new mirror in the hallway..

Since I have another mirror now for my lounge room, I decided to take the existing mirror down and put it in the hallway. I was hoping this elongated mirror would look good above my long sideboard and it did. I love how it looks now! 

The mirror needs another coat of paint .. and maybe some gold highlighting..

I did a  bit of experimenting with some lamps too.. the shades on these are too small but it was just to give me an idea of what they would look like. I might change them out to white, or they might go completely and put something either side of the mirror. 

and this is what I had there before, this mirror is now in my bedroom but that's another day as I am still tweaking in there. It looks very sparce here as this was taken a while ago..

I think the white one looks SO much better, don't you? 

take care, Maryann

a touch of blue.. in the hallway..

 As much as I love pink, I do like a touch of blue..so I decided to use this color in one of my hallways. Actually it's sort of a dead end hallway about the size of 1 square yard and where there are rooms either side. It's a very tiny spot to decorate and was a bit hard to photograph.

 I purchased this cabinet a while ago now and it was already blue with chippy paint.. it was perfect.

I also had the birdcage.

I had also purchased this lovely painting from Gail McCormack a while ago too and funnily enough these three things were scattered around the house 'till one day it hit me to bring them together.

I did have other things on the cabinet but I think the birdcage is enough. A candle and a pale blue budgie sit inside. 

So this is my little bit of blue amongst my pink!

take care,

Maryann xx

Something I thought I would never do... facebook!

Well, as usual I'm always the last to hop on board when something new (or pretty much old now) comes out. I've decided to join facebook, something I thought I would never do since I was already blogging.

So I've set up my page purely for my shop Shabby French & Vintage, while I will keep the blog for personal and decorating posts. I've managed to do my first post on FB, nothing special but it's a start 'till I get the hang of it. Waiting for my daughter to come home from the shops to help me navigate my way around! So if anyone would like to say hi...that would be great.

So not to leave without any pics here are a couple I took of my china cabinet the other day... this sits in the hallway directly opposite the front door....

Ok girls... be seeing ya..

takecare, Maryann

changes in my hallway..

Hi there girls, I've been on the look out for a while now for a nice chest of drawers or sideboard to place in my hallway. Here is what I had before....(just temporarily)



They were  a set of 2 low drawers that were given to me but a couple of weeks ago I went to a swap meet with Fred and guess what..  I found  a nice sideboard with 9 drawers, 3 of which are hidden behind the 2 centre doors.

This was not what I originally had in mind as I was after something more ornate and with 'legs' but when I saw this I liked it. It has plenty of storage and I really like the floral pattern on the centre doors and on the top drawers.

I won't be painting this piece (I don't think) as I quite like the mix of timber with painted pieces. I also found this mirror which I absolutely love..

it has a lovely chippy, rusty patina on it which I will be leaving as is but this again was not what I originally had in mind. I had visioned something more french provincial looking but when I tried this cute mirror above the sideboard I loved it. They are so different in styles but look soo good together!  I love the mix of pink,  golden timber and pale gold.

I also had originally planned to put a whole heap of family photos on the wall above the sideboard but I don't think that will be happening either as I quite like the mirror making a statement on its own.
Maybe a pair of sconces instead would look good, we'll see. Anyway as you can see I have lots of photos sitting on the sideboard all in pretty frames. I am a real sucker for a pretty frame,whether new or old, some still need photos to be put inside them!

So much for sticking to 'my vision', but I really like the look of how it all worked out in the end and if I ever do come across that sideboard I had originally wanted, this one will go nicely in bedroom!

take care, Maryann

lounge room curtains and painted doors...

Hi girls, well I finally put the curtains up in the lounge room. It took me a while as I couldn't decide whether to go for gold rods or white. In the end I went for the white. I decided to keep the gold to a minimal and just have touches of it here and there. I also painted the french doors that lead from my hallway to the lounge room.. come in and have a look...

my hallstand is the first thing you see when you come in

Fred still needs to put the handles on..

from the other end of the hallway

I also hung up a mirror on top of the fireplace but it looks too small for the space

the curtains are just off the floor.. I might put the hem down so they 'puddle' but having a thermal backing they may look a little stiff and not puddle so well..will have to think about that one..

my cute frenchy dressing table/desk has gone from this room, into my family room for a trial and now back into my lounge room. I'm not sure if I'll leave the mirror there but I really don't want to get rid of it as I just love it..

other side of the room .. I don't have curtains tie backs yet ..the fabric is just pushed in where my blind attachment thingy is.. but you get the idea..

this mirror will stay for now .. I do have another mirror.. the frame only that is..  I need to get a new mirror cut out for it and I'm hoping it won't cost me an arm and a leg as it's quite large. Next thing for this room is to get a lounge suite. I had planned on reupholstering a vintage one I came across awhile ago but I am more leaning to getting a new one with comfy cushions and a couple of french style armchairs. So I am on the hunt... thankfully it's sale time at the shops so fingers crossed I'll find something I like at a good price! 

take care, Maryann 

Hallway...

Geez, I can't believe it's been 2 months since my last post.  So what have I been doing?..... not much! My hallway is still a work in progress but you might like to have a look at where I'm at.

This is looking from my family room into the hallway.

I put the hall stand right near the front door and a small sideboard on the opposite wall. This is only here temporarily. I'm on the look out for a nice vintage one with lots of details which I will leave timber and not paint. I love the mix of both painted and timber in a room. So for now this will have to do. I have all family photos on it.

The view from the front door.

I put my china cabinet right at the end. It probably really doesn't go in the hallway but I love it too much to get rid of it and it fits perfect there anyway!

I found the pink light fitting at a garage sale for $4. This is also here temporarily as I have something much nicer to go there but it needs adjusting. I think I have to nag Fred a lot bit more so he can hurry up and do it!

and finally this is the view from my hallway into the family and dining rooms...

take care, Maryann

ps. I put the curtains up in my lounge room but the photos turned out crap, so will have to take some more..!