Category: 2016

May 26, 2016

I think..

Green…..

….Because it’s mean.

Laters, Kate x

May 25, 2016

Innovation x

How about this for a super cool design: A light that opens up like a flower..and closes again.

It’s the work of the Science Museums Inventor-in-residence, Mark Champkins. Inside the petals are bi-metallic strips – a sandwich of copper and steel. The copper responds to the heat of the bulb by expanding, the steel doesn’t, resulting in the realistic bend.

Whilst I love it, It’s small and I’m not convinced it’s working to it’s true potential..Just imagine it as collection together designed as a blossomed branch huge chandelier..

Or inside a large eye-filling glass pendant: Three in a row over a kitchen island unit…heaven.

Laters, Kate x

May 24, 2016

Roses are red..

This post is to remind me to plant the white rambling rose that’s been languishing in it’s pot for the last two weeks…because if it’s all constrained, there’s no hope it will ever look like a half of one of these..and with Chelsea round the corner..there really is no excuse..

Sigh.

Laters, Kate x

May 23, 2016

Staircarpet and Cellar x

I finally grasped my courage with both hands and, bored of lifting boxes, fitted the stair carpet down to the new cellar.

Taking things seriously, I invested £40 in a heavy duty staple and nail gun (I’m hoping there will be options for more uses…like the main stairs). It worked really well – you have to use two hands which just means reduced chance of accidents. The only downside was I initially bought the wrong staples – even if the packaging/name looks the same, read the small numbers on the staple box carefully, otherwise it’s a return journey to the DIY shop to buy the right ones. I used 12 mm staples.

I also ordered some carpet grip from Ebay (the sort of stuff you lay under rugs to stop them from slipping). The thought process was that I wasn’t worried about slippage from laying the pile in the wrong way, as there was no pile, but I was aware that kilim is a thinner type of rug and wanted to give it some support regarding pulling from the staples and feet.

Then it was the simple matter of laying a piece of underlay with carpet grip and stapling it into place.

For the carpet, I pencilled off on each stair where the carpet should run centrally (7 cm on each side for me). Then the lines in the design were a big bonus, helping to keep everything straight and on track.

Finally it was the simple matter of stapling under the nose of the riser, in the middle and at either end. And again where the step meets the riser and working down. The last bit of kilim was folded up, tucked under and stapled away. Job done.

The cellar itself has changed considerably as boxes have been unpacked.

It’s now probably one of the most relaxing places in the house..time takes on a new dimension here..if only I could hide it away from the kids…

Laters, Kate x

May 19, 2016

The reality x

Whilst downstairs might be looking all shiny and new. It’s a different story upstairs. This is the spare room – more commonly known as the promise-it’s-only-temporary storage facility.

I’ve spent the last week clearing it..which resulted in a huge strop at the weekend, because it seriously feels like attacking an iceberg with a bent teaspoon.

With tackling it comes the horrible realisation of the inevitable insidious creep of crap into every other room of the house, because it has to get worse before it gets better.

This is the ensuite. The idea is that anything bound for charity or car boot can reside in here..but just the thought of more multi-layered jobs still to do is doing my head in. I just want it out. I don’t want stuff, I don’t want bits..I want a clean floor…and no boxes..

I’ve got it to this now..a little glimmer of light at the end of a long tunnel. And yes, that is a bed..and yes, the rocking chair will move..one day.

Laters, Kate x

May 18, 2016

Crittall..

Well..the Crittall glass is finally in..and has completely changed the room. Hard to describe how – it feels very, very grown up.

Of course it wasn’t all plain sailing, because unless I’m secretly Harry Potter I shouldn’t be able to do this. They need another trip to replace a section of glass that got broken..and another that was defective. Third time lucky hey…

Laters, Kate x

May 17, 2016

Deja Vu..

I’m in need of distraction: It’s the return day of the crittall door fit and there’s lots of sweaty men and heavy drilling in my house. At least the doors have made it inside this time (she writes as something loud and metallic crashes to the newly fitted parquet floor). There seems to be an emotional kickback for days like this..You want to pretend that everything is totally normal…but you get to the evening and realise you’ve actually achieved nothing..yet desperately need a large vat of gin – because these days are in fact, the black hole of time suck.

Time to mentally check out..and what better way than to surf through Pinterest..it was the summer dress above that first caught my roving eye..a simple flowing line, easy to wear but with a modern silhouette and pockets. So I followed the bread crumbs and discovered Canadian designer Kaelen Haworth.

Deceptively simple with thoughtful cutting.

They’re edgy classics with a twist.

(All pictures from Kaelen Howarth and Pinterest)

And always a joy to see they’re not designed by a man who’s a stick. Maybe that explains their appeal.

Laters, Kate x

May 16, 2016

Posh Toast x

Cotton pjs for summer..

(All pictures from Toast and Pinterest)

Because you know it makes sense.

Laters, Kate x

May 13, 2016

Spoonflower x

One of the truly great things about living in the IT revolution is how it has brought down the cost of printing, whether it be on paper or fabric.

There are now companies out there that for a small sum are ready to take your designs and turn them into usable art – we’re talking fabric, wallpaper and wrapping paper..and you don’t even need a large print run…one roll or 1 metre will do it. What’s more, if it’s good, you can earn money from other people buying your design…win, win.