Decorating or renovating plans

[Julie-Ann]

Tell us your decorating or renovating plans (or dreams) for the next year. We would love to hear them.
Unfortunately for my husband and our budget I have a never ending list.:eek:

But right now I am updating the entrance hallway to be less traditional and more eclectic but classically elegant, that is the look I'm after. At the moment I am looking for a vase for the hall table - you would think that would be a simple thing to find but apparently not.:confused:

Once I've finished the entrance hallway, I want to update the master bedroom. It is very shabby chic with a wooden 4 poster at the moment. I would like something once again more eclectic, mixing modern with traditional. But I still have to work on what to do here exactly.
Any ideas let me know.

So what about you - what would you like to change in your home this year?

[rachel]

My problem is there is a lot I want to do (and there's no real need to do it)!

Our house has great "bones" - spotted gum floorboards, high ceilings, huge windows and lots of light.. but the previous owners built it and designed it with a theme I call "country kitchen blah" - think pale blue-green walls (in every room), cream carpets in the living areas, brown floral wall tiles in the kitchen, gold/brass towel rails and handles .. argh.

I love natural fabrics, textures, woods - my dream home would be full of marri, neutral coloured leather accented by rich natural and jewel toned silk cushions and wool throws.

I had planned to do our bedroom next - marri bed and bedsides, new mattress, rich chocolatey thick cotton quilt covers, white 1000 threadcount sheets... but I have a new client who builds fantastic kitchens and bathrooms and I'm utterly captivated!

I'm a keen cook and the idea of a new kitchen is too thrilling to bear.

[Julie-Ann]

Oh, I would have to get rid off the brown floral tiles in the kitchen. And renovating kitchens and bathrooms are an investment in your asset - your home. So your not really spending money - your investing:D

Next I would have to get rid of the brass and that is something you can probably do yourself and little bits at a time.

At least you have a good layout and light.

Our house is 6 years old and most rooms have been renovated twice. This is why I have to go and decorate other people's houses, so as to not have enough time to spend money on mine!

Good luck with the renovations.

[Anniez]

We are building our first home this year. We just did all the selections for it. That took forever and there were so many decisions. so I guess we will be decorating every room in the house.
Thanks for all your help with my earlier question about what to think about when building.

[Sunnygal]

We are doing some big things in the next year. We are pulling up the carpet and putting timber floors in (thanks everyone for you advice on that). We are also looking at redoing the kitchen but that will be early next year. I still have lots to decide about the kitchen. So I think that will be enough for a while, until I save some more.

[Freogirl]

I had hoped to do a reno job on our kitchen but looks more likely for 2010! I am however doing a mini makeover on the kitchen in a holiday rental we own. I plan to put in new cupboard doors and a benchtop but it is very small, so will be over before I know it.

[Whyme]

we have just had our ensuite renovated and our backyard. Sometime next year I would like to renovate the other bathroom

[Post Chic]

Hello all!

We're just about to start renovating our laundry to turn it into a second bathroom next week. We're also putting in a basin in my sister's walk-in wardrobe with a soakwell outside.

The grand plan for the next year is maybe to expand our hobbit-sized dining room (originally an enclosed verandah in our Californian Bungalow). If I strike lottery, I'm building a new room. I'd really like to take advantage of our city views by building a roof top garden over any new room I build....

[rachel]

Thought I'd share a photo and a Friday giggle..

this is my downstairs bathroom..(which will hopefully soon be ripped out and replaced) and my kitten Matilda.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3642/3467298128_c4b44278c2.jpg

[Suzie]

That is so cute Rachel.My cat loves the bathroom as well.

[Flora]

We are about to renovate our ensuite. It is 20years old and desperately needs to be renovated.I am so excited at the thought of having it finally done. Thanks for all the ideas everyone gave us.:)

[rachel]

I'm looking at an engineered stone (quartz) benchtop called silestone. it is antibacterial and it has pieces of mirror or stone in it that makes it really sparkly..am deciding between that, granite and marble atm.

Too many choices!

What have you chosen for your ensuite Flora?

[Flora]

Hi Rachel
I'm looking at Granite Transformations it is the similar to the engineered stone but it is thin and gets laid on top of the existing benchtop. The best bit it is a lot cheaper. Our benchtop is 2.4mt long and the quote was for just over $1000.
Have you seen this before?

[Julie-Ann]

I have decided what I want to do with the bedroom.
I am going to paint the walls coffee colour. Paint the 4 poster bed black and the bedside tables with the cream marble tops. Then have white linen with a contemporary but classic pattern on it, something like a modern interpretation of a floral in black. Then black sheer curtains with a separate block out lining behind.
Now all I need is the time to do it.:D

[rachel]

Hi Flora I have seen the granite transformations advertised but I've never actually played with it iykwim.

It could be a good option, but I'd find out how tough it is and how it will 'wear'. I just love a good heavy block of stone ;)

It'd be worth getting a few quotes for different "stuff" to see what the difference in price is :)

[Julie-Ann]

Stop me before I do something crazy!:eek:
I am redoing my entrance hallway. It was very traditional and I would like to make it a little more eclectic and add some modern touches. So I bought a new runner that is a more modern take on a traditional design. And then I purchased these beautiful flowers and vase today.
The problem is I have 4 pictures(3 small ones in a group and 1 large print) in this hallway and their frames are very traditional, very gold but very expensive. They are so gold I am having one of those "what was I thinking" moments. So I am tempted to either paint the frames black to make them a little more modern or to do a grey paint wash to tone down the gold.
The walls are bone colour and the rug is bone & brown. I also have to have new mounts/mats put in the pictures because at the moment they are burgundy, which I am over. I was thinking of putty coloured mats.
I am good at walking into other people's houses and spending their money but when it comes to my own house and my money - I am very hesitant.
So do I get out the paint brush?:)

[Flora]

Hi Rachel
My friend has it in her kitchen and she has 3 teenage boys.She said she was happy with and it still looks good after 2 years. They say they have a 10 year warranty. But I am also getting a quote on Silasstone as well as granite. I will let you know what we decide.

[rachel]

Flora that sounds great - good that it can withstand teenage boys - and three of them - argh! :)

Julie-Ann: love the pic, great style as always :)

[Flora]

That's what I thought as well. They have some nice colors. What I like with the man made stuff is that it isn't as busy as granite and I can get some lighter colors

[Angela]

Hi everyone, newbie here. Julie-Ann found me on Twitter and so I've wandered in here. :D

My plans are to renovate my kitchen, in fact I just signed the contracts last week. I'm really excited about it because this kitchen, although it looks fine, it's falling apart - and I don't know how much longer the oven is going to last. Anyway, I'm going for a white kitchen with pale caesar stone benches (maybe 'buttermilk'. Hopefully it'll be ready for Christmas!

[Julie-Ann]

Hi Angela.Welcome to the forum.
Your kitchen plans sound very nice. My kitchen is white cabinetry with a pale granite. As we discussed on Twitter I don't think you can go past white as you can change the look with accessories so easily.
Is your kitchen contemporary or more traditional?

[Angela]

Thanks for the welcome Julie-Ann. :)

The kitchen will be traditional as the house is old-English style, around 60 years old. I would have gone for a more provincial style but the kitchen is that big so I thought keeping it classic would make it look more 'open'. Not sure if that makes sense... but some of the provincial styles I've seen look very ornate and I thought that might make the kitchen look smaller.

[Julie-Ann]

Hi Angela traditional will definitely suit the house. How were you thinking of adding the traditional look?
Some ways it is often done is in the choice of profile for the doors, the handles, the sink and tap, a cover over the rangehood, skirting instead of a kickboard, corbels and fancy mouldings. And the piece de resistance a chandelier (usually not too tizzy)
What sort of details did you have in mind?

[Angela]

The door fronts will be traditional. I have no idea about all the decorating jargon, LOL, but there will be a border on the inside of the door front - not too busy mind you as having young children (and a clumsy me) means I don't want to be cleaning pancake mixture, etc., out of intricate door fronts. The handles will also be traditional, just making that final decision now but they will be small and round rather than long bars (also means I don't get my clothes caught in them as I move around the kitchen). Also the top of the kitchen (again, I don't know the correct jargon :o ) will be moulded into a fancy pattern. Probably a chandelier but I haven't even looked at those yet!

p.s. I tried to type the word for "round handle" but it got asterisked out by the naughty-word function on this forum. LOL

[Julie-Ann]

Hi Angela
I don't know if you have already purchased your oven but I heard ads for a sale on Ilve Ovens, and I remembered you saying on Twitter that's what you were planning on. I think you are being very practical & smart with your choices for your kitchen. If you are not sure of any of the many decisions you have to make when doing a new kitchen I'm sure your cabinetmaker will step you through it, or you can always chat to us here. Let us know how it is progressing.

[Julie-Ann]

So I have made some more progress with the hallway. I have removed the prints from their very gold frames. I am going to Porters paints thanks to Pete Goodlet's suggestion on this topic "Gold Painted Furniture (http://www.decoratingforum.com.au/showthread.php/gold-painted-furniture-119.html)".

I am going to see if I can paint the frames a silver colour. That was my darling husband's idea. (See when he's not driving through my washing he comes up with some good ideas :D reference this topic Parking Cars (http://www.decoratingforum.com.au/showthread.php/parking-cars-in-91.html))

The concern is the finish on the frames is a foil, like a thin veneer so I will have to be careful about sanding it back. But it also has a sealant on top so I will need to do something to get the paint to stick. So we will see what the experts at Porters suggest.

I am then planning to change the mirror- maybe to a silver convex style mirror. What do you think?
Just don't tell my husband as he doesn't know that is next on the agenda, we will surprise him with that.;)

[Julie-Ann]

I have playing around with paint on a cheap picture frame. I am using Porters Paint. The left side that is painted is plain silver, and then the right has white rubbed into the grooves of the patterned edges. The 2nd photo is a close up of the left side and the 3rd photo is a close up of the right side. it probably doesn't look too different on the computer. Which do you prefer?
I painted with a brush the left side but didn't like the brush strokes, so I used muslin & wiped on the right side.
Do you think it is a tad dark? The walls are Dulux Hogs Bristile half strength.
At least it is some progress!

[abeachcottage]

I like the right side better...

is that the 'cheap' frame? it is just what I am looking for (for cheap) for a little frame project I started today...went to Vinnies y'day and was nothing like it, won't be long til I come across one ;-)

[abeachcottage]

p.s.

I have used Zinsser primer on just about everything and anything and not found anything so far (including rusty metal, paper, glass) that it does not 1. stick to, 2. provide the perfect base for

perhaps you could try that, though it is not cheap

x

[Julie-Ann]

Hi
I picked up the cheap frame years ago because it was so pretty. I have learnt from all you bloggers and have been taking photos of every stage in the painting process. I am crazy with work this week but I hope to finish it on the weekend.
Where did you get that Primer from? It sounds great- very useful for those of uswho will paint anything that stands still:D.