When I can’t sleep I decorate. Not literally but in my mind’s eye. I start with rooms I own and imagine methodically clearing them out to make way for a new design. Then, should rest still be elusive, I move onto rooms I don’t own. I might pick a style – this week it seems…
I’ve said for a long time that the Georgian vicars got all the best houses and now, it turns out, the Georgian doctors did pretty well too. This terrace, near Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, is believed to have been his (and it would have been a he) home with the surgery next door. Now it’s Grade II…
I promised you this post on what to do with the tricky middle room some time ago and while it won’t be relevant to all of you, you should still find some general ideas that apply to any renovation about making the space work for you and how you live rather than just accepting it…
I was drawn to these warm colours of vintage wood, rich cream and shades of chocolate this week. It all feels very cocooning and comforting but, at the same time, is essentially taking a classic black and white base and turning the dial round to the warm end. So it’s just as easy to add…
So far this year we’ve done small flat with no original features, a new build and a narrow house, all of which have, I hope, provided useful pointers and inspiration for your own homes. This week we’re just going pretty. I love this house and while it may not be applicable for many of you,…
Bedside tables are a constant request and you also asked for more of “the bests” and shopping round ups at the beginning of the year and I’m happy to oblige. Some of you asked for it to be broken into budget but I don’t think three posts on one product would be interesting for those…
Happy August and welcome to the start of the postcards. Every year I take a break to recharge my brain and clear out space for new ideas and inspiration and while I am doing that I send you a series of postcards for posts you may have missed, or might like to see again or…
Next week will see the start of my annual August postcards series which gives you the chance to revisit some of the most popular posts of the last year or, perhaps, see them for the first time. I’m aware of how busy your inboxes are and that it’s an enormous privilege to granted access three…
Off to East London this week to look at a classic Victorian terrace that has been extended to provide four bedrooms but has planning permission to convert the loft into a further large bedroom and en-suite, which might free up space for a home office or playroom should you need. It’s on the market with…
Now clearly I’m not suggesting you do this this week but in normal weather conditions painting your window frames is a small job that may not even require a ladder. It is also, as I mentioned in Monday’s post a really effective way to bring a room together and even add a dramatic element. I…