I wasn't gonna post today…I thought I might have a little blogging break and spend time getting my freshly painted front door and people, not just that, a freshly painted BEAD BOARDED hallway, all ready and finished for you to see.
But then I thought you might like to see my workers from the weekend?
Sydney has been whipped with rain the last few weeks and with no sport for the whole weekend rather than sit around and relax, read newspapers, slumber around in pj's drinking vanilla coffees I got the troops working for their keep. (Miss BC and I kept quiet that when we went to buy DIY supplies we snuck into the Frenchy shop for a very nice cofee and an iced tea).
With a long list of jobs cooked up by me the Beach Cottage Crew made a joint effort in all things DIY and got their act together to spruce up our long overdue for a paint job entrance with wallpaper and fresh white on white paint and make the lady of the house one happy-tongue-and-grooved-heaven girl.
There is something very satisfying about seeing one's lovely teenager perched perilously on a stool, lamenting the woes of wallpapering…Mr Beach Cottage patiently looking on…
Remember the saga with the beadboard from before, when I so wanted it and couldn't get it here? Well I found a way and the rolls of wallpaper used here, not available as far as I can ascertain, in Australia were hand delivered to me by my personal courier Sue who travels to Sydney frequently and just so happens to read my blog and tweet with me and was oh so kind as to offer to bring me three rolls of the stuff in her cabin bag.
Since that day ages ago when Mr Beach Cottage met her in the city and spent the evening at a business function with 3 dirty great rolls of beadboard about his person it has sat around patiently waiting. And waiting.
Now, I have many talents as you know my friends ;-) but wallpapering which equals a fair deal of patience and not a whole lot of slapdash is not one of them.
But! Not only that, no no no, not only am I wandering around finally with panelled walls I have a newly painted front door (after the two base coats above). One that very nearly had to stay open all night cos the lock wouldn't go back on…
This is truly a trash to treasure story…it was one horrible 70's style front door that I sneakily kept hidden from you all and even zapped with the trusty Beach Cottage white paint it was passable at best…but after much door searching in door shops and steady avoiding of those hideous trendy ones around at the moment we stuck with the best of a bad bunch and what we had…you can see the insets -they were a lovely amber 70's coloured glass…ooh yeah…(before/after pics to come) and the big old panels of flowers were a browny orange wood colour…mmm mmm…but in it's final glossy coat which I've get to photograph, wooeee, it's a makeover fit for a queen
Anyway I have to fly, I have loads to do…see you tomorrow
Cute post Sarah! Good luck on the finish work!
Can’t wait to see that front door.
Sorry clicked too soon! Did you take the glass out and replace it in the front door or did you just put a few coats of paint over it? Gloss black – think it will look stunning.
What a great way to spend the weekend – watching the BC Boys do the work!!
I’m looking forward to seeing the finished product. I love how you think outside the square and paint over glass. It didn’t occur to me to do that before, but now I’m thinking “Duh!”, why didn’t I think of that!
sarah did you ever show a pic of the beach cottage from the front? i dont ever recall seeing one ever! i would love to see the front! i love the bck deck so i imagine the front is equally as quaint! have a g’day!
kim
OOh can’t wait for the final reveal……
Sounds like a very productive day at the beach cottage.
Did you make any soup?LOL
I’m anxious to see all that beadboard up and decorated with your treasures.
Debbie@houseatthelake
xxxooo
Those legs! What a picture!- it’s all a bonding experience y’know…
Can’t wait to see the befores and afters, imagining amber panels etc transformed!
Great photos.
The Beach Cottage surely is a family affair. Great to see all family members helping to make the house your home!
Alison
Yes a no soccer weekend . I was secretely glad about that , we got a few things done here too . Love the front door , my parents have the same one! Might have to show them your makeover.
Love what I’m seeing! Catching up on more than a week of your posts. You. Are. A-MA-ZING!!!
Looking great Sarah! I am loving that wallpaper, and I haven’t found it here anywhere so far either… The door is going to look amazing, I like that crazy 70′s stlye, and you are totally giving it a new lease on life and bringing out every ounce of it’s potential.
Look forward to seeing the finished product!
:) Flick
Dear Sarah…..I love the front door…I can just see a snippet of the black bottom of it in the photo..
Well done on getting your “tribe” to kick in & help…hubby who just got back from sydney said it had been pouring…
Cannot wait to see the finished painted bead board…
hope you have a great productive week..which I am sure you will..
ps..I am busy caring for my dad re his new knee operation…(full time job at the minute..but loving looking after this wonderful MAN!!)~~~
xx andrea
Oh dear I do believe I know how you feel about the door, we also have this rather unattractive orange timber door but we go one better, we have great whopping panels of that orange glass at the front of the house, if you cover it us it makes the room look dark, if you leave it as it, the room has a distinctive orange glow. I am hoping for an accident with a chair leg into said window but apparently the orange glass is much sort after….not by me!
Have fun, Kiss Noises Linda
I am guessing you are going to do this but am dying to see a pic of the front of the house with the door shut!!! Well done getting your boys to work maybe you could come over the my place and get mine to do the same!!!
I love this door painted glossy black. It’s gonna say to visitors ‘hey look at me, am I fabulous or what’! x
Lucky you. The front door is one project here that is at the top of my list. The Beadboard wallpaper is a top idea. No wonder you are thrilled. Can’t wait to see finished pictures!
Love the pictures of the legs…how cute!! Your family just seems about perfect! I don’t have kids…wish I could get my dogs to do some fixing up!! haha..their “work” is competing in agility with me..so, can’t complain!!
I am thinking of painting our front door black…the stucco is an off white…the door now is a very ugly brown color. I think black is classy. Can’t wait to see how yours turns out..will you tell us what color black you used?
I am finally buying new furniture for our “new” beach cottage…still at least 2 months from moving in…can’t wait…I live in the CA desert now and its been 109 degrees!!! Ugh.
Patti @
deserttothesea
I should say that you guys did a great job! I adore the photos, all hands helping each other.
Aren’t you lucky to have such faithful helpers, and coffeeshop company as well!
Sounds like you have a lot of eye-candy in store for us. Bring it on, honey, bring it on.
Cute pics. What is your secret, how did you get them all to work so hard. I am tipping the bribery was good!
Are they for hire? ;)
Sarah, you are raising great future husbands! I showed the pics to my son in hopes of making him feel guilty, didn’t work! The door is starting to look fabulous and the wallpaper ugh I love it! <3
well done you roping in the whole family..like it!
please dont stop posting daily; you are my fix each day!
Even hubby quotes ‘Beach Cottage style’ at me….yes, we are that sad!
Take care, M x
Love the new paint on the front door….and all the paint on their shorts!! Hope you have some spare.
Love it! Can’t wait to see the finished front door and hallway…I love white beadboard. I think it is so pretty and classic looking. You have such lovely taste! :)
It is SO nice to see a family working together as well as playing together! Very refreshing, Sarah! What great kids! :) The door looks so much better, too. Can hardly wait for the final reveal!
Hugs ~
laurie@heavenswalk
Hi Sarah,
Love how you got the entire family involved and then snuck away. I try that ruse every now and then!! Bet you’re very happy with the “new” hallway and the black door, elegant and perfect for your white on white little cottage by the sea.
XO
Heidi
I know exactly the kind of glass you’re talking about – beer bottle glass, I call it. You’ve been clever to keep that one hidden from us; I’ll be very interested to see what you’ve managed to do with it. I loved the sneaky peek at the door. I think it’s going to look amazing!
Ah yes, wallpaper. I hate to love it. So glad you got you hands on what you needed.
Jan @ BellaCasa
Had to laugh Sarah as your front door reminded me of ours in our first home here in the hills. it was a 70′s classic and had (wait for it….) those amber panels down BOTH sides of the front door. We used to call it the “Beer bottle glass” (i think thats the common name) I had great enjoyment in smashing it out one day to replace with etched glass. Mind you I think it is made of Cryptonite as it wouldnt smash easily!!
Alicia :0)
Priceless! photos of the boys wallpapering! Sarah – How do your signature at the end of each Post?
OK..just for the record..when I gave Mr BC the wallpaper I can assure you it was NOT dirty…it’s all his fault!!!
What a fabulous bunch of boys you have Sarah! The wallpaper is looking great and your front door looks FABULOUS!! Can’t wait to see a pic of that glossy black paint. Hope you are having a wonderful start to your week ~ Tina x
Hello Sarah, I am enjoying your blog oh so much.
Looks stunning! I am also wallpaper deficient, the one time I tried it was a major nightmare, I only wanted to do one wall, how hard could it be? 3 very expensive ruined rolls later, I was EXTREMELY frustrated and angry, kicking and throwing things and generally having a very immature tantrum. The poor guy my landlord had sent over to help me was beside himself, he didn’t know what to do, at some point I looked up and he was GONE. Escaped, more like it. Oddly enough, he committed suicide very soon after that, and I always felt a little guilty that I had acted that way around someone who was feeling so badly. I had no idea, and I was very young at the time, but still….
Anyway, I didn’t know they made beadboard paper….maybe I won’t have to bribe my carpenter brother into helping me beadboard my bedroom after all.