Cottage Ceiling Series - Part 1
Lately I've been busy, busy. I decided to organise a challenge in English between all my pupils. What was I thinking? It's taking me forever to get everything ready. But it's really nice to see them all excited about it.
Je suis complètement débordée ces derniers temps. J'ai décidé d'organiser un concours d'anglais pour mes élèves ce mois de juin. Mais qu'est-ce qui m'a pris? C'est extrêmement long à préparer!!!
At home, I'm busy calling the insurance company nearly everyday to see what we can do about my floor. It has been damaged by the flood and it's brand new AND I love it, so I want to save it. Also, even if some of you noticed in your sweet comments that I'm very patient, I'm not sure I have it in me to redo the floor one more time!
A la maison, je passe mes moments de "détente" à appeler l'assurance, pour voir ce qu'on peut faire pour sauver mon carrelage qui a malheureusement souffert de l'inondation. Je crois bien que malgré ma patience et mon amour pour ma maison, je n'ai pas le courage de tout le refaire, comme me le conseillent les carreleurs, alors que je suis déjà passée par là il y a deux ans.
So rather than complaining about the floor, I thought we could hope things will look up soon and for now look up at the ceiling with a new series.
Donc, plutôt que de me lamenter tout le mois sur mon carrelage, je vous propose de lever les yeux au plafond pour une petite série sur la décoration des plafonds.
When you buy a little charming fisherman's cottage, you expect to buy some old charming features with it. I had a whole list of things I wanted to find in my house. The Little White House had many good points, but "charming old features" were not in the package.
Quand on achète une vieille maison de pêcheur, on s'attend à y trouver de charmants détails architecturaux. Ben, il ne restait pas grand chose du charme ancien quand j'ai acheté mon petit cottage.
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| Please admire my Sponge Bob walls... |
I mean have you seen the ceiling? Inserting pot lights in a smooth ceiling is all the rage right now in France and the previous owner of the cottage was very proud to show me what he had done.
Granted, bright over head lighting is great to take pictures, but a) I didn't have the blog then and the thought didn't cross my mind - b) it didn't say "fisherman's cottage" to me.
Le plafond venait d'être refait avec des spots dont l'ancien propriétaire était très fier. C'est sûr, les spots donnent une lumière bien pratique pour les photos... Mais je n'ai pas pensé à ça. J'ai juste trouvé que cela manquait de charme. Il fallait agir!
So something had to be done about that ceiling. What? Join me in this new series to know all about it. You may want to browse previous posts if you can't stand the suspens! You can also see what I've done with the little rectangle on the wall that stood where a fireplace used to be in this post.
Je vous propose donc une petite série sur la transformation de mon plafond. Les plus impatients peuvent toujours explorer le blog pour voir des photos du plafond tel qu'il est aujourd'hui.
What would say "cottage ceiling" according to you?
See you soon, for the "tearing the ceiling apart" part!
A bientôt pour des nouvelles de ce qui est caché sous le faux plafond!
I'm sharing my "before" ceiling with:
We call them pot lights in North America - and I would give anything for a couple of them ( for photography purposes only lol )
ReplyDeleteChandeliers are pretty - but their horrible for photos!
Can't wait to see this new " series "
When is school finished for you?
XOX
I love beadboard, but it wouldn't go in my house.
ReplyDeleteYou have me wondering what you will be doing with those ceilings. We have ugly drop ceilings in the dining room and I would love to get rid of them. The rest of the house has nice high ceilings.
ReplyDeleteChouette , de nouvelles péripéties au cottage .
ReplyDeleteJ'attends avec impatience & bon courage pour finaliser le concours d'anglais .
Bises . Babette
"Péripéties" est le mot juste. J'aimerais bien que ce soit un peu plus calme de temps en temps...
DeleteBisous et merci de cette visite.
I hate recessed lights in traditional environments as well. There are old-style overhead-lights, with visible wiring, for bathrooms and utility rooms, but that particular recessed light must be the worst I have seen. That pattern??? beaded board is the traditional for kitchens, stretched painted paper for the rest.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if recessed lighting goes so well in an old cottage like yours. I love tongue and groove plank ceilings. We just put that in our kitchen, and I want it in every room. Now, I just have to convince my husband that he wants it too! I hope your floor is saved!
ReplyDeleteLooks like you have received some good suggestions. I think of some beams going across that are more cottagey.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Magali! So delightful to meet you and what wonders I'm discovering as I visit you and your seaside cottage in France! Isn't the internet amazing - making our world smaller so all the beautiful things abounding might be shared easier. What a project you have ahead of you and I am looking forward to all your vintage touches to come. Joy!
ReplyDeleteKathy at The Writer's Reverie
I'm so happy we found each other's blogs! Thanks for visiting back.
DeleteI could see either a plank ceiling or one with beams. That says cottage to me. While I LOVE the recessed lighting in my kitchen, it's the ONLY room I would ever want it in. I hate using overhead lights in my other rooms. Well, except maybe my dining room, but if we eat early enough, we don't need to turn any light on since it's pretty bright in there. Especially now that it's been repainted. Good luck with the insurance people.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to your new ceiling series, Magali! Maybe something like beadboard that's painted for a cottage ceiling? We once wallpapered a ceiling with a raised wallpaper that looked like tin tiles and could be painted over, which was a less expensive option than some others. I'm sure whatever you pick will be gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry about your floor, I hope it can be resolved. Is it structural for example, did water get under and lift it? Or is stained and can it be professionally cleaned?
ReplyDeleteWhen I remodeled the kitchen, the electrician put in more lighting, but I wanted no pot lights, because it didn't suit this place.
Well, you have seen many of ours: the kitchen is planked with a faux beam, because a 70s remodel ruined the 40s walls and ceilings. We have original painted, beamed ceilings in many areas. I haven't shown my spouse's "office", because I have not started it, but it has beamed ceilings in an original dark wood. I'll probably leave that color and fix the walls in there, but I need the electrician to do work first. I have original plaster ceilings and walls that have a really nice texture too. We don't have beamed and plastered; that's a nice cottage look too.
wooden panelling says cottage ceiling to me. i agree with you on the lights.
ReplyDeletex
Oooh, a wooden ceiling such as planks would be so gorgeous! Can't wait to see what you end up doing.
ReplyDeleteI'm the last one to give decorating advice...LOL. But the cottage is adorable...and has alot going for it. I know you can buy all kind of ceiling fixtures & trims to make it whatever your sweet heart wants. I hope your floor is not to damaged. I burned up my kitchen last year. I was in a fog though all the repairs. But I was lucky that my hubby has some taste.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful post and I hope you get some fantastic idea
My blog mate ...now she knows how to decorate on a budget.I try and send her your way.She is very talented.
Happy Days,
Marie Antoinette
What a beautiful array of textures and tones. It will be gorgeous when you are finished. Faux wooden beams across the width would be amazing...or a simple beadboard paneling or wallpaper...or even a painted "pressed tin" ceiling. Anything you do will add character. Can't wait to see what the results are!
ReplyDelete-Aimee (now following)
I am so glad I found your blog! I am your newest follower. I will be anxious to hear more about your darling cottage. Thanks also for your lovely comment on my blog. Have a great rest of the week!
ReplyDeleteNancy
We have both beams and wood ceilings. That is what feels cottage-y to me. I have seen a post somewhere showing how to add beams and pine ceiling to a drywalled ceiling. I will look for it.
ReplyDeleteI would say that beadboard ceilings are cottage to me. You have such wonderful spaces to work with. Thank you for visiting me at my blog. I so enjoy seeing the wonderful homes of others and making new friends. Happy Summer! Love, Penny
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, I love the idea of beams or planks! I will have some recessed lighting in my new kitchen, but my place isn't a cottage, so hopefully it will look okay! Plus, my current kitchen is so dark that I'm dying to have an abundance of light in my new kitchen! Hope the floors survive!!
ReplyDelete-andi
C'est sur que des spot au plafond c'est partique mais ça n'a pas beaucoup de charme , je me réjouis de voir tes transformations.
ReplyDeleteBelle soirée . Tinou
Effectivement, la maison manquait cruellement de charme et je m'efforce de lui en redonner à petites doses. Merci de cette visite,
DeleteMagali
I love beams and planks, as we had that in our past country home and are very popular around here. Hope you sabe your floor and can't wait to see more of your lovely and cozy cottage! Thank you for your sweet visit. Now that I'm back home in Cuenca-Ecuador, where the weather is great, with a soft sun and spring weather..thank goodness! Big hugs,
ReplyDeleteFABBY
Tout le monde n'a pas le même goût mais ce qui est certain, c'est que le style de cette maison était dépersonnalisé !
ReplyDeleteEmmanuelle