Morning sun
Fri, 4 Nov 2011 8 Comments 
The painting is done ... sort of. The painter, after doing an excellent job with the rest of the house, painted the window trims in the living room, dining room and third bedroom the wrong colour. White not the same colours as each room. In this room then the windows were to be brown gloss. Going with my idea of matt and gloss in the same colour for each room. Painted, finished quickly, left the bill on the table and skedaddled to his next job. One more tradesman to sort out. Never mind. I now have 6 months off to repaint them. We decided to do it properly and sprang the sash windows from the frames, sanded smooth and now I need to paint. That's the reason I only took photos of this corner. I have no windows in any other shots. We also decided to seal the walls inside the old cedar cupboards. The painter did not do this. In all fairness we hadn't thought to ask him but now realise that if we have prepped all the rest of the walls for any future damp problems it was a little silly not to at least seal the insides of these cupboards as well. Hence no photos towards the fireplace as the cupboards are in pieces to reach the back walls within. They came apart surprisingly easily. Let's just hope they go back in just as easily.
The sofa is vintage. Fibreglass and leather designed by Robin Gibson for the Queensland Art Gallery in the late 70s, early 80s. (More about how I found it here.) The beni ouarain rug was a splurge but I love it. The tribal pieces are Papuan New Guinean and African that I have collected over the years. The hand chair is from Bali. At the moment these are lumped together in the corner until I figure out their final homes. The pine chest of drawers I got on eBay and must finish stripping the last paint off it. The cane drum table was another thrift store find. The kilim pillow is from eBay. Most of the accessories are thrift store finds. There is a long wooden bench running along the wall behind the sofa. Another eBay score (thanks Katherine). Soon it will hold stacks of books, a lamp, some large art leaning against the wall at the other end. Maybe I'll put one of my framed vintage bus rolls there. I need to paint a large colourful piece of art for the wall behind the hand. Something to bring in oranges and pinks, a touch of red. There will be linen curtains on the windows when I have windows again. Lots of things on the to-do list but I guess it will never be finished as I arrange and re-arrange. That's half the fun!
Reader Comments (8)
Looking good....but let me know if you ever want to sell the fibreglass sofa! Or if you know of another one for sale.
I 'specially like the first picture - the way the light hits the chest of drawers and the way your tribal pieces look against the black. Rich without being lush. Yum.
PP
I can't believe a year has passed. It looks amazing.
Well on its way to fabulosity! Congratulations.
Paddy I'll let you know if I ever find any more. I promise.
PP those walls are like dark chocolate. I want to lick them they are so rich.
A year Jen B. A year!
Thanks Lin :)
This looks marvellous! Gah, I can't even choose the colour of kitchen cabinets! One day I hope to send in a reader request :0)
Tradesmen - ah! A friend just had her whole (new) house painted. The work on the doors is appalling - I think the painter needs glasses. And I find that I have to become an instant expert in their trade, to know what to ask them to do, or what design features to ask for eg. a new fence - it's not til the third quote that I'm able to interrogate them properly.
Wonderful, wonderful site. Inspiring!
Oh Jo I am seriously drooing. I have been wondering where the fibreglass chairs were going to live and see you have moved the pew which of course now has me wondering what is happening in the sun room. Can't wait to come and see it all! Tell Paddy D there were some for sale at the WAC...not as nice as yours some fool had painted them so they would need some TLC but they are so hard to come across. xx Katherine
It is so hit and miss with tradesmen Jenny. Our plasterer, locksmith and plumber have been super. I would heartily recommend them.
Katherine be prepared to help me hang artwork when you come ... or paint windows ... or stain furniture ... no I think tea and cake is what we'll be doing. The sunroom has a daybed (for listening to the cricket when it starts) and a leather chair. Thinking of moving my peacock chair there. Paddy I had my fibreglass chairs bogged and sprayed by an car spraypainter and they are fabulous. Strokable is the word I think :P Couple of hundred bucks to do a 2 seater and a chair. The white is almost mirror like. Yum!