Lavatory Project: Spots and stripes

This one isn’t for the faint hearted. It is rather bold, and if you’re of a delicate nature then I advise sunglasses. Just like my dad when he took me to Abba: The Movie, which I’ve just had to google the year for. It was 19 cough cough 78 cough. I was very young. And he didn’t wear the sunglasses, and not just because he wasn’t allowed.

That said, I quite like this one.

I think it’s ok in a small space, in a larger room I think my eyes might go a bit, well a bit everything. Or maybe the extra space would make it slightly calmer, who knows. This size space is all we have though, and while we often think bold dark patterns don’t work in small spaces, we’ve been proven wrong.

You’re probably wondering if those mirrors were the spots, aren’t you? Well they could be, but it’s the floor that’s really spotty, and it’s not a shrinking violet either.

Actually the floor has just jogged memories of a wall in my bedroom growing up. I insisted that I wanted pink spots on the wall, and my poor long suffering parents agreed, but I had to do it myself, which must have been torture for them. I was quite pleased with the result, although looking back it shouts Mr Blobby to me. I’m sure they were relieved when the next colourway came along, I can’t remember what that was, so it was nowhere near as memorable.

I think they’d have drawn the line at such a bold colour scheme though. I think, actually I hope!

This next shot is my favourite, it’s got a bit of the whole room in it, and I wasn’t surprised to see a record on the wall - it fits well with the theme.

And did you notice the tap? Isn’t it stunning - and the tiles, I think they’re the only thing in the space that’s not black, white or chrome.

I told you it was bold, didn’t I?

Love This #83: Keeping warm and looking good

This month’s Love This post is completely different to the last one, and while I loved the froggy birdbath for the way it made me smile, these radiators take my breath away. They always have, and I suspect they always will. For something that is designed simply to give out heat, they are utter beauties.

I’ve not yet bought a house yet though that suits them. Yet. Although if I was to buy a house with everything I’d like in mind, I’d be like Phil and Kirstie’s worst nightmare, with a wishlist longer than my arms, and theirs too I’m sure.

At Grand Designs last year I spent a fair time just sighing and stroking these on display from The Old Radiator Company, and since have spent more time than I should on their site too, plotting and planning. I know it’s to no avail, we have new radiators in our house and don’t have the space to incorporate any of these style, or believe me I would have.

I did moot the idea when we changed the radiator in our main living space for a six foot vertical one, but again space was limited and we needed something that would heat a relatively large space in the most efficient way, so I was overruled.

But I’ve not totally given up on owning at least one of these at some point. But equally it’d have to be the right one in the right space, and for me, the more ornate the better. But as I wandered around the display something new, well not new exactly, new-to-me caught my eye - these slimmer, but equally loveable designs.

Since then, a new plan has been forming. Sadly still not for this house, but these look eminently more fit-in-able to a modern day house, and would make a stunning addition to an entrance hall.

One day, maybe. Sigh.

An abundance of alliums

Sssshhhh, it’s almost starting to feel a little spring-like. From my desk I can see daffodils bobbing away in the wind, which at times has been a bit too windy to really be spring, but even so, I’m amazed by the number of people that stop and take a photo of them. Perhaps it’s because they edge a busy road into Greenwich town centre and are unexpected, or perhaps like me people are just welcoming signs of spring.

In my garden my snowdrops are out in full force and while we’re a while away from alliums, when I spotted these photos from my visit to the Chelsea Flower Show last May, I knew it was time to share them here, as a reminder that we will have alliums again in a couple of months.

I can’t help but like alliums. They clamber for our attention, growing on their single tall stems and then burst in a ball of fluffiness. Since I’ve learnt they’ll grow in our garden, I think I’ve liked them even more. I have them planted alongside the patio and if I’m honest it’s not the best soil, or even the deepest but like so many other plants they do their best and I’m grateful for that.

Every year when they start to flower, I remember how striking they are and then wonder why I’ve not bought and planted more. I really should.

Of course in autumn, the last thing I’m thinking about is alliums, but again I really should, as that’s when they need planting.

I’m sure though that I’d be bamboozled by the variety and choice available and if you need a visual representation of how that might look, just look below.

The alliums in the pavilion at Chelsea are always on my route, even if I have to track them down, which honestly isn’t a problem or even that hard. They’re the type of plant that really has impact, even when they’re a little bit haywire, or sputnik-like.

Or it seems, trying to camouflage themselves as thistles, although I do quite like these, what do you think?