Coastal Hamptons Style hits Lilyfield

Hello long weekenders! Well for us Aussies anyway, celebrating Queenie's birthday down under. Any excuse for a public holiday. This has always been my favourite long weekend, mainly because growing up it meant I always had a birthday weekend home from boarding school (close enough to my birthday anyway) and my parents would always make a nice fuss of me all weekend! This weekend was no different and some lovely friends had us over to theirs for a beautiful dinner celebration - French champagne, beef eye fillet, loads of delicious vegetables including a pumpkin stuffed with garlic and wine and cooked whole, apple and rhubarb crumble and lots of chat and laughter. I am very grateful for beautiful friends to share good times with.

Some other good things were I finished the my latest piece - a beautiful coastal Hamptons style coffee table and I love it! My wonderful man spoiled me on Saturday with a sleep in, fresh flowers, coffee and fresh eggs from our chickens poached for breakfast. What a way to start a long weekend.  The magazine above was another surprise - a 5 page feature for Lilyfield Life and our house that I'll share more of soon!

The coffee table was a recent find. I picked it up extremely cheaply as it needed a little work with the glass not fitting perfectly. I was going to learn how to use my router properly but in the end I used my chisels to sort it out. I think I need router lessons.  I love the shape and style of this table - the criss cross bottom, the carvings, the quality of the glass insert. It is all so beautiful and I have not seen one like it any where.  The carved details especially popped once it was painted.  Yes, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you. I didn't paint it white!

I had a comment recently from someone telling my the lounge room rugs (and my photography) were hideous and I should get rid of them. Funny isn't it how comments like that affect you. I have tonnes of you who say they love the rugs and only one negative comment and I'm now doubting myself. We actually bought the Persian rugs when we first bought our old house as the carpet in this room was so disgusting I couldn't even imagine walking on it. Until we had a chance to rip up and replace the carpet we put the rugs down (I've since pulled out that new carpet due to flooding and painted the floors white). Anyway for these photos and this weekend I've rolled up the "hideous" rug and left my floors bare.  It certainly is brighter ...but much colder.

I have had a couple of offers already on the coffee table. I'll keep it for a bit though - until I find something else special anyway. I'll let you know. Here is the before photo:

the power of paint

Today I spent some girl time with my daughter. She wanted to do some baking so we made some Madelines. It is so nice to potter in the kitchen with my daughter. What a treasure she is. My sister in law gave me the Madeline tray years ago and I'd never used it, but we will definitely be using them again as they aren't difficult to make and are simple and delicious.

and here's where my flowers ended up. They are lovely to come home to. I love having a tidy hallway. Ours is tiny but looking much better now a load of furniture has been picked up. The shabby chic bedside tables were bought by a lovely woman who came and got them yesterday. She is starting to decorate her house in a shabby chic style and was so happy with them. It was such a pleasure to be able to help her with her decorating and give her some ideas on how to get the look she wants cheaply.

I hope you all are having a good weekend with family and friends, and doing what you love, whatever that may be.

Fiona xx

Shared here: My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Savvy Southern Style, Dedicated house, the 36th avenue, Miss Mustard Seed, Redoux interiors, French Country Cottage A Stroll thru life power of Paint My Repurposed Life Fabulous Furniture  Coastal Charm  transformation Thursday Shabby Nest