Shopping edit : Fall 2015

Now that the summer is heading into it’s last sunset, we turn our attention to chillier nights and crisper days.  I actually like Autumn better than any other season – it brings with it beautiful natural colours, cosy jumpers, snuggly throws and clearer skies (what a grey and rainy summer we british have had!!).  I much prefer the autumn colours of earthy chocolate, burgundy, amber, sienna, caramel, ochre, sage, and moss to the bright summer splashes of loud, bright, colour.

The high street comes alive at this time.  After the mainly holiday shopping of the summer, with it’s mark downs and stock clearance, the stores present their Fall ranges to a hungry public and there are a lot of exciting products to check out.

I’m starting today with an old favourite – West Elm

(I promise I don’t get any commission from anyone!)

Colca wool rug £749

Metal frame chair £599

Faux shagreen coasters £26

Copper dipped chopping board set £89

Arabesque rug in Midnight from £199

Fishs Eddy Gilded dinnerware from £12

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Spring edit : French Connection Home

French Connection has being doing homewares for a couple of years now and they have slowly been increasing their offering and expanding their furniture and lighting collections as well as home accessories.

Here are my favourites from their latest collection:

Vintage King rug £125

Natural magazine basket £25

Blown glass table light £145

Slatted chair £550

Spot the Dog cotton cushion £40

Marble wheel pendant light £75

Zinc pewter jug £35

Walled arm light £95

Dining chair £220

T back bar stool £150

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Family Bathroom : Before and After

Looking back recently at my bathroom post here and here I am reminded that I never actually posted before and after shots of the work we had done to our family bathroom last summer.  The main reason for this blog is to record the progress of the house!!  I think I was waiting for the wall lights for next to the mirror – I have not found the perfect ones yet – but I’ve decided to post without them as it’s been six months since the work!

The existing family bathroom on the first floor was white and blue with plastic lino flooring, a fitted bath and an old, leaky, mouldy electric shower.  After several leaks from the shower and toilet into the kitchen downstairs, we decided to refurbish the entire space and install a new boiler and central heating system (put up in the loft).  Part of the work was to knock through into an airing cupboard on the landing to make maximum use of all available space and we put the shower in that space.

Here are the before shots:

Tile effect lino floor

Old shower

Old sanitaryware

White and blue tiles

and after:

Burlington Regal toilet

Lefroy Brooks Pedestal and nickel Long nosed taps

Vintage mirror

Rockett St George medicine cabinet

HM toy basket

Lefroy Brooks concealed shower

Succulent

Window frosted glass

Cast Iron Bath Co. roll top painted in Railings

St James polished Nickel towel rail

• Wall tiles: Matt white metro tiles – Tons of Tiles
• Floor tiles: Just Life Grey ceramic oak – Versatile
• Shower floor tiles: East Hampton marble mosaic – Fired Earth
• Shower: Lefroy Brooks 8″ shower head / Concealed Thermo with sliding rail / White lever head flow tap (all Nickel)
• Wall paint: Blackened by Farrow & Ball
• Woodwork: Wevet by Farrow & Ball 
• Bath: Millbrook Double ended roll top – The Cast Iron Bath Company
• Window: Double glazed sash with frosted toughened glass
• Boiler – Worcester Greenstar 30Ri

London : MOL

Could have spent days at the Museum of London by St Pauls. So much to see.

Here is a snapshot of what we saw today:

Redecoration : Master Bathroom

After several leaks, our first floor toilet is totally out of action and the shower has already been leaking into the kitchen downstairs – so next up for an upgrade is our master bathroom. As it’s on the same floor as the kids bedroom we could call it a family bathroom but I prefer to have something more grown up but with an injection of fun.

The existing blue and white tiles and bathroom suite haven’t been updated since the 1980s (hence the phrase ‘suite’!) so it’s well overdue an overhaul.

I’ve been thinking about this one for ages. We’re on a tight budget so places like CP Hart are a bit out of range. I plan on putting in metro tiles and possibly hex floor tiles and spend money on decent brassware.

Inspiration:

I’m still deliberating on pretty much everything…

Classic  or modern taps?

Traditional or modern bath?

White metro tiles…glossy or matt?

Pale, medium or dark grout??

Floor…pattern or plain??

and don’t even get me started on lighting and accessories…

 

You see my predicament??!

Having said that, a few things are pretty much concluded:

– matt white flat metro wall tiles

– medium grout

– modern freestanding bath

– modern wall mounted basin

As i’m pretty much not able to think about anything else right now, expect more posts this week.  Oh, and the builders start work in a week!!!!!

xx

Lefroy Brooks

Vola

French Connection Home

Graham and Green

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Culture : Design Museum Designs Of The Year 2014

A friend went to this exhibition and said it was good so I popped along yesterday afternoon.

It showcases the best innovative products, graphics, technology, architecture, concepts and materials from this years designers.

Check it out:

Designs of the Year 2014

Shopping : West Elm

Now that we have West Elm in the UK (i have yet to visit the store on Tottenham Court Road) it is on my list of websites to check out each season.

Here are some of my favourite pieces from Spring 2014:

West Elm

History : Hampton Court Palace

I’m taking Jack and Stella to see their baby cousin tomorrow and we’re starting off with a stroll through the beautiful gardens of this historic castle in Hampton:

As well as the beautiful house and gardens, we will be having lunch in their large cafe and doing a bit of shopping in their gift shop.  Love a gift shop!

Hampton Court Palace

Will post pictures over the weekend.

x

Books: Eat Drink Nap

After visiting another Soho House outpost – this one in New York – I had to get their new book. I’ve admired their unique blend of relaxed luxury for a long time:

Floors : Living Room

This week we have had the brilliant boys in from Elite Flooring Services who have put down our oak chevron parquet floor in the living room.  I had traditional parquet in my first flat but this modern take, with sharp, pointed edges, is stunning.

This is it pre-stain:

This is after being treated with ‘black’ woodstain:

I’m delighted with the result. Do you like it?