Introducing.....

[Julie-Ann]

Hi our newest member wanted to introduce herself but accidentally posted elsewhere. I didn't want any of you to miss meeting her so I have copied the post. Introducing Romantic French Cottage

"I love interior design & decoration, architecture, landscaping, and gardening. I completed an interior decorating course, a subject of which was architectural drafting, where I found my niche. I designed my own home & landscape plan & shared much of the hard labour to create it.

I LOVE pets. I LOVE white furniture. I love PINK (the colour)! I LOVE soft romantic French cottage style decor, big squashy white sofas, French Louis-style chairs, armoires, chandeliers, bay windows, gables, colonial-paned windows with white louvre shutters, pastel colours, and houses with lots of light! In the last year I've had the courage to embrace the style I love & make a stand in this predominantly modern, minimalist world.

I love soft ferny foliage and flowers ranging in colour from soft pinks & rose colours, through mauvey- pinks & blues, through hot pinks to magenta & purple. Mmm mm. Life is great! I look forward to being a part of this forum.[/COLOR]"

Hi Romantic French Cottage it is lovely to have you join us:). And thanks for the contributions you have made to the forum so far. Another member of our forum was telling me the other day that vintage is the new trend- so your stand must have been noticed:D.

[Romantic French Cottage]

Thanks Julie-Ann for your warm welcome! I must confess however, that I'm not truly vintage, I'm more chic than shabby, and all my decor is reproduction.

My name is Di. I began with dark-stained timber furniture which I've painted white. If my father were alive, he would think this is sacrilege, but after a few pangs of guilt, I decided you only live once, and plunged into the white paint pot. White paint has transformed a walnut, highly polished Italian dining suite comprising ornate chairs with cabriole legs, into a beautiful French provincial style. Is that a collective drawing-in of breath I hear...? Well, to appease all of you who do think this is sacrilege, you will be pleased to know that a product called ESP took all the hard work out of this transformation, as well as protecting the original finish of the furniture. It is a liquid that you simply rub on to the surface of the furniture, (NO sanding!), rub off in 5 mins, and in 45mins you can paint. It preserves the original finish, which you can revert to if you choose.

Similarly, with 2 dark-stained wall-units, I added some timber moulding to the glass doors to tie-in with a colonial theme throughout my home, and painted the units white. I was even able to introduce a non-matching unit and co-ordinate it with the other 2. I've attached pics (I think!)

[Julie-Ann]

I love the pictures:D. The dining suite looks so much better painted white and what a gorgeous chandelier. I love a bit of sparkle in a room.
I limewashed a sidetable that is silky oak and an antique, a few years ago. My father did question my intelligence:D. He does wood turning for a hobby so he thought I was crazy.

[Romantic French Cottage]

Thanks for the compliment Julie-Ann. Re the chandelier, you can never have too much bling in my books! I have several more and never get tired of admiring them. I love these times when you can really embrace your own style and all is acceptable.

Di