Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Trust

The Kitchen / Dining-room Wall : The Sequel (part 2)


You've all been very nice and patient (some singing, I heard), so as promised I'm going to show you what I did with the corbels I bought at a flea-market. Come on in!


Entrez donc, je vais vous montrer ce que j'ai fait de ces petites consoles dénichées dans un vide-grenier du coin et achetées sur un coup de tête.


Previously, I just had a boring hole in my wall between the dining-room and the kitchen which was already a huge improvement from the blind wall I had before that, meaning I had to go through the living-room to go from the kitchen to the dining-room.


Après avoir découvert par hasard que les consoles avaient la même largeur que mon mur, j'ai décidé de les utiliser.


I asked my carpenter to build a shelf inside the frame and to use the corbels so the shelf would look like it had always been there.

J'ai demandé à mon menuisier de créer une étagère dans l'encadrement et de la soutenir avec les deux consoles, pour que cela donne une impression moins moderne qu'une simple ouverture.


That's where trust is involved in the story. I had to trust myself a lot, because the carpenter didn't trust my idea at all. At the last minute, he asked me again "Are you really sure you want them here? It's going to look so rustic and majorly weird!"


C'est dans ces moments-là qu'il faut avoir confiance en ses choix. Le menuisier n'était pas convaincu pour deux sous. Il m'a demandé vingt fois si j'étais sûre de moi. Et au moment de fixer mes consoles, il m'a encore dit: "Vous avez bien réfléchi? ça va donner un air rustique vraiment bizarre!"


I had doubts, but I also remembered the carpenter didn't like my ideas about my window either at first. So I trusted myself.

Je ne vais pas mentir, il avait réussi à me faire douter. Mais finalement, j'ai bien fait de tenir bon!


And I love it so much! It adds character and it's a perfect place to display my always growing collection of little china pieces.


I gave everything a coat of the same All White by Farrow & Ball I had used on the ceiling and the window.

In the middle niche, I displayed my collection of egg coddlers, but I'll have fun changing the display every now and then. Because the egg coddlers, all thrifted in flea-markets, are colourful, I balanced that with white ironstone in the other niches.


Dans la niche du milieu, j'ai pour l'instant mis ma collection d'egg coddlers, ces petites cocottes individuelles qui permettent de faire des oeufs au bain marie, moelleux à souhait!


Et voilà maintenant ma vue depuis mon évier!

And here's what I can see now from my kitchen sink.


Of course, as you have seen in all these pictures, my work is far from done (who spotted rolls of masking tape in one of the pictures?), the dining-room isn't painted, the kitchen isn't done, but there's a little bit more charm to my cottage than before, and that alone makes me happy.

Bon, vous avez dû le voir sur les photos, je suis loin d'avoir fini, il y a des murs non peints, une cuisine inexistante, une chaudière à habiller... Mais le charme que rajoute cette petite étagère change déjà l'atmosphère de la pièce.

Now, because you've been really good and very patient with me, I have a last treat for you. I went walking on the beach the day following our first Autumn tempest yesterday. It was raining on the West side of the beach and it was sunny in the East side, in a typical Britton manner, which led to this.


Comme vous vous êtes montrés très patients avec moi, j'ai un dernier petit cadeau pour vous, je vous emmène sur la plage avec moi après la tempête Christian.

So what do you think?

Alors, qu'en pensez-vous ?

See you soon, for more kitchen fun, a few adventures and some inspiration!

A bientôt, pour des nouvelles de la cuisine, quelques aventures et pas mal d'inspiration!



I'm sharing this post at some of my favourite parties:

Lavender Garden Cottage    Ivy and Elephants      http://thetrendytreehouse.blogspot.fr/2013/10/create-share-features-too_29.html         
http://diybydesign.blogspot.fr/2013/10/fall-into-fall-its-party-141.html          Join the fun here each Wednesday!         HGTbtngrey                               
http://www.frommyfrontporchtoyours.com/2013/10/treasure-hunt-thursday-130-highlights.html          Weekend Bloggy Reading            

47 comments:

  1. Oh..I love what you did with the corbels!

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    1. Thanks a lot! As you can see, there's also some time consuming painting going on at The Little White House and the dining-room also needs to be paiting! I can't wait to see your newly painted living-room reveal.

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  2. They look as though they were absolutely meant to be there. Funny how the French artisans don't trust 'different' ideas! Was there a lot of hand flapping and breathing noisily through the teeth?!!

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  3. Hi Magali,

    ALWAYS, always, trust your OWN instincts, especially when they're being questioned by a carpenter! If I had allowed myself to be swayed by my own carpenter, I would have had black, lacquered kitchen cabinets now!! Can you imagine? Me, Poppy, the red and white girl, with glitzy, heavy, black shelving in the Cretan countryside?!!

    Your instincts were SPOT ON! Love your corbels and that wonderful display shelf they are supporting! Everything is coming along beautifully, and can't wait to see what else you've been 'feeling'!

    Poppy
    PS: Yes, I spotted the roles of masking tape, but thought they added texture and pattern on that little roof!

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  4. Hello dear Magali

    Thank you for the magical rainbow - I haven't seen one here for ages!!!

    I love your shelf and you did the right thing - it is perfect for displaying your growing collection of little jugs and egg cups!

    Your little white cottage by the sea is coming together beautifully - you must be feeling happy!

    Hugs
    Shane xox

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  5. Oui, tu as eu raison de tenir bon ! J'adore vraiment ton étagère ! J'aimerais bien en mettre une dans ma cuisine... mais où ?

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  6. The men you are paying to work on your house just need to keep their opinions to themselves. Clearly they are talented in what they do, but not so much in the advice they give. The corbels look great and I love that you had a place made to display things. It's beautiful. So is that rainbow picture.

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  7. I love it! It really finishes off the space and just looks like it was always meant to be there. It just shows that we should all probably have faith in our mad ideas and not get talked out of things so easily.

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  8. I love the look of your kitchen!AriadnefromGreece!

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  9. It is my first visit here but I was so thrilled to see what you have done with the corbels: even more thrilled that you buy things and then decide how they will work for you. I will be back to see further progress.
    Love the rainbow on the beach - just so perfect.

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  10. Oh la la, la chipoteuse, tu en as quand même fait des corbeaux, d'accord, ils soutiennent une étagère, mais c'est du pareil au même (lol). En attendant c'est bien joli.
    La suite au prochain numéro, que vas-tu bien pouvoir nous concocter ????????????????????????
    Bises. Babette

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  11. Add the same corbels to the half wall shelf and keep the collections above to one thing only. Only gravy boats, only jugs, etc.

    S
    xo

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  12. Beautiful job! I love this look!!!! Your room is coming along so well now. YAY!

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  13. the details turned out really nice. I love the shelf addition with the corbels, it adds interest and looks great

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  14. I so agree!!!!! What do carpenters know anyway but do that actual stuff we 'visionaries' think of! hahaha! Seriously, it looks grat there Magali, perfect little accent!

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  15. Now that is a fantastic idea. I love how the new shelf used would-be wasted space, yet looks amazing at the same time.

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  16. Lovely! Another grand idea! Just like your window :)

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  17. It's not weird, it's very cozy and creative and beautiful! Now you've created a vignette without giving up any precious space, how clever :) Those carpenters and handy men are my sworn archenemies...

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  18. What a great job! And what a wonderful "cadeau"! Thank you

    Marina

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  19. I love the shelf and corbels. They add so much character to your adorable cottage!

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    1. Thanks! I was indeed trying to give a little character to a cottage that has nearly no original feature left.

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  20. I love the shelf and corbels - they look fabulous! Never trust a carpenter - they are there to following your instructions. Always trust yourself, because you are the one living there and you know what you like. And I might say that you have very good taste. Thanks you so much for the beautiful rainbow.
    Have a terrific weekend.
    Mary

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  21. Ok....this is my favorite of your projects so far! You have given me inspiration to do this same thing between my dining and living room. I love the way it looks and the display space is amazing! Your vision turned out so nicely....:) Can't wait to see what you do next!

    Blessings, Vicky
    Life On Willie Mae Lane

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  22. Awesome!! I love having sweet little places like that for display! You did the right thing trusting your instincts. Even if you made us wait and suffer in the meantime. :)

    -andi

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  23. That shelf adds a huge dose of charm! Great idea, and it's the corbels that make it look special. And that last photo??? My mouth was gaping open at its beauty.

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  24. Ooooh I like! Don't you love it when you take your time and slowly but surely it all falls into place. It has such a greater level of satisfaction...I believe.

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  25. j'aime, j'aime, j'aime beaucoup!! (mylène)

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  26. It turned out absolutely AMAZING ! I love it too.
    By the way : we have the same boiler in our kitchen :D
    Ohh and the picture of rainbow - it's so wonderful ! And the seagull actually reminds me of Antibes *sigh*.
    Love ,Izabella.

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  27. Goes to show you how we should always trust our intuition...your shelf with the corbels turned out gorgeous! Tell that carpenter to leave the building to him, but the design to you. :-) The beach photo is beautiful.

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  28. The only thing better than a rainbow on the beach is dolphins. There were 10 out swimming yesterday morning having a great time in the ocean.

    I love how you used the corbels. You obviously don't live in California. The fear of earthquakes keeps us from storing things like that. Your shelf looks wonderful.

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  29. I think he is the best carpenter, because you know if he doesn't like it, it will be brilliant! Love the shelf above the doorway. It looks wonderful :)

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  30. C'est une excellente idée et c'est ravissant! Ta maison prend forme , elle est magnifique !
    Bonne soirée . tinou

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    1. Merci beaucoup! Il me reste encore énormément de travail, mais les gentils commentaires m'encouragent!

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  31. Oh Magali!! It looks SO WONDERFUL!! This is a brilliant move,I LOVE IT!!! You have WAY better taste than your carpenter. He does nice work, but you should definitely be telling him what to do, you are spot on about what your cottage wants. The place just gets more elegant with every change you make, and the corbels look LOVELY. Thank you for the rainbow, too!

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  32. You are doing such a lovely job of and I love your doorway shelf design!!! Classic!

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  33. LOVE them, looks amazing! What a GREAT idea!!!
    Blessings,
    Cindy

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  34. The corbels are perfect, I'd forgotten you had that little shelf. I spied the egg coddlers straight away, seeing as how I used to sell them, though I've never tried to coddle an egg before !
    Sorry I didn't stop by sooner, the storm wasn't too bad here, I only saw part of a tree ripped off. Apparently a whole tree came down in a road on the other side of town. It was nothing like '87, but very sadly 5 people lost their lives last week, mostly due to falling trees.
    I have a bit of a trying time with my dog in Oct/Nov because of fireworks around Halloween and Bonfire Night. He gets really upset and I can't concentrate on much because I want to try and keep him calm !

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  35. They look perfect and not "majorly weird"! I am glad you didn't pay attention to your carpenter. Obviously he doesn't have an eye for design. Good thing you do!!

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  36. Love how the corbels bring beautiful accent to your kitchen - it is coming along beautifully. The rainbow photo is awesome! I appreciate you sharing with Home and Garden Thursday,
    Kathy

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  37. I love it!! Great vision Magali, and some wonderful eye candy to end your post!

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  38. C'est une excellente idée que perso je ne trouve pas du tout rustique et qui permet d'en exposer un peu plus (sourire)...

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  39. I am so glad you trusted yourself. It totally dressed up that door frame. I love it!

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  40. Ah Ha! That's how the storage beam came to be. It really looks as if it had been there forever. Good for you sticking to your intuition, you knew you had it right when you found the corbels!!! It's your little cottage and it's whispering to you what it wants to be, keep listening!!!

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