My thrifty bedroom makeover continues

Here are a few more vignettes of my thrifty bedroom transformation.

I found this lovely picture frame in my favourite thrift shop for $2. I thought it would be perfect in my room. It was quite funny because when my mother saw it in the shop she didn't like it as it had an awful picture in. However when I showed the frame to mum again with the picture of the butterfly in she loved it :) The butterfly picture only cost me in ink and paper as I printed it from the internet.

The tiny fishbowl vase was half price at $6 from a local shop, and I picked the beautiful blue cornflowers from my wildflower bed.

I already had the little ceramic sea urchin tealight candle holder which had been put away as it was broken. Just a bit of super glue and it is like new again.

I am very happy with how this little scene turned out :)

Then I hung a pretty night dress on a padded coathanger behind my door to finish off that corner. They were both presents.

I found this auricula painting on the internet and printed a copy to fit a frame that I already had. I think this picture is gorgeous.

Here it is, my new picture, hung on the wall.

On my wardrobe door handle I hung a pyjama case which my sister gave to me with some gorgeous pyjamas from Wallace cotton. My sister said that the pyjama case was free!

Then I added a little white metal bird ornament, which is really a Christmas tree decoration, that I bought for $5.

And the thrifty makeover continues...

See you soon.

Hugs,

Rose x

The photo tour of my sister's New Zealand Country house continues (Part 2)

My sister's study, located at the top of the stairs, is a lovely place to sit and read. The over-stuffed armchair is so comfortable.

While sitting there, contemplating the world, I like to watch the birds perched, on the pergola covered in roses, just outside the window.

My sister got a fright one evening to see a possum staring in at her from there!

It is also lovely to sit and write at the antique desk in the study.

The smaller of the two guest bedrooms has single beds with duvets covered with rust and mustard coloured toile de jouy fabric and has botanical pictures on the walls.

The guest bedrooms both have stunning views across the garden to the New Zealand native bush (woodland) which is green all year round.

This is the second guest bedroom decorated in light green, pinks and cream. Very pretty and restful.

Another view of the New Zealand native bush through the window.

This is the master bedroom which is decorated with fabrics in the light blues and yellows that I also love.

I always have a great time when I visit my sister.

Until next time,

Lots of smiles,

Rose x

My sister's New Zealand country house (Part 1)

Here is part one of two photo tours of my sister's country house in New Zealand. It is in a lovely peaceful location on 2.5 acres of land. Her house is so beautiful.

The sitting room although huge feels warm and cosy with the colour scheme that my sister chose. The walls are painted in a warm terracotta colour.

My sister uses the large ficus tree in the corner as a Christmas tree each year. When all the family goes there for Christmas dinner we all put our Christmas presents underneath it, to be opened after dinner, it is great fun.

The hallway, dining room, laundry and kitchen all have beautiful solid oak floors. It hasn't been known until now that I sometimes slide along the hall with my socks on when nobody is looking :) Hopefully my sister won't read this, hehe!

The dining room walls are painted in a deep burgundy colour and is only lit by a side lamp and candles on the table. Very snug.

I hope that you enjoyed the photos. There will be more coming soon.

Hugs,

Rose x

My thrifty bedside table makeover

This month I decided to do a makeover of my bedroom to make it look more restful, but I wanted to see if I could do it frugally.

Here is the thrifty makeover of my bedside table. The lamp and escritoire remain in the same place as before and I kept the cane table. I bought the distressed painted wirework candle holder from a Thrift shop for $2, cleaned it up and put a candle inside it that I already had. It was a perfect fit! The little box with the bird and nest picture on holds note cards and was a Christmas present.

The picture frame on the other side of the table was also a Thrift shop find for $1. The glass just needed cleaning up and I didn't mind that the pressed flowers had faded as they match my decor. I printed the bunny picture that I put in the frame from the internet.

The white ceramic trinket box was a candle holder with a candle inside that I was given a few years ago. In front of this I have placed a L'Occitane soap which was also a Christmas present. You can see the soap in the next photo.

On the bottom shelf of the table I placed a while oval bowl which is actually a platter from the kitchen. I decided to keep the bowl empty as there was so much on top of the table. Quite often I will collect different items from around the house and re-arrange them in different rooms giving them different uses.

I really enjoyed myself with this makeover and have been working on little changes in different parts of my bedroom.

Lots of smiles and hugs,

Rose x

Inside my brother's Colonial Edwardian-style villa

My brother and his wife designed their house themselves to look like a Colonial Edwardian villa. They used reproduction fittings and beautiful reclaimed wooden floor boards. It looks so authentic! I like to visit historical homes around the city, but this one is better...I can sit on the furniture and pick things up to look at them here!

Their piano sits in a little alcove in the dining room and is really beautiful. It is an antique made of walnut and is still in perfect pitch. It is lovely to sit here and chat.

On the other side of the room is a reproduction tiled fireplace which is so pretty.

The floor of the main entrance is covered with patterened tiles and my sister-in-law has lovely displays of flowers there and throughout the house.

Here are some more beautiful flowers in the front bedroom. And lovely William Morris curtains...I wish I could have these in my bedroom!

And a rocking horse! When I was little my best friend had a rocking horse like this in her room. I have great memories of the hours that we spent playing with it.

Here is the long hallway with reclaimed rimu wooden floorboards which are about 100 years old. The Persian-style runner on the floor reminds me of the Edwardian house that we lived in in England.

This is the master bedroom which has a wooden four poster bed in. And yet more of those beautiful flowers sitting on a little table in the bay window!

And finally here is the sitting room with more William Morris curtains.

As you can see I really like visiting my brother and sister-in-law. The company, the food and the surroundings are a real treat for me.

In my next post I will give you a tour of the garden and introduce you to their new foal. Until next time. xxx