A wow visit to a reopened Painted Hall

March 29, 2019

It’s been closed for two years for a major conservation project, and reopened last weeked. I was able to book tickets on the opening weekend through week, and it was truly wonderful. At one point I thought we might not make it down into Greenwich at all as MOH was working (again), but just after 3pm on Sunday he escaped his laptop and we headed on what is a daily walk for me.

It was a lovely day and Greenwich Park was full, which was quite strange to see. I’m so used to seeing it with workers hurrying through and the dog walking community meeting for their daily - or least morning - constitution, that it’s easy to forget the weekend leisure users of the space. And on a sunny day, how that multiplies.

We’ve been to the Painted Hall many times before, in fact we visited with family including a cousin’s American husband the day after our wedding whose reaction was “gee, this is old!” Which of course is correct, it is.

It’s part of the Old Royal Naval College and was designed as a ceremonial dining room by Sir Christopher Wren, and some dining room! It took 19 years to complete the vast decorative scheme, painted by Sir James Thornhill and that started in 1707. He was the first British artist to be knighted and painted himself into the picture, which was pointed out in the new audio accompaniment - so look out for him later.

Previously entry was free, and is now £12 which before we went I thought was hefty. Having visited, I think it’s pretty good value, especially as you can use your ticket to gain entry for a year. That won’t work for everyone but they’re not the only organisation to do that, and it doesn’t stop you visiting, does it.

The entrance is new too, and much more focused. You enter through the Undercroft, now renamed the Sackler Gallery and there’s the obligatory shop and a cafe too. The cafe is particularly welcome as it’s yet another space for food and drink on campus, although despite only going this weekend I’d already forgotten that in the everyday busy-ness of the working day. And this week too, I’ve been less good about taking lunch to work and reverted to popping to the garage for a sandwich rather than trying something a little more social.

Looking up in what used to be the entrance area was spectacular, and only partly prepared you for the wow when you first glimpse the main event. It is truly breathtaking.

A photo really can’t do it justice, but it does give you an idea of how spectacular it is.

Before the hall was filled with large wooden tables, which took up most of the space. These have now gone and have been replaced with cushioned benches down the centre of the space, these allow people to view the ceiling lying down, and if you weren’t aware of that, the following photo could be quite amusing!

And it’s a vast improvement of a mirror that was there before.

I’m not usually much of a fan of audio guides, but I took one and it was impressive. You can dip into and out of the information in a way that works for you. It translates the latin inscription around the edge of the ceiling in an engaging way. It’s been many years since I studied Latin - amo, amas, amat, amamus, amatis, amant and all that.

The Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich

Earlier I promised you Sir James Thornhill, well here he is with the tools of his trade behind him on the ledge - that’s just one of the useful facts on the multimedia guide.

It’s definitely worth a visit, and it’s definitely worth visiting Greenwich for. And if you visit give me a wave!

At the Ideal Home Show

March 26, 2019

Today I’m sharing my highlights from this year’s Ideal Home Show, along with the trends that I noticed from the show. You’ll have seen in yesterday’s post that for me the good news was that the garden room sets were back, and that the garden section of the show was in the main section of the hall rather than in the smaller hall on the left as you enter.

Of the four garden room sets I was really keen on two. I’ve already mentioned The Upcycled Garden so there’s a fair chance that that’s one of them, and you’d be right. You’ll not be surprised to learn that the other is The Grow Your Own Garden and I’ll be sharing more of those, and the other two garden room sets in the next few weeks.

Colour, everywhere

The thing that really stood out was colour. It was everywhere. And as an advocate of colour you’ll know how much that pleases me. It was bold colour too as the photos below show. Those chairs, you’ll notice that they have the same pattern. I only noticed that as I put this post together, I’m sure though the backgrounds were different colours.

The ceiling and lamp shade above were in the child’s room in the Evolving House, I think that’s definitely the loudest ceiling I’ve ever seen and not sure it will be conducive to sleep. But it wasn’t all bright colours, the other colour that stood out around the show was pastel pink, it’s still set to be big in interiors this year. It featured in the room sets, with a pink kitchen and in the vintage bathroom room set; in the Evolving Home house and a gorgeous sofa in the interiors section of the show.

MIRRORS ON A PINK WALL IN THE EVOLVING HOME

FLYING BIRDS IN THE VINTAGE BATHROOM ROOM SET

Colour and patterns

And along with the colour came patterns, and plenty of them. While I’m not necessarily a fan of the frayed egg-shaped light the wallpaper behind it was bold and fantastic. In the room sets it was hard to find a room that wasn’t covered in pattern - the bedroom and living room - were full of it and clashing patterns too. And it wasn’t just the walls, the floors were patterned too, though not always at the same time.

‘Wire’ furniture

Last year I said that I’d seen plenty of pom poms, and sure enough pom poms make it big on the interiors scene. This year I noticed that there was plenty of ‘wire’ furniture - I’m not quite sure what else to call it. The lampshade in the boot room below is much more decorative than functional. I think we’ll be seeing much more of these.

So that’s a quick round-up of what I noticed, and plenty of photos to give you a glimpse of the show. Are you going this year, or have you been?

Stationery and plant pots

March 21, 2019

Smug in Islington is one of those shops that has many of the things I like to buy: pretty notebooks, stationery and plant pots. An odd mix, you might think but it doesn’t feel like that as it’s also a shop that’s beautifully curated. And of course the bright yellow set of steps just inside the shop also help. I used to pop up to Islington frequently, but have got out of the habit. It’s one of those places that when I do go, I think it’s a place I should go to more often, and them promptly forget about again, until the next time.

On my recent trip up to the Business Design Centre, I was determined not to miss the opportunity to have a good look round. And so I did.

Plant-based stationery, completely perfect for me! It’s one of those shops that would be easy to say I’ll have one of each please, and be entirely happy with the treasures you end up taking home.

Boxes of pencils, erasers and even more notebooks. The cycling one was a particular favourite. But it was the rubbers that provoked memories of school days and how much thought and time went into replenishing my supplies for the new school term, and the more unusual the rubber, the better. I’m sure though there were at least a couple of the pink and blue varieties pictured below at times.

Now onto the plant pots. The pastel shades and quite peculiar “love heart” plants, and how they’re displayed just make them work. I normally opt for brights over pastels, but the pinks. greens and neutrals just work. The fact that most of them hold succulents is neither here nor there…

succulents in a pink pot in smug islington

So with a dose of Smug under my belt, all was well with my world and happy and contented - I avoided using the word smug there - my day could continue. And maybe this time, my next visit might happen a little more quickly.