Tuesday 12 July 2011

Enter The Boudoir


 I've been a very good girl and managed to keep the house tidy so here's yet another room for you to explore without too much clutter to trip you up.



This was our bedroom for four years but after redecorating the guest room we decided to decamp. The dreadful weather over the last two winters caused the exterior brickwork to perish and for damp to penetrate the bedroom walls. The whole room needs re plastering and redecorating (but festivals and flights to India keep getting in the way).


As with all the other rooms in our house nearly every thing's second-hand or bought at a bargain price.
  The bed was an eBay find and the Lloyd Loom cabinets (originally a vile shade of lilac) were rescued from a neighbour's skip.



Even the curtain pole was salvaged from a skip.


These colonial-style wardrobes were from a mate in the trade and cheap as chips.


I store my winter clothes in the suitcases.



Some of my shoe collection in front of the fireplace (which was a £5 car boot find, tiles and all).




The Deco bentwood chair was from a jumble sale, I toyed with reupholstering it but have grown to love the faded brocade fabric. The Edwardian rug was £4.21 from eBay and still has it's original Indian export tags attached.


All boudoirs need a marabou trimmed telephone, this was £1.50 from a car boot sale recently. The Kimono wallpaper was on sale in Laura Ashley.



Too much jewellery, me?! The Edwardian dressing table was £20 from a charity shop and the eiderdown was from a car boot sale.


This was a naff bronze coloured picture frame until I transformed it into necklace hanger with a coat of paint, chipboard, cup hooks and a sample of Neisha Crossland wallpaper.



The curtains were £5 from a car boot sale years ago, they fit the huge windows perfectly.



The Deco wardrobe was £25 from a charity shop, transformed with a lick of paint and some fancy glass knobs. This is Jon's wardrobe.



One of my wardrobes, I've only got two.


My colleagues bought me this Bohemian black glass chandelier for a 40th birthday present. The framed Tina print was £2 from a car boot sale (there's another in the lounge)


My separates wardrobe (with a basketful of bags slung in for good measure).

Hope you enjoyed your trip.

It's early to bed for us tonight as we're flogging our crap collectibles at a car boot sale in the morning, wish us luck!

78 comments:

  1. I think your home should be open to the public. Like a national treasure or something.

    That 'phone! It doesn't need to work but...does it work? So cool.

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  2. What a fabulous room! The bed is smashing. And I totally love your idea for the necklaces - inspired! xxx

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  3. Dearest Vix,
    wow, you are actually selling at a boot sale tomorrow...now the boots on the other foot, eh! Make sure you stand your ground with those haggling bargain hunters & get top dollar ;)
    'Boudoir' indeed, it homes all a vintage loving lady like myself dreams of and so much more besides.
    The other week on my epic booting escapade I came across a large 'Tina' but the seller was obviously a trader and was asking £40 for it..."they sell for £60 on eBay"...I'll find one for cheaps one day, until then I'll just have to make do with my little Tina :)
    All the best of luck tomorrow, I'm sure you and Jon will do marvellously...take some pics pls ;)
    Lot's of love,
    Jennie
    xXx

    P.s. I tried you on the facebook chat thingy yesterday but you'd gone by then...sorry :(

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  4. I don't know where to start with the praise for your thriftiness and style! The fireplace is amazing and the phone? A MUST HAVE. Love the storage solutions, so much more chic than my stuffing clothes and accessories in closets and in boxes under the bed. Thanks for another peek at your fab home.

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  5. Wednesday booters? Fab! I really enjoy looking aroung your home, I just love your style!

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  6. Dear Vix - you have the best home! I'm in the process of making a similar jewellery holder to yours at the moment. The blue dress is gorgeous on you.

    Good luck at the boot sale - I would love to come across a stall like yours at a bootie x

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  7. I love your bedroom, especialluy your fab bed. the earrings frame idea is so clever,everything is so kitschly retrotastic. black chandelier so elegant. You look great searching for what frock to wear. I need to look for wardrobe deals.
    I am in love with Jons closet.

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  8. Everything is beautiful! I LOVE the necklace holder, that's a wicked idea!

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  9. I always feel inspired looking around your home and i dream of finding curtains like those they are amazing. x

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  10. I'm really enjoying the nosey mosey around your wonderfully glam home. I love it.

    Good luck for tomorrow. Xx

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  11. Oh i love it ... I love Johns wardrobe ... and the chair looks like it is the same fabric as our bed xx

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  12. Your house is Heavenly! That bed is Beautiful!

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  13. Totally loving these posts of your home, I really want to make one of those necklace hangers now - ace idea (i just need to find a nice frame like yours...) Good luck at the booty, hope you do really well. Scarlett x

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  14. i cldn't take my eyes off all the jewelry

    ♡ from © tanvii.com

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  15. Aw these pics are lovely-I adore the room espe. that fluffy phone! And Jon's wardrobe is lovely too!

    Love amie xxxxxxxxx

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  16. Dearest Vix, what a beautiful room. The colour is fantastic. I love everything in it. I can't believe the price of that rug! The necklace holder is a brilliant idea and the fabrics and wallpapers are beautiful.

    Love you loads, let's catch up asap xx

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  17. I can't believe you've only got two wardrobes with all your clothes!
    I love the fireplace and telephone.

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  18. Hi my dear-I just adore your bed, wardrobes and chandelier and the rug is a real fabulous bargain!! Best of luck at the boot sale tomorrow, I would certainly buy your treasure, I think you'll do very well indeed! xxx

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  19. Yet another wonderful room Vix, filled with delights ! Enjoy the car boot sale tomorrow xx

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  20. Ooo my everything in that room is gorgeous x

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  21. I love the bentwood chair and really love the brocade fabric too. Good luck with the car boot tomorrow! :)

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  22. Love it all. The dark paint colour is gorgeous as is your dress! xx

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  23. Wow where to start again. I can't believe you only paid £2.00 for that Tina print they just go for silly money on ebay now. I wish i could find some more pictures that are a bargain price the only problem now is people seem to know the value of things. I love the Edwardian dressing table and the deco wardrobe there beautiful and so is your little deco bentwood chair so cute. Good luck for tomorrow and have fun, dee xx

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  24. I love looking at your house! I can't believe you only have 2 wardrobes, they must be rammed to capacity ;o)

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  25. AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I'm drooling right now, your bedroom is gorgeous! The bed, the wardrobes, the wallpaper, perfect! :)

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  26. Vix, your lovely home is such a perfect reflection of lovely you!

    I'm thinking I will pinch that idea for hanging necklaces (inspired!) and I am in love with that fireplace. Oh it's all just too bloody gorgeous for words! Not to mention TIDY!

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  27. Love your idea for necklace storage. I'm shamelessly going to copy that one.

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  28. Vix that would be fab! Plus facebook me your address as I've some goodies I need to send & I failed to write it down!

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  29. I'm so with Jaljen's (the first one) comment! It IS a National treasure! Or, I shoudl say INTERNATIONAL treasure!!!
    LOVE your hair here,totally AMAZING!
    LOVE YOU!!!
    Helga xxxXXXxxx

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  30. I thought I was a bargain hunter but those wardrobes for £20+ are amazing prices!!! Fabulous bedroom, so jealous!!! :)

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  31. Such an amazing room Vix. I love how all your fabulous things are displayed.
    I love your dress too the colour is beautiful.
    Dx

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  32. Your bedroom is VERY boudoirish! I would kill for a bed like that!

    I love your dressing table and everything on top of it!

    Adore the Spanish dancer picture above your fireplace!

    Ooo how exciting! I remember helping mum out at the bootsale a couple times when I was younger, I was sad to see other children buying my videos and toys that I no longer played with! Haha!

    Can you take a picture of your stall for us.. I'd love to see how you set it up! xxx

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  33. Your home is every thrift-store gals dream come true!
    You take the neatest things and bring them back to life!
    Love the necklace wall hanging. I must make one asap!
    ( I just bought some giant cup hooks I was gonna put straight onto the wall, but now I must make this! )
    And the fire-place isn't real? What a great idea to give character to a home like ours that was a cookie-cutter style!

    Your clothing is soooo neat as well! I always have a huge pile on our guest bed ;)
    And yes, all that "stuff" I bought.
    I can'r wait to wear the maxi! It is a heavy knit fabric, so it may be a few weeks yet and the peach 2 piece gown/robe I may wear as a dress as it is right above the knee and even the hem is embellished with the floral fabric!

    Oh, and I absolutely loved all those vintage campers!
    My dream car is an authentic VW Beetle with a floor stick, convertible and painted black or powder blue-( red ones are all over the place ;)

    I can't wait til we get to meet!
    Also, thanks for the silk washing tip! I haven't ever washed the wonderful skirt you sent as I was afraid of ruining it :)
    (As of right now, my waist is too big to fit in it :(
    So I am eating better and getting off my bum a bit more ;)
    Love Ya!
    Reva

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  34. really delightful furniture and so well done restoration, love what you've done with each piece!, and there's such a great personal and interesting style in every room, I'm loving you share them with all of us, thanks!!
    besos

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  35. I'm feeling faint after reading this and seeing the photos. It is almost too much fabulousness. :)

    I love everything about the bedroom, especially that fabulous chandelier. And your closet...sigh. LOVE.

    You look spectacular in that baby blue dress. You're lucky you can wear any color and still look gorgeous. xoxo

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  36. Lovely and real inspiration. We're buying a place in the ideal location that needs a lot of 'required' work (ie for us to be dry!) so money for decor will be limited. It's inspiring to see what fabness can be done by charity and bootsale bargains!

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  37. Your house is amazing Vix!!!!! Quite astounding!

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  38. Gorgeous, I do love dark walls. My faves are the deco chair (so glad you've grown to love the upholstery), Tina print, and bed. I always check the skips round here but they are only ever full of building rubble :( Perhaps the reason people can afford to live in this suburb is because they know never to throw anything away!

    Btw, I was talking to Lena of Style High Club tonight and she has only just found your blog and declares you are her new style icon. We spent a good while discussing how fab you are xx

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  39. Hear that? That's the sound of us all busily converting frames into jewellery hangers! Did I see what my husband calls 'a spooky skinny arm' on your dressing table too? I just found one in a charity shop and it's wearing all my rings and flexible bangles.

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  40. What excellent vision you must have. We all see items in skips/awaiting landfill and wonder what we could do with them - you actually go the extra mile and make an even better piece than the original.
    Thank-you so much for showing us your home, it has been a fascinating tour so far.
    All the best for tomorrow's sale - love your hair styled like that BTW.Lucy x

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  41. Wow wow wowza, Gorgeous room!
    I love the bed.. The WARDROBES ARE GORGEOUS!
    I adore the black chandelier..
    I am totally in love with that room!

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  42. Thank you so much for your lovely comment!!! I do so envy your amazing house, that bed is simply incredible - as are all the little details. You'd probably have a great career as a vintage interior designer. The antithesis of the 'chuck out that chintz' gubbins Ikea were peddling in the 90s... xx

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  43. Vix you guys have the coolest stuff! I love the bed in this room too and your custom necklace hanger sweet idea, might have to try that idea on myself.

    I hope you guys sold a bunch of stuff at your car boot sale...I still don't know exactly what that is :)

    Thanks for dropping by my blog too so many followers you have I just get so happy you find a sec to say hello.
    XOXO!

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  44. Ooh, faves from this post: the curtains, the little lamps above the bed, and the green tiles on the fireplace! :) xxx

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  45. It's a lovely room and I'm not surprised that like your wardrobe, it is a treasure trove of ecletic and interesting finds bursting with character - I love the Edwardian dresser festooned with all your baubles!

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  46. I really love the wardrobes. They are so pretty compared to a brand new one.

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  47. Can't believe you've only got 2 wardrobes!! Same as me. I love the black chandelier, keep an eye out for one for me? Hope you do well at the carboot, I'm sure you've got loads of great stuff that people will snap up.xx.

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  48. Oh my giddy aunt, what *beautiful* things you have in your house!! i need to steal them all. But it might be more practical if i just moved in. If i did do when you were away would i get squatter's rights? ;-)

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  49. What a lovely, warm and electic room to sleep, live and enjoy the joys of dressing up!

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  50. A wonderful room, I love that old fireplace, especially the green tiles

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  51. Gorgeous room, you know I'd be straight over rummaging in the jewellery boxes/stands/hangers. :)

    Hope the boot sale goes well today.
    xxx

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  52. gorgeous bedroom - I particuarly love the bed and chandelier (and the fact that the wallpaper is similar to mine!!)

    Julia @ Retro Jules

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  53. really love your dresses, they look so sweet ;) and they are full of wonderful vintage clothing, well done for building up such an awesome collection!

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  54. Your life is sprinkled with beautiful and artful fancies. I especially like the details on the bed. You must look forward to bedtime;-)

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  55. Love the tour. Thanks. Your room is sooooo interesting. I too think it should be opened to the public. You could charge for tours.

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  56. I love everything about this room, but mainly the fabulous bed. Just gorgeous. xx

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  57. Every single thing is so FABULOUS! I love the bed and the curtains, your fab handmade jewellery frame, the vintage suitcases, the rug! I love it all! You look especially beautiful in that gorgeous turquoise and I agree with Helga - your hair is divine.

    Loveandlove, Sarah xxx

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  58. Oh you're giving me room and wardrobe envy! Just stunning!x

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  59. What a stunning room, that bed looks fit for a queen!

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  60. I think I need to go furniture/decoration shopping with you:)

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  61. I just love your house. I love how everything has a story behind it x

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  62. I'm not very good at leaving short comments but you get so many I know I need to be concise!... So.. love your bedroom - lush bed and I am with you on the faded brocade of your chair, it looks perfect to me. Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous. Am I allowed to say that I don't believe that ALL of your winter clothes are in those little suitcases but if they are will you please teach me how to pack?! :-)
    Love your blog, I know I'm behind the times in saying that (being your 722nd follower and all...). Thanks for taking the time to stop by and say hi. Nicki xx

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  63. i want to be a little mouse living in your beautiful house... (eeek! too much champagne in my head?!)... everything is so gorgeous at your place. so adorable.

    xoxo

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  64. Oooooh look at all those goodies stashed away in your wardrobe and on your dressing table - I would love a jolly good rummage!! You have to replaster? But, but, but what about the gorgeous wallpaper? Damn shame:((. The chandelier is amazing in black - what a fantastic 40th gift - your friends know you well. I've a soft spot for toile fabric so I love your curtains - I made some for my daughter's old room. Thank you for sharing more of your amazing home! xoxoxoxoxo

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  65. I love your boudoir......your jewels are fabulous and you look so serene in that powder blue maxi!

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  66. I still love seeing more of your house! Your shoe collection is magnificent, as is your dress.

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  67. This is my favourite room so far, Vix. Love the chandelier and the bed. The colours are so great.

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  68. That jewellery hanger is a bit nifty, isn't it? And hasn't Jon got a grand wardrobe? x

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  69. Love your closet, I'm really enjoying the nosey mosey around your wonderfully glam home.

    wholesale clothing

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  70. I am amazed that your clothing fits into two wardrobes!

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  71. Oh Vix, a room with so many beautiful features. The luggage on top of the wardrobes makes for a wonderful (and practical) display. Whilst the necklace hanger and dressing table have me completely smitten. You have such a stunning home; you will never stop inspiring me xxx

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  72. Hya
    Loved the tour ,i really loved the old picture frame you done up for your jewels.
    I use old suitcases in my livingroom for a display and also storage ,i have two that my granda used just after world war two when he travelled to england to help with the clear up after the blitz
    A nice little bit of history i think
    thanks for showing us i love your style and thrifty ways
    Andrea

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  73. Y'know these images could very well reduce me to tears right now?! Our house is UPSIDE down as we're doing it up. I can't even go there! (i'm wedged somewhere in 'claustraphobia' as i write this)
    This is huge inspiration and hopefully a little peek into the lovely calm at the end of the rainbow ;)
    xxx

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  74. Stunning bedrooom seriously beautiful x

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  75. Of course your boudoir is beyond fabulous my lovely! I have the Tina print too (along with a tretchikoff at my ex's still - but I'm on a mission to get it back this week...) xxx

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  76. your home is beautiful! i cant believe all of it was so inexpensive!!! it certainly looks beautifully decorated.

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Thanks for reading and for leaving a message. Please don't be anonymous, I'd love it if you left a name (or a nom de plume).

Lots of love, Vix