vintage metal hurricane lamp from nordichouse.co.uk

These gorgeous vintage lamps look like they’re made from willow branches but are, in fact, metal. The other great thing about them is that the tall one is 49cm high, which is a good size. I get so sick of seeing things I love and then realising that they’re tiny. Now, yes it would be great if it was even taller than that but then the candle glow might get rather lost if it was.

hurricane lamp with candle

The smaller one is 30cm and you should buy as many as you can afford. Either put them on the steps as above, or perhaps buy one large and two small and group them in a three by a group of chairs. Add a small table. A bottle of something chilled …. there you go. Feeling better?

nordichouse.co.uk £20 and £32.50

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Chalkboard paint wall from style-files.com

I have already written about my love of black doors and windows so it will probably come as no surprise that I’m not averse to a black wall as well. But this time it’s practical.

stylish and practical blackboard wall

We may have reached the age of the paperless office (and however bad you think yours is, just remember the days when the fax machine in the corner was constantly spewing out paper all day long so that you had to literally wade through it to find the one you wanted) but we have by no means reached the paperless home.

the back of the door is a really handy place to paint

My fridge is covered with notes and reminders and lists and letters and drawings and parking permits (and the odd ticket) and it looks dreadful. So it’s time to consider blackboard paint. Or chalkboard paint, whichever you prefer to call it. And, as we shall discover, it doesn’t have to be black, you can make it magnetic for those bits of paper you really can’t afford lose, or ignore, and, if you don’t like black you can even buy whiteboard paint now.

not just for kids though … image from apartmenttherapy.com

I have, as regular readers may know, painted my entire downstairs loo in blackboard paint (and added a glitterball). It’s not entirely practical as, rather than shopping lists and useful information, there tends to be a lot of graffitti from the children, not to mention the people who come for supper and always leave something interesting to read the next day.

Olaf Hajek’s chalkboard wall taken from The Selby, via abigailahern.wordpress.com

So, if you do fancy it, here’s a tip: obviously you need to clean and prepare the area before painting, but you knew that right? Then, I would give it two or three coats. After all you are going to be wiping it with a damp cloth quite often. Then, if you can, leave it for two or three days to really properly dry out before you let anyone loose with the chalk.

here, a chalkboard wall is an integral part of the decor of this industrial style kitchen

For best results, allow the painted area to cure for 3 days before using it as a chalkboard. According to the US paint company, Benjamin Moore, you should rub the entire surface with a piece of white chalk before using it. This will make it easier to clean when people do start writing on it.

photo by Simon Whitmore for Beautiful Kitchens

You can either paint a section of wall, in which case, think about putting a large frame around it to make it look finished. Or, why not paint the back of the door, or a kitchen cupboard. The world, is basically your chalkboard. And if you’re really not sure, then consider painting the inside of a cupboard door. That way you can have your notes but they’re not on display.

paint inside the cupboard door. image from shelterness.com

And, of course, do look for different colours if you prefer. You can also do a couple of layers of magnetic paint under the blackboard if you want to be able to stick some reminders on it. It will never be as magnetic as the fridge though. Or think about whiteboard paint, which is invisible on a white wall and, apparently, a nightmare to apply, but you might prefer the look. Having said that, if you’ve got small children and there’s one white wall they can draw on and one/several they can’t (with a felt pen) there could be trouble ahead. #justsayin

paint a cupboard in blackboard paint. image from apartmenttherapy.com

The other really useful idea, which, if I hadn’t bought a new fridge two years ago, I would be totally up for doing is the blackboard fridge. Unusual and useful at the same time.

image from apartmenttherapy.com

And here someone has painted their kitchen worktop in whiteboard paint. I’m not sure how long it would last but it could be fun.

image from manolohome.com

So, what do you think. Blackboard, whiteboard, corkboard? Which one will you choose?

Magnetic Blackboard Paint

Smart Wall Whiteboard Paint

Coloured Chalkboard Paint

For more blackboard inspiration visit my Pinterest Board

The post Mad About … Blackboard Paint appeared first on Mad About The House.

giant outdoor cushion

Outdoor cushions can sometimes be covered in oilcloth, which, while pretty, can make for a rather sticky lounging experience on a warm day. This giant outdoor version is made from material which has a showerproof finish which allows the water to run off rather than soaking in. This also makes it stainproof too – handy for drinks and suntan lotion.

But, if you do spill something, the cover is easily removed and washable. It comes in two sizes: floor 120cm x 120cm and giant: 145cm x 145cm.

runawaycoast.com

£75 and £95

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emu ivy outdoor furniture by paola navone

Outdoor sofas. The ultimate garden seating. For me anyway. The problem is that however weatherproof the manufacturers claim they are, you can’t help worrying that rainwater will collect down the back and in the sides and end up ruining what is an expensive piece of furniture.

weatherproof garden sofa in white, orange or sky blue

Enter Paola Navone with her stainless steel mesh furniture, which has holes for the rain to drain through, comes with an optional cushion, although obviously you can add your own.

Paola Navone’s ivy furniture comes in blue too

It would be perfectly happy outside in winter as it takes on a rather lovely ghostly effect don’t you think?

macandmacinteriors.co.uk the sofa costs £1,950

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Santos chair from John Lewis

So, garden chairs. Jewel colours, recycled plastic, high backs and arm rests. What’s not to like? I can totally imagine whiling away a sunny afternoon in one of these in a one-more-glass-of-rosé-well-if-you-insist kind of way.

Santos chair in recycled plastic

They come in five colours (shown above) so you can choose your combinations. I would have two (or four) grey, one pink and one green. What would you choose?

John Lewis £150

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THE FIRST SUN HOUSE

Amersham

Buckinghamshire

Price: £900,000

Agent: Bonham (via Wowhaus) 

They say: The First Sun House, while controversial in its day is now a symbol of contemporary design. Distinctly Art Deco, brilliantly white, stubbornly square, this three storey house is both practical and luxurious. The number and shape of windows everywhere frames a different view: from porthole windows and rural landscapes to the elegant, two storey glazed unit at the front.

We say: The house extends to three floors but the top is mainly that large roof terrace although there is a study up there too. It has been extensively modernised and the interior, while comfortable isn’t as modernst as the outside.

REDLAND

Bristol

Price: £845,000

Agent: The Modern House

They say: Wonderful five-bedroom detached house, situated on a private plot alongside The Downs in Bristol, which was designed by the architect Daren Drage. Constructed from English green oak and reclaimed local stone in 1994 and substantially extended in 2010, it is one of the country’s most celebrated eco houses. The property benefits from being bright, energy-efficient and easy to maintain.

We say: Four bedrooms and a study on the ground floor, with one bedroom opening onto the deck and the living space and kitchen, which is extremely spacious is upstairs. Personally, I’m not sure I could cope with the staircase, although I can appreciate its beauty.

WILKES STREET

Spitalfields

London

Price: £2,850,000

Agent: Space Station (via RightMove)

They say: Exceptional Grade II listed Georgian freehold house arranged over five floors with quite possibly the most original and authentic interiors situated in the Spitalfields Conservation area. There is an abundance of Georgian character on every floor including original floorboards, oak panelling, stripped back and treated plaster walls, working shutters and gorgeous cast iron fireplaces.

We say: It’s arranged over five floors with one bedroom on the lower ground, the garden is small and I want it. That is all.

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cane-line garden furniture from aram.co.uk

Doesn’t this look inviting. It’s all from the Danish Design Company Cane-Line and I’m not expecting you to buy the whole lot but take a look at the elements, see how it’s been styled and think about how you can bring some of that to your own outside space.

time out coffee tables from cane-line

They specialise in hand-woven materials, water and weatherproof furniture. And of course that all fits with the current theme of bringing the inside out and vice versa. I’ve wanted an outdoor rug for ages and they are just beginning to appear now. Some of you may remember the Swedish Pappelina plastic rugs I featured a few weeks ago. This one is designed to drain rainwater (although be realistic if you leave it outside in the current conditions it won’t survive)  and comes in this blue/grey or a white/brown combination.

I am outdoor rug from cane-line

Cane-line from the Aram Store  from £275

The post Objects of Design #78: Cane-Line Garden Furniture appeared first on Mad About The House.

First up Deadgood,  a company designing and making contemporary British furniture. Set up in 2005 by Dan Ziglam & Elliot Brook who met whilst studying furniture design at university.

deadgood

The company’s commercial clients include the Wahaca, Giraffe and ASK Restaurant chains, the BBC’s landmark developments in London and Salford Quays as well as Philips’ headquarters in Eindhoven, Google’s flagship offices in London, Dubai & Madrid alongside Amazon in Paris.

deadgood

Every week they promote a limited selection of pieces on the website, then at the end of seven days they process all the orders and make them to order, which allows them to keep the prices down. Dan Ziglam said:  “Pop up shops within physical spaces is a relatively established concept, but we wanted to bring this idea into the virtual world. The world has changed dramatically since we set up back in 2005 and the furniture industry has, aside from a few pioneers, failed to adapt as quickly as other industries.”

Next up Timorous Beasties, a company whose whimsical, and sometimes slightly scary, designs have been a favourite of mine for many years. 

timorous beasties wallpaper from katyelliot.com

Their cushions are particularly beautiful and I can’t wait to see what they will be revealing at the show.

timorous beasties cushions. Photograph taken by James Merrell

Interiors LDN is a new event this year will showcase the very best contemporary British and international design in furniture and interiors for the mid to high-end market.

My third find is James Harrison of James UK. All their products are handmade in the UK by a network of expert manufacturers, using traditional techniques, modern technology and years of experience and there is total flexibility on fabric and finish.

Norton armchair from James UK

James has also designed a range of furniture for made.com

jonah by James Harrison for made.com

Another one of the show’s handpicked exhibitors is Sharon Marston who creates amazing bespoke sculptural light installations, many with fibre optic technology.

This, for example, was commissioned for the stairwell of the Levin Hotel in London. It has an 18m drop.

sharonmarston.com

Finally Badgers of Bohemia, who create print designs from detailed paintings, often with an unexpected and witty touch.

egrets by badgers of bohemia

New this year is their cushion collection. Take a look at this and you will understand a little more about this company.

cushion by badgers of bohemia

So there are my five finds. Do let me know what you find at Interiors LDN and we can update this post as we go along. Have a good time at the show, there’s lots to look out for.

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tea light chandelier from worm.co.uk

This series of Objects of Design turns out to be quite heavy on the lighting front but that is because I do think we often consider outdoor lighting as an extravagance and we don’t really want to spend any money on it. I do understand that, but look at this tea light chandelier.  No electricity needed. Just a tree to hang it on and if you haven’t got one of those then you can buy shepherd’s crooks for lanterns, or improvise with the washing line or something.

detail: tea light chandelier

Doesn’t it make that whole scene look more inviting? And let’s be honest, last time you went to Ikea, you probably bought a bag of 100 tealights that have been sitting in the cupboard ever since. Well, this’ll use them up for you.

You can also hang it inside too, by the way. It would look lovely over the kitchen table on a winter’s evening. And it’s a slightly friendlier price than the outdoor chandelier featured earlier.

This may well be my next garden purchase. Time to stop talking and start doing. Or, more accurately, shopping.

worm.co.uk £69

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from kitchenworktopsuk.co.uk

Gone are the days when you were being quite posh if you chose wood, announcing your wealth if you ran to granite and, like most people, just selected the right shade of laminate and forgot about it.

Now, if you are looking to create your dream kitchen, you can choose from dozens of different materials, including stone, quartz composites, corian and glass, not forgetting those old favourites, wood and stainless steel.

corian worktop image from lacucina.de

“Glass is the ultimate wow factor for kitchen worktops,” says Robyn Gifford, a consultant at Roundhouse Design. “It’s tough, it’s beautiful and it comes in any colour you like. It’s also low maintenance, although it does scratch if you are wearing a diamond ring.”

Some might say that if your diamonds are big enough to scratch your worktops, you probably aren’t doing your own cooking.

recycled glass worktop from bottlealleyglass.co.uk

Julia van den Berg, of Decoglaze, says: “Glass is becoming a major trend. One of its great strengths is that we can do lengths of 3.8m, which means that there are fewer joins.

“You can literally have any colour you want. We operate a colour matching service so you can bring in a sample of the paint you are using on the walls or the cupboards and we can match it.”

glass worktop from glasslogic.co.uk

Neutral colours are always the most popular but sometimes a really strong shade can really add something special to a space.

glass kitchen worktop from maldonglass.co.uk

The other popular choice is Corian. Paul McDowell, from DuPont Surfaces, says: “We offer 70 colours of Corian but by far the most popular colours these days is one of the many variations of white, although some more daring customers occasionally buck the trend and go for a vibrant shade such as celestial blue or indus red.”

Robyn agrees that Corian is having a fashion moment. “It can be moulded which makes it very hygienic as you can use it for both your sink and worktop together so there are no joins, so there will be no water damage and nowhere for germs to congregate.

corian worktop from kitchenemporium.co.uk

“One of the reason our clients like it is that consistency of colour. Granite has natural variations but Corian is very uniform and they like that. Everyone wants pale colours now. They also don’t want to spend thousands of pounds on a colour that might be unfashionable in six months time.”

But what about wood? That staple of the kitchen worktop. It’s environmentally friendly, warm to touch and very natural.

wooden worktop, image from roomenvy.co.uk

John White, managing director of Anderson Sinclair designers, is blunt. “When people come to me asking for wood, I usually manage to dissuade them,” he says.

“It is beautiful but there are too many negatives. It burns, it’s porous which makes it unhygienic if you have an undermounted sink as it collects germs and gets damaged, and you have to re-oil it every few months.”

image from housetohome.co.uk

But he adds that there’s nothing wrong with using a mix of surfaces. “The old concept of the triangle of the cooker, sink and fridge is outmoded now. We work in zones. Wood for the eating area, Corian for the sink and food prep and perhaps granite round the cooker where it needs to be able to withstand hot pans.”

As for me? I have stainless steel. It can take the abuse of hot pans, water and scratches without making a fuss. Yes, it is quite an industrial look but we have softened it with leather handles on the cupboards and reclaimed painted floorboards that are an antidote to the cool modernity of the steel. And basically, if it’s good enough for a professional restaurant it’s good enough for me.

stainless steel kitchen worktop

And, I quite like how it goes with the tin ceiling too.

Further reading on how to plan the perfect kitchen

my stainless steel worktop

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