The Househunter 1/4/16

Starting off this week's viewings with a look at this converted Art Deco warehouse in Hackney, east London. This is on the market for £645,000 via The Modern House and consists of  two bedrooms in a split level apartment.

Formerly a clothing factory, it has been divided into 89 units and this one has been completely refurbished by the owners.

The wow factor is the double height reception room with full length glass doors that open onto a roof terrace. The upstairs mezzanine has been converted into one bedroom and, currently, one study but you could use it as a second bedroom if you fancied.

The light and space are wonderful aren't they. I'd lay down a few rugs but I could happily spend time in this one, what about you?

Where shall we go next? Shall we stick with the converted factory/warehouse theme? This one is in Fulham, west London, and is on the market for £2,500,000 also with The Modern House.

Now, I'll admit I wasn't sure about this when I first saw it but as I went round (virtually obvs) I noticed some clever tricks and decided that I was quite keen after all.

Firstly I like the unusual colour on the walls, which has been carried through the main living area, including the kitchen.

Secondly, I like these two huge mirror panels and spent some time thinking that they were actually doorways to the back of the apartment. In addition, the way they have been framed stops them looking like fitted wardrobes from the 1980s so if you're thinking of going big with the mirror then bear that in mind as a tip.

Using mirrors as large as this gives the impression that it's an internal window, another of my favourite things as regular readers will know. In fact, I would be tempted to paint the frames black to really, erm, frame the view.

This colour works really well in the kitchen too doesn't it? It's just a bit more interesting than white, and I'm sitting in a white kitchen as I speak/type.

This room also really speaks to me. I'm definitely starting to wonder about the dark stained wooden floorboards thing at the moment. They look amazing with the pale grey walls and cupboards. It's the opposite of what I have now which is pale floors and dark walls and I really don't have the strength to start again…oh God….

Finally though I wanted to show you the mirror trick again, this time in the bathroom, which is clearly quite a small space but looks much large and lighter for this.

So there you have it, two converted warehouses this week. Which one do you fancy?

from Mad About The House http://ift.tt/1M56UPQ

The Househunter 1/4/16

Starting off this week’s viewings with a look at this converted Art Deco warehouse in Hackney, east London. This is on the market for £645,000 via The Modern House and consists of  two bedrooms in a split level apartment.

Formerly a clothing factory, it has been divided into 89 units and this one has been completely refurbished by the owners.

The wow factor is the double height reception room with full length glass doors that open onto a roof terrace. The upstairs mezzanine has been converted into one bedroom and, currently, one study but you could use it as a second bedroom if you fancied.

The light and space are wonderful aren’t they. I’d lay down a few rugs but I could happily spend time in this one, what about you?

Where shall we go next? Shall we stick with the converted factory/warehouse theme? This one is in Fulham, west London, and is on the market for £2,500,000 also with The Modern House.

Now, I’ll admit I wasn’t sure about this when I first saw it but as I went round (virtually obvs) I noticed some clever tricks and decided that I was quite keen after all.

Firstly I like the unusual colour on the walls, which has been carried through the main living area, including the kitchen.

Secondly, I like these two huge mirror panels and spent some time thinking that they were actually doorways to the back of the apartment. In addition, the way they have been framed stops them looking like fitted wardrobes from the 1980s so if you’re thinking of going big with the mirror then bear that in mind as a tip.

Using mirrors as large as this gives the impression that it’s an internal window, another of my favourite things as regular readers will know. In fact, I would be tempted to paint the frames black to really, erm, frame the view.

This colour works really well in the kitchen too doesn’t it? It’s just a bit more interesting than white, and I’m sitting in a white kitchen as I speak/type.

This room also really speaks to me. I’m definitely starting to wonder about the dark stained wooden floorboards thing at the moment. They look amazing with the pale grey walls and cupboards. It’s the opposite of what I have now which is pale floors and dark walls and I really don’t have the strength to start again…oh God….

Finally though I wanted to show you the mirror trick again, this time in the bathroom, which is clearly quite a small space but looks much large and lighter for this.

So there you have it, two converted warehouses this week. Which one do you fancy?

from Mad About The House http://ift.tt/1M56UPQ

The UK’s first holiday park exclusively for pets

Whilst you’re busy sunning yourself in a far-flung luxury resort, have you ever stopped to consider whether your pets back home are being similarly looked after?  Soon you need no longer worry as Darwin Escapes are planning to add to their collection of luxury UK holiday resorts and retreats with the launch the UK’s first […]

The UK’s first holiday park exclusively for pets is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog

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The UK’s first holiday park exclusively for pets

Whilst you're busy sunning yourself in a far-flung luxury resort, have you ever stopped to consider whether your pets back home are being similarly looked after?  Soon you need no longer worry as Darwin Escapes are planning to add to their collection of luxury UK holiday resorts and retreats with the launch the UK's first […]

The UK's first holiday park exclusively for pets is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog

The post The UK's first holiday park exclusively for pets appeared first on A Luxury Travel Blog.

from A Luxury Travel Blog http://ift.tt/1opU3MT

What’s it like to fly the DJI Phantom 4 drone?

Despite having been founded only 10 years ago, Chinese technology company DJI has grown to be comfortably ahead of the game when it comes to the drone market. You may have already read my initial review of the DJI Phantom 3 Advanced drone, but now DJI have taken us by surprise with the introduction of […]

What's it like to fly the DJI Phantom 4 drone? is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog

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What’s it like to fly the DJI Phantom 4 drone?

Despite having been founded only 10 years ago, Chinese technology company DJI has grown to be comfortably ahead of the game when it comes to the drone market. You may have already read my initial review of the DJI Phantom 3 Advanced drone, but now DJI have taken us by surprise with the introduction of […]

What’s it like to fly the DJI Phantom 4 drone? is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog

The post What’s it like to fly the DJI Phantom 4 drone? appeared first on A Luxury Travel Blog.

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Sniffer cats to replace dogs in airport security trial

Sniffer dogs are having to step aside for their feline counterparts at a Papua New Guinea airport and, if trials are successful, we could soon be seeing sniffer cats – rather than sniffer dogs – at airports all over the world. It has long been known that cats have in the region of 200 million […]

Sniffer cats to replace dogs in airport security trial is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog

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Sniffer cats to replace dogs in airport security trial

Sniffer dogs are having to step aside for their feline counterparts at a Papua New Guinea airport and, if trials are successful, we could soon be seeing sniffer cats – rather than sniffer dogs – at airports all over the world. It has long been known that cats have in the region of 200 million […]

Sniffer cats to replace dogs in airport security trial is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog

The post Sniffer cats to replace dogs in airport security trial appeared first on A Luxury Travel Blog.

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How to Mix Vintage and Contemporary

I'm excited to bring you this post today which I have put together with a little help from Rose and Grey, one of my favourite sites. I wanted to ask their advice on mixing old with new as I know it's something that many of you have asked about and rather than just reading my waffling on I thought it would be good to get some different opinions on the matter.

Here then, are five tips from Guy and Lyndsey Goodger, the owners of this store. They spent many years living and working in London before moving to south Manchester where they live with their two sons. The images are from the new collection.

"In interiors we love white, dark grey, natural wood and exposed brick mixed with splashes of vibrant colour. We  love to create a contemporary mix of vintage pieces with more modern furniture and home accessories to make a unique and exciting home."

They are clearly people after my own heart and therefore, I suspect, some of yours.

"When creating a new space in our own home or when advising customers, we always recommend mixing a vintage pieces with contemporary items. We love the vintage look, but it can become overpowering and a little fuddy-duddy if you decorate an entire room with antique and retro finds.

"Combining one or two statement retro pieces with more contemporary furniture, crisp white walls, contemporary prints and bursts of colour creates a great compromise between old and new."

Be wary of woods

You don't have to meticulously match up all of the wood in your room to the exact same finish, but pick a theme and stick to it. Darker woods, such as teak, cherry and mahogany create a more formal aesthetic than pine and the two subsequently don't mix well when used together. We prefer rustic and salvaged finishes, which are ideal for an industrial aesthetic and both new and vintage pieces are easy to come across.

Create a good balance

Your room is going to look unbalanced if it's predominantly vintage with just one contemporary piece standing out like a sore thumb (and vice-versa). One good way of creating a strong balance is to use mainly modern furniture and fittings, and to accessorise with vintage decorative objects that you have accrued during your travels. Or pick a style that works well for both new and retro pieces, such as the current Mid-Century revival or a stripped-back industrial look.

Mix and match styles

You don't want your room to look overstyled, as if you bought it  straight from the showroom. Regardless of how long it's taken you to style, you want to create the impression that you've pulled everything together over several years to create a lived-in look that feels personal and homely. Try mixing a Mid-Century inspired sofa and sideboard with modern concrete decorations, exposed light bulbs and an on-trend dark wall. Pull in an eclectic selection of your favourite accessories; things you've picked up during the years on your travels or from small independent shops help to create a thoroughly personal and well-considered space.

 

Paint your walls white

Pulling together a mishmash of styles can seem overwhelming, so start things off nice and simple with crisp and clean white walls. Once you have a fresh white canvas to work with, you'll find that your ideas start coming together more easily. Pick a colour scheme that works with your flooring and make the big purchases (such as a sofa or dining table) first, before adding colour, texture and interest with a fusion of vintage and modern accessories.

Think of new uses for old objects

When browsing antique markets, curios shops and retro furniture fairs, think outside the box. If a particular item catches your eye, think of how you could repurpose it for your own home. Old wire racks and locker room shelves look great in the kitchen or a home office, antique bottles make interesting vases for flowers and foliage, and retro crates make great storage solutions.

I hope that has been helpful and you have enjoyed it.

from Mad About The House http://ift.tt/1RrEU9h

How to Mix Vintage and Contemporary

I’m excited to bring you this post today which I have put together with a little help from Rose and Grey, one of my favourite sites. I wanted to ask their advice on mixing old with new as I know it’s something that many of you have asked about and rather than just reading my waffling on I thought it would be good to get some different opinions on the matter.

Here then, are five tips from Guy and Lyndsey Goodger, the owners of this store. They spent many years living and working in London before moving to south Manchester where they live with their two sons. The images are from the new collection.

“In interiors we love white, dark grey, natural wood and exposed brick mixed with splashes of vibrant colour. We  love to create a contemporary mix of vintage pieces with more modern furniture and home accessories to make a unique and exciting home.”

They are clearly people after my own heart and therefore, I suspect, some of yours.

“When creating a new space in our own home or when advising customers, we always recommend mixing a vintage pieces with contemporary items. We love the vintage look, but it can become overpowering and a little fuddy-duddy if you decorate an entire room with antique and retro finds.

“Combining one or two statement retro pieces with more contemporary furniture, crisp white walls, contemporary prints and bursts of colour creates a great compromise between old and new.”

Be wary of woods

You don’t have to meticulously match up all of the wood in your room to the exact same finish, but pick a theme and stick to it. Darker woods, such as teak, cherry and mahogany create a more formal aesthetic than pine and the two subsequently don’t mix well when used together. We prefer rustic and salvaged finishes, which are ideal for an industrial aesthetic and both new and vintage pieces are easy to come across.

Create a good balance

Your room is going to look unbalanced if it’s predominantly vintage with just one contemporary piece standing out like a sore thumb (and vice-versa). One good way of creating a strong balance is to use mainly modern furniture and fittings, and to accessorise with vintage decorative objects that you have accrued during your travels. Or pick a style that works well for both new and retro pieces, such as the current Mid-Century revival or a stripped-back industrial look.

Mix and match styles

You don’t want your room to look overstyled, as if you bought it  straight from the showroom. Regardless of how long it’s taken you to style, you want to create the impression that you’ve pulled everything together over several years to create a lived-in look that feels personal and homely. Try mixing a Mid-Century inspired sofa and sideboard with modern concrete decorations, exposed light bulbs and an on-trend dark wall. Pull in an eclectic selection of your favourite accessories; things you’ve picked up during the years on your travels or from small independent shops help to create a thoroughly personal and well-considered space.

 

Paint your walls white

Pulling together a mishmash of styles can seem overwhelming, so start things off nice and simple with crisp and clean white walls. Once you have a fresh white canvas to work with, you’ll find that your ideas start coming together more easily. Pick a colour scheme that works with your flooring and make the big purchases (such as a sofa or dining table) first, before adding colour, texture and interest with a fusion of vintage and modern accessories.

Think of new uses for old objects

When browsing antique markets, curios shops and retro furniture fairs, think outside the box. If a particular item catches your eye, think of how you could repurpose it for your own home. Old wire racks and locker room shelves look great in the kitchen or a home office, antique bottles make interesting vases for flowers and foliage, and retro crates make great storage solutions.

I hope that has been helpful and you have enjoyed it.

from Mad About The House http://ift.tt/1RrEU9h

Brass Shelf and Light

90° wall light by Frama

If you follow me on instagram you will know that I spent the weekend in Copenhagen. It was my second visit to this wonderful city – the first was for a business lunch about a month ago – and I was so excited to go back with the husband and the teenagers to see more and, crucially, eat more.

And, I'm happy to say, we managed to do lots of both. Once the teenagers had had the obligatory visit to the Lego shop – they may say they're too old for it at home, but the chance to visit in the land of its birth was a whole new thing – we were free to go the shops we wanted to see.

Everyone enjoyed a mooch around Hay House where the 15yo wanted to buy a pencil sharpener until he realised it was £39 and the husband wanted to buy a sofa and the 12yo just wanted everything that he could lift, which is his general rule for shopping.

the frama wall lamp comes in brass or copper

We then went to the Design Museum, which was as wonderful as you would expect it to be in Denmark, the home of design. We also stayed at the Royal Hotel, where everything from the cutlery to the carpet, was designed by Arne Jacobsen. It was all heavenly and I'm determined to go back again and see the rest.

So, with that in mind, it felt only right to bring you a Danish Object of Design today. The 90° Wall Light is made by Frama, which is located in central Copenhagen in a former pharmacy which is now a listed building. Take a look here and then paint your skirting boards to match your walls.

It's such a simple design, which makes it very Danish. It is perfectly formed and perfectly functional, which is also very Danish. There is nothing there which does not need to be there and yet everything that needs to be there is present.

It would make a great bedside table for a small room with no space for more furniture. It would bring an extra element to a kitchen, where it would bring ambient lighting and more storage. By the side of the sofa, it would be perfect for a wine glass and a bowl of nuts. In short, buy it once (or twice for symmetry) and use it in each and every room in the house as the mood takes you.

The Danes firmly believe that good design makes you happy. That you work better and feel better when you are surrounded by things that look good and work well. I totally believe that too and I think this simple shelf and light is the perfect example of that philosophy.

What do you think?

And, if this shelf, at £233 is a little too much for your budget then you can look at this similar one from Rigby and Mac for £125.

from Mad About The House http://ift.tt/22Nom2Y

Brass Shelf and Light

90° wall light by Frama

If you follow me on instagram you will know that I spent the weekend in Copenhagen. It was my second visit to this wonderful city – the first was for a business lunch about a month ago – and I was so excited to go back with the husband and the teenagers to see more and, crucially, eat more.

And, I’m happy to say, we managed to do lots of both. Once the teenagers had had the obligatory visit to the Lego shop – they may say they’re too old for it at home, but the chance to visit in the land of its birth was a whole new thing – we were free to go the shops we wanted to see.

Everyone enjoyed a mooch around Hay House where the 15yo wanted to buy a pencil sharpener until he realised it was £39 and the husband wanted to buy a sofa and the 12yo just wanted everything that he could lift, which is his general rule for shopping.

the frama wall lamp comes in brass or copper

We then went to the Design Museum, which was as wonderful as you would expect it to be in Denmark, the home of design. We also stayed at the Royal Hotel, where everything from the cutlery to the carpet, was designed by Arne Jacobsen. It was all heavenly and I’m determined to go back again and see the rest.

So, with that in mind, it felt only right to bring you a Danish Object of Design today. The 90° Wall Light is made by Frama, which is located in central Copenhagen in a former pharmacy which is now a listed building. Take a look here and then paint your skirting boards to match your walls.

It’s such a simple design, which makes it very Danish. It is perfectly formed and perfectly functional, which is also very Danish. There is nothing there which does not need to be there and yet everything that needs to be there is present.

It would make a great bedside table for a small room with no space for more furniture. It would bring an extra element to a kitchen, where it would bring ambient lighting and more storage. By the side of the sofa, it would be perfect for a wine glass and a bowl of nuts. In short, buy it once (or twice for symmetry) and use it in each and every room in the house as the mood takes you.

The Danes firmly believe that good design makes you happy. That you work better and feel better when you are surrounded by things that look good and work well. I totally believe that too and I think this simple shelf and light is the perfect example of that philosophy.

What do you think?

And, if this shelf, at £233 is a little too much for your budget then you can look at this similar one from Rigby and Mac for £125.

from Mad About The House http://ift.tt/22Nom2Y

March in LA

I’m in the air, on the way to Hawaii and for once I’m being utterly productive instead of watching all the movies. Okay, I lied. I definitely watched one movie (The Intern – I liked it!). I think Molly working...

The post March in LA appeared first on i am a food blog.

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March in LA

I'm in the air, on the way to Hawaii and for once I'm being utterly productive instead of watching all the movies. Okay, I lied. I definitely watched one movie (The Intern – I liked it!). I think Molly working...

The post March in LA appeared first on i am a food blog.

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How to Cut a Pineapple

I'm in Hawaii! It seems fitting that I should post something Hawaii related and lucky for me, I shot this pineapple before I left. Hawaii is everything I dreamed it would be and more, by the way! I'm in love...

The post How to Cut a Pineapple appeared first on i am a food blog.

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How to Cut a Pineapple

I’m in Hawaii! It seems fitting that I should post something Hawaii related and lucky for me, I shot this pineapple before I left. Hawaii is everything I dreamed it would be and more, by the way! I’m in love...

The post How to Cut a Pineapple appeared first on i am a food blog.

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Round Glass Coffee Tables

round glass table from hollys house

Coffee tables seem to be a problem. It's one of the things I am most often asked about, and yet there are so many of them around, it's hard to understand why we seem to find it so difficult.

I think one of the issues is that many coffee tables are small delicate things. By the time you've put said coffee and perhaps a (coffee table) book or a vase of flowers on it, it's full. And where, then, are we supposed to put our feet? Because let's be honest, part of the joy of a coffee table is as a place to rest your feet (while, perhaps watching television or chatting).

Or, if you have a coffee table in a room other than the tv room – perhaps imagine this, a room wherein you actually drink coffee – you usually end up wanting to put more on it than just a couple of mugs and a plate of biscuits.

My coffee table is immense. It's very old and, I think, may have once been a refectory dining table or large farmhouse kitchen table that had its legs cut down. There is room for books, feet, wine, water and even, on occasion, more often than it should be, supper. When the boys were small they would just sit on it to watch the television, rather than on the sofa behind.

For a long time the nest of tables was very infra dig. A twee little thing that your Granny had and that was kept all nested up in the corner until needed. But that has changed. These days you can have as many coffee tables as you want. You want a big one one and can't find the right thing? Buy three instead.

This brass and glass from Holly's House is a perfect example. Although they do stack together, keep them next to each other. Use one for the eponymous coffee table books and display and the other for mugs and glasses. You could even add a third one to the mix – plain brass for example, like this one:

That way you have the roundness and the brassiness (but in a good way) to tie them together but they are at different heights and will hold that large space in front of a sofa together much better than they would on their own. You can try your own grouping of small coffee tables. Remember; keep a couple of elements the same – either the shape, the colour or the material then vary whichever one of those is left over and change the heights as well.

Right then coffee table problem. Solved.

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