Mr Blandings builds a dream house

[LadyAshen]

I have been so busy lately you would not believe!

I bought a very tiny 2 bedroom 1 bath 1930's yellow bungalow cottage fixer upper. It is gonna cost so much to renovate because somebody ripped the interior walls down to the studs in every room but the bathroom and kitchen. There are pipes to fix, furnace, hot water heater, wiring, roof, and just a bunch of stuff.

But the place is cute kinda like a doll's house with arched doorways, wide simple trim molding[what there is left of it], oak plank floors, a pink 50's bathroom, and for it's size -- lots of windows. I am gonna make it into my version of a rose covered quaint cottage -- on a very strict budget. It looks a lot like this house.



The kitchen is pure 30s/40s with the original white enameled wood sink wall cabinetry. The red vinyl counter top with metal edging and the matching floor are in good shape. There is room next to this cabinetry for a range with a gas hookup! On the end wall there is room for my 50's Monkey Wards white refrigerator and a vintage rolling cart topped with butcher block.

When I measured I was disappointed to learn that my Crown 6 burner, 2 oven gas range is just too long to allow me to have the cabinet beside it. What to do?

Two days after I bought the house, I was driving there and passed my cousin's house. There in the front yard was a 1950's white 4 burner Chambers range - just needing cleaning and in great shape! I examined it carefully measured it [it will just fit], and took off to find my cousin and found out he was selling it for his church. We went back and forth for two days negotiating before I gave him his check for $160!

It's funny, my Monkey Wards refrigerator was given to me by a church; and my Chambers range was practically given to me by another church! They look similar to these photos.



Am I blessed or what? I am having fun making plans for the little place!

Photos will have to wait til someone better than I can take some digital photos. There is no electricity and I am just horrible at it -- I tried the other day and got nothing!

I was minding my own business trying to catch the electrician at home when I ran across a small garage sale. Of course I just had to stop!

At the very back was a antique iron ice cream parlor set that I just loved! The chairs have arm rests, but the wood seats need repair/replacement. The table is missing the top, but the entire set including an appropriate size round mirror was only $25! And that included an antique iron floor lamp in great shape!



I decided that I'm gonna paint the entire interior of the tiny house a buttery yellow with white moldings [it will save paint money, make the whole house flow better, look larger, and be cheery no matter the weather]. To save money, and to use what I already have in my apartment, I will decorate almost exclusively with re-purposed wicker furniture both white and natural. I have a wonderful fabric hoard that I have accumulated over the years; that will give the entire house a spring like sunny feel year round.

I will use every opportunity to shop flea markets, garage sales, thrift shops, and online bargains like Ebay and Craigslist.

I found my inspiration chandelier on Ebay about 6 months ago.

[redboy]

I LOVE IT!!!! Congratulations!!
I'm looking forward to regular updates and lots of PICTURES!
Which room is Ashen's??

[LadyAshen]

Originally Posted by redboy

I LOVE IT!!!! Congratulations!!
I'm looking forward to regular updates and lots of PICTURES!
Which room is Ashen's??

Ashen has to take the small bedroom now that my BF will be visiting often! Poor baby has to be satisfied with a twin sized bed.

I just bought the fabrics for the dining room yesterday from an online discount store. This red fabric will be used as trim on my solid yellow curtains and on the dining room chair seat cushions.



This other fabric will be used as valances and tablecloths.

[Red Gate Farm]

This looks so interesting! What a marvellous project.

Are you going to live there or is this for re-sale?

keep up with the pictures, they are great.

[merleliz]

Congratulations, Lady A, hope you'll be very happy in your new home!

[LadyAshen]

Thanks everyone! I am going to live in the house.

But if my SO and I decide to marry, or I inherit the family home I may move to larger quarters elsewhere. Almost all of my things in storage are way too large for the space, so that is why I went with smaller scale light in feeling wicker.

Those two things made it necessary to buy a few pieces rather than try to find what I want in that huge professionally packed storage unit. And in this case, my little cottage will end up being a rental or maybe my office for my home based public service related business I intend to start.

[LadyAshen]

I am embarrassed to admit that I am buying more stuff, since I have so much in storage............even more of the pink depression glass I have collected for over 30 years. My excuse is, I can't sort through that mess in storage!

So, I will happily go purchase more stuff, and plan to utilize the stuff in storage when I get a larger home!

Here is my latest indulgences from Ebay, and I can't even blame Ashen this time. At least I paid very little for each of the items. Maybe I'll figure out a way to blame Ashen later............












Do I have to tell about the end tables I found on Ebay cheap and the rug I bought for the living room?

[tallyho]

this house/ project/ decor belongs in a magazine!!!!!!
i am serious, you need to take lots of "before " pics, document everything as you go........
it is glorious, and your taste in furnishings and appliances is marvelous...i love all of it!!
i am sure there has to be a way to get manufacturer's donations for the project, once they see it!

wow, i am drooling over the possibilities you have there...
congrats!...lucky you!!

[tallyho]

LOL....and when i saw the title of your thread, i couldn't help but recall the movie, and how myra loy was telling the painter about what shade of yellow paint she wanted.......not yellow like butter, but not as pale as buttermilk...just a soft yellow in between butter and buttermilk, understand?

[redboy]

Originally Posted by LadyAshen

I am embarrassed to admit that I am buying more stuff, since I have so much in storage............even more of the pink depression glass I have collected for over 30 years. My excuse is, I can't sort through that mess in storage!

So, I will happily go purchase more stuff, and plan to utilize the stuff in storage when I get a larger home!

Here is my latest indulgences from Ebay, and I can't even blame Ashen this time. At least I paid very little for each of the items. Maybe I'll figure out a way to blame Ashen later............












Do I have to tell about the end tables I found on Ebay cheap and the rug I bought for the living room?

I hear ya, LadyA,..., I love the different colors of Carnival Glass.
My mother collected so much of it, I don't have enough cabinetry to display it all, and it really is so pretty.
Love your ideas!!
I love that lamp base too!

[LadyAshen]

Originally Posted by tallyho

this house/ project/ decor belongs in a magazine!!!!!!
i am serious, you need to take lots of "before " pics, document everything as you go........
it is glorious, and your taste in furnishings and appliances is marvelous...i love all of it!!
i am sure there has to be a way to get manufacturer's donations for the project, once they see it!

wow, i am drooling over the possibilities you have there...
congrats!...lucky you!!

Thanks so much!

I will do as you request and take photos as I can. Redboy knows what a lousy photographer I am, so don't say anything about photo quality!

This is gonna be a long process because it will take awhile to get the mechanical/building issues of the house together. My sister is in charge of deep cleaning cause she is a clean freak. Then after that, my sister has gotta paint cause I don't do paiinting either.

My former SO is in charge of cleaning up the landscape and my job is keeping my ex and my SO separated cause the ex is volunteering to help with the construction for free! Since my SO lives out of town and can only come every once in a while he will never have to know I have a couple other male friends working for free around the house. Don't tell my BF!

Then I will have to get the oak floor refinished, the curtains for the whole house sewn and lined, the upholstery for the furniture sewn, the bedding sewn, some of the furniture painted white, I have to find a couple of wardrobe armoires [either antique or white wicker], an old oak curved glass china cabinet, and a stack washer and dryer!

I have to buy and plant the 3 apple trees, 3 cherry trees, 3 peach trees, herb garden, grape vines, wild strawberry patch, and perennial vegetable beds I am planting in the back yard. Then there are the roses, daisies, tulips, daffodils, carnations, lavender, and sweet peas that are going around the front and sides of the house. I have to put in a gravel drive/parking space in the back and clean up the overgrown landscaping. I have to get the tiny non-buildable lot next door and start my vegetable garden.

The decorating planning is so much fun; and I keep changing my mind about what should go where as bargains become available. I think I have my plans fairly well stablized now, and just have to keep to the plan If I can!

I finally found two matching vintage ice cream stools online that match the ones I have. They are so expensive I about died when I saw the price. $365 including shipping!!! But I want them and they are rare soooooooooooooo I guess $385 for a 4 seat vintage bistro set isn't really out of line when I look at it that way but sure was more than I wanted to spend! I'm gonna have to be more careful than this with my money!

I will put a 42 or 48 inch round top on the table and use the set in my dining room. I hope it will be so unique and pretty when painted white and combined with the pretty yellow floral fabric and tulip chandelier.

I will have the stools paid for at the end of August. I will let you guys know what I do next!

[LadyAshen]

Originally Posted by tallyho

LOL....and when i saw the title of your thread, i couldn't help but recall the movie, and how myra loy was telling the painter about what shade of yellow paint she wanted.......not yellow like butter, but not as pale as buttermilk...just a soft yellow in between butter and buttermilk, understand?

That allusion was intentional!

I'm painting my walls a soft yellow between butter and buttermilk, and I feel like Cary Grant did when I see my budget going out of control!

[redboy]

Originally Posted by LadyAshen

That allusion was intentional!

I'm painting my walls a soft yellow between butter and buttermilk,
and I feel like Cary Grant did when I see my budget going out of control!

Well, isn't that part of the fun!!!
Good luck (staying on budget!!).
I hate the 'B' word!!

[BklynCwgrl]

Congratulations! What fun it's going to be for you!!!

[LadyAshen]

Thanks guys! I'll keep ya posted!

Hey Redboy! Give me a call. Have I got news for you!!!

[LadyAshen]

Here is the design for the master bedroom. This is my bedroom furniture which I bought from Craigslist and Ebay real cheap. The bed, nightstand, chests, etc. all match.





I bought the curtain and duvet fabric on Ebay several years ago for $1 a yard. And it is trimmed with the solid fabric on the bottom.





Under the curtains are these made of lace I bought on Ebay real cheap.



Ebay was my friend on the lamps and shades too -- about $50 a lamp/shade.





I found these needlepoint pillows on Ebay for $50 for 6.



And this is the wool needlepoint rug I am using, also from Ebay for less than $140.

[LadyAshen]

For the living room, I will use this rocker I got for free [with a missing rocker so I took off the other one and made it an armchair] and paint it white along with my daybed and coffee table.







Along with these two end tables topped with these mirrors.





Wall lamps instead of table lamps but painted white. Ebay bargains for $40 for the pair.



This is my upholstery for the daybed & chair at $6 a yard.



The same fabric will trim the curtains I make from more Ebay $1 yd fabric.



And this Ebay wool rug -- less than $80.

[gbarmranch]

I love retro and antiques.. and that house is adorable.. Those items will fit so beautifully in there.. Congratulations.. You will post photos when you have it all done, won't you.. I can't wait to see it finished..

[Druydess]

Very cute!! Congrats!!
But...does Ashen approve??? Hmmm??

[LadyAshen]

Originally Posted by Druydess

Very cute!! Congrats!!
But...does Ashen approve??? Hmmm??

Ashen doesn't like her room even though I bought the furniture cheap on Ebay and Craigslist and at garage sales for very little! The king headboard with a home made platform twin bed will create a daybed. The antique parlor sewing machine cabinet will hold my favorite sewing machine and the chair was $1 at a thrift shop.









Twin battenburg lace bedding will cover the daybed and the loveseat cushion, matching the curtains at the windows and pillows.





To add sparkle, I will make the over-curtains, the stack washer dryer alcove curtains, and the pillows and cushions from fifty cent a yard fabric with this trim on the sides.



A pair of wall lamps, a wall light fixture, and a table lamp will light the area.







And I will look for a yellow wool rug like this but brighter.



Ashen is mad as heck cause I did not use any turquoise in the house.