Cottage Field Trip

For this weeks post I'm going to share one of our smaller yet very charming projects.  A couple of lovely seaside/country inspired bedrooms.  Recently finished, we started this work last fall with some construction, painting and then had to delay the finishing touches until the cottage was reopened this spring.

I've known these clients for several years and have been working with them on updating their seaside home in phases.  My first project with them was providing a new paint scheme for the homes exterior.  That was way back in 2007.  Above is an image of the exterior which faces the water.

After the outside received some new paint we turned our attention to giving the master bedroom a fresh new look.

These images were taken last spring after we removed walls, added wainscotting, new paint and the pale blue and white furnishings.  It's a very pretty room.

Next up was this double bedroom.  This is one of the two bedrooms that we began last fall.  Our carpenter added white wainscotting to the lower walls below the eaves and textured paintable wallpaper above since these walls were in rough shape and a coat of paint wasn't going to cut it.

  

 I'm talking stucco plaster with oodles and oddles of cracks.  Mike had his work cut out for him but as usual he did a fantastic job.

Inspiration for the room came from this selection of bed linens from Moving Designz Home & Cottage.

I snapped off this photo a couple of weeks ago when the new carpet arrived.  The bedframes are the same however they've been painted all white to remove the brass detail.

The room is now completely freshened up in the cheerful white and yellow colour scheme.   Let's look at bedroom 2...

Bedroom 2 before any work began. 

 

The first step was removing all the furniture to preparation for the carpentry work and painting.

We repeated the same technique with white wainscotting and paintable wallpaper in this room since once again the walls were in rough shape.  Just in case you have the same problems with your walls the paper is a linen texture we picked up at Home Depot.  Its works like a charm to hide flaws in old plaster walls.

The headboard is ... you guessed it a white MDF 5 panel door and the wall colour is BM Smokey Green.  I love this colour with white. Actually I just love this colour!

With the new walls, wall colour, furniture, lamps, bed and bedding the room has transformed into a very charming bedroom.  All done, the last thing on my agenda Friday was getting the headboard mounted just in time for the first guests to arrive on the weekend.  I snapped off this picture very quickly, sorry for the quality.

I might also mention this house is a summer rental.  For information on renting this summer home please visit

http://www.fairfieldbeachhouse.com/ 

The renters this weekend would have enjoyed a lovely PEI weekend, full of sun, a little torrential rain and more sun.  I'm late posting this week because yesterday was a great day for an ..

amazing boat ride over to and then under the Confederation Bridge.  It was a fabulous day trip.

For my readers from across the world, this massive bridge is 13km long and joins our small island province with the rest of Canada.

 

Thanks for reading.  Have a great week!

Susan

Island Inspiration

If you live here on PEI you would know that the past 2 days have been absolutely fantastic.  Friday and Saturday have been the best 2 day stretch of hot sunny weather we have had all spring.  And if you don't take it from me this Island is stunningly beautiful in the summertime.

 Yesterday I was out enjoying a  relaxing day at the beach and then a little sightseeing.  Time for a little R & R.  For this weeks post I'm going to share a few of the photographs of my travels from yesterday.  And an SGG update.

Although the Lady Slipper is the official flower for our province, it's the wild Lupins that steal the show this time of year.  They grow wild in the ditches along our highways and roads and smell so delicious.  I love these beautiful purple flowers :)

The rugged PEI coastline with Lupins a la plentiful.  It's just so pretty.  I'm now at the beach directly across the harbour from Summerside (my city) and this is the first amazing vista that grabs me as I walk towards the shoreline.

And here is the second... the breakwater that protects our harbour.  Pleasure boats are arriving from an annual 10 hour race across the Northumberland Strait. 

All harbours are protected by lighthouses and this is the historic Indian Head Lighthouse.  It guards our harbour and McCullums Point Beach. 

After lazing around for the afternoon it was time to go and check out the bridge view and have a peek at the SGG house.  In the background is The Confederation Bridge which links our island to the mainland.  My photographer did an amazing job of this photo. 

I had to stop into the SGG house since it was so close by the bridge.  This is what I saw upon my entrance.  A striking field of freshly furrowed landscape, no doubt potatoes grow here.  And more lovely wild lupins growing on the fringes.

The entrance is now completely tiled and the staircase is almost ready.  However, it's the cabinetry in the kitchen and bathrooms that has finally gone in that I want to share today.

For months and months and months this kitchen has been left bare and this is what I normally see.  Nothing but drywall and the basic shape.  The cabinets have been the last item on the building agenda for this project.

Two weeks ago the kitchen, the heart of every home, was being whipped into shape.  Finally, the cabinets, lighting, appliances are in and I'm getting happier :) by the minute. 

I had to include this photo from 2 weeks ago.  In the final building stages everything is everywhere and in this case the fridge and freezer and many of the cabinet drawers were temporarily sitting in the great room waiting to be installed.

I just have to say and I'm just sayin'... this kitchen is an absolute chefs dream.  A 52" stove, dual fridges, 7 foot island, tons of storage and a fabulous spacious layout.

The island has a light maple butcher block top currently protected with a layer of cardboard.

Okay, okay so it's still not quite done but for me at this point with a week left to go I know we are getting close.  I can hardly wait for the quartz countertops and glass tile backsplash to be installed next week.  I know they'll look fantastic. 

How about a peek at the master bathroom?  It's not quite there either but... again we're very close.

The master bath layout: soaking tub front and center, shower to the right of the tub and a double vanity to be installed the right.

 

Yawn.... a little futher along and the tile guys will soon be here to start work on the floor and shower.

This day the tile was starting to be placed in the shower.  And since there is a sufficient amount of pattern about to take place on the floor and around the vanity and tub, the tiles for the shower are being installed in the simple clean stacking pattern.

Before the tiles can be laid on the floor the infloor heating strips are installed.

 

Verifying the pattern for the floor tiles.  Yes, this looks just right.

Fast forward and the shower is done minus the glass, the vanity is in and the flooring is Amazing!

Close up of the marble flooring and my work boots.  Shiny silver peep toes complement the shiny marble floor, the rubber boots are now history.

The marble countertop is now in place on the double vanity along with my coffee cup... an absolute necessity accessory for early mornings.  Next question how many rows of mosaic tiles for the backsplash?

A row of three seems pefect.

The marble tub decking and backsplash are also installed and look wonderful.  I'm wondering about the chandelier now, hmmm where is that?

Aha, I found it, for some unknown reason the electrician ignored the writing on the box and decided it would look better in the sunroom... I think not :)  I think he should hang this gem over the tub where it was intended, don't you?

When we started this project the completion date was early July and we're right on track.  I will post with all the after pictures of this amazing home in a couple of weeks once we're complete and the furniture is in place.  If you are expecting slipcovered sofas and lovely coastal decor you will not be disappointed.

BTW, Kelly and Regis are filming their daytime talk show here for 4 days in July.  This is a coup for our beautiful province.  They staged their show only once before in Canada at Niagra Falls and now are coming to our Island.  How exciting is that? 

I've been there too, only wish it would have been warmer.  One Grafton is now done and I will be posting on that project soon, along with a few of our of lovely cottage home projects.

Thanks for reading.  Have a great week!

Susan

Creating Cottage Style

Finally we've been blessed by mother nature with sunshine and warm temperatures this past week and over the weekend.  Prior to this fair weather stretch we've had nothing but rain, rain and more rain with the odd sunny day. 

Now that the sun is shining and summer is on the way here on PEI... people will be heading out to our wonderful beaches and out to the cottage. The shop is filled to the brim with lovely seaside accessories and furnishings... so for todays post I'm going to share a look inside Moving Designz Home & Cottage.

We've been ready at the shop with cheerful yellow and white packaging options.

This lovely blue sofa arrived exactly one week ago at Moving Designz Home & Cottage. It's just so perfect for a light and airy look at any cottage. It's absolutely comfy to sit upon and pretty to look at in its perfect shade of pale cottagey blue.  It took 6 days for it to sell. I think we'll order one tomorrow ... I miss it already!

And the white table ...  it sold with it too!

A close up of these stunning mother of pearl button pillows that were displayed on the blue sofa.  We have 2 styles, this one with its scallop shell motif. 

And this one with the starfish motif.  Very, very pretty!

I love these seaside coloured wicker balls.

We also have them in jute tones in small and very large sizes.

A coral inspired sculptural bowl would make the perfect cocktail table accessory.  Looks good in both cottages and city homes.

A white console table, nothing speaks cottage style more than white furniture.

Pretty and shiny accessories.  We have lots and lots of seaside inspired goodies filling the shop.

A tabletop display in the shop filled with pretty blue and white accessories.

Bright green accessories.

A custom upholstered stool perfect for extra seating or putting your feet up after a long day lazing in the sunshine.

Our spa section filled with bathroom accessories.

Our bathroom vanity sets are kept simple in white with the word bath on each. 

We have a huge selection of seashells, urchins, starfish, coral and conch shells in white, blue, pink or silver.

More lovely cottagey tableware...

We have some really great and inexpensive canvas artwork. Nice for bathrooms.  For ten dollars they're a steal.

Makeover an old or antique dresser with a fresh coat of paint and add some new knobs.  We have a great selection of colourful ceramic, ivory and square glass ones in stock.

I simply adore these toss cushions with their brightly coloured oversized buttons.

A crisp white sailcloth duvet cover paired with a yellow sham and quilt set completes our bedroom display.

If you see something you like and cannot make it into the shop we do ship.  Send us an email at info@movingdesignz.com and we will be happy to give you a price and ship it out.

Thanks for reading.  Have a great week!

Susan