what a day!

I am sorry for not updating this for a few days - I had the most crazy of days last Friday and have also been busy busy busy at work (actually in the real office, with real other people and officey stuff like photocopiers - oooh!)

On Friday I drove to West Sussex (had to leave at stupid o'clock and got back at 10 past silly) to style a photoshoot of a modern barn style house Border Oak built a few years ago. Sounds quite straightforward so far? Well, of course,  nothing in Merry World goes according to plan but despite the drama of the day these are the pics.

The house was seriously good for photos  - open plan, contemporary, beautiful light, cool details  - and I could have spent an age there getting dozens more but I guess some days are just not meant to be.............

I would love to hear your thoughts on the house though so do get in touch. The Pearmain Cottage brochure is coming together too so I will post an update on that soon as well as some mini interviews from the other real people at the real office who get to use real photocopiers every day of the week.

a wall of glass overlooking a beautiful field  - which made fabulous light and must be spectacular on a summers evening of for a party..........

Although the main rooms were open to each other there was just enough subdivision to articulate the spaces - I love the way the stairs is in the sitting room but effectively separate. V. clever I thought

the end of the open 'corridor' had two large barn doors which made the house feel connected to the outside and worked well with the overall 'L' shape of the house.

As the house was designed by an architect rather than Border Oak, there are some interesting contemporary interpretations - such as the vaulted ceiling in the kitchen and master bedroom. Its always good to see other peoples ideas and to take a fresh look I think.

h.Art week in Herefordshire

My week has just been so hectic - I thought I would be twiddling my thumbs with Min at school but things are never as you think are they...........?If I had a spare day I would be off exploring the amazing venues that are open for h.Art week (a celebration or Herefordshire art and crafts) and thinking about what to buy if I had a surprise windfall. 

I think the Charles McCarthy painting would have to come home with me (please) and maybe a Jenny Crisp log basket (I couldn't find a photo of a log basket  - lemons yes, but no logs!). The Rachel Pritchard pod is gorgeous (she used to work with Ben) and I think I quite like the Hazel Gwatkin infra red photo but would need to check it out to be certain...........

There are also some amazing paintings and drawings by Simon Dorrell (editor of Hortus Magazine no less!) that are calling to me and I have my beady eye on some 'everyday' plates and bowls. Maybe time to start playing the lottery..................

oh and I almost forgot to mention the contemporary oak cubes made by Border Oak for h. Art week - and they look great in the setting if I say so myself!

its all about the light

This barn was built by Border Oak for a friend of mine - she is the designery one -and I think she did a great job considering how tricky the site could have been. It's a tight site, next to listed house, with a tree in the middle and a mixture of houses all around. But she has transformed the site and also designed a great looking house that has beautiful light and feels a lot bigger than the plans.

We had a great day taking these pics, filling it with props and pretending to professional photo stylists........and with that in mind I am now off to the yummy Baileys Home and Garden store to seek out some new props for next weeks shoot and meet my other best friend Caroline, who is also super clever and creative (she is an extremely  good conservator of art - or a conservatory as Minnie tells people). work, work, work........................

lovely light

more time on my hands.........

Minerva went to big school today. I have spent the day with a broken heart, looking out from our porch (a Border Oak porch of course) with a hope I may hear her (we live next to the school). Needless to say that she had a lovely time. I however had a very sad day and will have to fill my time one way or another. Hopefully that means more regular postings.  I will try anyway.

I took some photos around the house, but couldn't concentrate on what I was doing. I am sure I will get used to not having her here...............

graphic design block

For what feels like months now I have been trying to put together a new brochure for the Pearmain Cottage range. But it has been so difficult and I don't quite know why as I have some lovely photos ............

This is why I think it has taken me so long

1. I am very fickle and keep changing my mind 

2. I have too many good houses to include, so am squashing too much in 

3. Minnie and Gabriel keep either drawing on, or eating, the proof pages 

To get some inspiration I have been looking through my collection of brochures (I have a HUGE stash, brochures are an obsession/affliction of mine). My favourites are Plain English (beautiful if slightly aloof ) Toast (I am at the door every morning at the moment waiting for my Autumn house and home collection!) and Daylesford (lovely brochures to match their shops). Baileys also had a great fun catalogue but it hasn't been updated for ages.

Anyway here are some of the ideas that have come and gone. I promise to let you know when I actually commit to print............if I ever get there!

I can't think of original ways to be fun, informal but informative and factual - the oak leaf will only work if I find  nice leaf to scan. Any other ideas?

This kitchen is a possibility for a front cover  - hope it's not too lifestyley?

 
I think I have discounted the milk bottle shot - I still like the green though
I LOVE the calligraphy I have commissioned so will certainly use it one way or another - I think it really illustrates the hand crafted nature of what we do
I have a bit of thing for orchards - hence the name Pearmain Cottage (an old apple variety) and so it would be nice to incorporate apples or blossom, as long as its not too random. What do you think?

And if anyone knows of any other lovely, gorgeous, inspirational shops, websites or brochures that may alleviate my design block I will be forever grateful!

more photos

This weekend I went back to one of my favorite Border Oak houses to take some photos for Country Homes and Interiors Magazine. It's just down the road from our house and belongs to my old neighbours (they aren't old - but we moved to a new house, complicated I know because I have also taken photos of my current neighbours Border Oak farmhouse - blimey!) 

I can't quite explain why I love the cottage - it just has a nice atmosphere, probably because the people who live here are lovely.

It is due to appear in the February issue - which I guess will be on the news stand in January 

The oak stairs and grey flagstones are a classic pairing. Darwin , the tortoise, loves the underfloor heating!

The kitchen is a happy mix of painted units, oak, vintage furniture, auction finds and of course, some beautiful oak beams

If I could 'borrow' (i.e. keep FOREVER) something from their house it would be this blanket box. Yummy.

my terrible garden

The trouble with building your own home is that invariably you are left with a waste land/barren scrub for a garden. To add insult to horticultural injury the last dribbles of budget have usually been spent many moons ago, on fripperies such as heating and electrics. 

We will have been here for nearly 4 years and yet still our garden lurks outside like a neglected cat (keen but desperate) Our half hearted attempts to 'do something' usually end up with us putting the kettle on instead. But just recently it has become an issue, not just because there are no flowers to pick, but because our little ones need somewhere fun and pretty to play.

These are the paltry offerings in my garden at the moment - not quite up to Sarah Ravens standards I admit. But what do you do when a teeny tiny patch of garden literally brings you out in terrified cold sweats? We can't afford a garden designer and don't know where to begin - which is why we don't! And whatever we do plant seems to die a slow and lingering death. Poor flora and fauna.

these are my favourite colour hydrangeas - greeny pink, pinky green. I keep killing them though

These are lovely (Japanese something I think......oh dear) but I don't have enough to cut

My purple sage is growing like a weed - do I fight it or let it go crazy? Nice colours, but we don't like the taste so I think I will experiment with it in a vase. Desperate times call for drastic measures.

A beautiful seed head, which never seems to seed........what am I doing wrong?

But I do have LOADS of this - is it Veronica? Oh well, better put the kettle on.