LIFE AT THE COTTAGE

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Time Travel Thursday #6 - A Yard Conservatory


"We all have our time machines. Some take us back, they're called memories.
Some take us forward, they're called dreams."
~Jeremy Irons~


Welcome to the 6th Time Travel Thursday linky party at The Brambleberry Cottage!

Are you ready to share your fondest memories, grandest dreams,
and most creative projects? Great!

Then let's get to it!

I've wanted to build a yard conservatory
out of vintage windows for some time now. And I was finally able to talk my Yankee
project partner into it this week.


We pulled the basic bones—the windows above and
the old chippy-paint board below—out of the barn a few days ago and began construction.


Don't you just love vintage chippy?!   ; )


It didn't take long to construct the basic conservatory.


Honestly, I was glad to get this part done though, so we could move on
to the really fun part—embellishment!


I pulled these old legs and spindles out of our stash
in the barn because, in my mind, I saw this lovely lady-to-be standing on pretty legs.


And...we needed something with character to
 camouflage the rough areas where the windows
were joined and to cover the plywood that was used for the base. 

So...
out of the barn came more vintage beaded boards.

Once all that was taken care of, it was time for the
really, really fun part—decoration!


These old door escutcheons were perfect for the gabled ends.


This rusty ornamental iron piece
and vintage tin panels came from our favorite salvage yard.


I think the scrolly designs of each
 are just fabulous.  Don't you?


Giving her a tin skirt was another
 decorative feature that seemed to evolve as we went along.

Little details make such a difference!


See where we used the chippy-paint board and the escutcheons? 

And the vintage knobs and curly cutouts—from the tin panels—added
 just the right touch to the gable peaks, as well.


I was delighted to find this old filigree door handle
at the bottom of a bin of vintage hardware in our workshop.

Just one more pretty little detail.   ; )


These old decorative wood pieces
were scored at a local junk shop. 

I had two that were perfect for dressing up the front and back.


I added some plants and a vintage statue to "pretty up" the inside.


Yep!  I think they look great in there
What do you think?


I've been waiting a very long time for this conservatory to come into being. 

But, I have to admit, good things do come to those who wait! 

**To get all the how-to details for making your own conservatory visit here.**




Linking up to 
Kathleen's for White Wednesday, Gina's for Transformation Thursday,
Suzanne's for Vintage Thingie ThursdayLeigh's for Thrifty Thursday,
Cindy's for Show and Tell Friday, Allison's for Hooking Up With HOH
Carolyn's for Make It Yours Day.

46 comments:

  1. So So So Pretty!! I am truly drooling over your conservatory.

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  2. i love it...lucky you to have 'stashes' to create! :)

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  3. Wow.....I so want one of these....this is amazingly done!! Have a great VTT!

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  4. What a great idea for those old windows. You really did a super job on using them for the little conservatory.

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  5. Love it! I have wanted to do one too. I have the windows and am still collecting other pieces. Very inspiring.

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  6. What a marvelous creation! It's a monument to both of you, ingenuity and charm!

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  7. That is absolutely gorgeous!!! Love the conservatory and what you did with it!!

    heather

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  8. That is so gorgeous that I think I am jealous! This is definitely going on my list of things to do, as soon as I find the windows and the chippy boards and the painted bead boards and the embellishments. Lady (and gent) you set a high mark for the rest of us!

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  9. I love your conservatory! I know where I can get a bunch of old windows. I'm seriously thinking of making one of these. Love the way you embellished it.

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  10. What a wonderfully sweet project! It is amazing what you (and the yankee) can do with old windows!

    Happy VTT!

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  11. My Dad's made 3 of these for my barn sales. I've sold one-I haven't added any detail to those prefering to let the customer do it. I love yours. I'm going to have my dad build one for me out of some unique windows I've been saving -really wonderful with all the extras!!!!!

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  12. wowwwww! what a great project and great result! the conservatory looks pretty in the garden.. happy VTT

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  13. Ohhhh, I love,love, love that!!! You did a great job!!!

    Sylvia

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  14. this looks fabulous! I love it, you did a great job and it turned out fantastic!!!

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  15. Wow~ A baby greenhouse! That is one of the greatest things I've seen in a while :)

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  16. I LOVE old windows and that project is just divine! LOVE IT! Thanks for hosting another party.

    ~Lori S.

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  17. that is sooooooooooooooo gorgeous!!!

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  18. ahhh, this is so pretty and ....so unique.
    You and Yankee did a fabulous job.

    Come by and leave a comment on my $70 gift card giveaway...this is the last day. :)
    xo bj

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  19. Lovely! Truly beautiful and creative!

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  20. Wow!!! I had seen something like this (but not nearly as well done as your's) in an antique store and have been planning on doing one myself. That is beautiful. Great embellishments on it.

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  21. Nice. I wish we still had all of our old windows; I have plenty of spindles....ah well. Love it!

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  22. So much fun, love it! Wonderful repurposing.

    Happy VTT!
    Sally

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  23. GORGEOUS!! I so wish this was in my yard !

    Blessings!
    Gail

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  24. I am smitten. I am working my way backwards up the VTT party list and this is my fave...not that it is a contest. I liked it before you decorated it but after...oh my goodness...must move on...~olive

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  25. Wonderful!
    Please come by and join my first ever link party Vintage Suitcase Friday!

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  26. It is fit for a QUEEN!
    That is by far one of the loveliest conservatories (hand/homemade) that I have ever seen! Simply breathtaking--
    I am impressed that you made it!
    WOW!
    Still grateful for the advice your hubby gave me on my bathroom!
    Hugs,
    ~me

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  27. It is fit for a QUEEN!
    That is by far one of the loveliest conservatories (hand/homemade) that I have ever seen! Simply breathtaking--
    I am impressed that you made it!
    WOW!
    Still grateful for the advice your hubby gave me on my bathroom!
    Hugs,
    ~me

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  28. That is so amazing!!! I love it! Thanks for linking up to We Can Do It Cheaper! You always have the best greatest projects! Keep 'em coming!

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  29. Yes, I love vintage chippy. But your conservatory is to die for. Absolutely gorgeous!

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  30. It looks beautiful.....thanks for hosting!

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  31. Absolutely incredible. I love it. All the extras made it perfect.
    Thanks for sharing.

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  32. OK OK I love it.!!!! I have a stash of windows. I show my hubby your creation. And he thought I was crazy for keeping them all!!!

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  33. So very beautiful. I would love something like that in my yard. Love your blog, I am going to check out your other posts.

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  34. That is just amazing!I so want to try that idea, thank you for showing me how. Marcia

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  35. OMGoodness! That is gorgeous! It would be pretty in the house too! karen....

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  36. Loving it! Very creative of you! Thanks for sharing at It's Party Time Thursday@PonyTails&FishScales!

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  37. Oh Oh Ohhhhhhh I have been collecting old wood windows to create a green house with but I might just have to take 6 and make a small conservatory first!
    You did great...this is soooooo CUTE!

    Hugz, Dolly

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  38. Your conservatory is absolutely gorgeous! Wow! I can hardly sit still, I want to go to our local salvage yard so baaaad! I can only hope I'll be fortunate enough at some point to be able to find some lovely old windows and make a conservatory even half as incredible as yours!

    I found you through Junkologie. Pleased to meet you and join your following. Stop on by my place if you have a chance. Cheers!

    Jenn

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  39. That is soo very very pretty! I will not be getting rid of any of my old window now!

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  40. We loved this idea or recycling windows.

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  41. Hi, we loved this idea or recycling windows, it looks great!

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  42. Hi

    We have recently found your blog page and love the ideas you have. I am currently writing a blog about terrariums and would love to include yours.

    In particular we love this and wondered if it would be ok to use a picture from your blog and link it directly back to you.

    http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.co.uk/2010/07/time-travel-thursday-6-yard.html#comment-form

    Holding my breathe in the hope that you say Yes!

    My work email is blog@angliangroup.com

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  43. LOVE IT!!!!
    Janelle (Ella)

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  44. Nice! This would make a great greenhouse for my deck. I think I'll give it a try! Old windows are great for this type of project and I love to reuse things that people would typically put in the trash. Thanks for sharing this project - very inspiring!

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Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to comment.