Thursday 28 June 2012

An old farmhouse - restored!

After 14 years restoring this old Elizabethan house (which was our home until November 2012)it is so exciting to see the rooms finally coming together! At times the work has been an 'uphill' struggle, but after all the long hours of toil, this 500 year old house is suddenly ready for the finishing touches that will make a home.  It is a complete joy to see fresh flowers, treasured photo's and possessions filling each room.  Here are a few pictures of our finished home, starting this month with the master bedroom.

The Master Bedroom:
Above image: The Paper Mulberry - the master bedroom: the bed drape is an antique monogrammed linen sheet now for sale, the bedside cabinets (which we have had for 25 years and are a rather ugly melamine)have had a make-over, first primed with a melamine paint primer and then painted with Laura Ashley 'Ivory' eggshell, the knobs are from Homebase as are the bedside lamps and shades. The white lined glass cube vases (filled with white roses) are my favourite new purchase and are from EasyFloristSupplies The bed is painted in Farrow and Ball 'Stony Ground' shade 211. Most of the bedlinen is from The White Company
Above image: The Paper Mulberry - the master bedroom: the bed drape is an antique monogrammed linen sheet (I didn't have the heart to cut it to make the canopy correctly so ended up draping it instead!) The bed is painted in Farrow and Ball 'Stony Ground' shade 211. Most of the bedlinen is from The White Company
Above image: The Paper Mulberry - the master bedroom: the cupboards are painted in Farrow and Ball 'Stony Ground' shade 211. and Laura Ashley 'Ivory' eggshell, the curtains are a French blue printed linen Toile from Laura Ashley that I bought around 10 years ago. The bed drape is an antique monogrammed linen sheet, the bedside cabinets are painted with Laura Ashley 'Ivory' eggshell and the knobs are from Homebase as are the bedside lamps and shades. The bed is painted in Farrow and Ball 'Stony Ground' shade 211The trunk at the end of our bed is an antique grain chest.
 Above image: The Paper Mulberry - the master bedroom: our cat 'Fingle' on a vintage toile de jouy quilt
Above image: The Paper Mulberry - the master bedroom: the cupboards and bedstead are painted in Farrow and Ball 'Stony Ground' shade 211, the curtains are a French blue and white printed linen Toile from Laura Ashley that I bought around 10 years ago. The trunk at the end of our bed is an antique grain chest and the coat hooks on the wall are a vintage French find. The cushions on the settee are made from vintage toile and grain sacks. The settee itself I have draped with a cotton dust sheet (similar at Baileys Home & Garden). The white photo' frames are from Homebase and the dark wood tallboy is an inherited piece.
The white photo' frames are from Homebase and the dark wood tallboy is an inherited piece.
Above image: The Paper Mulberry - the master bedroom: the cupboard is the airing cupboard and we have painted it in Farrow and Ball 'Stony Ground' shade 211,the coat hooks are a vintage French find. The chimney breast on the left of the cupboard is from the snug fireplace below
Above image: The Paper Mulberry - the master bedroom: the
bedstead is painted in Farrow and Ball 'Stony Ground' shade 211, the curtains are made from a French blue and white cotton check fabric from Fired Earth that I bought around 10 years ago. The trunk at the end of our bed is an antique grain chest. The white photo' frames are from Homebase and the dark wood tallboy is an inherited piece. The fireplace has an original Georgian hob grate and we have added slate tiles on the hearth which hides the pipework for the central heating!
Above image: The Paper Mulberry - the master bedroom: the rusty lantern on our mantlepiece with my favourite white roses ('Iceberg')and honeysuckle (woodbine) (Lonicera periclymenum 'Graham Thomas') from our garden - the honeysuckle grows up through the apple trees and fills the bedroom with it's gorgeous perfume! 

This was our home until November 2012

The Paper Mulberry our restoration project

With warmest wishes

54 comments:

Paula said...

Oh Glenda - it's absolutely STUNNING! I adore the antique monogrammed linen sheet - such a beautiful touch, and I don't blame you for not wanting to cut it - it looks perfect as it is anyway - far more authentic! The colours and accessories too are sublime. How wonderfully satisfying to see it all coming together after 14 years - and SO worthy of the love, time and effort that you have spent on it - it looks incredible. Can't wait to see more!
Best wishes,
Paula xx

somewhere on the avenue said...

I just sit and sigh every time I see your truly beautiful home. Your expert eye and attention to detail is perfect. Inspirational x

Jennifer said...

What a beautiful room - very calm and soothing. Hmm - I'm now thinking about blue and white for my bedroom!

Maison Beldecor said...

Hi Glenda,
very very pretty bedroom, i love the soft colors and the old bars.
Warm greetings
Bine

Marit said...

STUNNING!!!!! I love the roof with the wooden beams! This is not a bedroom that we see every day, thank you for sharing!:))

Hugs from Marit/Norway

Greet Lefèvre said...

Oh my dear Glenda,
What en effort you have done to make this 500 years old house to your so charming home! I love your master bedroom so much! You feel that your home has a soul!! I just love it so much. And thank you for sharing all the addresses for the fabrics and bed linen!
Have a wonderful rest of the day!
xx
Greet

Dawne Boynton Polis said...

What a marvelously cozy bedroom! It must be such a joy to snuggle up under that blue and white toile quilt.
Fingle certainly seems to enjoy it!
xx
dawne

Ann said...

Glenda-
You should be so proud! Your master bedroom is so au courant, yet you acknowledged and respected the original nature of your home.

Bravo!

www.MaisonStGermain.com said...

It is absolutely gorgeous!!!!!!Such a soothing, romantic place to sleep:) Great job!
~Debra xxx
Capers of the vintage vixens

Heather Robinson said...

Absolutely gorgeous! What a cozy bedroom--how lovely it must be in winter too with the fireplace on show...

Lana said...

Looks beautiful, can't wait to see the rest of the house.

The Cloth Shed said...

Love the draped linen sheet over the bed....great idea.
Julie x

Dineke@esatto said...

What a lovely bedroom!
I love your styling and the way you mix all kinds of furniture and decorations!

Greetings,

Dineke

Susan T said...

Utterly fantabulous. Dear Glenda not only have you created a gorgeous home, it looks so comfortable and timeless. I have to say if I were to think about the visual interpretation of the word 'HOME' it would bring to mind images so very like this lovely room. Every item has a history, and do I spy wedding photo's (Yours?)amongst the treasures. The old house must feel very loved indeed, in her old age she has the opportunity to shine. Much love and all good wishes from here XXXX You can skip about and enhance every corner now. x

Laura @ 52 FLEA said...

Hi Glenda....Love your room....it is serene and lovely. Looking forward to seeing more of your home...love your style! :)

carolyn bradford said...

Truly beautiful in every way! Thanks so much for sharing your home with us!

Teresa Hatfield ~ Splendid Sass said...

Absolutely beautiful, Glenda!! You have done a wonderful job.
Happy Thursday.
Teresa
xoxo

Ivy Clad said...

Glenda, how rewarding it must be for you to see your home look SO beautiful after all your work! It really is wonderful & magazine-worthy. A publisher should really pick this up!

I hope you're enjoying summer!
Keri

helen tilston said...

Hello Glenda

This bedroom would keep me from my many daily chores. I would use all sorts of excuses and pretend I was feeling faint just to hang out with Fingle on the vintage toile.
I love the tranquil feel and the personal treasures contained here.
Thank you for sharing

Helen xx

The Art of Vintique said...

I love what you've done Glenda. It's the perfect balance of style,comfort and history. That is quite difficult to accomplish without things appearing staged and contrived. Well done,now treat yourself to a day spa.
Joasia x

Jacqueline~Cabin and Cottage said...

What a great pleasure it must be for you to come to the end of your renovation! Your bedroom is exquisite. The mix of fabrics is gorgeous. I so much enjoy the organic quality of the beams and walls. Just a lovely, lovely space.

Tricia Rose Rough Linen said...

Perfectly relaxed and comfortable, with just a touch of hauteur - wonderful!

Splenderosa said...

What a labor of love, and aren't you proud of yourselves? Gorgeous X10.
Very well done !!!

Donna, The Decorated House said...

Dear Glenda~
You know already how much I love your home, and even more your love and devotion to making it a home. Greet said it so perfectly, your home has a true soul. It may have been waiting patiently for you to come to its rescue, but I bet "she" thinks is was worth it. Thank you for sharing your home with us. Hugs~

Unknown said...

Absolutely Gorgeous!
I must head back up and look again.
Thanks for sharing this amazing space with us.
Tam

The Snowdrop Project said...

Hi Glenda,
Congratulations on finishing your project.
A truly stunning home.
Now for the exciting part, I love putting together the finishing touches, and I'm sure with your impeccable taste you wil have found the perfect items to pull it all together.
Have a lovely week,
Lizx

The Paper Mulberry - Glenda Steel said...

Thank you so much for such kind and generous compliments! I am really overwhelmed by your lovely messages!!!! Sending a huge hug from this old farmhouse!!!! With warmest of wishes - Glenda P.s. Yes they are our wedding photo's Sue, finally in frames again!

Foxanddahlia said...

You never fail to delight. Simply stunning. Your bedroom reminds me so much a beautiful room I had once in an old rectory.

Your style and elegance is plain for all to see.

Gorgeous. xx

Greenorchid said...

A lovely peaceful sanctuary Glenda...I rather like your rusty lantern and Fingle looks a sweetie...
Look forward to seeing the rest...

vignette design said...

Wow! Absolutely gorgeous! You have amazing taste and it shows. Enjoy your old farmhouse Glenda!

Anonymous said...

Glenda,

You have done a fantastic job on your bedroom! I love the canopy drape, wall color and the gorgeous bed linens! I love it!

B said...

All your hard work has clearly paid off; a gorgeous room that you should be truly proud of. x

bec said...

I just love everything about your house... what an amazing job..
when can I move in?
Bec x

manon 21 said...

Un bel art de vivre chez toi,j'aime...

Amicalement,

manon

Burlap Luxe said...

I just want to move in, amazing beauté.
Xx
Doré

Marjonel M said...

Beautiful bedroom!

greetings, Marjonel

Velvet and Linen said...

You have done a beautiful job Glenda.
I adore your bedroom cabinet.
Farrow and Ball paints are the only ones we like to use!

Your farmhouse should thank you for the gorgeous restoration.

Happy weekend.

xo
Brooke

Hayley said...

Glenda, this is just so beautiful! Who needs to buy magazines when I have blogs like yours to drool over!! I love the muted colours you have used- so relaxing and soft for the bedroom. Cant wait to see what you have done with the rest of the house! Thanks for your comment on my blog xxx

Kellie Collis said...

What a lovely room. I'm liking the rustic beams above it. Have a delightful week ahead, Kellie xx

Mona Thompson Providence Ltd. said...

So fabulous Glenda...and what a labor of love. You can just feel that as you view these images. Absolutely beautiful...completely warm and inviting...just as "home" should be. XO, Mona

Segreto Secrets said...

Glenda--What an absolutely beautiful home. Warm with so much character to it!! Thanks so much for sharing all the paint colors you used as well!!

Jay said...

So beautiful; calm and relaxing just as a bedroom should be. We've been doing renovations for an age, I'm now encouraged to think we may finish sometime!

The enchanted home said...

Glenda you did such an outstanding job! Love the color palette, its so welcoming and warm and inviting......but fresh and crisp too. You really did a fabulous job..thanks for sharing!

LB said...

Dear Glenda- What a lovely, romantic bedroom. A relief to have the dust settled, no doubt. (I know the feeling well.) Congratulations on a job well done! xo~L

Art and Sand said...

I am a middle school teacher, so in the words of my students OMG! Your home is wonderful. By California standards, our 1928 cottage is OLD. It is an infant compared to yours. Thanks so much for the peek into your bedroom.

Burlap Luxe said...

Sigh !!!
I just love everything you post, and I leave wishing it was all mine :)
I could so move into any of these room you feature.

Thank you for inspiring all the perfectness I love soooo!
Xx
Dore

Charlotte said...

Hi Glenda,

Great blog and beautiful home! I've nominated you for an award on my blog!

Charlotte

summersoul said...

Glenda, it is DIVINE! Thank you for sharing it.
xo
MC

therelishedroost said...

How fantastic, it is simply lovely and timeless!!! Love the color choices and that cat well that is just too adorable!! Truly great job!

Anonymous said...

GREAT POST:)
Your blog is so wonderful..do you have twitter or fb to follow with??

If you want some cute swedish decor inspiration...check out my blog:)

Have a great week.

LOVE Maria at inredningsvis.se
(sweden)

Ivy Lane said...

Wow! Thanks for sharing your lovely farm house! Lookin' good!! :)

The homesteadingcottage said...

Your home is lovely!! I know you're glad it's done and now ready for the finishing touches. I just found your blog and became a new follower (: Can't wait to come back for more posts...Hope you have a lovely week!!

Michele xoxo
The Homesteading Cottage

Laura Venosa Verbena said...

Hi I am a new follower & want you to know this is the most inspiring & beautiful blog ever!! I could stay here forever. xo Laura

Unknown said...

Fantastic job with the farmhouse! You have exceptional decorating and interior design skills, such beautiful work. I'm an interior designer and interior painter in Lexington, but I only wish I could work on projects as cool as this! Thanks for the great share.