'Land Love'

I thought I might share with you a new magazine that I purchased recently. It is not exactly new new as it is on it's third issue, and it comes out every other month, but it is new to me. The cover just sold it to me, with the lovely Robin, berries, ribbon candles etc. I mean, how Christmassey can you get!
                                                                                     Seriously though, it is a beautifully presented magazine with really interesting articles. If you are into countryside issues, nature, cooking, crafts, interiors...it has it all.

I love the fact that it is so festive, but in a non-blingy way. I do apologise I seem to be making up my own words today. You know what I mean though.

And a little sneak peek at what to expect in the next issue..................................................................

Wishing you all a fun-filled and not too chilly week, with love, Linda x

Decorating...where to start?

Sadly, I do not possess a piece of original Art, unless you count prints, but if I did, I would make my painting  the focal point of a room, as in the image above. I love the way the soft blues and beige's in the painting are picked up in the woodwork and upholstery.

This particular painting is a little modern for my taste, but I think it is wonderfully complemented by the faded patina of the table and the simple chairs, lavishly upholstered.

My own preference would be for a seascape, or landscape or even a still-life. For the kitchen or bedrooms, something quirky or amusing. I really love vintage signs used in Interiors too, like those below.

Of course there are very clever people who can even make a display out of an empty frame.

Or how about hanging your piece of art around your neck, and when you've finished wearing it, you could place it on the mantle?

All in favour of Art in Interiors, say aye! Wishing you all an art-filled week, with love, Linda x.

All images are from here.

Mixed messages?

The above photos are collages I made on Picnik, using images from www.pinterest.com before they closed. I was formulating ideas about how I was going to decorate my sitting room. There is little I enjoy more, than poring over paint charts and magazines and brochures, planning and thinking about what I would like. The trouble is, in my head I can mix   industrial chic with cottage garden and a bit of French detailing, thrown in for good measure. The trouble is, I like everything. I am very susceptible to other people's ideas. The trouble is, is my head, I do not worry one iota about expenses. The trouble is, in my head, everything is new, and I don't have to fit in  my old stuff.
 Hence, sometimes what is in my head is very difficult to translate into reality!
Sometimes, things have to go wrong before they go right.

Here is my sitting room, before the assault.

The walls were painted a light stone colour, with 2 walls having a tongue and groove paint effect.There was a painted panel over the fireplace. My curtains and cushions were the same chintz pattern. So the whole effect was creamy and pretty, with a few red accessories.

I imagined that I would like a complete change. I wanted a dark grey on the fireplace wall with a lighter grey on the rest. Industrial style lights, metal baskets and filing cabinet style furniture. No, hang on, perhaps that is just a little too modern for me! Perhaps I could combine the greys with a potting shed kind of theme. I was beginning to get a little confused, as you can imagine. So, I thought I would start with a colour for the fireplace wall.......Slate Grey................

Mmmm, love the colour, but just not sure if it's me. I will try the other walls...an offwhite as a base, colourwashed  with French Grey.............

Mmm, more French looking, more me.....oh oh, the dark wall has to go now. 

I added the blue doors from my larder cupboard, a seagull and some starfish.....not what I had planned in my head at all, but I like it.

Above the fireplace I pasted an enlarged image I got from the http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.co.uk...my cottage by the sea. The white fireplace was antiqued using a grey wash. That is the story so far. I need to either get a new sofa, or make a new cover as my old one, although it goes, has seriously shrunk from all the washes it gets. The floor is mahogany coloured wood, which I would prefer painted. I need new curtains. So, you can see I have a bit of work to do yet. 

I have learned a valuable lesson though, to listen to my own heart. I am a romantic, I like pretty things, it is allright if my house stays like that, regardless of what is in the magazines or on the web. I can like other things, as long as I live with what makes ME happy, and my family of course. (My husband doesn't know why I wanted to change in the first place, but he would have left the colours that the previous owners had).

Do any of you have these tumultuous battles with yourselves, I would love to know? I will finish with some pretty flowers to  make you smile.

Aren't the foxgloves fabulous, they just make me think of 1930's children's books? Have a lovely weekend, and thanks for listening to my madness. Love Linda x

Time For Tea!

Everything stops for tea..

So sorry for my absence, but I have been a little busy. I have been painting in my friend Yolanda's lovely home. This is her patio, where she wanted to create the feeling of a wonderful tea room. The vintage table and chairs are being painted a distressed white. As you can see in the photograph it got painted just in time before the rain came down!

Yolanda had this fireplace made to her own design, and then I painted it with the numbers and gave it an antique wash. It really is a most unusual feature in the room.

Some more numbers on a bespoke bathroom cabinet, (my friend has a thing for them).

In  the downstairs cloakroom I framed a mirror with an antique letter by Josiah Fairfax (totally fictitious of course), and added a couple of postmarks. I love it when I have free reign to do something that is fun and original.

In the Master bedroom, which is very pared down and elegant, Yolanda wanted a quote of some kind to break up the white and add some character. We found this quote by Elizabeth Von Arnim, which seemed to suit so well. I didn't know about 'The Enchanted April' but have researched it and it sounds like just my kind of book, and movie too. My writing is not perfect, but I think that kind of adds to the charm of it.

Also in the Master bedroom, there are two matching tray tables which have been painted with an address in Milan. My friend is master at dressing out houses, and displays everything in the most beautiful way. She will be cross that I have put pictures on my blog that are not 'finished', but perhaps I will have the opportunity to show you the finished article another time.

I have been doing a little watercolour painting, this is a rather alarmed looking Sparky!

An imaginary street, where I would like to live, I am not sure which house though, perhaps I could try them all out.

Last but not least, I have been doing a bit of gardening, and I am mighty proud of these beauties. (Parrot tulips - Rococo). It is lovely to be back in blogland after so long a break, I must go and catch up with you all now. Wishing you a happy and productive week, love Linda x.

A Rosy Glow

My bathroom has recently had a slight makeover. I had previously painted the walls 'slate grey' and I loved the colour but when I made the roman blind (which was black) it did make the room quite dark.Mr.O.K. wasn't happy, he couldn't see to his ablutions properly! He doesn't usually complain about my paint choices, so I rather reluctantly set out to rectify it.

I remembered that I had a tin of 'Persian Rose' by Craig and Rose. Having previously had a bold colour on the walls I was quite confident that this colour would look well. However it was still a little nerve wrecking until the slate grey was totally obliterated.

I had some old Laura Ashley curtains belonging to my mum, that I was able to recycle into a blind and a cover for the side of the bath and the shower. The room feels several degrees warmer now, and everyone is happy. Oh, and it didn't cost any money, just a little time!

I even managed to fit in a drawing of our daughter, that was done by a street Artist in Monmartre. He really managed to catch the essence of her, even though he did it in ten minutes, and she didn't stop talking!

Some roses to go with my new bathroom. They have lasted extremely well, I have had them for 10 days.

 Whilst the sewing machine was out I made a plastic bag holder from a lovely old linen cloth that came from Parna.

Lastly, this is my attempt at a still-life style photograph, to show off my flowers for Jane's 'Flower's in the house party'.Visit Jane here if you would like to see some lovely flowers.
I saw a rainbow when I left my daughter to school this morning, and it has brightened up into a lovely sunny day. So I would like to wish you all a lovely rosy, sunny rainbowey day, love Linda x