Japanordic Elegance From H&M Home A/W 19
It's a quick despatch from me today, as I write from a swelteringly sunny Chatham.I'm really quite fond of H&M Home. Whilst I'm not in the habit of updating our home too often, it's brilliant for sourcing details and finishing touches, especially when you don't want to resort to the ever-popular Swedish flatpack store.Since launching a line of lighting and furniture last year, they've been going from strength to strength. The styling, courtesy of Tina Hellberg and Therese Sennerholt is literally too good not to share. I mean look at it.So, we may be bang in the midst of summer but here I am, sharing the latest additions to the H&M Home Autumn/Winter collection for 2019.
Following my recent post from Copenhagen in which Japanese culture and design were a common thread, this collection beautifully combines both Nordic and Japanese aesthetics. In this case, 'Japanordic' is an appropriate description of this style. And trust me, you'll be seeing more of it in the coming years. Nordic Minimalism is not dead, it's just becoming softer and warmer with a crafted, Japanese influence.
Soothing, sandy hues are a nod to the transitional phase as Summer turns to Autumn. Rich tones of cinnamon and burnt orange are woven through the textiles. Natural materials are left to shine in their rawest form. The collection features Ash wood benches, rattan storage, paper lighting and mango wood tables. And of course, I absolutely love the tone-on-tone styling which suggests a return to a cosy and cocooning home.
So we should really talk about the rattan planter and cabinet because, in my opinion, these are the heroes of the whole collection. An extension of the Safari range, they make for versatile pieces that would suit most interiors. Dark wood frames suggest a move away from the paler Scandinavian style and sustainable, woven rattan gives them an artisanal feel. And I love that you can store things other than plants inside them.
As is typical with Japanordic style, the focus is on the quality and form of the key pieces, with an uncluttered, considered interior to set it off.Cherry marble and polished brass bring a sense of luxury, toned down with uncomplicated, clean lines. Organic shapes are echoed in mirrors and opaque glass lamps, inspired by the Lily of The Valley. There are so many individual pieces you could take away and make work in your own home, too.
Well, I'm excited. Keep your eyes peeled for these new releases in the coming weeks.
Photography by Ragnar Ómarsson for H&M Home.
New Works Showroom Designed By Lotta Agaton Interiors
Last week I had the unbridled joy of visiting the new New Works showroom as part of the 3daysofdesign festival in Copenhagen. Designed in collaboration with Lotta Agaton Interiors, whose design company have become one of the most revered in Scandinavia, it was everything I hoped it would be. As a brand who describes its collection "at the intersection of old and new. Light and dark. Art and design", the New Works showroom embodies just that.Whilst the brighter, paler shades have become an intrinsic part of the Nordic aesthetic, in recent years, darker palettes have been making their way into interiors. Lovers of dark, earthy shades? This is your time.
Situated in the iconic Frederiksstaden district famous for its complex of rococo architecture, the showroom is a striking example of the contrast between a historic setting and contemporary design. Here, Lotta's team have delivered a soothing and sophisticated home for the New Works collection. Architectural mouldings such as the detailing over the doorways and skirtings have been painted in Salon Drab by Farrow & Ball along with the walls to accentuate the full height of each interconnecting room. As is typical with the moodier spectrum of colours, it's difficult to show the exact shade in these photos as the nuances of light change the tone from room to room. 
Against this backdrop of deep beige, rich brown and oatmeal sit new additions to the collection. Pictured below are the enveloping curves of the Covent sofa by Arde Design Studio and upholstered in Kvadrat. Alongside, the Mass coffee table in walnut and my favourite, the Mass daybed from Hong Kong studio Lim + Lu. Almost blending into the background but for the light is the new Lantern floor lamp, inspired by Chinese rice paper lanterns.In such a tactile space, you can't help but want to touch everything. Honouring the natural materials included within the collection, additional stylings feature crumpled linen curtains from textile brand Astrid and deep piled rugs from Roots Living. 
I'm pretty sure I just heard you fall in love with it. Am I right?For an extra dose of neutral interiors, check out my beige bedroom before and after. Stay tuned for more from Copenhagen!
Photography © Tiffany Grant-Riley
[AD] A Timeless Rug In A Scandi-Style Living Room With Habitat
This post is an advertisement in partnership with Habitat. I've been looking for a simple and timeless rug for our living room since, well, I had to throw the old one out. The last one broke me. Really. I saved hard for the most beautiful woven jute rug that I used to have in my home workspace in Rochester but when we moved into 'The Chatham House' it ended up in the living room. No longer in the safe confines of my workspace, it was subjected to all sorts of spills (milk included) and other child-related detritus so that in the end, I had to give up and say goodbye. I couldn't take picking bits of grape and pizza out of it any longer.Finding a more family-friendly alternative hasn't been an easy task but since our living room has needed pepping up for a while, I asked Habitat to help me find a solution. Because their selection of rugs is on-point. Always. With the living room currently boasting someone else's decorative choices albeit on the neutral side, ultimately, this rug would have to shoulder the job of carrying the room through this in-between stage before we renovate it. Quite a heavy task for an accessory but as I can't stand the amount of bright orange pine there is in here I knew a large scale rug would help defuse it a little.
Enter 'Roderick' (incidentally sharing the same name as my step-dad). He's a smart, stylish Scandinavian. Just enough texture without trapping crumbs and dust, dark enough to hide any potential spills (we have a not-on-the-rug policy now though) and he's a handwoven, wool design which feels soft underfoot. It's quite a large piece at 170x240cm and the deep grey is a warm base against our light grey corner sofa, drawing your eye away from the orange pine floor. I think I love this room 100% more than I did without it. Choosing the right rug for the right space can be a hefty investment so I always recommend to look for something neutral that will compliment any interior. Here are a few points to consider:• Upscale your floor. Here's the thing. Small rugs in small rooms make the room look smaller. Go for as big a rug as you can afford and see the difference it makes to the feel of the room. It will open it up. Promise.• It's all in the placement. The general rule of thumb in the living room is to have the front legs of your sofa and armchair(s) on and the back legs off the rug but that depends largely on the size and set-up you have. This guide from A Pair & A Spare is pretty brilliant. It also helps to mark out the size of the rug on the floor with masking tape first to give you a visual aid - I did this to check the 'Roderick' was large enough for our living room.• Fabric and weave. Thicker piled rugs like the Berber style and anything with a highly textured weave will need more maintenance. This might include brushing it out to stop the strands and tassels from matting. In which case, these styles are better in low traffic areas. Flat woven, cotton rugs are better suited to heavy traffic areas as they're generally easier clean.• Shape. Remember to pick a style that fits with the shape of your room. I prefer rectangular rugs for ease of use (most of us have rooms this shape anyway) however a large, round rug can work well when the room is large enough - usually in a dining space with a round table. Referring to the placement guide (above) will give you an idea of how the right shape works.• Stick to neutrals. A good quality rug, chosen well, will last. Find something in a muted colour palette that complements the room whether you have dark or light walls. Neutral doesn't mean boring either - don't be afraid to go for pattern, look for tone on tone designs or a raised, tufted weave against a flat base for interesting textures that draw the eye.I've picked out 10 timeless rugs from the Habitat collection to suit any Scandi-style interior. There's a good mix of highly textural Berber styles for a laid-back Bohemian look (hello Benson and Tallulah) and good solid earners like Hurley with a sturdy leather and jute weave. I do have a soft spot for Alexander though, love the gridded jute. Quite the statement. What's catching your eye? 
Photography © Tiffany Grant-Riley
12 Monochrome Hallway Floor Tiles Edit
With the bedroom complete (for now) we're turning our attention to the hallway next, kicking off the proceedings with my edit of 12 monochrome hallway floor tiles. They're hard wearing, easy to clean (particularly with kids and pets at home) and the varieties are virtually endless. While it's definitely not the Scandinavian thing to do, here in the UK, historically, Edwardian hallways like ours were tiled and I want to continue that tradition with a timeless, contemporary feel.Recently, our hallway has been leaving me with a touch of decorator's stalemate, completely overwhelmed by the size of the task. I'll go into the finer points of the project in the coming weeks, but with so much to complete, I'd not had a clear idea of the finished look in my mind as I had with the previous rooms. So I decided to use the floor tiles as my jumping off point and build up the scheme around those.I'm very mindful that our hallway is pretty narrow, dark and I'm keen not to overpower the space with a busy pattern. I love to see a full-on patterned design in larger spaces that can handle scale, but as the hallway should set a precedent for the rest of the house, I want it to suggest a calm and inviting home, picking up on the restrained colour palette we've used thus far.
If you're in the same boat and are on the hunt for something with subtlety, I think you might just find something here. I've gone with a simple selection, focusing on a mix of pale white, cream and soft black tiles. The range of shapes and materials are what sets an eye-catching tile apart from a boring one with my pick of herringbone and penny mosaic sheets in marble and glossy porcelain. A subtle crackle glaze or sign of a brush mark suggests a handmade, crafted approach. Of course, there's just a hint of pattern with contemporary shapes to break the blank space. The beauty of using individual tiles is the freedom it gives you to add in some interest to a blank canvas, providing, of course, you choose the same size and shape to avoid installation issues.
How To Choose Your Hallway Tiles - A Potted Guide.
Right tile, right place - Entrances and hallways are high traffic areas, so before you get too into the design of things check the suitability of the tiles first.Materials - Porcelain, ceramic, encaustic, concrete. What to choose? Thankfully, these are all pretty solid choices for hallways with porcelain and concrete being the strongest. Encaustic and concrete tiles will need sealing once down to protect them over time and may need repeating every few years to keep them topped up.Consider scale - Depending on the size of your floor, certain designs can get lost, particularly if you're using a mosaic design. Think about whether you're happy to have smaller shapes or patterns or if you'd prefer to scale up for something larger. Similarly, you might prefer to use larger sheets for less interruption of grout in between which gives the illusion of more space.Pattern play - Is there a repeat pattern that you need to stick to or does the collection come with variations you can play with? Decide whether you'd prefer a uniform look or a more freeform style.Over order - Most tile sites already work in an additional 10% extra on top of your order to account for cuts and the odd breakage but if not, remember to add this in yourself. As tiles are produced in batches, it makes sense to have more than enough to ensure each tile looks uniform as separate batches can vary.Installation - Who will be laying the tiles? If you're not feeling confident, definitely look for an experienced floor layer. Check your subfloor first and make sure you have a solid base on which to tile. If you're tiling onto a wood floor, you'll need to board it out with plywood, whereas a concrete base will need to be completely level to avoid the tiles cracking afterwards.I feel like a kid in a sweetshop with a clearer vision ahead...now comes the hard part. Choosing!
| 1 | 'Bijou' gloss white herringbone mosaic, Walls and Floor | 2 | Handmade Hex Gris, Maitland & Poate | 3 | Metropolis Geometric tile, Tons of Tiles | 4 | Florence white square tile, Mandarin Stone | 5 | Seville White hex, Porcelain Superstore | 6 | Ochosencillo reclaimed tiles, Maitland & Poate | 7 | Monochrome Decor, Mandarin Stone | 8 | Black herringbone encaustic, Otto Tiles | 9 | Baccarat, Fired Earth | 10 | Argila Andaman worn hex, Best Tile | 11 | East Haven round penny mosaic, Claybrook Studio | 12 | Split shift shape series, Bert & May.
A Very Comfortable Ferm Living Spring Summer 2019
Making an edited selection from the new Ferm Living SS 2019 catalogue was no joke. Seriously. I struggled to keep the number of images down because, as always, the quality of styling is just through-the-roof exquisite. Unusually for me, I'm drawn to the dark wood interiors here - just as I'm slowing working them out of our home.This year founder and creative director Trine Andersen has brought the new collection to life in the homes of seven female creatives. Titled 'Space To Feel Comfortably You', the collection presents each room of a home with the backdrop of an existing interior. Rooms feel natural, lived in and comfortable.Known for their forward-thinking approach to design, the collection promises more abstract forms and a rich colour palette. Tactility remains high on the agenda, mixing textured woven art and textiles with smooth marble and slim metal structures.
Stand-out pieces include the Rico lounge chair and sofa with their sweeping curved shell back in Art Deco style. The bouclé upholstery is made using uneven yarn for a loopy texture. Such an elegant design.As ever, I still have designs on the Haze Vitrine for our dining room...one day. Such a slender piece of storage, perfect for a small corner to store a few essentials.
See? I told you. It was an impossible task to choose. And there's still so much more, especially hearing from the homeowners themselves. It's always fascinating to learn how others use their homes, how different their lives are from our own. For that, I'd recommend spending a little more time reading the catalogue. You're welcome.
All imagery courtesy of Ferm Living, with thanks.
6 Things I've Learnt About Slow Decorating
You know, it’s interesting how many readers and friends imagine us to be all done and dusted with our renovation project. Whatever happened to doing things slowly? Perceptions of the online world I’ve detailed here may well have filled in the gaps so you think that we’ve called in a skilled team of contractors and a massive budget to do the lot in one go. But. The fact remains, we’re a family of five (cat included) living on a modest income without the means (or desire) to move out for works to be done. Although it has crossed my mind on many occasion. Believe it or not, for the most part, we actually enjoy DIY and want to give ‘The Chatham House’ as we call it, the very best we can, respecting its history and in making it our home.
If I'm honest, this house we’ve called home for two years now was not initially on the cards for us. The initial plan was to look at buying a stop-gap to turn around within a year or two and move on. BUT then we found this one. And suddenly we were looking at staying put and pouring everything we had into it. A total curveball. With only three or four previous owners, we've been spoilt with a lot of original features. Along with that we also inherited a whole heap of bodge jobs that need picking apart. Buying a doer-upper has meant re-evaluating and taking a few deep breaths at the thought of all that plastering. It’s also slowed down the whole renovation/decoration process, which, as the least impatient human on this planet was no easy pill to swallow. This sounds like you too, right? What I will say is having that time on your hands is actually a massive gift. Here’s what I’ve learnt about slow decorating so far...
You Will Change Your Mind. A lot.
The most popular question I’m asked time and time again is “what advice would you give new homeowners?" Don’t act on impulse. Please. Do not pick up a paint chart, paintbrush or box of tiles until you’ve really spent some time in the house. Instead, wait. It’s boring, yes, frustrating, hell yes, but I can guarantee you’ll thank yourself in the long run. You might just save yourself from a rash decision or two. An example? We've lived with half raspberry pink, half gloss white anaglypta walls in our hallway for TWO YEARS. Why? Good question. Well, it's a very dark space so for one, I needed time to see how the light behaved at different times throughout the year to determine the right colour palette to use. I'm still not sure whether we ought to replace the ceiling lights with wall lights and we need to decide on how we're treating the stairs. Stripping it when we moved in would've meant living with some very crumbly old walls for quite so time which, in an already cold and drafty space wouldn't be the most sensible move. I've been such a good girl!
Useful pointers to consider before you start decorating:• Trends move quickly. Whatever you love now might not be top of your list in a year's time.• How will you use each room? Be realistic here - if you like the idea of a home office but know you'll end up at the dining table/sofa then use it as a guest room instead.• What works well for you now and what doesn't? Do you need to rethink storage? Do you need to update the heating and windows if it's a little on the draughty side?• Choose colour carefully. Paint looks completely different in a room depending on the time of day and which way it's facing, e.g. North facing light will be bluer and cool whilst South facing is warmer and most consistent during the main part of the day. Our bedroom faces North-East so I chose a warm beige paint to counteract the cold light and it reacts beautifully as the sun rises across one wall.• How do you want your home to feel and where will you start the process? You need to consider how you'll make the rest of the house connect with that room and feel like a coherent space.
Tackle One Project At A Time.
Renovating is stressful, there's no doubt about it. Even if you've got somewhere else to live while work is going on, you still have to relocate and manage the project in the meantime. Tackling one room/project at a time will minimise the upheaval and stress and give you the headspace to give it your full focus. When you've ticked that off, move on to the next room.
Establish A Strong Foundation.
Unless you're moving into a new build it's likely there's groundwork to do. I like to call them the boring necessities, things like:• Structural works - knocking through / relocating walls.• Rewiring and plumbing.• Plasterwork.• Replacing or strengthening floorboards. We did this in the bathroom just before Christmas when we realised our shower had completely rotted the joists underneath!Some pretty important jobs. These should come top of your list, ahead of the cosmetic stuff to avoid the unfortunate need to start from scratch.
Live In The Now
Holding onto those big “one day” plans are completely valid. We'd like to extend the kitchen and create another room in the loft at some point, but not for a few years yet. Don't feel that you can't make changes to make it your own in the meantime. That's why we decided to do a kitchen refresh so we could fully utilise the existing space and enjoy it for the time being. And honestly, crappy cupboard planning aside (thanks previous owners) I love it so much that I'd be quite happy if that extension didn't happen. Almost.
Is It Really You? Think It Through.
Take time when you're designing each room and don't be too quick to hop onto trends. It's great to draw inspiration from Pinterest, Instagram and glossy mags as a starting point. Step away before anxiety hits though. It's worth knowing that those images are shot for editorial purposes as an aspirational piece. I know because I've styled homes for magazines. I do it myself when I shoot - in reality, nobody wants to see the mess, they want to see something they can aspire to. You see the carefully considered image but what you don't see is what's going on behind the scenes, where we've moved other bits of furniture out of shot, rolled up a rug, decluttered those shelves.So be honest with yourself and create a space that speaks volumes about you. Revisit places you love and draw inspiration from them. Collect images that you connect with. Experiment with textures and materials. Can you see the furniture you already own working within your plans?
Agree Before You Start.
This one's for me really, because my default is to steam ahead without letting Rob in on the full picture. Yep, I hold my hands up. But then, he's the cautious one and I'm the reactive one...most of the time...and that's why we work. Plan as much as you can to the most minute of detail. Of course, leave some room for a little artistic license but I'm talking about agreeing on the work you'll be doing yourselves (and who) what you need to outsource and choosing the scheme together. Set out a clear timescale and try to stick to it as best you can. I'm going to try and detail this with you when we start the hallway later this month.
Enjoy The Journey
When you've stopped arguing, remember to enjoy the process. Every little change you make brings you a step closer to your vision. I'll never forget how different our bedroom and kitchen felt when we got rid of the orange pine floor. A new lease of life! There may be unforeseen circumstances along the way that need your attention (referring back to those foundation points) but with patience and focus you'll create a space you can be really proud of and pick up new skills along the way.
Photography © Tiffany Grant-Riley featuring #TheChathamHouse.
Simple Ideas For Natural Nordic Christmas Decorations
I know there are a few last-minute kindred spirits out there yet to even start on Christmas preparations. It's the same every year, I don't like to plan too far ahead or decorate too soon, it gets boring don't you think? This year, as with every year, we're keeping Christmas simple. I like fuss-free, minimal decorations which don't require a huge amount of effort. My simple tips for natural, Nordic Christmas style should keep you on the straight and narrow when the overwhelm gets...well, overwhelming.
Minimal Gift Wrap
I'm using plain, recyclable gift wrap in black and white, tying them with garden twine or burgundy satin ribbon. Plain kraft paper also looks beautiful and you can finish them with a sprig of fir tree for a seasonal look. To give my wrap a little extra something, I've picked seed heads on one of my walks and carefully secured them under the twine. I've used Old Man's Beard, a wild growing variety of Clematis which you'll find everywhere at this time of year.
Monochrome Table Decor With A Twist
Whereas last year I went for a moody, atmospheric Christmas table, this year calls for a brighter look. Following on from the monochrome gift wrapping, I've used a white linen tablecloth for the base along with our black plates and cutlery which gets used every day. I think food looks best on black or white plates, you really can't go wrong with classic dinnerware. Ultimately, when I've spent all that time cooking, I want a quick and simple look that I can bring to the table with a real sense of occasion. This took about 15 minutes, though you might like to get the cuttings ready in advance.Tip: Think about how you're going to use the table - will you be serving straight onto plates from the kitchen or leaving your guests to help themselves directly from the table? Which you choose will show you how much available space you have on the table to decorate. As I'm serving from the kitchen, I've left room for the centrepiece of candles.
A set of gold coasters become a reflective base for off-white church candles, bringing Nordic Christmas style to the table. Nestled between them are cuttings of blue spruce, bought from my local florist, but you could also use cuttings from your own tree once you've shaped it.
Simple, foraged details look extra special. These are 'samaras' from ash trees that I've painted gold and tucked into natural linen napkins. They continue a subtle touch of gold through from the centrepiece, which I love. Champagne coup glasses are ten a penny now, but I bought our 1940s set years ago when they were quite hard to find. They come out every year now and I love drinking from them, even though what you get in them equates to two mouthfuls!
Even the mantlepieces get a little attention. Again I've used cuttings of spruce across the length and nestled in a trio of candlestick holders on one side. Things always look better styled in threes.And there we have it. My two cents worth of Nordic Christmas styling tips for this year. I hope my simple suggestions have sparked some activity in you for those last minute touches!
Natural linen napkins, £6, Arket.Set of four Ripple glasses, £35, Ferm Living at Amara.Glattis gold coasters (used as candle bases) £3.75, IKEA.Fenomen set of 5 white block candles, £4.25, IKEA.Turini 16 piece black finish cutlery, £95, Habitat.Black dinner plates, £52 and £56 each for a set of four, Eva Solo.Givande black and white wrapping paper, £1.75 each, IKEA.Set of three Fulltalig black candlesticks, £9, IKEA.
Photography & Styling © Tiffany Grant-Riley
Warm Amber - The New Nordic Take on a 1970s Classic
Not quite mustard yellow or brown and definitely not copper, warm amber home accessories are fast becoming the colour of the moment. Popularised in the 1970s, I've noticed its slow and steady return to the Nordic design scene over the past year.
I’m old enough to remember the retro amber, brown and red patterned carpets (we had one once) and it’s oddly comforting to see these colours making a comeback, although definitely not in the same, garish way they did. This reinterpreted version of warm amber is rather apt given that we’re coming into winter now, nature surrounding us by rich, rustic tones.
How To Work With Warm Amber At Home
I recommend using it as a subtle accent worked in as an accessory. A large vase, glass lamp or throw is just enough to give a hint without going full-on 1970s. This warm shade lends itself beautifully to lighting, as seen in the Louis Poulsen PH 3/2 lamp which comes in a limited edition amber glass shade.
The great thing about amber is its a versatile colour; it stands out against a neutral base and compliments richer, bold colours. The result, of course, will be completely different. I'd style it with seasonal flowers or grasses and perhaps layer a simple throw with similarly toned cushions. I also love to see it paired with brass and marble for a more luxurious feel.
It’s far harder to get amber right in textiles, predominantly because the colour is taken from tree resin and therefore works best with translucent materials. If you can look for a shade in between orange and brown, you might just have it. Warm Nordic’s mid-century inspired lean chair is near enough spot on with its velvet upholstery and H&M Home recently launched its 'Sleek Amber' collection which includes waffle bedspreads and linen cushions. I've put together a cheeky round-up too which is well worth a look if you fancy a dabble.
So tell me, am I way off the mark with amber, or are you warming to it?
| 1 | Orlo table top mirror, Another Brand | 2 | Amber Troll Vase, Menu | 3 | Kasbah Eau De Parfum, 19-69 | 4 | No-Pi-No-Pi stackable vase, New Works | 5 | Marimekko Urna vase | 6 | Anise Patchouli candle, Compagnie de Provence | 7 | Lean back lounge chair, Warm Nordic | 8 | Ewer Champagne glass and brass lamp, MADE.COM | 9 | AYTM amber globe vase | 10 | Cafe au lait collar vase, Cooee |11| Waffled double bedspread and stemmed bowls, H&M Home |12| Limited edition Louis Poulsen PH 3/2 lamp in amber
••stockists correct at time of publication.
[AD] Our Nordic Luxe Beige Bedroom Before and After
This post includes gifted product.** Well, that's quite a mouthful. A Nordic luxe beige bedroom. I was beginning to think this day would never come. Two years ago when we moved in, I couldn't see this past the Prince-inspired purple feature wall and peeling wallpaper. And I'm a big Prince fan. But here we are. Back with another before and after. Prepare to witness the fruits of our blood, sweat and tears, of which there have been plenty of each!
How The Bedroom Looked Before
My advice to you? Always be suspicious of papered walls in old houses. It is trying to trick you into thinking "nothing to see here!" Our bedroom couldn't even be bothered to hide the fact that most of the plaster beneath had blown. And good luck trying to actually remove that wallpaper, my goodness. I've no idea what was used to fix it to the wall but I don't think it was your bog standard paste! You can see more of what lurked behind the paper and the freshly plastered walls here. Oh and how you loved those plaster walls. I know you'd prefer that we left them like that, but we wanted the room to feel finished.
The journey from start to finish has been quite a lengthy one which in all honesty, I'm thankful for. It gave us the time to better understand how the north facing light moved throughout the day and made choosing the colour a lot easier. It gave us time to realise that we needed to put a new floor down, as much as we loved the baseboards, sanding and staining wasn't going to be an option this time. Ultimately, it gave us time to understand how we used the room, how we wanted it to work for us and how we wanted it to feel.
The full design post demonstrates how we arrived at warm beige and how I pulled together the look inspired by past stays in design hotels. The most important part of the whole design is that the room felt like a sanctuary. I wanted it to feel minimal with a Nordic luxe look, drawing on high-quality materials, including the Havwoods oak flooring, black metal hardware and additional furniture. There would be contrasting textures of velvet, linen, metal details and warm wood.
How The Bedroom Looks Now
Our journey towards the finish line began in summer, using our plastered walls as our starting point.Work included:• Laying a new engineered oak floor.• Tiling the hearth plate.• Polishing the fireplace.• Painting the walls and woodwork.• Replacing the radiator for a Victorian column style.• Replacing hardware including sockets, switch and cupboard handles.We used the same shade of beige, Lark Song by Valspar, across all the walls and woodwork for a contemporary tone-on-tone effect. It's amazing to see how much the colour changes depending on the light - sometimes appearing almost plaster pink, other times with slight green undertones. It has the ability to glow when the sun hits the corner with the mirror in the early morning and feels warm and moody in the evenings.
I picked out furniture and accessories with similar warm tones to lift the wall colour, starting with the Sinnerlig bamboo lamp shade that we got last year, tying it in with oak picture frames on top of the chest of drawers. Continuing with tonal furniture, we kept the floor length IKEA mirror and I chose the Shelf90 in ash and leather, designed by SSM and handmade by their studio in Sweden. It's been on my list for such a long time and is the perfect size for a select number of books and our mini speaker. This part of the room will really come into its own as a reading corner when we eventually find a suitable chair for it. No, I didn't get to keep The Spanish Chair.Somehow we instinctively choose furniture with skinny legs which actually give the illusion of space by allowing the floor to be seen underneath. Our hospital-style metal bed has been with us for a few years, a John Lewis design no longer sold, but we still love it. A new of mine is the black metal planter from Cox & Cox which in which I planted grasses instead of my usual houseplant.Given that I tend to lean towards jute woven rugs, I surprised myself in choosing this 'Dolce' charcoal grey viscose rug from the Houseology Collection. It feels super silky underfoot and ties in with luxury hotel style. It also bounces the light as you can see from the photos and connects tonally with the oak flooring, provided by Havwoods. If you read the installation post, you'll know how much of a difference the new floor has made to the room. In fact, the overall look wouldn't work without it there to pull it together. It feels so much warmer and quieter too, which means no more avoiding those squeaky floorboards in the night.
The wall lamps are designed by Pederjessen for Mater, who I featured recently for their sustainable Danish design. The black Ray lamps are a nifty piece of design. Did you know that the oak part of the shade is held with magnets allowing you to pivot and direct the light? Did you notice something missing? Yes, bedside tables. A previous attempted failed but ultimately, I'll be adding discrete and narrow bedside ledges which will sit below the lamps, painted into the wall.
Of course, a home is never truly finished and we’ve left space for this room to grow. Much of the practical work has been Rob’s baby. He’s done an incredible job and is putting the finishing touches to tiling the hearth plate (hence why you haven’t seen much of it). I’ve left space for a large round mirror to hang above the chest of drawers and there's bedsides and a reading chair to sort. For now, though, we can finally see out the winter in a warm and inviting bedroom that we can’t wait to spend time in.
On Pinterest? Check out my beige and greige interiors board for more inspiration or #TheChathamHouse on social to follow our renovation journey.
Beige paint - 'Lark Song' by Valspar in matt for walls and satin for wood and metal.Engineered oak flooring - Shadow Grey 188 from the Havwoods Karelia range.**Black metal sockets and vintage toggle switch - Dowsing & Reynolds.Knurled Skyscraper cupboard handles - Dowsing & Reynolds**Bamboo Sinnerlig lamp - IKEA.Black Ray wall lamps - Mater.**Black metal planter - Cox & Cox.**Oak picture frames - Cox & Cox.**Shelf90 in ash and leather - SSM**Charcoal grey 'Dolce' Rug - Houseology.**Morten oak chest of drawers - Heal's.**Anthracite grey column radiator - Trade Radiators.'Monolith' printed cotton fabric - Laura Slater.
Photography & styling © Tiffany Grant-Riley
This Hackney Home Designed by Biasol Has The Blues
I already know what you're going to say. "Not another blue kitchen Tiff! Come on!" Well yes, it is another blue kitchen, but what I particularly love about this Hackney home that I gleefully discovered on The Modern House is that almost every room is cleverly anchored with the blue. No other colour speaks to me the way this particular blue does, so I for one completely understand why the architects chose it for this project.
Those Aussie architects really do have it down. I'm always in awe of what some of the design studios in Australia are coming up with, particularly having great weather and light on their side. So it's interesting to see how Melbourne based studio Biasol tackled this Georgian maisonette and its typically dark interior. As you can see, they did away with the traditional layout, opening it up into a light-filled living space. Original sash windows, timber floors and cast iron radiators connect the building to its past, whilst bright white walls and contemporary furniture connect its residents to modern living. Minimally styled to accentuate the craftsmanship of the architecture, you can truly appreciate the quality of the materials Biasol has chosen to use.
The freestanding island in the kitchen has been elevated with brass legs to allow the space to continue to flow beneath. Marble features heavily across this property with black Grigio Carnico kitchen surfaces and herringbone Carrara in the bathrooms. Accents of brass in the hardware and mixer tap enhance the rich, blue cabinetry, echoing in the living and dining spaces through wall mounted Flos IC lights. I'm completely in love, are you?
See more of those clever blue details in this Hackney home over on The Modern House. And if you've got a bit of cash lying around, it's going for a cool £1m.
Photography © The Modern House.
Yes To These Earthy Green Kitchen Units
In case you haven't noticed, I've got a thing about kitchens. When we were planning ours, green cupboard fronts were a close runner. Eventually, we chose a deep blue, but this Gothenburg apartment has left me wondering what might have been with its earthy green kitchen units. What a peaceful space. Built in the 1930s, the kitchen has been restored and the cupboards given a fresh update in Sage Green by Little Greene Paint which sing against Italian slate worktops. It's all about the contrast people. Stainless steel knobs add to the bespoke feel which - top tip - is one thing you can easily change if your cupboards need an update.The classic square white tiles are from Vitra and grouted in black, similar to this monochrome kitchen.
Just like our kitchen, and perhaps because due to space constraints they had no choice, they've installed a freestanding cooker. Built in appliances aren't everything.Every nook and cranny has been utilised - take a look at corner cupboard used for storing baskets and the all-important coffee essentials. There's even enough room for a table, neatly styled with two birch 66 chairs, designed by the father of Scandinavian design Alvar Aalto. Tying in with the newly resurfaced floors, they bring a feeling of warmth to the room. Could you imagine shuffling in here for your breakfast and feeling instantly soothed?!
Photography © Kvarteret Mäkleri
[AD] A Stay At The Pilgrm Hotel In Paddington
My stay at The Pilgrm was a press stay in exchange for this post. There's no shortage of achingly cool new build hotels in London. It seems one opens up every month what with all the expansions happening across the city. There are few, however, that blend seamlessly into the history of a building with the finesse with which The Pilgrm does. And yes, that's Pilgrm, no 'i'. Not even a stone's throw from Paddington Station, this no-frills luxury hotel is ceiling-to-floor with custom built, reclaimed design.
Cobalt blue tiles across the front of a groundfloor Workshop Coffee announce The Pilgrm as a meeting point, light streaming into the reception across a partially tiled floor. There's no traditional lobby here - that's the point. Instead, you're greeted inside the cafe and checked in quickly on an iPad. Walking in, you could be tricked into thinking that the building had always been this way - the grand mahogany staircase and wall mounted leather seats. Yet, The Pilgrm is a shining example of reclamation, renovation and innovation brought into being by Sheffield based architecture studio 93ft. 
What began life as a collection of Victorian buildings on Norfolk Square has been transformed into 73 bedrooms across a series of wings and multi-levels. A feeling of understated luxe runs through the interior; from original cornices in the rooms to 200-year-old reclaimed mahogany floorboards repurposed into headboards and wall panelling. There's something very 19th century Paris about it. Architectural salvage enhances the heritage of the building, in fact, the majority of the furniture was designed and produced by 93ft, fitting the hotel out with over 1,000 unique pieces. Somehow, this blend of old-new materials brings a well-worn feeling into a this recently launched building.
If you can be sustainable, why wouldn’t you? When it comes to interiors, a beautiful historic building gives us a history, we like to work with what’s already there, we don’t believe in throwaway culture”. - Tim Hubbard, 93ft
Rooms are split into Bunk, Small, Medium and Large each with a bijou black and white tiled shower room. Making the most of the available space, rooms are kitted out with custom mirror fronted hanging rails and metal bedside shelves. Ceiling lights are thankfully vetoed for sleek black wall lamps - so no banging your head in the smaller rooms. Elegant mid-grey walls contrast the white Egyptian cotton bedding and a Marshall Bluetooth speaker is very welcome for kicking back with your own playlist. Galvanised steel planters on the wall offer a homely, personal touch alongside unique pieces of art.
Staying true to its mantra 'Everything you truly need, nothing you don't', you won't find mini-bars, trouser presses or tea and coffee making facilities in the rooms here. Should you need a cuppa first thing though, there are communal Pantry rooms on the landing of each floor, which I think is a thoughtful touch.
For something more substantial though, the Lounge serves up a mean menu from 7am - 10pm. Exhausted at the end of a manic week covering LDF, the last thing we wanted to do was head back out to eat. Thankfully, staying in at The Pilgrm is definitely the new going out. Set amongst old-world glamour with its polished parquet floor is the green velvet banquette made for indulgent lounging. The dark green window behind it is yet another custom piece, which with its inset brass downlights I was surprised to learn it wasn't an original feature. 30 antique German cocktail chairs sourced and reupholstered by 93ft added to the charm of the room and were a welcome backdrop to our quiet dinner (and obligatory glass of Prosecco). If you're a breakfast person, I totally recommend the 'Pilgrm Continental', served on top of the marble bar featuring fresh pastries, homemade yoghurts and other locally sourced delights. Weekend rates start at £149 a night (small room) and breakfast is not included.The Pilgrm marks a promising new direction for hotel experiences. Doing away with frivolous luxuries and focusing on atmosphere and hospitality is where it gets it right. I only hope more follow suit in revitalising and repurposing materials in the way they have. Of course, it fosters a greater sense of responsibility but also brings a feeling of home and comfort you can find only in design with history. And the coffee is great.
Photography © Tiffany Grant-Riley
[AD] Nordic Luxe Beige Bedroom Inspiration
[AD] This is a paid partnership in which various products have been gifted*. Neutral interiors get a really bad rap as boring and unimaginative. The thing is though, there's just as much skill that goes into making neutrals work as there is for playing with bold colour. As the renovation work draws to a close on our current project, I'm sharing my latest mood boards, talking you through the inspiration behind our Nordic luxe beige bedroom. You'll find tips and tricks on how to lift a beige scheme and turn it into anything but boring.
The Brief
We wanted the bedroom to have a design hotel feel to it. A sanctuary to escape to with a focus on high-quality, luxury materials whilst remaining faithful to the period features of the house. If there's one thing I've learnt from the many hotel stays I've experienced over the years, it's the attention to the absolute essentials that matter. It's a feel of a soft rug underfoot, well-chosen lighting and the way the room has been designed to enhance sleep and relaxation. I've also been so inspired by what the likes of Menu, Fredericia and Muuto have been doing as brands that I wanted to recreate the minimal luxe look in our room.It was important that the bedroom connected with the rest of the house so I wanted to continue the thread of high contrasting tones (in this case black and grey) with pale wood and abstract art. The room needed to be minimally styled for it to be a restful space in which to wind down.
Choosing The Right Shade
Our bedroom is north facing and the light has a cool quality to it at certain times of the day so anything with blue undertones was out of the question. If you have the same problem, choosing a colour with warm undertones of red or yellow might help.Letting go of the plaster walls was a difficult decision (and so many of you echoed those sentiments on Instagram) but it was time for a solid colour, something just as soothing but warmer. Finding the right shade of beige took some doing - I went through so many samples I almost couldn't see it anymore. And then Valspar pulled it out the bag. Hello, the aptly named 'Lark Song'. I'm hoping you can see the red undertones from the shots I took below?Having chosen the colour, I wanted to continue it into the woodwork too, using satin paint in the same shade for a subtle sheen on the skirting, doors and around the window. This will give the bedroom a contemporary update and bring out the contrast between matt and sheen.
The Floor
This was the first room we've done in the house where we decided to put a new floor down. Although the original floorboards are in good condition, they make the room feel cold in the winter months and the idea of sanding and staining them filled us both with dread. Great in the kitchen, not in here. So a few months ago I spent a very easy hour at Havwoods, comparing their engineered wood flooring samples and looking for something with a washed, grey tone. I eventually arrived at Shadow Grey, a real oak design from the Karelia range which has been brushed and stained with an oil finish. These boards work on a click system and I'll be able to share the installation with you once the floor has gone down next week.
Natural Elements
I'm going to highlight the tonal relationships between the beige walls, grey floor and light oak furniture. There'll be a small reading nook in the corner where my desk used to be, with SSM's ash and leather 'Shelf90' for a collection of reads and Fredericia's 60 Years Special Edition Spanish chair. The olive green leather is to die for. I literally can't wait to pull this corner together! The mix of smooth leather, light wood and linen on the bed itself will create a harmonious feeling, to feel easy on the eye.Of course, no room in our house would feel right without some element of planting, so I'll be using a mix of dried and potted grasses to style with. I'm obsessed with grasses and have been growing several varieties in our garden the past year.
High Contrast and Tactile Finishes
It's so easy to make a beige bedroom scheme feel flat if you ignore the contrasting elements. I'm talking about the darker shades that give it depth. In the kitchen I used dark blue and black with white, in here I'm continuing the black. I've picked out knurled, black metal cupboard door handles which echo the style of the ones we used in the kids' room. Against the beige doors, they'll ready pop. We'll also be tiling the hearth plate in a matt glass mosaic design which gives a level of tactility without the need for colour. The grey in the tiles will pick up against the anthracite grey column radiator which we've chosen to compliment the age of the house.A deep pile rug in Graphite draws on the design hotel feel we wanted and abstract art continues the thread from the sunroom and kitchen. Remember, texture is key. Whether it's polished marble or metal, sheepskin or woven fabrics. Mix up the texture and you'll add depth and interest to a neutral design scheme.We're so nearly there now. The next couple of weeks is going to be a mad dash to the finish line but it'll be worth the wait to show you the transformation!
| 1 | Ray black wall lamp, Mater* | 2 | Oak frame, Cox & Cox* | 3 | Terracotta pitcher, Another Country | 4 | Morten oak chest of drawers, Heal's | 5 | Shadow Grey engineered oak flooring, Havwoods* | 6 | Black standing planter, Cox & Cox* | 7 | 'Collage' screen print, Laura Slater | 8 | Ash and leather 'Shelf 90', SSM* | 9 | Dolce rug in Graphite, Houseology* | 10 | Spanish Chair 60 Years Special Edition, Fredericia* | 11 | Confiserie Fogg mosaic hearth tiles, Claybrook | 12 | Skyscraper knurled handles, Dowsing & Reynolds* | 13 | Grey column radiator Anthracite, Trade Radiators.
Photography & styling © Tiffany Grant-Riley
Striking Monochrome Kitchen in A Warm Gothenburg Apartment
If only all estate agents took this much care with their properties. I actually despair at the way we sell houses here, home staging is the last thing on any seller's mind when it really ought to be the first. So while I don't haunt the UK real estate sites much, I do spend a fair bit of time trawling the Scandinavian ones for the pure joy of the way they get it so right.You know I love a kitchen with period features. This turn of the century apartment in Gothenburg hit me right between the eyes. With the right balance of period features and contemporary design, its most striking feature is a monochrome kitchen with black mosaic tiling. In fact, let's start there shall we?
Classic Thonet coffee house chairs in contemporary black lend themselves to the period of the building, referencing the black mosaic splashback. I've yet to see a monochrome kitchen done better, particularly in a modest space.
Absolutely drenched in light, the white walls highlight the beautiful stuccoed ceilings and tiled fireplace. New parquet flooring brings an element of warmth to the apartment while lofty ceilings give a feeling of grandeur, typical of buildings of its era. I love the touches of terracotta and saffron yellow throughout.Carefully chosen pieces of art add personality and interest, combining natural woven textures in the large living room rug with tactile ceramic vases and abstract art.
I adore the original Swedish fireplace, although this one isn't functioning, it's pieces of historical interest like this that give this home real character.
A clutter-free bedroom with only the essentials feels open and airy with tall windows looking out onto trees and the contrast as seen in the kitchen is echoed on the bed with dark blue, grey and spice linens and throws.I'm completely in love with his apartment. It doesn't shout or work too hard to show off the character and the quality of light is key in making this property feel spacious. What do you think?
Photography © Jonas Berg for Stadshem.
[AD] Bedroommood Crisp Cotton Sheets
This is a paid partnership in collaboration with Bedroommood. I love September. It feels far more like the beginning of New Year than January. Maybe it's the fact that school starts back or it's the London Design Festival this month, but either way, it feels like a month full of possibilities. Know what I mean?How was your summer? I spent mine enjoying a slower pace, finding inspiration in the garden. And running around with the children - can't slow down too much! The bedroom already looks like a hotel room following its fresh coat of paint - Rob spent a few days on it while we gave him some space up in Suffolk. I can't wait to share it with you in October!In anticipation of the colder months, I've swapped out the linen bedding in favour of crisp cotton sheets from Bedroommood. Made by a small team in Lithuania, the founders find little luxuries in the fabric they've chosen. Championing Oeko-Tex® certified Egyptian cotton (which means its grown and processed with no nasties) it's woven with a minimum of 300 thread count, meaning it's a softer, stronger quality than average.Designed with a minimalistic approach in collaboration with designer Vida Vyšniauskienė, the collection sticks to a palette of blues, greys and white with the option of matt percale or sateen for a slight sheen.
We believe in simple things. We are fans of minimalism. We wanted colours that would gently embrace you and will not disturb you on your way towards the state of ideal sleep.
As I'm pulling inspiration from some of my favourite hotel experiences for the bedroom, the best place to start is with the bedding. I'm naturally drawn to contrasting tones in our home so I've paired light grey with a charcoal grey percale sheet which looks striking against the new beige walls. I love the crisp rustle of the duvet, the casual, stonewashed feel and the bonus of not needing to iron them. In fact, as far as cotton sheets go, these are superior. An easy way to update your room without going to the trouble of a complete makeover.
Having washed and used them several times since they arrived, the quality holds beautifully. The fitted sheet comes with a well thought out 'long side' label so you don't have to guess when you're making the bed up. Over the summer we had had cat-sitting guests use them in our guest room while we were away and they mentioned how lovely they were to sleep in. Bring on autumn. *To try out the benefits of cotton sheets yourself, take 20% off at Bedroommood with the code TIFFANY20, valid until Sept 30th 2018. 
Photography and styling © Tiffany Grant-Riley
20 Of The Best Budget To Blow Out Black Wall Lights
I’m popping over the parapet while I still can, as I wade my way through the depths of the end of term summer madness. If you’re in it too, keep going my friend, you’re almost there. And then it's only the next six weeks of holidays to get through...
Aside from the school stuff, I’ve been answering requests on Instagram for a black wall lights source page. You’ll know by now that I think a shot of black instantly improves a room, whether its to add contrast or tone on tone and my 20 Best Black Wall Lights have been chosen for their contemporary designs and minimalist attributes. No dodgy sconces here people. And I happen to be in the market for our bedroom which is almost ready for painting. I need to get as much off the floor as possible. Despite having a fairly spacious room, the way we configure the bed makes it difficult to fit bedside tables on both sides as we end up hitting doors. Hence the need for wall lights and quite possibly small ledges for the important stuff. Or maybe just one central swing arm that we can share? Decisions, decisions...
There’s a good mix of new designs and reissued classics with a Nordic aesthetic and strong, architectural shape. Take the perforated head on the Vipp lamp for example, which defuses light outwards as well as down. And then there's the covetable La Lampe Gras No.214, or indeed any of that series, reproduced by DWC. I live for that lamp. Such elegance. Ugh.
The more compact styles are spot on for nooks and hallways, especially the globe styles. Opal glass has made a huge comeback in recent years as it gives off a warm, diffused ambience. Adjustable arm lamps are better suited for task lighting - for reading in the living room or above the kitchen worktops whilst you're preparing dinner.
You'll also be pleased to know that most of these lamps don't need wiring into the wall (who has time for that?) which makes it easier to move them around as you need to.
Of course, it's not possible to include everything in my top 20, and I've had to veto a few in favour of affordability. I'm just being sensible. Now I just have the task of choosing. Like that's going to be easy...
| 1 | Design Project LED wall light, John Lewis | 2 | Jielde Signal two arm, Clippings | 3 | La Lampe Gras No.214 by DCW, Houseology | 4 | Woud Kuppi, Nest | 5 | Radon by LightyearsDK, SCP | 6 | Matted black wall light, Rockett St George | 7 | Ogilvy swing arm, MADE | 8 | Its About RoMi Glasgow lamp, Naken | 9 | Blush by Northern, The Lollipop Shoppe | 10 | Warren wall lamp by Menu, Really Well Made | 11 | Mater Ray wall light, Cloudberry Living | 12 | Grant, Normann Copenhagen | 13 | Orbit, Dwell | 14 | Wall lamp, Vipp | 15 | Dano smoked globe, John Lewis | 16 | Louis Poulsen Yuh, Clippings | 17 | Hollin, Out There Interiors | 18 | Hübsch wall light, Smallable | 19 | Anglepoise Original 1227 Mini, Heal's | 20 | Muuto Lean lamp, Nunido
** Stockists correct at time of publication.
Good Hotel London | The Floating Hotel With A Social Cause
If I told you this hotel had been floated across the North Sea from Amsterdam to London's Royal Victoria Dock you'd think I was joking, right? Well. It was. Back in 2016 following a stint in its home of Amsterdam and a redesign at a shipyard, it made its way on a submerged barge to be docked here.
The Good Story
Good Hotel is a new hotel experience founded upon social enterprise by Marten Dresen. Offering hospitality training to previously unemployed locals through their Good Training program, the hotel guides recruits through a three-month residency before helping them secure employment within the industry. During its stay in London, Good Hotel supports local businesses and sources local ingredients, investing the profits back into educating children from low-income families in Antigua, Guatemala.Designed by Remko Verhaagen and Art Director Sikko Valk of studio Blooey who focus on social and ecological projects, it's hard to believe this structure started life as a detention centre. In my mind, it is quintessentially Dutch. From its altruism to contemporary industrial interiors and relaxed atmosphere. It offers simplistic luxury and a different perspective of London, being that little bit further out from the centre.
The Rooms
There are four types of room at Good Hotel London, starting with a standard double at £98 a night up to the corner waterview room at £135 upwards. We stayed in the deluxe waterview room with wall to wall kingsize bed, inspired by the traditional Dutch bedstee. It's certainly cosy, but the minimalist design and full-size window onto the water makes it feel spacious. The room includes custom built shelving and desk also designed by Verhaagen, a full-length mirror and stand-up en-suite shower with FAIR CosmEthics toiletries. There are iconic swing arm lights mounted on the walls and a nifty hidden phone charger in the windowsill.
You won't find TVs in the bedrooms and that's a deliberate decision, encouraging guests to use the Living Room or to venture up to The Roof to drink in the view. Quite literally.
The Social Spaces
The shared spaces are open plan to connect guests and staff together, the result of which is more homely. Seating and dining areas are cleverly zoned using steel framed wood screening so that even when you're lounging on one of the minimal sofas, you can still see through to the bar or across the water. Shelves filled with books and magazines encourage you to stop and sit. The cool, industrial structure of metal and polished concrete is warmed with contrasting wooden tables and sisal rugs.Along with custom pieces designed by Blooey, furniture from Lensvelt and Moooi sit alongside everyday items from HEMA. This is a pared-back interior where the luxury is in the honest materials and feeling of space.
Unlike hotels where it's policy for staff to blend into the surroundings, here their portraits hang on the walls, sharing their personal journeys as part of the Good Hotel. Staff will happily engage in conversation, telling you about the history of the hotel and perhaps a little of their own experiences. The positive impact that the hotel has on the area is clear.
Up On The Roof
It wasn't the sunniest day during our visit, but you can get a real sense of the area from The Roof bar. The Emirates cable car is right next door drawing your eye over to the O2 Arena on the Greenwich Peninsula. Planes from City Airport jet over every ten minutes (you quickly acclimatise to this and they stop later in the evening) and there are more eateries up towards the Excel, though quite frankly with food this good here, you shouldn't need to leave. Ever.
As if I need to persuade you any further, I think the Dutch have home from home hospitality nailed. I just wish all hotels would follow this model. A place with style and heart. The Good Hotel will be docked here until 2021 when it will make its way on to a new home.
Want more inspiration? Check out this London getaway.Good Hotel, Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, London, E16 1FA.
Photography © Tiffany Grant-Riley
[AD] Minimalist Art By Desenio In Our Edwardian Living Room
This is a paid partnership in collaboration with Desenio. Got a bit of a rare insight into our living room for you today, you know I like to do the before and after features in one hit but I thought I'd be brave and show how it is now. The walls and ceilings in here are in real need of replastering, the floors staining, new mantlepieces. The list is endless. See? I'm already making excuses! But it has beautiful bones so until we arrive at that point I've given the walls a fresh lick of white paint for a crisper look. Wall art is a quick and easy way to update a room without going all out, so I've chosen three new minimalist art prints from Desenio.
There are two places I buy affordable art from when I can't stretch to buy directly from the artist (which to be honest has only happened once!) and Desenio is one of them. When you want to find an unusual piece that can't be found everywhere else, you'd be hard pushed not to find it here. A Swedish company with a passion for Scandinavian design, its ethos is that stylish wall art should be affordable to everyone. Prints start from £2.95 and there's a very useful Inspiration page which, if you're stuck on what to choose and how to hang it, has readily grouped collections you can purchase as a set. Be prepared to fall down a rabbit hole where the choice is concerned though...
To take some of the indecision out of the equation I focused on a subject. I'd always planned to hang a collection of botanical prints in this corner leaving the rest of the walls clear and chose a muted colour palette of grey, beige and deep green. I want to look at quiet, thoughtful art when I'm home, compositions with simple line drawings, photographs capturing movement through leaves, something with space to breathe. The three I've chosen sum that up perfectly, don't you think?Hanging the Grass poster closer to the corner connects them when you're sitting on the sofa opposite. I've seen some thought-provoking examples of art hung in corners or at the edge of a wall together rather than the centre and I think it really works. I've also been wanting to try the Moebe transparent frame for ages; the design is clever in its simplicity and allows you to frame flat laid collections as well as prints whilst being able to see the wall behind. The entire frame is made from four grooved sides that hold the two acrylic glass sheets with the tension of a rubber band from which you hang it.
TOP TIP : A good tip for styling a gallery wall is to use the same type of frame, so your collection has a coherent look regardless of the art you have on display. Desenio offer simple designs in black, white and metal frames - I chose warm oak to counteract the north facing light. I love the soothing, natural effect it has in the room now, having some well-considered art up makes the space feel much warmer.
Now's a good time to find some minimalist art for your walls - there's a 25% discount code* 'curatedisplay' valid on posters between June 5th and June 7th 2018 (*except on frames and on handpicked-/collaboration posters).
Photography & Styling © Tiffany Grant-Riley
5 Home Office Design Tips And HÅG Futu mesh Task Chair Giveaway [AD]
This is a paid partnership in collaboration with Flokk.Take it from someone with ten years working from home under her belt, having a workspace that's both functional and inspiring is so important. Over the years I've tried out a number of not-so-great home office set-ups. I started from a reclining sofa (yep) and dining room table to a corner of the bedroom before having the luxury of a dedicated workspace.Aesthetics, of course, are what make a room but there's little point in having a stylish home office if it doesn't actually work for you. With that in mind, here are my five tips you should consider when you're designing your own space...
1. Choose The Right Chair
Top of the list. The office chair. Having spent years damaging my posture in a variety of static chairs and slumpy sofa cushions I can attest that choosing the right chair is the difference between getting in a focused days work in comfort and spending time in physio. I'll be honest and say that up til now I've categorically avoided office chairs. They've always felt too corporate and imposing for a home environment.When the furniture group Flokk got in touch to ask if I would try their Norwegian office furniture brand HÅG and their HÅG Futu mesh chair, I decided to put it to the test. Based in Røros, an old copper mining town on the UNESCO World Heritage List, HÅG have been manufacturing chairs since 1943. Before the chair arrived I was sold purely on the fact that this is a company that takes their impact on the environment seriously; mapping out and reducing production emissions and using recycled plastics since 1995, earning them the coveted Nordic Ecolabel.
Sit Properly
It's good practice to sit with your knees at a 90-degree angle with your feet on the floor, although HÅG actively encourages you to put your feet on the legs of the chair as you move which have ridged steel grips. Your arms should sit at a 90-degree angle to your desk to stop you from hunching your shoulders.Did you know that your calf muscle acts like a secondary heart in circulating blood back to the heart and comes into play when you actively move your feet? This is why when we're likely to be static for some time - on a long haul flight, for example, it's recommended to do leg exercises to increase your circulation. With this in mind, all HÅG chairs come with Balance® Technology which is totally intuitive, encouraging mobility and engaging your core. The amount the chair moves can be adjusted underneath the seat via three settings so you can opt for more or less as you see fit.The back comes up to shoulder height and combined with the transparent mesh it has a slender, lightweight appearance. My back feels completely supported against the FutuKnit™ mesh, a specially designed 3D knitted fabric which retains its tautness. If I want a gentle recline the seat can also be adjusted underneath.Unnecessary frills have been done away with, focusing on simple adjustable elements found in discrete buttons and small touch levers. The all-important lumbar support slides up and down, locking into place. The arms which are removable slide outwards as well as up and down with adjustable armrests that pivot inwards.The HÅG Futu mesh is a thoughtfully designed piece of Nordic simplicity. Having experienced the difference, I would recommend finding an ergonomic chair that suits your needs.
2. Making Room For A Home Office
Working from home can kick up a variety of distractions if you don't have a dedicated space. I say space because if setting aside a room isn't an option, you can carve out a corner instead. It could be in the dining room, on the landing if it's possible or a corner of the bedroom even which is where I currently work. Choose an area with good quality of light away from tempting distractions like the TV...the fridge.Don't be put off if you don't have room for a free-standing desk, you can utilise the wall space just as well. Put up a sturdy ledge instead or use the inside of a cupboard you can shut away at the end of the day.
3. How Will You Use Your Office?
How you design the space will depend entirely on how you plan to use it. Can you work with a shallow ledge for a laptop or will you need a deeper desk for a computer? Do you need space for dual screens or perhaps accessible storage is a more pressing need? Consider how much time you plan to spend working here and if you'll need to be able to shut it all away at the end of each day, particularly if you're working in a corner of a shared room. Once you've worked out your needs, designing the space and finding the furniture will be an easier process.
4. Plan Your Office Layout
The shape of your space might already dictate your layout but if you've got free rein, I would recommend setting up close to a window in a position you won't get screen glare. Ensure you have enough room to move freely. Do you want to have storage in front or behind you? If floor space is limited then look at wall mounted solutions, otherwise you'll start to feel restricted which in turn will affect your ability to work.Use any available wall space for shelving or cupboards and keep them organised - don't be tempted to fill them with clutter. Keep your everyday essentials within reaching distance - the pot of pens, sticky notes, USB stick. A series of shallow picture ledges can be used to keep notebooks alongside art prints. Find a pinboard or pegboard and create a visual inspiration wall or use it for urgent reminders.Choose the right a task light. If you don't have space for one on your desk, consider a design you can attach to a shelf or directly to the wall, if not slender floor lamp is a great alternative.
5. Show Your Personality
Whilst you want to give your home office a sense of separation from the rest of the house, it's important for it not to feel sterile. You're working from home after all so it needs to be a space you feel at ease in. Bring in a rug to zone your desk space, something that feels good underfoot.Colour is very much a personal choice but I recommend light or neutral shades over anything too dark. Bright colours will start to feel distracting after a while so if you're keen for a shot of colour, keep it to furniture, accessories or art.
Having plants in the home reaches far beyond the botanical trend of the moment, they not only bring life into a space but they clean the air too. Keep a little pot on your desk, like my Pilea, or choose trailing plants to sit on your shelf above. Peperomia and String of Pearls are a great choice and Snake plant and Aloe Vera are ideal air purifiers.
Enter HÅG's Home Office Giveaways
GIVEAWAY ONE - Win a HÅG Futu or Futu mesh task chair in the colour of your choice worth up to £730.For a chance to win, choose your favourite colour and leave a comment below.*GIVEAWAY TWO - HÅG is also running a competition to win a 30,000 euro office makeover."The winner will receive a visit from their expert interior architect who will provide advice on colours and fabrics. They’ll share with you our range of products, discussing what to add to your working environment to make it healthier, happier and more productive.Then all you have to do is sit back and wait for the transformation!"Please see T&Cs for further information.* T&Cs: Entrants must be aged 18+ and a resident of the UK. This giveaway closes on June 6th 2018. This giveaway is for X1 HÅG Futu mesh task chair only. The winner will be drawn using a random number generator and contacted via email by Flokk directly. Your contact details will not be shared with or sold to any third parties.
Photography & Styling © Tiffany Grant-Riley
The Nordic Style Sofa Chair Edit From £300
I have been on a tireless quest to find the perfect seat to fit inside our small bay window in our living room. It's not the biggest space to fill, so options are limited when you have just under 130cm width to work with. Following hours of flailing around with a tape measure, I present the solution.I give you the sofa chair. Or the Snuggler. Or the loveseat, if you like. Not quite a sofa, not quite an armchair, but a hybrid of superior quality lounging. I'm talking about the kind of chair you can nonchalantly swing your legs over the side of the arm in. A chair with a deep seat made for sharing. For when a lounge chair is not enough. If you have an awkward nook or more modest proportions where a sofa wouldn't fit, this may be the answer for you too.
So I've trawled the web, pulling in my edit of nine Nordic style sofa chairs for your delectation. With one eye firmly on the price point, there's a pretty comprehensive selection from just under £300 up to £2,000 to suit all budgets. I even went one step further in the name of design, seizing the chance to road test a few when the opportunity arose, so I'll put my money where my mouth is. Most of the chosen designs come with a huge selection of upholstery (and I recommend you order samples) ranging from linen and cotton blends, velvet and leather. I may have found the perfect design for our living room, with a little restraint on my part - it's hard to be practical when you're exposed to such gorgeous designs. Of course, I'd love to throw a few thousand at a Nordic dream, but I have two children and a cat with claws. Oh. And a very clumsy husband...