Â 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. Â 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
Â
6. layer on top the cream combo
Â
7. repeat
8. grate chocolate or Flake on top
Â
*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 ;-)Â
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. Â 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.Â
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. Â Oh yeah. Â 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. Â 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
Sarah – I can’t believe you hate it:( I thought it was a great idea and so creative. Yes an old dresser would look great but sometimes we just have to work with what we have got. Once the handles are on I hope you like it:)
Interesting that you were talking about the tile paint. A member of the Decorating Forum asked recently about bath paint. We got some interesting answers.
Glad to hear that your wall tile paint was so successful.
Sorry you hate it so far but hopefully in the end you love it. Good luck with it all!
Aww, why do you hate it? You’ll find that perfect dresser, especially now that you’ve done all of this hard work!
I hope you have a nice relaxing trip to the city, and maybe when you return it will have all grown on you!
Kat
What about it is bugging you? It’s hard sometimes when you try to improve something that you just hate so much. It’s hard to let go of the hate! lol I hope you liked it better after your trip to the city for some solitude!
Wait until it is finished! You can never accurately assess a DIY halfway through. I am sure it will look beautiful when you have given it that Sarah magic touch.
I think it looks great! It’s always the finishing touches that mae the look anyway so just hang in there.
Can I ask where you purchased the cup pulls? Ive been buying the from eBay US and am hoping you have a cheaper/easier option!
Ta
Erica
A picture frame on each perhaps? Cherrie
i like it and think once those pulls are on you will too! and kudos to mr. bc for going along and doing it love the taylor swift playing in the back ground sooo cute and clever have a great day! Ü
I never like a job mid way through. Somehow I feel very sure that by the time it is finished and you have ‘styled it up’ ah lah Beachcottage style it will rock. (to kind of quote you)
Thanks for showing the mid way, it makes it all so much more real. Hurry up and finish so I can see the result please…..
I guess this is the right place to share that idea I’ve been admiring for so long. Find an old chest of drawers. Paint it white (in your case it’s a necessary step, I guess). Insert sink. Go.
Planning it in my own humble bathroom which is so much smaller than yours.
I have the most awful bathroom and I wanted to paint everything including the floor tiles but have been told it can’t be done. Are you suggesting you used White Knight tile paint on the floor and it peeled off, or did you use a different brand? Are you planning on attempting the floor again with White Knight if you used a different brand?
I don’t know how much longer I can stand aqua blue tiles but can’t afford to rip it all out yet. Oh the dilemmas!
Also, your cabinet makeover looks gorgeous, I bet you’ll love it at the end!
I think it looks great – & after some time in the big smoke hopefully you will too?! seeing as though you will be living with it
wow – it looks like real beadboard! i think the vanity looks good! once the bathroom is completely finished i think you’ll love it. i’ve been married for 22 years to a man who can fix & build anything & he’s a computer geek, a very handsome computer geek. i enjoyed watching the video of you & mr bc. it brought back memories of the 2 homes me & my handyman renovated. ruby
I think you will have to wait until you put yur handles on and dress the space. It is a great temporary idea for your 80′s beauty. Hope you had fun in the city!
Ness xx
Well Dear, you may like it when it’s done. We’ll just wait and see. If not, it isn’t like you ruined a favorite piece of furniture, you’ll just have to come up with something else. You never know until you try.
BeachTV-Mr. BC is so calm. There would have been so much colorful language by my Mr. Fixer Upper that all audio would be bleeped! Kudos for being resourceful and working with what you have when the major gutting is feasible.
Cute video. If you paint over the wallpaper and the whole cabinet, it will look more like what you want. Man, you have a patient husband! Lucky girl!!
He has nice hands too.
I had that happen to me once. My husband and I decided we’d like to paint the living room in our home a victorian pink. We had a new home and hadn’t painted the living room prior to that. So he spent a whole week of vacation, painting the white woodwork and trim and then paiting the walls this victorian pink. Well, I hated it. I mean, I tried to love it but I was a pastel girl and this color was too bright. Instead of victorian pink, I would describe it as the pink in a Mexican pinata. I hated it so much, that I didn’t want to open my blinds/drapes because I didn’t want people to see it. I tried to love it because he worked so hard. I felt hot everytime I walked into that room since the color just felt too warm for me. Everytime I walked in that room, I thought about how much I hated that color. I tried to talk myself into it at Christmas, etc. but a year later, I had enough. I painted it a pretty golden taupe (had it color matched to my sofa) and never looked back.
At this point, finish your project and put everything back in the room. Give it two weeks (Sometimes you have to live with it a little bit to see if you like it, but usually you just kinda know, lol!). If you still don’t like it, then just start over. I actually love the idea of a small chest in there. If Mr. BC can’t do it then hire someone to install it. It will give it a nice vintage touch. I kind of like that pale pink chest of drawers you have for the bathroom but I have no idea if it would fit in there or about the scale since I haven’t seen the place.
I had the same thought as Cherrie. Frame it out.
Love the beach cottage TV btw. I think it is soooooooooooo darling watching you two together. What a great hubby to help you.
Hello Sarah!
Untill now…well I’m not a big fan of striped cabinets, but let’s wait. A DIY project never looks good unfinished!
Have a good day in the Big Smoke (have you got your mask on?;-)
And good luck for the tile painting.
xoxo
G.
When my mother sewed a new dress, she said she was always the most discouraged right before all the last details were complete… You still don’t have the hardware on and all your pretties…maybe…
Frame it frame it frame it…. Thats what it’s missing, then you will lurve it. Promise…..<3
I agree with the previous poster–framing the large surfaces could really help. I have a small vanity with beadboard and will email a pic or two so you know what I’m talking about. I got the vanity cheap from a home improvement store in the States, but people seem to like it.
Maybe strip the paper off the drawers too? Best of luck….
Are you going to trim it all out with molding??? I think that is key when using it on a flat door or surface. That’s what I did with the ends of my cabinets & that is what makes it look SO good.
I bet you’ll love it when it’s finished!
Trim is just the ticket! You’ll be amazed at what a little edge will do to your 80′s special. That and your paint and pulls and you will feel much more at home in your bath. I can hardly wait to see how it turns out. You will give it the Sarah touch and it will look like it was born to live at the beach cottage.
I think that once it is finished you will be pleased…and try painting it a taupe or grey to offset the white counters. If that doesn’t work you could always strip off the paper and add picture frame, trim molding to the door and drawers and then paint it all a dark base color. Then put butcher’s wax on the edges and crevices and and paint antique white on top of the base color. The edges that have the butchers wax, the white paint will not stick and it will look worn and have some patina all ready. Hope this helps
Hi Sarah! It’s been a while I don’t visit you! AS you, I’m still working in our bathroom here, and almost did something with the same wallpaper. But at the end, I painted the cabinets!
I can’t wait to see when it’s done!
But, I agree with some ladies: frame it! It will look awesome!
Have a good one,
Li
I think it looks terrific so far. I have a bathroom that looks quite similar. Anything would be an improvement! I wonder- as did Samantha- just what you meant re the painting. Will you repaint the floor tiles the same way? I would very much appreciate some info on how you approached the painting of tiles etc.
As for your bathroom. Stick with it. It will be your kind of beautiful before you know it!
Damn those Sydney Swans!
Donna from Brissie
It looks nice in the pictures…I agree, framing it will make a big difference. I love the old chests transformed with a sink and they are lovely too. You will make it work!
Oh well done, you know one of the things we appreciate about your blog is that you share the bumbles and tumbles as well as the projects that went well.
yep, bathrooms can be a nightmare because of the plumbing you cant easily move or change yourself… I have half a great new bathroom and the other half an ugly mess for the past few months arrgghh! Want cute curtain idea, check out my blog post.
I think the end product will delight you beyond measure Sarah!! Keep at it sweet friend!! You always manage to turn all your projects into such beautiful rooms!! And you always give me a shot of inspiration each time you send out your fabulous email updates. LOVE THEM!!! So glad I found you and that you are a part of my day!! You are wonderful and so giving and so absolutely amazing in my book!!
Sally
xoxoxo
You and Mr. BC make a good team. I agree with all the other post that say to frame out the doors then I think you would like it better. Also the cup handles I would only put on the drawers and use your black knobs on the door…just a thought.
Good luck!
Don’t you hate it when you think it’s a good idea and you hate the end result!!! Good luck with what evr you decide to do to it next.
Alison
One of life’s greatest joys is a bunch of flowers from the market, the yard or wherever to separate and fill up my many flea marketed vases. It brings so much joy to me to look at the flowers, the vases and just enjoy!!! As for the million dollar dress, can’t wait to see it, must be fabulous. Great post on Decor 8, you deserve it!!! I love your blog though just as much for your sentiments as the lovely thrifted decor. What’s happening with that book thing you mentioned?
You may hate it, but do you hate it as much as you hated it before?!! sometimes DIY just bridges the gap from can’t stand to replacing… I think it looks loads better
I think its sweet! Im going to give it a shot. I did my back splash of my rental and painted it a pretty blue and LOVE LOVE IT.I got the idea from my good friend at Canadian Cottage
Love your blog Jenny
simple.casual living
I like it
I hope it grows on you.
nice, love the white will go well with white chest of drawers