A luxe dining room

When I saw this dining room at the Ideal Home Show, I was struck by how one thing - or six of one thing - can make such an impact on a room. You’ve heard about having a statement piece, but these pastel pink chairs really are the eye-catching feature of the room, aren’t they?

The rest of the room is very “together” with its black, gilt and glass, even the table top looks to have a smoke feel to it. And with more normal, or traditional chairs I’m not sure you’d give the room much of a second look.  I mean, it’s still beautiful, but those chairs... 

When you looked more closely there was much to see.  This side table, which is beautifully presented and is how, in my head I arrange things (though in reality it’s not quite the same!) is stunning. I’m a fan of the table itself too, its simple and classic design is understated and is a good reminder that not everything needs to be fancy and ornate. 

The lights too work well as accent lighting, but it’s the paint effect that too is subtle but effective. It shows how how quite simply you can add “depth” to your space, and give the illusion of alcoves, or just add some interest to a plain space.   

It’s a simple idea and with patience should be achievable with a few toning pots of paint and some masking tape. 

Looking back over these photos, I realised this roomset may have influenced me more than I first realised, and the cake is a bit of a clue for you - and for once it’s not the actual cake! 

The drinks trolley, or as it’s styled here afternoon tea trolley is quite similar to the drinks trolley we bought back in the summer, and which I’ve yet to share here.  MOH is sneaking more and more drinks paraphernalia onto our trolley, and I’m making it look a little less”plonked” there, I hope.

But its first proper use for me was for a relaxing proper tea one afternoon, strange hey -and what’s worse I didn’t even have any cake, even though I’m not sure you’ll believe that.

So, what do you think - is it for you, or not?

Love this #81: Balls of fire, or garden fireballs

I saw these at the Ideal Home Show much earlier in the year and now that the weather is turning a little chillier it seemed a good time to share them, as we try and extend the use of our gardens for as long as we can.  You might have thought about a fire pit, and we have, but what do you do with it when it's not in use, they're not always so attractive looking are they?

Which is where the garden fireballs are different, there's a range of designs and sizes available in these steel balls for fire.  Whether you want a traditional leaf design, the stag or as I've seen on their website a dragon design, which really would breathe fire wouldn't it?

I spent a fair amount of time at this stand admiring them all, and wondering where I could fit one into my garden.  As you'll know I didn't leave with one - you'd have seen it in my garden by now, if I had, but I did leave seriously impressed. The designs are great, although I'm not sure which I'd choose if it came down to it, but also because they can be left out in the garden year round, and while not in use keeping you warm will bring a decorative element to your garden.

There's a practical element too, each comes with a drain hole so they won't become waterlogged and not be ready.  I think they could quite easily sit within a border over winter, and act as a reminder of warmer days.  I've definitely got one earmarked for a future garden, and if MOH had been with me then it's more than likely we'd have had a serious conversation.

What do you think?  They're definitely on my Love List!

A Very English Garden

We're popping back to this year's Chelsea Flower Show for today's post to take a look at another of the artisan gardens, sponsored by The Claims Guys and simply titled A Very English Garden, as as the board said it was "designed to stand the test of time" and to be "simply a beautiful garden" and I think it manages that.

The detail in the stonework entrance, and the overall impression is stunning. It's reminiscent of a grand English country garden and hard to believe that this was only constructed for the show.  It also tricks you into believing it's a much larger space than it is, and just the entrance to a much grander garden.

The garden celebrates craftmanship and tradition and draws its inspiration from the Arts and Crafts movement, and it does remind me of our first visit to Coleton Fishacre in Devon back in 2013, and my blog post is an old one and one that I moved over from my previous site, so the photos are tiny.

I think this garden works, not only because it's pretty, but also because of its symmetry.

The planting was, as you'd expect from a garden at Chelsea, fantastic and full of pinks and purples and something that is easily replicated in our own gardens.  I think that's one of the best things of the show, the planting is often attainable, but attractive too.

There's roses and columbines - or granny's bonnets - and while the latter can be treated as weeds in my garden, they're still pretty and allowed until they take over!

I think the garden set out what it intended, and is a simply beautiful garden.  I'm not the only one to think so as the garden was awarded silver-gilt by the judges and voted the best artisan garden in the people's choice vote, what do you think?