Wednesday 26 November 2008

Living in an old house . . .

Living in an old house usually means a lot of work and this room is no exception. It is lacking one length of coving where the wall had been badly affected by damp, the old coving rotten and that wall had to be replastered. It is our grandest room, and was described as the "Morning Room" on the house details. In recent years it has turned into a junk room, when everything came down from the attic. My husband's going to replace the coving before the carpet's laid, so hopefully I won't be holding my breath too long!

I'm quite handy with a paintbrush, which is just as well as OH seems to be allergic to them! I enjoy painting with Radio 4 on in the background to keep me company (though today's play was rather strange!) and I even got the table polished up too. You'd never believe this was once covered in stick-on floor tiles would you? That was a Dorset farmer's answer to a kitchen table back then. It took my husband a week with a hot iron and lots of patience to soften the glue to get the tiles off and then he had to rub the table down so much it made the mahogany look like new, so I was polishing it today to get it to at least shine. That "newness" has taken away any real value, which is a shame, but it's still a lovely table.

This is one corner of the room, with one shortened curtain. I'm half way through the other one, and then it and the swags can go back up. The yellow - it's VERY yellow isn't it? - is just what the room needed as with a light colour in there - we've had magnolia, and we've had a washed out primrose - is just what the room needed. It's about 18 feet square, so can take a deeper shade like this.



The fireplace with my two x £1 plates which I found at the car boot sale recently. The marble fireplace is French and travelled home with us from Suffolk one holiday a few years back. I don't care for it, but my husband likes it and it quite suits the room.

This is as far as I've got (though I painted down to the skirting board after I took this picture.) The roll of carpet is the one to be laid in here, and whilst it might not go with the walls now, tough, as it's been sat there for 8 years waiting to be laid, so we're not changing now! The bureau bookcase stands in what used to be the main entrance to the room in Georgian times. If you're thinking, there's a lot of junk in there, wait till you scroll down a bit further!

The flash wouldn't work because of the light from outside, but it gives you an idea of the huge window (it faces North) complete with Georgian shutters.

I did warn you. LOTS of junk, waiting for my dearly beloved to carry it downstairs to be stored in what used to be mum's bedroom. Underneath all that are four more Victorian balloon back dining chairs in a state of great undress (e.g. NO seats!) so I will have to get my upholstery book out shortly. We are NOT looking forward to moving the pitchpine cupboard/bookcase as it ways a bloomin' ton . . . I'll update you when it's all finished and the carpet is finally laid . . .

14 comments:

nita x said...

jennie your morning room is looking lovely :o) i thought you'd finished it earlier, but nearly.... would love to just sit quietly crafting in that room looks very homely.

Willow said...

What a beautiful room! It's going to be fantastic when it's all finished and you can sit back and see where all your hard work went! I particularly like the archway where the door used to be, and your bookcase is beautiful. The table is lovely too, you must have been so pleased with the way it came up after removing the tiles! Keep us posted on your progress!
Willow x

Greentwinsmummy said...

my jaw is on the floor :o),I think your house is one of the most lovely I have ever seen :o)I adore the yellow colour t looks similar to our old dining room,that was a farrow & ball but the shade escapes me at the moment.
you've been a busy busy bee!
GTM x x x

Sol said...

Hi there, popped over from GTM. I think I have fallen in love with your home. I would love a house with such character. we used to own a victorian villa. We should never have sold it. But we did and now I live in a 70's box. Enough said. I will swap you, my house, for yours????

LOL

Are leaves to put into the table? It looks like it has a line down the middle. Also I love those chairs, they look very tactile, with the rounded top. Lovely. and the nook where the doorway used to be is to die for. You are very lucky to live there!

sukipoet said...

Quite a task but it will be beautiful when complete. I love the cheerful yellow color and that doorway and the window. And the table.

A Bite of Country Cupcakes said...

It actually looks like a lovely room and will really shine when lightened of the Odds and ends abit...Alot! lol!
How can you not care for that fireplace? I love it!

Val said...

That rich yellow really works,it looks lovely,cheerful but not cold or washed out. My mother was born in what was probably a Georgian farmhouse (It didn't survive the 60's I'm afraid so it's hard to check)
I was reminded of it because it too had shutters and I've had a fondness for them eversince. Brilliant job with the table btw.

Cheryl said...

I live in an old house to....there is always something to do but it is worth it for the character.....

I love the colour.......nice and sunny......
the window is beautiful.....I love those large windows and original shutters to, wonderful......

Hope you get it all done and it lives up to your expectations, I am sure that it will.......

Bovey Belle said...

We do love our house. We saw its potential when we bought it over 20 years ago now, but it has been a hard task-master and a HUGE drain on our financial resources. This colour has turned the room around - it is such a big room (about 18 feet square and high-ceilinged)that it needs a deeper colour to bring it to life - light colours just don't work.

I'm glad that you all love it like we do. I'll put some more photos up as we go along. We have such a lot of junk as we also have furniture and bits and bobs from both our mothers (mine lived with us up till her death last year). It is difficult to part with things that were part of your family home.

Bovey Belle said...

P.S. Slice of Life - no leaves for the table - the line is just where two wide planks were joined. The chairs are very tactile (we have a harlequin set of 6 or 8 to restore). I was stroking their backs only yesterday in fact!

Nan said...

I love seeing your house! I especially love the window with the deep windowsill. And that great arch, and I do like the fireplace. I want to peruse those books. :<) Thanks for posting the 'before' shots - I love seeing the progress in housework.

Kim said...

What a beautiful room, jennie, and a lot of work for you ;)

Kim x

Sage said...

Love that colour, and the room is gorgeous..bet it will be lovely when you have completed it.

nancy said...

Jennie, This is beautiful! I love the yellow. What a wonderful room. The character and lovely detail of your house are priceless. I'm in love with it.
Nancy