Cafe curtains and chandeliers

 

 Before the Living Room Project was finished I started on the downstairs bathroom project!  The bathroom really needed a bit of an overhaul and I'm glad to say it's nearly finished, should have photos tomorrow.  I really didn't know what to do with the window treatment in this room.  All I did know was that this blind was going!

I just don't like venetian blinds very much, I find them too officey.   As this room doesn't get alot of light, I wanted something that would let light in but still give us privacy.  After a quick flick through the internet, the choices seemed to be sheer curtains, shutters that can be closed at the bottom but left open on top or opaque/frosted window film.  I wanted the bathroom to have a cottagey look so I thought sheer curtains in a cafe style would work well.   The bathroom project had a tight budget so I turned to Ikea.   The curtains I got in the end are called Wilma and were reduced to the unreal price of €2.99.  They did need some adjusted and before I went at them with sellotape and a staple gun (I cannot sew for the life of me), hubby's mum Deirdre very kindly offered to do them for me, she's so good.  (Deirdre on the othe hand is fantastically creative with her hands and can make anything, sewing, knitting, cooking, baking, she can do it all.  I'll have to do a post sometime on her cakes, she made our wedding cake, they are amazing!).  I had some screw in hooks already lying in a drawer and I found the curtain pole in a bargain bin at B&Q for €10.00.  Total cost:  €12.99! Not bad!  I love them, I love the floaty feel of them and the way they 'puddle' on the window sill and the light can still get in at the top.  Thank you Deirdre!

Aswell as getting the bathroom curtains done, the bathroom lighting fixtures were also changed.   The electrician came round yesterday and finished the list of jobs I had for him.   He hung this vintage chandelier in the 'new' bathroom,

This was a lucky find, it's cast brass and cost me €30 in a second hand furniture shop in Cork (CJM furniture).  I spotted it last week when I was up there and as you can see it's definitely a bit worn, I wasn't even sure it would work but bought it anyway as I thought if it wasn't working I could always put candles in it!   But sure enough when Eddie (the electrician) tested it, it worked fine.  Just before he put it up, as I was handing it to him I straightened one of the arms and it broke off!!  I could have kicked myself, but Eddie was so sound and took it away and welded it back on - couldn't tell which one had broken,  I was thrilled!

Then the old wall lights came down, bye bye . . . 

and these went up instead

I would have loved something vintagey but couldn't find anything I liked, so these babies from B&Q roughly €35 each will do for the time being.  After the bathroom lighting was done, Eddie put up the chandelier in the hall.  Would you believe this light fitting has been sitting on the floor under the stairs for almost 3 years!!!  I've had 3 different electricians over that time come to give me a price for hanging it but they never came back.   Maybe they were scared of heights, it's a double height hallway . . . it's a loooong way up . . .

 

It looks antiquey but it's not.  It's from the Belgian interiors company Flamant.  I LOVE Flamant products and their showrooms are amazing.  In all their showrooms they have 'rooms' set up so it feels like you're walking through a Belgian house, think weathered oak, linen etc - divine!  Anyway, here she is in all her glory . . . 

I was over at   For The Love of a House looking at Joan's chandelier for her barn room, it's bigger than mine but thought not totally dissimilar.  Joan's like mine is new aswell and she very cleverly made and added a new finial to the underside and added an antique chain and cup to hers and I have to say it looks as though it was always like that, looks perfect now.  Our chandelier needed a longer chain aswell.  Eddie bought some standard black chain and spray painted a gold colour so that it blended in, I think he did a great job.  It's so nice to look up and see a chandelier istead of  a bulb glaring down at me.  The black shades came with it but I thought I would hang it without them but the light was too harsh and looked so much better with the shades so decided to go with them in the end.   It really feels that the place is starting to come together now.  Feels more like home . . .