Showing posts with label blue. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blue. Show all posts

Saturday, 3 August 2013

My New Dining Room!

Have I mentioned I am redecorating?!

With my son moving out we have rearranged rooms, so the four kids are now all downstairs - with their own living room, sofa and TV -  and upstairs is like grown up heaven.  One bedroom has now become the dining room, as a table for six always felt a little crowded in the kitchen area.

Dining area in the kitchen before
Now my plan is to put in a breakfast bar at the edge of the kitchen benches, with some barstools, and have the kitchen dining area with just two comfy chairs - an area we can sit and chat while we get dinner ready or sit and have a drink.  I'll probably get around to changing the colours, but at the moment it's like this.


All I have done is freshen up the panel with some pale grey paint, and recovered and painted some old chairs I had on the veranda.

My colour scheme has gone from dark beige (Dulux 'Zulu Plains'), brown and red, to white (Dulux 'natural white'), blue, grey and a touch of red.

So this was before - a bedroom - it's quite a dark room:



And this is now.  We are using the room as a study too, so the bookshelf contains reference books and the novels I don't mind lending out (my favourites live in the bedroom).


It's Not quite finished yet, still some more art to go up, and maybe a rug under the table. Maybe sheer curtains instead of the Venetians, although they are very mid-century.  And I am looking for a mid-century console buffet to replace the chest of drawers I'm using now.  But you get the idea.








Cost - around $300:
paint (Dulux 'Nntural white') - $71 for 4 litres
chairs (Eames reproduction in blue) - $253 for six
table - vintage c. 1960 from thrift shop $20

The blue carafe with round lid was a gift from my mother in law - she bought it in about 1955.  The blue and gold set I got at the thrift shop last week, (originally priced at $8 but it was half price!), and the cat also thrifted, $2.

My husband dearly wants to remove the laminate top from the dining table, and sand it back, but I quite like it.  I found this ad in a 1961 copy of Australian Home Beautiful, which makes me love it even more!

Next the living room!

Deb xxx

Wednesday, 31 July 2013

Blue inspiration in Mid-century living rooms


Blue - pale blue, sky blue and that almost aqua blue - is my favourite colour at the moment - perhaps because of my daily beach walk.  I am thinking about painting a wall blue or recovering my mid-century chairs in blue fabric.  I got two of these for $8 each at the thrift shop last week!


I am in the midst of repainting and redecorating the house, especially the living room (as you may be able to tell by my obsessive blog posts).  My son and his girlfriend have just moved out, so with that sense of freedom comes the desire to redecorate.  Apparently I am a bit mad!  But after ten years with the same wall colour I am ready for a change.  Some before and afters soon.

In the meantime - inspiration!  Blue and white go great together of course, and I love a little red for extra colour.  This room has no natural timber except for the sofa base, so the gold-yellow fabric adds a warming timber -like touch.  And isn't that chair great?!


I love this blue sofa and matching rug.

Mid-century living room with blue sofa and rug

Another blue sofa, and matching dining chairs.  Love the lights above the table too.

mid-century living dining room with blue accents
via
This blue wall with sunbursts makes the room so happy!

mid-century living room with blue wall and sunbursts
via
The blue painted brick walls and ceiling look great with the timber furniture.  The floor cushions are a great idea too.
Mid-century living dining room with blue walls
via
This modern room has a great mid-century feel to it, and I love the blue wallpaper.

via
I have also ordered some blue dining room chairs - Eames replicas.  They should be here soon!

Replica Eames chairs in blue
Replica Eames chairs

Deb xx

Sunday, 21 April 2013

1930s day dress inspiration in orange & blue

What is it about blue and orange?

Jean Peter wears a tangerine wool day dress with matching belt, in the 1955 drama A Man Called Peter.
I just love it. Here is some more orange and blue day dress inspiration from the 1920s, 30s and 40s.

1920s Crepe Dress in Beige, Blue and Orange


1939
1940s blue silk dress
Vintage 1930s Plaid Print Lace Cotton Day Dress

Deb xx


Tuesday, 28 August 2012

Red, Blue & Yellow in House & Garden 1957

Some images from Australian House & Garden, February 1957, with a touch of red, blue and yellow, and some great lounges.

The cover image of the kids bedroom is so modern (including the lego blocks on the floor) that it could be this years issue instead of 55 years ago!





Don't you love the curves!


Incidentally, I am listing this and other magazines for sale in my Etsy Shop!

What's your favourite decorating era?

Deb xx



Saturday, 25 August 2012

Can Red & Turquoise live together?

I love turquoise.  The stone, the color - it's the color of the ocean on a sunny day.  I also love red, and have LOTS of red things, including a red couch.  We haven't yet moved, but with every house I look at I wonder where our furniture could be placed and if my red sofa could fit in - and what colour scheme would look best.  I know I want a beachy, nautical theme, and have looked at red and navy together, but do you think red and turquoise go together?

Lets see:

   

  Aqua, red and white by amie
   



      

   



I think that's a yes.  What do your think?

Deb xxx

1. About.com
2. Tasha Horsely
3. Interior design it yourself
4. Indulgy
5. Filmore clark
6. Flickr
7. Retro ranch revamp
8. Birds of a feather
9. A trip to Holland
10. SB Chic
11. Juxtapost
12. Houzz.com
13. Wanelo
14. Design Dazzle

Monday, 20 August 2012

Nine Nautical Accessories for your home

Some ideas for little nautical touches for the home - can you tell I loves seahorses?!  Click on the links for other great nautical ideas from the same suppliers.
    

Item image   9" Brass Port Hole Clock TK-231  

    


1. Do like Pottery Barn and turn vintage oars into artwork
2. Seahorse cushion from Emporium Botanica
3. Decorative Anchors from Sounds Like Home
4. Sea Horse Salt and Pepper Set, from Ebay 
5.Port Hole Clock from The Lighthouse Man
6. Lighthouse Lamp from Sirocco
7. Vintage Life Buoy on Gumtree
8. Driftwood Seahorse from Saiyan Style,
9.Ships Wheel from Robin's Dockside Shop

 
I really love the driftwood sea horse - I might try and make something similar as the kids are always bringing home armload of drift wood from the beach.  And I am going to keep my eyes open for vintage oars and buoys - anyone got an old boat they don't want?!

Deb xxx