Snug as a Bug

The new fire is in, and I've been working hard over the week to give the snug a freshen up and a new feel. 

I painted the walls a similar colour to the kitchen, but with more dark yellow undertones. This gives the room a warmer, cosier feel and helps to tie in the gold tones of the sofa. 

By the side of the fire we have a tin basket which holds cones and corks; they make ideal fire lighters, and look pretty sitting on the hearth.

I've still got the bookcase to dress and were going to move furniture around, but it's been so warm and cosy in the last few days.

I will update you with more photos once the new sofas are in. I can't wait.

Ally

xxx

Relight my Fire

When we moved into our house we were greeted by this horrific art deco fireplace. Since we've been living here we've been dying to rip it out and replace it with a stove.

Well the time has come...

I took the pleasure in ripping the fireplace out myself

As I'm typing the men are putting the final pieces of the flue in, and with the abrupt change in the weather, to say I'm looking forward to lighting a fire is an understatement.

The installation wasn't quite as straight forward as we were expecting as the previous owners decided to remove the chimney to make more wardrobe space in the bedroom above!

Whilst I have the opportunity I'm going to give the room a freshen up; anew lick of paint; rearrange the furniture and possibly rip the bookcase out. However the end result remains to be seen...

Ally

xxx

Ticking Over

Ticking fabric was a thick heavy fabric traditionally used to keep feathers in pillows and straw in matresses. The close weave makes it difficult for the feathers to push through the fabric.

It has an instantly recognisable stripe, which looks perfect as a bedspread,  on cushions, upholstered onto a chair or even as a rug on the floor.

 A good ticking fabric will feel stiff initially, although it will soften with time. Generally speaking, the stiffer the fabric, the higher the quality.  Due to the close weave it makes an excellent heavy duty fabric, practical enough for any family.

When I see a ticking stripe, it conjures up memories of Summer holidays in Devon, the taste of sea salt, and the sounds of crashing waves.

Ally

xxx

Watch the World go by

Window seats first came about in the late 1700's, here in England. In those days they were simply a hard, uncomfortable sofa without a back, a million miles away from the images that I conjure up of window seats now.

I find something honest and romantic about window seats. They are the perfect place to sit and ponder; to cuddle up and fall asleep in the sun; or relax and watch the world go by.

If you have a bare bay window or any little nooks in the house that you don't know what to do with adding a window seat can frame the window, or room. 

Having sat on a few window seats in my time I know how frustrating it can be when the cushions slip off. To tackle this issue, staple a few strips of Velcro to the base and stitch the contrasting strips to the cushion. This should save your bottom from any bumps on the floor. 

Ally

xxx

Under the Stairs

In most homes the hallway is the first room of the house that guests see, it has the potential to set the scene for the rest of your home and gives people the first impression of, not only your home, but an insight into you as an individual, yet most hallways are neglected, treated as a means to an end, simply  a place to get to all the other rooms in the house. 

To help make your hallway feel more like a room try finding some unique pieces that can act as a talking point for your guests, quirky hooks, a vintage coat stand or an antique console table. A rug can add warmth and a wall display such as a mirror or pictures can provide a focal point.

Currently our hallway feels small because the staircase is solid, there aren't any spindles, which really closes the room in. I would love to knock out the area under the stairs and line an old bench with gingham cushions, spot lights shining down on it for a lovely area to get ready before you go out. Or, perhaps a place to collapse after a long walk. I also want to add spindles rather than solid wall to help create a greater sense of space.

I saw in a magazine a few years ago a stair case that had mismatching spindles, they had reclaimed them and painted them in complimentary colours. It looked fabulous.

What would you change about your hallway given the chance?

Ally

xxx

Simply Scandinavian

With the Autumn weather feeling like it's really starting to set in I've been looking to the Scandinavians for design inspiration.
The look is very natural, lots of wood, neutral colours teamed with thick knitted throws and cushions.

The bedroom is my own creation, I love wicker baskets, and old scabby looking cases they're great for hiding odds and ends away in.

One of my favourite companies Cox and Cox have a lot of items in their new Autumn collection that can help you achieve this look yourself. I love all of their pieces, but these are the ones that I love the most.

I'm sharing this post with http://debbie-debbiedoos.blogspot.com

Ally

xxx

I heart ♥s

For the last week I've been looking at fabrics, and sketching some ideas down on paper for my hanging hearts. Yesterday I finally decided on which fabric I was going to use (even the man in the shop commented that I'd finally made my mind up)! I had such a specific idea in my head that I was never going to find what I wanted.

The fabric I ended up going for I was worried was going to look a little dull and washed out. But I "jujjed" it up with some bright stitching and ribbon.

I've mocked up a couple and will make some more, with different designs and which ever are deemed most popular will go on sale in the next couple of weeks. Hopefully!

So Excited...

Which is your favourite?

Ally

  xxx