BED CANOPY STYLE OVERVIEW

We are planning a conopy for our bed. We are not too keen on a pillar post bed, I just always feel that the posts/pillars restrict the free feeling and open space. Instead we would like to keep a flow in the bedroom, but add a romantic flair.

Here are some of the styles we can consider.

Below: Flushed against the wall, just adding a feature, no functionality. Very flattering style!

 Below: Minimalistic looonnnggg flowing curtains just adding romance.

Below: Open at the foot-end of the bed, but with flowing curtains tied on the sides.

Below: A roof/ceiling like "room canopy". This is deal for a thatched roof or even for inside a high pitched roof. 

Below: I absolutely love this canopy. Suspended out of a very high tatch roof with the centre point reaching up. I also love the pleats in the curtains and the backdrop behind the head board of the bed.

Below: Flowing sides with the end of the curtain tied upwards open up the space of the room and connecting the bed area, the room and the outside with each other. Perfect for a room with doors that lead outside, adding romance, but keeping the flow open.

BEFORE: GUEST BATHROOM

The second bathroom is well located for guests to use, but I think we may use it rather often ourselves as is is the only bathroom with a shower. Being somewhat committed to greenliving, we prefer showering!

This bathroom doesn't leave much to the imagenation, it is dull and boring. At least it is white and not purple, dirty pink or olive green!!!!

A before photo taken by yhe estate agent.

FLORAL STUDIO

This house did not have a designated area which will be my office, consulting room and fleur studio. I have been spoilt in our large rental home with having my own space!

But we will improvize - for now we have decided to convert the dining room into my studio.

This room is semi-open plan and is connected to the living room by split level. It has countertop hight built in cupboards, which will come in very handy, it also connects onto the patio with a double door.

It has a bare wall on the one side which will make for a great focal point opportunity and I think there may just be enough space for my consulting needs!

Here's a before photo taken by the estate agent.

BABY ROOM

We are both brave and optimistic with labelling this room "baby room".

This is the smallest of the 3 bedrooms we have and it is completely South facing, so we are not expecting much sunlight, but it has a large window. Now, if I remember correctly this room also has underfloor heating and no built in cupboards.

The guest bathroom is cenveniently right next to this room.

Here's a before photo taken by the estate agent.

PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO

The South-East facing bedroom is a good size and has a seperate entrance. We will be converting this room into our photography studio.

Here's a good before photo taken by the estate agent.

Bedroom Bliss

Our bedroom is a fair size, with a decent height ceiling It also has a double door that leads out onto the patio which overlooks the main garden. There is an onsuite bathroom too. On our second viewing of the property the owner revealed that the the main bedroom also offers underfloor heating!!! Yeah!!!

VINTAGE STOVES RE-VAMPED

Soooooo, to keep or not to keep the OLD Stove! Only time will tell.

What I do know though is that at first there will not be cash to replace it or do any major modifications to the kitchen. Let’s hope that it is fully functional and that I will be able to use it for starters.

Paint: There is always the option to paint the stove – any accent colour that I may choose for this space. Orrrr I can leave it crisp clean white.

Dress up the wall behind: There are so many options here; paint it, tile it, railing for spatulas and spoons, pots or pans or a quote or saying I may get attached to, a book shelf for some of my favourite recipe books, an extractor fan (boring)?

Below a pretty vinal wall sticker design and with a few hooks can be rather

functional. This could go nicely above a vintage stove!!!

 Below a vintage stove turned into a pink masterpiece!

 Below: Another stunning pink gas stove. Not sure if it is old or new, but pretty!!!!

 Below: Old gass burner, looks almost like a coal stove. But what makes this picture so pretty is the back stove set agains the pink tiles complimented with the right accessories!!!!

 Below: Another photo of the pink stove in the pink kitchen - I bit too pink alltogether

I would say!!!!

 Below: Another beaut done up in a creamy peachy glow.

 Below: I do love the idea of the vinyl stickers and I am sure I can find a quote or saying that will be suited to the space of our new kitchen.

 Below: I love this white open plan informal-chick kitchen!!! Will be perfect for our holiday home one day!!!

Below: Oooooooh, how bold is this colour scheme!!! Blue and bright red!!!! With the red vintage stove.

Below: Just love this crips white gas burner stove with the pots on the wall!

Another one of my favourite vinyl sticker quotes for the kitcen!

Below: stunning classic cream stove!

LIVING ROOM OVERVIEW

The living area is a very nice size, not too big, not too small, it has a very high ceiling which has been finished off with wood. The wood has been painted wait which gives it a chick look, not sure if I like it painted though. As time goes on and the living room is transformed we may or may not decide to sand down the wooden ceiling.

The living room is slightly sunken and connects with split level open plan to the lounge.

There is also a fireplace and a bay window which has a sit-in window sill. There are 3 large windows and a door that leads into the patio. The bay window faces north which will allow a lot of sun in, especially in winter and it looks out onto the large lawned garden.

We will look at various pretty living area/lounge ideas. This space is not very formal and not ultra-modern, so with décor we will have to look at a mitch-match style perhaps combining very modern furniture pieces with some true antiques. We’ll also look at wall décor and colours that we like.

Below a true before picture taken by the estate agent before. Wish there were pictures of the room all the way around.

KITCHEN OVERVIEW

The kitchen is south facing (no real sunlight) and is a fair size, but fairly narrow. There is a slight separation between the wash-up area and the kitchen. A breakfast nook is built in on the one side which we can most definitely make use of. The wall behind the breakfast nook is dull and barren, adding to the not so aesthetic feel. There are 3 very large windows, also barren and not aesthetically pleasing and a back door that goes into the back garden.

The kitchen doesn’t have the modern built in oven and stove; it has a very old “antique” looking loose standing stove-oven. I am not sure how good it is, but if all functions well I will consider keeping it as I think I could let it fit in with some of my ideas. At least the large windows lets in a lot of natural light and this I will use and consider with changing the interior design of the kitchen (no, not rebuilding), just “prettying” up.

There is a lot of work to be done in the kitchen. Firstly we need to fit our front loader washing machine and dishwasher, currently no plumbing and no space provided for these in the wash-up area. That will be our top priority. After this we will attend to the more aesthetic side of the kitchen, the making it look pretty. I have a few colour options in my mind. The top one is pink, but obviously looking at my friends faces when I mention this, most do not see the sense in it or how to implement it. I, in my souls eye can absolutely see it. A happy vibrant add to this currently very dull space. I cannot stand the obvious red, grey, yellow average kitchens I have seen. The other alternative is to introduce a variety of pastel colours. I would also consider a turquoise. But in this area I do want to add colour, because it is not an open plan kitchen.

I just feel that I have to create a space that I will enjoy being in and I want the room to be interesting. I quite like the farm house kitchen look, but will keep the current cupboard which doesn’t solely fit with that picture. So I will attempt a more chic look with a twist between modern and antique! Currently this kitchen is sooooooo boring.

Here is a classic before photo (taken by the estate agent).

We’re living in an urban FOREST!

It is official –there are six million trees in Johannesburg. On satellite pictures, the city looks like a rain forest, albeit man-made. There are 1.2 million trees within the parks and on the pavements, and 4.8 million in private gardens throughout the suburbs. And this is a fact, they have been counted.

Read more: http://www.joburg.org.za/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=355&Itemid=52#ixzz22UXAQ6Hm

We are grateful to be in a suburb with lots of large trees. On our new property there is a tiny little forest in the one corner with trees, boulders and even a little pathway up the side! Looking forward to exploring it and developing and making pretty the various corners of our garden.