new (old) stuff and 'Bob's moving out fund'

When I finished my hall, I really was on a mission to find the perfect rug........the hall needed it, the white floor desperately needed it.

I spent hours (literally) trawling Ebay until I found a couple of companies that I believed would supply the type of used Persian rug I was looking for (as you've probably realised old works better for me). I did a bit of bidding, then chickened out because of one reason or another.

Then I saw the perfect rug, the perfect size and colour and I was determined to have it. I calculated exactly how much I could afford (there were 10 days to my next pay day and I thought I could live quite frugally) and sat at home one Sunday evening with my heart pumping (sorry if this is melodramatic but I've never bid for something before) determined to win it, and I did............right at the top of my budget.

Isn't it fab.

I love it. I love that it looks authentic, that the size is perfect, that the colours are great and tie in with the stained glass on the door, that the pile is in pretty good nick even though it is used and I think £105 for over 8 feet of gorgeousness is a pretty good deal.

My little photo bomber seems to be enjoying it too, though I imagine he's thinking he'd rather be in the kitchen where there might be a chance of some food..............

 

 

and if he looks all sad and forlorn and bows his head, he might get a treat soon.

The other thing I wanted was a new light fixture, my existing light was just too small and I wanted something grander. I had no budget for the light whatsoever, but there's no harm in looking is there.

 

 

About the same time as I was searching the internet for runners and chandeliers, I decided it was about time my brother moved out. He's been here over two years now and still hasn't found a job which means he's never paid me a penny, in fact he's just cost me money because I've helped him out on a few occasions.

 

Anyway, I decided to sell some stuff to raise some money for 'Bob's moving out fund'. I started with some old gold jewellery that did have a bit of sentimental value, but as I wear silver it had been in boxes for the last 30 years so it was a bit pointless keeping it for another 30.

 

You might have worked out what happened next..........I had an envelope with £155 in it and 'Bob's moving out fund' written on the front...........what did I go and do............spend it almost straight away on an empire style chandelier for my hall. What really swung it for me was that the seller was in the next town to mine and he could shorten it slightly for me, and after all, it was my money.

 

 

It was a bit more than £155, so I used some of my tip money, but it feels great that I still have something to show for the gold I sold. I now have a family heirloom hanging from the ceiling instead of around my neck.

 

 

Apparently it's French but I don't know how old it is, however it doesn't matter either way, to me it's just totally gorgeous, come day or night.

 

I'm going to have to see what else I can sell so that I can put something towards 'Bob's moving out fund', but at least I have two beautifully 'old' new things.

 

 

Did I mention I want a runner for the landing.

 

 

 

 

a tale of illumination

For the last month or so, my house has felt a bit like a lighting shop, though I tried to hide this fact by keeping two light fixtures behind the dining room table, two in my bedroom and one in the spare room.

I didn't have any major plans to change the lights in my house, and seriously I'm not sure how it all came about but somehow five lights needed to be put up, so I got a professional in.

I had been asking my ex (for the past two years) to take down a light fitting in his house that belongs to me. He finally did it a few weeks ago so I went to collect it and whilst I was there, I looked out a few boxes in his loft. I came across some old lights that I'd bought back from Spain in the late 90's. I'd used them all in my flat in Brighton but then never put them up again which means they'd been in boxes for about 15 years - such a waste really.
Originally there were five in total, three ceiling lights, one medium pendant and one large pendant. One of the small ones is already up in my WC though I couldn't find the largest pendant.

I thought about putting the medium pendant in the hall but it didn't seem quite right so I asked my electrician if he could put it in my tiny porch (where there was a power connector but no light fixture). My outside light was on the outside of the house and a) looked too contemporary and b) didn't give any extra light when trying to unlock my front door in the dark.

Out with the new, in with the old !

I'm so happy with the look and at night it throws a lovely subtle light into my hall. Also, I've tested it, I came home late from the cinema and loved the ease with which I found the keyhole.

Next, I asked him to take down the light in my dining room and switch it for one that had been sitting behind the dining room table for over a year. It didn't cost a penny because my bf gave it to me. Did I mention I have the best bf in the world and she just gave it to me because she didn't want it, she's never even used it.

It suits the dining room perfectly, in fact it looks like it's always been here. If you were over 6ft you wouldn't be able to stand under it but that's not really something that worries me, and I believe in aesthetics before practicality all the way ha ha !

Before and after.

So the next light to go up was the original chandelier from the dining room. It has hung there ever since I bought this house, even during the period I rented it out, and before that it hung in the bedroom of my flat in Brighton, having been a house-warming present from my bf's Mother.

 

 I'm so glad I finally have a nice light fixture in here as it's always just had a basic cable with a light bulb on the end. This suits the bedroom much better and one day, hopefully, the bedroom will be as smart as the light (there's a long way to go, just look at the horrible plasterwork on the ceiling).

Light number four - well, it should have been the fixture that my ex took down. It was going to go on the landing, but then, miraculously I found the large Spanish light (in the wardrobe in my own guest room.........silly old me) and knew it would work much better. It's a little bashed and worn but that's nothing new in this house.

 

So far I have four lights up and I love them all and the cost...............just that of a very reasonable electrician.
Light number five, well I feel it deserves a post of it's own so I'll write about it next time, but you can catch a sneaky peak in this next photo.

I love a bit of sparkly illumination.....................