Here we are again at this wonderful 130-year-old home! I could not wait to share some of the details inside (and out) that makes this place a one-of-a-kind. If you missed the first post go here.
Tamara and her husband Tony have brilliantly restored this home in beautiful Nova Scotia. You will find it in Marriott's Cove along The Lighthouse Route. Makes you want to go for a road trip right? Anyone with me? I am dying to go visit!
Look closely at the next picture…that’s Marriots Cove just beyond their land! Tamara says she can see ocean views from upstairs in the Lunenburg Bump at the front of the house and from a few other windows. Who wouldn’t want to wake up to that everyday?
This is the view just in front of the barn… see there’s room for us!
Tamara has thought of endless ideas on a budget, including finding a place to store kitchen items while still looking fabulous.
This “shoe keeper” bench was built to be functional yet add additional seating space in the kitchen.
They found this old wooden box out in the barn and added the legs for another seat and storage too.
The living room was cozy but didn’t include a fireplace and was not quite roomy enough for a TV cabinet, so they came up with the perfect solution. They made a hole in the wall and built a fireplace out of old bricks from a former chimney.
Tamara’s words on building the fireplace and TV surround:
Fireplace: There was a mantle on one of the walls in what's now our office... just a mantle... In the living room, we had our TV on a cabinet that took up so much room I had to climb over my husband's chair to get through the room... I was so excited when the solution hit me... Again, not the perfect fantasy fulfillment... but it worked. I'd wanted one of those 'gel fuel' fireplaces (didn't want electric and gas or wood was WAY out of the budget). The gel fuel ones burn real flames but don't have to be vented and they even crackle like a real fire. the flames get up to about 8-9" and look pretty good with fake logs hiding the can. My solution to both the fantasy and the space problem was to make a hole in the wall that separated living room and office, taking some space from the office to build in a brick 'fire box' (using bricks from the torn down kitchen chimney), and a place to put the TV, set in above it. A TV wasn't in my dream mantle decorating, so I used a pretty curtain that could cover the TV when we wanted to. For the space on the front of the fireplace, inside the mantle opening, I used brownish glass plates from the dollar store. They had a nice textured design, so I smashed 'em up with a hammer and did a sort of glass mosaic, right on the mortar. OH... and the fake logs... tried to buy some at a fireplace dealer and they wanted almost $400 for some broken ones! So... instead, I made my own out of mortar... took a tin-foil turkey roasting pan and squished it into a log-ish shape and poured the mortar in it. Rubbed on a little brown paint and blackened it with a lighter! Strange but true!
So we got the TV out of the way AND got my 'fireplace'. Now that we have a flat panel, we didn't need to make that big hole in the wall but we now use the space behind the TV for the DVR, Xbox, etc. Oh, and the space isn't missed in the office as the new wall/cupboard it created is lined up with the house's actual chimney that already 'jutted' into the room. That's also why the TV had to be off center.
How clever… Hiding her TV with a cornice and drapes!
Love the wooden appliqués added to the stairs and I would love to have a few doors like this in my house! Here is her attic door…
The mosaic mural was found on ebay but wasn’t quite as large as they needed it for the shower wall, so she found small stones at the dollar store and made her own borders! So clever that girl!!
One more of the back side of this awesome home that I have fallen in love with…they were repainting the windows, but I still love this view of the house.
ROAD TRIP!
Don’t be surprised if you get a few unexpected visitors Tamara and Tony!
Melissa of The Inspired Room is also featuring this lovely home on her blog today!
Stop by to check out even more before and after photos that Tamara so graciously dug up for us!
Before you go I want to show you more of the talented Tamara…I like that …
She’s going to freak out because she doesn’t know I am showcasing her website too!
“Talented Tamara” of Freyja’s Jewels
This lady can make some jewelry!
Check out this anklet above. YES, that is an anklet! It is made of genuine Baltic amber, Swarovski crystals and solid .925 sterling silver beads and components.
This unique and beautiful, one-of-a-kind, fine jewelry piece is made with genuine turquoise (reconstituted) and Swarovski crystals is a sparkling 'metallic turquoise' colour. The highlight of the piece, though, is the Thai Karen Hill tribe Silver "Love Flower". The piece is completed with solid sterling silver, tiny turquoise "heishi" beads and a med/large lobster clasp.
This bracelet is, at once, modern and chunky yet soft and feminine. The piece is made with transparent turquoise lampwork beads accented with ornate sterling plated bead caps with a leaf design. Between the lampwork beads are genuine Swarovski colours in a well-matched 'barely there' colour. Also included are filigree sterling plate round beads to continue the light play of the piece. Clasp is an easy-use sterling plate toggle.
Tamara’s description:
I don't often 'name' my pieces... because, frankly, I'm awful at it! But this 'spirited' pendant seemed to require it. It's made with a fairly large (but not over-bearing) Red Banded Agate stone in a unique shape, hand-wrapped wire, Swarovski crystals and sterling silver swirl beads made by the Thai Karen Hilltribe. The wire is a heavy gauge sterling silver and it hangs on a substantial 22" box chain.
Oh my Lordy- I am in love with these earrings! How cool is she that she can renovate a house and make jewelry?
.jpg "Amber & Bali Earrings")
Okay, Okay! You have to go check out her site to see the rest!
So incredibly talented!
Stop by The Inspired Room to see more of this home and more of my new friend.
~Misti
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7 comments:
This is a very cute home..., and I wouldn't mind at all to go on a road trip up to Nova Scotia..., love the historic shot too!
Darling home!!
I'll go with you!! What a gorgeous home!
Hi Misti :)
Tamara has done a wonderful job! She's a talented jewelry designer too! I love that old photo so much. I hope we find one of our house soon, so that I can see what it looked like then and bring it back to it's former glory.
Off to see her house over at Melissa's blog...
Have a great 4th of July!
xo,
rue
Hey Misti... As completely, freaking-out-awesome as I feel after all the wonderful things you wrote about my home (even my JEWELRY!!!!!) ... The MOST exciting part is that they are written by YOU - my decorating IDOL!!! I'm SO on top of the world!! Thanks for being FABULOUS girl! ... Tamara
Love the house Tamara Thank you for sharing it with me we are very much lovers of old dated houses coming from the UK and all Keep up the good work
Interesting fact silver made in Thailand is only made in villages outside of the main cities by Hilltribe families. Most patterns have been in there family for many years and can only be made by large order. There are no stores or one central place to purchase Hilltribe silver in variety other than from the large wholesale shops in the city. Mondays and Fridays are the days families will bring their goods to the main shops for sale and to pick up new orders. A trip to a silver village is a real eye opener to see how families work together to make beautiful silver pieces of art. All Handmade.
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