Pieces of the past....

As I've said before, I'd like to have a mix of vintage and modern..... things that would be totally appropriate for the cottage when first built, bits from the 40s and 50s... not so much, I think, from the 60s to the present - no nostalgia for me in these decades- except for the modcons I'd like that are either modern reproductions, like the shower units and station lighting or are outright modern as they should be - appliances, for example. 

The lovely matching stained glass windows came from Kee's brother's house - that they sold to another niece.  When she sold the house, she removed the window tops, never used them and after we bought the cottage, asked if we'd like them... she had no use or place for them.  Of course!  And that's how they ended up over the kitchen sink window and over the middle kitchen seat window, cleaned and spruced up with painted frames.  The sun comes glowing through them every sunny morning and at night, the over-the-sink light radiates their colour out like a welcome home.  Muchas gracias, Jammie.

Not only does the old fan that was left here work, it oscillates quietly!  But I've put it up high - safety concerns for little fingers were obviously an adult responsibility, not the manufacturer's when this old thing was made.  The am radio works great after Kee rewired it.

We found the old "genie" lamp in the miscellaney room (aka the 2BBath).... sanded, then sprayed the rusting framework, cleaned out the ceramic body and found the glass shade at the Lighting Boutique in Windsor.  After rewiring, it was hung in the small hall, to function as a hall light.  I love the soft illumination.

The jam cupboard was bought for $30 at an auction.  In bad shape, but all the panes were there - albeit on the two shelves.  I asked Kee to add in three more shelves, painted them the ceiling cream and the rest of the piece an aubergine.  New clear glass knobs - and voila!  This holds all the kitchen linens, pot holders, oven gloves, baking and cooking small utensils, measuring tools, containers of what I call "white woman herbs & spices" (summer savoury, oregano, lavender, sage, etc) and "exotic herbs & spices" (cumin, coriander, chiles, saffron, Chinese 5 spice, achiote, etc).  Coffee beans and filtres, teas and strainers.  The bottom shelf has extra wine stems, silverware, corn on the cob sets and other miscellaneous.  With space and storage at an ultra-premium, this 30/$40 dollar investment is a total satisfaction - adding space and atmosphere to a cottage kitchen.