So there I was; just back from holiday with a small case of the blues and a large pile of laundry and wondering what to write about for today’s Object of Design, when I saw this gorgeous chair. And it turns out that the chair I am currently sitting on (in the bay window of the sitting room since you ask) is not only stained from all Enid’s muddy footprints but now has two increasingly large tears on the seat. I’m blaming the cat’s claws and the teenager’s trousers.
Now I’m not really in the business of buying new furniture at the moment having just finished the loft, where I should actually be sitting to work – instead of trying to cling onto the holiday feeling by lounging in an armchair – but there’s nothing to stop a few wish lists from writing themselves here and there. I could just start with this chair. In an experimental let’s-just-sleep-on-it kind of way.
Imagine it against the dark charcoal walls of the sitting room. Imagine it paired with a dark grey velvet sofa and a deeper pink chaise longue. This chair, which costs £599 from westelm is just begging to live in my house. Now there is a slight snag in that it’s getting to the muddy time of year and it’s a chair that Her Imperial Highness Enid is fond of sitting on. Not that she’s in charge or anything, but a black and white throw might not go amiss…
Now, on another note; as some of you will know, this blog started three-and-a-half years ago and I have published every single day since then. Yes indeed. I am actually quite proud of that fact! Even during a period of quite severe illness, The Mad House managed to roll out some archive posts to keep everything going. But the time has come for a change.
It takes, as you can imagine, a lot of time to research and write the posts and with my interior consulting business building up I have decided to reduce the schedule a little. This will, hopefully, give me more time to get out and about to find the interesting pieces to show you and write about them.
I hope you will let me know what you think of this. I am enormously appreciative when I receive a message saying that my daily email dropping in at 7am is a little treat to start the day, but I am also aware that we all now receive so many emails that there’s often no time to deal with the ones we have to read, never mind the ones we want to look at. I know too that many of you drop in once a week (usually Sundays) for a longer browse and a catch up so I hope that by publishing on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays you won’t feel you are missing out. In short, I plan to experiment by publishing four days a week instead of seven. I could change those days if you prefer or perhaps you might like it to be four days a week?
This blog is nothing without you, the reader, so please, please use the comments below to tell me if you miss the daily post, if you are happy with the new schedule and, of course, anything you would like to see more (or less) of.
I, always, look forward to hearing from you XK
I agree that less of you is better than none of you! I don’t know how you’ve been able to do a post a day as long as you have ~ we’ll appreciate you more, I’m sure.
I’m sure your interior consulting business will be a huge success!
Hi Kate
Totally don’t blame you. I initially did a daily blog and it was after about 6 months or so that I realised I had to reduce it to Monday, Wednesday, Friday as I was literally not getting any work done.
You’ve totally ‘done your time’ and although I love reading your blog, I think the reduction is totally justified.
It will just make us look forward to reading on these days even more
🙂
Hi Kate,
Just wanted to say yours is the first email I read every day, I love the Mad emails and I tell loads of people to follow you for inspiration. You have definitely inspired me both in my business and my own house. I can’t imagine the amount of work that goes into posting every day. I will read your fab posts whenever you send them! Thanks so much xx
(and this chair is just divine)
Love the blog..its the only one I will definitely open and read! Happy for that to be whenever you have the time to write it! Good luck with the new venture!
Your blog is a real treat. GORGEOUS chair. And I hope your new loft room brings you great pleasure and good fortune.
I am a complete ‘Mad House’ Junkie! I read your posts first thing in the morning or at the late at night – everyday without fail – a complete addict. Looks like I’ll just have to learn to go a bit cold turkey…
I too love the chair and the loft conversion btw.
Mad Fan X
I don’t know how you kept it up anyway
So 5 days a week is fine with me
And re your forthcoming book, could you make it as interesting, useful and creative as your blog.
There are far, far too many bland, boring interiors books out there. Once read immediately forgotten
JCW
Pretty much agree with all the above comments although I only get time to dip my toe in once a wk or so but you have a great eye for design with a witty sense of humour.
I look forward to your blog continuing no matter how many times you post. Always a great insight into what all the other designers and creatives are up to. I’ve even decorated one of our bedrooms based on one of your inspirational blogs….remember the indigo blue/orange themes?
Anyway, make sure you enjoy some of time you will make back Kate
Regards
Deborah x
Your blog is almost as good as chocolate. But I can’t eat chocolate everyday, although I would love to! Your blog will become a special treat!
Love reading your emails and seeing the fantastic things you find.
Happy to have them as often as it suits you!
Many thanks.
Having once run a blog for 5 yrs (where I posted up to 5x daily!), I totally get it. I’d rather see fewer posts than have you burn out & shut down, so yes, let’s go with the new schedule.
I love my mad fix first things every morning but agree with everyone that some is better than none. Plus this chair is gorgeous. Xx
You’re all so kind *sniffs gently* I feel a bit guilty now…
I’m so pleased that you all enjoy the blog so much and promise to keep it coming for as long as you want to read it. Thank you all XK
I will be perfectly happy with three days of madness. It is a bold and brave move to announce your new schedule rather than to just slowly wither away and disappear. Genius takes time.
Ditto on all the above. Thank you, and keep them coming – your emails are much appreciated and enjoyed!
I look forward to your blog every day, it’s without fail a joy to read and look.
It’s an expensive hobby, I’m now shopping for the house far more frequently! The latest thing on my wish list is the Ammonite light. Gorgeous.
I’ll appreciate anything you post, whenever it fits in.
Thank you so much for doing it!
Sally
Morning Kate!
I’m one of those folk who open your blog daily over breakfast, intrigued to discover what’s up at The Mad House. But I can well imagine that writing every day on top of everything else is a drain. Select whichever schedule suits you best, but PLEASE KEEP ‘EM COMING! Your fans love you!
Thanks
Andrea
I agree that less is sometimes more and we’ve been indulged with a daily post. I don’t blame you for 1 minute and beautiful chair – I want it!
Hi
As much as I LOVE your daily blog, I can totally appreciate how much work goes into it. To be honest I did feel a bit spoilt by my daily insight…I’ll still look forward to receiving it, whether it’s 3 days 5 days or weekly.
It’s much appreciated!
I shall miss your daily e-mail but understand it is a lot of work. Yours is the first e-mail I open each morning.
I love reading your blog every morning, always a great interesting read. As mentioned above much rather 5 times a week than none x
I agree with Rachael!
I enjoy reading your posts every morning. You are right that we get bombarded with emails but I always know yours will be witty, concise and show me some beautiful object and so I read without fail.
Keep them coming in whatever volume you can manage! And thank you!!
Your e mail is genuinely a real treat – even when you post things I don’t like (not often) I still like reading what you write.
I will miss it not being daily but understand its a lot of work
Just wanted to say thanks really – and please keep going even if it’s on fewer days
Sue
I’d rather have less of you rather than none of you!
Sometimes you do need to take a step back and reassess. So I look forward to my 5 treats a week.
BTW, beautiful chair.