Well, finally. The walls have been painted white...I've hung a few paintings...the chandeliers are up...and I'm a whole lot happier with my living room now. Here's why!
The wall colour (this is how it was when I bought the house) really did my head in and it had to go. Oh yes, I should warn you...there are quite a lot of photos in this post. How it was before...bad colours, oppressive beams (they don't look it here but the cross beams were a nasty reddy colour), and light fittings that had seen much better days...
and how it is now...light, bright and without the shonky fireplace. Still have to paint the fly screen white though ...
Even though it does get very cold in Canberra, the fire took up so much room that I had to let it go...I have central heating so it's not an issue...but I still need to get the large square hole in the carpet repaired...soon. Here's what it was like...erk...you can surely see why I couldn't keep it or those attractive tiles!
The townhouse isn't all that big but I like the different levels and angles, even though there's no foyer to speak of (which is very annoying)...this is the before looking up to my study on the left and the front door...
and now...the painting to the right of the stairs was done by my son as his Year 12 major piece and given to me for my 50th. He's tried to get it back, but he's got buckleys :)
It's such a nice room to be in...I couldn't be happier with the paint job...I've never voluntarily had white walls before. When I've lived somewhere that I could paint, there's almost always been a feature wall.
I'm blaming you lot! Can you spot the vampire slayer? There...in her usual spot...
The dining area has a bay window and was really designed for a round table...but I love my table and I'm not giving it up...the star jasmine better hurry up and cover that ugly mission brown lattice though!
This is the view from the dining section of the room into the tiniest kitchen in the southern hemisphere...it's on my hit list.
I can't imagine not having lots of art on the walls...heaps more to be painted, purchased or otherwise procured! Buffy was unusually absent when this photo was taken :)
The door on the right there (see below) heads up to the built in mezzanine level where my studio is...and where the 22 year old currently lives! Dealing with that as we speak :) I'm not at all fond of the carpet but it's in such good condition (apart from the big hole where the fireplace was) that I can't possibly justify replacing it...I just try to cover it up as much as I can.
Details of some of my stuff coming up...there's a definite asian theme...
Not a great photo I'm sorry but here are the chandeliers in all their sparkling glory...read about how I got them here...and this also gives you an indication of how high the back wall is...
Gee, you're good if you've got to the end of this...thank you for sticking it out. Oh, and that white paint was worth every cent...Dulux Antique White USA :)
Amanda...the bribe worked! Just joking. Isn't that a brilliant photo? Yes, it is. And I was going to put it in the minute I saw it...no inducements necessary :)
just in case there are things that can't be left to live in NYC...if I hear them tell me they want to emigrate to Australia I'll be certain to listen...
I didn't imagine that I'd ever be posting about a pair of boots...I suspect that's more than a little lame. However...thinking that I'd have to spend all weekend searching for a pair of boots to be worn tramping around the streets of Washington and New York in just a little over a week (sorry), I couldn't believe that I walked into Diana Ferrari last night and found a pair that are perfect for me...and so, so comfortable...just like that! Who would have thought?
Diana Ferrari: style - Hamish. Cost - $229.95. I estimate that'll be much less than a dollar a kilometre by the time I've finished walking in them! sorry about the reflection in the painting...I was still in my pj's too!
I've been thinking about this for a while, and yesterday when I read Jules' post where she said she rarely used the word covet...I could only agree that it was one of those words that shouldn't be given a 'run' all that often.
the covetable doors in question :)
In this blogging world it's all too easy to see things that we covet, or want, or desire...but perhaps rarely need. I have to say...and I realise I may lose some of you on this...I find this language a bit disturbing at times. And I know there's no malice or bad intent in the use of these words, and I've no doubt used some of them myself...but still. Maybe it's because I used to be an absolutely rampant consumer and knew that my consumerism was a substitute for other things that were lacking in my life. Nothing like a reformed chronic consumer hey? Maybe it's because I've already got most of the things that I 'need'! Maybe it's because I think that saying 'I'd really quite like' is much nicer than saying 'I want'. Maybe it's because I'm uncomfortable with the notion of never being satisfied with what we have. The word covet to me has very negative connotations. By definition it's about desiring something that others have; it smacks of jealousy and is linked with greed. Also...it's very old testament; right up there with smiting and begetting! Although begetting's not such a bad thing :) Or perhaps I'm just being a right royal pain in the butt. What do you think? About the word covet I mean, not about me being a pain...you can remain silent on that score. I get quite enough of that at home :)
I feel like this painting has had a gestation period equivalent to that of an elephant! I was determined to paint this costume after I'd seen it in the flesh at the Ballets Russes exhibition at the NGA.
There were many times during the process when I wanted to give up (and then it would have been an elephant of the white variety wouldn't it!)
But thanks to the encouragement of lots of people on FB, and the painterly advice of two of my favourite bloggy people, Mariska and Kerri with an 'i'...I soldiered on. And found a spot to hang it. But...it looked a bit lonely there beside my very big Helen Norton limited edition, so I added a simple poster from the Ballets Russes exhibition, and I'm a bit happier...
There's still an awful lot of wall space to fill in my living room though :) Guess I should show you that some time shouldn't I, now that it's painted and everything...and with the chandeliers up and sparkle arkling...
Just need to clean up this mess first ok?
Heaps of creative people over at Kootoyoo. Toodle-oo.
all images by me, 'cos it's my painting, my house and my mess!
February...over already. That's ludicrous. Have I told you that ludicrous is my favourite word? Well it is. So, we know February is a short month, and I'm back at work...and back to working full time for a while (yes, it's unfortunately necessary) so you won't be surprised that I haven't read as many books this month as I did in January. That may become a record, even for me! Here's what I managed though...six...not bad for a short month.
Aunts up the Cross by Robin Eakin - memoir
The Men and the Girls by Joanna Trollope - fiction
A Married Man by Catherine Alliott - fiction
Cross Stitch by Diana Gabaldon - historical fiction
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand - fiction
Details by Lili Diallo - design
So how did I go? There's quite a bit of 'fluff' this month isn't there? But that's ok...perhaps February can be official fluff month in future :) And all of the fiction is Brit fiction...how on earth did that happen! And speaking of all things Brit...that gorgeous possum Colin...ah. Here's part of his off stage press conference after winning the Oscar...
Now where was I after that momentary distraction? Of course I loved looking at all the beautiful pictures in Details...secrets of styling indeed..it was delicious. And yes, I did read all the text as well...I'm not a cheater!
Aunts up the Cross is so quirky...what a family. Eccentricity redefined. I think my favourite though was The Men and the Girls.
I don't think I've ever read a Joanna Trollope book that I haven't loved. Her characters always have the most wonderful flaws; but there's always something to love about them. This is a story of two women living with older men. The main character is Kate, married to James, and then there's Julia, married to Hugh. Hugh and James are old friends. Beatrice Bachelor (isn't that a fab name), a feisty 'spinster', comes into their lives when James knocks her off her bike, and she becomes a catalyst for enormous change. Trollope never ends her novels in quite the way you would expect, but when you're done, you nod your head and go...yep, that's just as it should be.
Two very long plane trips coming up for me this month...I've gone to the dark side and will be reading off this...
Could this be the end of the world as I know it. Doesn't bear thinking about :)
Hi there. I'm Kerry. I used to have a blog called A Tranquil Townhouse. I loved it and it was fun while it lasted. But now...now I'm immersed in photography. I'm following my intention to become a photographic artist. I'd love it if you'd join me.
www.kjmartinphotography.com
