Friday 7 March 2008

Nearly done.............

Thank goodness it's nearly over! Ian and I have spent the last two weeks frantically cleaning out our two basement rooms in order to have the new carpets put in. Last years floods caused a bit of damage down there so we've had it redecorated and re-carpeted. Now I'm not much of a carpet person, much too dirty and clumsy, but it's been a bit of a revelation. Kit and I played down there last night and it was actually comfortable to sit on the floor. I'm so used to floorboards that it felt quite nice to be on the floor and I could actually get up without groaning like an eighty year old!

Anyway we went from this........................

............................to this. This is our new spare room, and I have to say the floods were a blessing in disguise for us. We couldn't have afforded to redecorate down there but now we have two lovely new rooms without the hideous carpet. It's been quite stressful because the basement is the dumping ground for all our junk, and believe me there is a LOT of it, since we don't have a loft here. That junk has now been distributed around our house, and we've nearly finished.

This is part of my new work room. My lovely other half (what do you call an unmarried partner - boyfriend is too young, partner too business like!) agreed that I could have the room for my sewing and it is lovely. No more clearing the kitchen table before tea, I can't wait to get started. I've been painting all the furniture down there, including a very overpriced Laura Ashley console table that I'd gone off (sorry Mum!). I've had to agree to one bike being kept in there but I'll work on that one.
I've now got dedicated fabric storage, no more precarious piles everywhere..........


The photos aren't brilliant, I had to use the flash and it washes out all the colours, but believe me it's colourful!

So now I'm in relaxation mode. Ian's away tonight so I've got homemade rice pudding in the oven (makes him want to vomit) and I'm sipping (gulping) Lidl Devon cider because we've no wine, as usual. I know how to live!

Have a lovely weekend everyone, thanks for all the lovely comments about my gorgeous niece.............


27 comments:

Twiggy said...

wow your fabric stash looks so enticing in its new home, I have to say the before picture of your room looks like my spare bedroom - lol
twiggy x

Ragged Roses said...

Enjoy the cider, have a gulp for me! Love what you've done to the rooms, I would love to have a rummage in that fabric stash!
Kimx
Have a good weekend

prettyshabby said...

it looks great..I'm in love with that cupboard that you keep your stash of fabrics in!
I'd love to have a spare room that I can keep sewing and fabrics in it gets a bit tedious putting them away each time you want to eat at the table!
have a nice w/e
Sairer x

French Knots said...

I've not had cider for ages - have to put it on the shopping list!
It's a pain not having a loft isn't it? We have our bedroom up there and there's nowhere for all the 'stuff' but I seem unable to throw it away. Your sewing room looks fab!

Claire said...

what fab new rooms you now have, i'd be very happy to stay in the guest room and your craft room is gorgeous...all those lovely fabrics. have a great weekend..claire x

gayle said...

Aw I love the pictures. The before and after is fantastic. Must go and have a nosy at Cath Kidston again. I haven't been on the website for a while. Tell me did you make your curtains in the bedroom yourself? I also like the blanket on the bed (very Cath-like). Thanks for your comment on my blog. I appreciate it. gayle

Emma Herian said...

A girl certainly knows how to have fun when the other half is away!(thats what I used to call my very long term boyfriend/partner/lover! He has now proposed so fiance is what he is better known for!). Anyway, thank heavens for the floods - how lucky are you. I would happily stay in your guset room and sew like mad in your crafty/everythingelse,bike storage room!
Have fun!

Gill said...

Love the rooms, and that fabric in the cupboard looks good for a rummage. We don't have a loft, but no basement either, we have to be creative about storage. I try not to hoard but even so there's never enough space for everything. Hope the Cider was good, nothing wrong with a bit of Lidl!

Anonymous said...

I love the before and after photos it give me hope (need to tackle my cellar to make it useable) and as for the fabric stash cupboard LOVE it Fab....plus have a gulp of cider for me I'm off the hard stuf for 9mths

Louise said...

Oh my goodness I have a room that looks just like that one. We're off to Ikea tomorrow to get some new shelves so I can start to store some stuff properly. The finished rooms look wonderful and well done you for scoring the sewing room - yay!! I don't think I'm game enough to do a before and after though.

Lucy Bloom said...

Hi Julia, your basement looks beautiful, you've done a great job on it. Oh to have a craft area like that!
Lucy x

Summer by the sea said...

Hi Suzie - Your basement rooms are gorgeous - I am really sorry you were flooded but glad it turned out to be a blessing in disguise for you. - your niece is beautiful - welcome little one! - Natalie x P.S - My daughter was also 8lb 4oz!

Brierley + Clover said...

The cupboard full of fabric looks so great - you should be really proud of a lovely space!

Jasminé said...

Hi there
The room looks fabulous!
I love that cupboard that you keep your fabrics in!
Its so satisfying when you clear a room and look at the end result..well done!
You sound like me in the evenings, especially when my hubby is away.
Nothing like sipping on a glass of wine or something yummy, while sitting on the couch!
x

JuliaB said...

Hello from a fellow "julia" .. i've just arrived here via French Knots and think your stuff is lovely. I also adore rice pudding and always put a sliver of lemon rind in before cooking. You wouldn't beleive how amazing it tastes! yummy.

Anonymous said...

You lucky thing, this really does prove that evry cloud has a silver lining.
Carolyn
http://willowhouse.typepad.com

mollycupcakes said...

Hello Julia,
wow it looks gorgeous down there now, I remember the piles of fabric and you just kept saying please don't look at the mess lol
Silly thing I saw past all that and was just blow over by your kindness in sharing some of your beautiful fabrics with me for the bunting you made. And yes it's still hanging up in the livingroom.
Lucky you haivng a work room, can I move in too? hehe!
Look forward to seeing a birdie or two from that lovely space.
How to get together at the end of the month.
Hugs.

Catherine x

No one is you ...& that's your power said...

Hi your rooms look lovely. i love your sewing room and the colour of your shelf unit & desk is lovely.
Rice pudding mmm with a blob of jam extra mmm x

Carol said...

Hi Julia and well done you....your rooms look lovely and very comfortable...I love the material stash!
Cheers!
Carolx

claire Maraldo said...

Your 2 new rooms look lovely.

i must, i must tidy up my workroom!

The comment you left on my blog about the tins of crayons really took me back too. Those tobacco tins were so useful weren't they? My dad had loads. (He used to smoke a pipe a la 1950's Dad!)

JuicyFig said...

love the before and after picks - before looks like most of my house usualy does! and the stash cupboard is lovely. enjoy the carpet.

Kath aRe

thrifty kate said...

Love the way that you have done the room, I bet you are relived that it is all over your sewing corner looks so much tidier than mine, hope the space inspires you.

Garden Girl said...

How lovely, the rooms look beautiful and very welcoming. The floods did have some benefit in a round about kind of way then?! Good old Lidl- hope you enjoyed the cider x

Tinyholder said...

Gosh, you are so clever! I wish I had the time and the talent to find all these lovely vintage things that you do! I love your blog! Sian

Miss sew n sew said...

No wonder your pleased it looks great I'd love a little work space like that and the guest room looks lovely all your hard works paid off I'm a big fan of your blog I think your house is lovely and all your bits and pieces in it you've inspired me to get collecting more vintage things to add more character to my house.

Siank said...

Hi Julia,

Thanks for stopping by.

No, we have made them a little section as you can see for the chicks. Obviously you have to supervise them anyway if you let them loose on the garden as foxes are crafty and can come out during the day! They can stay in the run permenantly though, there's plenty of space in there for them, but I like to let them out as much as possible.

Sian

Suzie Sews At DOTTY RED said...

Oh My Oh My...can I come to stay in your new bedroom and its next to your sewing room...Your not called heaven for nothing!!!