Tropical collection

The moment I've been waiting for- the soft furnishings and colour!!!

Starting with Ruperts bedroom, I found this gorgeous fabric by Manuel Canovas, it looks more like a hand painted mural than a textile print, and just reminds me so much of Cental America and Tortola, where I get so much of my inspiration. The colours bring a smile to my face and definitely brighten up a room...

I've made a Roman blind with it......

The rest of the bedroom will be yellow, and I'm going for a tropical theme, so some big house plants and possibally a fake grass rug.

It's a work in progress, so more pics to follow.

Kitchen moving forward

The units have been painted, mostly installed, now we're just waiting to tile! I love the colours- the top units are 'ball room blue' and the bottom are Farrow and Ball 'St Giles Blue'.

It all looks a bit slick and contemporary at this stage! We're adding some original character back in by putting an inglenook oven surround.....

....oak beams and Mexican tiles, which is what I've had my heart set on for years! 

I had the knobs custom made, as I couldn't seem to find any off the peg that were this big and dark lacquered. They worked out way cheaper than getting them from the kitchen retailer, and they have a lovely hand made look.

This kitchen island is made from reclaimed pine, we know an amazing carpenter who's really cheap- I drew him a picture of the kind of thing I wanted- and supplied him with these chicken hutch wheels from eBay and this was the result....so pleased with it-

The kitchen space can be multi purpose, as the island can be moved around to change the layout.

Somewhere down the line (when I've saved up a few more pennies!) I want to create a Mexican mural with a giant cockerel and tiles similar to these-

Hopefully that'll make everything feel homely, warmer and add some character. 

Kitchen ideas

Can't believe we're ready to be deciding kitchen designs and even colours! 

Here's a mood board I've created to give an idea of the look- farm house rustic meets vibrant Cuba! 

Drawing on old features kept in the house juxtaposing with contemporary colour and inspired by our travels in Central America.

These are initial colour ideas- from this I need to then order relevant samples, such as the chosen colour painted onto the kitchen units. I want to use this Farrow and Ball 'St Giles Blue' for the main colour of the painted doors, it reminds me of the blue used in Cuba to paint doors and buildings- this would be a complimentary colour scheme with the orange of the terrocotta. 

London inspiration

Did my usual rounds when visiting the big smoke! Anthropologie is always a must, it's so inspirational, I always come away with a million new projects in mind! 

Treated myself to 3 new plates in chicken designs for the new kitchen.

These paper mâché balloons reminded me of this technique, and I thought I'd make a hat with Rupes- a really easy activity with a 3 year old- he loved it!

Simple but fun, with a picture of our chicken Rodger Helmet on top!!

Bathroom interior ideas

Can't believe we're at the stage to decide on tiles and decor for bathrooms- a little daunting knowing where to start, as there's so much choice, but I already had a bit of a theme in my head... Relaxed/Spain! So I'll need lots of tiles- these don't come cheap, so I'll be looking of a cheats way to achieve my desired look, at a low cost!

I love these moroccan tiles, but they are so expensive, we'd even considered a trip to Spain to buy tiles, but we havnt got the time now.

So I've been thinking how I could replicate a similar feel...

I've found these tiles, and thought they could be laid in a diagonal pattern. 

I love this flooring by Odessey, but again on the pricey side, so I'm on the hunt for a similar style to create the design I'm after. 

I've found a lovely company 

www.hammocks.co.uk

Which I plan to get decorative tiles to do a bath panel and boarders with. 

I've just ordered samples, and then I'll be creating a proper mood board.

I've also got hold of an old pine wash stand which I'll set a sink into, and fix brass taps.

These are the final chosen tiles/colours. 

I chose greens as I wanted a calm feel-

I'm thinking I may change the top paint colour, a sit feels a bit cold, although I'm sure once I've added towels, bath mat etc, it will start to feel less like a stark show room! 

More tat collecting!

This time on the hunt for old door knobs and handles for a kitchen island being made from reclaimed pine.

Going to polish these up with some white vinegar and a scouring pad- these will be just the job!

Salvage hunting

Nothing I enjoy more than a good old rummage at a reclimation yard!

I've spent a few Saturdays visiting some local ones for materials for a few projects:

I really wanted to get hold of some old reclaimed oak to make a really big kitchen table, but I soon realised old oak doesn't come cheap! My dad suggested old scafford boards stained with something to create an oak effect, so I got on the case. I'll be using 8 of these to build a solid table with some old turned legs I already have.

Other salvaged goodies!

Old school tie dye!

With a few festivals lined up this month, I thought it'd be fun to do a bit of tie dye with Rupes. I had all the dyes, and it's a pretty easy thing to do once to get going.

We used elastic bands and garden string to tie the white t.shirts in different ways, then dyed them in yellows, reds and purples.

They looked great and I'm now inspired to make a few more!

Kitchen ideas

Lots more to do, but I've been busy deciding the kitchen lay out and researching what we'd like.

It's been my dream to design the interior of the house we're going to stay in, but now it's come to it, it's actually pretty daunting! So much choice and obviously a budget that needs to be considered! 

Span and Mexico/Central America have been places we've travelled and spent time in and we love the rustic style and colours, plus the house is old red brick, so im hoping to go for a tiled terracotta floor in the kitchen leading through to the original red and black rectangle tiles in the hall. Here's a few pictures of styles I'm hoping to achieve.

Moving in..

A long way off, but starting to plan the kitchen and soft furnishings- yippee!

On the hunt for old fabrics and textiles to make curtains and upholster chairs.

This is the extension- built with the original bricks which were knocked down, it's really kept the original style and looks like its been there years- which is a relief, as neither of us are fans of contemporary buildings.

My favourite sale...

Took a trip to my favourite charity sale- hunting out fabrics and furnishings to re-vamp an old chair.

I was inspired by some old tapestries, which I thought would upholster the seat of an arm chair nicely. 

Upholstery weekend!

I took the plunge and ran a upholstery weekend at the house. Ultimately this is my business plan- running work shops, and designing and making from home. This was a bit premature as we're still living on a building site but I transformed two of the derelict rooms into work space.

People brought a long different projects- head boards, blanket boxes, foot stalls and an arm chair. I provided all the tools and ordered in any extra materials such as foam.

We had lunch in our cottage and plenty of tea and cake was dished up! 

I hope to run more before the house is finished, but eventually I'll have proper purpose workshop spaces sorted!

Day workshop price: 10am-5pm, £95.  lunch/tea and cake provided. Bring along any project and gain skills and knowledge to transform it! A lovely opportunity to meet with like minded people. 

Caravan project

As we're limited on space until the house is rennovated we've decided to get an old caravan for extra rooms when people stay! This is my new project!

Hoping to transform the interior into a colourful abode!! 

This is a 1990's model so full of floral, green valour and plastic panels! Hopefully with new curtains and upholstry, a lick of paint, decoupage and some funky flooring I'll transform this baby in no time! Althoughy speaking of babies, I am 37 weeks pregnant so not sure it'll get it done that quickly- but it's the next project in line! 

House progression!

The house is slowly but surely coming on! 

Fabric shopping

Busy curtain making which gives me a good excuse to keep nipping into my favourite fabric shop- Bargain Fabrics in Castle Donnington! 

Picked up some gorgeous Sanderson fabrics- lime greens and brights for £7.50 a meter- bargain! You've got to be open minded when you go as they have roll ends, but I always come away happy!

Up and coming in 2015

Up and coming in 2015

A list of some courses I'll be running over the next few months:

Although my new house is currently a demolition site!.. I am running some day upholstery/sort furnishing courses in some workshop rooms from the house in Turnditch (Derbyshire) in Feb and March.

This will be an opportunity to bring along a project and get guidance.

It'll be a full day for £75, including lunch, and tea and cake. Your materials will be extra. 

I already have a fully booked day but am planning on running another if there is interest. Get in touch if you fancy giving yourself a nice creative day! People are bringing all sorts from blinds, headboards and foot stalls. 

Progress?!?! 

This Thursday (15th) I'm running a lamp making workshop at Buttons and Bows in Belper. 

The SEW-cial is due to start next wed night:

People are bringing along lots of projects, including blinds, appliqué and garments to alter. There's only one space left to fill so get in touch for more info.  

Building crazy!

So much building work going on on our house renovation that my little one is obsessed with tools and building- a morning spent building card board houses and cardboard tiles to satisfy his construction needs!