tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76254471634830856652024-03-21T07:09:25.085-07:00Lottie's InteriorsInterior design ideas and inspiration for creating a beautiful new home or breathing life back into your existing home.Lottie Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03411972070077999678noreply@blogger.comBlogger98125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625447163483085665.post-57618260215740469232016-08-14T08:46:00.000-07:002016-08-14T08:46:05.075-07:00A little bit of Norfolk transported to the countryside..<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We've just returned from our latest jaunt to the North Norfolk coast.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">What an amazing time we had. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I'm choosing to forget the arguments over Lego, food choices, poor choice of birthday cake (6 turned 7 whilst we were away..) and am choosing only to remember the fabulous warm and sunny days, the walks along the beach and the general family harmony that existed for at least some part of every day we were there! Norfolk delivered yet again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Whilst I wasn't able to bring back the warm sunshine, at least for today and the beautiful beaches, I was able to bring back the perfect reminder of this trip.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Tucked away down a street just off the main stretch in Burnham Market you will find 'Fish and Ships Coastal Art', the studio/home of artist, Andrew Ruffhead. <a href="http://www.fish-and-ships.com/">http://www.fish-and-ships.com/</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Andrew has quite a CV having studied Painting and Printmaking at Brighton Polytechnic before going on to Central School of Art and Design. He has worked as a textile designer producing fashion, furnishings and wallpapers for companies such as Osborne and Little and Calvin Klein.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Should you be in Norfolk then I would urge you to pop by Fish and Ships and take a look. Andrew is so welcoming and more than happy to allow you to browse whilst chatting about how and where he finds the inspiration and materials for his pieces. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">On this visit, we bought a couple of prints which I absolutely love! I love the cheery, coastal colours and the style. I love the fact that they are a small reminder of the coast for us living in the countryside. Have I said 'love' enough? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The children were thrilled that the prints were personally signed and that the artist was more than happy to do so. My daughter is still (some years on) reeling from an unfortunate encounter when meeting her then favourite (very well known) author only to be disappointed when she gently approached him for a photograph and to sign her book (which he was there promoting!) only for him to huff and look irritated by the request as if she had asked him to chop off his leg! She now refuses to read his books.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">We will definitely be popping by again on our next visit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Whilst out on an altogether different jaunt, my daughter spotted this navy and white whale laundry bin/storage bin in TK Maxx today and convinced me to buy it. To be honest, it was £12.99 so I was going to buy it anyway.....it is quite lovely, large, pleasing to the eye and fits well in the bathroom.....but thought I would let her sell it to me with her KSPs being that if we had it she would be more motivated to not drop her dirty washing on her bedroom floor....that she would make sure it was always put into the laundry bin and that she was convinced her brother would do the same, honest! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Yeah. Right. Let's see how long this lasts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span>Lottie Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03411972070077999678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625447163483085665.post-59778252492132185062016-07-31T15:19:00.001-07:002016-07-31T15:28:23.494-07:00Saying goodbye to mustard!<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's been ages.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">I've had to have some time away from all of this. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Blogging's a funny thing. I have a love/hate relationship with all that is social media/blogging type stuff.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Sometimes I read what I've written, days or months after the event, and think to myself 'did I really write that?' Cringe. Fortunately I have a husband who fires me a warning shot if I write something that sounds self centred. I don't mean to. He's great at doing that. He can't stand social media. He doesn't see its point other than as a vehicle for people to show off. I'm not sure that's true in all cases, but it does often portray a distorted view of life. My intention is to share ideas, whether mine or those of others, not to make it about <em>me.</em> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Therein lies my dilemma with social media. Life is not the perfect picture that one always reads/sees. We are drawn to looking in to other people's worlds but only from the perspective that is portrayed through a picture or words of their choice. This can be very misleading. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">What's my point? I'm not sure. I'm just arguing with myself as I always do on this subject. In reality, I love a good nosy in to other people's worlds whether fact or fiction. As I sit reading my flashy interiors magazines I snarl as I read that the homeowner is yet another PR Agency MD or City Financier or Corporate Lawyer, yet at the same time I love just a small glimpse into the world they inhabit, choosing to forget that they still have to go to the loo, just like me! They are all shiny and irritatingly good looking, dripping in designer chic and just too darn tidy to be true! The 'Get the Look' section always features Poliform, Eames originals, Kartell etc. etc. Just the antidote to my normal, less than perfect, untidy make do and mend world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">I sneer at the Sunday papers, reading the property supplements with the 'affordable' places to live in the UK, the cheapest rarely less than half a million! Affordable for whom? I still read them though, secretly imagining purchasing that Primrose Hill designer pad once owned by a famous actress.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Where are the 'normal' people? (I'm not suggesting any of the demographic above does not include some very normal people...)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Maybe, like me, these people have a good old google for discount codes and any offer going. Perhaps behind the sleek lines and designer label fronts are houses full of Ikea and TK Maxx, dust and un-ironed washing piles! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">I've recently got rid of the mustard that had started to dominate our house. The beginning of the end of this beautiful yet brief fling began when I caught a little snippet of Eastenders, having ditched the soap some time ago, and noticed a mustard wall at the Queen Vic or Phil's house or somewhere. Not Primrose Hill. Walford, somewhere near the Arches! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">After a short lived (about 4 hours to be exact!) dalliance with a light grey (too much grey with grey kitchen units) wall replacing the mustard wall in the kitchen, I have gone for brilliant white. Excuse the poor photo quality. My camera is on the blink. The story may not end here. I'm forever on the hunt for the next suitable colour to try out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">As for discounts, I used a discount code to purchase two new light shades from Graham and Green <a href="http://www.grahamandgreen.co.uk/silvia-white-shades">www.grahamandgreen.co.uk/silvia-white-shades</a> as seen above the table and below. This offered and extra 15% discount. I featured these shades some time back in a blog.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">I also grabbed £10 discount at Made.com <a href="http://www.made.com/ponoma-cotton-bedspread-with-pom-poms-indigo1">http://www.made.com/ponoma-cotton-bedspread-with-pom-poms-indigo1</a> by signing up for their email updates. I usually avoid this unless there's a promise of money off!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just as an aside, I'm on the hunt for some storage solutions for the ten tons of lego that have escaped the hoover bag! In the true spirit of the summer holidays, and after a minor rant about the amount of lego that is broken in to a million pieces after hours of careful construction and the relative monetary value of said lego now in a million pieces, I tasked my 6 year old with the job of sorting the lego by colour today, with my help. As a family with more than a slight collective hint of OCD (I kid you not) this task was actually quite satisfying. All that now remains is to find a suitable method of storage, an alternative to the hoover bag!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />Lottie Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03411972070077999678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625447163483085665.post-75683106373448749702016-02-06T09:10:00.003-08:002016-02-06T09:11:13.398-08:00Contemporary artwork....Shepard Fairey<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Frank Shepard Fairey is an American contemporary street artist, graphic designer, activist, illustrator and founder of OBEY who emerged from the skateboarding scene.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">His work often reflects his support of promoting awareness of social issues and for this he has been criticised as well as acclaimed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Fairey is not without his critics. A number of his fans were critical of the fact that he copyrights his work and profits from his work as an artist. As result there's a feeling he had lost his 'cult' status.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">On the other hand, Fairey is well known as a promoter through his messages for political and social change and he donates heavily to many non profit making causes. He also argues that he relies on commercial profit in order to keep a staff of assistant artists in employment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">From a design point of view, I am a big fan. I like the graffiti, street art edge to the design. His prints can be purchased for anything from a few pounds to thousands of pounds.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I found these two and am on the hunt for more.</span><br />
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More Fairey designs.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZT9enQSJSgOlFYy2SA2gdFpUFfDLKtqlaO4CbLzckoNMlCHFhVsmocX9s_gAa2-nKjAbb9ew2z3Tv0ZLSW-l-IluqUL45fOJTwCRuvI3wdPOEb1B9MvQJqx28LVir4ZORgV_EreZA680/s1600/Street+Art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZT9enQSJSgOlFYy2SA2gdFpUFfDLKtqlaO4CbLzckoNMlCHFhVsmocX9s_gAa2-nKjAbb9ew2z3Tv0ZLSW-l-IluqUL45fOJTwCRuvI3wdPOEb1B9MvQJqx28LVir4ZORgV_EreZA680/s640/Street+Art.jpg" width="640" /></a>Lottie Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03411972070077999678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625447163483085665.post-60802683421712454622016-01-09T04:59:00.001-08:002016-01-09T04:59:41.526-08:00A plea for everyone's help.<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You haven't heard from Lottie's Interiors for a couple of months but I'm back!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I'm not back with the latest style trends or interior styling pointers though with this post.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">You know when life presents you with those timely reminders that there really are truly more important things to think about than what your front room looks like, or what you're wearing today, or what you look like... those sort of trivial details that can clog up our lives. Do these things really matter in the grand scheme of things? Do they heck!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Today's post is about one thing and that is helping someone in real need of our help.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I'm going to say no more but just point you in the direction of Hayley Kalinins.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Please read her story and let's do whatever we can to get her the help and hope that she and her lovely, young family need.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Thank you in anticipation. Please click on the link below and go to Hayley's page and donate then share, share, share!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Lottie xxxx</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="https://www.gofundme.com/6rhyr2nk">Please let's help Hayley and her young family.</a></span>Lottie Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03411972070077999678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625447163483085665.post-38814155945150874482015-10-13T02:01:00.000-07:002015-10-13T02:01:34.257-07:00Gorilla Glue UK
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'm always happy to use Lottie's Interiors</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">to look at different products.....if it's something I would use myself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Today's post is one such product. I particularly like the broken pot solution as I for one am a tad lazy when it comes to bringing pots in to prevent frost damage. More often than not, my favourite pots end up in pieces.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I'm just wondering if it's strong enough to mend my daughter's broken heart on realising after taking her to One Direction's final tour concert on Sunday that Harry and Co would be going their separate ways very soon! Such a shame. Love them or loathe them.....it really was a fantastic show.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Here's a possible solution! I'll hand over to Gorilla Glue to explain..</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">See <a href="http://uk.gorillaglue.com/">UK Gorilla Glue</a> for more info and stockists in your area.</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></u></b> </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Guest Post –
Repair Not Replace and save money! – by Gorilla Glue UK. <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A broken plant pot will find its
way into everyone’s garden at some point and is something that we often can’t
control due to the uncertainly of the elements! We are fast becoming a society
that finds it all too easy to go out and spend money buying another item rather
than using DIY skills to repair like the generations before would have done. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMeSJu1DUIzlNf_owbkKgEEqF0UUFKAmgBk6cb8ZnwWG536xaSC2SxnnXcE6DXWSXVKI-tlZsI711rwABzl52ToArGlhPfdd1VSHyXhdSD2jnCCehjOOOAdemIC0wP1y-pVEvTU-Bahr4/s1600/Broken+Plant+Pot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMeSJu1DUIzlNf_owbkKgEEqF0UUFKAmgBk6cb8ZnwWG536xaSC2SxnnXcE6DXWSXVKI-tlZsI711rwABzl52ToArGlhPfdd1VSHyXhdSD2jnCCehjOOOAdemIC0wP1y-pVEvTU-Bahr4/s400/Broken+Plant+Pot.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Here is a simple solution for
fixing your broken plant pots. We’ve chosen to use Gorilla Glue as once it has
cured it can stand up to intense heat or extreme cold and is also 100%
waterproof, so ideal for fixing items that find themselves at home outdoors. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Step One: Damp It<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In order to activate Gorilla Glue,
damp the surface of one half of the broken pot first with a little bit of
water. A spray bottle would work well as the glue is cured with the help of
moisture. However do not add water to the bottle. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Step Two: Glue It<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Apply a thin layer of glue to the
other surface but use it sparingly. A USP of Gorilla Glue is that it expands up
to three times its size during curing which helps to form an unbreakable bond
with almost any material including wood, ceramic, stone and metal. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Once the glue is set, if there is
a bit of expansion resulting in foam simply cut away the excess with a pocket
knife.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXpL0v-bRwVdGKbo-Dm6rmLIj3w9d36fWDfJYklEe3NTrC4YYpg6bTRz4YObwonKObc10dBPVKnGESkSFLXonD6J92MP_JRE9eeEnXrolJSqfJAi1JtaRuusn8UOvhwnIsh1Az9MyjQLU/s1600/Fixing+plant+pot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXpL0v-bRwVdGKbo-Dm6rmLIj3w9d36fWDfJYklEe3NTrC4YYpg6bTRz4YObwonKObc10dBPVKnGESkSFLXonD6J92MP_JRE9eeEnXrolJSqfJAi1JtaRuusn8UOvhwnIsh1Az9MyjQLU/s400/Fixing+plant+pot.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Step Three: Grip it<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Grip the pieces that you have
stuck together for 1 – 2 hours, you can use a piece of stone, or a heavy book
or even a bit of Gorilla Tape. That way the bond line improves with better gripping
resulting in a finer finish. Leave for 24 hours for an incredibly strong bond!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And there you have it! A fixed
pot brightening up your garden again proving that you don’t need to spend money
in replacing the item – just use a bit of trusty DIY!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8YkgixmK2hFGQ83kNlLXaQVen3QPremBG69anLPV9GDunuOYqY5cZ-lqUQPMFcTDuVwJfwr37puSjCHt7njNqjmz-Ej_DrcxSXfWu3XqRGESeA3xYCYcVvTYZh75J84wGdf7NkU_T42w/s1600/Finished+Result+with+Gorilla+Glue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8YkgixmK2hFGQ83kNlLXaQVen3QPremBG69anLPV9GDunuOYqY5cZ-lqUQPMFcTDuVwJfwr37puSjCHt7njNqjmz-Ej_DrcxSXfWu3XqRGESeA3xYCYcVvTYZh75J84wGdf7NkU_T42w/s400/Finished+Result+with+Gorilla+Glue.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMeSJu1DUIzlNf_owbkKgEEqF0UUFKAmgBk6cb8ZnwWG536xaSC2SxnnXcE6DXWSXVKI-tlZsI711rwABzl52ToArGlhPfdd1VSHyXhdSD2jnCCehjOOOAdemIC0wP1y-pVEvTU-Bahr4/s1600/Broken+Plant+Pot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </span></div>
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Lottie Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03411972070077999678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625447163483085665.post-8483563401699169152015-09-02T12:57:00.000-07:002015-09-02T13:31:39.014-07:00A design challenge for £20.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The summer hols are drawing to an end. Perhaps they have ended for you already?</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I am perhaps one of the few people who actually look forward to the arrival of Autumn and Winter....not because I don't enjoy Summer. As one who suffers from Reynaud's phenomenon, I can tell you, warmth is my best friend! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">What I do look forward to are winter clothes....boots... big, comforting cardigans...scarves....lighting the wood burner for the first time, something my husband won't allow me to do until October, even though there have been odd occasions where I could have easily lit it in June or July!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I also quite like to introduce the odd Autumn/Winter colour in to the house by way of wall colour, furniture updates or cushions. These are things that can be fairly easily changed and do not have to cost the earth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The ideal opportunity presented itself when I was contacted by <a href="https://www.room4interiors.com/">Room 4 Interiors</a> and asked if I would like to take part in their Blogger Desk Challenge set by themselves and <a href="http://www.presentsformen.co.uk/qwerkity/">Qwerkity</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">For £20 I had to update/transform my desk area. As you can see below, my desk was fairly uninspiring. Fairly functional.</span> </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq6mZoZL9CpX5UZwprNs5UhWMyxQ-IqnYbxVtY-Bpw6IQJ8PV7GPX892H9WaIIddROuImra6xG8LTAfkCsHTKZJAPlEwHSBAEyhcPOiSInUZUsZGNWb_32Vd2Fwq9srh3xcS8MrMGAQ60/s1600/P1040359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq6mZoZL9CpX5UZwprNs5UhWMyxQ-IqnYbxVtY-Bpw6IQJ8PV7GPX892H9WaIIddROuImra6xG8LTAfkCsHTKZJAPlEwHSBAEyhcPOiSInUZUsZGNWb_32Vd2Fwq9srh3xcS8MrMGAQ60/s400/P1040359.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before the makeover</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwCJ57mp8J0V_ZhtRUQm6qlEkJKpdAEbWUDzWqPU0WA0gozrZjLM3iBvoB-UebbVnpHU3inL8liWfmGwRjO8RE_YhtYdSCd2OU8FmSoV5gHoGkqFg3-4jfoM72RteskiLoa56uCYgg7A/s1600/DESK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwCJ57mp8J0V_ZhtRUQm6qlEkJKpdAEbWUDzWqPU0WA0gozrZjLM3iBvoB-UebbVnpHU3inL8liWfmGwRjO8RE_YhtYdSCd2OU8FmSoV5gHoGkqFg3-4jfoM72RteskiLoa56uCYgg7A/s640/DESK.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Post makeover</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXbGXiKccoo7E-Qk4yE5ytn-t_pDfe_riyj2LrbZaMV5oaFBuwZhdLEGkMbepsa6mUQ490u9XB6xhRl6ftecM56kbu196dGmFbXoiuULngvCmFQpXdahdb-AXcVoawU2JNp96Ea_iIM-w/s1600/P1040365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXbGXiKccoo7E-Qk4yE5ytn-t_pDfe_riyj2LrbZaMV5oaFBuwZhdLEGkMbepsa6mUQ490u9XB6xhRl6ftecM56kbu196dGmFbXoiuULngvCmFQpXdahdb-AXcVoawU2JNp96Ea_iIM-w/s640/P1040365.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Papered desk top</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">To begin with I painted the whole desk in </span><a href="http://www.farrow-ball.com/"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Farrow and Ball</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> Railings. I already had this paint as we used it on our stairway so no cost there. I think by now most people who know me now know I am a big fan of all things F&B!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I then gave the top of the desk a bit of life by covering it with Lotus BP 2047, a Farrow and Ball wallpaper. This was an off cut, so again, no cost! There are some gorgeous papers out there to suit all tastes and directions and off cuts can be a great way of adding something extra whether that be decorating furniture or covering note books.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">With the £20 I added a clear glass vase from TK Maxx for £6, a pin board from Tesco for my interiors magazine cuttings and samples (I painted the surround in Railings to match) costing £4, my favourite Oriental Lilies for £7 and a candle for £2.99......so just a penny shy of £20 in total.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I hope you like what I've done. If you do, please retweet my post...I could be in with a shot of winning a £15 voucher to spend at Chroma Stationery, a fab Dog and Pen paperweight from Qwerkity and an invaluable Weekly Desk Planner so that there will be some chance I will be able to organise my thoughts in to plans now the children have returned to school!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />Lottie Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03411972070077999678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625447163483085665.post-8753290617175031562015-07-30T02:48:00.000-07:002015-07-30T02:54:41.671-07:00A bit of upcycling and new coat hooks<span style="font-family: Georgia;">School hols always provide a great opportunity to get the kids working! Tidying and sorting which, oddly, children appear to quite enjoy. Mine do, at least.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">There's something really therapeutic about having a really good sort and throw away. We seem to gather lots of small 'bits'....tiny bits of paper, endless mini notepads, bits of string (?!) and other oddments. My two are slowly growing out of the habit of insisting on keeping all of these oddments. Where previously they would protest that they do 'play with them' and that small pieces of paper do 'have a job', nowadays they are easier to convince of the need to get rid.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">When it comes to furniture, it's always good as and when you are bored of something or want to purchase something new to consider what you have and whether you can upcycle or buy pre-loved.....sounds so much nicer than second hand!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Last week I drove to beautiful Chipping Campden to collect an old school style bench that had been used in a village hall. I had wanted something fairly simple, utilitarian, as seating in our entrance hall. I paid £20 plus the cost of half a tank of petrol and it's exactly what I wanted. Just needs a bit of sanding and the legs painting.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin-tdOEwDVCJD4aVYjBT6zeMAlzYu8uumNZcEL5en9AI7EElf6uwgo22uCrI18oV30ugczSCz8dJ5EavznewcTRD9ExE_zyvxnPJHceTj19hcydLuWlTmiSEXnqLKd1EQ9i6dQ19oXr8c/s1600/Bench+and+hooks.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin-tdOEwDVCJD4aVYjBT6zeMAlzYu8uumNZcEL5en9AI7EElf6uwgo22uCrI18oV30ugczSCz8dJ5EavznewcTRD9ExE_zyvxnPJHceTj19hcydLuWlTmiSEXnqLKd1EQ9i6dQ19oXr8c/s640/Bench+and+hooks.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">With upcycling in mind, I was contacted recently by Grace and Glory Home, an online boutique selling beautiful architectural hardware and home accessories. They were doing a piece on how to reinvent your furniture and asked for a few tips. It's a really good article and I'm including the link here. <a href="http://www.graceandgloryhome.co.uk/blog/how-to-reinvent-furniture/">www.graceandgloryhome.co.uk/blog/how-to-reinvent-furniture/</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">And whilst on Grace and Glory, I have been searching recently for coat hooks for our hallway. I had my eye on the iconic Eames coat hooks below but at a couple of hundred pounds I just couldn't justify the cost. Too big for the space as well, which is probably a good thing!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So in the absence of funds and space for an Eames original, I spotted these hooks by Danish Designers 'House Doctor' below on the Grace and Glory website. At £16 for 5 hooks of varying colours (the additional 2 are purple and green and yellow and red) I thought these were a great alternative. I might actually prefer them and they the perfect size and really sturdy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Right. Off to attack the next room!</span>Lottie Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03411972070077999678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625447163483085665.post-59422073768030320662015-07-14T05:40:00.000-07:002015-07-14T05:40:34.790-07:00A Mole's Breath disaster!<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I want to be able to get it right first time! This method saves effort, time and more crucially, money.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">On my latest personal project, I have failed on all 3 of the above despite my best efforts. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I said I would share with you project triumphs and disasters and therefore let me please introduce the first major disaster!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Our 'not so beautiful house' was attractively part clad in an orangey brown stained pine cladding. Mmmm. The rather respectable, elderly neighbours loved looking across at it, I'm sure! Coupled with the rather unattractive elderly UPVC windows, the whole look is cheap and cheerful....with less of the cheerful! A master class in bad UPVC windows.. (and I would stress here, I am not a UPVC snob. I've seen some great looking UPVC frames...just not these ones) Not horrendous. I've seen far worse. Not good though.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpnWCrzOrOVRYVCSnzx4NMyyuvZVLaIx5NmkB09obcfy71D7ceaMkyMi9HYAp01qWdvvmbzkymthJAztY7SFr1fC8sH1ocO4hEtnvi6cxbvrobewCoL2xP8C4SanZG7RiklisOusbkc74/s1600/P1040338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpnWCrzOrOVRYVCSnzx4NMyyuvZVLaIx5NmkB09obcfy71D7ceaMkyMi9HYAp01qWdvvmbzkymthJAztY7SFr1fC8sH1ocO4hEtnvi6cxbvrobewCoL2xP8C4SanZG7RiklisOusbkc74/s400/P1040338.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The photo above actually doesn't do the house justice, in that in the flesh it is far uglier...it was a beautiful summer's day and even the most horrid things can look ok when the sun is shining. The angle is also fairly flattering.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Having tested many a tester pot we plumped for Mole's Breath (Farrow and Ball...again) having undercoated in our trusted Zinsser B.I.N. undercoat.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The results are below and I can say with confidence that I hate it! Possibly not quite as much as I hated the orange cladding....but I'm not happy with the result. Again, the photo below does the end result far more favours than it deserves. Too dark? Too grey?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I think unfortunately, much of the problem is down to the window frames...and in particular the trim that overhangs the cladding. And the back door which needs to be replaced. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Silk purse and sow's ear spring to mind.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Any suggestions would be most appreciated. I'm hoping that it won't require a complete new paint job as I fear my marriage may not survive it!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">If there are any window companies reading that fancy taking on the challenge of prettying up this house for a bit of PR then please, please get in touch! I'll happily devote a whole article to the subject in return!</span><br />
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Lottie Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03411972070077999678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625447163483085665.post-68278696727775641762015-06-14T12:41:00.000-07:002015-06-14T12:41:46.729-07:00Staircase transformation!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The past few months have all been about, amongst other projects, dragging our staircase and entrance hall kicking and screaming into the 21st century.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I think this job, possibly more than any other we have done, best illustrates my philosophy when it comes to homes. In the absence of a sizeable budget I have had to work with what was there. In an ideal world I would have ripped out the whole staircase (and probably the whole front of the house) and replaced it with some funky, modern entrance hall complete with statement staircase thus avoiding all of the issues with the existing uneven levels and 'interesting' carpentry skills and old fashioned add-ons. Or would I?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I kind of like doing jobs on a budget. It forces or reminds one that it is possible to be creative and achieve a satisfying result without throwing oodles of cash at things, a principle that can be applied to most things really. I like the challenge. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The existing staircase in our hall was solid. That was its redeeming feature. Solid....but incredibly dingy and unwelcoming. The walls were covered in brown paint and a bit of exposed brickwork and the floor was a tired laminate.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Taking inspiration from a picture of a painted staircase I found online, we set about removing the central balustrades, painting all of the woodwork with dulux brilliant white eggshell, spending about £850 on glass inserts up the stairs and round on to the landing and then picking out the centre of each tread in Farrow and Ball's 'Railings' hard wearing floor paint. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A good tip...initially we painted Zinsser B-I-N primer (available in most high street DIY stores) on to the varnished timber to prevent the rather orange varnish showing through. I would absolutely recommend this product. It has prevented exactly that. We tested just using a normal primer undercoat first and the orange stain showed through pretty quickly. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We replaced the laminate with engineered oak which runs through from the lounge and kitchen and finished with crisp, simple white walls. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The result is a light and airy entrance hall. Picking out the tread in a colour has resulted in a staircase that looks like it is meant to be rather than one that looks like the best that could be done with what was there, if that makes sense. That was always the worry. Even my poor handyman-come-the-weekend husband who was in charge of painting the whole staircase and then painstakingly marking out and painting the stripe down the centre of the treads agrees it was all worth the effort!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Dlf_Dv8ZutiiahFHTuvs2z_jQneuw7OQ-A8nM9nGIu6l8n1IxZn-QfdCBDgsPs5YJ6su2ny2FrCrll2i6hheSyzq38MApLOPSDUbtojzci3XNdnZZAhngaUyZZILnibCnhAZbwSKQqE/s1600/P1040313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Dlf_Dv8ZutiiahFHTuvs2z_jQneuw7OQ-A8nM9nGIu6l8n1IxZn-QfdCBDgsPs5YJ6su2ny2FrCrll2i6hheSyzq38MApLOPSDUbtojzci3XNdnZZAhngaUyZZILnibCnhAZbwSKQqE/s640/P1040313.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Adding the Harmony ribbon pendant light in black from John Lewis (£130) finishes off the landing void nicely and throws off a really nice warm, white light into the space in addition to recessed spot lighting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">All that remains is to add a bit of artwork and some storage solutions and that's another job ticked off the list! The only problem with finishing this is it shows up how badly the porch needs an overhaul. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Don't put your tool kit and paintbrush down just yet hubby!</span><br />
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<br />Lottie Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03411972070077999678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625447163483085665.post-80010610225162820572015-06-13T12:44:00.001-07:002015-06-13T12:44:44.942-07:00Guest Post - Turning your Outhouse in to a Workspace - by Room 4 Interiors<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Lottie's Interiors is pleased to welcome <a href="https://www.room4interiors.com/">Room 4 Interiors</a> as a guest blogger here. I'm particularly interested in this subject as it is on our 'To do' list as my husband is one of the 4.2 million home office workers and has an office in desperate need of an overhaul!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Hope you enjoy these great ideas!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><u></u></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><u>Turning your outhouse in to a work space</u></strong></span><br />
<strong><u><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></u></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The home office has for a long time been the place where many self-employed people find themselves during the week. Trying to shut out the noise of the kids watching T.V; the neighbours mowing the lawn and the council dustbin collection every Tuesday at preciously 8 o'clock. It is the place where your empty coffee cup is always a distraction and where your Facebook page is never closed!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Recent studies found that of the 30.2 million people working in 2014, 4.2 million were people who worked from home. This figure constituted 13.9% of the working population. These figures show an alarming number of people working from home amongst the distractions of everyday domestic life. A single and elegant solution to these distractions, which has seen a rise in recent years, is the outhouse office.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Tucked securely outside of the house, an outhouse office or garden office has huge benefits for both your productivity levels and mental health. Many people who found themselves working and living within the same environment, suffered from the effects of anxiety and depression. Thus, having that distinct break between office and home environment can be a huge benefit to home workers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="https://www.room4interiors.com/">Room 4 Interiors</a> take a look at how to turn your outhouse or garage space into the optimal home work space:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><strong><u>1. Go modular.</u></strong></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">picture source <a href="http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com/">www.theorganisedhousewife.com</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">For many garden or outhouse office spaces, the amount of floor space available is limited. Changing to modular furniture you create the optimal amount of desk space within the minimum amount of floor space. Modular furniture is a great way to create a desk unit that fits into your office space perfectly, while simultaneously allowing you to extend or alter your desk unit whenever needed. One of our top modular picks is this <a href="http://www.room4interiors.com/p143387/hampton-white-computer-work-station.htm"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Hampton computer station</span></a> with expandable shelving. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It is the perfect fit for those who spend most of their days staring at a computer screen. The white finish helps to keep your small office space light and open. Pairing this with a <a href="http://www.room4interiors.com/p143417/hampton-white-desk.htm">Hampton white desk</a> and a <a href="https://www.room4interiors.com/p143285/hampton-white-four-drawer-pedestal.htm">Hampton 4 drawer</a> pedestal, you have the perfect desk unit for your workspace.</span></div>
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: Georgia;">2. Make it yours.</span></u></strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-cDLKBG4T3SDtFvYnY93-tMfio7i2jNzfDaqNejC5BXqbxr1a0xpMA4Pf6c1sRgrIn1hwUm-DZOmxHOQOGICRbwaUBVanK8LttUQ7zYP2tiXrSr-SH9as7R9eVFqTUa-dU2Vz2gOlUI/s1600/Blog+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-cDLKBG4T3SDtFvYnY93-tMfio7i2jNzfDaqNejC5BXqbxr1a0xpMA4Pf6c1sRgrIn1hwUm-DZOmxHOQOGICRbwaUBVanK8LttUQ7zYP2tiXrSr-SH9as7R9eVFqTUa-dU2Vz2gOlUI/s320/Blog+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span> <span style="font-family: Georgia;">The best part about having an office at home is being able to own that space and make it yours. You produce some of the best work when you are comfortable in your surroundings. Include personal elements in to your home office such as pictures of family and friends, unique and quirky stationery that may bring through your personality, unique home office furniture or simply paint the walls your favourite colour. Your home office space is your own, so bring your own style through when designing it. <a href="https://www.room4interiors.com/ch4/c494/home-office-furniture/room4-home-office-2400.htm">Furniture pieces</a> such as the ones pictured above are great for creating a unique workspace. With a mixture of white and oak finishes, it can bring texture and creativity to an otherwise plain space.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKcNKfZJN0-Kt7D38_5D-30HopmolkhvGD9oewIqxYrcC6NeMKMU8NAtYdDFyqSvofxU7Sa1c5ntRmFhLd7FWcGW4vpyqup6U1nVGJvaRvNEEIK2jPxa_jz8fPnn9TP__fMxZd_qvxn2o/s1600/Blog+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKcNKfZJN0-Kt7D38_5D-30HopmolkhvGD9oewIqxYrcC6NeMKMU8NAtYdDFyqSvofxU7Sa1c5ntRmFhLd7FWcGW4vpyqup6U1nVGJvaRvNEEIK2jPxa_jz8fPnn9TP__fMxZd_qvxn2o/s640/Blog+5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">3. Get organised.</span></u></strong></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuL4zH4xNsFR-m4vIiPzndn32Rq4jaHoVxQG7EfeFZnXRRLWsH6GRwCCskk35VS9vxbt6kwWQozgiiA0_irumEuTceFbzclVHRIeJLz2kBCfEaIIQ16dOiIu6aFEPlDtluCdp1QdTUqhw/s1600/Blog+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuL4zH4xNsFR-m4vIiPzndn32Rq4jaHoVxQG7EfeFZnXRRLWsH6GRwCCskk35VS9vxbt6kwWQozgiiA0_irumEuTceFbzclVHRIeJLz2kBCfEaIIQ16dOiIu6aFEPlDtluCdp1QdTUqhw/s320/Blog+6.jpg" width="248" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">picture source <a href="http://www.brit.com/">www.brit.com</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You should never underestimate the power of an organised work space. One of the first steps towards a productive day is making sure that your work space is neat and tidy, thus allowing your thoughts to follow the same pattern. Create dedicated spaces where everything should go. By doing this you will ensure that you not only know where you've left your favourite pen but you also know where all of your invoices are filed. Including cute organisation tools or accessories is also a nice way to make your workspace more unique and fun.</span></div>
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: Georgia;">4. Storage is key</span></u></strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiagUl7OOJbeWhyphenhyphen59_s0bSGqapRwFOFnaUCvuLy8yvagUmxnRMsNB1HLPLc5ypbfYbCqAAOPMXnPSP2uQZSnON9AcUCFuwa2v3up98DJ6ZKFXIxKGHOgWNV6WVvXFQlptx9xKrCKCjmWW4/s1600/Blog+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiagUl7OOJbeWhyphenhyphen59_s0bSGqapRwFOFnaUCvuLy8yvagUmxnRMsNB1HLPLc5ypbfYbCqAAOPMXnPSP2uQZSnON9AcUCFuwa2v3up98DJ6ZKFXIxKGHOgWNV6WVvXFQlptx9xKrCKCjmWW4/s400/Blog+7.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">One great way to create the facility for organisation is to ensure that you have enough storage space. A large cabinet can be a great way to create storage space with a stylish touch. Placing baskets, shelving units and holders inside the cabinet will ensure that your stationery and important documentation stay neat and organised. Items such as the <a href="https://www.room4interiors.com/p146652/portobello-display-unit.htm">Portobello display cabinet</a> is a great piece to keep the light feel of your office space whilst still creating the necessary storage space.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> <strong><u>5. Make it comfortable.</u></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A necessary addition to any garden home office is comfortable work seating. When working long hours you need to ensure that you have the appropriate</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">home office desk chair. An uncomfortable environment or stiff dining chair can see your mind wandering towards the sofa in the lounge or even worse, your comfy and oh-so inviting bed! In order to fully utilise your work space you need to ensure that you are comfortable enough to want to stay in it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">For some great home office furniture ideas or contemporary modular office furniture <a href="https://www.room4interiors.com/">Room 4 Interiors</a> has wonderful pieces for both the home office or the outhouse/garden office.</span></div>
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Lottie Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03411972070077999678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625447163483085665.post-36328576407872899952015-05-05T04:28:00.000-07:002015-05-05T04:28:37.307-07:00Ceiling pendant lights.<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We're part way through the hall and landing project and at the point of lighting choices again. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Along the landing we have inherited low level spot lights, which on first glance, looked naff. The fittings were cheap, cumbersome looking things which didn't help. Having lived with them they are actually really useful and as a result we've decided to keep them and just update the fittings. With young children, having the ability to have low level lighting on when they first go to bed is really useful. Worth considering I would say as an addition to ceiling spots.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Our entrance hall has, in part, a double height ceiling to the landing. The ceiling has an existing pendant fitting and needs a shade to provide some interest. As with most things in this house, it is not central to anything, rather, randomly placed on the ceiling, presumably in a position that the original owners could reach with little or no effort. As a result, it's probably not best placed, but for now, we are going to work with it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">And so to the search for a ceiling pendant shade, taking in to consideration the required drop and the amount of light required. The general look with the hallway and landing is clean, white, fairly contemporary. So the decisions are...keep it 'simple', choose something 'interesting' or inject some 'bling'. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Here's a selection from my search starting with bling!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpGsvxzmeJ6uz9PuOOGqd6jSCrLafFE8nKOV6QbyGRG7wxL6AMgcitHdIxW7v1Qxo3al3EeAU7ZtMCbQ8BkJrS5NeX3xU-E-87tqAQDsrwiP4BRa88XwLzo4w71hAFpfUFsH6PXQ83J5M/s1600/first-light-cosmic-8121-ceiling-pendant-18702-10600_thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpGsvxzmeJ6uz9PuOOGqd6jSCrLafFE8nKOV6QbyGRG7wxL6AMgcitHdIxW7v1Qxo3al3EeAU7ZtMCbQ8BkJrS5NeX3xU-E-87tqAQDsrwiP4BRa88XwLzo4w71hAFpfUFsH6PXQ83J5M/s1600/first-light-cosmic-8121-ceiling-pendant-18702-10600_thumb.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc__RmI_VUdZhcyu3ourdssozwjVq1jkQFLPvWQAAOi4DpP_8VC5O6sjDNWZh0IFOA2V46XRdtEJ3vnhc-5Mos5yVRyBKH9K0kN-RfauEU2hBLLxb5mFwxnl4tMDrI9Bxc0EmoRlXLf7k/s1600/Graham+and+Green+ceiling+light.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc__RmI_VUdZhcyu3ourdssozwjVq1jkQFLPvWQAAOi4DpP_8VC5O6sjDNWZh0IFOA2V46XRdtEJ3vnhc-5Mos5yVRyBKH9K0kN-RfauEU2hBLLxb5mFwxnl4tMDrI9Bxc0EmoRlXLf7k/s1600/Graham+and+Green+ceiling+light.png" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrEkjdLFTO5348BjFd9jhFOJhEZDC6FX37FE4tnBFuf4jIOOD35rt6MdufGfV183jp68mTrVrhJGJGS0C0Otiedb5RdumeIj-tM5c4X_SghAuKaV1IAU5qEs6xAHPxfTjkvZBhbxQwwZQ/s1600/franklite-valentina-fl2265-drop-pendant-24763-13869_thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrEkjdLFTO5348BjFd9jhFOJhEZDC6FX37FE4tnBFuf4jIOOD35rt6MdufGfV183jp68mTrVrhJGJGS0C0Otiedb5RdumeIj-tM5c4X_SghAuKaV1IAU5qEs6xAHPxfTjkvZBhbxQwwZQ/s320/franklite-valentina-fl2265-drop-pendant-24763-13869_thumb.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A word of caution</span>, <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">the Franklite pendant above retails at £6,048.00! Ouch!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Or what about Tom Dixon's Mirror Ball pendants?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRiIYLmeTBqhChlFna_pRNUMcWbshb87VPjuXYdBxTb_JYSbmneVckdzhcA3vt-q89baaCuXkwKEs5w3at5fq4w_5RfCrQVq6SaLMicLmBi2rI9m5FpJzySunEMQQ2_cZaQmoJKtin1E/s1600/Tom+Dixon+Mirror+Ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRiIYLmeTBqhChlFna_pRNUMcWbshb87VPjuXYdBxTb_JYSbmneVckdzhcA3vt-q89baaCuXkwKEs5w3at5fq4w_5RfCrQVq6SaLMicLmBi2rI9m5FpJzySunEMQQ2_cZaQmoJKtin1E/s320/Tom+Dixon+Mirror+Ball.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I love the four below for contemporary, white but interesting shapes. Think the feather shade, as lovely as it is, would rapidly gather dust though!</span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWqNHVNBeJ6DF18qOuNNsfKbyYvihn1TTVfJF86jy9LoGcrAo-B8ig99JysCSLIfqHz3iQOGknOxoBd4T9G-5BtF5DYaskHWCyIFa0axZoKgHWtDcZnypiZPalj2m9Mp4qAQgjU5Ue9ls/s1600/Graham+and+Green+light.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWqNHVNBeJ6DF18qOuNNsfKbyYvihn1TTVfJF86jy9LoGcrAo-B8ig99JysCSLIfqHz3iQOGknOxoBd4T9G-5BtF5DYaskHWCyIFa0axZoKgHWtDcZnypiZPalj2m9Mp4qAQgjU5Ue9ls/s320/Graham+and+Green+light.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOVPBCAvBhpfHv2Lrq3F9hFBAkTgT2SsNZcAIKXWqQ_swfFUL3EW7sItWxAqboyKSQ5MHWdGNgIFYNvc2VWKBHzG7Fiq1wUJRFdP-meZPz1EfyNtcCReIBNWXTlFia6gpg8wa0mf1HI0A/s1600/Vita+feathered+ceiling+pendant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOVPBCAvBhpfHv2Lrq3F9hFBAkTgT2SsNZcAIKXWqQ_swfFUL3EW7sItWxAqboyKSQ5MHWdGNgIFYNvc2VWKBHzG7Fiq1wUJRFdP-meZPz1EfyNtcCReIBNWXTlFia6gpg8wa0mf1HI0A/s400/Vita+feathered+ceiling+pendant.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Love these David Hunt Antler pendants...but not quite right for us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We have ordered (from trusty old John Lewis), the Harmony ribbon pendant below. Now. Let me just say, this image does not do this shade justice at all. In the flesh, this shade is rather nice. Quite elegant, but contemporary with it. The fabric ribbons are black, but when illuminated, take on a more deep navy, purplish look. The strips are slightly wider than they appear here too which gives the shade a more substantial look and at 60cm in diameter it should fill the void nicely. At £130.00 it's not too painful on the bank balance either.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">For the lighting above, see lightingstoredirect.co.uk. Graham and Green, Christopher Wray, John Lewis and Rockett St George and The Conran Shop.</span></div>
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Lottie Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03411972070077999678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625447163483085665.post-73516366460220422942015-04-28T06:07:00.000-07:002015-04-28T06:07:07.742-07:00A little bit of Cheshire style with Samuel Charles Interiors
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The great thing about writing about Interiors is that I now
get to work with some fantastic companies. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was recently contacted by Samuel Charles Interiors based
in Congleton, Cheshire. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Company address instantly brought back many fond
memories. I spent a happy 6 or so years living in beautiful Cheshire after
graduating and Congleton was in my ‘patch’ when I started my working life as a
land purchaser for a building company. Not all of my memories were ‘fond’
working in what was (and may still be) a very male dominated work environment
but I loved roaming the Cheshire countryside with its beautiful villages and
towns and I got to know it very well. So much so, I bought and renovated my
first house in the county.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Samuel Charles approached me and asked if I would be
interested in choosing an item from their collection and then they would put
together a mood board and I would take the same piece and do the same.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Before I reveal the results, a little bit about Samuel
Charles Interiors, by Samuel Charles Interiors.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Having over 25 years’ experience in interior design, the </span><a href="http://www.samuelcharlesinteriors.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Samuel
Charles Interiors</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> team certainly know a thing or two about fabulous
homes! With their finger on the pulse of upcoming trends and an extensive range
of designer products, they provide all the components you’d need for amazing
interiors in your very own home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Akin to one big Pinterest board, you’ll find an array of
interior elements to pick and choose from on the website. Clicking through
embellished soft furnishings, huge regal mirrors and designer wallpaper; you’ll
be able to curate the perfect combination of products to totally revamp your whole
room.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Combining luxury fabrics, furnishings and wallpaper, they
understand how to really bring a room together. Your home isn’t the just
wallpaper you use, or the statement wall art that greets your guests, it’s
everything that makes up the room! The memories, family portraits and interior
elements that you’ve handpicked that make a house a home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">However, if you’re struggling to find the right finishing
touch or the right style for your home, their design consultation service could
guide you in the right direction. Drawing upon their years of experience in the
industry, Samuel Charles Interiors apply their expertise to personal properties
and commercial spaces. Working with popular trends to create a space that
reflects your own style, the team work with textures, colour and lighting to
help you fulfil a room’s potential.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every element of a room is important. There’s no point in
having show-stopping wallpaper if the rest of your furnishings don’t match up.
To really evoke the sense that a room is your very own sanctuary you must
ensure every aspect works together in harmony. Do you have the right colour
palette to suit the use of the room? Will the furnishings offer enough space
and comfort when entertaining guests? Does the full setup actually fit your lifestyle?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We often disregard questions like this and buy all of our
room elements in dribs and drabs, without considering how they’d look together.
Having that extra helping hand from the Samuel Charles Interiors team gives you
a valued second opinion from industry experts. Collating your ideas and running
them by the team will give you access to a wealth of knowledge that will
enhance the overall look of your home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Or perhaps you want to go it alone to put your own twist on
your home? Their site offers one of the biggest ranges of luxury fabrics in the
UK, for anyone looking to upcycle old furnishings, create their own curtains,
or even your own bedding and throws. Whilst they know their expertise sets them
apart, the team understand what you need to really unleash your imagination.
Reconstructing vintage furnishings is of course a popular trend in many homes,
but you can always put a designer edge on your finished product with these
luxury fabrics.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Samuel Charles Interiors and Lottie's Interiors </u></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My choice from their fabulous collection was a Biedermeier
Walnut Burr console table. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Elegant, simple, a timeless classic. I can instantly
see how a piece of furniture like this could work equally well in a classic or
a more contemporary scheme…the mix of old and new. This console would look
fabulous in an ultra-modern, all white scheme with pops of colour and elements
of shiny here and there as well as with the rich tones in both the classic and
more contemporary ideas illustrated below. My idea pairs this classic piece of
furniture with contemporary design, with the saffron Ligne Roset sofa,
Eijffinger purple and silver wallpaper (a feature wall), and contemporary soft
furnishings and accessories. Equally, I love the more classic approach taken by
Samuel Charles, illustrating, indeed, what a versatile table this is. </span></div>
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Lottie Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03411972070077999678noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625447163483085665.post-46936204633835541762015-04-07T04:16:00.000-07:002015-04-11T04:12:52.655-07:00Kitchen a year on.....what works...what doesn't? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The thought behind this post was to look over the year of test driving a new kitchen and to pick out positives and negatives which may help anyone looking at planning a new kitchen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Over all we are happy with the end result from both a functional and 'look' point of view. Whilst I played it a little safe and decided against a funky, modern, shiny minimalist design (units), the wooden painted kitchen works for us. I'm not sure how long a sleek, shiny kitchen would have stayed sleek and shiny with 5 year old boy scooting up and down and an 11 year old girl on roller skates whizzing up and down! In our heads we are (sometimes) precious, minimalist, young singletons. In reality, we are a hectic household with muddy boots, clumsy children, pets and everything else 'normal'. The ability to be able to get the paint pot out and touch up knocks is reassuring...even if we rarely do it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The choice of paint colour was good. The choice of paint manufacturer...not so good, for the kitchen units at least. We used Little Greene and our painter found them difficult to apply evenly and although egg shell, I have found them slightly difficult to keep mark-free. Our previous units were painted in a Dulux paint and I found the finish a far better one.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Tip 1. Consider the practicalities....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The floor choice was a good one. We had endless debate over what to put down, with half of those in on the debate favouring tiled floor and half wood. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Naturally, the debate centred around practicality above look, with those favouring tiles questioning the durability of wood in the kitchen end....water spills, fat spitting, under floor heating effectiveness and general wear and tear. I googled endless sites looking at the pros and cons of both and in the end found no consensus of opinion! Not very helpful. For all of the cons there were pros for both.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">We went with oiled engineered oak and so far it has worked a treat. We didn't go for under floor heating and we haven't needed it. The wood feels warm under foot, even in the winter and because our kitchen benefits from being triple aspect, in the summer it is warm anyway. I love the feel of bare feet on wood as well and as I often poddle around with no shoes on this is a bonus. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Yes. The floor has scratched in places but it is fairly light oak and marks and scuffs barely show. Yes. It is advisable to wipe up spills straight away....but wouldn't most people do that anyway? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I've had tiled kitchen floors previously and there is no doubt that they win hands down on durability......but don't discount wood as an option in the kitchen...despite what you may be told. It's warm, looks great and is comfortable.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">An oversight on my behalf (I left the workers alone one day....) has been that the carpenter permanently attached the kick boards under the units. Mistake number one. I would not recommend this. I would always go with the clip on variety. I recently had a disaster with my blender and some watercress soup and the inability to remove the kick boards as the soup made for the very slight gaps between kick board and floor means that god only knows what's going on under the units! A case of what goes on under the units stays under the units!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">With the general kitchen design, everything seems to be working well. We applied the usual design principle of the kitchen triangle....fridge, stove, sink...but also took some time working out where to have drawers and where to have cupboards. Worth taking that extra bit of time to think about what you need to grab and when when you're in the kitchen!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">On a practical level, having a bin drawer is a bonus. I'm not a fan of pedal bins of any shape or size. They are never big enough and you always have to find a place for them which invariably means in front of something if they are to be near to where you're working. Having a drawer dedicated to hiding a bin is great. It's positioned right in the centre of the functioning end of the kitchen, by the hob and chopping bit of the kitchen. We just had a frame built in the draw that was big enough to house a large, plain, lidless bin. Definitely worth considering if you can sacrifice storage space. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The larder cupboard is also a bonus from a practical point of view. Being able to pull out drawers means you can see and get to stuff at the back without fighting your way through the rest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I appreciate that some of these suggestions rely upon having the necessary space, but even smaller versions of these ideas would work and these are not expensive extras.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQOWV_tTpRoiMqcIMXSWgOAs0D0GFSl4xFKmFjyROQdCkBIKmXoX82oh3Jh432g3MSvHmRKkstAnjT7ZBeKRtoBIvI_-3NPvfmavP21EzTCdoYzX788ulZS76_Fk3yzerHzEsvJZMqlIo/s1600/The+larder+drawers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQOWV_tTpRoiMqcIMXSWgOAs0D0GFSl4xFKmFjyROQdCkBIKmXoX82oh3Jh432g3MSvHmRKkstAnjT7ZBeKRtoBIvI_-3NPvfmavP21EzTCdoYzX788ulZS76_Fk3yzerHzEsvJZMqlIo/s1600/The+larder+drawers.JPG" height="640" width="360" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Pan drawers are also incredibly practical and perfect housed under the hob.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQHGtHqsk58piA993zOmYGmp2vEBwcxBSmiGAC3e_0h0na64wREXDKJXQyJqpLlBU5wWaHLbhSE1qPyX0NP8utpBO1XPX4C_ewRcGxlFrYA1yQGc_ULJ0w3OsyL9oIi6YSLN1MFUosqaM/s1600/pan+drawer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQHGtHqsk58piA993zOmYGmp2vEBwcxBSmiGAC3e_0h0na64wREXDKJXQyJqpLlBU5wWaHLbhSE1qPyX0NP8utpBO1XPX4C_ewRcGxlFrYA1yQGc_ULJ0w3OsyL9oIi6YSLN1MFUosqaM/s1600/pan+drawer.JPG" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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A <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">couple of additions have been plain and simple roller blinds at four windows in very dark charcoal. These we ordered from <a href="http://www.blinds-2go.co.uk/">www.blinds-2go.co.uk</a> We've ordered a number of blinds from this website. They are inexpensive, made to measure....no frills....speedy delivery and perfectly acceptable for what we required.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXlRbqwqWH6vLCRyjTx2VVpaxxDNKQJhRjpiqz1M-gGNIES5z7e81xrVPYCkDX6nNvp3S6RjqCFS5HLwKOx5niopWXUISkNXNyzmfvgDRzfmLBxY9p6iIh_1QsWpVbrhgHlROStF0YO8/s1600/The+blinds.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXlRbqwqWH6vLCRyjTx2VVpaxxDNKQJhRjpiqz1M-gGNIES5z7e81xrVPYCkDX6nNvp3S6RjqCFS5HLwKOx5niopWXUISkNXNyzmfvgDRzfmLBxY9p6iIh_1QsWpVbrhgHlROStF0YO8/s1600/The+blinds.JPG" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">White work surfaces are great. The downside is that they show up dust and marks unlike our previous wood surfaces. In general, period kitchens are far easier to keep clean....or should I say, require less pampering than modern kitchens. Clean lines means more cleaning. Definitely a downside!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7NMepqXp84rHhXZZLFRoR6Nvk5RO78zzo6xAPHKJtwsVxR3I0JCamHObA6Ha-Zc6MYW9H7xzaqoa6905YfFjO6UH8z9iXxMIiWtFAAt0Pni7i2LcTPRLEKjHrY57MjqxOPV4XxFsQhVc/s1600/hallway+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7NMepqXp84rHhXZZLFRoR6Nvk5RO78zzo6xAPHKJtwsVxR3I0JCamHObA6Ha-Zc6MYW9H7xzaqoa6905YfFjO6UH8z9iXxMIiWtFAAt0Pni7i2LcTPRLEKjHrY57MjqxOPV4XxFsQhVc/s1600/hallway+2.JPG" height="180" style="cursor: move;" unselectable="on" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia;">On to the next project. Moving the entrance hall and staircase from the 60's in to the present little by little. Tune in over the next month to see how that one goes!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGqbl-kQcYLJfM1zHsPg4xKiN3E1AosPAMyCY2k-v5gvo7uy7nW07NYH4atgioS4QvaEg7fc8ypdFYyPpbT8ZfUFdxMbyymvP6-PM3zoisaLcQnIMrflQSKDXbHQZEVoZ_vYVT4hP3-s/s1600/hallway.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGqbl-kQcYLJfM1zHsPg4xKiN3E1AosPAMyCY2k-v5gvo7uy7nW07NYH4atgioS4QvaEg7fc8ypdFYyPpbT8ZfUFdxMbyymvP6-PM3zoisaLcQnIMrflQSKDXbHQZEVoZ_vYVT4hP3-s/s1600/hallway.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<img height="54" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7NMepqXp84rHhXZZLFRoR6Nvk5RO78zzo6xAPHKJtwsVxR3I0JCamHObA6Ha-Zc6MYW9H7xzaqoa6905YfFjO6UH8z9iXxMIiWtFAAt0Pni7i2LcTPRLEKjHrY57MjqxOPV4XxFsQhVc/s1600/hallway+2.JPG" style="left: 584px; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 3525px;" width="96" />
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-DRT9usgTGxc%2FVSO6igR0yZI%2FAAAAAAAABlc%2F3Q1SyfBZDXU%2Fs1600%2Fhallway%252B2.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7NMepqXp84rHhXZZLFRoR6Nvk5RO78zzo6xAPHKJtwsVxR3I0JCamHObA6Ha-Zc6MYW9H7xzaqoa6905YfFjO6UH8z9iXxMIiWtFAAt0Pni7i2LcTPRLEKjHrY57MjqxOPV4XxFsQhVc/s1600/hallway+2.JPG" -->Lottie Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03411972070077999678noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625447163483085665.post-42767801603169166672015-03-30T06:05:00.002-07:002015-03-30T06:43:25.198-07:00London Calling....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'm sitting with the warm sunshine on my back feeling somewhat exhausted after a weekend getting my fix of London life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Rounding off a fortnight of celebrations for my husband's birthday, we took the short (ish) hop on the train down to London. Having moved slightly further north recently, we are actually, in terms of time it takes on the train, nearer to London than we were before! I'd like to say that was planned........so I will! It was!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Living in the country means by the end of the weekend, we crave open space again, but whilst we are there we love the buzz of the city, the rich diversity of life and the access to everything that London has to offer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The only slight disappointment was we left London not having spied a single famous person! Boo. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">My husband (not in the slightest bit interested in star spotting of that kind) takes great sport in disbelieving my excited tales of having previously bumped in to Nellie Boswell (Jean Boht) buying smalls in M&S on the King's Road, talking pointed boots with boxer Chris Eubank (very friendly he was too) in Selfridges, standing next to Merlin's Morgana on the tube and spotting one of my fantasy husbands, Louis Theroux, as I waltzed around on a white horse carousel outside the NHM.....not to mention seeing DJ Mike Read as I was about to board the train home. Some years back I stood behind Neil Morrissey (during his Men Behaving Badly years) and his then girlfriend Rachel Weisz, now Mrs Craig, in the queue somewhere. I think Mum had the best haul (in terms of celebrity points) ever when she spotted Elton John (loading box after box) of shoes into the back of his Bentley at Patrick Cox and Prince Charles in one afternoon! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Maybe I take my husband's point. It sounds a little sad when I read it back!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Our stay culminated in a gathering for a birthday meal at The Dairy on Clapham Common. Wow. What a treat that was! The food was exquisite. As we were a largish party, we had the tasting menu and every single dish was small but perfectly formed and served on the most beautiful, but heavy (the waiting staff must have muscles like rocks!) rivened stoneware plates/dishes. The Head Chef and Owner, Robin Gill, has quite a CV and it shows.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">We began the evening at W & C (Wine and Charcuterie) on Clapham Common, the converted loos now a funky, busy bar underneath Clapham Common tube station. Very little has been done to the building....I guess apart from removing the urinals and giving it a darn good clean!! Our conversations on arrival centred around the rather unsavoury stories those walls could probably tell....disgraced MP's and the rest! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">To list every shop we went in and every item I could have purchased would take another few pages, so I will pick my one favourite visit of the day....and one I've mentioned previously. If you want somewhere that has every little bit of kitchen gadgetry (husband satisfied) and all things decorative and functional for the kitchen/dining table then Divertimenti is definitely the shop to head to. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmH9P0NV42I3U3Wm0ndVZ_KDLWgR3M31edJ-GPYvDaShqzq8soHhwx9upFswmNJA4l81iX0Ot4osJ6QUJiEom9n53xuyjg-Y7HMnbo-fsB7VhzvgLceCVc9-G9pXPlI-OsrMT4t3D1C-Y/s1600/Divertimenti-Marylebone-Exterior-thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmH9P0NV42I3U3Wm0ndVZ_KDLWgR3M31edJ-GPYvDaShqzq8soHhwx9upFswmNJA4l81iX0Ot4osJ6QUJiEom9n53xuyjg-Y7HMnbo-fsB7VhzvgLceCVc9-G9pXPlI-OsrMT4t3D1C-Y/s1600/Divertimenti-Marylebone-Exterior-thumb.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmH9P0NV42I3U3Wm0ndVZ_KDLWgR3M31edJ-GPYvDaShqzq8soHhwx9upFswmNJA4l81iX0Ot4osJ6QUJiEom9n53xuyjg-Y7HMnbo-fsB7VhzvgLceCVc9-G9pXPlI-OsrMT4t3D1C-Y/s1600/Divertimenti-Marylebone-Exterior-thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My exciting purchase of the visit......electric scales in the exact raspberry red of our Alessi Alessandro M corkscrew. I had to stop there. It was all getting too Rock and Roll......!!</span><br />
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Lottie Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03411972070077999678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625447163483085665.post-7989675438892346932015-03-10T03:11:00.000-07:002015-03-10T13:11:04.537-07:00More tea Vicar?<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Trend is a funny word. What does it mean to be 'trendy'? Does it mean you are good at following trends and implementing them or does it mean you are forward thinking and create your own?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I was recently asked by a friend if Orla Kiely (the design, rather than Orla herself...) was ok or....a little too try hard.....a little last year?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I guess my honest answer would be 'yes' to all of those three from a 'trend' perspective....but who gives a fig about that? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I didn't want to reply in the style of a man/husband/partner by saying...'If you like it, I like it.' Or....'If you like it, that's all that matters.' That would be just plain annoying as we all know!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Though, in actual fact, that <em>is</em> all that matters. If you like it, go with it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I do appreciate the dilemma though. There are certain designs/designers around at the moment that have dominated the high street for some time meaning that if you have an eye for originality, you should probably steer clear as it is bound to niggle visiting houses and seeing the same quilt cover, cake tin, ap</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">ron, bag or hand painted animal mug! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">On a slightly more mundane topic, I have been tasked with finding some storage containers on the high street for tea and coffee. Not that easy for someone who doesn't drink either on a regular basis and therefore hides them away in a cupboard. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">So these are the ones I came up with and they vary in price to nice but not so reasonable to not so reasonable in my opinion!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I'm a fan of colour, especially if your storage jars are going to be out on display. The ones below are definite display items....not to be hidden away in a cupboard.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The two below from Habitat are possibly my favourites, with the Balham on the left coming in orange, yellow and grey and the Tira on the right in orange and white with the stripes. Range from £10.00.</span><br />
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The Alessi 'Gianni' jars below left start at around £12.00 and are both a bit of fun and a design classic. </div>
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Going back to Orla Kiely, I do happen to like the colours of the raised stem canisters below and this range starts at £10.00. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHyl9qLbo2hvX6JV3iBHMPA91fNsrf5PiGVP1VvZlmLl-yKkf0ncsJBgi7X4txmk-8ZDai8JFw1ZnmwCOc7Flkjl6aofuvPUumLwsLnaTZ_pnM6eLLGUoKXtGHUXbbNgiUhw4NRfEOYc/s1600/Alessi+storage+jars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHyl9qLbo2hvX6JV3iBHMPA91fNsrf5PiGVP1VvZlmLl-yKkf0ncsJBgi7X4txmk-8ZDai8JFw1ZnmwCOc7Flkjl6aofuvPUumLwsLnaTZ_pnM6eLLGUoKXtGHUXbbNgiUhw4NRfEOYc/s1600/Alessi+storage+jars.jpg" height="253" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZYVfqaMTWQ-yEzLXigSF0bLDgxLaHTS_bd7d3dCiK7u8qwy6iDGumsJtdIATyxgPVEH6_Kvhrlfprxh7JgwOAfD6MbApA0iyaRoWkuUbtvcjZk7ooe6wosi1xMeI3c5vs9EJb6wydLXM/s1600/Orla+Kiely+Canisters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZYVfqaMTWQ-yEzLXigSF0bLDgxLaHTS_bd7d3dCiK7u8qwy6iDGumsJtdIATyxgPVEH6_Kvhrlfprxh7JgwOAfD6MbApA0iyaRoWkuUbtvcjZk7ooe6wosi1xMeI3c5vs9EJb6wydLXM/s1600/Orla+Kiely+Canisters.jpg" /></a></div>
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For a more classic, country look the jar below is by Denby with a starting price of around £27.50 and in a variety of colours. Morphy Richards range start at approx. £12.00.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLmwtxWmVeiabvo5_8QJFE4lOpbo3sroNz-QGXSBhLDXWOvlPBtmagF0o25aBFCbwjCKpZH4EDgHwcvyMBPrAmY8krcmT4l8EEPOYS6ObC8wTzwjEfWmOYMzuAeBglWfE3P0sDssJPOFk/s1600/Denby+storage+jars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLmwtxWmVeiabvo5_8QJFE4lOpbo3sroNz-QGXSBhLDXWOvlPBtmagF0o25aBFCbwjCKpZH4EDgHwcvyMBPrAmY8krcmT4l8EEPOYS6ObC8wTzwjEfWmOYMzuAeBglWfE3P0sDssJPOFk/s1600/Denby+storage+jars.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeDyof9vr5u2xmmocUmarRozvoVUNsGbHt_Ty_ensdkIw5P4AFsnQ0y1DQrmDFti_Xr4K-mZhGtv0aG6rdibSkZhXqlF-_ZJ72Kw_211DMnA-0neZk1eOmtosCNsW0lP_so_ZAHX5nxDY/s1600/Morphy+Richards+canisters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeDyof9vr5u2xmmocUmarRozvoVUNsGbHt_Ty_ensdkIw5P4AFsnQ0y1DQrmDFti_Xr4K-mZhGtv0aG6rdibSkZhXqlF-_ZJ72Kw_211DMnA-0neZk1eOmtosCNsW0lP_so_ZAHX5nxDY/s1600/Morphy+Richards+canisters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeDyof9vr5u2xmmocUmarRozvoVUNsGbHt_Ty_ensdkIw5P4AFsnQ0y1DQrmDFti_Xr4K-mZhGtv0aG6rdibSkZhXqlF-_ZJ72Kw_211DMnA-0neZk1eOmtosCNsW0lP_so_ZAHX5nxDY/s1600/Morphy+Richards+canisters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeDyof9vr5u2xmmocUmarRozvoVUNsGbHt_Ty_ensdkIw5P4AFsnQ0y1DQrmDFti_Xr4K-mZhGtv0aG6rdibSkZhXqlF-_ZJ72Kw_211DMnA-0neZk1eOmtosCNsW0lP_so_ZAHX5nxDY/s1600/Morphy+Richards+canisters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeDyof9vr5u2xmmocUmarRozvoVUNsGbHt_Ty_ensdkIw5P4AFsnQ0y1DQrmDFti_Xr4K-mZhGtv0aG6rdibSkZhXqlF-_ZJ72Kw_211DMnA-0neZk1eOmtosCNsW0lP_so_ZAHX5nxDY/s1600/Morphy+Richards+canisters.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeDyof9vr5u2xmmocUmarRozvoVUNsGbHt_Ty_ensdkIw5P4AFsnQ0y1DQrmDFti_Xr4K-mZhGtv0aG6rdibSkZhXqlF-_ZJ72Kw_211DMnA-0neZk1eOmtosCNsW0lP_so_ZAHX5nxDY/s1600/Morphy+Richards+canisters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJ6ZmGfOA_pEZIvM88OdIKtaePSBF5xm2JjlJhlopw_OgRtRSdXOq8NHiec0JySTzKd-4XfdY7V6enaJKaEAFiaNWzlFKyFR2hvRztef_OW_h2CydgQQ8MNJ9lFqAhelhRUn9Wdyegkc/s1600/Not+on+The+High+Street+Tom+Canisters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJ6ZmGfOA_pEZIvM88OdIKtaePSBF5xm2JjlJhlopw_OgRtRSdXOq8NHiec0JySTzKd-4XfdY7V6enaJKaEAFiaNWzlFKyFR2hvRztef_OW_h2CydgQQ8MNJ9lFqAhelhRUn9Wdyegkc/s1600/Not+on+The+High+Street+Tom+Canisters.jpg" height="296" width="320" /></a><br />
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Very nice, but a little bit of a budget buster are the ranges above, both from Not on The Highstreet.com. The first range is by Tom Gloster and are £89.50 for a set of 3 (ouch!) and the white coffee, tea and sugar jars are £26.95 each. <br />
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And <em>finally</em><strong>, </strong>on a completely different note, before I run off and do the school run, this is Lottie's Interiors reader Sue's newly painted front door. Inspired by reading one of my most popular posts yet on front doors! It looks the great, Sue. Very smart! For anyone interested, the colour is Farrow and Ball 'Pitch Blue'.<br />
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<strong> </strong>Feel free to send me your front door pics. I'm looking for inspiration!<br />
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Lottie Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03411972070077999678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625447163483085665.post-40895928489462968502015-02-06T14:26:00.000-08:002015-02-06T14:26:03.213-08:00Lottie's Interiors and Paint by Conran<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">There are few names more synonymous with British design than
Conran. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Sir Terence Conran is one of the world’s best known
designers, restaurateurs and retailers. He made modern design accessible to
many when he opened the first Habitat shop in Chelsea in 1964.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Today he heads up Conran and Partners, an architecture and
design studio as well as owning shops, restaurants and hotels across the globe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">One of my most memorable experiences is of a trip to London
in the early ‘90’s and marvelling at the flagship Conran Shop which opened in
1987 in the historic Michelin House on Fulham Road. I think I spent most of the
afternoon in there before eating in Bibendum, one of the few times I have eaten
in a ‘proper posh’ restaurant! Still today, no trip to London for me is
complete without a visit to Peter Jones, Divertimenti on Brompton Road and the
Conran Shop. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The Conran flare for design didn’t stop there, with the
Conran children following in their father's footsteps. Jasper (fashion and
design), Sebastian (design), Tom (restaurateur) and Sophie (cars, design and
pies!) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, you can imagine my excitement when I was approached by
Paint by Conran asking if I had any projects with which they could be of
assistance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It just so happened that I had met a family living in the
village we had moved in to who were in the process of renovating their
beautiful Georgian farmhouse nestled in the centre of the village. Sarah asked
me if I would help her transform their dining room in time for them to use it
at Christmas. The perfect opportunity to look at Conran paints.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUt2iSPQLo3qyWPqh3FeWnczgnEmVHRfAs_UaEq_ZaQ8FYexkYCy9KpycC3g-xN61TYF31ckE2pJsZFGorpHyTSwALGAF1ZHe8bIU4qKqYxuVj6h8hM9UQvfF1vQgw4TMihMkeJisba-4/s1600/flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUt2iSPQLo3qyWPqh3FeWnczgnEmVHRfAs_UaEq_ZaQ8FYexkYCy9KpycC3g-xN61TYF31ckE2pJsZFGorpHyTSwALGAF1ZHe8bIU4qKqYxuVj6h8hM9UQvfF1vQgw4TMihMkeJisba-4/s1600/flowers.jpg" height="145" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><u>A little bit about
Paint by Conran</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Paint by Conran is the culmination of 2 ½ years’ work and is
a dedicated paint range developed in conjunction with The Conran Partnership
and Sir Terence Conran. The range currently has 96 colours split into 5
collections, for ease of colour matching, as illustrated by the 5 images above
and draws inspiration from the glorious British countryside. Paint by Conran
has been created in partnership with Master Paintmakers who, as part of an
international paint group, have been making paints for 120 years.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #808285; font-family: Raleway; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 104%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em><span style="color: #3d85c6;">"I have always been passionate about colour because it adds flavour to
life and can have a profoundly positive impact on our mood. (Sir Terence
Conran)<o:p></o:p></span></em></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The brief was to create a country look and not stray too
much away from that but with an injection of colour to add depth and interest.
Sarah had already chosen curtain fabric, the delicious Voyage ‘Hedgerow’
fabric. We set about creating a mini mood board which, to be honest, was not
too difficult as when we opened up the Conran paint chart and set it against
the fabric, the colour we selected pretty much jumped off the page like it was
meant to be!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtUMOKnHcBgdGjy77fZTx4nY8iHOrF9VwLLJOn0CIm_XuwsrvKU11StBK5GaOwHl_hqiLipfTTnzZvl5XMTC7Ih7TgDXboLA1FJHazT8Aq6iB-S3VP7AyhHG5jvWnPEuZZOefFVRW7Yzs/s1600/Sarah's%2Bdining%2Broom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtUMOKnHcBgdGjy77fZTx4nY8iHOrF9VwLLJOn0CIm_XuwsrvKU11StBK5GaOwHl_hqiLipfTTnzZvl5XMTC7Ih7TgDXboLA1FJHazT8Aq6iB-S3VP7AyhHG5jvWnPEuZZOefFVRW7Yzs/s1600/Sarah's%2Bdining%2Broom.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We picked out a colour in the fabric and matched it to
Midnight Thyme from the Highland collection. As this is a deep, fairly rich
colour, we then selected Pastures New from the Harvest collection to work
alongside this. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And here’s the result.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Before.....</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmTx5Wa72TrBPoWDtI_LCLLzc6tWzQSmmh1_1ymrcNbDYZJldJ2DsGAEC8Ar8S-A9xDRccR_C5qyx389tO-b0roP_sTO3t7pl174uFyFTLsoVY9Cv3WsbxTjUXyLzUUm7H2xjTXwoT1TE/s1600/Sarah's%2Bdining%2Broom%2Bbefore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmTx5Wa72TrBPoWDtI_LCLLzc6tWzQSmmh1_1ymrcNbDYZJldJ2DsGAEC8Ar8S-A9xDRccR_C5qyx389tO-b0roP_sTO3t7pl174uFyFTLsoVY9Cv3WsbxTjUXyLzUUm7H2xjTXwoT1TE/s1600/Sarah's%2Bdining%2Broom%2Bbefore.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And after....</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Gw-F3uVTUcr6WEsba5GMTLE0xC5KrZaTFcRU8rqVUwnunemU3Ryrv23SkwFkSqVxcnJ67O-qHE3Sy451ns9LgXFeTIL7BrTX5LU8za1bWKi3poLJA4s43OVn4HSnmNECN0CfVi5lunM/s1600/sarahs+dining+final+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Gw-F3uVTUcr6WEsba5GMTLE0xC5KrZaTFcRU8rqVUwnunemU3Ryrv23SkwFkSqVxcnJ67O-qHE3Sy451ns9LgXFeTIL7BrTX5LU8za1bWKi3poLJA4s43OVn4HSnmNECN0CfVi5lunM/s1600/sarahs+dining+final+3.jpg" height="306" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I’m now trying to decide which colours and where I can
introduce some Conran colour in to my own home!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">For more information and to visit the website, click on </span><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="http://www.paintbyconran.com/">www.paintbyconran.com</a></span></div>
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Lottie Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03411972070077999678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625447163483085665.post-64050017773469930292015-02-03T15:22:00.003-08:002015-02-03T15:22:50.335-08:00Snow Designs and Interiors, Stamford.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Husband and I took a little trip to the picturesque Lincolnshire town of Stamford yesterday. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">A couple of Stamford factoids.....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Stamford was the first town in the country to create a conservation area in 1967 and as a result has retained a rich architectural heritage. Stamford provided the backdrop for television costume dramas such as Middlemarch and the 2005 film Pride and Prejudice and it regularly features as a finalist in the Sunday Times list of the best places to live!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_PHp4WJJZQskpFfUGopfNcDwIDqg_fWTXUNqqjhWV9ZyFymXBjpQCy9A1H1nR2h9zCytTJl2r-cxU5zKDeyERtpNwe8S83zALRvvX3-MgeQ7f-tNwA_o1OW-dFjKDnKSZHGcjWQ-wYUc/s1600/stamford.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_PHp4WJJZQskpFfUGopfNcDwIDqg_fWTXUNqqjhWV9ZyFymXBjpQCy9A1H1nR2h9zCytTJl2r-cxU5zKDeyERtpNwe8S83zALRvvX3-MgeQ7f-tNwA_o1OW-dFjKDnKSZHGcjWQ-wYUc/s1600/stamford.png" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">As well as being generally a pleasant place to have a wander and a spot of lunch, Stamford also boasts a number of lovely interiors shops and Snow Designs is one well worth checking out.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1F6OknaL3s_uC1mLMFx0pJIEU3BOgqwOqMRySPpAkqP5WcaSxXVywKdIzjMDzx85MbR3IiXEl088F9_K4NWS70-mrne0n7F00NLwQAlWJk0t-WcBshuAZZn8XpTP4rf-V6zA3FZ1YpA/s1600/Exterior+of+Snow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1F6OknaL3s_uC1mLMFx0pJIEU3BOgqwOqMRySPpAkqP5WcaSxXVywKdIzjMDzx85MbR3IiXEl088F9_K4NWS70-mrne0n7F00NLwQAlWJk0t-WcBshuAZZn8XpTP4rf-V6zA3FZ1YpA/s1600/Exterior+of+Snow.JPG" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Snow Designs and Interiors offers a veritable feast over four floors of interesting and unique products all sourced from independent British designers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I've fallen in love with this place! It's crammed full of things I could buy. Lighting, furniture, prints, ceramics, mirrors, decorative bits and pieces and more. The shop frontage is really promising and inviting and stepping through the door just delivers on that promise.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Rather than pick out individual items (I would have struggled to narrow it down) I've just included a number of in store shots and would just urge you to pay Snow a visit if you are any where near by. Visit their Facebook page or take a look on the website.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Snow Designs and Interiors, 32 Mary's Street, Stamford. <a href="http://www.snowdesignsandinteriors.com/">www.snowdesignsandinteriors.com</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZv6Ds1U4Q0xUg5NU9engJOqXxpicgEawS763FN3dqrPpG_viksO87fUCvS5Jwnv6xzYa0Yrh-Esz2KUl-W2QkiTJs_Yp_-UFdiKE8M3pxmTUrEq3J6GQGwnwM48Xm5AIcvq_sCRgtxU/s1600/Interior+Snow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZv6Ds1U4Q0xUg5NU9engJOqXxpicgEawS763FN3dqrPpG_viksO87fUCvS5Jwnv6xzYa0Yrh-Esz2KUl-W2QkiTJs_Yp_-UFdiKE8M3pxmTUrEq3J6GQGwnwM48Xm5AIcvq_sCRgtxU/s1600/Interior+Snow.JPG" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />Lottie Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03411972070077999678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625447163483085665.post-50820974852187661752015-01-18T08:09:00.000-08:002015-01-18T09:10:15.207-08:00Sundays - The fantasy versus the reality!<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Sundays, in my head, are all about lazing around in comfy clothes, reading the Sunday papers and then lighting a fire and curling up on the sofa watching a good film.....possibly Great Expectations ( John Mills version) or something like that. The children will be playing together harmoniously or sitting doing their homework, unaided.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The reality is not quite this. We did watch a film. Postman Pat the Movie. Quite good....but not my choice. Scruffs? Not quite. Half way house with that one. I'm not dolled up to the nines, but with the possibility of a visit from friends, I thought I'd better make half an effort, at least. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">In this respect, I have not learned from my mum. I once turned up at my parents' house, unexpectedly, to find mum in the garden wearing what I can only describe as the outfit of a mad woman. This consisted of short wellies, knee socks, cut off trousers and my dad's jumper. The piece de resistance was</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> a scarf tied round her head with her hair poking up above like an erupting volcano. Not exactly The Good Life's Barbara!</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I was accompanied by a friend (male) who had not met my parents before....Goodness knows what he thought.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The homework challenge is always something we look forward to. It's a battle of wills really. The combination of a nearly 11 year old who will not be told when her answer is not quite (completely wrong) right and a 5 year old who is just not interested, full stop. (Unless it is crafting an imaginary creature out of toilet rolls and paint.) Harmonious it never is! I rarely feel as hot and bothered as I do than after homework sessions.....and I know I am not alone on this one!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I did get to have a quick glance at the property section of the paper. There was an article on range cookers which caught my eye.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I have never hankered after a real range....of the Rayburn, Aga variety. Always makes me smile (inwardly, of course) when, on property programs, house viewers enter a kitchen and coo the minute they spy a range or a Belfast sink....both, and they are unable to contain themselves! Those I know that have ever owned a range (the real deal...not an electric version) complain of the inefficiency of running one in terms of fuel costs and the impracticability of having them on all the time. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The article concludes with a section on quick and easy ways to cut your bills, in addition to ditching the range, taken from Good Housekeeping. Always of interest. I'm stealing their pointers....but they sounded like sensible ones. </span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Put foam strips on draughty windows and doors and this claims to save £35 - £50 per year. Secondary glazing also a worthwhile and cost effective solution.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Turn off the television instead of leaving it on standby. Claims to save £50-£90 per year.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Install a water efficient shower head for as little as £30. Could save a family of 4 £75 a year plus a further £90, if, like us, you are on a water meter. And/or, for a couple of pounds, add a shower timer.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Turning down your thermostat by just <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">1ºC</span> can cut heating bills by around £75 a year according to the Energy Saving Trust. Save even more by turning off the radiators in rooms you rarely go in.</span></li>
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Lottie Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03411972070077999678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625447163483085665.post-5590753455303606872015-01-11T13:55:00.000-08:002015-01-11T14:06:42.894-08:00Post Christmas blues...and greens and neutrals....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqaBrAGFaNyH4jhxzZqQoZhLfiYI_fpWoWtnjQdEhvYea98dfc4B0yy7EhHy0JTd60_YgnLOtP8H72fYRdFTq_YZVKhWSS0ePf-DXbnhixGAhL81hvosPLYBzooNJjqX8ulKkj6jBfyhc/s1600/Christmas+tree+2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqaBrAGFaNyH4jhxzZqQoZhLfiYI_fpWoWtnjQdEhvYea98dfc4B0yy7EhHy0JTd60_YgnLOtP8H72fYRdFTq_YZVKhWSS0ePf-DXbnhixGAhL81hvosPLYBzooNJjqX8ulKkj6jBfyhc/s1600/Christmas+tree+2015.JPG" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well. It's all over for another year. The tree is down and all the dec's are wrapped in tissue and back in their boxes, tucked up and hibernating until next year. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The one good thing about de-Christmasing the house is that it is never cleaner! Dust, like tumbleweed appears from behind the tinsel and in corners where furniture has been temporarily moved in order to house the tree.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">With Christmas bringing a much needed respite from all things decorating related (in my own home at least...), I am now refreshed and ready to launch into 2015's projects. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">A possible wallpapering of the downstairs cloak maybe?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Here are a few choice examples of contemporary wallpapers that I think would look great in a bathroom, downstairs loo or anywhere else for that matter!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Papers chosen from Zoffany, Cole & Son, Farrow & Ball, Sophie Conran for Arthouse and Harlequin.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK72fIgZauIb7Mzunr8QMbFaD-kVyLlt0E4dvE-dcBPODvlE8gQZdFJ19nzciqCnvoRyPCz5k8hAaOMlVX5cnRJBIN-oGYbtIaVz0FquwXh1IUGr7iVnVGF21FSR173ZrzDV-lXrmefCk/s1600/modern-wallpaper-577x270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK72fIgZauIb7Mzunr8QMbFaD-kVyLlt0E4dvE-dcBPODvlE8gQZdFJ19nzciqCnvoRyPCz5k8hAaOMlVX5cnRJBIN-oGYbtIaVz0FquwXh1IUGr7iVnVGF21FSR173ZrzDV-lXrmefCk/s1600/modern-wallpaper-577x270.jpg" height="186" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi43ArRaO4i2ZwZQ44Lds7guffaVnznfuuyt4BltNXjEW4ymrw0MV9APTHfMq2-s_AjeVYmzYWq3rSSLhWluOeBjlxsmTNmQ3bOw8UX_pmYWEEfPelTR0OsgyLVhJqqxHjRFHSKmT3u1r4/s1600/Cole+and+Son+Raipur+wallpaper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi43ArRaO4i2ZwZQ44Lds7guffaVnznfuuyt4BltNXjEW4ymrw0MV9APTHfMq2-s_AjeVYmzYWq3rSSLhWluOeBjlxsmTNmQ3bOw8UX_pmYWEEfPelTR0OsgyLVhJqqxHjRFHSKmT3u1r4/s1600/Cole+and+Son+Raipur+wallpaper.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcT0US6Ru6jWCBJBOnVIFSGR7cy2lQzaYGf8033TTGrK6y4g2XGEXZ0ZvENTRAvdhqs3wa-NeCNUrgciiaN7eAwcQrl8n62ycR19lVKj51M5Nywu3DmdT7E9pAcotOvIzAUpAdplv32o/s1600/Farrow+and+Ball+Trellis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcT0US6Ru6jWCBJBOnVIFSGR7cy2lQzaYGf8033TTGrK6y4g2XGEXZ0ZvENTRAvdhqs3wa-NeCNUrgciiaN7eAwcQrl8n62ycR19lVKj51M5Nywu3DmdT7E9pAcotOvIzAUpAdplv32o/s1600/Farrow+and+Ball+Trellis.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_QHwip4JTQ13m-btknOb_mCaKMvKbDXWxZ7AYpzkp6UWpSkQZfUmDFTSc83a4RXmSut-H038r0emvIaEq4gmRkdISOzF1Wuhr5cIkfjXs1kVeb1dEKuy6mbbbPhPGQKQuIHMDtZr98E/s1600/Harlequin+Shri+wallpaper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_QHwip4JTQ13m-btknOb_mCaKMvKbDXWxZ7AYpzkp6UWpSkQZfUmDFTSc83a4RXmSut-H038r0emvIaEq4gmRkdISOzF1Wuhr5cIkfjXs1kVeb1dEKuy6mbbbPhPGQKQuIHMDtZr98E/s1600/Harlequin+Shri+wallpaper.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSx8CZeQp-38emgcfB6X-n87yARSPCiTAZ7L6FEB06Q6o4cqM1orFB25xJ4EgFNVb3idhrF-a1r9qw7t7xYq0Kp3bLFLnT1GH8dxtP_EACKHaHNlTK_pXDmO8j_VndnGgvopfLdX4PY5Y/s1600/Zoffany.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSx8CZeQp-38emgcfB6X-n87yARSPCiTAZ7L6FEB06Q6o4cqM1orFB25xJ4EgFNVb3idhrF-a1r9qw7t7xYq0Kp3bLFLnT1GH8dxtP_EACKHaHNlTK_pXDmO8j_VndnGgvopfLdX4PY5Y/s1600/Zoffany.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />Lottie Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03411972070077999678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625447163483085665.post-56919155722836310592014-12-04T13:20:00.001-08:002014-12-04T14:05:54.074-08:00My Next-ra special Christmas wishlist!<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As with many parents of young children at this time of year, I always think it's a nice touch to sit down with the littles and get them to write a letter to Father Christmas. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Now, Father Christmas always replies...though he has somewhat made a rod for his own back I feel, in so far as he always hand writes the reply in a style very reminiscent of the writing in JRR Tolkien's 'Letters From Father Christmas'! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It is mere coincidence that we have that book! I can recommend it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A friend pointed out that, on request, Father Christmas will <em>type</em> a reply! Wish I'd known that 3 years ago!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Neither of my two have any particular requests this year. Phew. The 'requests' have tended to be costly and often end in disappointment...particularly with the 10 year old. Mobile Phone? No! My own iPad? No! Horse? No! Alpaca? Errr. No! Ad infinitum. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">No requests means a letter to Santa asking him to use his imagination. Fantastic. I know Santa enjoys shopping for little, inexpensive items that will bring as much pleasure as all of the afore mentioned budget busters!</span><br />
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W<span style="font-family: Georgia;">ith that job done and dusted I was approached by Next to compile my Nextmas Wishlist top 10. How could I refuse? I put on Sinatra 'The Ultimate Christmas' and off I wandered in to fantasy Christmas wish list land!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">So. Here goes. My list, as you might expect, is compiled from the Home and Furniture range. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">In no particular order, my Nextmas Wishlist top 10 is as follows....and I will be writing to Father Christmas in due course!</span><br />
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1. <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Classic Velvet silver Westcot bedstead.....for elegance in the bedroom.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"> 2. Textured panel cotton bed set......who can resist crisp, white bedlinen? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"> 3. Brooklyn TV unit......contemporary, smart yet functional. The perfect balance.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"> 4. 7ft Grove Pine Christmas tree.......for a real look without the dropping needles.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"> 5. Silver luxury fur throw........for cosy cuddles by the fire.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"> 6. Large Curve Arm floor lamp.....stylish lighting in on trend grey.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"> 7. White Geranium and Jasmine fragrance 3 wick candle.....Mmmm. The scent....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"> 8. Pewter beaded mirror....metallics are bang on trend.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"> 9. 200 LED bright white fairy lights.....never have enough of these!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"> 10. Silver</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> Chrysanthemum wallpaper.......perfect for a feature wall.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Follow this link to see all of the above and many, many more delicious, stylish, festive products that could so easily have made my top 10.</span><br />
<a href="http://www.next.co.uk/"><span style="font-size: large;">www.next.co.uk</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Have a very merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2015. xxx</span><br />
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Lottie Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03411972070077999678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625447163483085665.post-3406319528135104412014-12-02T15:09:00.000-08:002014-12-02T15:09:59.366-08:00Batman! You've been framed...by eFrame.<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We have recently tackled the children's bedrooms which was a relatively simple task. Carpets are being replaced later this month, but the rooms are stripped, lined and painted (white). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Both children chose blinds for their windows. This is not a curtain household, as you may have gathered. The five year old chose a lime green blind and the ten year old a raspberry pink blind. She is revisiting pink at the age of ten, having abandoned it for three or four years in favour of less 'girlie' colours. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Five year old then chose to replace his Mr Men framed poster with more 'grown up' subjects, namely, Batman and his other superhero friends. I was happy to consider anything that wasn't Ninja Turtles! I actually think the old superhero posters have a strong design element....great colours. Captain America graces the playroom wall.....a particular favourite of the 'adult boy' in the house!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The Batman poster came from <a href="http://www.allposters.co.uk/">www.allposters.co.<span style="color: blue;">uk</span></a> and I was lucky enough to have been approached by eFrame offering me a custom made frame at a discounted cost. (</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Click on the link below to take you to their site.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">As this was for my son's superhero poster and not an inherited work of art, I chose a simple black reflective lacquer frame which lets the poster do the talking.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">This photograph doesn't really do the framing justice. The frame perfectly suits the poster!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The eFrame service was excellent, I have to say. I asked a number of questions prior to ordering and the response was prompt and useful.This frame cost just under £50. Yes. You could go to Ikea and spend £20, but in actual fact I couldn't get the size required and also the general quality of construction (no gaping joints at corners...), backing and fixings is well worth the extra. The frame arrived well packaged and very quickly. I was slightly surprised that the frame did not come with glass rather than plexi glass...but, again, eFrame came back to me straight away with a comprehensive response.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #1f497d;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The frames come with what is called Clarity+ Glazing - Also known as plexi glass. It's 1.5mm thick and is sent out with 95% of eFrame frames. </span></span><br />
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417557498791_3943" style="color: #1f497d;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This glazing has many advantages over and above traditional glass and actually costs more money. eFrame swallow the additional cost as a company though because this is what they prefer the product to be shipped with.</span></span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417557498791_3940" style="color: #1f497d;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">They deal with many Top London Galleries and most of them choose to take this glazing over and above the 2mm float glass option (available on custom frames below 600mm x 600mm in size). Even the world famous auction house Christies takes this glazing option! I'm in good company then!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Not only do eFrame offer a comprehensive choice of custom and ready made frames but their site also has a 'design your own' section where you can upload a photo of your picture and then design your own frame and mount and see how it will look prior to ordering. A really useful tool.</span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">For more information on eFrame and for some great pointers in what to consider when framing pictures follow the links below.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.eframe.co.uk/">www.eframe.co.uk</a></div>
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<a href="https://blog.etsy.com/uk/2014/10/29/how-to-frame-a-picture">https://blog.etsy.com/uk/2014/10/29/how-to-frame-a-picture</a>Lottie Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03411972070077999678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625447163483085665.post-91091759615995214512014-11-29T14:07:00.001-08:002014-11-29T14:10:16.874-08:00How much more mustard can a house take? I hope you are reading Jonathan Adler....!<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'm starting to ask myself, " when is enough enough?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I'm sure my family will start asking before too long. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The colour mustard seems to have taken over my very being! As if a wall and cushions weren't enough I'm now planning a bedroom scheme and will shoe horn some mustard in there if it kills me! I blame a good friend, whom, on a recent trip to New York, bought me </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">these gorgeous Michael Aram napkins. Not a great pic, but, trust me, they are beauties. Fuelled my mustard love affair!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-cYzyfoMsg6OC3PPuWhkhz5ZbgPYhO1DL30St1MMQFRCXUGGRI2A3sIpRQzaCWtYMH7Qnj5DmHQ-lFp8Nrrw_yYOhuo9j1SpAZNSBztqNa1TcvVtwYLG-JDNkiSEMOM40Sutc3duKFnA/s1600/Aram+napkins.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-cYzyfoMsg6OC3PPuWhkhz5ZbgPYhO1DL30St1MMQFRCXUGGRI2A3sIpRQzaCWtYMH7Qnj5DmHQ-lFp8Nrrw_yYOhuo9j1SpAZNSBztqNa1TcvVtwYLG-JDNkiSEMOM40Sutc3duKFnA/s1600/Aram+napkins.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">As we are nearing the end of our own mammoth house make-over, give or take another 3 rooms (!!), I am slowly losing a little enthusiasm....energy I am re-directing into guiding others through their own house make-overs...but more of that in posts to come.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg86sLqI0BkwQ1YC40NWdYoxc274SZP6-RHILpsHfCTNMi_HDyLjH9ntzJJykiDAhhnANFNepJ1Zf7bQXNtiXk2g_4irz9k_jefuMNklDrYZ7fIFQmxWpw_cBwbEqhyphenhyphenkR44AZJEd7zxn8A/s1600/Mustard+and+grey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg86sLqI0BkwQ1YC40NWdYoxc274SZP6-RHILpsHfCTNMi_HDyLjH9ntzJJykiDAhhnANFNepJ1Zf7bQXNtiXk2g_4irz9k_jefuMNklDrYZ7fIFQmxWpw_cBwbEqhyphenhyphenkR44AZJEd7zxn8A/s1600/Mustard+and+grey.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia;">For our own bedroom I have scaled down my early enthusiasm and have started off as George Clarke would, by slapping crisp, white paint on every wall. I rather like it. No doubt at a later stage I will add some colour, it'll be too hard to resist, but for now, the white stays and I'm turning to bedding as a way of introducing some bold design.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">This, I am finding frustrating. Flicking through my trusted magazines, I pulled out a couple of schemes which immediately appealed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPwVBsmQOwGWAkB-bhdR6bebvsqMfccd3oOfXvPzS1LYeSfbJJD8Y9E62G8OzTeSOR996-OBwLgVhxX7JWj7F3ka3EL88bneFJzaPDmDxXNxWHdNqcP_3FjTNtaCMBPXIMnv3mBSC7q4I/s1600/Bedroom+scheme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPwVBsmQOwGWAkB-bhdR6bebvsqMfccd3oOfXvPzS1LYeSfbJJD8Y9E62G8OzTeSOR996-OBwLgVhxX7JWj7F3ka3EL88bneFJzaPDmDxXNxWHdNqcP_3FjTNtaCMBPXIMnv3mBSC7q4I/s1600/Bedroom+scheme.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg86sLqI0BkwQ1YC40NWdYoxc274SZP6-RHILpsHfCTNMi_HDyLjH9ntzJJykiDAhhnANFNepJ1Zf7bQXNtiXk2g_4irz9k_jefuMNklDrYZ7fIFQmxWpw_cBwbEqhyphenhyphenkR44AZJEd7zxn8A/s1600/Mustard+and+grey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg86sLqI0BkwQ1YC40NWdYoxc274SZP6-RHILpsHfCTNMi_HDyLjH9ntzJJykiDAhhnANFNepJ1Zf7bQXNtiXk2g_4irz9k_jefuMNklDrYZ7fIFQmxWpw_cBwbEqhyphenhyphenkR44AZJEd7zxn8A/s1600/Mustard+and+grey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I am instantly drawn to geometric prints and chevron in design. It's very 'definite' and that, for me, works perfectly when looking at more contemporary styling. Layering colours, pattern and fabrics help to soften what, alone, can be too strong a statement.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">So the backdrop to any soft furnishings are white walls and a very plain, straightforward navy blue roller blind at the window purchased from <a href="http://www.blinds-2go.co.uk/">www.blinds-2go.co.uk</a>. I will post a photo in due course, but the room is currently in a state of chaos, with bed and wardrobe dumped in the centre of the room whilst we plough on with the emulsion.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I excitedly logged on to the computer having decided I would try and find a throw, blanket or bedspread in a nice, mustard tone and a second bedspread in navy and white chevron. Oh dear. My excitement was short lived. I quite like the Tweedmill fishbone blanket below, and reasonable at around £40-£50. Apparently BHS do a mustard throw but not only could I only copy this tiny image, as seen below, but infuriatingly, when I tried to get on to their site, a message popped up saying the site had crashed due to Black Friday...which seems to have morphed in to Black Saturday! The sooner the whole sorry business is over and done with, the better!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Then on to the zig zag or chevron idea. Even worse! The only one I found was a fleece blanket below from <a href="http://www.cafepress.co.uk/">www.cafepress.co.uk</a> at £35. May well be ok for a pop of zig zag, but fleece was not really what I wanted. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">What I really hanker after is a Jonathan Adler Alpaca zig zag throw, but cant quite reach the £295 price tag....but if you are reading, Jonathan, you are one of my design heroes and I would love to have one of your beautiful throws draped across my bed! I'm not too proud to grovel!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">In the meantime, if any readers can point me in the direction of a cost effective alternative, I would love to hear from you.</span></div>
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<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-b75Pm9Glo4M%2FVHo1Bp2OCcI%2FAAAAAAAABWI%2FWW-HwApCL2M%2Fs1600%2Fthrow.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDnKUEgceO9DPdS3mRgsKJA08JoIjOM73s_Xs2RUzxlpT99DclkabvhDwul01avDuC0nKsZ4PNetaTRb8fvZwZicXBD4GPTZzlgSIpmT-jwb3Wo2twb519UcwzJttybNNoDMjcf_zGNI/s1600/throw.jpg" -->Lottie Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03411972070077999678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625447163483085665.post-19925432981217146662014-11-01T08:33:00.002-07:002014-11-01T08:33:29.424-07:00A splash of colour courtesy of Henri Matisse and Harold e Maude!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So....finishing touches include a couple of framed posters to add a little colour and interest to a room.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I struck a deal with my husband that I would choose one and he the other. Once I had steered him away from The Exorcist promo posters and Star Wars he decided on Harold and Maude. Phew! My choice was the Henri Matisse print, chosen particularly for its bold injection of colour. Excuse the quality of the pictures. I used my phone as my camera lens has been (little fingers, me thinks..) struck down by a mysterious ailment. I need a new camera in short! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Figuring out what kind of artwork you like can be difficult. I tend to go for more casual artwork....tourism posters from cities visited, gallery advertising posters that sort of thing. I like the fact that the subjects have some personal meaning but also they tend to be quite bold and structural in style which I like. I also like architectural prints that also satisfy my like of a more structured, sharp style. The third picture, sat on the desk, is from a little art shop somewhere in deepest Derbyshire and is, I think, based on a Rembrandt, but in actual fact, when I googled the original, it looks nothing like this one! The original would have been much nicer, but Rembrandt prices are just that bit too much of a stretch for us! Quite like it all the same.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">If you change your décor regularly (as I do) then buy more cost effective pieces and theme them around the colour palette. The two posters you see in the above scheme are from All Posters <a href="http://www.allposters.co.uk/">www.allposters.co.uk</a> and cost a few pounds so can easily be changed at any point should I desire! They have loads of choice and regularly offer price promotions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Location can be the deciding factor. You may prefer more calming artwork in the bedroom, more dramatic in the dining room and more relaxed in the living room or you may feel rules are there to be broken!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I've tried to link the prints chosen to the scheme, picking out particular colours and sticking to a more modern feel. However, you might have a piece of valuable artwork that may be a family heirloom or a piece you have invested in that may require the scheme to work around it rather than the other way round. If so, try positioning the artwork on different walls or alter the wall colour or surrounding furniture in order to accommodate the art.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Plain and/or white walls tend to be the best backdrop for art and this applies in general to furniture and art too....the less is more principal, especially if the picture is quite detailed or busy. Make it the star of the show.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">For positioning on the wall, with average ceiling heights, pictures look best at eye level and if more than one, grouped to balance the width and height of the wall. For a more relaxed, loft like look, lean pictures on the floor against a wall. This works particularly well in bedrooms I think.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Above all, the artwork in your home should make you smile, relax, remember or wonder. </span></div>
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<br />Lottie Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03411972070077999678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625447163483085665.post-59779449734221717432014-10-13T10:18:00.000-07:002014-10-13T10:18:24.164-07:00Blue/black. Love it or loathe it?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We've just about finished the front room now bar the odd picture or two.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I think I like it.....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I argued with myself over colour along the fireplace wall. Too dark? Wrong shade all together? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The thing is, sometimes you just have to go for it. It's only a painted wall after all. I can change it relatively inexpensively if I decide it's not right. At the moment, I think it is. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I'll start with the 'before' picture taken from the agent's details. Very <em>brown</em>!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVka_JTQer4_B0ef6DgXQAAOiLsGTpgyg_Do9HHLYbGxp6icSIG-ER4_8K8KJhfHq3ADQ1vH8sfYkd5odiqs6WnZzjtx9c1RNzxPGR35u2g_X2ueBUzepag65yuXK9Cyv_lutvW7uPc0o/s1600/LIMES+LOUNGE+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVka_JTQer4_B0ef6DgXQAAOiLsGTpgyg_Do9HHLYbGxp6icSIG-ER4_8K8KJhfHq3ADQ1vH8sfYkd5odiqs6WnZzjtx9c1RNzxPGR35u2g_X2ueBUzepag65yuXK9Cyv_lutvW7uPc0o/s1600/LIMES+LOUNGE+(2).jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fortunately this room is triple aspect and therefore benefits from lots of natural light. As a result we could afford to introduce some dark, bold colour. Sticking with a bit of a theme....though I try to avoid too much 'theming' I introduced some citrus zing via cushions and will in time bring in some further colour with pictures.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I didn't really want white walls everywhere, despite having originally planned to have white walls everywhere! We tested lots of wall colours including purples and greens but eventually plumped for Farrow and Ball 'Railings' along the chimney breast wall. Though this looks black on this photo, it is actually an intense blue. I don't really go for blue and black together, but on this occasion it actually helps that the wood burner is black as it clearly shows the blue in the wall if that makes sense. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't know if any of you have seen that new Interior Designer challenge show that has been on recently, where amateur designers are let loose on members of the public's homes...presented by the woman that was a dealer on 4 Rooms? Anyway. Last week, one of the rooms featured a black wall and one of my friends happened to comment asking why anyone would paint a wall <em>black?</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Given that the room was quite small and quite traditional in style, I would agree. Black was completely wrong. Any kind of feature wall in a dark or bold print needs space and preferably light to sit comfortably. I'm not sure where they found these amateur designers, but I would have cried had they done any of the things they did on my house!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We haven't been out and bought new furniture for this room and so I have mixed a few more traditional items from the cottage with some slightly more contemporary touches. Margo, the cat, has a new cushion!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Wood burner - Charnwood <a href="http://www.charnwood.com/">www.charnwood.com</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Stove and hearth fitting - <a href="http://www.eglow.org/">www.eglow.org</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Paint - Farrow and Ball 'Railings' - <a href="http://www.farrow-ball.com/">www.farrow-ball.com</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sofas - Ikea</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Cushions - John Lewis and Oka <a href="http://www.okadirect.com/">www.okadirect.com</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Flooring - engineered, oiled oak. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />Lottie Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03411972070077999678noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7625447163483085665.post-76026472946887699182014-08-30T11:45:00.001-07:002014-08-30T12:18:08.611-07:00Trend follower, trend setter, somewhere in between....or couldn't give a flying....?<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I've been having a look at what is trending, or will be, in the world of interior design. For the record, I really don't like the expression 'on trend'. To my mind, it's a commercial term designed to make us think that if we buy in to the idea that something is 'on trend' that we will immediately rush out and buy it or grab the idea and plaster it around our houses. If something is 'on trend' you can bet your bottom dollar it will be 'off trend' a month or so later, if it isn't already by the time you've parted with your cash.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My point is, is it really that important to be on trend?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I listened to a presentation recently by some industry insiders...journalists and interior stylists....who debated the very subject. The conclusion, not surprisingly, was that taste is a very personal thing. Stylists (interiors) will look to the seasons' trends when advising clients, probably to avoid being labelled as 'so last season' by others in the industry. For commercial reasons, stylists need to be 'on trend' as they often work for the trend setters. A good stylist, however, will take in to account a clients likes and dislikes and try and marry this up with current trends and what they know will work.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You might be like me. I rarely pay too much attention to what's trending in interior décor. I read loads of magazines and look at what's happening, so probably know what is being pushed in my direction, but I like what I like whether it is bang on trend or not. If it is, it tends to be accidental! Same with my wardrobe. I'm definitely not a trend setter (or a trend follower) in this arena... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I like Pippa Jameson's view that someone is truly trendy/fashionable if they follow their own style with confidence irrespective of the trend setters.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">By the time something hits the high street and prior to that, the press, it is almost a 'has been'. An example would be animal motifs on cushions and soft furnishings. Massive the last couple of years with foxes, owls, birds and butterflies everywhere. By the time we've all bought an owl cushion, the industry has moved on! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, what's trending going forward then? Well...the good news is there are a couple of trends that are considered 'enduring' in that they will always pop up in some form or other but just be given a different name or description! Monochrome being the first. I wonder what it will be called this time?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is a particular favourite of mine. I love the structure of monochrome schemes and they are versatile in that you can add colour at any point to soften or add a bit of pizazz and alter the balance of black or dark and light. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Pastels also feature. Great for period properties....bit more difficult in a modern property but a bit of pastel can work well against monochrome...a soft pink or a minty green for example.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Our love of grey continues. Look more to the blues for inspiration. Obviously this encompasses stronger hues and pastels. One of my favourites is Railings. I love the depth with a hint of blue. Probably my colour of choice for our living room wall. The deep, rich colours work well with white and with metallic.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, if you follow trends and like any of the above then good on you. If, like me, you follow your own sense of style, then good on you too! If you love your owl cushion, like I like my polar white, Formica work surface (apparently Formica is making a massive comeback!) then keep loving it. Well. For the record, I love it, trendy or not!</span><br />
<br />Lottie Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03411972070077999678noreply@blogger.com2