Big Ideas: A vintage bathroom

This is the first of the Big Ideas room sets from the 2019 Ideal Home Show, and I’m sure it’s a first in that I’m posting about the show while it’s still on. it’s amazing what an early-in-the-show visit can do isn’t it?

The Big Ideas to add glamour to a vintage bathroom are:

1. On-trend shades: using pinks and greens to create a Miami vibe

2. Roll-top bath: adding a bespoke finish or a freestanding finish, or both

3. Statement walls: using decorative wallpaper and a panelled effect

It’s quite a statement bathroom isn’t it?

And it’s totally got the Miami vibe. I’m not sure it’s for me, but it was one that was drawing the crowds and encouraging discussion from the strangers viewing it. Most of the comments when I was there was about the size of the roll-top bath. It is quite diddy.

And quite high up.

The conversation I had with four ladies I’ve never met before, centred around how we’d get in, and once in how we’d get out, as well as if it was possible to stretch out and relax in a bath like this. None of us were sure about any of those, although we seemed more convinced about getting in, than getting out. But only with a step ladder, which might spoil the look.

I’m not sure this roll-top bath is for me.

I do like the wallpaper though. Even now I’m trying to work out the pattern, and which birds have their wings up and which have them down. I think the overall effect, along with the pink clouds (?) give the sense of movement and I have to wonder where we’re flying off to.

Remember my trends from the Ideal Home Show? Well one of them was ‘wire furniture’ - well this bathroom, has one I didn’t clock until just now. Like the commenter on my earlier post, I’m not sure about the functional-ness (yes made up word alert) of this kind of furniture. The basket/stool above looks great, but put stuff in it and I’m sure it’s charm evaporates. It’s not ideal for a washing basket now, is it?

And how about that for a radiator and towel rail that’s in keeping with the style of the room? In fact, it’d look great in any kind of room, but what’s your view on this room set, and what about the bath, could you get in and out of it easily?

The Grow Your Own Garden at the Ideal Home Show

This was one of the garden room sets that I’ve already said I was keen on, and the keen amongst you will realise that that’s because of my penchant for growing my own, but also for the geometric print rug, which is reminiscent of the cushions in my conservatory, and made from recycled plastic straws. But there’s another reason and it’s mostly how four crates have been fastened together to create a good looking and functional table. I’m forever saying I need a small low height garden table, mostly for my gin and tonic, and while this isn’t exactly what I’m after (it’s a little on the large side) I do admire its design.

The garden focuses on sustainability as well as the grow your own element. It shows ways of using your garden space making use of the latest Gardena technology, as well as featuring sustainable designs with items from the decking to the furniture made from recycled plastic bottles, milk cartons and tyres.

Which means, that everything might not necessarily be what it seems.

As well as the funky crate table on castors, I’m also quite taken with the raised, slatted looking planter at the rear of the picture above. The vertical struts provide extra growing space, for what looks like herbs, as well as looking stylish. It’s a bit too tall to have alongside my greenhouse - it’d block too much light - but otherwise I think I’d be tempted to look into recreating these raised beds by made from sustainable British timber.

Even the classic shaped Adirondack chairs, another long term favourite, are made from recycled plastic bottles. Which makes a lot more sense - they’re by Polywood if you’re also interested.

There were plenty of herbs in this garden - as well as the rhubarb amongst the hydrangeas above in planters made from old car tyres - and herbs are no bad thing. They’re great for flavouring food and are a good substitute for salt, as that’s something else that we all more than likely need to cut down on.

The final thing that caught my eye was this planter full of unruly peas, who look as if they’re arguing with each other about climbing up the cane supports.

On closer inspection the container is a milk churn, which is another way to reuse an container and to introduce some charm to your garden at the same time. It’s one of those garden spaces that has plenty going on, and much of which you don’t spot on first look.

What do you think, are there elements you’d have in your garden?

At the Ideal Home Show

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.

THE UPCYCLED GARDEN

THE FAMILY FUN GARDEN

THE CONTEMPORARY GARDEN

THE GROW YOUR OWN GARDEN

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.

A PATTERNED CHAIR

A PATTERNED CEILING

A JEWELLED CUSHION

A PATTERNED SOFA

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.

A PINK SOFA IN THE INTERIORS SECTION

A PINK KITCHEN ROOM SET

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.

THE HALLWAY IN THE EVOLVING HOME

THE LIVING SPACE ROOM SET

THE BEDROOM ROOM SET

THE GARDEN SPACE ROOM SET

‘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.

IN THE LIVING SPACE ROOM SET

PUJI SIDE TABLES

PUJI HIGH TABLE

BARNHAM & SONS LIGHT FIXTURE

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?