the one... with a street number

source

I have been looking out for ways I can put the house number on the cottage and I'm liking this idea.  Pop over the 4men1lady blog and checkout her easy tutorial.

The backing timber could be stained the same as the top step.  I might also repeat this idea on the letterbox but that might be too much.

This is going on my to-do list - the question is do I put it at the bottom or bump it up a little.

Lisa xo

the one... with some shelves

I've had these two photos tucked away in my folder for a while now.

I love the idea of shelves in the kitchen but I'll be honest I hate the idea of the extra work they create.  In an old Queensland cottage with timber floors dust is always an issue.

The idea I'm sitting with is a little shelf above the sink to place a couple of pots of herbs.

So I'll sit with this idea for while, along with the tiles because I really want to get this right.

Lisa xo

the one... with what I got

February Challenge: $0 Spend

Look what my gorgeous sister gave me for Christmas.  She was on fire with the selecion of gifts!

I actually squealed when I unwrapped it!

I've flipped through it a few times trying to decide which project I will tackle first.  There are just so many choices.

A  couple of projects I'm keen to do are the:

• Faux Wallpaper on page 24.
• Painted Doormat on page 311. Love this one.
• Sketch Pillow on page 252.
• Paint Lamp Base on page 248.

And that's just to start.

What are your thoughts on the book?  Have you tackled a project yet?

Lisa xo

the with... your help is needed

Those in living in Australia are well aware that we have a long weekend this week for Australia Day!!

It looks like it's going to be a wet weekend which is not very Australian.

So in saying that I thought I would take advantage of the extra day try to finish a few projects inside the house - you know those little jobs that finish a room but never seem to get done.

My bedroom is almost finished but I can't decide what colour to paint the chest of drawers.

As you know I painted the bedside tables a light grey which I'm happy with.

On the mood board I had chosen green but I'm tossing up with a deep purple.

A purple taken from the print I bought which is now on the wall (yippee).

I think what's stopping me is that I still want to find a bedhead to fill the white wall and had been thinking of doing up an old timber door and painting it - I like the option of changing the headboard colour.

Wait...

Thank you!

You know what, in typing this post I have made up my mind.  I guess it's like when you say something outloud - it becomes clearer.

I'll be back with photos of the colour I have chosen.

Lisa xo

the one... with revamping some lamps

While on the recent trip to the op shop I also picked up 2 lamp shades.

Now they are hideous!  The previous owner glued a hot pink feather bower around the base.  I ripped them off as soon as I got home.

The lamp base I've had tucked away in the garage for a while.  They will need a coat of paint and the lighting fitting glued back on but I think it will look brand new once it's painted all one colour.

Now for the lamp shade.

I picked up this fabric from Ikea with the thought of making blinds for my bedroom but then I changed my mind.

The fabric has been sitting in the fabric box waiting for some inspiration.  The colours are perfect for my bedroom.

Lisa xo

the one... with the bed head idea

I have been thinking about a bed head lately.

I think the room needs one, particularly with the 3mt high ceilings.

I was thinking of making a fabric one that I saw on Better Homes and Gardens but I read this blog on IHeart Organizing.

I love the idea of using an old timber door, adding some extra moulding and some colour.  I particular love the idea that I can change the colour of the bed head whenever I want - can't do that with fabric.

Now to find an old door and pick a colour - oh the hardship.

Lisa xo

the one... where I'm unsure

I've been in the midst of going back and forth on the final colour to paint the cottage.

I have always known I would the house grey with lots of white used on the windows, features and trims.  I had selected two greys from a large pile of charts to test around the house in different light/different times of day and I found I loved the lighter of the two.

Well, now I'm not sure.

I'm heading to Bunnings to pick up another sample pot, this time I'm looking for something in-between what I already had.

Here are the original greys



The patch you can see is the lighter sample pot


The painter, Nigel, kindly painted a big patch of the lighter grey on the front for me to get a better idea of what it will look like but I just don't know if it is the one or not! 

I'll let you know what I decide.

Lisa xo

the one... with the kitchen plans

Now that the old cupboard has been removed from the kitchen it motivated me to finalise the plan for the new kitchen.

I've been having fun using the Ikea Planner tool and have come up with 2 options.

Option 1
This option is keeping the fridge in it's current spot on the immediate left as you enter the room.  The sink is directly across under the window.

Option 2
The difference here is I moved the fridge to the far left corner of the room to be closer to the main prep counter beside the stove.  I also moved the drawers from to this side for the same reason.

I didn't include the sink cupboard in this plan because it has already been replaced with an Ikea cupboard.  I'm now finishing the job.

Have I missed anything that would improve the design in anyway?

I'd love to know which option you prefer.


Lisa xo

the one... with some colour

I really like this idea.

I've added it to my craft to-do list.

Lisa xo

the one... where I wait

I visited Bunnings on Saturday to pick up the paver paint for the patio.

I have been wanting to do this project since I started the backyard makeover.

I want it to look like this when I'm finished.

  

I found this picture (again this photo was saved in my folder and I can't remember where I found it).

I've chosen the colour Smoke Storm from the White Knight Paints range specially for painting on concrete surfaces and a packet of paving tape to get those lines.  I love the randomness of the lines rather than the traditional square look - I'm a girl who does like clean straight lines.

The plan is to clean the concrete with a high pressure hose and allow it to dry before I can start painting.  I may need to use a concrete degreaser but I'll wait to see how it comes up after the first clean.

Now if only the clouds would clear and the sun would show itself I could make a start.

Lisa xo

the one... with the coloured knobs

I have had this picture in my 'Make' folder for a while now.  I don't remember where I found it.

I was recently flipping through the folder and I stopped at this picture.

I love the idea of this near the front door so I picked up 12 plain knobs at Bunnings.  Now they just need a bit of colour.

Lisa xo

the one... with bathroom ideas

Last week I shared with you the horror that was my bathroom when I first moved back in after the cottage was rented out for a few years.

Within the first couple of months I did a minor makeover which was mainly just a coat of paint and some re-decorating.

Well, now I am planning the big makeover and when I say big, I mean BIG!

The wish list is to completely gutter the entire room and start again.

At the moment the bathroom and toilet are separate with a very narrow hallway.  The plan would be to enclose these two rooms into one large space.

I got out the tape measure to check the new room size and I would have 1.7m (wide) x 4.2m (length) to work with.  It isn't very wide with only 1.7m but I think the 4.2m in length certainly makes up for it and it would allow me to have a separate shower and bath (woohoo).

I have been collecting lots of photos for a while now and I've been watching the current season of The Block on Channel 9.  I got some great ideas from the show when they recently built their main bathrooms.  My favourite bathrooms would have to be by Dan and Dani and Brad and Lara (Winner).


Dan and Dani

Dan and Dani

Brad and Lara

I think it's time I hit the shops to see if my wish list is a possibility (fingers crossed).

I'll keep you posted.

Lisa xo