I will post some pictures at some point.
The house is at Fairhaven, on the west coast of Victoria. An English friend described this area to me as like Cornwall, and the northern beaches of Sydney as like the Mediterranean. I think this is quite apt. We have certainly had some blustery grey blue weekends down there.
The house doesn't need really any renovation, which was one of my pre-conditions. I have hung some new curtains and that is it.
However there is one room which needed a lot of work. It is the downstairs bunk room, which was used by the old owners as storage. We need it as occasional accommodation so that we have enough room for the children plus guests.
I mentioned in a previous post that I love the Scandinavian grey and white and wood beach shack style. Of course not all of that is really suited to the Australian summer, which does get hot, even down here. And I think pure white walls are can be an issue when you have lots of sun glare.
So, here is the plan for the bunk room. If I could do a mood board then I would, but I can't, so I am laying it out old style.
One wall to be wallpapered in this:
(Ralph Lauren from the Family Places range)
(thanks A-M - I found this on your blog!)
Bunks along one wall maybe like this:
Curtains like this:
(from Pottery Barn)
(from Freedom Furniture)
And I would like some ticking stripe linen like this:
(via Toast)
Oh, and here is a shot of the room itself just before we bought the house. This room has a Few Issues. It has a very very low ceiling, less than 190 cm. And a triangle window! And a strangely positioned woodenly pole. And the tiled floor is not ideal but I can cover that. Arrggh...
So far it has taken me four coats to paint out that blue stripe. I am by no means an expert painter so that might be why.
The wall to be wallpapered is the black one. And what oh what could I do to cover that triangle window? The best I have come up with is a plantation shutter, but it would have to be custom made.
This is where I have got to.
Wish me luck!
(Images (1) and (5) from My Scandinavian Retreat (3), (10) and (11) Pinterest.)
18 comments:
Congratulations on your purchase Jane...love it. And while that window might be hard to curtain, wow, what a great feature. Wallpapering around a triangle could be challenging too but won't it look brilliant :)
Love all your ideas Jane for the bunk room. That window in there is something else. I can't wait to see the finished result. xx
How wonderful to have a beach house! A haven away from the hustle and bustle of city life. I just love the Pink Floyd window:) Can't wait to see what you're going to do with it. With those images in mind, I'm sure it will be absolutely beautiful. Ticking is always reassuringly fresh and crisp. Meredy xo
Wowee I can't wait to see the 'reveal' for this room - love all the elements that you've shared here.
I actually think that the window is a great feature for the beach theme - a bit like a compass arrow pointing to 'True North'.
Happy day!
What a great spot for a beach house - just in time to enjoy it for Summer. Your plans for the guest accommodation sound great...if you're interested, just wanted to let you know that Provincial Living have great striped ticking bed linen almost identical to the Toast image you posted.I bought a set for my bedroom and they're lovely quality. Good luck with the renovation. Lee
hi Lee - thanks so much - great minds think alike because I found that linen just yesterday! I am glad it is good quality. I love their linen - they have some wonderful patterns.
How exciting Jane. Fairhaven is beautiful. Look fwd to seeing how the bunks progress. There are so many fabulous ideas out there. I collected images of bunks and built in beds for our boys' bedroom. I still like to file a few away on pinterest as they're always so appropriate in a beach house.
Exciting news! So at first I though the image above the one of the room prior to purchase was the actual room, and spent a few minutes thinking "crikey there's not a lot that I'd do to that room" - then I scrolled down and my goodness "talk about a storage room"! I like the sound of what you're planning to do - the map, the colour, the bunks, plus ticking linens would be lovely. As for the triangle window.... Oh no - looking at the photo again it appears that the previous owners have recreated the album cover for Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon!!! The question must now be asked are you sure you want to paint this 'treasure' out.....? :)
On a more serious note - plantation shutters would be a good solution - and you could do it in a way that could disguise the triangular-ness of the window... Look forward to seeing more images as you progress.
Take care, Annie x
Great idea to have somewhere to retreat too when you need some down time, that room has alot of potential...and I wonder what Feng-shui has to say about a triangle window?
I think a rectangle or square blind or shutter sitting over the top so the room doesn't see the triangle would work well...but it is a feature;-)
xK
I've had my eye on that Toast bedlinen for awhile now - I love their muted approach to ticking. And I think what I'd do with the triangular window is paint the frame a soft white and insert a pane of stained glass in a simple and modern pattern - something such as red and aquamarine, and not bother with a curtain or shutter.
But most of all, congratulations on buying a beach house!
Hi Jane,
Oh I'm so pleased that you got your beach house and, it's so lovely that you haven't got to do too much to it, but just that bunk room, which will be fun. That red cross is all over the Scandinavian blogs. You are so in fashion !!
.....and, my husband and I sleep under that very Toast bedlinen as do our son and daughter-in-law and our daughter and partner !!!! We all have it and it's gorgeous. Our daughter also has the Ikea lamp and some vintage ones.
We also have plantation shutters and they were the best buy EVER. They will be perfect for that triangle window and so right for a beach house.
Have fun decorating and I wish you and the family many, many happy times there. Much love. XXXX
It appears you have all the decorating advice you need. Now, on to serious matters. Who does the bike belong to? ;-)
it looks great Jane, love the bunk beds and fresh white Scandinavian feel. Such a beautiful part of the world, having spent alot of time around there over the years with Pen and Tord. Lovely to be in touch and my first blog comment ever as a newbie to the blog world!! x
Ness!! What a surprise. Hope you are well xoxo
Ange - bike is husband's. He is a serious rider. As for me I doubt I could even balance on it! xo
I think this room will turn out a treat. Love the paper. Cornwall reminds me of Manderley in the novel Rebecca. Which in turn makes me think of everyone's favorite housekeeper and villain, Mrs Danvers. Good luck !
Congratulations!!
Do your kids not love the triangle window? I know I would have.
I must ask-are you sure the post in the room is load-bearing?
OMG I LOVE the triangle window! So much fun for a bunk room. I love all your ideas... especially the ticking stripes. It's going to look great! Can't wait to see it! A-M xx
Congratulations! I had a minor shock reading your reference to an English friend, because for some strange reason I always thought that you had grown up in England yourself. I have no idea why, I've obviously not caught up on all posts!
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