Is there anyone out there?
I know I know I KNOW!! Where the heckers did I go? Working on this house  - that's where I went!! And Blimey - it needs work - ALL the time. If ever you look through those glossy mags with a ruined old English cottage that needs your love - heed this friends - love is NOT all you need!!

Anyway - let's look at some pics......

The living room.....

To begin with it was like this.....

Then it was like this (for a few years)

Looked nice at Christmas - everywhere does though

What you can't see if the manky carpets  -and it was time to remove that space eating monstrosity of a fireplace. Someone I think in the 1950s had built this huge brick surround - it was massive and came out into the room by 2 feet!!!

It took a while....

We had to knock down centuries of fireplaces that had been built on and on - the green one we think is the Victorian one.

At one point our lovely cockney builder announced, "I fink this fareplace might be olding your ouse up!"

We continued with fingers crossed.

Until eventually we made this.....

Bought a lovely little stove and kept the original lintel. 

Karl tired from all the work.

Karl put down all the floorboards - reclaimed  - bought from Ebay - very cheap at only £250 for the lot - but he did have to painstakingly have to remove all the old glue from all of them first.  He also put in the skirting boards. He is not a carpenter - but you have to learn these things when you can't afford a professional!

And we've never looked back. 

Next post I will show you the other side of the room where we have put some William Morris wallpaper up. 

Now I wish I had organised all my photos over the past few years. Good to be back though. 

TTFN

Fleur xx

Bathroom Extras

Just a quick post to update you on our bathroom. We FINALLY have a shower! Yay! and Yay! again. Initially the poles that came down from the ceiling were too long - and the shower rail only came up to our waists - this was because the ceilings are so low - it did little to stop water getting everywhere, or protect our dignity. So it was back to the drawing board for a while. I found this shower curtain in Wilkinsons (I know!!!) and allowed myself a few roses. The light fitting matched the colours of the bathroom so well - I had to have it - carboot.....£2!!!!

So bathroom is finished - yes a room is finished - and I love it!!!!

Fleur
xxx

My Bedroom

Before......
We have pretty much finished our bedroom - one or two more touches and it will be everything I could dream of from a cottage bedroom.

Just to prove I do some of the work!

So lets start at the beginning.......The walls were originally cream, which I decided to freshen with white (of course). New carpets were a must - I mean a must! The ceiling's wallpaper was hanging off and so I tore it all down - and for the next YEAR I woke up to brown, torn, ragged, lining paper. Whilst I was away with the children, Karl got to work and re-papered the ceiling, apparently it was not easy - but he did a fine job!

After.........
Then I gave it a lick of paint and now we have a new morning view! Then one last touch - time to get out that one roll of Cath Kidston wallpaper I bought in the sales many, many moons ago. The crowning glory!

The Kidston wall, as it is now to be called, leads to my little dressing room, which isn't quite ready to show you yet. As you can probably see there is very little storage and so my lovely old suitcases keep all my truly sentimentals in -you know; kids drawings, wedding photos, love letters - - if there was a fire in my home - I wouldn't leave the house unless these cases had been flung out of the window first!I have got one or two things to do, I want to paint the door white, the cupboard green (yes believe it) and fit my lovely French chandelier, get some cafe rods up and hang some vintage, French lace. I will post with those titbits as and when! Hope you approve - could your hubby or partner live with the roses? Am I a lucky lady or what!?
Thank you for your lovely comments, stay with me!

Fleur
xx

Dressed up Dresser

Just a quick add! When we moved in we had to strip the kitchen of everything - this included a not so nice orange pine dresser, but we held onto it - and its been in our garage graveyard since. However, I dusted it off, gave it a lick of paint - white of course - and added a few non essentials - and VOILA!The little girl figure is tape measure!

Fleur xx

Kitschin Corner

The latest before and afters from Appletree Cottage. I wanted more surface space and something to disguise an ugly washing machine and tumble dryer. So, propped up by one of our old beams (recycling galore!) - Karl put in a sturdy work-top. Then I made some curtains out of remnants - and hey presto - a country cottage corner that hides a myraid of sins! Still waiting for a dishwasher though - - oh hang on - that's me.


Before




After


TTFN

Fleur