Sunday, July 31, 2011

Before + After: Basement Bathroom

Posted by Head Fly at 8:25 PM 0 comments
You've seen bits and pieces of it coming together. But since the inspector just signed off on it (I know it took us awhile...only because it took us awhile to remember to call him!) it seems fitting to do the reveal. We did everything ourselves, except for the plumbing + drywall. Sources are listed at the bottom of this post. This is what we started with as we rebuilt the bathroom. This photo is actually a few steps into the process, having replaced the plumbing under the house, new concrete floor, new walls, insulating etc. etc. But it's a starting off point...


And this is what we created.....

One major choice was the pocket door. I highly recommend this, as it is the best thing for a small space. The other major element is the stand up shower. I love, love the shower. Eventually we'll put in a glass wall but it's not an issue right now, and not much water spray happens. The shower set it Moen, and I adore having the toe kick. (See this post on the shower) For those unaware of the toe kick, it means I can test the water temperature with my foot, prior to getting sprayed.


We created a DIY pivoting mirror after falling for one at Pottery Barn, but not falling for the price. (See this post on how we did it)


Since the bathroom is in my workspace (the basement is my studio/office) it seemed fitting to offset the formality of the finishes with some cheekyness. I created this art.

One of the neat elements is this pivoting toilet paper holder. Honestly people, this is the best invention. No springs flying everywhere!



And there you have it. Our basement bathroom. :) Amazing to see the progression of how it all came to be. (See all of the posts here) I'm kind of uber impressed at my husband. :) Next up...Master Bath! ;) (Kidding...kind of)

Source Guide for the Basement Bathroom
Big Deal Art Print: My shop.
London Gaurd Art: DIY, See post on how to do it here
Mini Cooper replica Car: Mini Downtown
Vanity: Kohler Memoirs
Faucet: Delta Dryden Set
Toilet: Kohler Memoirs
Tiles: The Tile Store
Shower Head + Toe Kick Set: Moen from Home Depot
Window Tint: Peel & Stick frosting via Home Depot
Moen Pivoting Toilet Paper HolderHome Depot
Wall Colour: Paper White by Benjamin Moore OC-55
Pocket Door: Similar ones are available at Home Depot.

mon potager

Posted by Head Fly at 2:46 PM 0 comments




Mon potager - my vegetable garden - is a reflection of our life here.  Fairly simple, nothing showy, often a bit untidy and rambling round the edges.... relaxed.   We have four squares, each measuring about 3 metres or 12' square.  That size is easier to maintain and looks rather pretty.  Looks are important when it comes to the potager, that is why flowers are allowed to self seed, rhubarb is left to flower and little boys like to plant in straight lines.





The potager is  in the corner of the garden, edged on two sides by the garden wall, and on two sides by a picket fence that I made from scrap wood.  I had a brief and uncharacteristic moment of genius when making the fence, and created each section  to be lifted off for mowing the lawn.  ... pause for maximum effect, my good ideas are so rare, I have to make the most  of them ...!!





Our bean frames are home made, and restrung each year with the string that come off the horse's bales of hay.  The heaviest task is each spring, when we trundle in wheelbarrow fulls of compost  to feed the ground.



One square has a little apple tree and our herbs, the other three rotate each year and we grow tomatoes, beans, courgettes, sometimes red peppers, parsnips, rocket .... Nothing exotic, just the stuff you really want to have an unending supply of close to hand.  In the stone wall corner is bordered by raspberries and pumpkins for ground cover.  Poppies self seed themselves and we leave them in situ because they are too pretty to pull up.  Same for the fennel, whose stalks are great with fish and whose lime yellow flowers are useful in bouquets.










How about you, do you have a potager, pots on a balcony with tomatoes and herbs, or a full size walled garden that could feed an army?!





Quiet Time

Posted by Head Fly at 7:19 AM 0 comments
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17

A special post for my Brother and Sister-In-Law who welcomed a baby boy yesterday, congratulations!

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Fat Quarter Shop Fabric Giveaway Winners

Posted by Head Fly at 4:15 PM 0 comments

I'm so excited to announce the winner(s) of the Fat Quarter Shop "Meadow Friends" jelly roll giveaway.  Did you notice how I said winner(s) plural?  Well, Fat Quarter Shop contacted me this week and said because you guys did such an awesome job at visiting their shop and ordering fabric, that instead of just giving away one jelly roll, they are giving away FOUR!!!

Here are the FOUR lucky winners.........








Congratulations to all four of you!  Each winner will receive a jelly roll of "Meadow Friends" by Deb Strain from Fat Quarter Shop and can choose whether they would like the boy or girl version.  If you were one of the lucky winners, please email me at thecottagemama[at]gmail[dot]com with your contact information, your boy or girl selection and we will get you your prize as soon as possible!

Thank you so much to everyone who entered and if you didn't get a chance to visit Fat Quarter Shop, make sure to pay them a visit - their shop is like a slice of fabric heaven!

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of The Cottage Home blog, please email Lindsay at thecottagemama[at]gmail[dot]com for rates and more information.

weekend puppies

Posted by Head Fly at 2:15 PM 0 comments



Life continues to be quite exciting here for Gibson and Ghetto, into all sorts of trouble, game for most things.   Ghetto is still in denial about his tiny size, this morning he tried herding the horses in the field - a 1 kilo heavy dog, rounding up a 450 kilo horse? - I don't think so!!  But he couldn 't see the problem.

A few weekend shots of them in various degrees of cleanliness ... and sleepiness














wishing you all a fun weekend!


Friday, July 29, 2011

French summer in Deauville

Posted by Head Fly at 2:56 PM 0 comments



  Deauville is one of the great seaside resorts of France.  
Made especially chic by it's proximity to Paris,
it's elegant shopping,  summer polo and its Casino.  
But what I love the most are it's 
coloured parasol tents on the sandy beach.



Don't forget tomorrow is the last day to enter my giveaway if you haven't already done so -
a great grain sack is up for grabs!!


Morning Snack- Feeling Funky

Posted by Head Fly at 4:40 AM 0 comments
Lately I have been doing a lot Traditional work, which I love. You can never go wrong with a Traditional aesthetic. But then, I come across something like this and my funky side comes marching right out to the beat of its own drum.
Chair CB2

{ Guest Post - Meg Little Blue Prints }

Posted by Head Fly at 3:38 AM 0 comments
Today I'm hosting my first guest poster ever!
If you don't know Meg, from Little Blue Prints,
you're gonna want to run right over there.
Meg has the best fabric, vintage paper, burlap,...
ideas, so be ready to sit for a while.
Her guest room is what inspired my guest room.
And, I'm dying to make a lamp shade like hers.
Today she's sharing here
at The Painted Home.
E N J O Y
thanks Meg! 

Hi everyone! I was so excited that Denise thought of me to do a guest post for her. I feel honored to be here today to share some of my projects I've done, especially since I love all of Denise's work. My favorite is her recent book page project, I'm a sucker for old book pages! My name is Meg and I'm the designer and author of Little Blue Prints.

I'm a stay at home mom to 3 little boys, married to my high school sweet heart, and a wanna be designer. I have an etsy shop where I create and sell vintage inspired one of a kind pieces. Little Blue Prints is where I share my design adventures and all the projects I take on, whether my family thinks I'm nuts or not.

Today I thought I would share a confession with you. My name is Meg and I'm addicted to fabric! There I said it, it's out in the open... it's sick really the obsession I have with pretty fabrics. I tend to buy any I see and love without having a plan for it at the time of purchase. I tell myself I NEED this and that fabric because in the future I just may decorate a room in those colors or style. It has led me to having an embarrassing pile of fabric stacked high, it may or may not be folded nicely. Since I love fabric for it's patterns and texture you can add to a room, I thought I would show you some of the ways I use fabric.

I use fabrics for slipcovers...

{see full post here}

{see full post here}

I use them to create pins you can wear in your hair or attach to your purse or top...



{to purchase one click here}

I use fabric to create one of a kind pillows...



{see full post here}

{go here to find your own one of a kind pillow}

I even use fabric to create a new look for lampshades...

{see full post here}

My most recent project involved making some art work for my mom's 2nd guest room...


{see full post here}

The use of fabric is endless. You can use it to bring in color, texture, and add layers in a room. How do you use fabric in your own home?

Thank you so much Denise for inviting me over today. I hope you all will stop by and look around at Little Blue Prints, feel free to stay however long you'd like.

~Meg
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