A weather boarded cottage in the Welsh hills

It has been another crazy week - but all good fun.

I spent a wonderful day with a lovely client taking photos of her Border Oak home - built just over the Welsh border.

Now, styling photo shoots can be surprisingly stressful and tiring, although I have no idea why when the most you have to do is plump some cushions and arrange some flowers (well, there is a bit more too it, but its not exactly taxing). And sometimes the day is so rushed that you can't really stop to enjoy it all.

This particular day was not looking promising with the kind of weather that makes you want to emigrate and some flowers that died overnight. However our photographer has pulled proverbial magic trick out of the hat (I can't remember the exact metaphor) and the results are stunning.

And it has to be said that the main reason I had a good time, was the owner - who was lovely, accommodating, interesting/interested, a willing victim (no one likes having their photo taken after all) and also made us a yummy lunch (we usually scoff biscuits and crisps all day - this time we had quiche, salad, cake (hmmmmm!) and endless tea). But to top it off we were working with a great interior, a compliant dog (happy to be bribed with biscuits), three photogenic little people and an atmospheric back drop - complete with sheep and a stormy sky.  Photo shoots don't get better than that!

Here are a few sneak pics, more to follow next week........

Based on a "Halfpenny Cottage" but weatherboarded. The solar panels heat water and the 'barn' type extension provides a lot of extra space.

do you want to know what I have been up to?

I know, I know - I am the worlds worst blogger.

There is a really good reason why I have been so quite  - I promise - but I can't actually tell you anymore just yet. You will definitely be the first person I do tell though. It's quite exciting - but like all exciting journeys there is a gammut of hoops to jump through and roller coasters to ride before the good stuff starts.

So to keep you ticking over in a heightened sense of faux anticipation I will share with you a few other things:

Firstly a new design for a larger 'Artisan' type home - what do you think?

Secondly a link to my own pinterest boards - full of images I have seen and liked for one way or another

http://pinterest.com/merryminerva/

There is also a Border Oak pinterest  site full of photos - have a look and repin if you have mood boards there too.

And thirdly some advance notice of new photos and news about a potential open day coming next week.

In the meantime I have two houses to style and photograph, an open day to organise, a cottage to renovate and two magazine articles to write (not to mention lobbying my local council against their proposed local plan and infrastructure levy, I won't bore you here)- all on top of the the Top Secret secret. No wonder I have no time to do the blog, let alone feed my children. 

PS A correction/apology for the 'Delightful Cotswold Cottage' post I wrote about in March (the lovely house that featured in 25 Beautiful Homes). I should have included the clients website when I wrote about the cottage. A very talented and creative lady who makes beautiful handbags and accessories - please have a look at her website - www.miloandsaint.com 

a delightful Cotswold Cottage

The other day I found myself walking the magazine aisles of my local Coop with not only time to spare but with out any tiddlers to supervise (me supervise them as opposed to me requiring supervision). 

Now this is rare for three reasons:

1. I only go to the super market three or four times a year (and obviously Waitrose is my super market of choice dahling)

2. I always have a child or two (rarely three) with me and therefore I shop very quickly

3. I never have spare time - unless you count the time between 10pm and midnight when I start pottering and faffing.

So, there I was flicking through all the magazines that I wasn't going to spend any money on, but pretending that I was trying to decide which to buy, when I spotted a lovely cottage feature. 'Ooooh, thats a nice house and built to an exceptional standard,' I thought to myself (hopefully not out loud because that would sound pretencious?)

And would you believe it - the house in question was a beautiful Border Oak cottage! Ha!

Based on the Pearmain Cottage but faced in local stone rather than render, it really is a little gem. Here are the photos for you to judge, but I think you might quite like it.

Let me know what you think......

1, 2, 3 - yippee!

Twenty thirteen has started brilliantly - we came back to work after the chrimbo hols to find three national awards waiting for us - THREE!! The best part is that the awards are for three very different houses/projects, in three very different locations and awarded by three different judging panels for the Federation of Master Builders. These awards are nominated by the clients, who must have been especially complimentary because the FMB awards a designed to recognise exceptional workmanship and customer service. The entire Border Oak team were honoured, surprised and a little bit overwhelmed to do so well. We knew we had amazing customers, but now we have proof!

Award winner No 1 - Best New Build

Award Winner No. 2  - Best extension and renovation

Award Winner No 3 - Best New Build

There is also a lovely article in Homebuilding and Renovating - about a client who built a little holiday cottage - with other articles coming soon in The English Home and Build It. 

its beginning to look a lot like Christmas.....apart from the flooding and rain

Here is a pretty brick cottage from Herefordshire, with an oak frame inside - dressed for a Christmas photoshoot (in the sun) built by Border Oak for a client (this is her third Border Oak house) who has also just set up a lovely homewares company Milton &Manor (www.miltonandmanor.co.uk). Phew, that was a long sentence!

We took the pics in September, when the sun shone and shone

so we waited 'til dusk to get a 'seasonal' atmospheric photo of the externals - what do you think?

The interior is light, neutral and tactile. A large hall leads onto the traditional sitting room

With exposed oak framing throughout

From the kitchen you get a sneaky peak into the utility room

With a blind made from Milton and Manor fabric (our client has turned her lovely portfolio of sketches into a great range of fabrics and homewares after struggling to find the right interior products for her Border Oak homes)

The kitchen dining room leads onto a garden room area and a little study nook - the ultimate living space for a modern family I think. Spaces to cook, eat, sit, read and work but in one light, bright open room.

Milton and Manor have cushions, footstools, mugs, cards, fabric, bags, tea towels..............

 and wrapping paper (see above and below)

A lovely oak post and brace to distinguish the 'zones' - works well as an architectural feature and for texture and interest

Simple shaker units and vintage accessories

And the best bit about styling a photoshoot is eating cake and drinking tea

Could it get any more cosy than this?

A clever little area created from the eaves over the garden room - great for grandchildren sleeping over

a lovely, simple and fresh bedroom with Milton and Manor cushions to add colour

a sweet and simple bathroom

and it really was a lovely sunny day as you can see from the light flooding in - we had a great couple of days dressing and shooting this beautiful Border Oak cottage for winter to share with you all.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas - best wishes, Merry