House Home Garden

Shades of Purple

noreply@blogger.com (L Palmer) — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 19:05:00 +0000

Purple can be quite a strong, overwhelming color if used without careful thought. Here is a good example of using the palette with grey and chrome to create a cosy boudoir feel.

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Green Lounge

noreply@blogger.com (L Palmer) — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 20:43:00 +0000

Hold onto your sunglasses! This room has attitude and although the coffee table should be placed onto the nearest skip, the room is thoughtfully created. The high ceilings and recessed books are similar to the home my parents live in. I would tone down the color every so slightly but it is a bold statement, nevertheless.

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Shower Power

noreply@blogger.com (L Palmer) — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 19:28:00 +0000

I do try to highlight gems, fixtures and fittings of particular interest to me and this epitomizes all that this blog is.
I showered in a friends home who had something very similar to this (he wouldn't allow me to take pictures, shame!) and what a treat! I closed my eyes and suddenly I was under a mini-waterfall. Beautiful. I would like to recommend his particular model but he bought it in Germany on his travels many moons ago.
In short, it was the best showering experience I have ever had.

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Lounge

noreply@blogger.com (L Palmer) — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 22:42:00 +0000

This room has echoes of the 60s and 70s - low simple seating, earthy tones with splashes of muted pastels all add that slight retro feel. I don't particularly admire the light feature, but it all seems to fit in a rather haphazard way.

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The Living Room Fire

noreply@blogger.com (L Palmer) — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 21:14:00 +0000

Simply does it. Just moved house and have a decent fireplace? Then make it a feature by placing 2 (inexpensive) sofas facing each other, a small coffee table or even have end tables (if the space between is limited), add 3 or 5 photos or art work, fling a cushion or 2 on the sofa and add a colourful throw. If the fire isn't ready, willing or able to be fired up then add candles or wooden logs (not both at the same time, of course) and then step back and admire your handiwork.Voila!
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Homely Porch

noreply@blogger.com (L Palmer) — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 21:06:00 +0000

I love this porch as it is clearly lived in and does not have an air of being 'for show'. The natual wood, artifacts and family of rocking chairs tells me that people who enjoy being close rock away together as the sun goes down.
Splendid!

Yellow Kitchen

noreply@blogger.com (L Palmer) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 02:24:00 +0000

click the image to enlarge
I love the simple honesty of this kitchen. For once it isn't trying too hard and you must be able to see yourself in this space!?
A melding of old and new with 2 swathes of a beautiful color - more mustard than yellow, would you say? Add splashes of black, stainless steel and white. Yum!

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Holiday!

noreply@blogger.com (L Palmer) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 00:45:00 +0000

That is it. I am honestly sick of the cold and am now planning my escape to somewhere hot.

Many moons ago I stayed in a wonderful thatched cottage with simple rustic furniture deep in the jungle. The early morning mist would rise in the valley and engulf me whilst I swung in a hammock drinking my early morning brew. Wonderful!
Holidays where you are herded from A to B to C does not appeal to me and so my wanderlust spirit loves this kind of unscripted environment where the animals are all wonderful and sometimes dangerous.
Just thinking of it makes me feel a little less cold!!!

How do you plan to escape from the dreary weather? - (assuming you are experiencing that where you are.)

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Spring Clean

noreply@blogger.com (L Palmer) — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 20:24:00 +0000

Yes, I know it isn't spring, but I use the new year to evaluate the 'things' I have around me and if there are items that could be cleaned, used, thrown away, given to relatives/friends or to the local charity shop.
It just seems an opportune time to clear the cobwebs of the previous year away and embrace the new with a clean slate. Plus, changing the window dressings, wiping down walls, vacuuming behind places that can be easily overlooked, rearranging furniture, throwing out chipped or cracked items, old bedding and that chair that has been in the shed for x number of years which one has not got around to repairing... - is good mind and body exercise.
Why don't we try it together?

Sorry I was away for so long!

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Red Bedroom

noreply@blogger.com (L Palmer) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 21:13:00 +0000

Continuing the red theme, here is a bedroom which is so over-the-top it is untrue. Click the image to increase the size - the details show up more.
Throw things together and then some more! You either love it or hate it.

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Red Kitchen

noreply@blogger.com (L Palmer) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 07:14:00 +0000

Red can be quite a scary over-powering color but here, in a kitchen, it is shown off beautifully. This kitchen has a lot of natural light flooding in through the windows, the dark worktops help to ground the high color and the chandelier...is just great!!

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Red Lounge

noreply@blogger.com (L Palmer) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:43:00 +0000

If you have just moved into new accommodation and your sofas appear to have seen better days then here's a tip. Measure your sofas without the cushions, length, breadth and width ways. Add on a few inches up to 6 inches either way to allow for tucking in, etc.

Decide on a color and whether you suffer from skin irritations or not - you don't want to buy a wool blend if you are allergic to wool!

Consider if you want to have hard or soft fabrics. Take a picture of your room and of the sofa - if you have a digital camera or camera on your cell phone then no need to print your images - just take your equipment with you!

Head on down to your local fabric store - and choose a washable fabric.

Adorn your sofas!

Easy, reasonably priced and when it gets scuffed you can throw it into the washing machine.

Oh, and if you would rather avoid the 'house of ill repute' look of a red bulb (which I love, incidentally) then use colored shades, soft tone bulbs and dimmer switches. Candles also add to the cozy ambience.

Bedroom - Neutral

noreply@blogger.com (L Palmer) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:48:00 +0000

When I moved into my apartment my aim was to not clutter the place with trinkets and baubles and so I decided on key pieces and only purchased those. For four months I lived with the bare essentials: a bed, 1 sofa, a chest of drawers, and a small occasional table.

That was a great experience and ensured I brought into my home only the furniture that I really needed.

My bedroom is calming and peaceful - like this one but with less furniture!

My Dinner Party

noreply@blogger.com (L Palmer) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 08:14:00 +0000

Finally, I have agreed to have a dinner party for 3 of my dear friends. I have decided to keep it small and as I am redecorating my house, have decided to hold it in my apartment in the city.

Unfortunately, due to my culinary past, my amigas expect much from me and I aim to please!

Here is my provisional menu:

Welcome Drink: Granita Champagne

Canapes (see above image)

Starter: Crab Confit with vinaigrette

Main course: Duck on a sweet potato and parsnip rosti with, asparagus and cranberry and orange jus

Dessert/Pudding: Raspberry and Marscapone cream with Almond Tuille biscuits

Selection of cheeses and a variety of homemade savoury biscuits

Wine will be served throughout the meal - both red and white. Coffee will be served at the end of the meal.

I have tried to do items which can be prepared well in advance and so am able to spend more time with my guests.

Hopefully they will enjoy my menu - expect some images here of the food sometime after the dinner party on 24th October.

Any suggestions??!

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Eco-Living

noreply@blogger.com (L Palmer) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 08:27:00 +0000

I sometimes wonder how future generations will live. [Click the image for a larger view.]

I am fascinated by this idea. Will we be more 'eco-focused'? Will beauty and aesthetics be enmeshed with practicality and an awareness of our environment?

You can read about this fascinating project here.

Do you like it?

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Window Box

noreply@blogger.com (L Palmer) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:11:00 +0000

I lived in a small apartment for a while and yearned for a large garden yet living in a big city often meant I had hardly enough time to breathe never mind tend a garden. I decided that I would bring a little bit of greenery inside and outside my home. First I decided to utilize my window sill as much as possible without detracting from my kitchen. I bought a small terracotta trough with a matching waterproof tray and planted tomatoes, Tigerella, actually. Beside that I grew mint, basil and parsley - because they were easy and I used them a lot. I had a tiny area outside and added a few pots with hostas and lavender.

Would you believe: Now I have a garden that is far too big I remember that small space with fondness!?

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Wooden Floor

noreply@blogger.com (L Palmer) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:06:00 +0000

Nothing beats a solid wooden floor in terms of beauty, style and feel. Carpets are fine but can look very grubby rather quickly, are expensive and need replacing after a certain period of time.

In my last home I had beautiful hardwood floors and in my current home solid oak floors have been installed and the old carpet consigned to the skip! I truly love it although if you are in a cold area you might want to consider having underfloor heating as well as your wooden floor.

The initial expense is worth it and the value it adds to a home could be more than 10% if completed properly.

Oh, well - on with the rest of the house!

Do you like it?

Bedroom

noreply@blogger.com (L Palmer) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:35:00 +0000

This is an excellent example of how to manage a small bedroom. This room is long and narrow yet it has a very large bed which doesn't overwhelm the space. The high ceiling, brickwork and light-fitting, which adds a very slight sense of drama, work together very well.

Do you agree?

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Wallpaper and Flowers

noreply@blogger.com (L Palmer) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 23:43:00 +0000

If you are someone who goes the whole hog then you will appreciate this combination - the bold and the beautiful!

I think this could work as an accent area, that is, on a wall or small area of the room - behind shelves possibly. There's a certain shabby chic feel to it and this is easy to achieve. Be careful with the pattern as you wouldn't want it to overwhelm everything or make a small dark space even more so.

A beautifully simple floral arrangement works and you could use pale yellow or white or red.

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Outdoor Lighting

noreply@blogger.com (L Palmer) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:18:00 +0000

Am I the only one to think there are less BBQ parties happening than before? The recession seems to have affected the number and frequency - but I could be wrong.

Last week I attended a small, intimate BBQ and the outdoor lighting was very similar to these. The glow cast by them was truly lovely and I found myself transfixed - wandering around checking every detail!

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Sink

noreply@blogger.com (L Palmer) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:01:00 +0000

I have tried to feature sinks which are unusual and this is an example. Approaching this sink in someone's home, preparing to wash your hands... your thoughts would be??

Watching the water flow from the tap, over your hands and down the plughole. Interesting.

What do you think?

White Bedroom

noreply@blogger.com (L Palmer) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 11:40:00 +0000

Although it might not seem so, but it takes thought and restraint to keep a room white.

A relative of mine has a living room which is primarily cream and ivory and I initally felt very tempted to recommend splashes of duck-egg blues and pale greens just to add some interest. But after spending some time there the need disappeared. Using pale colors can be so soothing and if done well it can work.

Waking up in this bedroom must be glorious.

Toilet Seat

noreply@blogger.com (L Palmer) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:29:00 +0000

Usually I showcase items that I like for various reasons. Here is an example of the opposite.

The toilet seat rates very highly on my 'yuck-factor' scale!

Taste is personal but the overall effect is one that is not pleasing.

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Drain House

noreply@blogger.com (L Palmer) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 01:38:00 +0000

Would you prefer to spend a night in a drain house or in a tent on the same patch of ground?

Such an unusual bedroom space. I think spending the night here would be such an experience. Do you agree?

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Living Room - Art Deco

noreply@blogger.com (L Palmer) — Fri, 22 May 2009 06:44:00 +0000

Cool, classy and chic. This room oozes nostalgia and the art deco period is one I am particularly fond of. The craftsmanship evident in so many items from that period ensures longevity and high prices. What do you think?