MOVING TO THE COUNTRYSIDE

It's been a long time since I last posted as I've been on a bit of a sabbatical.  Now living in the Sussex countryside, away from the stresses and strains of city life, I'm slowly learning how to live the country life.  I'm residing in a lovely period house and beginning to make it feel like mine.

The light is wonderful in the countryside and every day there will be light pouring in to the house from some direction.

 

I found some lovely lighting for the house.  This metal trellis work light gives off a really pretty pattern.

I've enjoyed having some downtime recently and have taken up pottery again, something that I really enjoy.  This plate is ready for bisque firing.

I'm also working on my culinary skills and often enjoy baking at the weekends.  These gluten free jam tarts fed some recent guests.

And when I'm not cooking, potting or decorating, I'm out walking Billy in the local fields.

Life has taken some interesting turns over the last year but my move to the countryside is proving to be a real blessing.  Time to start working again!

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UPHOLSTERY HEAVEN

Been noticing a lot of lovely upholstery ideas recently.  Here's just a few of them......

Cushion embellishment seen at the glorious Leighton House in Holland Park

Great fabric mix at A Rum Fellow, seen at Decorex

Wonderful nail head arm detail at Decorative Antiques Fair in Battersea

And finally a lovely bit of bohemian style fabric and brush fringe passementerie at GP Baker

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TALKING SHOP WITH THE CHROMOLOGIST

I wouldn't mind being a Chromologist.  Interpreting the meaning of colour seems like a really nice way to spend ones time.  I've been beaten to the post though by a rather clever new website, THE CHROMOLOGIST, who approached me to talk about a recent residential project I'd completed.  If you're interested in reading my ramblings, you can find the feature here.

And while we're on the subject of colour, here are a few of my favourite (colourful) things that I wouldn't mind owning..........

The Cyanometer, 1789; an instrument that measures the blueness of the sky......

An Hermes saddle stool.......

A piece of rope in Yves Klein blue......

An embellished punchbag by Jeffrey Gibson........

 And any work by Anish Kapoor..........

That'll do for starters.........plenty more where that came from on my Pinterest boards if you're looking for gift ideas.

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YOU'RE TOO KIND.......

It's always nice to receive gifts from grateful clients..........#notebooks

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WHERE THE HELL DID LAST YEAR GO?................... or Oh God, why can't I remember anything anymore, I'm having another senior moment.

As a new year begins, and here in the UK we trudge through the rain soaked streets back to work, I have been trying to sum up last year in my mind.  What brought me happiness, and occasional sadness, what inspired me, what I achieved, what frustrated me and what I learned.  Having sifted through my photos, I can sum up 2013 something like this:

Art that inspired me..........

Colours that inspired.......

 

 

New fabrics that made me sigh.....

Fallen in love in Lewis & Wood

Design that drew gasps of pleasure.......

Chevron marble from Bethan Grey

That's a brass panel wall.....

A few bits of work I was a quite proud of..........

(yes, that is me on the right and yes, that is the Princess Royal)

 Things that helped to put a smile on my face..........

Drinking champagne and playing the Ukelele = happiness

Things that didn't make me smile so much.........

Clients that can't make up their mind and won't let you do it for them.......

And finally, 2013 is dedicated to my darling girl who finally decided, at the ripe old age of 16, that she'd like to rest up properly once and for all.  

RIP Bunny - I miss you every minute of every day.

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BOPPIN' AND A POPPIN' WITH COLOUR

I've been busy putting together moodboards for a potential project, which I'm pleased to say has just been confirmed (insert small hurrah here).  Not sure why but I've been automatically drawn to strong, bold colours and how best they could be used in a residential interior without driving the owner slowly mad.

Here are a few images that made it to the moodboards......

And if you fancy having something bright and bold to come home to, check out the new line of rugs by Jonathan Alder for The Rug Company.  BOPPIN'..........

Oh yes, and it's rather timely that there is the ultimate in eye-popping colour at Tate Modern right now with the new Roy Lichtenstein exhibition - the perfect venue for such mammoth works of energetic colour. POPPIN'....

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