Ugly Ducklings and Beautiful Things

I'd seen these poor stools in the op shop a few times but had decided that, even at $1 each, they were beyond redemption. Then I started to take a bit more notice and, ignoring the hideous vinyl cover stapled to the top, I realised that the metal legs had a nice shape. So I prised back the vinyl on one of them, and saw red leather. I paid my $2 and liberated them:

I see one of my missions in life as rescuing such ugly ducklings and trying to make them beautiful, not always successfully. In this case it was easy. The red leather is gorgeous and just required a bit of stitching:

This little cupboard was also $1. I loved the wheels, handle and shabby cream paint, but hated the chipboard which had been roughly screwed on top:

A clean and a bit of black paint and it looks a lot better, don't you think?

Now I have somewhere to store my glasses:

These lovely jars, on the other hand, didn't require any work. They are beautiful in their simplicity. Three of them have labels under glass, which is very exciting, and they all have their stoppers. I was quite amazed to see apothecary jars at an op shop. I have always wanted some but was not prepared to pay exhorbitant prices. At $13 each, these were a bargain:

As was this grey and white striped jug which, along with two identical but larger ones, was only $4:

P.S. Thank you to everyone who supported my previous two posts. It was not my intention to cause worry for the wrong people, but I inadvertently did. So, after careful consideration I have deleted the posts.

Pale and Interesting

I have just received my copy of Pale and Interesting by Atlanta Bartlett:

I've loved her style since I bought At Home With White a few years ago. These images are from her website, also called Pale and Interesting. The French grain sack cushions, metal lamp and chipped timber furniture:

A beautiful blue bed and dyed grey linen:

Cloches and silver candlesticks:

French vintage monogrammed tea towels:

These doors, shelf, cushions and blankets:

Apothecary jars and mirrors:

. . . are a few of my favourite things.

Peppergreen Antiques

Last weekend, we went for a drive to one of my favourite stores, Peppergreen Antiques, at Berrima, in the NSW Southern Highlands:

They had some lovely antique French grain sacks:


And I love the way everything is displayed in old haberdashery cabinets:



The sense of order is one of my favourite things about the store. These soup tureens look lovely grouped together:

As does this Johnson tableware grouped by colour:

I was tempted by the French monogrammed sheets:

But in the end, I splurged on a grain sack, which is now being used as a cushion in the boatshed:

$3 Well Spent

Yesterday morning I made a quick visit to the local op shop and much to my surprise found this original Thonet chair. It has the label under the seat. And it only cost $2:

Two days ago I found these two original oil paintings:

They only cost 50 cents each. Less than a tube of paint. Now they form part of my oil painting collection (which admittedly two days ago consisted of one painting):

So, for the price of a cup of coffee, I now have some lovely additions to the boatshed.

Kitchen Inspiration

Now that I am committed to renovating my kitchen, I'm looking everywhere for ideas. These images are from a local vegetarian restaurant, Pilgrim's at Huskisson. I love the combination of mismatched timber tables, blue metal chairs, polished concrete floor and Ikea utensil holder:

The  industrial lighting against the pressed metal ceiling panels is gorgeous:

I love the stainless steel counters:

And the chalkboard and wooden blocks:

The burgers taste pretty good too.

Kitchen Makeover Time

The time has come and I can't ignore it any longer. This kitchen needs a makeover. It's not in the boatshed but is in another house not too far away:

I have a few ideas which have been helped along by the latest Freedom catalogue. I love this stool:

And this chair:

I would love a kitchen island and this free-standing one with stainless steel benchtop would look great:

Especially with this pot rack above it:

I'll post my other ideas this week.

Fleur Wood at my Local Beach

I have long been an admirer of fashion designer Fleur Wood. I love going into her store in the Strand Arcade, Sydney, just so I can step into the dressing rooms which are cleverly concealed behind these glass display cases:

And I love the placement of these mirrors and ballerina prints in her Chatswood Chase store:

I even own this dress, although it doesn't look like this on me, unfortunately:

So I was thrilled to learn that Fleur has a book out, appropriately titled  Food Fashion Friends:

Yesterday my copy arrived, and is full of beautifully styled events such as this Hot House Tea party. Aren't the pastel peacock chairs gorgeous?

And I can't wait to cook this rhubarb meringue cake. The recipes are all included:

Here is the Citrus Tea, Lemon Cake with Earl Grey Icing and Coconut Ice:

This image is from a beautifully styled dinner with a shell theme, including sea urchin shells threaded with fairy lights:

A gorgeous Southern Highlands picnic:

And here is a modelling shoot at Hyams Beach, which is my closest beach:

I always knew Hyams was stunning, due to it having "the whitest sand in the world", and the shots in the book have really captured its beauty.

My Lucky Day

I stopped in at the local op shop the other day and saw this lovely faded, hand-stitched, hand-quilted patchwork quilt for sale for $2. I was a bit worried they had stuck the wrong price on it as I expected to pay more.

When I took it to the counter the lovely lady said that because it was bit faded and tattered, she would give it to me for free. I guess the idea of shabby chic hasn't arrived in my town yet. I walked away very happy and have been spending a few relaxing hours patching the patches. What could be a better way to pass the day!

Why Can't The Boatshed Look Like This?

Wouldn't it be lovely if my bathroom looked like these ones?

Or if I could do this with just a few odd chairs?

Or put a curtain round a bed and make it look like this?

Or drape a quilt just so?

Or have a kitchen in this particular shade of Wedgewood blue?

But then I'd have to be Twig Hutchinson, the stylist known for her past work for Toast:

Well at least I can visit her website whenever I need something beautiful to look at:

First four images from Apartment Therapy

Last six from Leah-The Inside Story blog