Details of a lime-washed room

The weekend was spent completing the maintenance work on a bedroom that had some plasterwork repairs. With the wardrobe, bed and linen-press huddled together in the middle of the room under protective sheeting I was transported back several years to when we first restored the room to its former glory.

Freshly Lime Washed walls drying

The bulk of the work entailed lime washing. Brushing the walls with the ochre coloured lime wash was very therapeutic. It is quite fun to make the bold brush strokes on the wall while working the lime-wash into the wall. It felt like I was standing inside a big bowl of salted caramel when we had finished.

Mixing ochre lime wash

Freshly lime-washed, the room smelled like it must have smelt some 150 years ago after it was lime washed for the first time. The room smelled clean and fresh and the textured patina of the walls were covered in shades of ochre.

Detail of the peg top table

Detail of the turned leg table

Yellowwood bedpost

All the elements in the room added to a harmonious picture of hand-crafted furniture against the backdrop of ochre coloured walls. The 18^th century hand-made yellowwood and poplar bed was a softer shade of yellow next to the yellowwood peg-top table.

Details of pottery, wood, clay, wool and lime wash

Leather, wood and lime wash

Reed, wood and lime wash

Wood, iron, brass, glass, reed and lime wash

The details of the handmade rugs, furniture, window-shutters and floor tiles blend with handmade South African pottery and a reed ceiling to create an authentic historical feel. Towerwater provides an example of how historical features can be celebrated in contemporary living. 

Drying lime washed walls

The charm of drying lime washed walls