A Margate project
For the last few years I have owned a flat on the Margate seafront, and rented it out. But now, to my surprise, for the next wee while I’m keeping it for myself, and doing it up. It’s very beautiful, if leaky and shabby, with two floors of wonderful sea views. Here is the normal view from the living room.
And here is the view from the weekend just gone. After a brief period of adjustment this turned out to be as fascinating as the boats and sea on their own usually are.
The bones of the house are lovely, so my current plan is to do things cheaply, slowly and bravely. The Georgian roof sends leaks filtering down through the walls pretty regularly, so I suspect any bad decorating decisions will be erased by necessity, which makes me feel like taking some risks.
We tore up all the old carpets, revealing scruffy old boards beneath, except in the living room, where it’s hardboard all the way. Replacing floorboards in a listed building (yes, who thought buying one of those was a good idea?) is expensive, and not currently an option. So, in the spirit of making the best of, we painted the whole floor grey for an arty studio sort of feel.
I think it’s going to look great – it hadn’t dried by the time I left, so no proper pictures. I know from experience thought that a room facing the North Sea can feel pretty grey in winter, even without a grey floor, so I’m mitigating that the only way I know how. With pink. Exact shade still to be confirmed.
I ‘inherited’ a (small) feature wall of that Palm wallpaper when I moved into my current flat – I love the print, but sadly the colourway I ended up with is the least exciting of them all – I like your option much better! Good luck with your project – there’s nothing like a view of water to restore ones equilibrium…
look forward to seeing you in Margate!
Gosh your flat looks lovely. My three year old daughter is set on a pink bedroom – I’ve done one wall in Fired Earth Baby Blanket but it’s a bit too mauvey. I’d be really grateful if you could share the paint shades you’re trying – I do like the look of that paler pink… Thank you.
Ps is it F&B Calamine to the right of the plug?!
Hi Cally, thanks for the advice on your pink. Ros is now on holiday but we’ll hopefully soon get her full story on the pinks tried so far. Thanks for commenting.
It looks like the start of a fabulous project….we are just coming to the end of ours….ish…..do they ever end?
Never. I can answer that as my own house is technically finished and I’m forever coming up with new things to do. J x
Pebbledashedpad.wordpress.com I forgot to say…
Good luck with your project. Check a pebble beach shade for a north facing room. Best wishes Monika
Thanks for the tip Monika – will do – and for commenting. It’s probably not the last you’ll hear about this…
I have just painted my hall, stairs & landing pink. I LOVE It! My husband walked in & said “please tell me this is undercoat” lol.
It’s a fabulous colour & friends love it too….. Featuring it on my blog soon, xx
Okay, so I’m v late here. I just listened to In Business on Iplayer from Radio 4 about regenerating Margate and it sounds like a cool, happening place right now. So good luck with the future!