In the latest instalment of the Bloggers at Home series, the lovely Elinor from Beach Hut Cook shares her favourite space in her seaside house.
We live in Bexhill-on-Sea in East Sussex, two streets from the sea, and of all the places we’ve lived (we’ve relocated several times due to my husband’s job), this is my favourite. I love the light, the sea air and being lucky enough to have a beach hut; it might be small, but we have a lot of fun there. We spend a ridiculous amount of time there, often whole days and well into the evening as well; just chatting, cooking, eating and laughing. As our teenagers grow up and become more independent, our time with them is ever so precious and I cherish every moment.
As the only girl in the house, my laundry room is a tad girly. I’m not a huge fan of washing and ironing, but you can’t shy away from it, I decided to make the laundry room a pleasant place to be. I’ve filled it with memories of days out with our boys; birthday cards they’ve bought me, artworks from school and other keepsakes such as their first wellies and so on, and I’ve also added bits and pieces from my own childhood. It’s where my boys find me when they need a Mum chat or cuddle; “I fold, you sit. Now what’s it all about?” It’s also where various sports kits and sailing equipment is dumped before the door is shut firmly on it so I can deal with it later.
The dresser was one of my many impulse buys, which has become the basis for the online vintage store I’ve just started – I’m still learning, but it’s a joy to work with and makes me thoroughly happy.
The stamps picture was made from a stamp collector’s kit that my eldest was given as a present – prior to it becoming a piece of artwork, it just sat on the shelf, forgotten and neglected, so I decided to put it to good use. The flowery print in the dark frame was material from my bridesmaids dresses, and it always makes me remember the late summer afternoon sunshine of our wedding. The pink vintage scarf was from an elderly relative who was a housekeeper for two gentleman playwrights in the 1950s and 60s; she lived in a tiny top-floor flat in Chelsea in London which was lovingly furnished and had a massive impact on how I style our home today.
The ‘open’ sign was from a shop where my sister and I used to buy our Christian Dior stockings and tights back in the day. We worked in an office together in Buckinghamshire just by the railway line into London; the shop was quite posh and old fashioned back then so whenever I see it, I feel like I should straighten up and put on my telephone voice.
The Camp Bestival picture is actually a cloth bag that I framed; this was the first festival we did together as a family back in 2009, and we’ve done them together ever since. Festivals are ultra concentrated non-stop fun for three whole days; we get to spend it together and then talk about it for months afterwards to keep the feeling alive.
Huge thanks to Elinor for being a part of the Bloggers at Home series – you can read all about her adventures in her beach hut over on her blog, and find lots of vintage goodness in her online shop.
Wow! Hidden treasures round every corner, how absolutely lovely. Adore the chair so much!! x
what a beautiful spot!! I'd love a laundry room like this 🙂
oh my gosh! major envy, what a beautiful space x
what a cute space! i really like that 'open' sign.
Oh what lovely memories you have kept in such a beautiful space. I'd love a laundry room like that, especially if my teenage kids felt they could come and chat with me in it. Just lovely!!!
Such a wonderful series – I love getting to know other bloggers – all the colours in this house is amazing and how I would love to have a beach hut "dream"Laura x
What a lovely home. I love the "frame a cloth bag" idea. I save special ones all the time and then just scrunch them up in another "special bag". They look much prettier on display! 😉 x