La Maison Jolie

Room Reveal: Our Living Room Makeover!

2013-05-14T14:58:00.000+10:00

Yes.. Yes.. Yes, I'm on a roll! One more room reveal!

Its taken a looooong time to get here. And though I'm saying that it is done, you do know I mean its done for now? ;)

(Shhhh…don't tell my husband!)

Before I show you the makeover, I need to take you back in time, just for a bit…

Our Living Room Timeline:

Do you remember my living room earlier?

It looked something like this.

Then it looked like this.

Then came my Living Room Inspiration Post…where I shared some Living Rooms that looked just scrumptious!

Well, after all that… here's our Living Room.

The colour scheme of the living Room is neutral with pops of black and muted red.

Here's the view from another angle…

Little details on the coffee table…
A souvenir from Newcastle and a vintage French book from a flea market.

Mini cushions (that I made)…to add that homey feel. Okay you caught me, I love cushions! The more the merrier!

You can see the other ceramic drum stool peeking into the frame.

I actually love this wall art… It adds a bit of interest to the wall behind the TV and helps balance the blank space.

And it's quintessentially French Provincial!

The rug matches the small lumbar cushion on the other couch. But I think this space needs a round more neutral rug or a bold stripy rug. I can't quite make up my mind on this one!

Another mini grain sack cushion.

The frames are simple and sleek black metal. I cut some white matting myself (since the quote of getting the matting professionally cut for 6 frames that size was over $300) and printed out black and white photographs taken on our trip to France and Italy this year in January.

I deliberately chose large size frames and thick white matting (the same colour as our wall paint) to make the photographs the focal point.

I didn't want too much black on the wall and the white matting helps, it makes the photos look like they are floating on the wall.

This was a garage sale score - a huge and heavy antique mirror that will be put up on the wall…one day soon!

I love how the eye is drawn to the photographs in the centre.

That's a French film poster "Jour De fête" by Jacques Tati, that I ordered from a poster shop in Fitzroy, Victoria. It adds a bright splash of colour to this otherwise neutral living room.

A tripod lamp that I made from an old music stand. That's a simple linen shade bought on sale from Target.

I saw the music stand lamp first on Kristine's blog, The Painted Hive and was so impressed. I had an old music stand lying in my garage that I had used to display signs during my product launch last year in July. But since then it was just gathering dust. So after I saw Kristine's tutorial, I decided to put the stand to good use.

I tried wiring it myself, even bought all the supplies from the hardware store but after nearly burning the house down, I knew I had to seek professional help.

I scouted around a lot of light shops, but to my surprise, every shop I went to turned me down and said that it was not a feasible project!

Then by sheer luck I happened to drop into a light store called Lights Lights Lights on Mt Alexander Road. The staff at LLL, Danielle, Elias and George were amazingly helpful! They had such a positive can do attitude! They wired my lamp in no time and now it works beautifully!

(And they have some gorgeous lights at their store!)

Moving on…that's a storage box or rather a 'vintage chest'. It stores all our old magazines.

To see the tutorial on how I turned an ordinary storage box into a vintage chest, click here.

The living room gets a lot of natural light all day long and is probably my favourite room in the house.

The coffee table was a makeover project as well. I gave the table top a faux rust treatment to give it an industrial look.

It's a calm and cosy place to sit and chat for hours with friends or watch TV or just lie down on that comfy couch with a good book.

We love how comfy and uncluttered the living room looks and feels. And the best part, my husband loves the makeover!

Well there you have it…

Hope you enjoyed my Living Room Reveal!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

xox

Rani

Click here to visit my Etsy Store!

Room Reveal: Upstairs Landing/Master Bedroom Entryway!

2013-05-12T01:54:00.002+10:00

Hello All

Finally that day has come when I can reveal a 'done' section of our home!(Woot Woot!) Presenting…

The Before

It was pretty blah and boring before. There was an unfinished painting hanging on the wall for a very long time. I just never got around to finishing it. I don't have any pictures just this one taken one evening with my phone ages ago.

The Before!

Every time I passed the entry way to go our bedroom or while climbing up the stairs, or on my way to the study, it just looked sadder and sadder…

So finally, when I spotted a huge wooden frame at a flea market, I grabbed it!

The minute I saw it, I knew exactly where I was going to hang it.

But there was a bit to do before I could admire it on the wall.

Challenge #1

It was a hideous orangey colour. No backing, just a wooden frame and very heavy. But the frame was in perfect condition.

Washed off the dirt, sanded it down and sprayed it 3 times with White Knight gold metallic paint from Bunnings Warehouse.

It looked lovely but just too shiny for me. It looked new.

I was looking for a vintage metal gold hue. So I sanded it lightly again, added a few dings on it and then dry brushed it with black acrylic paint from the Dollar Store. Sanded it back again to show off the dulled matte gold paint.

Just Perfect! *Swoon-worthy*

Challenge #2

There was no backing to the frame. It was just 4 pieces of wood nailed together.

I thought of picking up a mdf backing from Bunnings, but I wanted something different.

Lightbulb moment… drop cloth backing!

I'm obsessed with drop cloth and always have some lying in the craft cupboard. I took out the canvas drop cloth, measured it up and stapled it to frame with an upholstery stapler. It looked amazing. Just by itself it looked like a work of art.

Challenge #3

After admiring the blank canvas for a long while, it kinda looked a bit empty. So I scavenged around in my home and found a map of monuments located in Paris that I had bought ages ago from MagNation but never found a frame for it. So it gathered dust in a drawer.

Well, not anymore, out came the map!

But for some reason, the double sided sticky tape did not do the job, the map kept rolling off the canvas drop cloth. Tried some cardboard pins, did not work, neither did the upholstery tacks since there was no hard backing to push the pins into. Finally, it came to me, after I had given up and put the map away in its designated drawer.

I could stitch it into place!

Out came the needle and cream/off-white thread and I lightly tacked it into place. A Perfect solution!

From a distance you cannot see the thread and even up close, it's not obvious at all. The off-white thread happily merges into the off-white margins of the map.

Challenge #4

Balancing precariously on a chair, with a frame that weighs a ton, trying to hang it with one hand and clutching for dear life with the other.

Done! Next?

(My growing collection of Eiffel Towers)

Challenge #5

It looked lovely, but unfinished. Something was missing. It needed a dresser/table or some sort of a mantle underneath it.

But this corridor/master bedroom entry way is quite narrow and anything wide would just not work. I would also not be able to drag heavy furniture up the stairs single handedly and if I were to block the entry way to our bedroom with a big piece of furniture, I might have to run away from home without a forwarding address to escape my husband's extra 'grim' look.

So I walked around the house and the garage scouting. And I glanced upon the Pottery Barn inspired display unit in the dining room, it was narrow and the colours walnut and black would work perfectly with the faux vintage gold frame. Hauled it up the stairs (sometimes I amaze my husband when I rearrange furniture, he doesn't know where the strength to move furniture is stored in my 5 feet 1 inch and a half body!)

I fiddled around with the display again with a few new antiques, like the binoculars with its very own original leather case on the last shelf. They are truly vintage and gorgeous. My husband's very prized possession.

Added some roses from my garden. I not a fan of picking flowers from the garden, I much rather enjoy them on the plants, but this area needed softening, a feminine touch with all that gold, wood, walnut and black.

Challenge #6

Sit on the stairs and enjoy the view!

This was the best challenge of the lot!

The After!

On the left is the Master Bedroom and the right is our Bathroom and Study.

On another note…I just realised that I don't like the carpet in our home and one day… I shall get my wooden floors!

*Sigh*Day-Dream*Sigh*

Just to give you all an idea of where this space is located…

Right above my Vintage Family Photo Gallery Wall!

I added a garden stool (from the Reject Store, Thank you Kristine from The Painted Hive) on the side, but this space is tiny and narrow, I was afraid too much and it would start to look cluttered.

And one more time…The Upstairs Landing/Master Bedroom Entryway! Not sure if it is magazine worthy, but it is definitely a much happier place to walk by!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

A big Thank You to Andrea for featuring the display unit on her blog, The Cottage Market!

And a big Shout Out to Katie from Creatively Living for featuring my Vintage Family Photo Gallery Wall!

I'm so flattered!

xox

Rani

Click here to visit my Etsy Store!

Our Vintage Family Photo Gallery Wall

2013-05-06T15:20:00.001+10:00

I'm working on a few projects at the same time and therefore none of them are complete yet. (What a bummer!) I thought of what to share with you all today. Initially I was going to share the living room makeover but I've hit a few snags with the final stages. So that's going to have to wait till next week.

So today I'm going to share my vintage family photo gallery wall. I had these vintage photos stored away and finally they are up on the wall.

In our home, we have a narrow and looooong corridor leading from the front door to the backdoor. All the rooms and stairs lead off from this corridor. It's the best place for a gallery and also the worst to photograph.

But here is the family gallery wall with photos of my husband and my great-grand parents, grand parents and parents and maybe even a photo of me as a baby.

That's my husband's grandparents. So in love!

I love the way their shadows merge!

I keep adding to this wall as and when I find more photos at my parents home or my husband's family home.

That's my grandparents holidaying in Nepal.

My gran dressed up in a traditional Nepalese chupa!

So cute!

That's the front door and living room.

I love these frames. I make them for my Etsy store. They are rustic and beautiful and add a little gorgeousness to the wall.

(I wish I had cleaned the mirror prior to taking photos, I can see my finger prints left on it when I was straightening things up. Grrrrrr!)

Any guesses who that chubby little thing is? heeehee!

That's an IKEA shoe cupboard. It is the perfect fit for our narrow corridor as it takes up very little space. And it doesn't look like your average shoe cupboard!

I'm glad I put these photos up rather than storing them away in a box. I love looking at them everyday and I feel that they are all watching over us.

That mirror is one of my favourites, bought for a steal at the Canterbury Antique Market! Love the shape and the detailed carvings on it.

I'm sure I'll have a few more photos to add in the coming months!

I just wish this damn corridor wasn't such a pain to photograph! Do you have any spaces in your home that are as painful to capture? If so, any tips?

Thanks so much for stopping by!

xox

Rani

Click here to visit my Etsy Store!

Scarves With A Cause!

2013-04-30T18:09:00.001+10:00

Imagine a group of women, mostly young widows with small children, no home, no food and no future.

Then look around you, your home, your family, your life.

That's what happened to me on my overseas trip. My mother had decided to start a Womens Shelter. My mother took me to the shelter (a Not-For-Profit Centre) and I had the opportunity to meet these amazing women who are desperate for help but are too proud to ask.

And then she approached me. She wanted to know if I could come up with an idea of providing them with some sort of employment opportunity. They are limited in terms of skills but so eager to learn.

I had an idea…

I decided to create a few designs, drew them, coloured them in and then got the printing blocks carved and bought some silk fabric.

The women in the shelter will be printing my designs on the fabric and turning a blank canvas into beautiful chic scarves.

My mother always says, "give a man a fish, he'll eat for a day; teach him to fish, he'll eat for life."

And that's what I want to do…I want to give these women a job, paid employment and their dignity back, not just a handout or a donation.

And the women were so eager to learn… to print on fabric and cut them into scarves and earn their money.

These three main designs are inspired by the beautiful damask wallpapers and carvings I observed while vacationing in Paris and Provence.

The colours used are Paris Gray, Pale Pink, Sea Foam Green and Aqua.

All dyes are eco-friendly to maintain a sustainable environment. These scarves are 100% silk, light and airy but so warm and stylish.

If you are interested, these scarves are being sold via my Etsy store and will be shipped worldwide.

At the moment there's only one of each colour. But I'll be making some more.

Sometimes art can be an escape for me, but I hope for these women, it will be a way of finding themselves.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

xox

Rani

Bookcase Turned Display Unit

2013-04-26T16:33:00.002+10:00

Hi All

I'm back with a new project. From my overseas trip, I bought back a lot of small antiques from my husband's family home. I needed a display cabinet to display some of my favourite ones. So I turned a pine bookcase into a pottery barn inspired vintage display unit.

I'm a huge fan of two-toned furniture. For my display unit, I chose to go with a walnut stain with a dark grey/almost black background to make the pieces really pop.

The display case currently sits in the dining room, but knowing me, it will be moved every so often from room to room unless it gets sold!

Vintage photos of my husband's great grand parents in an antique wooden frame

A vintage mini desk fan

Couple of Wedge wood framed pendants in antique wooden frames

More photos in a vintage silver frame

An antique crown from Aix-en-Provence

A vintage glass bottle picked up from a flea market in Paris. I made the label. I think I'll remove it and make a proper one soon.

A cherub from Venice

I sanded and distressed the corners of the bookcase to give it a well loved antique look.

Before… (sorry, I'd taken the shelves off to stain)

After…

There you have it my pottery barn inspired display unit.

Stay tuned for more projects.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

xox

Rani

Click here to visit my Etsy Store!

Crate Cravings!

2013-04-23T20:12:00.000+10:00

Hi All

I'm back after an exhausting trip overseas with our family. We had to fly off unexpectedly as my father-in-law suffered a stroke. He is doing much better and we are back in Melbourne again.

Today I'm posting about a mini project since I still have to take pictures of the projects I completed before I left.

This is a fairly simple one.

My husband spotted a small crate on the side of the road and knowing my love or rather obsession with crates, he bought this baby home.

I tell you, he's a keeper! Both husband and crate, in case you're wondering! ;)

The crate was a light pine colour and I stained it to a darker brown to make it look vintage. Sanded it down lightly and we are done!

The mini crate is perfect for storing my recipe books in the kitchen.

I contemplated stencilling some letters on it, but decided against it. It looks cute just the way it is.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

I'll be back with a few more completed projects this week including my living room reveal!

xox

Rani

Click here to visit my Etsy Store

A Family Emergency

2013-03-29T19:23:00.000+11:00

Hi All

How have you all been?

I know I have been missing from blogland for almost a month now. My father-in-law was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer mid last year and was being treated for it. But unfortunately he suffered a stroke three weeks back and my husband and I had to rush overseas to be with him and the rest of the family.

My father-in-law is the most jovial and light hearted person you can ever come across, however the stroke has left him with blood clots on the brain resulting in severe speech impairement. It's heartbreaking to see a person who could talk nineteen to a dozen non stop, absolutely and completely quiet.

The doctors are hopeful that he will regain his speech once the clots dissolve.

However, at this stage between the hospital, doctors, chemotherapy and visitors, I'm not sure when I'll be able to write a proper post. But I will still try while I'm here.

My Father-In-Law, Mother-In-Law, Me & My Husband in 2009

Hope you all have a great Easter break.

Stay safe and take care...

xox

Rani

How to: Give an ordinary storage box a vintage/contemporary look

2013-03-05T19:49:00.003+11:00

Hello There!

As you all know from my previous posts I'm trying to redo my entire living room. I was happy the way it looked before but there was something missing. So bit by bit, I'm changing things and trying to bring it all together by adding more details. I'll show you whole living room soon. It's nearly done just a bit of styling left. But before I do that, I want to show you the details that I'm adding to the room.

So this post is all about how to give an ordinary storage box a vintage but contemporary look.

I started with this ordinary mdf box that had Paris printed all over it.

I bought it from the Reject Store over a year ago. But it was just too yellow and given that my new living room colour scheme will be all neutral with pops of black, I decided to spray paint it black.

Then the fun part began. Gathering supplies and putting it all together. I bought 2 dark brown faux leather belts from a $2 shop and black upholstery tacks from Spotlight for $4.99.

After I finished, my friend (from the US) told me that it reminded her of a pottery barn storage suitcase that she had once seen.

Great minds think alike… hahahahaha!!!

So we set out to search for it online and here's pottery barn's version for over $250 and here's mine for $15.

Well, what do you think of my Vintage Storage Box Makeover?

For a price tag of $15 (makeover cost) I'm pretty happy with mine!

And if you notice the above picture, there's a corner of the new gallery wall!

More projects and living room reveal coming soon!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

xox

Rani

Click here to visit my Etsy Store

Guest Post - Doing your best work with the best tools!

2013-03-01T10:30:00.000+11:00

Hello All

I'm back with a guest post by Danielle McAnn today on DIY tools. When I read through the article, I found it very useful and informative and I'm hoping you will too.

A little about Danielle…She is a copywriter working with Sunlite Mitre 10 a hardware store in Sydney. When Danielle’s not writing content she enjoys swimming, sunbathing and taking her German Shepherd for a walk.

Doing your best work with the best tools

Tools are all designed for specific application. No single tool can be used for every purpose. It follows that you need a range of tools in your toolbox to do the best work you can. There are so many tools, for ever more intricate and particular use. By using the wrong tools, you risk ruining the tool, ruining your project, and creating a whole lot of extra work for yourself. Unless you are a construction expert, you really need to go to a hardware store and get professional tool advice before you begin your project.

Try a trusted hardware shop like Sunlite Mitre 10. You can view the range of tools online, but buying tools online is inadvisable. You need to see them and pick them up before you are able to see if they are the right tools for you. Safety stuff belongs in your toolbox too; safety goggles, gloves, and ear protection are necessities.

Don't buy the cheapest model to save money, buy the one you think is the best quality and is going to last the longest time. Compromising on the price of the tools might mean you are compromising on the quality of you tools, which is almost always a mistake in a home renovation.

Make sure you have all the basic tools in your toolbox before you buy any specialised items you need. Basics include things like hammer, compact drill, tape measure, pliers, adjustable wrench set, hex key (allen key) set, utility knife, putty knife, and spirit level. If you need power tools, think about the benefits of corded compared with cordless models. Use rechargeable lithium batteries if you choose cordless.

Keep your tools in top condition, with cleaning and sharpening, and servicing or oiling if required. This means your tools last longer and it also increases their effect, but good tools also make your work better.

Enjoy your DIY!

Danielle

I hope you found this article as informative and helpful as I did. Good and relevant tools really do make all the difference. I feel so motivated to build something, rather get my husband to build something I want! ;)

I'll be back soon with a new project that I am working on.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

xox

Rani

Click here to visit my ETSY STORE!

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post by Sunlite Mitre 10. The opinions are of the guest author.

Living Room Inspiration

2013-02-25T16:10:00.001+11:00

I have a confession to make. I have been bitten by the constant re-decorating bug! Help!

I just did a mini makeover of my living room with drop cloth cushions and a drop cloth lamp shade. But I still felt that there was something missing.

How about a gallery wall? The photos from our recent Europe trip were still waiting to be put up somewhere.

Here's my inspiration…I love the neutral palette of pottery barn living rooms and the fact that introducing something new just changes the entire look and feel of the room.

This is probably my most favourite photograph! I love the black and white photographs behind the sofa and the neutral earthy tones.

Again I love the large frames behind the sofa, they add interest to the room.

Neutral sofa! Loving the beige.

Again neutral but maybe a bit too minimalistic for our home.

Love the use of colour, patterns and textures in this living room. And adore the frames. But maybe a tad too colourful for me.

Framed maps, such a statement!

Cool and calm living room, again the focal point behind the lounge!

And this is my current living room…

Current adjacent wall

So I went and bought some frames, printed out my photos in black and white and bought some plain white thick paper to use as matting for the frames. I spray painted a few accessories and moved some furniture around. It's coming together. Will post the photos of the complete makeover soon.

Stay tuned!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

xox

Rani

Click here to visit my Etsy store

Winner of the Personal Planner Giveaway Is…!

2013-02-24T21:51:00.002+11:00

Hello there!

Hope you all are having a wonderful weekend!

I'm back with the results of the giveaway. Thank you all for participating and I wish I could give each and every one of you a personalised planner!

But there can be only one winner and the lucky winner to receive a personalised planner from PersonalPlanners is

…drum rolls please…

Please send me your email address and you should receive a gift certificate email from Personal Planners in your inbox soon.

I'll be back soon with another awesome giveaway soon…

Thanks so much for stopping by!

xox

Rani

Click here to visit my Etsy store

How To: Re-tint and varnish antique wooden furniture?

2013-02-21T01:27:00.000+11:00

This post is aptly titled 'How To: Re-tint and varnish antique wooden furniture' because that's exactly what I'm wondering! How do I RE-tint and varnish this piece of furniture?

Why do I do this to myself all the time? My husband thinks I am a sucker for punishment! And I kind of agree. It would be so much easier to go to a store and buy what I like, love and want! And also if money grew on trees! But I do what I do because I love that warm fuzzy feeling of seeing a difficult project through, witness a transformation no matter how challenging and feel that sense of accomplishment that is second to none!

Do you know what I mean…? I'm sure you do otherwise you wouldn't be reading this post right now!

Well, here's the story…

Last weekend, we went for a drive. And I spotted an antique store on Mt Alexander Road. I went into the store to just browse and window shop and came back with a beautiful antique art deco chest of drawers. Heheeehee!

Safe to say that my husband will be avoiding that road for a very long time!

I love the style of the dresser. (The drawers are currently stored in the garage) It's made of solid wood and very heavy. But it's an ugly dark pinkish mahogany tinted colour! I tried sanding it but the pinkish stain is just not coming off!

I want to paint it a beautiful aged dark walnut colour and replace the wooden knobs with bronze or black antique drawer pulls. Well, that's the challenge!

I'm losing sleep thinking of how to get rid of the Mahogany magenta stain and varnish! Any pointers anyone?

I'm surprised it looks quite okay in the pictures. In reality it looks really BAD!

This weekend, it's back to the drawing board with a foreseeable visit to Bunnings, our Australian hardware store for some heavy duty tint/varnish remover!

Hopefully, I'll be back soon with a progress report.

I'm going to get there eventually! Sigh!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

xox

Rani

Click here to visit my Etsy Store!

Have a Happy Tuesday!

2013-02-19T13:49:00.000+11:00

Hey All

Just popping in to say have a Happy Tuesday!

Lavender always makes me feel calm and relaxed on a busy day!

Dried lavender in my chippy old porcelain vase…

Botanical French rustic clay tags…I just made these and they are available for sale in my Etsy store…should you want to tie some to your chippy ol'vases…

Have a great day and an even better week!

Don't forget to enter my giveaway…click here to enter!

xox

Rani

Click here to visit Etsy store

Amazing Giveaway- Win Your Very Own Personalised Planner- Ends 24th Feb 2013

2013-02-18T11:58:00.000+11:00

My name is Rani and I LOVE pretty stationary…there I said it! Yes, I spend hours in stationary shops like Typo and Magshop looking and flicking through all the beautiful notebooks, planners and journals. I just love them.

Well, today I have a special giveaway planned for all of you! PersonalPlanners are giving away one special unique planner to a La Maison Jolie follower.

You could add some colour to your workday at the same time as making your planner more efficient and that more personal?

Would you like to win one of these gorgeous personal planner? Hell Ya!!!

I checked out their website and was blown away with the planners with endless design possibilities! You can change colour, text and design on front/back cover as well as inlay.

There are also clever boxes for the all important to-do list, gym session, preschool, idea of the week and weather.

Friend’s and family member’s birthdays can also be added to the inlay directly from Facebook.

AND They print and deliver the finished product directly to our your doorstep.

I made a list of things that liked about these planners:

Design the front/back cover
Tons of ways to design the inside to suit your style & needs.
Add friends & family members birthdays to the inlay
Choose between 4 different sizes
You pick the start date.
And best of all its fun and easy :)

Click here to visit their website and Facebook page.

Now what do you have to do to win a personalised planner?

Just 2 things!

1. Be or become a follower of La Maison Jolie (GFC button on top right hand corner of blog) and leave me a comment with your email address

2. LIKE the PersonalPlanner Facebook page

Some Guidelines…

The winner will be picked on my birthday 24th February via the random generator!
Once I pick the winner, Personal Planners will send the winner a gift card by email that can be used to design and choose any planner in any size.
International entrants are accepted
Prize can not be exchanged for money

I love these personalised notebooks and planners…I think every blogger needs one. I usually make notes on paper napkins, my phone and scrap paper when creativity strikes in the middle of nowhere or during dinner in a restaurant! How convenient would it be to have a small notebook in my bag? And personalised with my name on it…stylish! And let's just say there are less chances of it going walkabout!

Well, Good Luck all and let's get started on this awesome giveaway!

Good Luck & did I mention that this giveaway is open WORLDWIDE?!

xox

Rani
Click here to visit my ETSY STORE!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2013-02-14T15:02:00.000+11:00

Popping in quickly to wish you all a very

Happy Valentine's Day!

May your day be filled with Love & Joy!

xxxxxxxxx

Don't forget to enter my birthday special giveaway on Monday 18th February!

UPDATE: GIVEAWAY LIVE NOW

Thanks for stopping by!

xox

Rani

Click here to visit my ETSY STORE!

Vintage Industrial Timecard Holder

2013-02-13T20:10:00.000+11:00

Hello All…Happy Wednesday!

Firstly, thank you for the lovely comments on my Test Tube Bud Vase DIY Tutorial post. I was thrilled to read them all.

Secondly, I'm back with a one of a kind treasure that I picked up from a salvage yard on a late afternoon impromptu thrifting adventure with my husband. In case you are wondering we don't usually go thrifting and definitely not to any salvage yards. But we were passing by one and I saw lots of weird and wonderful things and the rest is history. I'll probably go back to the salvage yard again and again and again now!

I spotted a rusty but in great condition vintage industrial timecard holder and made a beeline towards it. As soon as I saw it I just knew it would look amazing hanging in our home as a mail holder on a blank wall in our long corridor. I haven't been able to find anything that would work on this wall, so this piece was just perfect!

Unfortunately, my husband considers old rusty things as definitely old rusty things and it takes a bit of work for me to show him the beauty in the rusty patina and help him visualise from what it is to what it could be.

He tried to talk me out of it. But there was no way I was leaving without it! Fortunately, my husband's also a smart man, he knows which battles he just can't win and after a lot of hemming and hawing he conceded.

So, I'm pleased to say that the vintage industrial timecard holder came home with us!

As soon as we got home, I got him to put it up on the wall and guess what now he loves it! He's having fun being organised and purposeful by sticking all our mail into it (and I have been slyly taking out all the ones that don't look good).

The timecard holder originates from USA and was used in a factory in Cincinnati and even has one original time card in it along with the original numbers on the side and an IN and OUT sign. It's so amazing to have a piece of history in our home.

The grey rusty iron really works against the white walls and the blank wall is no longer blank!

I love adding touches of industrial design in the home, I think it adds character and makes it more interesting and eclectic. Last year I added two vintage metal milk crates to my decor and it looks fabulous.

Now I just have to find out the age of the timecard holder. The salvage yard guy I bought it off said it was easily 60-80 years old. But I want to find out for sure. Hmmm this might take a while.

Do you have any interesting one-of-a-kind industrial pieces in your home? I would love to hear about it.

I'll be back soon with an amazing giveaway. So watch this space!

UPDATE: GIVEAWAY OPEN NOW!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

xox

Rani

Click here to visit my ETSY STORE!

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Test Tube Bud Vase DIY Tutorial

2013-02-11T00:13:00.002+11:00

Hello there…hope you all are having a great Sunday!

I'm popping in today with a short tutorial on a Test Tube Bud Vase.

I have been seeing bud vases everywhere - on Pinterest, home decor stores and then I saw one on Shanty2Chic that I loved.

And with Valentine's Day approaching, I knew I had make me one of those!

To start off, I sketched out a rough design and made myself a mini shopping list. Then I ordered the test tubes online via Etsy and waited impatiently for them to arrive and finally they did on last Friday. Woot woot!

On Sunday we were expecting a couple of our close friends to drop by for some afternoon tea and I wanted to dress the dining room up a bit, well there you go… there's my perfect excuse for some quick and easy DIY home decor!

So on Saturday, we headed off to Bunnings (our local hardware one stop shop…it's the Australian version of Lowe's, I think) to pick up the supplies, came back and it was all done in less than 1 hour. I had to leave it overnight for it to dry. And I must have checked on it twice at night. I just couldn't help myself… I'm an impatient soul!

So here's a short tute on how you can make one too.

Supplies you will need to make the perfect Test Tube Vase:-

1. Glass test tubes with flat bottoms…I ordered 6 via Etsy ($10)

2. Piece of timber, untreated and ensure it's thick enough for the test tubes (Free from Bunnings as it was scrap wood)

3. Size 25 wood drill bit or depending on the size of test tubes (Investment purchase)

4. Black wood stain ($1.00 worth used. Had this in the garage)

5. Sand paper for distressing (Had this from previous project)

6. Danish Oil for sealing and shine ($2.00 worth used. Had this in the garage from previous projects)

7. OPTIONAL - 1 husband (who is helpful but grumbles constantly about missing out on watching a game on TV!)

So Step 1 - Measure, mark and drill 6 holes with the drill bit

Step 2 is to stain, distress, seal with Danish oil and leave to dry

And Sunday afternoon just before our friends arrived, I put it together with some flowers and frilly drop cloth runner (my first attempt at sewing frills)!

For $13.00, I'm pretty happy with my Test Tube Bud Vase!

The pale pink flowers are so pretty and they were wild and free! I have no clue what they are called.

It was the perfect weather today to take gazillions of photographs!

As you can see the wood has a few dints and dips…imperfectly perfect for me!

The holes turned out to be the perfect size for the test tubes. They fit in snug.

Important note: To avoid extra costs or 'investment purchases' check the size of the drill bit you already have and then order test tubes or you could 'wing it' like me…order the test tubes and then go hunting for the drill bit with a grumpy husband!

Well you know how it goes! :-)

There's my drop cloth runner. I'm planning on adding a couple of lines on it to make it look like a grain sack.

Don't you think fresh flowers give any room a positive vibe?!

Simple but just right for our dining room.

Perfect for Valentine's Day…I can picture it with lovely pink rosebuds or buttery yellow ones or even some lovely orchids?
Or how about some long tapered silver or golden dinner candles? That would look so romantic!

So there you go, that's my version of a Test Tube Bud Vase!
I would love to see some of yours!

I hope you enjoyed the tutorial.

I will be back soon, with a few treasures I picked up at a recent thrifting adventure.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

xox

Rani

Click here to visit my ETSY STORE!

French Script Embossed Valentine's Day And Easter Clay Tags

2013-02-07T16:46:00.001+11:00

Just popping in really quickly to let you all know about La Maison Jolie new clay gift tags for Valentine's Day and Easter available through my Etsy Store. These gorgeous handmade clay tags are shipping worldwide!

Click here to visit STORE!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

xox

Rani

Master Bedroom Update

2013-02-05T14:21:00.001+11:00

The Master Bedroom has been a bone of contention for me. There are so many things I love about this room but I hate the air conditioner on top of the bed. I wanted to make it a feature wall but alas it's not going to happen. So I have to make the best of a bad situation.

But I digress, well here's a few quick updates of the bedroom 2013…

Here's what it was all of 2012… Too busy!

Firstly I covered bedside lamps that used to have silver shades with drop cloth slip cover style shades. Too easy!

Then the artwork above the bed was changed. I cut out A4 pieces of drop cloth and stamped it with my french script stamp and then framed the drop cloth in IKEA frames.

Added trays on top of the bedside tables to keep things neat and tidy.

And the bit I am very excited about are the fact that we replaced the steel wardrobe handles…

…with 'new' vintage white porcelain handles with faded gold designs. I love them!

I'm loving the uncluttered, neutral and brighter look in the bedroom, but it does look a tad sparse. I am planning on changing a few more things, like adding some artwork on the rest of the walls that are currently bare. I want to hang some sheer curtains to hide the blackout blinds too.

Ahhhhhh……lots more to do with a tinnnyyyy budget!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

xox

Rani

Click here to visit my Etsy Store!

Living Room Redo

2013-02-04T15:04:00.001+11:00

After a long time, I've redone the living room. I have always been in love with neutrals but after my trip to Paris, I know this love is ever lasting! Though our living room has always had a neutral scheme, it was time to update a few things like the coffee table, the cushions and the lamp shade.

Lately I have been obsessed with painters drop cloth and typography…and pottery barn! Did you know pottery barn ships to Australia? But it was way cheaper to make these myself.

And my new lamp shade cover made out of… you guessed it -

drop cloth!

This crown was found on my travels to Cassis, France. It was tucked away in a corner in an antique shop. I love the rusty patina on it.

A gorgeous cherub from Venice

Perfect addition for Valentine's Day decor…a scented clay cherub playing the flute from Paris hanging on a huge antique mirror which hopefully one of these days I will figure out how to hang on the wall. It weighs 25 kgs and if you have any suggestions on how I could accomplish this mammoth task without breaking the wall, please.. please.. please… let me know.

The table is a recent find. It was in a dilapidated condition when I found it. But with a little love, paint and elbow grease…it's brand new again! I gave it a faux rust table top and it looks so industrial. I'll post photos of the coffee table makeover soon.

I hung three La Maison Jolie distressed photo frames on the walls and we are done!

So there you go… my updated living room.

Thanks so much for stopping by! I'll be back in a few days with a small update on the master bedroom.

xox

Rani
Click here to visit my Etsy Store!

10 Unique Ways to Redesign Your Bedroom - Guest post by David Glenn

2013-01-29T14:34:00.000+11:00

Happy New Year All

I'm back with a guest post by David Glenn to kick off the new year. David contacted me while I was on my holiday in France (more on that later) and I was thrilled to have him guest post on my humble blog.

A little background - David is a home improvement expert of over 20 years! If not working with his hands, he is offering his assistance online as a freelance writer, and like us he loves to write about home renovation, design, and decor.

10 Unique Ways to Redesign Your Bedroom

Sometimes you are looking for an interesting way to redesign your bedroom, but you are short on money, ideas, and inspiration. It can be hard to know where to start when you are trying your hand at interior design for the first time. As a result, it can quickly get overwhelming as you think of the possibilities and weigh them up against costs and practicality. However, there are actually some really simple and unique ways that you can totally transform your bedroom with minimal effort and cost. Here are ten such ideas to help get you started.

Paint old furniture

Maybe you're sick of your old furniture, but that does not mean that you have to throw it out and buy a whole new set. You can transform anything that you already have with a lick of paint. This is an especially good idea if you have recently repainted your room, as you can use the leftover paint for a piece or two of your furniture.

Give it A Theme

Our rooms are really good reflections of our personalities, which often turns them into a random collection of all of our favorite things. This can work, but a nice way to redesign can be to create a sort of theme in your room. Choose one of your favorite things, whether it is sports, movies, art, or something else, and use it to form the décor of your room. For example, if you are a movie fan, you could decorate the walls with movie posters, clapboards, and ticket stubs. You could choose a bedspread that coordinates to bring it all together.

Centre Around One Piece

A clever idea for a redesign can be to pick your favorite piece from the room and focus the rest around it. For example, if you picked a particularly interesting lamp, you could use the color of the lampshade as the color of your walls. You could then use the design of it as inspiration for the rest of the room.

Blanket or Wall Hanging?

Patterned quilts are great to keep warm, but have you ever thought of using one as a wall hanging? It can be a good way to appreciate a nice design, as well as giving an interesting feature to an otherwise boring wall.

Try Reupholstering

If you are bored of an old chair or set of cushions or pillows, give them a new look by reupholstering. Old cushions are really easy to refresh by picking a new material and making a new cover out of it.

Use What You Can Find

Be innovative. Look around in thrift stores, and even in your own house, and rather than looking at something as it is now, look for its potential as a feature in your room. If you so this, you can completely redesign your room from secondhand items.

Different Coloured Walls

Rather than just picking a colour and painting it on all of your walls, try painting one or two walls a different colour from the rest. Alternatively, you could paint all the walls one colour and the ceiling another.

Wallpaper or Art?

You might not fancy wallpapering your entire room, but just a little bit can go a long way if you use it in the right way. If you cover a canvas with a piece of interesting wallpaper, or even wrapping paper, it can make an interesting piece of art for your wall.

Reuse, Recycle

As you try to redesign your room, instead of a complete overhaul of everything you own, try to think of new ways that you can use things. Maybe that's to repaint them, or just move them around, it can completely makeover your room.

Turn Your Clutter into a Feature

So you have a lot of stuff. Don’t throw it out just yet. Try to make it work as part of a design for your room. One example is, if you have a lot of books, line a wall with them. You can either use shelves to break them up, or just stack them. Buy a bunch of old-looking books (or make your own) to fill in the gaps. If done right, it can look really good.

Thanks,

David

Thanks David for an inspiring post and thank you all for stopping by!

I'm multi-tasking and working on a number of DIY projects at the moment so watch this space!

xox

Rani

Click here to visit my Etsy Store!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year To All!

2012-12-22T18:04:00.000+11:00

Hi All

We are so close to Christmas...and I wanted to wish each and every one of you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I'm off on a long holiday...the longest I have ever taken in my life! And take a wild guess where I'm off to!

See you all in the New Year!

Thanks so much for stopping by and Happy Holidays!

xox

Rani

Our Christmas Tree and Giveaway Winner!

2012-12-18T13:05:00.001+11:00

Hey all you lovely people...

Christmas is upon us and finally we got the tree up and decorated.

This year I chose to go all neutral and rustic. Most of the ornaments are handmade by me. I think it adds a special touch.

So here are a few pictures...okay I'm lying..here are lots of pictures!!!! I couldn't choose just a few! heeehee!!!

Handmade twine hearts with clay tags and ribbons

My favourite is the mini burlap stocking I made...Added a bit of crocheted lace, stamped an Eiffel tower on it and voila...!

More hearts...

White glittery reindeers..

Our Fairy Godmother...

Golden Cherub!

Eiffel Towers galore!

White Peace doves...

And the Final result!

Close up of the stocking...

Love mercury glass ornaments! They are so special!

A rustic gold star right on top!

Pinecones to add a natural touch!

Music sheet tags with gold paint...

"Love Is All You Need!"

Lucky (our neighbour's cat...and my good but slightly temperamental friend) stopped by for a visit when I was photographing the tree...Isn't he just the cutest and the cuddliest?!

Now for the giveaway winner of a set of 2 christmas 'Peace & Joy' clay ornaments and a set of 2 rustic stars...is...

drum rolls please...

Congratulations Siobhan!!!

Please send me an email with your address and I'll post the package off to you!

Thanks all for entering the giveaway. I wish everyone could win...

I'll be doing a new giveaway next year!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

xox

Rani

Click here to visit my Etsy Store!

Christmas Ornament Giveaway - Enter now!

2012-12-12T00:24:00.003+11:00

I reached a 100 Likes on Facebook! Woohoo!

So as promised I'm back with another giveaway!

What's on offer? A set of 2 gorgeous handmade Peace and Joy hearts and 2 petite rustic star ornaments.

Peace & Joy Clay Gift Tags as featured on The Vintage Farmhouse and Centsational Girl!(Thanks Nicki and Kate for the features!)

To enter all you have to do is ANY 2 (minimum) of the following...

1. Follow this blog

2. Leave a comment on this post

3. Like La Maison Jolie Facebook page and let me know

4. Share this giveaway on your blog and let me know

Each separate entry doubles your chances of winning.

The giveaway starts today and ends on Monday 17th December, so enter now!

Winner will be picked on Monday night via the random generator. I can ship worldwide...so not to worry...this giveaway is open to all!

What better way to celebrate this festive season but with a few extra hearts & stars!

I'm so excited about doing this giveaway! Thanks so much for stopping by! Good luck & have a lovely week!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED! THANK YOU ALL FOR ENTERING!***

xox

Rani

Click here to visit my Etsy store!

Sneak Peek of Christmas Ornament Giveaway Next Week!

2012-12-08T13:39:00.002+11:00

Hi There!

Just popping in really quickly to say that I'm going to be doing a giveaway next week once I reach a 100 Likes on the La Maison Jolie Facebook page!

You can enter to win a set of 3 gorgeous heart shaped clay ornaments for your Christmas Tree!

Watch this space next week!

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a lovely weekend!

xox

Rani

Click here to browse my Etsy store