Seaside Cottage Makeover

Here's a recent redesign and styling of a little oceanfront cottage that the clients are renting.

A fresh coat of a soft white paint really brightened up the space but they also needed some updated pieces and the final layers to make it feel like home.

Living Room Before.... great bones ( floors fireplace and new seating) WOW nice view!!!

Living Room After... casual comfy "Elegant Beachy" I say! 

Much needed extra storage for the space behind the sofa. Love these lamps we scored from Homesense.

Because its a rental it was key to refresh without any structural changes. We did replace 3 main light fixtures and paint one wall but the rest was cosmetic.

The front door opens directly into the dining area and made for a jumble of shoes and coats and drop zones. The old pine table was solid ( and loved) so we had the client use a vinegar and steel wool wash to weather it. This is a great simple way to add a beachy grey feel to wood. I have done it with great success to a couple of old treasures! See our Facebook post on 'how to' DIY or click the link above facebook.com/remarkableredesign

Here's the freshly weathered table and awesome new chairs...makes for a brand new look at half the cost! The teal drapes were the jumping off point for the colour pop and feel through out the little cottage.

Adorable wooden "hooks" from CB2 and new IKEA Hemnes shoe storage unit complete the dining area.

Kitchen before...

 We added a eating/utility console on casters to the otherwise blank stark wall. 

 Chalkboard paint in a dark grey and a vintage frame sprayed out blue add some fun!! The inexpensive light fixture was a drastic improvement from the tired old globe in here before.

Master bedroom before...an off centre (no view) window creates a very unbalanced feel to the room and the array of hand me down furniture was no longer working for the this professional young couple. 
(2 thumbs up for the creative use of wood clamps to hold the sheet!!)

After...

The drapery "wall" is an inexpensive way to create a dramatic headboard as well as balance the room.

New dresser side tables and bedding pull it all together.

Add in some more storage in the bathroom

and a touch of whimsy

and this place is updated ready for entertaining and comfortable waterfront living

...all without breaking the bank!

Enjoy the view. 

~Tracey

** Kudos times a million to design colleague extraordinaire Josee Lalonde on this project. Absolutely zero fun would have occurred with out her and her grande talent and super cute dancing abilities !

xoxox

Positively Chalking...

Happy Valentines Day everyone! 
I just had some fun with this fast easy weekend warrior DIY that I have been wanting to try.

Definitely not a new phenom, chalkboard paint  intrigues me. After all the years its been available I still hadn't actually used it on anything. I think its the endless creative applications that has kept me interested. ( moderation moderation...)

I have teenage daughters so like most busy families we have lots of sticky notes and to-do lists. I seem to be the creator of most (honestly all!) of these and many times the fam pleads plain old ignorance to the piles of moms reminders. So...Ta Da! A chalkboard wall in our pantry room :) Can't be missed as its a transition room from garage to kitchen. And now its all there in black and white....


                                    


Not much room left already but I think I can get them to start checking it for 911 info!
The twine frame note holder idea is from the March Style at Home...frame was thrift store special spayed out white. Cheap!

* After painting 2 or 3 coats to cover. Wait and let cure at least 3 days. ( I waited 1.5...rebel that I am!) Then "season" your board with chalk powder ( ziplock bag and mallet worked to crush the chalk) - wipe all over to coat- then wipe again with a damp rag. You are set to scribble after that! *

Here's some other sweet applications ...

                             

                                                Chalkboard Fridge! whoa!

Serving platter: can you say holiday or hostess gift??! 

*to make this food/heat safe it needs to be baked after painting and you must use porcelain chalkboard paint (Pebeo Porcelain Chalkboard paint avail through Amazon)

witandwhistle.com

Summer Patio party! becomingmartha.com

I love this globe from Jamie Young but it retails for $195 so I will be on the hunt and paint my own with my leftover paint ! 

My oh so lovely design colleague et bonne amie  Josee and I are planning a kitchen chalkboard wall in a up coming waterfront cottage redesign. I'll post a pics of that soon! ( the clients are leery so I'll let you know how that plays out as well!)

Oh yes, meant to mention that Benjamin Moore Chalkboard paint (what I used) can be tinted in any of their  3300 colours! No need to stick to plain old black. www.benjaminmoore.com

 Have a Fab Friday and  enjoy the weekend!

~Tracey