November Update: All About Autumn
Happy Friday people! I’m looking outside at some gorgeous Autumn sunshine as I write - Sussex couldn’t look more beautiful in the Autumn. Usually I love it when the temperature drops which it seems to have done this week, but we don’t have a fire yet in our house and putting the heating on just feels like you’re being mugged these days! So it’s all about the blankets, the layers, the sunnies and the Autumn leaves. And maybe even a hat for good measure. And a little bit of heating!
Project Updates
At SHS HQ we’ve had a busy couple of weeks. Our Shoreham project has knocked through into the loft conversion and it’s looking FAB! It’s always so lovely to see a blank canvas and watch it come to life. Upstairs there’s a master bedroom, en-suite and dressing room. The tiling has started in the en-suite and my clients are super excited about their new space. They’re decorating it themselves and reusing their existing furniture but with a clean up and some fresh walls it’s going to look fab!
Shoreham project: Master bedroom gets its first coat of paint
Master En-suite starts to take shape
All in the detail: Terrazzo tiles and gold fixtures
I’ve been working on a couple of projects in Steyning. One is a big project to convert an old bungalow into an amazing five bedroom family home. I’m supporting with ideas and advice and it’s great to see it taking shape.
My other Steyning interior design project is still in the paperwork stage but we’re super excited about getting started in the new year, working on a period property with some beautiful features and creating a family snug and entrance hall. More info to follow on this one I can’t wait to share it with you.
Work is ready to start in Dec in Horsham on a relatively new home with some really modern features. My client is looking to make the space more homely and we’re starting with some changes to the layout, a full decoration of downstairs and new flooring. A new home all ready for Christmas!
In the meantime our lounge is the focus of the moment. It’s probably the main room that sold the house to me in the first place. It has windows on 3 sides, is a really well proportioned space and has a lovely feel to it. It has a big limestone fire place surround that I’m hoping is going to look fab when we’re done with it. When we moved in it had green wallpaper and was a lovely calm space as long as you didn’t look at any of the (very old and dirty) detail. When we stripped the wallpaper it was a strong peach underneath and it totally changed the space. The calm was gone and it felt half the size. But the peach has now gone, along with the green. The walls have had their first coat as has the ceiling and if you really squint you can just about imagine how it will look. The sub floor is in the process of going down, then the decorating can be finished and the floor laid. Then I get to go in and make home for Christmas!! I’m a proper fan of Christmas, my kids are nine and seven and it’s absolutely magic. Last year we weren’t here as it was less than ready to entertain, but this year we have my family coming over and I can’t wait. I’m so excited about getting the decorations out but there’s a whole lot to do before we get there!
Our Lounge project will be ready for Christmas
Wooden windows have been sanded back and we’re going to explore liming the woodwork to take out the orange colour
Stone work is cleaned up using brick acid
New People to Perve On
I’ve been following @oliveandwoodinteriors for a while now and it’s lovely to watch Sophie’s business grow. She has some great, affordable home styling pieces for a modern country home. The type of place that would be great to shop for Christmas presents and accidentally sneak something into your own basket. Have a look - just don’t blame me!
In total contrast @englandathome caters for a much brighter home colour palette. Based in Brighton, their style is quirky, fun, very British and often really funny. Again a great place to look for Christmas presents for everyone (and you!).
This week’s advice - On the shelf
Before I go any further I need to confess to this not being my idea AT ALL! In fact I totally stole it from @mishkashoe who I mentioned last week. We have a couple of recesses on our landing and I’ve been pricing up shelves so I can personalise the space a bit and make it feel more like home. But with timber going up so much just building some shelves was going to cost a fortune. So we had put it on the back burner for a brighter day. Until I saw a post from @mishkashoe using LACK shelves from Ikea. Lack shelves are basically floating shelves. Her Ikea hack only works in a recess as you have to cut the shelves down and they are less than pretty in the middle but when you fit them into a recess you don’t see the edge and with a bit of basic finishing in the shape of some decorators caulk they look fab!
Ours have just gone up and I’m really pleased with them, I can’t wait to get styling. You need to be able to cut the shelves down but Rob used a hand saw which worked well, you just need to be careful to keep the edge straight. Tips from Rob on putting them up: “Its all in the measuring and the levelling.” As Rob put them up, shelving the two recesses with 6 shelves in total cost us just £72. We made a last minute decision to swap the white for the wood effect which I’m really glad we did. I also spotted a high end kitchen on Instagram that had used them, again they look great and you could totally use the Ikea shelves to get the same look. Hurrah!
Cutting the shelves down
Putting up the suspension brackets
All up and ready to be styled
Pinterest showing how a kitchen could use the shelves for a high end look
Right that’s it for me. This weekend I’m off to stay with my sister and hopefully manage to get a sea dip in. Anyone else out there a dipper too? I haven’t been for a couple of weeks and the temperature has really dropped. Wish me luck!!!
