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God Bless,
Deanne

Monday, May 7, 2012

big reveal


 
 Now I know you have been on the edge of your seats waiting for the big reveal after Friday's teaser.

 So now you get the very long winded and detailed story,
or if you don't want to read it all just scroll through the pictures and
leave a nice comment at the bottom of the page!
This little activity has been in the pipeline for nearly a year and in my head a lot longer than that.
It was not that the actual making of it took that long but more that I had to wait patiently, oh so patiently, for VCH to be finished with some other things on the "TO DO LIST" before he could tackle this one.

The hallway that is at the front of the house is also the hallway between the little ones bedrooms and the bathroom.
The younger boys are not the tidiest creatures and in order to create some order amidst the chaos,
I wanted a station where they and The Girl could store their shoes and socks and hats.
I love the concept of a mudroom but have nowhere to put one in my house.
So I have had to create something similar in the entry way.

 A long time ago I saw a shelf/table that is sold by Target with storage baskets underneath. 
When I showed VCH the shelf and explained my ideas, he said it was not worth the money and that he could make it much cheaper.
Great!- that was back in May 2011 when we took a trip to Coffs for his birthday.
Now the rule is when you want to make something that has storage baskets you need to have the baskets first.
The very next week one of the cheap shops happened to have the exact baskets I was after and they were half price so I bought 3 small (for socks) and 3 large (for shoes), the colour wasn't the best but I was not too worried as I knew I could always paint them.
So the kids filled them with their shoes and they moved from one place to another for the next 11 months!

One night on the way home from Bible study B2 and I found a bedhead that had been put out for the council clean up.
We hauled it home and it was put in the shed.
I knew immediately what I was going to use it for- my hallway bench.
Finally my patient wait was rewarded when VCH asked me what would I like him to do next.
 Of course I jumped at the chance and asked him if he would build the shoe box bench for the hallway.
 VCH discovered when he went to measure up that the width of the bedhead meant that we could now fit 4 baskets across.
So he made it to measure.

 
Now I need to wait until the cheap shop gets some more baskets in.
I painted them a dark grey - well actually I just painted the front so I could see if I liked it,
which I did until I got the fabric for the seat.
I may go back and paint them a dark putty colour, but I will live with them a while before I decide.

  I got busy cleaning up the old bedhead, I gave her a good scrubbing and a good sanding,

 
and she was done.
Now I had an idea that I would put some hooks of some description above the bench and perhaps a mirror or something.
 The one I had bought at IKEA, when we were there in Jan 2011
(I told you this was a long time in the planning)
didn't quite cut it- it looked too small.
 VCH kindly agreed to make a nice shelf that we could put the hooks underneath.
We browsed my pinterest board and came up with a design.

 Last weekend he whipped it up.
I painted it and put in 4 hooks that I got off the IKEA one.

We put it up and YUCK
 I had painted it gloss white thinking that the contrast would be fine.
 It wasn't right, it looked stark and lacking in character.


So, I whipped out the paintbrush and the last of the 10L tin of Antique White USA and repainted it in-situ.
 When it had dried, out came the sander and away I went.

 Voila now it matched the bedhead.

 
The other week when shopping with a friend in Coffs Harbour, I bought some nice fabric at Spotlight and some foam at Clark rubber and made a cushion for the seat.
I teamed it with some cushions I already had and it was looking sweet.
 
Somewhere along the line I started thinking about old window frames and went off to the local 2nd hand building yard, they had a heap of windows and a few days later VCH accompanied me back there so we could pick a suitable one together. 
A good wash and a light sand was all that was needed .

 
So after that very long story, here they are all together- what do you think?
I wasn't too sure about the window on top at first but I have grown to like it.
 It is very hard to take photos of this as it is in a narrow hallway.
This photo is taken from in the little boy's room.

 
 This one from the sewing room

 
 and this one from the end of the hall.

I am in love, and now I have something akin to a mantle to decorate- yay!!

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43 comments:

  1. That would have to be one of your most ingenious ideas!! There is no way I would have seen that bedhead and thought of that, soo impressed! I love it:) really like the shelf too. Not too sure about the window and doo dads above, but then I think I'm becoming a minimalist. Yes you wouldn't know it to look at my house but there you have it, I secretly fantasize about tossing the lot.

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  2. Beautifully done Deanne, both decorative and functional, solving a storage problem too. Now you'll just have to train the younger ones not to leave all sorts of things sitting on the cushions....or maybe yours aren't like mine???

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  3. wowzers what an amazing job you have done! that bedhead find finishes it off perfectly. love the shelf too ;) Kate x

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  4. WOW! love it all. the bedhead idea is great! & i love the shelf with the hooks too :)
    x

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  5. oh I love it! And I do like the window on top! Wow you did such a good job putting all this together. You have my thoughts whirling with ideas! hahaha....
    I love the bench it is just amazing.
    Blessings,
    Debbie

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  6. very good job, I love it but it would be better without the window.

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  7. Wow! This looks so awesome! You guys did an amazing job!! I want a bench like that in my house, I don't have a mudroom either, for now we use a dresser. I love your old window it looks so great!

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  8. Deanne, this is way too cool for school! You did such a great job on everything! I <3 it!

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  9. What a talented couple! I love the bench and the vignette you created!
    Thank you for stopping to visit me! I am your newest follower!

    Andie

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  10. Your "mudroom" looks fabulous! Layering makes such a difference.

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  11. Love it! Wonderful job with the accessories!!

    Maggie
    www.thehllonheelshousewife.blogspot.com

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  12. It's lovely! I love when a thought becomes real. You did a great job! Lisa~

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  13. Just gorgeous! I hope you'll come by and share this at the Knick of Time Vintage Style party, which is in full swing right now! Take a bow - you did a beautiful job!

    Blessings,
    Angie @ Knick of Time

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  14. I LOVE the bench with cubbies...2 of my favorite things:)
    Have a great week!
    Rene'

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  15. Deanne, that's one lovely room!
    Greetings from Logan City :)

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  16. What you created is fabulous. It works perfectly there in your hallway. Love the window on top of the shelf.
    I'm a new follower and hope you'll stop by, Mary Alice

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  17. I totally love it! The way you used the headboard is amazing! and the window on top of the shelf completes the space!

    I'm now following.

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  18. I love the way this turned out...so welcoming and charming. You did a great job...the final result was well worth the wait.

    Sharon @ mrs. hines class

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  19. That is gorgeous feature of your hallway. I absolutely love how it has come together. And VCH is very clever indeed.
    Carolyn.

    PS I think the neutral tonings are so warm

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  20. That is so pretty. So cottage. I love it!
    I would love if you stopped by my linky party to link it up! I would love to have you there!
    Stacey of Embracing Change
    http://staceyembracingchange.blogspot.com

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  21. Everything about this post is great! Love the Up cycle on the bed head board with cubbys. And I'm a shelf person, love that too.
    JoAnn

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  22. Gorgeoua, gorgeous, and I am featuring it on my FB page, so grab a featured button if you like.

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  23. I LOVE both pieces. You were so creative to think to use the headboard the way you did. I know you didn't ask for opinions about the baskets, but I rather like the contrast of dark and light, so if you decide to keep them dark, I think that would be a good look. Since the hooks are dark, I think the baskets tie in nicely with that.

    Thanks for sharing your talent with us at Your Cozy Home Party!

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  24. BEE-U-TEE-FUL!
    I'm in love with the window / shelf and the bench!
    I need a bigger house!
    LOL

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  25. This is masterful-you've created a wonderful useful area that evokes real warmth. I really like the baskets that colour as it kind of grounds the look, if you know what I mean. Hope the kiddlywinks enjoy it too. Jen

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  26. That is a beautiful bench!
    Love the cottage feel!
    Thanks for linking up - so happy you did!
    Stacey of Embracing Change

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  27. Brilliant, I enjoyed seeing in evolve too. It looks lovely. My sweet hubby has wanted something like this in our entry way but we just don't have enough space. i best not show him your wonderful creation. xo

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  28. Featured you! Come and grab a button!
    Stacey of Embracing Change

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  29. Lovely entryway and the door is fabulous.

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  30. Your aqua door is amazing! And the entry seating area and shelving looks beautiful. Your new follower :) Tanya

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  31. I know it must have been hard, but it was well worth the wait! Everything looks terrific, Deanne. I even like the contrast between the basket color and the fabric color. The basket color ties in to the hangers on the shelf. Maybe you could add something that color to the top of the shelf to tie it all together even further. ;)

    Thanks for linking to Time Travel Thursday. Hope to see you again this week.

    Blessings,
    Liz @ The Brambleberry Cottage

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  33. So cool Deanne -- lots of beautiful storage. I have a very skinny porch & have been searching for ideas of a bench & hooks that could fit -- your whole setup is perfect.

    I love all the elements -- from the wicker baskets to the old window. Thanks for the wonderful inspiration.

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  34. Lovely entry! How fun it's going to be for holidays!!! I'll keep an eye out!
    Newly following!

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  35. HOw lovely. glad you linked it to POTMC so that I could squiz too. Handy hubbies are awfully handy. And getting into it yourself must be quite rewarding. xx Fi

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  36. Wow, it's lovely. The bedhead backing looks fantastic and I love your butterfly fabric on the seat and the hooks hanging above x

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  37. love it! I plan to do a mud room when we build next year...and this is great inspiration Thankyou!!!

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  38. This is such a fabulous labour of love, Deanne! Goodness, your patience and persistence are impressive, not to mention your resourcefulness in sourcing so many things from so many different places. Bravo! Thanks so much for sharing it with the POTMC. J x

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  39. Great! I have an old oak headboard that I made into a narrow shelf but I love your idea of layering it with hooks and the bench underneath. Nice job1

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  40. I think you have done a great job making something very practical look very pretty!

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  41. I love it...long story and all! Have you ever noticed how the magazines also have quirky shots taken from down the hall? That is just how we view things... from quirky angles...I especially liked the repurposing aspect of this project. When my kids were home (and I home schooled them) this piece would have been perfect for SOOOO MUCH... but now, having the empty nest...not really. But then again... those baskets could hold toys for the Littles when they come Oma's house!
    Hmmm... we'll see.
    I love your photos! and your shoes and socks station! :)
    Pat

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Thanks for taking the time to comment, I always appreciate your kind words.