{quotable thursdays/garden study}

Hello dear blogland!
I know I've fallen behind on blogging recently. But there's been lots of stuff going on in my life and this weekend marks 2 years since I moved into Chota House! It's been an exciting two years, making this little home my own.
My garden study is now almost done, with replacement light fixtures and some artwork and plants... I've come a long way!
So today's blog will look at the improvements done in the study. What I love most about my study is that all year round I still feel like I've brought the outdoors inside...and that relationship to flowers and birds and plants is calming!

{wild things}

Even on the darkest winter day, the place feels light and I have never had to put the lights on in the day....

{I collected ferns from a nearby walk & pressed them}

{plenty of entertainment for Simla, who watches the birds from the window}

{light and airy, the outside feels like it's inside!}

Before I moved in, the previous owners had done the extension and used it as a breakfast room. The red and stripes was a theme throughout the house (not particularly to my taste!):

{BEFORE}

{AFTER}

{BEFORE}

{AFTER}

The red carried from the kitchen to the study, something I quickly changed with a few coats of paint!

{BEFORE}

{AFTER}

{AFTER}

& those sconces, they really had to go!

{oh dear! are we in a bad hotel from the 90s??}

{after = antique brass sconces + picture frames}

It's now simply a lovely place to work, that ties in with the garden theme outside...

How I feel at home! and what a productive space it's been!!

xo

L

{picture rails}

One of the big improvements to the house that my parents did while they were here was put in picture rails. Most people wouldn't notice they hadn't been there originally...and most people who come to the house now probably won't really notice them. But a picture rail is  like wearing clear nail varnish for a house-they're subtle, but add that little bit of 'polish' that makes a space seem finished.

I have lots more to blog on regarding renovations-the lovely built-in wardrobes in my room and other things, but thought I'd quickly put a post together on the picture rails.

I haven't got all my pictures up, and in the end, I'll probably change some around, but it's nice to be greeted by some old familiar friends on the walls...

{black & whites of my ancestors, from my great grandparents in India with my granny as a baby, to my Canadian grandparents in Toronto to pictures of my parents as kids}

{I love how the mirror reflects the pictures on the opposite wall}

And then in the dining room, the before:

{BEFORE}

...& now I've got a piano there and a mirror hanging from the picture rail:

{after!!}

On the other side of the dining room the space was crammed with furniture and a desk. Now I have a simple print of the Bodleian library and my dresser my Dad built me, filled with all my favourite crockery and china: 

& in the hallway upstairs...still needs some more pics hung and some more touches, but it's much better  (especially since I got rid of the lime green!):

stay tuned for more!
xo
L

{quotable thursdays}

Hope you all had a great BH holiday weekend, for those of you here in the UK!
Today's quote encourages us to embrace the everyday:

{every day is a special occasion!}

I totally agree! What little things do you do every day or on a regular basis that make that day feel like a treat? For me it's a good cup of coffee in the morning, or a snuggle with my cat, or a glass of wine after a long day, or ending the working day and cooking up a big yummy dinner, or going for a walk... so many lovely things one can do on a daily basis that makes life feel just a little extra special!

Here are a few pics from this past week...

This past weekend I painted out the lime green & brown in the hall & removed the green knit light:

{BEFORE}

Still more to do such as finish the floors but it's much better than the lime green!

My cousins stayed over one night and I showed them around, which included a nice pint at the local pub on the canal, as well as a trip to Woburn village to check out the antiques, have some cream tea and then we visited lovely Ascott House, where a Rothschild still lives!

{walk along the Grand Union canal}

{pint at the Globe Inn}

{antiques at Woburn}

{lovely houses in Woburn Village}

{exploring Ascott House}

{the grounds at Ascott House}

xo,
L

{quotable thursdays}

I can't believe it's been a week since I moved into the house!
It has been a busy time trying to unpack and get settled, but it's starting to feel like a home--my home! Today the rest of my appliances arrived, so I'm now with fridge, washing machine & dishwasher...life is starting to feel like normal!
Lots of decorating and more renovating to do, but all in time!

{an empty room is awaiting a story!}

I have a feeling this house has a lot of stories to tell and there will be many more to come!

Here is my past week in pictures: 

{moving in and still needing to paint & remove some under carpet boards!}

{starting to feel at home!}

& finally some unpacking and getting settled... Built-in bookshelves and cabinets etc to come, so this is good enough for now! Please ignore the temporary bookshelves made out of boxes and covered with table cloths...or the plaster that needs painting due to some damp being fixed (which has to wait 4 weeks to dry)... picture rails also have to go up before I can hang many pics!

 Let's just remind ourselves what the lounge originally looked like!:

The bedroom still needs some unpacking and decorating, but it's getting there:

 & again, this is the before:

and finally, the sunroom which is now my (very messy study), has had a complete transformation. The last of the stripes to go! 

BEFORE: 

stay tuned for more!
x
L