Workshops 2016

Rupert's room

It's ridiculous how much stuff we had stored away- things collected on our travels to South America and the Caribbean that I haven't even had out before...I knew there was a reason to hold onto everything rather than cull everything when we moved! 

Here's a mood board I put together, I just wanted his room to be bright, fresh yet homely...

Ruperts room before-

After...

Mix of old and new furniture, the chest of drawers is an eBay bargain made of elm wood. 

The giant balsa wood toucan, brought in Equador, has been proudly displayed in every house I've lived in, from students  flats to rented houses and even caused a fall out between my divorced parents over who looked after him! 

Here is his final home and I think he looks rather happy next to the tropical Roman blind, which I made before we moved in. 

I made this hand printed chair a few years ago, fits with the theme in his room. 

Home made wall stickers inspired by a visit to Cuba. 

This time last year...

A few reminders of what the house was like a year ago- can't really believe we're in! 

Ready to dress...

After all this time, hard work building and renovating  our house, it's the moment I've been waiting for! 

May the interior design commence....well, when I've saved a few pennies!

Here's some pictures before I clutter up and colour in our new house!

The kitchen is my favourite room so far, purely because it's the only room with some colour. We had so many decisions to make at the end of the build (from door knobs to taps to architrave) that I didn't want to make quick decisions on colour and decorating that I may regret.

I also think it's important to get a feel of the space and see what evolves. Sometimes a design idea will just pop into my head- from a feeling I get rather than thinking about too hard. 

The inglenook before being lime plastered and tiled. 

Really love the feel of the hall, we chose external stone floor tiles, to give it a rustic aged feel, it looks like they've been there 100's of years. The mixed textures of brick,  layered stone (all original but sand blasted) and timber give real character and when the down lights are on it's really cosie.

I'm planning on putting a nice big arm chair in the corner, or maybe a little table and chairs for Rupes and Bob. 

Finished en suite, really happy with my colour and pattern choices, although in future if we re-decorate I may go for a darker shade of paint to make it feel warmer and cosier- I'd probably pick a darker shade of blue from the decorative wall tiles. 

We're putting shutters on the windows, which i need to decide a colour for. 

Rupes room before it goes tropical! 

My bedroom, planning on lots of brights for fabrics and bedding, but keeping the walls light and airy. 

In the nick of time we finished the bay window in time for Christmas, it's Douglas fir and in time it will go silver and look aged. 

The big paper star is a bargain from IKEA....works really well, so going to keep it up after the festive season. 

To finish, a couple of pics in the snow...this time last year we were living on a building site, getting a bath in a box and going into a shed to do my washing...so VERY happy to be in! 

Strangely going to miss the hussel and bustle of builders coming and going, and all the excitement of things changing and evolving....still lots to do though, think it'll be a project to last a life time! 

Excited to unpack all my boxes of 'stuff'- start adding some colour and bring this house to life! 

Interior Design course.

First session of the Interior Design course I teach at Nottingham Trent. 

Every time I run a course I take the opportunity to learn and read more, to expand my learning and knowledge-Chris time round I'm getting to grips with the vast subject of antique furniture, and interior design through the ages, treated myself to these little a reads....

...and this one looks toght up my street, especially as our living room is next on the list to design, and I've got a wall full of my hoarded plates craving a bit of back ground colour! 

Particularly love this shade of green, it's quite daring to go for something so bold, but gives a really homely warm feel- especially with all the clutter and worldly collections. 

Sometimes I get the urge to de-clutter, or feel 'I should'...no way, this is inspiring me to hit the car boots and get more of my tat out of storage to display!! 

Copper pots and roof tiles

Another visit to my favourite spot...the reclamation yard!! This time with my two little ones in tow, which was fun!

I needed to collect a boot full of roof tiles, but we also had fun rummaging around for copper pots to make some pendant lights for the kitchen and got lots of inspiration for other projects. Rupert persuaded me into buying him an old copper fish jelly mould.

Rooms full of treasures!!....

If you're looking to keep a 3 year old entertained for an afternoon.....a reclamation yard's the place to go!!