I am actually too embarrassed to show you the ‘before’ but, suffice to say, it was a bare, partially painted, naked bulb hanging from the ceiling, partially floored, old hooks hammered in the wall, electrical cables hanging out the wall, kind of space. Like that it stayed for two and half years while we got our ducks in a row… renovations are slow. I said to my mum, ‘You know when you’ve lived with something for so long it’s almost like you just don’t see it anymore?’. ‘No’, she replied, unequivocally. So we began.
Right now, we are somewhere in between before and after, let’s call it ‘in progress’.
It’s always really fun to pull a moodboard together – gives me a nice hit of motivation to actually finish the room. A slab of chocolate porcelain leftover from the shower room project has now become a utility worktop and provided the starting point for the colour scheme along with a desire to create a beautiful, practical space featuring lots of storage and tactile elements.
Scroll down for the moodboard, some inspiration images and the conundrums I need your help with…
MOODBOARD DETAILS
brass knobs – Suffolk Latch Co
Victorian clothes airer – Cast in Style
bowls & plates – Rosie Gore
confetti glass ceiling pendant – Cotterell & Co
open storage basket – H&M
lidded storage basket – H&M
silent white deep & sky blue paint – Little Greene
Pulpis 9mm porcelain tile – Neolith
Emmeline & Zara fabrics – Warner House
The sketch was drawn and the tradesmen procured because, if there’s one thing I’ve learnt in this very DIY extension process of ours, it’s that joinery cannot be anything other than perfect without looking DIY.
I saved the solid timber doors from our old kitchen and, after storing them for five years, they are finally getting their second life, drenched in my favourite blue by Little Greene and adorned with new brass knobs.
THE INSPIRATION
Below, some colour and material inspiration – I just love that chocolate/sky blue combo, bench seats, tactile fluttery appliance curtains and generous built in storage…
images via Claude Home, Studio Duggan, Pinterest, Mindful Hues
THE QUESTIONS
The bench seat and all other joinery will be painted in that beautiful blue, the remaining walls and ceiling in my favourite off white to tie in with the open plan space the room leads into. On the beadboard (above the bench seat) will be a paitning with brass picture light over – would you paint the beadboard in the blue or the off white?
image via
On to question number two…
I plan to upholster a bench seat cushion and create some pretty ruffled appliance curtains to hide our washing machine and tumble drier but which fabric has your vote?
I must say, my heart belongs to the Zara Aqua stripe with the pale ground but is that just nuts with a dog and two children in the mix? I am also really drawn to Emmeline Chambray blue and Emmeline Apple – I’d love to hear your thoughts.
image via Nicola Huthwaite
THE SPANNERS IN THE WORKS
Last night the washing machine door… exploded? I don’t know how else to describe it. Mid way through a regular cycle the glass shattered and sprayed out into the room as well as into the drum, slashing our wet clothes beyond repair. What a truly bizarre event and thankfully nobody was in the room at the time.
In other news, turns out all that sanding and painting of the old doors took its toll and tennis elbow got me good and proper. I can’t tell you how infuriating it is to be on the sidelines for finishing this project – the husband, of course, has offered to complete the painting but the control freak in me is having a hard time, ha.
(Equally, imagine how mad I am to have tennis elbow from decorating and now not be able to play tennis.)
THE SOLUTION
The husband will paint the rest of the room and I guess I have a new glass window to fit before I can indulge in the prettier bits…
So close now though and I can’t wait to show you the finished space soon.
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