It's been a while...Stairs, bedroom, Ebay and barbecues

photo's a bit dark, but I'll get a better shot next time

After two weeks away on a fpso off the Angolan coast, Alain and I had a lot of catching up to do and he had a some time off from work which was way overdue, so we've been eating out, visiting Paris and just having a great time, we even bought a couple of bicycles and a new couch (second-hand off Ebay).

Our new second hand Conran couch, it's so comfortable and can you believe it's 10 years old

The weather has been glorious, so much so, we've been having barbecues most days, we never had so many down in the south so go figure.

The work in the house is coming on too. Our bedroom has been painted in Elephant's Breath and we love it. I did manage to paint the armoire Pigeon, my favourite colour. Still lots to tidy, so the photo doesn't really show much.

The stairs and landings are almost finished, hardest part still to do, but who knows, we might just finish it for the weekend. I've stripped the wax of the stairs, know just need to figure our how to lighten the wood ready for varnish.

For the walls we used Hardwick white, which is far from white as you can see, but after first having reservations about the greyness I really like it now.

On the first floor landing (our floor and that of Oliver and Charlotte) we are slowly building up a art/photo wall. The doors (that you can't see) are going to be painted Arsenic, which is something that I'm really looking forward to doing.

Time for a cup of tea I think. Back later in the week with more photos and updates.

Corsica...chosing colours

Marie-Kate took this photo of a painting I found this weekend. This is destined to go in our bedroom when it's finished. The photo doesn't do it justice, it really has some great details, like the woman hanging or shaking out a tablecloth or alike. The buildings are great too, but I feel that somehow the sea isn't working so well.

I thought about painting the room in pigeon, but I think I'll paint it in Elephant's Breath which should go well in our south facing room and I think my red curtains will at last find an home.

I'm just wondering if I'll ever find a room or something to paint with what is one of my favourite colours.

Farrow and Ball's Pigeon

Entrance with the sun kind of shining

still have to do something about the lock system, it's ugly and I haven't painted it(on the right hand side it's an original metal lock that enters the floor when secure, whereas on the left, Mr H has it changed for an more modern and rather ugly model and as for the handle I loathe it

Our house has a north south exposition. The front door is a round the back, north facing, but we do have south facing sitting room window which is in-line with the door, so we do get lots of light providing the sun actually shines.

I took a couple more photos of the work in progress, still have woodwork to do again and lights..and I would love to change the tiles...but not possible right now....why did so many people do so many stupid things with houses in the 70's, I bet there was a lovely oak floor before..:(

As you can see, on each photo the color comes out a little different, or so it seems. We are going to use this color again on the first floor landing which is quite a good size, an area with the same configuration as it's just above.

I love our front door, the little windows open via a latch (nice in summer perhaps), but I have noticed it's really drafty at the bottom, middle and top. Going to have to find a way to keep the cold out, maybe a nice curtain on one side...black, blue, red.....we'll see)

Gliimpse at entrance/hall

view from kitchen

I was really apprehensive about using Charlotte's Locks and Elephant's Breath together after testing them in-situe, but I decided to give it a go, and my first impression is one of relief, the colors seem to work. I have a lot to finish, and these photos were taken just when the sun was setting, even if we never actually saw a glimpse of the sun today.