Grubby Cottage Renovation

A Grubby Cottage renovation. It's just up our street. We can see the potential in this little gem...

A lick of paint maybe?

A new light bulb?

(what's in the jar?)

Clean the windows?

Mr Muscle oven cleaner?

A beautiful and inspiring building and renovation project.

Source: images - my own.

Rust, Rust and more Rust - Sprite 400 Chassis

It was love at first sight when I purchased my Sprite 400. Thoughts of turning this little time-warped capsule into a usable family space made my heart skip a beat. My tiny vintage bubble van was all mine, bought and paid for, mine to keep.

You've watched George Clarke's Amazing Spaces yes? I guess this is very much like one of those projects. It's about creating a magical space that I can share with my family. In a moments notice we can be on the road and change our view at any given time. The kids are going to love it! Ok, so I've not given it too much thought about losing our creature comforts but that's all part of the fun right? Glamping I believe it's commonly known as. When it's not a family road trip it will be a room at the bottom of the garden.

So far the project has took far more man hours than I ever anticipated. It's definitely a labour of love. I have to admit that I did not foresee the painful process of cleaning up the vintage caravan chassis. My fingers hurt with all the degreasing, wire brushing and sanding. I really haven't enjoyed this job at all but I'm willing to get stuck in and see this project to the end (with the help of Mr. Grubby Cottage).  

A vintage caravan project will push your diy boundaries but it's achievable. It just takes time and patience. You have to be prepared to multi-task. You will do more preparation work than renovation and this can be a bore at times. If this happens simply walk away and do something else - this will keep your project on the move.

Sprite 400 - One foot in the past and one foot in the present.

Miss Potter, my little Sprite 400 caravan is well on her way to having a full makeover. It's almost the equivalent to botox and collagen. This project is in full swing and I can almost taste the excitement of interior design to come with the most gorgeous fabrics, textures and colour. I can't wait!

Let me remind you of what she looked like...

Stored in a barn for 30 years this little cutie had at one time been very-much loved by it's previous owners. There was a lot of teak effect hardboard, stencilled flowers, tired looking peach walls and flea bitten turquoise curtains with matching musty-smelling foam seating (not fire-retardent!).

Some may say that I should have kept the late 1960's / early 70's decor... 

To quote Plankbridge Hutmakers, who are Master Craftsman of the most beautiful shepherd huts... 

'one foot in the past and one foot firmly in the present'. 

There will be a touch of hardwood teak restored that will be my nod of respect to the nostalgia of the 1970's interior. I've restored the old gas lamp and kept all the fixtures and fitted furniture. 

But as you will see it will be a very light, cosy and relaxing space... Can you visualise this? 

I know I do. The colour of my rainbow for this little gem is a palette of Farrow & Ball greeney/greys and a delicious light cream white. 

More to come soon...

Bold & Noble - Made in England

Beautiful screen-prints by Bold & Noble.
The quintessentially english design is fresh and bold. The modern colour palette is distinct, memorable and complimentary.

I love, love, love the 'Yellow Moss' nature prints.

Go & discover... 

"Bold & Noble was born at our kitchen table. 

Our vision: to create beautifully-made screen prints people would love. While Granny babysat, we worked nights on our first collection—which keeps on growing."

Trees Around Britain - Yellow Moss

"We use traditional methods and all our collaborators are based in England."

Birds Around Britain - Norfolk Blue

"We make products that stand the test of time, by hand, in the old-fashioned way."
Source: Bold & Noble

Bee Kind - Warm Grey

The Bold & Noble collections include Coastal, Illustrated Letters, Type Maps (including limited editions) Nature, Patterns & People.

See more... Bold & Noble

Farrow & Ball - Colour Key Trend 2015

My favourite Farrow & Ball colour key trend 2015

Farrow & Ball Light Blue No. 22, has to be my favourite key trend for 2015.

It's such a calming palette best described by FB as a way of introducing the softer side of life by escaping the brashness of modern day. It's a way of creating an interior where colours shift and change like our landscape.

Light Blue is perhaps a more greeny/grey light blue which is heavily influenced by natural light. It's a really easy colour to work with. Undertones of grey can be lifted through this colour as there is so much depth but it's a colour with contradiction... Light Blue No.22 is a 'warm' light blue/grey/green as opposed to the coldness of an average blue palette.

Simply add a drop of warm white/grey such as Dimpse No. 277 to Light Blue No.22 to make your room colour sing.

Marlborough College Bed. Fit for a Princess?

Locally sourced, with all proceeds of sale going to charity, my newly purchased beds have come from one of the most famous public schools in the world...

HRH Duchess of Cambridge (Kate Middleton) is perhaps one of the most well-known pupils to have attended Marlborough College in Wiltshire, as did her sister Pippa Middleton and HRH Princess Eugenie of York. 

The solid iron beds with original spring bases are brimming with character. Having several coats of old chipped paint they come a very colourful history. They have been dated to around 1905 and are in great need of a sympathetic restoration.

Bespoke Bed Design.

I've experimented and used a shot blaster to strip the old chipped layers of paint finishing with a powder coat for a strong evenly coated surface.

It was important in the design brief that the beds continued to display their character of age and history and I couldn't be anymore pleased with the results...

Original Cast Iron.

Remarkable Detail.

Waxed bun feet restored.

The Final Result.

I've restored two of these beds for my two daughters. My interior design brief was to create a very english modern country bedroom. The walls would be a chalky pink... Farrow & Ball 'Middleton Pink' was an obvious choice, Laura Ashley pink gingham and country patchwork quilts.

Interior Design Inspiration - Cothay Manor

Cothay Manor is a very beautiful and magical 15th century medieval manor house. Whats more, the interior design and soft furnishings are mostly hand-crafted by the lady of the manor. Rich, delicious deep coloured fabrics dress this manor beautifully offering warmth and comforting poshness with a capital 'P'.

Cothay is set in 12 acres of ornamental formal and informal old english gardens. The cottage garden eagerly nods to the quintessentially englishness of comforting homely garden design.

Lacking in interior design inspiration for the home and garden?

Cothay Manor has design inspiration in the bucket loads. It's well worth a visit! See more information here.