Category: interiors
Damn x
The crittall glass people arrived here yesterday and the only glass they left is the sort related to the Emperor’s new clothes: It didn’t fit through the front door…one centimetre out, so it’s been returned to the factory. Apparently the main frame was supposed to be designed in two parts but it wasn’t. Their bad. But it leaves me to explain the situation to Building Control and delay our final sign off again..there’s always something.
I’m distracting the frustration with a search for the perfect table lamp..something utterly ugly and totally wonderful.
They give such bones to a room..an intriguing combination of height, light and ambience.
It’s a ploy that’s working…
Laters, Kate x
RE x
If I was a shop I’d be RE: A magical place where global unloved items hit emotional science and are transformed into objects of desire…like these laundry baskets and washing up bowls made from recycled plastic in Senegal.
Pure fireworks for the kitchen.
How delicious? These baskets are made by the Mixtec people of Mexican mashing traditional palm weaving with unwanted plastic.
And there are recycled tin cans from Peru, all given new life. A plant pot – or a pen pot? The choice is yours.
You head to the site for storage ideas..and end up being amazed by cunning delights like these lights…designed to hold a tea-light and convert any bottle into a table lamp…genius.
Or these candlesticks holders..spiked to stand in flower pots..or hammered into a log.
Thank God they’re not based in London. Now where’s the credit card…
Laters, Kate x
More Stairs..Because..
The main kilim has arrived!
And the one for the very top of the stairs..it’s amazing how much carpet you need for a flight of stairs..over 5 meters. The idea is to sew these all together to make one long run.
Someone asked the other day if I was worried that they weren’t official stair carpets. It highlighted the fact that we’re a generation brought up on hype and brand – instead of seeing products for what they are we now believe we need a specific shampoo for almost blonde hair or a cleaner for our pink toilets. It’s all clever labelling and marketing just to part us from our hard earned cash because the truth is, as soon as these carpets are fitted to the stairs, that’s what they become.
This is the final one to add to the patchwork…I’d post a picture of what they all look like but I’m still effing suffering from f*&*ing problems with the cr*p software update that Apple has inflicted on my s*dding computer: Another modern disease…built in obsolescence: updating what already works just because you can and to make more money. I need to become a hippy.
Laters, Kate x
Finishing Touches x
Boo hoo. We were meant to be having the crittall glass for the hall fitted today….but these things never happen when they’re meant to. It’s delayed now till the end of the week. Sigh. So instead of proper pics I’ve just got the inspiration pictures to drool over.
I hope mine will look half as good..
Laters, Kate x
Stairway to Heaven x
The first stair carpet for the main stairs arrived yesterday..excitement! It’s an unusual combination of earthy colours with contrasts of pure neon…definitely a risk that’s paid off..can’t wait for the other one to arrive now..Will they work together? Only time will tell..
I’ve almost finished painting the hall – ran out of paint at the very top. Typical. But it’s had it’s own little transformation, including adding a newel post and new banister to make the stairs feel more integrated and trick the eye into thinking the wall on the kitchen side was always there (we nicked the corridor space to give as much width as possible – every inch counts in London)
The new radiator cover is still painted with the builder’s grey undercoat..except I rather love it. I like the contrast rather than everything matching. So last weekend it was dragged to B&Q to be colour matched..they thought I was bonkers as it was hauled onto the paint counter to go under their machine. But sometimes needs must. If there’s any give in the already blown budget, a fitted mirror will go in the alcove..and stained glass in the front door. A girl can dream.
Of course, the biggest change to the hall will be when the glass crittall doors arrive on Monday..
Laters, Kate x
Kilims on my mind..
You can’t beat a good rug. (Except of course you can..)
They work with anything, anywhere, quietly bringing soul and drama to a room.
Traditional or modern. It doesn’t matter.
I’ve been trying to source some as runners for our main stairs and cellar stairs. It hasn’t been easy: No runner is long enough and narrow enough to fit a complete flight, so it’s about finding combinations that work together, fit together in size….and still make the heart sing.
The pair for the cellar have just arrived, prompting a nostalgic glance back at the cellar stair’s upwards progression…from this..
To this.
The kilims still need to be fitted properly…but I think that’s best done once the floor is down (May 3) and possibly after all the furniture is down.
But it’s progress….and I love it.
Laters, Kate x
Floored x
There was no dispute over which flooring to choose for the new cellar: It’s sisal all the way.
It’s not only such a natural look with an ancient, timeless quality….
(It’s a floor covering that’s been used for centuries)
But it’s also that smell – the flooring equivalent of cedar wood – which feels so grounding and calming. Nostalgic almost.
I have The Husband off for a much needed days holiday today…so the lucky man is coming with me to browse samples and help make a final decision.
(If he chooses right we might just squeeze in a naughty lunch somewhere. Promises, promises..)
Laters, Kate x
Some dreams are made of this..
The temperature is rising, the bluebells are out! And like the instinct of an awakening hibernating beast, the brain is coming alive with illicit thoughts of cloudless skies and barmy evenings and how best to harness those precious summer months.
More and more I’m dreaming of hammocks and swing beds.
That primitive allure of quiet self-indulgence: Peace, tranquility, old soft cotton and a damn fine book.
If our garden was huuuuge I’d go for one of these…beds on top..potential den beneath…broken bones a given…but just think of the fun!
This is probably more realistic – and I like the pagoda style..a bit more secretive and tucked away. Maybe with a curtain to block out nosey neighbours…and with a back support – I hate reading completely flat. It would eat the space…but in a rather wonderful way. The truth is we have an urban life: Our garden will never be a football pitch…so why pretend?
Laters Kate x
Easter x
(Bella Spring cleaning her room)
So how was Easter?? Not that it’s quite over here yet…kids go back to school tomorrow..but it’s been – needed to be – a quiet, simple time for us just gently shuffling to the waltz of life with two steps forward…three steps back.
But it’s been a hurrah for moral depravity – early on we lost all the electrical sockets upstairs due to a fault with our tumble dryer which took a while to track down…which meant no washer, no dryer..no phone..no alarm clocks..no computer. Such a shame. I personally saw it as proof of the after life and a neon message from above to say opt out: If you were a decorator, you’d have all day to paint. If you were a cleaner, you’d be left to remove 6 months of builder’s dust. If you were a nanny, that would be your job. If you were a writer, at least you’d have a job title. To do all four at once is quite frankly disgraceful and flashy…give up now. So I gave up blogging..
Progress after the builders has been made – the hall is now painted, the cellar is nearly done, but the house is still in great upheaval, mainly because rooms can’t be sorted until various cupboards are painted (which is a god forsaken task and takes time) and carpets are down (due end of April) at which point the spare room can be unpacked.
But actual Easter was delicious: 32 members of the family together at my brother and sister-in-laws for the long weekend. Pretty special. We have three big traditions: Decorating hard boiled eggs for the ‘best dressed egg’ competition.
Charlotte with her trophy! An egg hunt in the garden…
Followed by an egg race using newspaper thwackers to hit said eggs around a cunningly designed course, avoiding the moving obstacle of hungry dogs. Old, blind, Molly wasn’t such a issue…but Olly ran away with Charlie’s egg..there were tears..
All the cousins together..
The period also coincided with The Husband working ridiculous hours (back at 2..up at 6). For most people (read me) this would eventually result in a weeping, gelatinous heap in a far corner. He goes the other way – the insert for the cutlery drawer? sorted. A new recycling bin? found and ordered. Someone to pick up the backlog of washing and ironing after socket disaster? I let out an unprovoked shriek when they appeared at the door. The missing knob to the le cruset dish? We now have a new one. I’m thinking pace and recharge whilst he’s spinning faster and faster, I’m just Hoping I’ll be in a fit state to catch him when he falls…
And then I went to write this post..and discovered he had updated the whole computer ‘to make it run faster’..so much so it didn’t even recognise the printer..it took me twenty minutes to download the new software to get them speaking again. I went to add photos…and realised, before I could I would need to download my entire photo library again….The truth is I actually wrote this post last week…
Two steps forward…three steps back…
Laters, Kate x
Wall Bling..
There are three large storage cupboards at the back of the underworld room – four if you count the boiler..
Would it be an utter extravagance to attempt to disguise them?
Hmmmmmmmmmmm….
Laters, Kate x
Maison Bentley Style 