Sunday 11 November 2012

A Little Bit of Life Size Design.....

My children are all grown up and live away from home for 45 plus weeks of the year. The two youngest are at university and my eldest is living the life on a graduate programme in a lovely area of London. So at the moment I feel as if we are living in a family home in limbo, kids all gone but not quite left.
 The year before my eldest was due to apply for his secondary school we moved into a village with a co-ed comprehensive to enable all three of the children to attend a school they would all be able to walk to. The house is a typical 1970's square box house that had been badly extended some time in the '80's with a small back garden. 
 Up until this move I had always lived in Victorian houses, I had never lived in a house built after 1899 and have found it quite difficult to get used to this modern family house. My furniture was wrong, my paint colours did not work and I could not get the right feeling at all.
 Many years have now gone by and my dream of moving back into the country and the Victorian vicarage look like remaining a dream so I have had to take stock and accept that this house may be the one they carry me out of.  
 Time for some post-children redecoration and an attempt to simplify, lighten and brighten. To fix all the little bits and pieces around the house that did not seem worth worrying about with a house full of teenagers and sports gear.
 I have begun with the main living room or front room as it was always known in my family. This was painted in a very dark Farrow and Ball drawing room colour but I have gone for an all ivory look with a bit of Laura Ashley.
 The fireplace, woodwork, furniture and walls have been painted in Dulux Subtle Ivory 4 that you have mixed. I have painted everything the same colour as I didn't want too many different shades of cream, I wanted a very uniform background.
As you can see I haven't even put in the photographs yet!!
 I have had a hankering to go lighter for a few years now so luckily our leather chair and sofas have blended in well which saved quite a lot of expense. This light is from Laura Ashley who seem to be having a permanent sale and I bought a whole range of bits and pieces for anywhere between 40 and 50% off. 
 The window end of the room with two pieces of furniture I have not been allowed to paint or get rid off as they came from my husband's grandmother's house........hmmmm, the things we do, but I shouldn't complain as he doesn't interfere to much in the decorating decisions.
The curtains and cushions are all Laura Ashley from the Hydranga range, I do like a bit of co-ordination with my soft furnishings. My friends tell me it's because I have no imagination!! I am very safe I know because big mistakes cost so much to rectify in the real world! Much easier in my dolls houses.
 Lily was not happy with all the upheaval over the last couple of weeks but loves her new furry throw upon which she can sit and watch the world go by in absolute comfort.
All in all I am very happy with the over all look. I have lined the old display cabinet with left over wallpaper and my ivory Sylvac collection looks very pretty inside. I have sprayed lights, lanterns and frames but there are still quite a few gaps here and there. I love the idea of living minimalistically ( is that a word? ) but I don't think I am capable of doing so, the look will probably end up a lot more cluttered as time goes on. 
The walls are pretty bare but I want to get some black and white canvas wall art pieces done from old family photographs but that will have to wait until after Christmas.
The worst thing about decorating.....clearing up all the mess afterwards, my how dust and paint travels!!


15 comments:

  1. I think it looks lovely. Adding the lighter paper in the pieces you couldn't paint brings them to life and really ties them into the room. Bravo for taking on the task. I get the bug to redecorate from time to time, but then I just end up doing something in mini. :D

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    1. It's not so much the doing, it's the upheaval that seems to spread around the whole house that is the real pain.

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  2. It looks beautiful! Very elegant without looking stiffly formal. I love yellow and white together and I think your beautiful antique, freshly lined, heirloom cupboard provides a lovely accent.

    You have beautiful windows too. 70's houses here seem a bit more basic.

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    1. I have never had such a floral finish to a room so the whole look is very new for me but I am pleased with how it has turned out. Thank you.

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  3. Tu casa se ve preciosa y alegre, me gusta!!
    Besos de las Malu´s.

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  4. It looks lovely, nice and fresh. :)

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    1. Thanks Dale. It has taken some getting used to. I am still at that stage where I am surprised every time I walk into the room!

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  5. I love the lightness of it all Janice and as long as Lily is happy who can complain LOL. I dream of redecorating with lighter colors but with hubby and black dog the size of a small horse I just give up.

    Hugs,
    Victoria

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  6. Interesting to see how you live. Your window's lot is very beautiful. I think it looks modern and cozy at the same time.

    Hugs
    Wyrna

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  7. Your livingroom looks beautiful & lucky Lily to get a comfy spot looking out of that gorgeous window xxx

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  8. If your friends see how you work on your dollhouses, they will retract everything they say about you having no imagination.

    I think the makeover is wonderful! I too love cream colour walls and if not for the terribly humid weather here, I will want all white for my house as well. I am in awe of you, Janice because I can never ever paint life size objects or walls the really professional and neat way that you have done! Bravo!

    Yes, this is the moment to savour the happiness and bliss that comes with having redecorated a room :). Enjoy !

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  9. We're at the same stage here Janice. Two weeks and counting before No 1 moves out (No 2 has already gone!) and I have the rooms already redecorated in my head.

    Your front room looks really nice (love the fireplace). Do you just open the door and stare in and smile occasionally?

    Good luck with the rest of the decorating - you'll be glad you did it!

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  10. It looks lovely Janice, so lovely and bright ...

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  11. Love the look! I think the two antique pieces really complement the look. Also like the windows even if they are 1970's!

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